After the incident with Pang Jixiu, Father's attention suddenly shifted to the inner courtyard. Unfortunately, with Duan Zhao presiding over the household and Wang Yingshu taking care of things, he couldn't find anything that would allow him to intervene, no matter how hard he asked around. Feeling frustrated, he began to devote all his energy to the renovation of the East Wing. The construction project, which should have been completed by early summer, was still ongoing by mid-summer, and it even prompted Duan Qijun to frequently visit the West Residence, where he would sit with Father under the shade of a tree, enthusiastically discussing what kind of colorful paintings to put on the beams and what kind of stone carvings to place at the entrance.

  Wang Yingshu couldn't help but mutter: "Father said that the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Punishment still have vacancies, he has already written to his good friends who work in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Punishment... Time waits for no man, are you going to give Father an answer?"

  Dou Shiying disagreed, sipping on iced green bean soup while looking at the drawings, and said distractedly: "No matter whether it's the Ministry of Works or the Ministry of Punishment, you have to go through the Ministry of Personnel. You don't need to worry about this, I have my own plans."

  Relying on one's father-in-law is seen as eating soft rice by others; relying on a cousin of the same generation is what should be done.

  Wang Yingxue didn't ask any more questions, and even Du Zhao thought that Father had already discussed it with Fifth Uncle, so she didn't take it to heart. Instead, she listened with great interest as Father and Du Qijun discussed how to borrow scenery and pile up fake mountains, as if they were going to turn the East Wing into a Jiangnan courtyard.

  Gao Sheng came to find Dou Zhao: "In just five short months, six thousand two silver coins have already been spent."

  Dong Zhao asked him: "Is your family in a difficult situation because of this?"

  "It's not that serious," Gao Sheng said in a low voice. "Also spent too much, last year's annual income is gone."

  "Wait until he has spent all of Su's savings and then come back to me." Su Zhaoleng said calmly, "You have to let him be busy with something, don't you?"

  He smiled wryly and shook his head.

  Dou Zhaowang gazed at Dou Qijun who was chatting with their father in the courtyard, and suddenly felt a sourness in her eyes.

  It has been nine years since Mother passed away, and Father spent nine years alone.

  A son untaught by his father is a misfortune for the father; a daughter untaught by her mother is a misfortune for the mother. If there were a son, would the father not be more steady in his conduct?

  A thought flashed through her mind, and she suddenly felt a wave of disgust at the thought of Duan Xiao's listless appearance, so she decided to ignore the matter.

  It was unexpected that at the end of June, Fifth Uncle sent a letter asking Father why he didn't go to Beijing to take up his post. He also mentioned that Grandfather had passed away and Father should take charge of the family estate now. In this world, there are many who add flowers to brocade, but few who send charcoal in snow. The Dou family people should stick together tightly, and Father shouldn't give up the hardships of ten years of studying for the imperial exams. Then he subtly asked about Father's offspring. He said that if Wang Yunxue was barren, he could ask Fifth Aunt to find a virtuous and talented concubine for Father, so that in the future when his son became an official, Father could return home with peace of mind and live out his days as a respected elder.

  His father was shocked and sweated all over his body, and wrote a letter to Fifth Uncle that night, saying that he would no longer trouble him with the matter of taking a concubine, but did not mention anything about the official position.

  Dong Zhaohui only then knew that his father did not go to Kyoto for a vacancy was entirely his own idea.

  She deliberately blocked her father: "You can take them to Kyoto together, and I'll pick up Aunt Cui, let the old lady also enjoy a few days of leisure."

  Father thought seriously and said: "What you said makes sense. Why don't we go to Kyoto together, and let Aunt Cui take care of everything at home."

  Living with Wang Yingxue in the same house and drinking from the same well for three years was already the limit of Du Zhao's endurance, how could she continue to be entangled with Wang Yingxue? Don't even think about it!

  "I'm going to Kyoto, and I suppose the Pong family will have even more reason to come to our house now?"

  Dong Shiying was dumbfounded.

  Dong Zhao took the opportunity to ask about his concubine: “...You should also have someone by your side to take care of your daily life.”

