I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Before Zhao Wendong could answer, Zhou Cuicui had already jumped in.

“My cousin said he’s here to take us to Dragon King Pond for the New Year, to have some fun.”

“Huh? For real?”

Zhou Manku was so excited he jumped to his feet. Zhou Mancang and his wife exchanged a look, their eyes also showing a hint of excitement. They were only in their twenties, after all, and longed for a chance to get out and about.

“What?”

Zhao Yinhua was completely stunned. She looked at Zhao Wendong in disbelief, and when she saw him nod at her with a smile, an indescribable wave of excitement and joy rushed to her head.

“Wonderful! Wonderful! Eat up, everyone! After we eat, we’ll go back… back to Dragon King Pond!”

“You all go on with the cooking. Dongzi, you guys just sit. I… I’ll go pack a few things. Come on, you old coot, hurry up and help me.”

Zhao Yinhua was so excited she was starting to ramble. When Zhou Laogen heard that Zhao Wendong was taking them to Dragon King Pond, a happy smile spread across his face. Hearing his wife call for him, he quickly answered and went to help.

Eager to get going, Zhao Yinhua, who had originally planned to cook some meat, decided against it. Everyone just ate a meal of potatoes and cabbage with steamed cornmeal buns. It was simple, but served with great enthusiasm, and it was certainly filling.

During the meal, Zhao Yinhua learned about what Zhao Tiehua had been through. She slammed her hand on the table in anger and cursed, “Those four ungrateful bastards! Don’t even acknowledge them from now on! Sis, from now on, you and Laishun will come back to Dragon King Pond. With Wendong around, you two are sure to have a good life!”

“Mm.” Zhao Tiehua nodded. She glanced at Zhao Wendong, still looking like she wanted to say something but was holding back. Although they hadn’t seen each other in thirty years, Zhao Yinhua instantly guessed what her sister was worried about.

“Don’t worry about being a bother to Dongzi. Dongzi can easily spare enough food for you two. Besides, Laishun is a filial and capable boy. He can’t go wrong following Dongzi. If Mancang hadn’t become a captain, I would have sent him to work with Dongzi too.”

Only then did Zhao Tiehua feel relieved. Hearing Zhao Yinhua’s last sentence, she asked in surprise.

“Mancang is a captain?”

“Yep, same as Dongzi. Civilian Militia Captain.”

Hearing this, Zhao Wendong laughed. “Well now, cousin, that makes us equals. Come on, let’s toast to that.”

He raised his rice bowl as if to clink it against his cousin’s. Zhou Mancang looked at the cornmeal bun in Wendong’s bowl and waved his hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

“Oh, give me a break! Of all the Civilian Militia Captains in the country, who would dare claim to be on the same level as you!”

Wei Laishun saw that everyone’s words were filled with admiration and confidence in Zhao Wendong, and he couldn’t help but ask the question that was on his mind.

“Brother San, why does everyone say you’re so awesome?”

“Why?”

Before Zhao Wendong could answer, Zhou Mancang had already cut in!

“Because your Brother San really *is* awesome! He helped the farm catch a tiger and helped the government catch Japanese spies—and that’s not even the half of it! Your Brother San caught four thousand *jin* of seafood in one trip! An elder personally gave him a two-word title, ‘Fishing Prodigy’! Now you tell me, is that awesome or what?”

CLATTER—!

Wei Laishun’s chopsticks slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor. Listening to Zhao Wendong’s incredible, almost mythical-sounding achievements, Wei Laishun’s mind went completely blank. The image of the smiling Zhao Wendong grew larger and larger in his mind, while a single voice echoed endlessly.

‘Awesome. He’s so damn awesome!’

After lunch, Zhou Mancang and the others went back to grab a few things. Zhou Cuicui cleaned up the stove in record time, and then the group headed out the door, ready to get in the truck and leave.

“Laogen, where are you all off to?”

“My wife’s nephew came to pick us up! We’re going back to her family’s village!”

Zhou Laogen called out cheerfully to the onlooking villagers, his face beaming and his mustache twitching with delight.

“Aiya, Director Zhao, you’re here!”

Elder Chen squeezed through the crowd, enthusiastically extending both hands to shake Zhao Wendong’s. Zhao Wendong had heard from Zhou Mancang that he had been made a deputy captain of the production team for his bravery in fighting the spies, so he greeted him with a smile.

“Brother Old Qi, congratulations on the promotion!”

“Hehe, it’s all thanks to you, Director Zhao. Why don’t you come in for a bit?”

“Can’t stay, we’re in a hurry to get back. The family’s waiting.”

“Ah, ah, alright then. Take care!”

Zhao Wendong and the others all got into the truck. He had Zhao Yinhua, Zhao Tiehua, and Zhou Mancang’s wife sit in the cab holding the children. The rest of them sat in the truck bed. With straw and cotton quilts, there was no need to worry about the cold. The big truck roared off into the distance, and they could still see Chen the Seventh waving at them.

“Old Qi, look at you, you were practically kneeling before him. You never used to be like that!”

“What did you call me?”

“Deputy… Deputy Captain Chen!”

“Hmph. Address me by my official title from now on. Director Zhao is a man of great importance. What do you lot know? If he were really willing to take me under his wing, what’s wrong with kneeling before him!”

Seeing the truck disappear, Chen the Seventh lowered his slightly sore, waving arm. He gave a cold snort and turned to go home.

“Tsk, tsk, look at him, so full of himself!”

“If you’re so capable, why don’t you go earn some merit and become a captain yourself?”

The person mocking Chen the Seventh was immediately shut down, unable to retort. At that moment, everyone recalled Chen the Seventh saying he’d benefited from Zhao Wendong’s influence. They couldn’t help but start wondering if they might also have a chance to gain some merit by following Zhao Wendong in the future.

The truck drove on without stopping. Over two hours later, it had already passed the Commune. In the cab, Zhao Yinhua and Zhao Tiehua held hands, excitedly pointing at the increasingly familiar scenery around them.

“Look, sis! Isn’t this the road we used to take to the big market? It wasn’t called a Commune back then, we just called it ‘the street,’ right?”