I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Xiaobai had run off somewhere, vanishing without a trace after they entered the mountains. Zhao Wendong and the others didn’t worry about it. Xiaobai wasn’t like other animals; it would often disappear for days on end. It wasn’t particularly attached to home and had a mind of its own. Zhao Wenwu used to look for it, but now he was used to its habits and didn’t bother if it didn’t come back.

The next morning, everyone awoke from a great night’s sleep, full of vitality and with their spirits restored. They had coarsely ground corn porridge for breakfast, paired with the heated vegetable pancakes they’d brought along. After the meal, they felt bursting with boundless energy. Once everyone was ready, Zhao Wendong gave a spirited wave of his hand.

"Alright, let’s move out! Today, we’re going to find that legendary great-leaf poplar."

Leaving their cave base, they sealed the entrance with the stone slab again and carefully camouflaged the outside with branches. Zhao Wendong took a moment to calculate, using the direction Guan Yongguang had given him and the position of their own Song Family Village. Then, he pointed to the southwest.

"It should be this way. Let’s go!"

With that, he took the lead and headed off. After a while, the terrain grew increasingly unfamiliar. They had to stop frequently to get their bearings, which slowed their pace. They continued like this for over an hour until Zhao Wendong estimated they were getting close. Only then did he release Xiaojin, who had been waiting patiently.

Just as Xiaojin was about to take flight, Zhao Wendong held it back and began showing it the drawing of the great-leaf poplar. This was the first time the eagle’s target was a plant. He showed it the drawing repeatedly until he finally heard Xiaojin’s uncertain thought.

’Find... tree?’

"Yes, that’s right! You’re so smart, Xiaojin."

Zhao Wendong happily stroked Xiaojin’s head and rewarded it with another strip of jerky. Though the jerky was a paltry prize compared to the rabbits the eagle hunted for itself, Xiaojin had grown fond of being fed by him. It nuzzled its head against Zhao Wendong’s hand, spread its wings, and with a few powerful beats, soared high into the air. It let out a sharp cry before vanishing from sight.

"I sent Xiaojin to scout the area. Let’s rest for a while."

They had been walking non-stop for a long time. Aside from a brief delay when they ran into a wild rabbit and a pheasant, they had been pushing forward constantly, and their stamina was starting to run low. Zhao Wendong’s call for a break was well-timed. With Dahuang and the other dogs giving them early warnings, any rabbits and pheasants they stumbled upon had virtually no chance of escape. There was no shortage of these small animals, as they reproduced very quickly.

In truth, there was plenty of game in the mountains these days. For various reasons, human activity rarely extended deep into the range. When the weather was warm, everyone was busy with farm work for the production team, leaving no time to venture into the mountains. After all, they weren’t full-time hunters. When winter arrived, bringing a lull in farm work, heavy snows would seal the mountain passes. It wasn’t just the wild beasts; the severe weather and harsh environment also kept hunters away. Unless absolutely desperate, who would be willing to risk it? The tragic fate of Guan Yongguang’s father and uncle was a painful lesson for all.

Another reason for the high danger was the hunters’ lack of firepower. Most carried old-fashioned black powder guns or homemade hunting rifles. These weapons were weak, a hassle to reload, and couldn’t provide sustained fire. Many who ventured into the mountains lacked even the means to protect themselves. Zhao Wendong was different. On one hand, he had his "golden finger"—the ability to hear the thoughts of animals. On the other, he was just plain lucky. Early on, he’d found an old weapons cache left by Japanese soldiers. The few Type 38 Arisaka rifles inside had solved his biggest problems. Later, when he acquired a Type 56 SKS, it was like adding wings to a tiger; he could roam the mountains with impunity.

SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK~

A sudden squeaking came from a distant tree. The group looked toward the sound and discovered two squirrels fighting. The smaller one had greyish-white fur, while the larger one was a fiery red. The little one was attacking the big one frantically, but the size difference was too great. Each time it charged, the red squirrel effortlessly swatted it away, leaving the smaller squirrel to chitter in frustration.

’You damned bastard, hitting on my beloved Xiaobai! I’ll fight you to the death today!’

Hearing the little squirrel’s thoughts, something clicked for Zhao Wendong. ’Wait a minute... Isn’t that the same squirrel whose nut stashes we raided twice? The one that has a crush on Xiaobai?’ The more he looked at the small squirrel, the more certain he was that it was the same one.

"Wenwu, that’s the squirrel we met before."

Zhao Wenwu recognized it too, pointing at the little squirrel getting thrashed in the tree as he yelled. Zhao Wendong nodded, took his Type 38 Arisaka, worked the bolt, raised the rifle to aim, and squeezed the trigger.

BANG—!

The gunshot rang out. The red squirrel, which had been about to charge and attack the smaller one again, suddenly shuddered and tumbled headfirst from the branch. The red squirrel was quite large, and its pelt could fetch a decent price. That was why Zhao Wendong had deliberately switched rifles; the Type 56 SKS was so powerful it would have likely shredded the pelt.

The remaining little squirrel froze, completely stunned. Seeing the larger squirrel that had just been bullying it so arrogantly get taken out by Zhao Wendong, it was simply dumbstruck. It stood there motionless, not even trying to run. Its small, beady black eyes stared at Zhao Wendong with a dazed innocence as tears began to well up.

’It’s over... It’s over... It’s the two humans who stole my food! I’m going to die! I’ll never see Xiaobai again!’

Zhao Wendong chuckled and put away his rifle, ignoring the little squirrel. It was too small, with hardly any meat or a usable pelt, so there was no point in shooting it. Besides, they had already raided its nut stash twice; he could consider this payback for its unwilling "gifts." Dahuang barked twice. Erhei shot to his feet, sprinted over, and brought back the dead squirrel. The dog’s barking finally snapped the little squirrel in the tree out of its stupor. It immediately scampered away, leaping swiftly from branch to branch into the distance.