  As a father, how can Dou Shiying have a good discussion with his daughter about this issue?

  His face red with anger, he shouted at Diao Zhao: "What nonsense are you spouting? Who told you these things?"

  "Didn't Fifth Uncle write that in his letter?" Duan Zhao said calmly and magnanimously, "The Western Duan family can't not have a son, right?"

  Father could spend nine years alone for Mother, and all the more resentment, Dou Zhao had dissipated.

  Dong Shiying said with a sneer, "You also saw it, I don't have the time to stare at the inner courtyard every day. If another person is brought in, isn't that wasting someone else? Besides, even if a younger son were born, who would raise him? Look at Ming's sister, what has she become?"

  Dong Zhaomo was silent.

  At the end of April, Shu Ji Shi dispersed, and Liu Bo Fu Tuo Shi Heng went to the Hang Ren Si, becoming a close minister to the emperor. The two ladies were extremely delighted, and during the Dragon Boat Festival, they assisted the county government in organizing a lantern market, also inviting all the dignitaries of Zhending County to their home to watch opera performances. As one of the two jinshi of the Tuo family, Tuo Shi Ying was naturally included.

  He took his family to Dongdow.

  I don't know how it happened, but Dou Ming and Lang's eight-year-old Miss got into a fight, and even pulled out a strand of her hair... After the incident, no matter how Dou Shiying asked Dou Ming, Dou Ming's mouth was tightly closed, like a clamshell, not saying a word. Lang's eighth miss only knew how to cry, Dou Shiying had no choice but to personally visit their home to apologize, and even now, she still doesn't understand why Dou Ming fought with Lang's eighth miss.

  Dòu Zhāo however felt that Wáng Yìngxuě should know.

  Not only did Wang Yingshuai know, but probably most of Dong Sutong's female relatives also knew.

  The fifth daughter of the Zhu family finally married the fifteenth son of the Lang family.

  Dong Ming and Lang's eighth young lady quarreled with each other, Lang's eighth young lady jumped up and scolded Dong Zhao as "born to be spoiled"...

  Dong Shiying said to this point and couldn't help but regret: "If I had known you were so sensible, I should have let you take care of your sister. Now it's too late, you're already twelve years old, in two or three years you'll be getting married..."

  Dong Zhaoli's face turned pale with sweat, thinking that without a male family member, things were really inconvenient at home. She smiled and said: "If you give me a younger brother now, I'll help take care of him, but don't expect me to take care of a younger sister."

  Dòu Shìyīng smiled complacently.

  Dòu Qǐjùn came to find his father.

  "Hey, where are Eleventh Brother and Twelfth Brother?"

  Dou Qijun chuckled and said, "They're all preparing to take the stage next year, now each of them is at home hanging by their necks and stabbing their thighs!"

  Dòu Xiǎo gū gū de xiào.

  Translation: Dou Xiao laughed loudly.

  Dòu Qǐjùn and his father went to the East Cross Lane.

  Wang Yingxue received a letter from her mother, Madame Xu. It said that she had not seen Du Ming for several years and missed him very much, wanting to invite Du Ming to live with them in Kyoto for a few days.

  She went to consult with Dou Shiying.

  Dou Qijun rushed into the study room and spoke with Dou Zhao.

  "We're going to visit the Pangs in a few days," he said with a wink at Tong Zhao.

  Dong Zhao was stunned and hastily asked: "What are you doing?"

  Dòu Qǐjùn laughed and said: "Guess?"

  At that moment of anxiety. Du Zhao hated guessing back and forth the most, didn't think about it, and said directly: "I can't guess."

  Dòu Qǐjùn felt somewhat disappointed and said: "Páng Jìxiū is going to get married."

  Dong Qi was shocked.

  Dòu Qǐjùn smiled slyly: "Isn't Páng Jìxiū looking for a daughter-in-law? We thought this kind of thing was too thin with just our own efforts, so we mobilized the brothers and sisters at home to help Páng Jìxiū find one. And then... the other party took a liking to Páng Jìxiū at first sight, and the engagement was settled in less than three months..."

