“Lie down!”
Jiang Lai issued a new command from the side.
The German Shepherd’s ears twitched.
“Lie down,” Jiang Lai repeated, her tone firmer, applying psychological pressure on the dog.
The big dog hesitated for a few seconds, then obediently lay down on the ground.
“Good boy, very good.”
Jiang Lai praised him, then took out half a steamed bun from her pocket, broke it into pieces, and placed it near his mouth.
The German Shepherd’s long snout sniffed the fragrant food. Unable to resist the reward, it licked the bun with its red tongue and swallowed it.
In an instant, its eyes became much clearer.
“Down.”
The dog lay flat on the ground, its hind legs naturally stretched out.
And it received another treat.
“Sit.”
It quickly rose back up and returned to a sitting position.
Another piece of bun was rewarded.
“Very obedient.”
Jiang Lai cautiously stepped closer and raised her hand to stroke the dog’s head.
Qi Huaiye wanted to speak but held back, afraid his voice would disturb her. His dark eyes remained fixed on the German Shepherd, ready to act immediately if anything went wrong.
Fortunately, the dog remained still, letting Jiang Lai touch its head.
Its large tail began to wag from side to side.
The once-ferocious dog behaved like a child in her presence. At that moment, Jiang Lai seemed to glow all over.
Qi Huaiye stared at her without blinking, his breathing growing tense.
The onlookers were equally stunned.
After building trust with the German Shepherd, Jiang Lai reached for its collar. The dog obediently stayed still.
She cleaned off the dirt, revealing the tag.
“Thunderstorm, male, 3 years oldServed with the Shenzhou City Criminal Police Unit, ID 323”
Confirming the dog’s identity, Qi Huaiye recalled: “All the police dogs in the city were recently sent to the military district. This one must have been accidentally left behind.”
“No wonder…” Jiang Lai frowned. “Thunderstorm suffered a lot while wandering. Its hind leg was broken. I wonder if it can be fully healed.”
Hearing its name, Thunderstorm’s eyes brightened even more, nudging her hand with its head, wanting more attention.
It was very sensitive to human presence. Jiang Lai radiated a gentle aura, earning the dog’s trust. Meanwhile, the person beside her carried the scent of steel and gunpowder—extremely dangerous.
Jiang Lai lifted her lips in a small smile and looked to Qi Huaiye: “Let’s take him back. Maybe I can heal him and he can continue working.”
Not all German Shepherds can become police dogs. Each has a unique temperament. It takes extensive training and effort to cultivate one like Thunderstorm.
Its right hind leg was broken, making recovery difficult. It might never serve again. But looking into Jiang Lai’s clear, trusting eyes, Qi Huaiye couldn’t bear to tell her.
He nodded: “Alright, we’ll take him back.”
If the military dog unit didn’t take him, they would keep him themselves.
They quickly took a photo at the studio. The owner told them it would take at least a week to develop.
Afterward, they drove toward the military district.
Qi Huaiye first took her to the family housing to see their new home.
Given his rank, the house had long been assigned. Previously, living alone in a dormitory had been more convenient—a single bed sufficed.
His requirements for sleep were simple and unpretentious.
The neighborhood consisted of small, square single-story houses, each with its own yard.
Following the address, they found their assigned house. Inside, three logistics soldiers were cleaning.
Tables, chairs, and stools were all provided. Pots, pans, and other utensils were brand new. The cupboards even held two pounds of pork belly.
The senior commander had repeatedly emphasized that Jiang Lai must feel at home.
She sacrificed herself not only to resolve Qi Huaiye’s personal issue but also to restore the northern military district’s reputation, removing the stigma that the regiment commander couldn’t even afford a wife.
Hearing this, the three logistics soldiers felt choked up.
“Thank you, you’ve worked so hard,” Jiang Lai said, pulling out some candy and giving each of them a piece.
With sincere eyes, she invited: “In a couple of days, Huaiye and I will hold a small warming-house gathering in the yard. You must come!”
The soldiers, seeing such a beautiful young woman for the first time, looked dazed.
Only when Qi Huaiye cleared his throat did they snap back to reality, blushing as they accepted the candy.
When they returned, other soldiers grabbed them, asking questions left and right.
One sighed: “Qi Commander’s wife is stunning and speaks so gently. Looks like Chen Yu, the army’s most beautiful woman, will have to give up her title.”
Another expressed sympathy: “Comrade Jiang is delicate and gentle. How unlucky to be tied to Qi Commander’s childhood engagement. If she wakes up in the middle of the night and sees that fierce face next to her, she might cry herself to sleep.”
A third bragged: “Comrade Jiang invited the three of us to the warming-house in a few days.”
Others were envious beyond words. They regretted not volunteering to clean Qi Commander’s house first—maybe they’d be the lucky ones.
A rumor circulated through the base: Qi Commander’s cooking skills surpassed even state-run restaurant chefs.
No one could imagine him rolling up his sleeves to cook, but during missions, soldiers competed for the chance to accompany him, turning cooking into a competition.
Meanwhile, Qi Huaiye went around the house with mugwort, fumigating each room to drive away hidden pests.
The older he looked, the less satisfied he was.
The house was old, wiring aged, walls not clean… he felt it would be unfair for Jiang Lai to live there.
“These single-story houses are old. If you prefer a high-rise, I can request one, but it will take time.”
He referred to the “tube-shaped” buildings inspired by Khrushchyovkas in the Soviet Union—long corridors connecting multiple units on each floor, with communal water and toilets.
New military wives prided themselves on moving into the tube buildings.
“No need to switch. I like the single-story house,” Jiang Lai said, very satisfied. The tube buildings had poor sound insulation, many neighbors, and crowded corridors in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, with coal piles, dirt, and poor air quality.
“In a couple of days, I’ll plant vegetables in the yard, scatter flower seeds by the fence, maybe even some fruit trees or grapes…”
Listening to her envision the future, Qi Huaiye’s cold, rigid brows softened slightly.
He had never understood why marriage was necessary, believing wives and children only hindered dedication to the country and repeated his parents’ mistakes.
But now, he felt a warm sensation in his chest, fully understanding.
This was the feeling of everyday life, of family warmth.
People, like dandelion seeds, must land in soil of their own to sprout, grow new branches, and truly take root.