After the train police left, the middle-aged aunt beside her suddenly became much more enthusiastic.“Little comrade, I never expected it. You look so delicate and gentle, but inside you’re so tough, with such high awareness.”
Jiang Lai thought to herself that she’d disguised herself well—how did she look delicate?
The aunt’s gaze dropped to her hands.
They were the hands of someone raised in comfort—soft, fair, not a single callus on her palms.
Being exposed so bluntly, Jiang Lai’s expression didn’t waver. “Serving the people. As we should.”
The aunt gave an awkward smile. “……”
Just behind Jiang Lai, separated only by the back of a seat, Qi Huaiye sat by the window. Hearing the clear, confident voice behind him, his expression remained unreadable.
The carriage was sweltering. He uncapped his military canteen; warm water slid down his throat, past the buttoned collar of his uniform.
Even after draining the whole thing, his thirst didn’t ease.
Something came to mind—his thin lips pressed tighter, and the cold, heavy aura around him surged, aggressive and suffocating.
The three men sharing his seat were on edge, like sitting on pins and needles.
Qi Huaiye lifted his eyelids slightly.
The half-grown boy sitting opposite him hurriedly lowered his head, nearly in tears from fear.
Qi Huaiye stood, heading to the boiler room to refill his canteen.
Wherever he passed, the carriage quieted.
The journey by train was monotonous and exhausting.
From the south to the north, the towering, rugged mountains gradually flattened into endless plains, then turned again into green wheat fields, and finally back to mountains.
After two days and a night of torment, the broadcast finally announced their arrival at the destination.
Everyone cheered.
Jiang Lai did too.
Sitting still for so long had left her back aching and her legs numb. Other than walking to the toilet, she could hardly move.
Fortunately, the danger she’d feared never happened. In fact, the entire carriage had somehow collectively improved their manners, staying quiet most of the way, letting her nap on the table several times.
When the train stopped steadily at the platform, she disembarked with the crowd.The moment her feet hit solid ground, she felt alive again.
“Comrade Jiang, which unit are you going to?” the aunt from the train hurried to ask.
Such sudden enthusiasm made Jiang Lai a little wary.
The aunt mistook her caution for shyness and explained, “This is your first time in Shenzhou, so you don’t know. Buses to the bases are rare. Like my eldest son-in-law’s North District Marine Corps—only one bus at 3 p.m. every day.”
Hearing that, Jiang Lai felt guilty for doubting her.
It truly was an honest and kind era. Upon learning Jiang Lai was going to the same unit, the aunt took her straight to the bus station.
“You’re unlucky. There was a landslide after the storm two days ago. The road to the outskirts is blocked. The bus will probably be delayed a day or two,” someone at the station said.
There was nothing to do but accept fate. The aunt suggested, “Why don’t the two of us take a room at the guesthouse nearby and see if there’s a bus tomorrow?”
It was already 2:30 p.m. The base was far; walking would take at least three or four hours, not to mention they didn’t know the way. And with wolves in the mountains, two women walking at night was unsafe.
Jiang Lai wasn’t used to sharing a room, but the aunt’s warmth wore her down.
Just as they were heading towards the guesthouse, the station doors swung open and someone rushed in.
“Old Hu, the horse that transports supplies for the base is acting up—won’t move no matter what. Do you know a farrier who can fix its hooves?”
Old Hu set down his ceramic cup and stood up anxiously. “That’s bad news—we can’t delay that. I’ll go ask at the animal clinic.”
Someone pulled him back. “The vet went to the forest station two days ago. With the landslide, he still hasn’t come back.”
“What are we gonna do?” Old Hu’s eyes widened. “If the supplies don’t get delivered, the soldiers will go hungry tomorrow.”
Just as everyone was panicking, a clear female voice rang out:
“I can fix horseshoes!”
Everyone turned to stare.
The girl who spoke was covered in dirt, small and delicate, clearly not a local.
But her eyes were bright as obsidian.
“You? You can?” Old Hu was stunned.
Repairing hooves was skilled work—if you hurt the horse, it could kick. A little southern girl like this… one kick could shatter her ribs.
Jiang Lai licked her lips. “My mother was a veterinarian at a meat processing plant. I followed in her footsteps and learned a lot from her.”
She pulled out documentation from her bag, stamped by the plant and the local office.
“But…” Old Hu frowned. Her thin arms didn’t look stronger than a pig’s leg bone. Could she really?
Jiang Lai clasped her hands behind her back, tilted her head, and smiled, bright and sweet.“Please let me try. If I can’t fix it, you can find someone else.”
Her features were dainty and gentle, harmless. When she smiled, her eyes curved like little crescent moons—impossible to refuse.
The aunt chimed in, “Her fiancé is a soldier.”
That title—soldier’s fiancée—tipped the scale. Old Hu clenched his teeth. “Alright.”
With Old Hu vouching for her, a logistics soldier reluctantly nodded and ordered the horse to be brought over.
It was a black horse—sleek coat, tall and strong, its back level with Jiang Lai’s chest.
It walked with difficulty, clearly in pain.
Jiang Lai asked for some corn and approached slowly, feeding the horse and stroking its mane. When it didn’t resist, she took the reins and walked it in circles to familiarize it with her scent.
Once it was calmer, someone returned with tools borrowed from the clinic.
Jiang Lai checked the injured leg and tried to lift the hoof.
“Hey!”
The horse snorted hard.
They hadn’t built enough trust yet.
“Be careful, Comrade Jiang!”
Everyone was nervous, terrified she’d get kicked across the yard.
The atmosphere was tense.
At that critical moment, someone came forward and took the reins.
The black horse, tense and irritable only moments ago, met the man’s sharp, icy gaze—and immediately wilted. Animals could sense danger, after all. And killers. Soldiers like him carried blood on their hands.
Holding the horse steady, Qi Huaiye turned his eyes to Jiang Lai, as if awaiting her instructions.