I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Although the rice vat was still only half full, Zhao Lao Nian, like everyone else, wasn't the least bit worried. They all knew Dragon King Pond had a good village committee, and they had Zhao Wendong. As long as everyone listened and was willing to work, he wouldn't let the villagers starve.

Quite a few villagers shared Zhao Lao Nian's sentiment. Soon after breakfast, they all carried their own tables, chairs, and benches to the communal canteen. The Zhao Family was hosting a running banquet today, something the village hadn't seen in many years. Everyone eagerly pitched in with manpower, supplies, and effort. The production team's communal canteen was already swirling with steam. At Zhao Wendong's home and the homes of other selected helpers, the stoves had been lit since the middle of the night to start preparations.

Although resources were limited, the Zhao family did everything they could to make the wedding lively and festive. Homemade paper-cuts of the "double happiness" character were pasted on the seaside windows. The courtyard outside the communal canteen was swept clean by the crowd and adorned with more red "happiness" characters. Even the roadside fence posts were wrapped with red silk ribbons. It was simple, yet brimming with celebratory cheer.

As the groom, Zhao Wendong naturally couldn't be in charge of organizing things today. The village committee members readily stepped up to form the wedding planning committee, while the militia became the main hands for running errands. Preparations were assigned and carried out in an orderly fashion. Zhao Weiguo was in charge of greeting guests, while Liu Yufen kept an eye on the canteen, directing a few people to set up the venue. Zhao Wendong had already mentioned that Jiang Weimin was coming, so this was no longer just Zhao Wendong's wedding—it was a chance to showcase Dragon King Pond Village's capabilities.

Water was already boiling in a large iron pot in the canteen, BUBBLING and steaming. The aroma of wild boar stewing inside escaped through the cracks of the lid, making the children leaning on the windowsill to get a sniff swallow their saliva.

"It smells so good! So good!"

"What is that? It smells amazing."

The cooks nearby chuckled as they watched them. "You think this smells good? Just wait until the feast is about to start and we heat up the frying oil. When we start deep-frying things, now *that's* what you call fragrant. It'll smell so good it'll make you little rascals cry."

"Wow, there's gonna be fried food too!"

"Will we get to eat some?"

The cooks exchanged a look, their smiles widening. Many of the ingredients had already arrived, and the rest were either on their way or being prepared elsewhere. As far as they knew, Zhao Wendong hadn't just prepared food for the guests—he had included a share for everyone in the village, young and old.

"Quick, quick, wipe this part again."

Nearby, Zhao the Sixth's wife was directing a group of women as they set up the tables and benches brought from various homes, wiping them down carefully with rags. Ever since Zhao Wendong had saved her, she had been more proactive and attentive to his affairs than to her own family's.

"Make sure you wipe them all clean, especially these front few tables. These are for the leaders."

As far as the eye could see, all of Dragon King Pond was a bustling scene of people coming and going, a hive of frenzied activity.

Niu Yuesheng arrived, driving his big truck with his family and younger sister aboard. His second uncle's family was also in the back. It was barely dawn, but on the way, Niu Yuesheng had already seen figures walking toward Dragon King Pond. Dressed in a new set of clothes, Niu Guizhi stared at the approaching giant snowman, a mix of nervousness and anticipation in her eyes.

"Brother, is that the giant snowman you were talking about? It's huge!"

"Yup. This is your new home now. If you ever need anything, just go to Zhao Wendong. He can solve any problem for you."

"I know, Brother."

In the truck bed, Niu Yuesheng's second uncle was still a bit displeased, looking at his own elder brother with a worried expression.

"Elder Brother, have you lost your mind? Guizhi is so pretty, she could have easily married into any family in the county. How could you listen to Yuesheng and let her marry into the countryside like this? Look at this village! They built a massive snowman... what a frivolous village, to have the energy to waste on building snowmen for fun!"

As Second Uncle Niu spoke, he caught sight of the snowman next to the truck bed and was so startled he nearly choked on his words.

"Exactly, Elder Brother, Sister-in-law. If Guizhi had stayed in the county and found a good family, wouldn't that be much better than coming to this village to scrabble for food in the dirt? Besides, she's marrying so far away. If someone bullies her, we won't even know. Isn't this just a waste of our Guizhi?"

Second Aunt Niu chimed in unhappily. If it weren't for Niu Yuesheng's big truck giving them a ride, they never would have come to the countryside for some wedding. 'Have these people ever even seen a truck this big?'

Niu Yuesheng's parents exchanged a look and just smiled without replying. They had learned quite a lot from Niu Yuesheng. Besides, their son had told them he and Zhao Wendong shared a life-and-death bond; there was no way Niu Guizhi would be bullied after coming here.

Just as the truck entered the village, Zhao Ergou was already waiting at the entrance. Niu Yuesheng brought the large truck to a slow stop, and as the Niu family disembarked, Er Gouzi greeted them enthusiastically.

"Brother Niu, Guizhi, Uncle, Auntie, you're here!"

Zhao Ergou greeted everyone in turn. Noticing two unfamiliar middle-aged people with two children in the group, Niu Yuesheng smiled and made the introduction.

"This is my second uncle and second aunt, and those are their children."

"Hello, Second Uncle. Hello, Second Aunt."

The couple gave Zhao Ergou a perfunctory nod in response. As Zhao Ergou led the group into the village, Second Aunt Niu couldn't help but lean toward her husband and mutter.

"So that's the one? A skinny bean sprout, and I hear he doesn't even have a father. Sigh, Guizhi is really going to suffer here."

Before Second Uncle Niu could speak, his ten-year-old son beside him spoke up with a gloomy look on his face, "Mom, Dad, I was hoping to eat something good at my cousin's wedding. But this place is so poor, what could we possibly have for lunch?"