Chapter 183: Having Meat in the Army (3) (2/2)

When he had overheard that kid Xiao Yuhong talking about eating meat, Zhang Mai had simply mentioned He Changdi’s store of meat casually.

Although Captain Guo raised his troops with love, he trained them very strictly. He might seem coarse and open-hearted on the surface, but he actually wasn’t too easy to get close to. Zhang Mai had been serving under this superior officer of his for many years, so he understood him a lot more than Xiao Yuhong and He Changdi did.

Right now, though Captain Guo called these two kids his ‘brothers’, they weren’t all that important to him on the inside. In order to soften the steel walls of Captain Guo’s heart, some small tricks were needed.

For example, this small matter of eating meat.

Zhang Mai had seen He Changdi’s ability. He came from a good background and had proven that he had both ambition and the talent to back it. He was also a good kid inside. Unfortunately, perhaps since it was his first time in the army, he still fell a little short when it came to interacting with others. Zhang Mai didn’t know why, but he guessed that it might have been due to how he grew up when he was a child. That kid liked to keep a blank expression; although half of it was usually hidden by his full beard, it was inevitable that the combination of He Changdi’s appearance and attitude would give a bad first impression.

When he had first started interacting with He Changdi, Zhang Mai hadn’t really liked him. He had toiled for ten years to get to this position of lieutenant, while He Changdi had gotten in just by a letter from Prince Jin.

However, after interacting with him more, he had slowly began to approve of this young man. When he had fallen sick, He Changdi had taken very good care of him despite his cold expression. From his clumsy actions, Zhang Mai could tell that He Changdi had never really taken care of someone before. It was then that Zhang Mai had set down his initial misgivings and fully accepted this junior of his. He had come out now with the intention of helping He Changdi out.

Xiao Yuhong’s eyes were alight. He quickly moved up to He Changdi and stared at him with wide eyes. “Brother He, you really have meat?!”

Although he spoke with some degree of yearning, he didn’t ask for it outright. Still, Xiao Yuhong’s desire was visible; his drool was about to drip out of his mouth.

Captain Guo didn’t press He Changdi at all. Instead, he continued eating the hard wheat pancake in his bowl. He looked up with a smile and shot He Changdi a glance.

Zhang Mai was starting to regret trying to help this blockhead out, seeing as he hadn’t realised what he was supposed to do. He kicked the wooden stool under He Changdi and said, “You stupid brat, what are you blanking out here for? It’s just something your wife sent you. It’s fine if you couldn’t bear to let me eat it, but now you’re even refusing to serve it to the captain?”

He Changdi pressed his lips together and stood up. He bowed respectfully towards Captain Guo and said, “Please wait for a moment, Captain.”

He Changdi returned soon enough carrying a small jar. He placed it on the table and opened the lid; the unique smell of pickled beef drifted out and filled the room.

“Captain, it’s all here now. Please try it.”

He Changdi ordered someone to bring another bowl. He poured the remaining half of the translucent shredded beef into it.