I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

"Yeah, that’s right. Back then, it was still the time of the Japanese and Manchukuo."

It’s true what they say about the anxiety that comes with returning home. As the truck drew nearer, both sisters began to tremble with excitement. This was especially true for Zhao Tiehua. When she had married and left home, it was still the era of Manchukuo; now, in the blink of an eye, she was returning to a whole new world.

In the truck bed, aside from Zhao Wendong and his brothers, everyone else was equally thrilled. The sensation of the truck speeding along sent a surge of adrenaline through them, a feeling that only grew more exhilarating over time.

"Brother San, this truck is so fast! I want to drive a big truck when I grow up."

Zhou Manku tilted his face up, his lips trembling from the biting north wind. Zhao Wendong simply nodded. He didn’t dare speak, afraid he’d swallow a bellyful of air and get a stomachache. But for every cautious person like Zhao Wendong, there was a daring one like Zhao Wenwu. Finding it hilarious how the wind had twisted Zhou Manku’s mouth as he spoke, Zhao Wenwu turned to face the gale and opened his own mouth as wide as it would go.

"AHHH~~"

Seeing his mouth stretched wide and completely distorted, fluttering uncontrollably in the wind, everyone roared with laughter. The more they laughed, the prouder Zhao Wenwu became. Soon, Zhou Manku joined in, and the two of them had the time of their lives, like a pair of newfound playmates.

"Whoa, my gosh! Look at that huge snowman!"

As the truck reached the entrance of the village, Zhou Cuicui cried out in amazement. Everyone else’s eyes went wide as they stared at the giant snowman. In these times of poverty and hardship, to see such a monumental testament to collective effort had a profound impact on first-time beholders. It was as if the people of Dragon King Pond were declaring to the world that no difficulty could ever break their optimistic spirit.

Even after the truck had driven a good distance away, its passengers were still looking back at the snowman. Wei Laishun, however, focused more on the villagers they passed. The people of Dragon King Pond were just as dressed in rags, just as sallow and gaunt, but there were noticeably more people out and about than in his own village. Furthermore, their faces didn’t have the numb, helpless expression he was used to seeing back home. Instead, most of them were smiling—the kind of smile that spoke of hope for the future.

"Brother San, who built that snowman?"

"The entire village."

Zhao Wendong answered Zhou Cuicui with a smile. He was extremely pleased with the snowman, a project that had come about quite by accident. The villagers all said that whenever they saw it, no matter how tired they were, they would feel their strength return.

The truck slowly came to a stop in front of Zhao Wendong’s home. Zhao Shitou, who was standing guard at the gate, immediately scrambled back inside, shouting, "Third Uncle and the others are back!"

A moment later, a throng of people surged out of the house. With so many people, the scene was utter chaos. There was no time for introductions; they just ushered everyone inside. The house was instantly packed to the brim, with people sitting on the kang bed and standing on the floor below it. A few even had to stand in the outer room. ’Good thing Zhao Wenjun and his family went for their bridal homecoming visit and aren’t back yet, or we’d never fit everyone,’ Zhao Wendong thought. At times like these, his desire to build a bigger house grew even more intense.

The sounds of Zhao Yinhua and Zhao Tiehua’s weeping, punctuated by Zhao Dashan’s comforting words, filled the room. Zhao Wendong spotted Zhao Laidi and Zhao Pandi and beckoned them over. The two girls approached with cheerful smiles.

"What is it, Brother San?"

"Why are you two here? Do Grandpa and Grandma know that Second Aunt and Third Aunt are back?"

"They don’t know. We’re here to help since you’re getting married tomorrow! We cleaned your room and Second Brother’s room!"

Zhao Laidi announced proudly, fishing for praise. Zhao Wendong patted her on the head.

"Alright, alright. Thank you for all your hard work, my dear sisters Pandi and Laidi."

Zhao Pandi lowered her head and smiled shyly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. Zhao Laidi, however, tilted her head back and beamed with delight. The two sisters had completely opposite personalities.

When Zhao Yinhua and Zhao Tiehua finally met Lin Zhiyin and Jin Xiuying and then heard that all three of their nephews were getting married tomorrow, they were so overjoyed they nearly fainted. ’This is the happiest moment of our lives,’ they thought.

After a little more chatter, Chen Yanmei saw Zhao Yinhua, Zhao Tiehua, and their families out the door. They were going to visit Zhao Wendong’s grandparents first and would return later. Meanwhile, Chen Yanmei hurried to start preparing dinner. With seven people from Zhao Yinhua’s family and two from Zhao Tiehua’s, there would be even more mouths to feed than there were on New Year’s Day.

The large group drew a lot of attention as they walked through the village. Many people came over for a closer look, greeting Zhao Wendong warmly when they saw him. Some of the older folks who recognized Zhao Yinhua and Zhao Tiehua stopped them to exchange pleasantries. Their progress was slow, with all the stopping and starting, especially after they ran into Granny Liu and chatted for a good while. By the time they reached Zhao Dahai’s home, a long time had passed.

Zhao Wendong led the way into the west room. He glanced at the closed door of the east room, the corner of his mouth twitching into a cold smile. ’I can’t be bothered to deal with Zhao Dahai’s family of three,’ he thought.

Ye Qingmei and Zhao Chuanhe were happy to see Zhao Wendong enter and were just about to invite him onto the kang when they noticed a steady stream of people following him inside, quickly filling the floor. Then, the two women at the front of the group dropped to their knees with a THUD.

"Father! Mother!"

Zhao Yinhua and Zhao Tiehua cried out in unison, touching their foreheads to the floor as they wept. "Your daughters have come home to see you!"

Ye Qingmei and Zhao Chuanhe were stunned. They stared blankly at the two kneeling women, who both looked so old and weathered. ’How can they look so much like our daughters?’

Seeing his grandparents’ hands begin to tremble, Zhao Wendong feared the shock might be too much for them. He quickly called out.