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

Wang was dissatisfied with the money, but given Ling's mother's previous disgraceful words, she dared not say anything no matter how dissatisfied she was.

The matter of building houses was discussed and decided upon by everyone. The houses were built in a row, and the open space behind them was leased out to build workshops, so that they could take care of each other if anything happened.

Du Mingxian had specifically looked up information about the heated walls and kang beds online beforehand, and she knew the diagrams, so she only drew the diagrams and gave them to Ling's father, without getting involved in anything else.

It was time for Ling Silang to go to the county to study again. Last time, Du Mingxian didn't go because she went back to her parents' home, but this time she went to see him off. Ling Silang also brought a bundle with him to the county.

The two traveled to the county town. Du Mingxian originally wanted to ask Ling Silang why he ate out last time, but she didn't ask. She only asked, "I brought some wild game for my mother and the others. There's a lot of it. Do you want me to take some to your master's house?"

"it is good."

"Shall we get some more sauce?"

"it is good."

Du Mingxian distributed quite a lot of things. After reaching the door, Ling Silang took the things himself and said, "You should go see your mother quickly. We'll go home together after this is over."

"Okay." Du Mingxian felt that Ling Silang was deliberately trying to get rid of her, so she didn't linger and drove the carriage away.

As she stepped out of the alley, a beggar blocked her way.

Du Mingxian frowned. Even before the other person got close, just standing far in front of the horse, she could already smell the strong stench. "Get out of the way."

"It's me, your grandma." A familiar voice came from behind, and the other person even brushed aside the messy hair on his face. Only then did Du Mingxian realize that it was a thug.

"How did you end up in such a miserable state?" Du Mingxian was genuinely disgusted.

The scoundrel looked pitiful and said, "It's a long story. I was doing all this for you, and I almost lost my life."

Why didn't you come looking for me?

Hunzi knows the Du family, so finding out where the Ling family is shouldn't be difficult. Since he's about to lose his life, he can go find her.

The hoodlum glanced around furtively and said, "Grandma, let's get out of the city quickly, someone's following me."

Upon hearing this, Du Mingxian knew that things were serious. "Let's go, let's get out of the city."

As the thugs got closer, the smell was... indescribable.

The thug could tell she was disgusted, so he didn't dare to get any closer. "Grandma, you go ahead, and I'll follow behind."

"it is good."

After the two left the city, Du Mingxian took out the pancakes she had prepared for herself from her spatial storage. When the thug caught up, she handed them to him, and he snatched the pancakes and stuffed them into his mouth.

Du Mingxian frowned. She had even given her money, so how did she end up like this?

The scoundrel stretched his neck and swallowed the last piece of bread, then looked on the verge of tears, saying, "Grandma, the job you gave me is really going to kill me. Those Fang family members are no good at all."

Du Mingxian's heart tightened. "Tell me in detail."

"You asked me to keep an eye on the Fang family and find out why, so I went and found out that the Fang family's daughter-in-law often tormented the servants, and the Fang family's son was gambling outside."

"And that Confucian scholar Fang, everyone outside says he's so great, but that's not true at all. He's vulgar behind people's backs and even goes to brothels."

“I was keeping too close an eye on them and they found out. Fang Daru’s son sent people to kill me, but luckily I ran fast and managed to blend in with the beggars and escaped detection.”

Du Mingxian was shocked. "Have you discovered some secret? Otherwise, why would they treat you like this?"

The scoundrel thought for a moment and said, "It feels quite strange. Isn't Fang Daru a very learned scholar? When I was watching him, I never saw him looking at a book."

Du Mingxian was quite surprised. A great scholar like him should love reading, right? "Can you practice calligraphy?"

"Does bringing women home count? Several maids in his courtyard have all slept with that great scholar."

Du Mingxian couldn't believe it was true. If it was true, how could she explain her husband's affair?

"Has the matter been investigated clearly? Why can't my husband eat at the Fang family's house?"

She had also inquired about it. After Ling Silang became an apprentice, his mother would give him money every time he came over, which he would then give to the Fang family as a way of covering his food expenses.

"You dislike your husband. Fang Daru also took other women in as well. The others live in the county and don't come to stay. So they come in the morning and sometimes have lunch at Fang's house, but your husband has never done that."

Du Mingxian felt that she needed to investigate this matter more thoroughly herself. "You've had a hard time these past few days."

“It was very hard, you have no idea, my dear. I didn’t dare to look for you because I was afraid of retaliation from the Fang family. I was afraid of being targeted and getting into trouble.”

Du Mingxian nodded slightly. "Okay, here's the antidote for you."

She casually gave the hoodlum a dark chocolate bean, the really bitter kind.

The thug, without a second thought, threw the antidote into his mouth. His face was unshaven, and when he grinned, he revealed a mouthful of yellow teeth. "Thank you, Grandma."

Du Mingxian originally wanted him to leave, but considering that she was short-handed, keeping him around would be a great help in the future. "Would you like to come with me?"

"Huh?" The hoodlum didn't react at first.

“You used to go hungry, but following me will at least guarantee you enough to eat and wear. However, I want your loyalty. If you are willing to stay by my side and work for me for five years, I will not treat you badly when you leave.”

The hoodlum didn't have a good place to go to begin with. He wanted to run away before because he was afraid that Du Mingxian would sell him to Nanfeng Pavilion. Now he was not afraid of anything. "Okay, okay, I'm willing."

"Alright, since you're willing, then come with me." Du Mingxian didn't forget to ask, "Do the Fang family recognize what you look like?"

"Probably not, but I can't be sure."

Du Mingxian originally intended to take the person to the small courtyard in the county town, but upon hearing this, she dared not take them back. She directly threw five taels of silver to the hoodlum, saying, "Take this and go find an inn to wash up properly. Stay in the county for the next couple of days. I may come looking for you at any time."

"Yes, yes, Master."

Du Mingxian was satisfied with the layman's practical skills.

Back in the county, Du Mingxian took her things to the house.

These days, since Zhou returned, the Xu family has not gone out or done business. All four of them are idle, which makes Zhou very anxious. She even wants to secretly go out and take on some sewing, mending, and laundry work.

Xu Tingting tried her best to stop her, but in the end Xu Dazhuang suggested that he go out and find something to do, which finally made Zhou Shi stay in peace again.

Before Du Mingxian even reached the house, she encountered Xu Dazhuang squatting in the corner at the alley entrance. "Uncle? What are you doing squatting here?"

When Xu Dazhuang saw Du Mingxian, it was as if he had seen a savior. "Ming, Mingxian."

What's wrong with my uncle?

“No one in my family has a job, and your mother is worried. She insists on taking on laundry and mending jobs. I told her I was going out to find work, but given my appearance, no one would hire me.”

Du Mingxian understood. "Uncle, let's go back together."

Xu Dazhuang sat on the other side of the carriage shaft, and Du Mingxian explained, "There was something going on at home before, and I came here this time to resolve this matter."