Gu Jianing was fed porridge by Zhang Shuwan. Her once icy hands gradually warmed up with the help of a hot water bag.
“By the way, Sister Shuwan, why did you come? Don’t forget, you’re also pregnant.” Moreover, Zhang Shuwan’s pregnancy was half a month ahead of hers. Now at three months with twins, her belly was already showing.
“Don’t worry, I know my limits. I just couldn’t stop worrying about you, so I came when I had the chance…”
From Zhang Shuwan’s account, Gu Jianing learned that over the past two days, everyone had been busy with rescue efforts, and many hadn’t even had time to eat.
That morning, the military family compound had organized the wives of servicemen to donate some food. They cooked porridge and prepared side dishes to deliver to the rescue workers. In such cold weather, a bowl of hot porridge was the best comfort.
“I donated some too, and then came along with them.”
Though nature’s disasters were merciless, human compassion prevailed.
Though Zhang Shuwan’s family wasn’t well-off, she still wanted to contribute. She managed to scrape together two pounds of rice to donate.
Of course, she also wanted to check on Gu Jianing. After all, Gu Jianing hadn’t returned since leaving for the hospital the day before. When Zhang Shuwan asked, she learned they had gone to the disaster zone.
Partly due to Sheng Zexi’s request and partly out of concern for the pregnant Gu Jianing, Zhang Shuwan had come.
Hearing that Zhang Shuwan had come for her, Gu Jianing felt a warmth in her heart.
“Sister Shuwan, you should be careful too. Don’t forget, you’re also pregnant,” Gu Jianing reminded her.
“Don’t worry, I know.”
Gu Jianing was truly hungry. She finished the bowl of porridge quickly, feeling her body regain warmth.
“Do you want more?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Alright.”
Following Zhang Shuwan out of the tent, Gu Jianing gazed at the scene before her.
Zhang Shuwan sighed. “The rain has finally stopped. I hope things improve soon.”
Gu Jianing remained silent, offering a silent prayer in her heart.
After a few more words of advice, Zhang Shuwan left to join the other military wives and help out.
Not long after Zhang Shuwan left, Gu Jianing noticed a commotion up ahead. She frowned slightly—was someone still trapped?
Almost instinctively, she walked toward it.
Sure enough, she saw several soldiers gathered around a collapsed area.
From their discussion, Gu Jianing learned that another landslide had occurred not long ago. A military dog named Amber had managed to carry a small infant to safety but had ended up buried under the rubble herself.
A massive boulder lay atop the debris.
Unfortunately, on the other side of the boulder was a young man.
The situation was this: unless they had the strength to move the boulder, both the man and the dog could be saved.
Otherwise, they would have to break the boulder with tools. But due to the angle, breaking one side would cause the remaining weight to crush the other—meaning either the dog or the man would inevitably die.
“What are you hesitating for? Save me, save me! It hurts so much! That’s just a dog! Dad, Dad, you’re the village secretary of Xinghua Village—tell them to save me! I’m your only son!”
“You’re the people’s soldiers—you’re supposed to serve the people! Hurry up and save me! It hurts so much!”
The boulder and debris hadn’t completely buried the man or the dog—their heads were still visible.
The young man kept screaming in pain and shouting demands.
Gu Jianing’s gaze shifted to the other side, where the military dog named Amber lay.
She was also pinned, only her head visible. Blood trickled from a wound on her forehead, but she remained quiet, her head drooping. She didn’t make a sound. It seemed she had struggled but couldn’t break free. Now, she simply looked toward her handler, silently awaiting her fate.
The sight made Gu Jianing’s heart ache.
At this moment, an elderly couple holding the infant and a young woman also began shouting nearby.
“What’s wrong with you? Aren’t you here to rescue us? My son is trapped—why aren’t you saving him?”
“How can a single person be less important than a dog?”
“If you dare save that dog instead of my son, I’ll report every last one of you!”
Amber’s handler, a young soldier named Xiao Duo, was so furious his eyes turned red. He roared, “How many people has Amber saved since yesterday? She just saved your grandson—and you don’t feel even a shred of gratitude?”
“She’s a military dog—it’s her duty!”
“Since when is a dog’s life more important than a human’s?”
“If she dies saving my son, that’s an honorable death for a dog!”
“You—!” Xiao Duo was so enraged he couldn’t speak. Clenching his fists, he even looked ready to lunge forward.
“What, you want to hit me? Go ahead—I’ll scream right now that soldiers are assaulting civilians!”
“Xiao Duo, don’t be rash, don’t be rash!”
Xiao Duo’s voice trembled with emotion. “Do you even know… Amber is pregnant?”
Amber was pregnant. She shouldn’t have been on this rescue mission at all. But with so many victims and so few military dogs available, she had volunteered.
“Since yesterday… how many people has she saved? How many?”
Tears streamed down Xiao Duo’s face.
Amber had saved so many lives. Pregnant, she had worked tirelessly to rescue others. And now, when her own life hung in the balance, she was the first to be abandoned.
How heartbroken must she be?
She didn’t deserve this.
Though Xiao Duo had only worked alongside Amber for half a year, he already saw her as a comrade. And Amber trusted him completely. Yet now, he had to stand by and watch as she—
“Xiao Duo… there’s nothing we can do. We… we have no choice.”
Gu Jianing watched silently. She already knew what decision they would make.
To anyone, the choice between a human and a dog seemed obvious—no hesitation required.
But both were living beings.
Did the dog deserve to be sacrificed?
Even if that dog was pregnant and had saved countless lives, while the man was clearly no saint.
Soon, she saw them reach their decision.
Xiao Duo stepped forward, stroking Amber’s head as tears fell. He seemed to be whispering something to her. Gu Jianing noticed the last glimmer of light in Amber’s eyes fade, her head drooping completely.
When Xiao Duo and the others moved to rescue the young man, the elderly couple and the young woman smirked in triumph, as if they had expected this outcome all along.
Gu Jianing quickly searched through the system’s exchange shop—and soon found what she needed.
As the boulder was split in two, the other half came crashing down, burying Amber completely. Even the last glimpse of her head disappeared.
“Save me, hurry!”
Silently, Gu Jianing slipped on a pair of gloves she had just exchanged from the shop. Then, she swallowed the [Hercules Pill].
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