Chapter 53: Hound
Seeing Zhao Wendong’s resolute expression, Zhao Wenjun thought for a moment before putting his gun away and starting to move the grain. Zhao Wenwu, ever obedient, kept Little Bastard pinned down tightly. He’d been told not to let him move an inch, and he wouldn’t let him move an inch.
"Ai Zhongguo, where’s your grandpa’s hunting rifle?"
"Sold it last year."
"Why didn’t you take those hunting dogs in the house up the mountain to get food?"
"I tried. But I don’t know the paths and can’t hunt. I just wandered around all day and ended up running into a leopard that sent us running back home."
Zhao Wendong paused. ’Could it be the same one that came back to ambush me last time?’
"But don’t you have a gun right here?"
"Don’t get me started. My grandpa was starving a few days ago and only then did he tell me he’d buried this thing. Said the Japanese gave it to my mom before they took off."
For some reason, Zhao Wendong found himself wanting to laugh, even though he knew this was a serious situation. Little Bastard lifted his head, glanced at Zhao Wendong, then at Zhao Wenjun who was moving the grain, and suddenly spoke in a low voice.
"Thank you!"
"What was that? What did you say? I didn’t hear you."
Little Bastard lowered his head, his face flushing bright red, but didn’t speak again.
Zhao Wendong inexplicably felt a bit of goodwill towards him. ’Someone who blushes when they say thank you can’t be all that wicked, can they? He was probably just forced into this, right?’
He chuckled, then said to Little Bastard in a formal tone, "These two bags of food aren’t for you. They’re a trade for your three hunting dogs and this chicken-leg pistol of yours."
Little Bastard nodded but remained silent. He wasn’t a fool. If his grandpa hadn’t insisted they not eat those scrawny dogs, he would’ve had meat long ago. In these times, a hunting dog wasn’t worth even half a bag of grain. As for the gun, it only had one clip of ammunition. Once that was gone, it was useless.
Grain was priceless now; Zhao Wendong was obviously just saying this to let him save face. For the first time in his life, he had felt a shred of warmth from someone other than his grandpa. He couldn’t help but take another long look at Zhao Wendong.
Soon, Zhao Wenjun had brought out two bags of grain and set them on the ground. Zhao Wendong took Zhao Wenjun into the house, and they carried out the three Gouzi. Once they were out of the yard, Zhao Wendong gave the order. Zhao Wenwu released Little Bastard and hurried to catch up. The three brothers, on high alert, led the horse-drawn sled out of the village.
Little Bastard stared blankly at the two life-saving bags of grain on the ground. His perpetually cold face finally melted, and tears streamed from the corners of his eyes.
On the way back, the three brothers were somewhat silent, unconsciously looking back from time to time. After such a life-and-death encounter, even Zhao Wenwu had lost his usual desire to talk.
’So cold, so hungry.’
The yellow Gouzi in his arms let out another whimper. Zhao Wendong glanced around, but seeing no way to provide temporary warmth, he called out.
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother! Each of you take one. Tuck the dogs into your coats so they don’t freeze to death. Right, we need to find something for them to eat, too."
Zhao Wendong put the yellow Gouzi into his own coat, warming the little guy with his body, and then started looking for something to eat. Although there were many things on the sled, most of it was raw. Finally, his eyes landed on the bag of cabbage.
Zhao Wenwu copied him, stuffing a black hunting dog into his coat. Seeing him searching around, he had a flash of inspiration.
"Third, you’re so stupid! Dogs eat shit, don’t they? I’ll just take a crap for them to eat!"
Zhao Wenjun was ecstatic, praising his second brother for the first time ever. "Second Brother, that’s a great idea! Go on, hurry up and take a dump!"
Zhao Wenwu pursed his lips. "I already went this morning. I don’t have to go now, I can’t. Eldest Brother, you do it!"
Dark lines formed on Zhao Wendong’s forehead. ’Why do I get the feeling Eldest Brother is starting to take after Second Brother?’
He shot them an exasperated look.
"Both of you, knock it off. Just grab a head of cabbage. We’ll let them chew on that for now. There’s nothing else to eat."
Zhao Wenjun hesitated.
"Third, are you sure you want to waste the cabbage on them? No one’s raising dogs these days. There’s not even enough food for people!"
"Eldest Brother, think about Xiaobai!"
That one simple sentence from Zhao Wendong was enough to convince Zhao Wenjun. The benefits Xiaobai had brought them were real. ’If Third Brother wants to raise dogs, let him raise dogs.’
On the village road to Dragon King Pond, the big brown horse trotted ahead on its own, CLIP-CLOP, CLIP-CLOP. The reins were in Zhao Wendong’s grasp. All three brothers were in the same posture: one arm cradling a Gouzi, the other hand holding a large head of cabbage to feed the dog.
