I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

"Hey, I was just talking!"

The big truck arriving at the gate startled Zhou Cuicui, who was busy in the kitchen. She opened the door and peered outside, her eyes immediately landing on Zhao Wendong as he jumped down. Her cousin looked incredibly dashing in his handsome overcoat. Her face lit up with joy, and she shouted into the house, "My cousin Wendong is here!"

With that, she pushed the door open and ran out to greet Zhao Wendong. Inside, Zhao Yinhua, who was sewing on the kang, hastily put down her needle and thread. She and Zhou Laogen scrambled to put on their shoes, get off the kang, and run outside, urging Zhou Manku along.

"Quick, quick, go tell your big brother."

Zhou Manku was fast at putting on his shoes and dashed out of the house a step ahead of his parents. Once outside, he saw Zhao Wendong talking with his older sister, with a few people he didn’t recognize standing beside them. He called out a loud greeting to Zhao Wendong and kept running to deliver the news to his big brother.

"Cousin, what are you doing here?"

Zhou Cuicui said, looking at Zhao Wendong with delight. She wasn’t old, but she was no longer a little kid. How could she not know about the changes Zhao Wendong had brought to their family? As a result, she felt particularly close to him and idolized him.

"Haha, I’ve come to take you all to Dragon King Pond to celebrate the New Year."

"Huh? For real?"

The young girl was stunned. She would be thirteen after the New Year, and the farthest she had ever been was the Commune. The excitement of a long trip instantly swept over her, and Zhou Cuicui couldn’t help but jump up and down.

"AAAAAH, this is great! I get to go on a trip!"

"A trip? What are you yelling about? Why aren’t you letting Brother San and the others inside!"

Zhao Yinhua and Zhou Laogen came out to greet them. Hearing their daughter’s shouts, their faces stiffened, and they quickly scolded her. Then they turned to Zhao Wendong, their faces breaking into happy smiles.

"Dongzi, you’re here! Quick, come inside."

"No rush, Second Aunt. Come and see who this is!"

After speaking, Zhao Wendong stepped aside, revealing Zhao Tiehua behind him.

The moment Zhao Yinhua and Zhao Tiehua’s eyes met, they both froze. Zhao Yinhua especially was completely unprepared to suddenly see the sister she hadn’t met in decades. Even though so much time had passed, the bond of blood allowed her to recognize the impossibly aged Zhao Tiehua at first glance.

Both of their eyes grew redder and redder. They walked faster and faster toward each other until they finally threw their arms around one another and burst into tears.

"WAAAH! Little sis, I’ve missed you so much!"

"Sis, I missed you too! Sis! WAHHHH."

Their cries were heartbreaking to all who heard them, as if they were trying to vent thirty years of grievances all at once, to reclaim the beautiful youth they had lost after growing up and marrying. Zhao Wendong and the others stood to the side, not wanting to disturb the sisters’ reunion. ’It’s impossible to go through life without negative emotions. When they pile up for too long, a good, long cry can release a lot of things.’

"Dongzi, you’re here!"

Zhou Mancang hurried over with his younger brother, wife, and child. When he saw his mom clinging to another woman who looked a lot like her, both of them crying their eyes out, he had a good idea of what was happening. Not wanting to disturb them, he chose to greet Zhao Wendong first.

"Hey now, Cousin, you’ve gotten more handsome, huh?"

Zhao Wendong saw Zhou Mancang and teased him with a smile. But he wasn’t just joking; Zhou Mancang really did look very different from before. His hair was no longer greasy, his face wasn’t scruffy with stubble, and although his clothes were still covered in patches, they were much cleaner and neater than before.

"Heh heh."

Zhou Mancang gave a slightly smug chuckle but didn’t say anything, his gaze shifting to the people behind Zhao Wendong. Seeing that the time was about right—his second and third aunts were so choked up they could only sob—Zhao Wendong stepped forward and said,

"Second Aunt, I’m cold."

Those words from Zhao Wendong were more effective than anything else. Zhao Yinhua immediately let go of Zhao Tiehua and ushered everyone into the house.

