I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Their luck was average the next day. After wandering around, they hadn’t bagged any prey. Even Zhao Wendong was a little dejected, looking at the two wild rabbits and two Flying Dragons. Xiaojin had caught the rabbits, while Dahuang and Dahei had snagged the Flying Dragons. For the first time, the four of them experienced the hunter’s blues.

"Forget it. Maybe the animals have all gone home for the New Year," Zhao Wendong said. "Let’s not go searching all over tomorrow. The New Year is almost here, so we’ll just go for a soak."

"Alright!"

Zhao Wenjun and Zhao Ergou weren’t in high spirits, but Zhao Wenwu was the happiest of them all. Bagging prey was great, sure, but getting to soak in a hot spring and play in the water seemed even better. After another night’s sleep, it was the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month. ’In my past life, this would be the time to start preparing dough for the New Year,’ Zhao Wendong thought. But in this era, white flour wasn’t a luxury the people of Dragon King Pond Village could afford. Despite all the food Zhao Wendong had stockpiled, he hadn’t managed to get a single bag of flour. Ever since the grain shortage began in autumn, it was no longer being produced.

Before they left this time, Zhao Wendong had specifically shown Xiaojin a picture of the White Wolf, placing it at the very end of a stack of images. He used to think wolf meat was unpalatable, but now he was actually hoping the White Wolf would send a few of its minions their way. The other purpose was to be on high alert for the White Wolf and its pack. After all, the wolves had suffered at their hands many times. ’What if it gets desperate and makes a final stand?’ The four of them journeyed to the Hot Spring Valley. When they still hadn’t encountered any prey upon arrival, Zhao Wenjun’s and Zhao Ergou’s moods soured again. Zhao Wendong clapped them on the shoulders.

"It’s the New Year. We should get some proper rest."

"Alright. Why don’t you and Wenwu go wash up first?"

Zhao Wendong shook his head. ’No way,’ he thought, ’I’m not about to lose a size contest.’ His eyes darted about.

"Big Brother, you and Wenwu can go later. Er Gouzi and I will wash up first. I’m itching all over."

"That’s fine."

Zhao Wenjun didn’t suspect a thing. They were going in pairs anyway, so what difference did it make who went with whom? He had Zhao Wenwu stand guard with the rifle while he himself ducked into the small log cabin they had built to tidy up. They’d put a lot of effort into the cabin, and it stored some of their supplies, serving as a secondary outpost. Zhao Wendong’s plan was to eventually establish more of these outposts, extending their reach ever deeper into the mountains.

Zhao Wendong and Zhao Ergou enjoyed a comfortable soak in the hot spring, even helping scrub each other’s backs. Over an hour later, they emerged feeling thoroughly relaxed. Zhao Wenwu, who had been squatting on the ground out of boredom, practically jumped for joy when he saw them.

"You guys are finally done! I was starting to think you’d fallen asleep in there."

With that, he tossed the rifle to Zhao Wendong and, without even calling for Zhao Wenjun, sprinted toward the hot spring pool. Zhao Wenjun shook his head and followed him. Knowing Zhao Wenwu liked to splash around while bathing, Zhao Wendong took one of the whistles, hung it around his own neck, and gave the other to Zhao Ergou.

"Er Gouzi, you stand guard for Wenjun and Wenwu. I’m going to scout the area."

"Okay, you go ahead, Brother San."

Er Gouzi waved to Zhao Wendong and obediently stood guard at the entrance to the valley. Zhao Wendong had complete trust in him. Leaving Dahei to keep him company, Zhao Wendong took Dahuang and began to explore the surrounding area. There were numerous animal tracks around. The Hot Spring Valley was a popular watering hole for many animals in the winter, especially favored for its mineral-rich water. Zhao Wendong was confident he would run into some prey eventually.

Unfortunately, after circling the area twice, he’d found nothing. He had only managed to gather a few clumps of frozen mushrooms. Zhao Wendong got his bearings and was about to head back when Dahuang, beside him, suddenly whipped his head around to face a specific direction. He was snarling, teeth bared, all the fur on his body standing on end. Zhao Wendong quickly followed his gaze and saw a massive adult tiger watching them from a short distance away, its coat a stunning shade of gold.

The beast’s eyes were calm, but they held an infinite, domineering killing intent. For the first time, Zhao Wendong profoundly understood what it meant to be eyed by a predator. The Type 56 carbine in his hands gave him all the confidence he needed. He slowly pulled off his gloves, getting a firm two-handed grip on his weapon. Placing his finger on the trigger, he raised the rifle slightly, his eyes locked with the Northeast Tiger’s in an unblinking stare.

The distance was considerable, close to seventy or eighty meters. Zhao Wendong wasn’t confident he could land a shot from this far. So the man, the dog, and the tiger remained locked in a standoff, none willing to show weakness or retreat, each contemplating how to eliminate the other. When the Northeast Tiger saw that Zhao Wendong wasn’t moving, it took a few tentative steps toward him. But the instant Zhao Wendong’s rifle twitched, the tiger agilely leaped to the side, never taking its eyes off him.

"Don’t you come any closer! One more step and I’ll put you down!"

It was too cold to keep his hands exposed for long; if they went numb, it would affect his shooting. Zhao Wendong’s shout startled the tiger, causing it to back up another two steps. He then cupped his hands to his mouth, warming them with his breath. This standoff was getting nowhere. Zhao Wendong tried advancing a few steps toward the tiger, but the beast immediately backed away, warily maintaining a constant, calculated distance between them.

Giving up on that, Zhao Wendong began to slowly retreat. As he backed away, the Northeast Tiger advanced, as if it had singled him out. Zhao Wendong kept his eyes glued to the animal, not daring to let it out of his sight for an instant. Seventy or eighty meters seemed far, but a Northeast Tiger could close that gap in just three seconds. If it charged and he didn’t drop it with his first shot, things would get very dangerous.

Zhao Wendong was getting annoyed with the persistent Northeast Tiger. He raised the whistle to his lips and blew. A series of sharp, urgent blasts echoed out. Zhao Ergou’s ears perked up as he listened. Two short blasts.

"Wenjun! Wenwu! Get dressed, quick! Brother San is calling for us."