Chapter 132: Testing the Waters at the New Brother-in-Law’s Home

Du Yun stood outside the room, eavesdropping on the conversation within, a faint ache tugging at her heart. They say a parent’s love knows no bounds; her mother was so anxious about her sister’s upcoming marriage that she felt compelled to pay another visit, fearing something might go wrong. She wondered, when her own mother was set to be married, had her grandmother felt the same way?

Du Yun had heard from her grandmother that the Du family was once a prominent household by the Lotus River. They possessed not only extensive property and fields but also a significant amount of liquid wealth.

When her grandmother had chosen a match for her mother, the Du family was living in great comfort. The groom was a man of good character and appearance. Although he had a somewhat stern mother, it was assumed that once they were married, had children, and established their own household, things would improve.

That was why her grandmother had agreed to the marriage. But who could have predicted the turn of events? Not only did Du Yun’s great-grandfather lose their fortune in business, but he also fell into a mountain of debt. After selling off the land and property to settle the debts, the old man’s health collapsed. He suffered for over half a year, and despite spending a fortune on medicine, he could not be saved.

With the business ruined, the land and the grand house gone, and debts still lingering, the loss of the patriarch cast a shadow of despair over the Du family. For her mother, a new bride just entering the household, the pressure was immense, and her temperament slowly began to change under the weight of the family’s hardship.

Her grandmother had always blamed herself for choosing that family, believing it was her mistake that made her daughter’s life so difficult. Consequently, every holiday, she tried to provide extra support to make life easier for her daughter and the children. This had gone on for over a decade.

"Go on, go on. Listen more and look more—it will put your mind at ease." Recalling her own feelings back then, her grandmother no longer stopped her daughter. Who said a married daughter is like spilled water? Even after all these years, whenever she thought of her daughter, her heart still ached with worry.

Hearing the conversation, Du Yun couldn't fully grasp the depth of her mother and grandmother’s feelings, but that didn't stop her from wanting to help investigate the groom’s family. Her sister’s happiness was paramount, and in the face of that, formalities and appearances meant nothing.

"Mother, are we going out?" Seeing her mother approach the door, Du Yun hurried over and asked with a grin.

"I am going out; you children stay here." Her mother had her own plans. Although her own mother lived near the Tang family, she was an elder, and since the engagement was already set, no one would dare report any unsavory rumors about the Tang boy to them—in the village, breaking an engagement was considered a grave offense.

However, her mother had her ways. Having grown up in Hexi Village, she still had a few close confidantes with whom she could speak honestly. Even if they had grown distant after her marriage, it was still possible to subtly inquire about the state of her future in-laws and whether there were any hidden troubles.

"Huh?" Du Yun was stunned. Unlike the younger children, Du Bo and Du Yin, who were truly there just to play, she had come with a mission. Even if she couldn't uncover everything about the Tang family, she at least wanted to understand their situation so her sister could be prepared before the wedding.

"What 'huh'? Go play. I’m going out for a while." Her mother walked out without even looking back. Though she felt Du Yun had grown up, matters of marriage were too significant to let a young girl get involved.

Du Yun watched her mother walk away with determined strides, as if she were a different person, and stood there, dumbfounded. Nearby, Du Bo and Du Yin were happily playing with the new puppies by the courtyard wall, completely oblivious to what was happening.

"Yun, do you want to find out, too?" Her grandmother, leaning on a fire poker, slowly walked out of the room. Seeing the frustration on Du Yun’s face, she couldn't help but smile and shake her head.

"Yes, I’m not a child anymore. I need to take care of business," Du Yun pouted.

"Then go to the little shop and buy some soy sauce for me. And take a bundle of the leeks your mother brought over to the Tang house," her grandmother said, casting a mysterious glance at Du Yun with a smile.

"Huh?" The sudden stroke of luck left Du Yun momentarily speechless.

"I’m giving you a legitimate reason to go visit the Tang house, and you’re still saying 'huh'?" Seeing Du Yun’s dazed expression, her grandmother reached out and gave her a light tap on the back.

"Oh, right!" Realizing her grandmother was giving her a perfect excuse, Du Yun beamed. She quickly dashed into the storage room, split off a bundle from the leeks they had brought, tied it neatly with a piece of straw, placed it in a small basket, and hurried out the door.

"Grandma, I’m ready!" Now full of energy, Du Yun greeted her grandmother, learned the direction to the Tang house, and set off in high spirits.

The Tang house was easy to find; it was just four or five houses away to the west along the riverbank. The Tang family was quite well-off. While they didn't have a grand estate, they owned three bright, large-tiled houses that stood taller than the neighboring homes, making their residence look particularly impressive.

"The house is nice enough, but I wonder about the people." After leaving her grandmother’s, Du Yun didn't go straight to the Tang house. Instead, she wandered to the riverbank, crouched in the grass, and released her mental perception to carefully survey the property.

Her plan was simple: use her perception to scout the inside of the house—the size of the rooms, the food stores, and the family members. Then, under the guise of delivering the leeks, she would walk in openly to take a look. Afterward, she would find a place to hide and listen to how they talked about her and her family. That should give her a fair idea of their situation and their attitude toward her sister.

Du Yun thought the plan was perfect and executed it accordingly. However, perhaps due to her bad luck, Tang Jun was out on business, and only his mother was home.

From the initial mental scouting to walking into the house with a smile and a bundle of fresh leeks, it took less than an hour for her to get a complete picture of the Tang family. She knew exactly how much grain was in their pantry, how much money was in their chest, and even which porcelain bowl the mother favored most.

"Good girl, you must come visit often after your sister marries into our family." The mother of the Tang family held Du Yun’s hand, reluctant to let go, as if she wished she could claim Du Yun as her own daughter.

"I will, Auntie Tang! I’ll definitely come, and I hope you won’t find me annoying when I do!" Du Yun said with a beaming smile as she bid her farewells. Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around, and her smile froze on her face.