Tangli Fried Snow

When Zhabu got home, he saw a strange Tibetan dog guarding the door.

He knew at a glance that a strange and distinguished guest had arrived. This wasn't a local mutt; it was a wolf-killing dog brought from the Western Regions, a puppy worth the price of two calves. It was young, at most seven or eight months old, but very well-fed, its coat glossy and smooth. Its eyes and demeanor clearly showed it had been pampered, never herded sheep, and certainly hadn't killed wolves. The nearby herders and friends had all moved to their winter pastures; if the guest wasn't them, then who was it?

As soon as he entered the door, he saw his wife preparing a dish typically eaten by pregnant women after childbirth. He asked in surprise, "Is Geri or Habur pregnant again?"

Why did you cook this kind of meal today?

Gomez said with a smile, "We have a guest at home today. She's very pitiful. She got separated from her family and got lost. I'm taking her in to stay at my house for a few days."

"I just touched her belly a few times, and the baby has already engaged. She'll probably give birth in the next few days. I'll make her some good food to nourish her so she'll have the strength to give birth!"

Zabu asked in surprise, "How could someone lose a pregnant woman who is about to give birth? Who is she?"

Gomez shook his head and said, "I've never seen a woman like this before. She looks a bit like a Han Chinese woman, but not quite. She's definitely not Mongolian, but she can speak Mongolian. Judging from her clothes and mannerisms, she seems to have seen a lot of the world, like the lady of a noble family. But she's also very young, and the baby in her belly doesn't seem normal. I just touched it, and it feels like she has two babies in her belly."

"I've just delivered three sets of twin lambs and two sets of twin calves this year, so I'm sure I won't make a mistake."

Zabu asked with surprise and uncertainty, "Where is he now?"

Gomez said, "She had walked for a long time and was exhausted, so I let her rest by the stove in the kitchen."

Zabu went outside, carrying a bundle of firewood to the stove in the kitchen. Sure enough, he saw a young and beautiful woman lying on a makeshift bed, sleeping with her delicate brows furrowed.

The girl was probably only a teenager, sleeping under a cotton-padded coat and a blanket. She had a pretty face and long eyelashes. Even in her sleep, she seemed restless, her eyes darting around under her eyelids.

A woman with this appearance is either a prostitute or the favorite concubine of a wealthy man. She is six months pregnant, so how could she appear in a place where there is no one for dozens of miles around?

As Zabu pondered, he added firewood to the stove. Perhaps the noise was a bit loud, or perhaps he wasn't a deep sleeper to begin with. Hearing the noise, the girl slowly woke up, opening her eyes, which shone like stars, and looked at him.

Sherry was startled when she saw the stern-faced old man. She hurriedly tried to get up to greet him, but her belly was too big, and she had to try several times before she could sit up with difficulty.

"You must be Uncle Zabu. My name is Shirley. I got lost, so I'm staying at your house for a few days. I'm sorry to have troubled you and Auntie."

She possessed a captivating charm despite her quiet demeanor, and her warm smile accompanied her every time she spoke; her expressive eyes seemed to be warmly greeting him.

Seeing that the girl was gentle and polite, and that her words and actions did not seem like those of a treacherous person, Zabu's expression softened, and he slowly asked, "Whose family are you from? I've never seen you around here. Where are you from?"

Sherry told the truth: "I come from Yecheng. My man is named Xiao Tang. He is a soldier. He has a mission and has gone to fight in a distant place. I was being chased by my enemies and accidentally got separated from my family. I am passing by your house and asking to stay for a few days..."

Zabu murmured, "Yecheng is more than a hundred kilometers away from here. No wonder I've never seen you before. Xiao Tang, I've never heard of you either. Does he hold a military rank?"

Sherry thought for a moment and said, "I don't know his exact military rank, I only know that he is a high-ranking officer and my man is very capable..." She couldn't continue. What good is being capable if he still leaves his woman stranded and now she has to stay at someone else's house?

I wonder where that jerk is now. Will he be able to find her when she gives birth?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but pout and mentally curse him.

Zabu's expression softened. The girl's face and eyes clearly revealed her true feelings. She was obviously a simple and honest person, with a touch of childish naiveté. It seemed she really was just a young noblewoman in distress.

“Since you’re here, you’re welcome to come. My wife told me you’re about to have a baby? It’s been snowing heavily these past few days, so don’t go out too much. Just stay home and relax. My wife has delivered all the babies in our family, so don’t worry. She’ll definitely help you have a smooth delivery.”

As Shirley watched the stern old man's brows slowly relax, she realized he had let his guard down, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

With the head of the household's approval, Sherry officially settled into Zab and Gomez's home. Once they consider you a friend and guest, the hospitality of the Mongolians is truly unparalleled.

Gomez treated her like a daughter, which made Sherry feel as comfortable as if she were with her own mother. The old woman took meticulous care of her and told her not to be stressed and to relax so that she could have a smooth delivery.

Zabu treated her very well, and even better to Maodan, whom Shirley brought. He even trained Maodan. Maodan was a good dog, smart and obedient. In just a few days, it learned all of Zabu's commands and followed him out every day to herd sheep and horses. It even became good friends with the big black dog. Maodan had only been there for a few days, but it seemed to have undergone a complete transformation; the dog's spirit and energy had changed.

The change was as obvious as if a carefree student had undergone military academy training. With companions, a leader, and a brand-new, interesting job, Mao Dan, the dog, was revitalized.

As her owner, Sherry was truly happy that her dog, Maodan, had finally grown into a real, wild, and good dog. However, he was often engrossed in running and fighting every day, no longer staying by her side to watch over her, cling to her, or bring her joy. This made Sherry involuntarily feel the loneliness of being abandoned, and she deeply understood the feelings of parents who don't expect their children to make great contributions, but only that they come home often.

That day, the old couple's son and daughter-in-law also returned. It turned out that they had their own yurt a few kilometers away. The families occupied the most fertile grassland in the vicinity in a triangular formation. Usually, the men would go out to herd sheep and horses together, while the women would stay at home to take care of the children, milk the cows, cook, and take care of the family.

There was no wind or snow that day. The smoke from the yurts rose straight into the sky like a towering birch tree, reaching the Tengri Desert. The grassland was completely still, the air dry and cold, and the outside temperature had already reached minus ten degrees Celsius. Sleeping outside in this weather would surely result in the deaths of Xue Li and her unborn child.

Sydney is truly grateful to the kind Gomez family.