Xu Suining hadn’t even figured out what was happening before Huo Qingshan had already rushed out.

She quickly put down her steamed bun and followed him outside.

A woman was sitting on the ground, holding a bloodied child in her arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Huo Qingshan stepped forward. “What happened?”

The woman was crying so hard she couldn’t speak. Someone nearby explained, “A stray dog bit the child’s face and thigh.”

Huo Qingshan glanced at the child. There were clear bite marks on the child’s swollen face. The pant leg had been torn, and a chunk of flesh was exposed.

Xu Suining stepped closer to take a look. The child was only about three or four years old and so terrified she couldn’t even cry anymore. She trembled in the woman’s arms.

The woman was someone the original host knew as well: Liu Yuchun, the wife of First Battalion Commander Song Shuangxi.

Without another word, Huo Qingshan scooped the child into his arms. “Don’t cry, we need to get the child to the hospital.”

Liu Yuchun scrambled to her feet and followed Huo Qingshan, running toward the medical team.

Xu Suining had a bad feeling and decided to go with them. The child’s injuries were severe, and since she was bitten by a stray dog, cleaning the wounds wouldn’t be enough. She would need rabies and tetanus shots immediately.

Since she couldn’t walk fast, by the time she reached the medical clinic, Feng Shunhua, Feng Chunhua, and a few others were already gathered outside the consultation room.

Inside, the child’s heart-wrenching cries echoed alongside Liu Yuchun’s choked sobs.

Just as Xu Suining reached the doorway, she overheard the doctor telling Huo Qingshan that they needed to go to the city to get the rabies vaccine.

Huo Qingshan frowned. “Get a car ready and take them to the city epidemic prevention center.”

While they waited for the vehicle, Liu Yuchun came out carrying her child. Seeing Feng Chunhua, she burst into tears again. “Sister-in-law, how could a stray dog get into our courtyard like that?”

Feng Chunhua was puzzled too. “It was terrifying. That dog barged in this morning like it had gone mad.”

Feng Shunhua suddenly spoke up. “Sis, Sister Yuchun, was the dog black and yellow?”

Liu Yuchun nodded. “Yes, it suddenly came out of nowhere.”

Feng Shunhua turned to Xu Suining. “Sister-in-law, didn’t I see you feeding a black-and-yellow dog before?”

At that moment, Xu Suining finally understood the source of her unease. So this was it—they were trying to make it seem like the rabid dog had come because of her?

Oddly enough, hearing Feng Shunhua say that made her feel more grounded. She frowned and spoke seriously. “What are you talking about? I fed a dog?”

Feng Shunhua saw she wasn’t admitting it and turned to Feng Chunhua. “Sis, don’t you remember? You once said you brought her some pancakes, and she threw them to a stray dog by the gate. Isn’t that what happened?”

Feng Chunhua looked slightly awkward. Did her sister have no sense at all? Saying something like that now was just asking to offend Huo Qingshan.

Just as she was about to explain, Xu Suining calmly interjected, “I don’t remember doing any such thing. Feeding pancakes to a stray dog? Sister-in-law, you should’ve stopped me right then. That would’ve been such a waste of food.”

Then she turned to Huo Qingshan. “It’s early spring, the scarcest time for food. We’re near the mountains too. It’s not just stray dogs—we might even get wild animals coming down. We should act quickly and organize a capture operation before someone else gets hurt. The family compound isn’t within the base perimeter, and there aren’t even fences around it.”

She turned back to Liu Yuchun and pulled five yuan from her pocket, pressing it into her hand. “Once you’re in the city, the child needs both rabies and tetanus shots. These strays might carry all kinds of viruses. This is just a little something from me and Qingshan. After the shots, buy her some egg cake, maybe some milk powder.”

She gently held the child’s small hand. “She’s been through a lot. Make sure to comfort her.”

Xu Suining wasn’t trying to build relationships with these people, but if she wanted to get along with Huo Qingshan, she had to take action.

Huo Qingshan was surprised by Xu Suining’s behavior. She really had changed. She was actually thinking things through so thoroughly.

Seeing Liu Yuchun about to refuse, he added, “Take the money and get her something to eat. And buy some candy too. I’ll arrange for people to drive out the wild animals.”

Liu Yuchun had no choice but to accept the money. Eyes full of tears, she thanked him. “Thank you, Commander Huo.”

She hesitated, then turned to Xu Suining. “Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

Xu Suining gave her a small smile. “You’re welcome. As long as she recovers well.”

As they spoke, Song Shuangxi arrived and left for the city with Liu Yuchun in the clinic’s car.

Xu Suining watched the car drive away and let out a quiet sigh. Good thing she had come along. Otherwise, who knew how Feng Shunhua might have twisted the story to Huo Qingshan, accusing her of feeding stray dogs that later bit a child.

She turned to Huo Qingshan. “Shall we go home?”

He looked at her. “You go ahead. I’m going to the regiment to assign some tasks.”

She was right. There were wild dogs and boars in the mountains, and this was the hardest time of year for food. Today was just a dog bite, what if a real wild animal came down? That would be much worse.

It hadn’t happened before, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t.

Just like today’s attack. A rabid dog in the compound, something like that had never happened before either.

Xu Suining was satisfied watching him leave. This man was willing to take advice, which meant he was someone she could talk to.

Feng Shunhua was furious. Another perfect opportunity had slipped away.

And Liu Yuchun? Five yuan was all it took to shut her up? Didn’t she used to dislike Xu Suining too?

Feng Chunhua was also annoyed. What did Xu Suining mean by that? “You should’ve stopped me”? When she saw her feeding that dog, she’d been behind the window. She had just stewed in anger, how was she supposed to stop her? Was she supposed to snatch the food back from the dog’s mouth?

Xu Suining glanced at the sisters and could tell right away they were both in a foul mood.

She smiled. “Sister Chunhua, Shunhua, I’ll head back first.”

As she spoke, she touched her still-flat belly and supported her back as she slowly walked away.

Feng Shunhua was grinding her teeth. Once Xu Suining was far enough, she finally dared to mutter to her sister, “What’s she so smug about? She’s just a shameless tramp. She ran off with someone and still dares to show her face around here?”

Feng Chunhua turned back in shock, checking that no one was nearby. She reached out and pinched Feng Shunhua’s arm. “Are you out of your mind? Watch what you say in this compound. This isn’t our village, where you can shoot your mouth off.”

Feng Shunhua winced and muttered, clearly dissatisfied. “Am I wrong? Don’t you think the same? She’s not good enough for Brother Huo.”

Feng Chunhua was older and wiser. Hearing her sister’s words, she suddenly picked up on something and spoke more sternly. “Shunhua, get rid of that thought. You’re an unmarried girl. Do you want people pointing fingers at you?”

Feng Shunhua snorted. “Sis, I’ll bet you—Xu Suining and Brother Huo won’t last long.”