The three hunting dogs were evidently famished, making loud SMACKING sounds as they devoured the cabbage, which made the big brown horse keep looking back at them.
’Two unlucky fools... no, three unlucky fools, and they’re not giving me anything to eat.’
Seeing the haughty brown horse, Zhao Wendong chuckled, tore off a few cabbage leaves, and offered them to it, instantly earning its forgiveness.
’That stinky human is still a fool, but this human is alright.’
...
Zhao Wendong was left speechless. ’Is it really okay for a horse to be such a snob?’
’Is this my new master? I got to eat, and it’s so warm.’
The yellow dog in his arms broadcast its thoughts again, and a smile returned to Zhao Wendong’s face. The business with Little Bastard was just an interlude. Life goes on.
"Right, after we get back, nobody mention what happened with Little Bastard. Got it, Second Brother?"
"Why not?"
Zhao Wenwu asked, confused. He was already itching to get back and brag about such a thrilling encounter.
"Mom and Dad will worry if we tell them!"
"Oh, okay!"
Zhao Wenwu immediately agreed. Compared to showing off, he was more concerned about not worrying his parents.
Zhao Wenjun handed him Little Bastard’s chicken-leg pistol. Zhao Wendong took it and looked it over. It was covered in rust spots and clearly ill-maintained. He engaged the safety, stuffed the gun into his other pocket, and his hand brushed against something else. That’s when he remembered: his sister-in-law’s bracelet was still in his pocket.
"Eldest Brother!"
"Hm?"
Zhao Wenjun looked at Zhao Wendong, wondering why he was calling him.
"I haven’t seen that bracelet on my sister-in-law’s wrist the last few days, have I?"
"Huh?"
Zhao Wenjun panicked. After half a beat, he stammered, his face flushing, "It... it seems she accidentally lost it while working."
Zhao Wendong couldn’t help but laugh to himself. ’Eldest Brother, your face is as red as a monkey’s butt. You can’t even tell a convincing lie!’
"Is that right? That’s great, because I just happened to find it. Here. Tell Sister-in-law to be more careful next time so she doesn’t lose it again!"
Staring at Song Xiaoyu’s Silver Bracelet in Zhao Wendong’s outstretched hand, Zhao Wenjun’s eyes widened and their rims turned red. This had been weighing on his mind for days, keeping him awake at night with anxiety. He never imagined Zhao Wendong would quietly get it back. He took the bracelet, his hands trembling with emotion.
"Third, I’m sorry. I always thought you were a good-for-nothing, but now I know the real failure is me, your eldest brother! I was dead wrong!"
"Oh, cut it out! Take it! Just take it already! What’s this, you gonna start crying on me? You better hold those tears back, or I’m taking the bracelet back!"
Zhao Wenjun immediately stopped the tears that were about to fall.
"Eldest Brother, whether I’m successful or not, I’m still your little brother, right? Let me ask you: if one day there was only one bite of food left for the family, would you give it to me or eat it yourself?"
Zhao Wenjun fell silent. He thought about it. If that really happened, he would definitely give the food to Zhao Wendong and then go find more for himself, because he was the eldest brother!
"Exactly! So what are you apologizing for, Eldest Brother? If anyone should be saying sorry, it’s me. I was the immature one before. From now on, let’s work hard together. Let’s make our family happy, and build a good, prosperous life for ourselves. How about it?"
"Yeah. Okay!"
Zhao Wenjun wiped the corners of his eyes, then held Song Xiaoyu’s bracelet in his hand, studying it for a long while before carefully placing it inside his coat.
The three brothers chatted while feeding the Gouzi in their arms, and before they knew it, they had reached the entrance of Dragon King Pond Village. It was already three or four in the afternoon, and the sky was beginning to dim.
The big brown horse had just stopped outside their courtyard when the door was pushed open. The figures of Chen Yanmei and Song Xiaoyu appeared in the doorway. It was clear the two had been waiting there, constantly watching for any movement outside. Through the paper-pasted window, the silhouettes of two small heads could be seen pressed against the glass—it was Shitou and Little Tuanzi.
"Ma, we’re back!"
"Oh, good, good, good!"
Chen Yanmei answered happily, her eyes scanning over her three sons one by one before finally settling on the brigade’s horse-drawn sled.
"Oh, my heavens! How did you get so much?"
Zhao Wenjun proudly puffed out his chest.
"This is only half of it! There’s just as much more to come!"
"What?"
"Really?"
Chen Yanmei and Song Xiaoyu exclaimed at the same time.
"Don’t stand out here freezing, hurry inside and tell us!"
The moment they opened the door and stepped inside, the fox, Xiaobai, shot out. It was about to show off its glorious rat-exterminating achievements to Zhao Wendong when it suddenly sensed something was amiss. Its white fur bristled, its tail tucked between its legs, and it whipped around and fled back into the room.
’Oh no, it’s that smell I hate most—Gouzi!’