Zhu Changle lifted the curtain and saw that her grandmother was wearing a thin blanket but was still damp. Feeling both anxious and angry, she cursed, "What kind of awful weather is this? The rain starts pouring without warning, as if the sky had sprung a leak."
"Indeed, it didn't even bother to give our Changle a heads up," the old lady joked while trying to pull her into the carriage. "Hurry up and come in to take shelter."
"It's fine," Zhu Changle replied, looking back. Why was Dingding so slow?
There were no umbrellas in the carriage, so the old lady, despite her concern, couldn't say much more. Changle's friends were still outside in the rain.
"Little Zhu, quick! The homeowner has agreed to let us take shelter inside," someone called.
"Granny Liang, help Grandmother out. Wait, wait for me," Zhu Changle said as she turned and ran. She fetched an oilpaper umbrella from the carriage where the servants were sitting and ran back. "Granny Liang, here, hold the umbrella."
Granny Liang quickly took the umbrella, opened it, and walked to the carriage frame. She turned back to help the old lady out. Zhu Changle first draped her grandmother's thin blanket over her own back to cover her wet clothes, then turned her back and said, "The ground is all muddy. I'll carry you on my back."
Seeing movement from the other carriage, Zhu Changle called out, "Don't come down yet, the path is too slippery. Wait for me."
The old lady didn't refuse her granddaughter's kindness and slowly climbed onto her back. She was afraid of falling, of getting sick, of becoming a burden. At her age, she understood well what things she shouldn't push herself to do. Living without illness or mishap and not causing trouble for her descendants was the biggest help she could offer them.
The muddy path caked their shoes, obscuring their original color, but fortunately, it wasn't far. A few quick steps and they'd be there.
Dingding helped Grandmother stand steady. Zhu Changle took out a small piece of silver from her waist and handed it to the man who was standing to the side with his head bowed, not daring to move. "Please trouble the host to boil more hot water. We need water for both drinking and washing. If you have any ginger root, that would be even better. Also, we need to borrow some rooms inside for my family to change clothes. If there are other family members, please ask them to keep away for a while."
The man's eyes lit up. It was rare for them to even have a few copper coins, let alone such a large piece of silver. But he also valued his life and didn't dare to reach out and take it. He stepped back, lowering his head even more.
Zhu Changle didn't bother to push it on him and simply placed the silver in his hand. "Thank you for the trouble. Please hurry. Dingding, go help out."
"Alright, leave it to me." Dingding dragged and pulled the dumbfounded host towards the kitchen. Zhu Changle adjusted the thin blanket and ran outside, calling back without turning her head, "Granny Liang, check if Grandmother's inner clothes are wet. If they are, change them quickly."
"Yes, miss."
Running to the door, Zhu Changle, quick-eyed and nimble, dodged to one side to let Little Lid, who was carrying her mother on his back, enter first. Behind them, Ban Lian was helping to carry Madam Xu, while two ladies held umbrellas outside, ready to assist the others.
"Thanks!" Zhu Changle grinned and ran out quickly. Haha, opportunity, opportunity! Little An'an, Auntie's coming!
Rushing outside, Zhu Changle was momentarily stunned to see Qiuli holding an umbrella with one hand and supporting her father with the other. She could tell that Qiuli was a person who didn't particularly like physical contact with others, but he didn't seem to mind it with her father. Oh no, oh no, could she really have a brother out there?!
Zhu Maonian glared at her, "What are you daydreaming about in the rain?"
"Thinking about a big question," Zhu Changle swallowed and gave a forced smile. At this moment, Lan Ping also came out, and without thinking, she said, "Little Lid, go help my eldest brother."
Lan Ping walked towards that carriage without a word. Nothing could stop Zhu Changle from running towards Little An'an... uh, actually, there was something – her second brother was holding the child!
Just as she was thinking about how to openly get the child into her arms, Zhu Changning handed the child over to her. "The path is slippery. I'm afraid of dropping him."
Zhu Changle blinked, looking at her second brother with a smile that made her eyes squint. She lifted the thin blanket in front of her, feeling for a dry spot to pad her chest to prevent the dampness from seeping through to the child. She then called a servant over to hold an umbrella before finally taking the child into her arms.
"Let's go, let's go." Zhu Changle walked steadily, step by step, not daring to move her arms even slightly, afraid that any twisting might make the child uncomfortable.
Seeing her careful yet joyful demeanor, Zhu Changning smiled. But when he looked up, the smile froze on his face. His eldest brother was being carried on a woman's back?!
Zuo Qing hurried along, holding an umbrella, desperately trying to control himself from looking around, but his eyes still involuntarily fell on the woman carrying his master. He was very surprised, but then again, it seemed not so surprising. Nothing the Fourth Young Miss's friends did seemed out of the ordinary.
Inside the house, Zhu Changle, beaming with joy, brought the child close to her mother's face, then showed him to Grandmother, showing off as if the child were her own. Only then did she return the child to his mother's arms, not even glancing at Madam Xu's strained expression.
Hmph, she got to hold him, so there!
Catching sight of her mother and grandmother's strange expressions from the corner of her eye, she turned her head. Zhu Changle's expression also changed. She ran over to help her eldest brother stand steady while grumbling, "I've never even gotten to carry you on my back. Next time, I want to carry you too!"
Zhu Changwang, who had been feeling a bit awkward, couldn't help but laugh at her words. It wasn't exactly something to be envious of, yet here she was, getting sour about it!
He poked her forehead, watching her sway back like a roly-poly toy and bounce right back, amused, he poked her again. "Next time, I'll let you carry me to your heart's content."
"Hmph, I'll remember that. There are so many witnesses here. Big brother, don't you dare deny it later."
Lady Zhang gave Lan Ping an extra glance and smiled, "Yes, we'll be your witnesses."
Zhu Changle immediately lifted her chin, "Did you hear that, Big Brother?"
"Yes, yes, yes." After his little sister's antics, Zhu Changwang was completely at ease, at least on the surface. "Thank you, Miss Lan."
Lan Ping shook her head and walked away to find Dingding. The room wasn't large, and with just the Zhu family alone, there was barely any space to move.
"Big Brother, go change into some dry clothes quickly. Don't catch a cold."
Zhu Changwang nodded in agreement, "Your clothes are so wet there isn't a single dry thread. Hurry and change."
"I know, I know. Go quickly."
Other trivial matters were left to others to handle. Zhu Changle had Lady Li find a few sets of clothes. She handed one set to Ban Lian, left two sets for Lan Ping and Dingding, and took another set as she walked towards Qiuli, who was standing there soaking wet, as if in a battle of wills with himself.
"My second brother is only a tiny bit shorter than you. His clothes should fit you. Put these on for now."
Qiuli shook his head without even thinking about it. He would never wear someone else's clothes.
"Huh? That won't do? Then... should we find some of my father's clothes?" Zhu Changle asked cautiously. She was a bit nervous, afraid that this might really be evidence of her father's past indiscretions. That would surely break her mother's heart.
Qiuli looked at her in confusion. What difference did it make whether it was Zhu Maonian's or Zhu Changning's clothes?
"Oh, oh, it won't do? That's good that it won't do." Zhu Changle, frightened by her own imagination, patted her chest. No, she definitely needed to find a chance to secretly ask her father.
"Then what are you going to do? You're soaked through like this."
Qiuli pointed towards the kitchen and walked in that direction.
Dry by the fire? Good idea! Zhu Changle decided not to worry about it anymore. She walked to the doorway and looked up at the sky. The dark clouds had thinned, and the sky was brighter. This rain probably wouldn't last much longer.