"Quick, quick, quick! Look at me, letting my dear nephew freeze out here. Hurry, get inside."

Once inside, Zhao Yinhua invited Zhao Tiehua and Zhao Wendong onto the kang. She still wouldn’t let go of Zhao Tiehua’s hand, as if afraid she might suddenly disappear again. The two sisters, reunited at last, seemed to have endless things to say to each other, leaving Zhao Wendong both amused and exasperated.

"Third Aunt, my second aunt isn’t going to run away. Let me introduce some people to you first."

"Oh my goodness, I completely forgot. Look at this brain of mine."

After saying that, Zhao Yinhua gave Zhou Laogen a mock-angry slap. "You old coot, why didn’t you remind me? We have so many guests."

Zhou Laogen just chuckled good-naturedly when he was hit. Zhao Yinhua had always been the one in charge of their household, and with Zhao Wendong’s powerful rise, her voice at home had unconsciously grown a bit louder.

"Dongzi, who is everyone? Quick, introduce them to your second aunt."

Zhao Wendong chuckled and pointed at Niu Yuesheng. "This is my second brother, Zhao Wenwu."

"Wenwu, how come you look so old for your age?"

Zhao Yinhua, suspecting nothing, took Niu Yuesheng’s hand, feeling quite emotional. Niu Yuesheng’s weathered face turned beet red, not expecting Zhao Wendong to be so mischievous. Beside them, Zhao Ergou couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing. Meanwhile, the real Zhao Wenwu scratched his head in confusion.

"He’s Brother Niu! I’m Zhao Wenwu!"

"HAHAHAHA!"

Hearing Zhao Wenwu’s words, everyone now understood that Zhao Wendong was teasing Zhao Yinhua, and they all erupted in laughter. Even Zhao Tiehua’s face was rippling with smiles.

"Oh, you brat, Dongzi! You little rascal."

Zhao Yinhua gave Zhao Wendong a light slap, laughing herself. Zhao Wendong then properly introduced Niu Yuesheng to everyone.

"This is my good buddy, Niu Yuesheng. He’s a driver for the transport team, and he’s the one who drove the truck to pick us up. Oh, right, he’s also the brother-in-law of Er Gouzi, my third uncle’s son."

"Oh, Yuesheng, please, have a seat."

Zhao Wendong then pointed to Zhao Wenwu and said with a laugh, "My second brother, Zhao Wenwu."

"Haha, I was just thinking that Wenwu was always big and tall as a kid, so why did he stop growing? Now *this* looks right!"

"Second Aunt."

Zhao Wenwu greeted her with a cheerful grin. Zhao Yinhua had been worried that his mind was damaged and he’d seem slow, but seeing that he acted quite normally, just a bit simple-minded, she was instantly relieved. She hugged him and patted him again and again, but unfortunately, even on her tiptoes, she couldn’t reach Zhao Wenwu’s shoulders, so she could only pat his waist.

"And this is Er Gou from my third uncle’s family."

"Second Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, Sister-in-law, younger cousins, Happy New Year."

Zhao Ergou went around greeting everyone and wished them a Happy New Year while he was at it. The members of the Zhou family all responded happily. Zhao Yinhua moved closer to Zhao Ergou to get a better look at him, and Zhao Tiehua followed suit. The initial sense of unreality and strangeness was rapidly fading.

"And this is Wei Laishun, from my third aunt’s family."

Once everyone had gotten acquainted and the pleasantries were over, Zhao Yinhua hurriedly called for Zhou Cuicui and her daughter-in-law to start cooking. In the Northeast, when you have guests, preparing a meal for them is an absolute must.

"Heh heh, make plenty of food, Second Aunt. After we eat, we’re all heading back to Dragon King Pond."

"Alright, I promise you’ll all eat your fill!"

Zhao Yinhua said with confidence. Zhou Mancang had earned a merit, for which he was rewarded with some grain, and before the New Year, they had even hunted a roe deer in the mountains. The Zhou Family had food now. After speaking, Zhao Yinhua suddenly froze, catching something off in what Zhao Wendong had said.

"’We’? What do you mean, ’we’ are heading back to Dragon King Pond?"