Chapter 21: Secretly Watching Him Again

Chapter 21: Secretly Watching Him Again

Just as everything was ready, a sudden downpour began, as if water had been poured from the sky.

The people around could only take out spare clothes and put them on their heads, then hide under saplings that were not even as tall as them.

Yun's relieved voice rang in my ears: "Luckily, Tang'er changed into oilcloth, otherwise we would have gotten soaked too."

"Yes, thanks to my little sister."

Jiang Sumin rarely agreed, saying, "Hmph, at least you've done something praiseworthy."

"Fourth Brother, can't you just give me a honest compliment?" Jiang Yutang said coquettishly, taking two steps toward Jiang Sumin.

Jiang Sumin quickly called out, "Stop! If you take another half step, I'll leave."

Just as the group was laughing, Jiang Songzhi suddenly asked, "Is that Cheng Lanzhou over there?"

Jiang Yutang looked in that direction and saw the three people awkwardly covering their heads with their clothes, huddled under a small tree, jumping up and down to avoid the rain.

Cheng Lanzhou's tall body supported the clothes, shielding Cheng Dai'er and Lin Shi beneath him. Even so, the wet clothes still seeped water droplets, which dripped onto them and soaked their clothes.

The family fell silent. Jiang Songzhi noticed his father's hesitation, pursed his lips, and took the initiative to speak, "Why don't we call them over to take shelter from the rain with us?"

“No way,” Jiang Huaiyu immediately objected.

Everyone was puzzled by his decisive reaction. Jiang Shengan asked, "Did they bully you?"

Jiang Huaiyu stared wide-eyed at her father and retorted, "Bully me? How could that be?"

"If that's the case, why do you object?"

The rain outside grew heavier and heavier, making people increasingly uneasy and even a little irritable.

Jiang Huaiyu turned her head to one side and did not respond.

Caught in a dilemma, Jiang Songzhi gently patted his shoulder and whispered, "It's alright, let them come over to take shelter from the rain, don't you think, little sister?"

Jiang Yutang, who was called out, did not want to respond, but felt several pairs of eyes staring at her from behind, so she could only nod tremblingly.

“In that case, Huaiyu, shout for them to come over.”

"I have a loud voice?" Jiang Huaiyu was already dissatisfied, and now her expression was even more complicated. Faced with Jiang Songzhi's critical look, she could only compromise.

But the rain was so loud, like tiny firecrackers exploding right in front of him, that Jiang Huaiyu called out several times but the other person didn't hear her.

With no other option, Jiang Huaiyu had to brave the rain to call for help.

He covered his head with his hands and ran quickly through the mud, much like the light-footed skills in martial arts novels, only now he looked a little disheveled.

He stood in front of the three of them, speaking as he opened and closed his mouth, then pointed in their direction.

Cheng Lanzhou frowned slightly as he looked at them. The three of them stood still. Jiang Huaiyu's face darkened, and he hurriedly ran back after saying a few words.

"Why aren't they coming?" Jiang Shengan asked worriedly.

Jiang Huaiyu wiped the rain off her face and muttered in dissatisfaction, "Why bother trying when people don't appreciate it?"

The rest of the family remained silent. They huddled under the tarpaulin, listening to the rain, and Xiaoxiao curiously rubbed the water droplets off the edge of the tarpaulin with her hand.

Half an incense stick later, the Cheng family, who had been inactive, suddenly took action. Two frail women helped Cheng Lanzhou stumble and ran towards them.

Seeing this, Jiang Songzhi nodded slightly to them, then took two steps inside.

Lin's pale face forced a respectful expression: "I'm sorry to bother you."

"Mother, you and eldest sister stand inside, rain will drift in from the outside." Cheng Lanzhou helped Lin Shi and Cheng Dai'er inside, while she stood on the outermost side to block the wind.

The three of them were soaked through and were shivering with cold even without any wind or cold.

"Lanzhou, you're not fully recovered yet. Let me stand outside. You and your mother stand inside." Cheng Daier said, tugging at Cheng Lanzhou's sleeve.

Cheng Lanzhou gently shook his head: "It's nothing, it's nothing."

Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Cheng Dai'er could only purse her lips and try to pull Lin Shi to the middle, leaving more space for Cheng Lanzhou.

Thirteen people were crammed under the tarpaulin, so close together that they could hear each other breathing, making the already crowded space feel even more cramped.

Lin and Cheng Dai'er were both women, and it was normal for them to be cold. Now, they were soaked in the rain and were shivering in the crowd.

Seeing this, Yun took off the thick woolen cloth she was wearing and handed it to Cheng Dai'er.

Cheng Dai'er was taken aback when she saw the thick woolen cloth. When she looked at Yun Shi, the other woman's eyes were full of concern. She rubbed her slightly trembling knuckles, and after a moment, she still took it.

Thank you.

She unfolded a thick woolen cloth and covered Lin's body with it, pulling it tighter: "Mother, cover yourself up."

Lin looked at the thick woolen cloth on her body in surprise, then immediately realized what was happening and nodded slightly to Yun behind her.

Seeing this, Zhu lent Cheng Dai'er the thick woolen cloth she was wearing.

Cheng Dai'er's gaze fell on her protruding pregnant belly, and after hesitating for a moment, she still refused the other party's kindness.

"I don't need it, just take care of yourself."

After being rejected, Zhu gave a fawning smile and, somewhat embarrassed, put the thick woolen cloth back on.

This caused Jiang Jiuzhe's face to darken. He gently patted Zhu's shoulder and shook his head at her.

Jiang Yutang, standing to the side, understood Jiang Jiuzhe's expression. This usually taciturn second brother rarely showed dissatisfaction; his face practically screamed, "You ungrateful bastard!"

Jiang Yutang let out a muffled laugh, and when she turned around, she saw that everyone was looking at her.

She casually said to Jiang Songzhi, who was carrying the oilcloth, "Brother, you take a break, I'll carry it."

"You want to lift it?" Jiang Songzhi raised his right eyebrow, amused. "Wouldn't it be a bit of a stretch for someone of your height to lift it?"

All eyes were on Jiang Yutang, comparing her to Jiang Songzhi.

Mu suppressed a laugh and pulled her to her side: "Don't go and bother your older brother, just stand obediently next to me."

Jiang Yutang was deeply shocked. In her original world, she was at least 168 cm tall, which was definitely not short. She subconsciously assumed that this body was also 168 cm tall.

Don't you have any?

She stared blankly into the distance at the branches and leaves swaying in the rain, and suddenly realized something.

Since entering the world of the book, she had never properly observed what this body looked like. Even by the river, the rippling water and the late hour made it impossible to see anything clearly.

Could it be that she and this body only share the same name?

Undeterred, Jiang Yutang compared her height with others. She was taller than Mu Shi, Zhu Shi, and her mother, but compared to her four older brothers, she only reached their necks.

Thinking of this, her gaze unconsciously fell on Cheng Lanzhou, staring at him and comparing him to her second brother with a sidelong glance, only to find that the other was actually a head taller than Jiang Jiuzhe.

Cheng Lanzhou had always been lying down or sitting, so seeing someone standing up straight up close today was quite a shock.

That guy must be at least 193cm tall. No wonder he's a major general; he'll definitely stand out in a crowd.

Just as Jiang Yutang was engrossed in watching, Cheng Lanzhou on the other side let out an impatient sigh.

How could someone who spends all his time on the battlefield not notice the prying eyes of others? And this person happened to be Jiang Yutang, which made him feel irritated.

Jiang Yutang, however, was completely unaware of this.