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

The woman who arrived was in her thirties. She looked bright and cheerful and spoke very frankly. Since she spoke first, Du Mingxian naturally couldn't say anything more and only exchanged a few pleasantries before letting the others take their seats.

Just as everyone was about to start eating, another person arrived, this time a concubine.

However, this concubine is somewhat different from the previous one.

The previous one was a classic case of favoring the concubine over the wife. This one is because there was no mistress in the house, and the concubine was always out and about, and knew almost all the ladies present.

"I was late because of some things at home. I hope the magistrate's wife won't be offended." She spoke gently, and looked like someone who was easy to bully.

Among the people who came ahead, some wanted to curry favor with Du Mingxian, fearing that she was unaware of the situation in Ping County, so they quickly explained, "Madam, this person is different from the Liu family."

“Master Liu’s family has a principal wife, but this one’s principal wife is gone. Moreover, the principal wife is her cousin. After she entered the mansion, she only helped manage the backyard and the children. She handled all the interactions between the ladies.”

Du Mingxian looked at the woman, still somewhat puzzled. The legal wife had died, and a cousin had married into the family. It seemed that the male head of the household had some connection with this woman.

However, since the other party didn't seem to be causing trouble like the Liu family, she naturally wouldn't drive them away.

“That’s true. In the past, whenever there were any problems in the household, it was Aunt Liu who ran around taking care of things, so please don’t take offense, Madam,” someone chimed in.

Du Mingxian finally understood. This Concubine Liu had a good relationship with all the ladies, otherwise so many people wouldn't have spoken up for her. "I can't stand favoring concubines over wives, and I don't like others causing trouble on my turf. Since Concubine Liu is a good person, she should naturally stay."

"I just don't know which family Aunt Liu belongs to?"

“The Zhao family in Ping County mainly deals in grain,” someone replied.

Du Mingxian understood, and invited everyone to sit down before the meal began.

The rest of the process went smoothly. After dinner, Du Mingxian was a little sleepy, so she asked the ladies to leave early. However, she still needed to tell Ling Silang about Liu Yuanwai's matter.

"Xia Yu, have you informed the master about Master Liu's matter?"

"Madam, I've already sent word to the front, but... they've already replied that Master Liu came looking for trouble, but the magistrate turned him away. The magistrate told you to rest assured."

"That's good. It's the first time we've hosted a banquet, and someone's already trying to cause trouble. They really need to be taught a lesson."

Xia Yu nodded slightly, feeling that these people were being irrational today. They were invited by the madam, and if they didn't want to come, they could have said so in advance. Instead of refusing in advance, one by one they said they had something to do.

"I've already sent someone to investigate whether the Zhao family member who arrived later had something going on with the Sun family, or whether he deliberately came so late."

"Okay." Du Mingxian didn't mind, but considering the manpower outside was probably just sitting around doing nothing, it wouldn't hurt to check on things. "By the way, how's that girl who got beaten up today?"

"I've already seen a doctor. The cut on my forehead is quite deep and may leave a scar."

Du Mingxian frowned, "This money should be paid by Master Liu's family."

"What does Madam wish to do?"

"Not urgent."

The people below worked quickly; by the afternoon, they had already tidied up the backyard. The temporary workers were done for the day, paid, and didn't need to come back tomorrow.

Xiangyang came over to ask, "Madam, everything has been arranged. Should we let those people leave now?"

"Yes, give that girl with the injury on her forehead more money as compensation."

"Yes."

Xiangyang went to handle it. After a while, Xiangyang came with Chen Liushi and the little girl. As soon as they entered, Chen Liushi and the little girl knelt on the ground.

"Let's talk when we get up." Seeing that the two of them didn't get up or speak, Du Mingxian explained, "We'll take care of the injury on your forehead. Don't worry, just go back and rest."

"Please, Madam, take me in." The little girl kowtowed repeatedly to the ground, each time with great force. Her forehead was already wrapped in gauze, and red marks appeared on it after only a few kowtows.

Du Mingxian raised her voice a few decibels, "Speak up if you have something to say."

Knowing his master's temper, Xiangyang quickly pulled the girl up and explained, "Madam, this little girl's biological mother died early, and she has been living under her stepmother's care. She doesn't want to go back."

"Trying to sell yourself?"

"Yes," the little girl answered confidently. "Please, Madam, accept me. I only need one copper coin."

Du Mingxian didn't rush to say she would buy it, but instead looked at Chen Liushi and said, "Tell me about her situation."

Madam Chen quickly explained, "Madam, Daya's family and my family are neighbors. When I entered the Chen family, Daya's mother had already been married into the family for two years. Because we were both married into the family, we were very close. I watched this girl grow up."

"When Da Ya's mother gave birth to her younger brother, she and her unborn child died, leaving this girl alone. Later, Da Ya's father married another woman. With a stepmother came a stepfather. In that family, Da Ya did the most work, ate the least, and was often beaten and scolded."

"It was because of this opportunity that I brought Daya out, using Madam's name. I was thinking that Daya was good at work and I wanted to see if Madam would take a liking to her."

“If Daya goes home now, she probably won’t get away with it. The girl is almost of marriageable age, and her stepmother wants to marry her off to her own mentally challenged nephew.”

"That idiot beats people up in the village all the time. Because he's a boy, even though he's mentally challenged, he's very strong. Once, because he was so mentally challenged, he beat a child to death. His family had to scrape together money to compensate the other party before the matter was settled."

"If Daya really marries him, she'll probably be jumping from one wolf's den into another fire pit."

“I have been by your side for some time now and know that you are kind-hearted and treat those around you very well, so… I humbly request that you take Daya in.”

After finishing her sentence, Chen Liu knelt down on the ground. She knew she had acted rashly this time, but she didn't regret it. Even if she lost her job, she could still make a living when she returned home, but Daya would really only have one way out: death.

Du Mingxian looked at Daya, who was so thin she was practically skin and bones, and looked so pitiful. This reminded her of the hardships she had endured in the Du family.

"Alright, let's sign a contract of servitude. I'll give you the same amount of money that people outside charge for buying and selling. As for your family matters, you'll have to go back and tell them yourself."

"Thank you, Madam, thank you, Madam." Daya was extremely excited and knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly. She knew that her fate had been rewritten from this moment on.

Du Mingxian waved her hand, "Xiangyang, you take care of this matter."

"Yes, ma'am."