  Dòu Zhāo Yī listened and knew there was a story behind it, hurriedly laughing: "Quickly speak, otherwise next time you come, there won't be any iced green bean water to drink!"

  Dou Qijun saw that there was no one around, and he smiled in a low voice: "The Chen family of Lingbi County has been a bailiff for generations. They have five sons and one daughter. Each of them is born with a strong physique and has been practicing martial arts with Chen since childhood. Ordinary people cannot get close to them. The Chen family's daughter is over 20 years old and has not yet married, but unexpectedly, Pang Jishu went to the Chen family's home to buy things at their stir-fry store and secretly touched Chen's hand. Chen knew that Pang had not yet married, so she immediately took a liking to him and not only allowed him to touch her but also asked a matchmaker to propose to the Pang family. She said, 'Rather than marrying a useless person and living a dull life, I would rather marry Pang Jishu...' The Pang family is not a good family, are they? But the Chen family is ruthless, with one foot in the black and white worlds. The Chen family has already sent out a message saying that if Pang does not marry their daughter, he can just cut off his hands and give them to Chen as an apology, and this matter will be settled..."

  Dòu Zhāo couldn't help but burst out laughing and asked Dòu Qǐjùn: "Who touched Chen's wife?"

  "Of course it's Ke Ge." Duan Qijun said with a stern expression, "Would we still tarnish the reputation of the Chen family?"

  Kang Er is the eldest son of Qi Dagu and Du Fan Chang. He is only five years old this year.

  Dong Zhaosheng couldn't help but laugh.

  It turned out that Chen's family took advantage of the opportunity to rely on Pang Jixiu.

  She asked Du Qijun: "Who are 'you'?"

  Dòu Qǐjùn looked left and right, but didn't say a word.

  Dong Zhao didn't ask any further questions and thought that this marriage was quite a good match considering the shameless face of the Pang family.

  She told Du Shiying while having dinner.

  Dòu Shìyīng and Wáng Yìngxuě were both somewhat surprised.

  "When the time comes, we will also have to follow suit." said Dou Shiying.

  Dong Zhao smiled and nodded.

  Dong Ming, who had been sitting silently beside him all along, suddenly asked Dong Shiying loudly: "When are we going to Kyoto?"

  Dòu Shìyīng's eyebrows slightly furrowed. Wēn said in a warm voice: "Don't talk while eating."

  Dong Ming suddenly became excited, "Bang" a sound of chopsticks being thrown to the ground, loudly shouting: "I want to go to Kyoto grandmother's house! I don't want to live here! I don't want to stay in Zhending……" She said, tears streaming down her face.

  Wang Yingxue turned her face away, and her eyes were also filled with tears.

  Dong Shiying was so angry that she scolded Dong Ming for the first time: "Don't forget, your surname is Dong, not Wang! This is your home, if you don't stay in your own home, where do you want to go?"

  Wang Yingshuo wanted to speak but hesitated.

  Dong Ming pushed the bowl away and ran off with a clang.

  Dong Shiying coldly gazed at Wang Yingshuang and said, "Starting tomorrow, let her follow the second madam to learn some discipline. She's still fighting with others, our Dong family has never had such a young lady! If she doesn't get rid of these rough habits, she won't be allowed to go anywhere!"

  Wang Yingxue's face suddenly changed, and she said: "Seventh brother is really inconsiderate. My mother just misses Ming sister and wants to take her home for a few days. Seventh brother says this, it seems like our Wang family is competing with the Duan family for daughters... Father has arranged everything for you, you can ignore us or not, what did we do wrong to you? You want to give me and Ming sister a hard time..." She said, gazing at Du Shiying with resentment and grievance, then turned around and left the hall.

  Only Dong Shiying and Dong Zhao were left in the hall.

  Dong Shiying sat paralyzed in the armchair.

  Dong Zhao continued eating with an upright posture and elegant demeanor, as if nothing had happened.

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  Sisters, asking for pink votes...

  PS: There are guests at home today, tonight's update will be a bit late, everyone can check it out tomorrow morning!

  o(n_n)o~

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