The sickly son died young? After the marriage exchange, I will bring prosperity to his entire clan f

"How about we ask your brother-in-law to help you come up with a name? When you get back, ask your mother quietly. If she feels it's okay, then you can have a new name from now on. After all..." If you're going to be running errands for Ling Silang in the future, it wouldn't sound good to keep calling him Er Gouzi or Lao Er.

"Okay, okay, thank you, brother-in-law." Chen Lao Er was very, very happy. He really wanted to have his own name, but after thinking of many words, he felt that none of them sounded good.

"I'll have Wang Qi take you under his wing in a bit. For now, you can follow behind him and study together."

"Yes."

After settling Chen Lao Er in, Du Mingxian felt that her ties with the Du family had lessened considerably, perhaps because she had signed a letter severing ties with them.

I protected my mother in this life, married into the Ling family, and everything went smoothly. Now that life is peaceful, I just want to lie down and relax.

Before Du Mingxian could even settle down, the next day after Chen Lao Er returned, something happened at the workshop: someone stole two jars of wine that night.

Mr. Ling was the one who worried the most every day. He had to check on both workshops and record all the quantities. This morning, as usual, Mr. Ling went to inspect the workshops and found that two jars of wine were missing. This was a big deal.

Ling's father immediately went home and told his sons and daughters-in-law what had happened.

Du Mingxian frowned. "Father, we should investigate this matter secretly first, and then investigate it openly after we have found out the truth. Right now, the thief behind this doesn't know that we know about the missing wine. Just continue your daily patrols as usual and pretend that you don't know anything."

Ling's father was furious. "If I find out who stole the wine, I'll make them pay."

After remaining silent, Wang glanced at Du Mingxian. Once everyone had separated, Wang approached Du Mingxian and said, "I suspect my mother might have stolen this wine."

Although she didn't want to suspect anything, only her mother had the opportunity to steal.

"Sister-in-law." Du Mingxian was surprised.

“The day before yesterday, I suddenly had a stomachache. After I finished using the toilet, I realized that my key was missing. I kept looking for it, but I couldn’t find it that day. I even told your older brother about it that night. Only we have the key to the storeroom where the wine jars are kept.”

"The next day, while I was still looking for it, I found the key was rolled up in my clothes, but... I've never done that before. At the time, I thought it was just my carelessness and didn't think much of it until today when I realized it was missing."

Wang was extremely distressed.

Du Mingxian also realized that it wouldn't be so easy for things to be stolen from the workshop. Firstly, there was a key to the warehouse, and secondly, there was the old gatekeeper. Neither of them would be easy to steal.

The Queen Mother truly has the best chance.

"Then go home and look for it first. Since she's been living at home, the things she stole might be hidden somewhere. I'll also investigate further to see who it is. Maybe it's not your mother?"

Wang was filled with anxiety. Naturally, she hoped it wasn't her mother, but too many coincidences proved that it must be her mother.

"What if... what if it really is my mother?"

"Then we'll see what you think, sister-in-law."

Wang remained silent. Seeing this, Du Mingxian gently patted her shoulder. "Sister-in-law, you should go back first. Don't give anything away these next two days. If you don't get caught the first time, you'll definitely do it again."

"Okay." Even after reaching the door, Wang turned back to look at Du Mingxian, as if pleading for help, "Fourth sister-in-law, what should I do?"

"Sister-in-law, do as you please. You can think whatever you want."

After Wang left, she thought that if it really was her mother, she wouldn't have the face to stay in the Ling family any longer.

Du Mingxian also went out. She was going to investigate. To investigate this matter, she had to start with the old gatekeeper. Others might not know, but the old gatekeeper knew best about everyone coming and going.

When she arrived, Ling's father was also there, chatting with the old gatekeeper.

When the old gatekeeper saw the two of them approaching, his expression turned serious. "Master, has something happened?"

Others may not know, but Ling Lao Er had told him that it was Si Lang's wife's idea to have him come and be the doorman.

"It's nothing major, I just wanted to ask if anything unusual has happened recently?"

“Something unusual.” After thinking it over carefully, the doorman said, “The day before yesterday, I had a stomachache. Everyone had already gone home that night, so I closed the door and went to the outhouse. I ran back and forth like that, but nothing else really happened.”

Du Mingxian understood; this was done on purpose.

Ling's father also understood, "Did you eat anything unusual that day?"

"No." The old gatekeeper smiled awkwardly. "I have nothing of value. I've always eaten in our workshop's canteen and have never eaten anything from outside."

"Dad, it's really not good to leave someone alone at night. The workshop will produce more and more goods in the future. Why don't we raise a few dogs? Sometimes there will be leftover food in the canteen."

"Okay, I'll go and find out if anyone has puppies."

Du Mingxian went to bed early; she planned to come out and keep an eye on things herself that night.

On the other side, the Du family.

When Chen Lao Er returned, he went to the Du family and told Widow Chen that he had been driven back to ask for food because he hadn't brought any.

Du Youtian pounded the bed in anger, "That bitch, that bitch, she really doesn't give me, her father, any face at all."

Widow Chen rolled her eyes silently. They've already severed ties, and he's still thinking about becoming a father.

Tears welled up in her eyes instantly. "It's all my fault. Second brother, you go back first. I'll think of something."

"it is good."

Du Youtian felt annoyed seeing Widow Chen crying, and said, "Stop crying."

"It's my fault. These things shouldn't have happened." Widow Chen sat on the bed, looking at Du Youtian with affection. "How about we just let this matter go? I shouldn't have thought of causing her any distress."

"Instead of adding to our troubles, she's the one who's causing us trouble first."

Reminded by this, Du Youtian realized that he had gone to the Ling family several times to get this opportunity to cause trouble, and he couldn't just let it go like this. "I'll go and tell my mother to take some food."

“Mother would definitely not agree.” Widow Chen sighed deeply after saying this. “Mother has always favored my eldest brother and not you. Just the other day, I saw Mother asking my sister-in-law to take some flour to Mingwei’s family.”

“You’re still injured. No matter how good your granddaughter is, she can’t compare to you, her son. But I never seem to think that way. I’ve heard back in the village that you do all the work, while your older brother always shirks his responsibilities when it comes to farm work. Now it seems that he really is biased.”

Du Youtian felt even more depressed. He thought that his wife and children were separated because his mother was too biased. Otherwise, Du Mingxian would not have treated him like this. If he had treated Mingxian better in the past, now that the Ling family is doing well, Mingxian would definitely be filial to him as her father. Wouldn't he be able to eat and drink well every day?

He used to do most of the housework because his older brother had two sons, and he always thought he would rely on his nephews to support him in his old age. His mother would often say these things to him.

The pent-up resentment exploded at this moment: "Don't worry, I'll talk to them."

Widow Chen waited patiently inside the house, but soon she heard a commotion outside. Old Mrs. Du was wailing, "Damn it, I can't live like this anymore! Second son, you're trying to kill your mother!"