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

After Du Mingxian had some free time, she focused on the Wu family's affairs every day. Then she started preparing things for Ling Silang, who would have to eat, drink, and relieve himself inside the exam room, which would be unpleasant.

The Wu family's matter has not yet yielded any results, but Lin Guixiang talks to Du Mingxian in the courtyard every day, always asking about finding her a job.

Du Mingxian got annoyed by the questions and introduced Lin Guixiang to the place where she had previously introduced Liu Ya, where they made steamed buns.

Lin Guixiang did indeed go, and without Lin Guixiang, Du Mingxian felt much more at peace.

Lin Guixiang went to work, but Sun Tao was nowhere to be seen every day, and he didn't even come back at night. Du Mingxian knew about these things, but she didn't care.

Soon after, in early February, Du Mingxian took some time to go home.

Her family was extremely anxious, but they couldn't go out to look for Du Mingxian, for fear of delaying their plans.

An'an missed Du Mingxian even more and clung to her, refusing to let go.

"Mother, don't worry. I've prepared most of the necessary things. My husband is doing well too, but it's just inconvenient for him to come back recently."

The matter with the Crown Prince hasn't been dealt with yet, and who knows what's going on behind the scenes? She hasn't been paying attention to it lately, for fear that the other side might have someone watching them from behind.

Today, she took several detours on her way home, making sure no one was following her before quietly returning home.

Ling's mother was genuinely worried, but she was also relieved to see Du Mingxian. "Alright, I'm at ease with you by my side."

Da Zhou also reminded them, "Make sure to prepare everything thoroughly."

"I know."

She went home and had dinner with her family. In the late afternoon, Xiao Zhou returned and was very happy to see Du Mingxian. "You're finally back! I've been missing you so much that I couldn't sleep."

"Second sister-in-law, I see you've been in a better mood lately, and you look radiant."

"It's not that I'm in a good mood, it's just that business has been good lately. Doing business in the capital is just different from other places." After saying this happily, Madam Zhou remembered something. "Mingxian, I'll go to your room in a bit. There's an account book I want you to look at."

This means speaking alone.

Ling's mother smiled and said, "Alright, you two can go now. We don't need you here."

Xiao Zhou followed Du Mingxian to the room, and An'an insisted on following, so Du Mingxian hugged her.

When the two arrived at the room, Xiao Zhou said, "Yesterday I saw Wu Daniu at the restaurant. At first, I didn't recognize him. It was Da Bao who recognized him."

“Wu Daniu probably doesn’t know that the restaurant is related to our family. He brought people to entertain guests, and it was in a private room in the back. Neither your second brother nor I showed up, and Wu Daniu doesn’t know anyone else.”

Du Mingxian wasn't surprised. "He's quite influential in Beijing now, so it's normal for him to dine at our restaurant."

“Our restaurant has become very popular recently, and people are always willing to come and eat here. It’s often impossible to get a reservation, so Wu Daniu just spent money to buy a long-term private room.”

"what?"

“I originally disagreed with this, but your cousin Tingting said it was okay to do it this way. Anyway, there are plenty of rich people in Beijing. If they are willing to do it this way, we won’t lose out, and both sides will be satisfied.”

As Xiao Zhou spoke, she became more and more delighted. "I've found myself liking your cousin more and more. She's a wonderful person. Her method is really good—making money."

Du Mingxian also seemed quite pleased with the long-term private room arrangement. "Does Wu Daniu go there often?"

“Yes, I go often, and I bring different people with me from time to time.”

Du Mingxian's eyes lit up, and she had another idea. "Second sister-in-law, you go to the restaurant first, and I'll follow you later. I want to go and see the private room that Wu Daniu has booked. I have something to do."

As for Du Mingxian's ideas, Xiao Zhou never interfered. "Okay, okay, I'll go over now. When you arrive, just come find me in the kitchen."

"it is good."

After finishing her speech in a hurry, Xiao Zhou left without lingering. Du Mingxian immediately went to the main room and sat with her two mothers for a while. Little An'an kept pestering Du Mingxian.

As Du Mingxian was about to leave, An'an kept saying, "I miss her, I miss her, I miss Mommy, I miss Mommy."

Du Mingxian's heart melted at what he said, but she still didn't know what to say, so she could only coax, "Dad and Mom will be back in a couple of days, then they can spend time with you, okay?"

An'an stared blankly at Du Mingxian for a while before replying, "Okay."

"Then let Grandma hold her; Mom will be back in a couple of days."

"it is good."

An'an reached out her hand, and Ling's mother took the child. She glanced at the sky outside and said, "It's getting late. You can go back if you want. Tell Silang that we'll go see him off together on the day he enters the examination hall. We'll just stand outside and watch."

"it is good."

Du Mingxian left and went to a restaurant. It was very late when she arrived, and there were not many people eating there.

She went straight to the back, where Xiao Zhou was waiting for her. Upon seeing her, she hurried forward and said, "Come on, I'll take you to that private room."

"it is good."

Du Mingxian and Xiao Zhou went over together. First, they went into Wu Daniu's long-term private room and looked around. Then, Du Mingxian looked for the private room next door and said to Xiao Zhou, "Second sister-in-law, I would like to use this private room."

"You're using your own stuff, what are you talking to me about?"

"What I mean is, I won't be bringing any more guests to this private room in the future; I have a use for it."

"Okay, it's just a matter of a word. At worst, we'll just lose the money from one less table, it's no big deal."

Du Mingxian didn't refuse, "Okay, then I'll get started."

"Okay, whatever you want, or should I go out?"

"No need, it's dark now. I'll come over a little earlier tomorrow morning. Second sister-in-law, have Chen Ming come over tomorrow and let him stay here from now on."

"Okay, I'll go back and tell Chen Ming."

Du Mingxian didn't stay long and went straight home, where she recounted what had happened that day.

"Let my parents go when we go into the exam hall, so they won't have any regrets."

Du Mingxian nodded gently, "Okay, anyway, everyone will know by the time the exam is over."

"Well, as for the Crown Prince's situation, I reckon it's about the same. Those people probably won't do anything to us openly."

"Hopefully."

The two didn't talk much about it. Du Mingxian brought up Wu Daniu, saying, "I have a long-term rental next door to him. I plan to dig a hole and have Chen Ming keep watch there and record Wu Daniu's conversations with others."

"You suspect Wu Daniu?"

"Hmm, I have my doubts."

Seeing her certainty, Ling Silang said, "Alright, we'll see how it goes. Keeping an eye on it is a good idea."

"I think so too."

The next day, Du Mingxian went out alone. After going outside, she took a small chisel from the back and went to the restaurant. There were only a few servants she had hired; the others had not yet arrived.

The timing is still good.

Du Mingxian entered the private room, determined the location, and began to chisel a hole little by little. She used a basket to catch the soil that was chiseled out.