Chapter 27

Tang Can promised Shen Yu that he wouldn’t send Zhang Fei back to the regular army division. Despite Shen Yu’s involvement, Zhang Fei was not grateful. She groused about Shen Yu’s deficiencies behind their backs and ground her teeth silently. The only person who saw the female soldier’s actions was Mazha.

Mazha frowned deeply, disappointed by his colleague’s actions. He grumbled under his breath, stating that Zhang Fei was an ungrateful, two-faced witch who didn’t know how to repay good deeds. Although he tried to be quiet, evidently Zhang Fei heard him. She leveled a hard glare at him. Mazha sucked in his neck like a tortoise and rapidly shut his mouth. He didn’t have the clout to fight with this petty woman and her military family.

Tang Can saw that Shen Yu had been thoroughly awakened by Zhang Fei’s underhanded methods. He sighed and suggested that Shen Yu quickly eat dinner right now. She could sleep more after she finished eating.

Using a hand to cover her mouth, Shen Yu let out a long and loud yawn. With a voice still clouded with sleep, she asked Tang Can where he put Wheaty. The young officer smiled brightly and said, “The dog is in the rear courtyard behind the guestrooms. Unfortunately, we had to provide slightly cramped quarters for her. Army regulations. We had to get a dog crate for her, so she’s resting in that right now. I already had someone specializing in veterinary medicine look her over. Wheaty’s wounds got re-bandaged and that person also gave her a shot of something. Don’t worry about the dog!”

Shen Yu nodded obediently. After she finished her dinner, she grabbed a couple steamed rolls from the table and ran out to find Wheaty. Tang Can followed closely behind her. Zhang Fei originally wanted to follow the two but before she could step out, Mazha stopped her.

“You still trying to cause trouble?” he asked. “Are you trying to piss Officer Tang off? Again?”

Zhang Fei stamped her feet, revealing her anger and frustration. She threw off the hand that Mazha had on her arm and swiftly turned to back to her room. Mazha watched her retreat and laughed uneasily.

Shen Yu found the yellow colored dog in the rear courtyard. Wheaty lay dispiritedly in the dog crate, not used to being locked up. When the dog noticed Shen Yu was there, she jumped up and whined pitifully, as if she was a little housewife being abused by her evil mother-in-law.

The young woman squeezed her hand through the bars and patted Wheaty’s head gently, trying to comfort the dog. Wheaty soon saw that Shen Yu was holding steamed rolls, and the dog’s eyes glittered with greed. After a bit, she got impatient and thrust her wet nose into Shen Yu’s hand. Wheaty licked her chops and sat down, waiting anxiously for Shen Yu to do something. Shen Yu deliberately stood there and did nothing. Wheaty clawed at the kennel door at first but then stopped and stared at the woman, her large dark eyes looking sad and pitiful.

inside the bowl!” He grabbed the water dish and poured the water out on the ground.

Mazha was doing a good deed by making sure the water was fresh enough for the dog to drink, but Shen Yu had an odd expression on her face. For a while after, she looked at Mazha with a weird look in her eyes. Every time Tang Can saw Shen Yu having a good time with Mazha, he could not help but smile bitterly, as if he had just swallowed something unpalatable. He suddenly noticed the young woman looking at him. His smile changed and became bright and happy.

Shen Yu went over to talk to the young officer. She wanted to know where Mazha’s old home province was.

“Mazha’s a good fellow! Any woman who marries him will have a good life for the rest of her life!” exclaimed Tang Can, as if he was trying to recommend Mazha as a possible husband to Shen Yu.

Shen Yu ignored Tang Can’s weird comment and frowned. “Is he really from the inner Mongol tribes?”

Surprised, Tang Can stared off into space for a bit. He had a faint feeling that Shen Yu’s question had more than one meaning. He observed her quietly and then slowly said, “Mazha’s file says so. It says he’s a native from inner Mongolia. From Darhan Muming’an united banner in Baotou, Inner Mongolia to be exact.”

Shen Yu smiled sweetly at him. “I’m going to ask you another question, Tang Can. Do you know what ‘rice sheep’ are?”