Chapter 161 A Woman's Heart is Like a Needle at the Bottom of the Sea

Chapter 161 A Woman's Heart is Like a Needle at the Bottom of the Sea

Jiang Yutang smiled at him, then turned to look at Captain Wu who was approaching. She immediately put on a dignified and proper expression, and curtsied slightly: "Greetings, Captain Wu."

“Madam Cheng, there’s no need for such formalities.” Captain Wu waved his hand, his tone warm. “You and Huaiyu are great contributors to our camp.”

Jiang Yutang smiled and thanked him for the compliment, then explained his purpose: "Captain, you flatter me. I have come here to ask you for a favor. My second brother's family has just welcomed twins, and my third brother has not seen his family for a long time. I would like to ask you to grant him a few days' leave so that he can go back to reunite with his family."

"What's so difficult about that!"

Without a second thought, Captain Wu readily agreed, his voice booming, "This is a momentous occasion! Your third brother has fought bravely and made many contributions; this small amount of money is well deserved."

He immediately raised his hand and ordered his personal guards, "Go and call Jiang Huaiyu over!"

Jiang Huaiyu jogged up to him, and Captain Wu dismissed her with his chin raised, saying, "Madam Cheng has come to pick you up. She's given you five days off, so have a good rest!"

Jiang Huaiyu was overjoyed and quickly thanked Captain Wu. He grabbed the coarse cloth jacket tied around his waist, put it on haphazardly, wiped the sweat from his face, and hurried over to Jiang Yutang's side.

What brings you here?

Jiang Yutang smiled and turned to walk out: "I'll take you back to see my second brother's daughter and son."

Jiang Huaiyu's face instantly lit up with a smile, and she rubbed her hands together as she chased after him, saying, "Let's go, let's go!"

"By the way..."

Jiang Yutang turned her head and winked at him: "By the way... help me set up the shelves for the general store. My 'Little Fish Treasure Box' is about to open, and I just need to finish this last bit of work."

Jiang Huaiyu's smile froze for a moment, and she pointed to her own nose: "So, half of my leave was to visit relatives, and the other half was to be your helper?"

"Even close siblings should keep clear accounts."

After joking around, Jiang Yutang supported her slightly stiff legs and walked briskly forward, her skirt fluttering in the wind.

Seeing this, Jiang Huaiyu quickly caught up with her, took a few quick steps to walk alongside her, and looked at her legs, asking with concern, "Are your legs completely healed?"

"That's a lot more."

Jiang Yutang waved her hand and deliberately spun around in place: "I can walk normally now without crutches, it's no problem."

The two walked a few steps in silence, then Jiang Huaiyu suddenly spoke up: "This time when you went back, you asked Cheng Lanzhou to intervene, right?"

Jiang Yutang let out a soft "hmm" through her nose, deliberately softening her tone.

"Third Brother, don't hold such a grudge against him. He has done a lot for us during this time. He sent people to help me build the shop, and he even helped cover up the matter of Wujin."

"I wasn't targeting him." Jiang Huaiyu touched her ear, her tone somewhat unnatural.

Jiang Yutang turned to look at him in surprise, only to see him looking away, appearing embarrassed.

She instantly understood, a sly smile appearing on her face. She slowed her pace and moved closer to Jiang Huaiyu, lowering her voice to ask, "By the way, Third Brother, how have you been getting along with Auntie lately?"

Upon mentioning Cheng Daier, Jiang Huaiyu's lips twitched, and she confidently raised her chin: "Great! We can talk about anything now, and she often gives me food."

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

Jiang Yutang's eyes suddenly lit up, and she pointed ahead.

Not far away at the fork in the road, Cheng Dai'er was carrying a bundle of timber, her forehead beaded with sweat.

"Auntie!" she called out in a clear voice.

Cheng Daier looked up and smiled when she saw Jiang Yutang, nodding slightly in greeting.

But when her gaze fell on Jiang Huaiyu beside her, her smile vanished instantly. She snorted coldly, turned her head, and walked straight ahead with the wood in her arms, without even giving him a glance.

Jiang Huaiyu's raised hand froze in mid-air, and he awkwardly and tremblingly withdrew it.

Jiang Yutang suppressed a laugh, and only after leaving the military camp did she tease, "Is this what you meant by 'very good'?"

"Sigh..." Jiang Huaiyu scratched his head helplessly, and said with a bitter face, "I don't know what's wrong! He was fine a few days ago, but suddenly he became unhappy, and no matter how I coaxed him, it didn't work."

Jiang Yutang smacked her lips, looking every bit the "relationship guru".

"Tell me, what did she say to you before you two argued?"

Jiang Huaiyu fell into recollection, her brows furrowed: "That day she told me that after all the hardships of the journey, she felt she wasn't as pretty as before, and that she had fine lines around her eyes, making her look several years older. I quickly comforted her, saying that no matter how old she was, she was as beautiful as a peach blossom in spring in my heart, and if she cared, I would immediately save up money to buy her the best rouge and face powder. But as soon as I finished speaking, she stormed off in a huff."

"Oh, my third brother!"

Jiang Yutang burst out laughing, clutching her stomach: "Isn't your answer an open admission that she's 'faded in beauty'?"

Seeing that Jiang Huaiyu still looked blank, she explained helplessly, "Your aunt doesn't really think she's too old. She's implying that she's not young anymore and wants to settle down, waiting for you to come and propose! But you, your focus is entirely on 'how good-looking'. How can she not be angry?"

Jiang Huaiyu stood there, stunned, her eyes wide, and asked in shock, "Is this true? She...she meant this?"

"Of course it's true."

Jiang Yutang chuckled twice and patted his shoulder: "Girls are all sensitive, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. It's not good to say it directly. You should find a chance to apologize to her."

Jiang Huaiyu remained silent and deep in thought the whole way, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

When the two returned to the tent, they saw Jiang Jiuzhe and Zhu Shi each holding a swaddled baby, looking towards the crossroads.

"Third brother!" Jiang Jiuze was the first to see them and waved excitedly.

Jiang Huaiyu snapped back to reality and ran over quickly. Looking at the two babies in their arms, her voice trembled slightly.

"These...these are my little nephew and niece?"

Zhu smiled and nodded, handing the baby girl in her arms to him: "Hurry up and hold her, this is your little sister."

Jiang Huaiyu carefully reached out and stiffly took the child, her face full of tension and joy, her earlier worries long forgotten.

Jiang Yutang, standing to the side, waved her finger and gently teased her little nephew's chubby cheeks. The little guy grinned and giggled.

She casually remarked, "By the way, Second Brother, it's been so long, haven't you decided on names for the two children yet?"

Jiang Jiuzhe held his son, shook his head with a wry smile: "Being a father for the first time, I always feel that naming is a huge matter. I want to get a good omen, and I also want to hide my expectations for them, so I can't decide for a long time."

"We can't delay any longer."

Jiang Yutang's eyes lit up, and she suggested, "Why don't we hold a full-month celebration when the two children are a month old? It'll be a lively affair, and we must decide on their names then, so that everyone can share in the joy."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huaiyu casually replied, "If we still can't figure it out by then, we might as well ask Father or my elder brother."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiuzhe pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement: "What you said makes sense, and it is a solution."

The family sat around the tent, chatting and laughing, and even the air was filled with the warmth of reunion.

The next day, just as dawn broke, Jiang Huaiyu was dragged to the "Little Fish Treasure Chest" by Jiang Yutang.