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

Ling's mother disagreed, "You don't know where Fang Daru's house is, and besides, aren't you afraid something might happen on the way if you drive the oxcart alone?"

“Mother, what could possibly happen in broad daylight? Besides, I’m quite skilled. Second Brother is busy, and I’m just idling at home anyway, so I’ll go instead.”

Seeing her so anxious, Zhou chimed in, "Mother, why don't we let Fourth Sister-in-law go? It's broad daylight, and besides, my husband has been helping my eldest brother and the others build houses these past few days. If he misses a day, they might have something to say."

"It's..." It's alright.

Ling Erlang wanted to say it was fine and wouldn't affect his picking up his younger brother, but Zhou Shi gently tugged at him and gave him a warning look. Ling Erlang immediately understood his wife's meaning, "Mother, Fourth Sister-in-law can also drive a carriage. If she wants to, let her go. I'll go do the work."

In the end, Ling's mother had no choice but to agree.

Du Mingxian gave Zhou a grateful look.

After driving the oxcart out of the village, Du Mingxian sped up, even picking up a few people who were going to town and one who was going to the county, since riding in the oxcart cost money anyway.

When she arrived in the county, she had earned thirteen coins.

Upon arriving in the county town, she went to pick up the person at the address given by Ling Erlang.

The Fang family's gate is easily recognizable by the plaque hanging above it.

She went up and knocked on the door. An old man opened it. "Who are you?"

“I am Ling Shusheng’s wife, here to take him home.”

"Wait a moment." The old man closed the door again, and Du Mingxian sat back on the oxcart to wait.

She has exceptional patience; in her past life, she even lay motionless in one place for two days straight in preparation for an assassination.

She waited at the entrance of the Fang residence for two hours, and it was already past two o'clock. Just as she was considering whether to go get some food, she heard the door open and Ling Silang came out.

She was carrying a box of books on her back, and her face was as white as paper. I was very surprised to see her.

"Husband." She stepped forward and took the book box from her own hands.

Ling Silang didn't stand on ceremony. After they got into the oxcart and left the Fang residence, he asked, "Why are you the one who came today?"

“My second brother is building a yard for someone else and doesn’t have time. I’m just sitting at home doing nothing anyway, so I’ll take you around from now on.” She didn’t like being confined to the house.

Ling Silang simply nodded slightly. "Have you eaten?"

"Not yet, let's go eat."

The two ordered a bowl of noodles by the roadside. Ling Silang ate a couple of bites but couldn't eat anymore, so he just sat there and ate slowly.

After finishing her meal, Du Mingxian looked at him and asked directly, "Husband, are you feeling unwell?"

"I don't feel unwell, it's just that I don't have a good appetite."

Two-thirds of the large bowl of noodles is still left.

Du Mingxian had no intention of eating other people's leftovers. Just as she was about to pay the bill and leave, a beggar rushed over, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed to her.

"Grandma, please spare me! Please spare me!"

This sudden turn of events left everyone completely bewildered.

Du Mingxian's face also darkened. Wasn't this person deliberately trying to smear her reputation?

“You beggar, you just want food, why are you slandering people?”

The beggar looked up at Du Mingxian pitifully, "Grandma, please spare my life."

Only then did Du Mingxian realize that the dirty face belonged to that thug.

"Your arms and legs are all intact. I didn't hit you or kill you. Who gave you the right to slander me?"

"My son is feeling unwell; it must be the poison taking effect. The poison has taken effect."

You would have died long ago if the poison had taken hold. Besides, was that even poison?

Du Mingxian was particularly disgusted. "Shut up and get up."

The thug immediately and nimbly got up from the ground, looking pitifully at Du Mingxian.

"Eat this bowl of noodles."

The hoodlum didn't seem to mind at all when he saw the noodles; he picked them up and ate them quickly, as if he hadn't eaten for days.

Du Mingxian paid the bill, then led the oxcart ahead, with the scoundrel following pitifully beside her. Ling Silang sat in the cart, watching the two of them with an increasingly strange look in his eyes.

The thug in front kept begging for mercy in a low voice. He didn't dare to speak loudly. He had tried to speak loudly earlier, but this lady had said that if he dared to speak loudly again, she would cut out his tongue.

Du Mingxian didn't explain that it wasn't poison, it was just... a chocolate ball.

The stench emanating from this man was truly overwhelming. "Didn't I give you a tael of silver? How did you end up like this?"

"I took it to the doctor."

"Oh, didn't I tell you? Why waste money?"

The scoundrel shut up and didn't say a word.

The hoodlum wasn't short; Du Mingxian was 1.6 meters tall, and the hoodlum was at least 1.75 meters tall. The way he hung his head and followed next to Du Mingxian was particularly comical.

Walking down the street like this attracted many people to turn their heads and look at them.

Du Mingxian disliked being treated like a monkey, so she threw a chocolate ball at the thug and said, "This antidote can delay the onset of your poison for a short time. Now go and do something for me. After you've done it, I'll consider whether I should give you a complete cure."

The thug didn't dare say a word, "Yes, yes, please give your orders."

He had been struggling with this for the past two days. He had run out of money, felt unwell, and the feeling of waiting to die filled him with anxiety. After much deliberation, he decided to go find Du Mingxian.

Even if this woman isn't human, at least I can save my own life. As long as I'm alive, that's better than anything else.

Just as he was about to walk out of the city, he saw Du Mingxian at a noodle stall, which led to his kneeling and begging for forgiveness earlier.

Du Mingxian realized she couldn't tell Ling Silang about this, so she said, "Come closer."

The thug cautiously approached. Du Mingxian deliberately lowered her voice after she finished giving her instructions. Seeing the thug's beggar-like appearance, she gave him three taels of silver and said, "Take it."

The scoundrel was a little excited, not expecting to get paid for doing something. "Thank you, ma'am, I'll get on it right away."

Du Mingxian said with utter disdain, "Let's talk about it after the matter is settled."

After the thug left, Du Mingxian turned to look at Ling Silang and asked, "Does my husband have anything else to do in the county town? If not, let's go home."

"Gone."

Du Mingxian led the oxcart to the outside of the city before getting on and driving it from behind.

Ling Silang glanced around to make sure no one was watching before asking, "You're not a Du family girl."

Du Mingxian thought about what happened after she arrived at the Ling family. If Ling Silang had stayed at home, it would have been normal, but Ling Silang just happened to run into her.

"I am Du Mingxian."

Ling Silang frowned and said in a deep voice, "The second daughter of the Du family has hardly ever been to town. Because her cousin, who is considered lucky, is in the family, she is not favored at home and usually does chores at home."

"But the woman I saw was able to go into the mountains to hunt. She was supposed to be going back to her parents' home, but she appeared in the county and was even associating with thugs. It's really hard to believe."

Du Mingxian drove the car, pondering how to explain herself—whether to be honest or to lie.

Ling Silang watched her drive the carriage quietly without urging her, as if giving her time.

After a long while, Du Mingxian looked at Ling Silang deeply and said, "I am a Du family woman, but I am a Du family woman who has returned."