I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

As soon as Zhao Wendong spoke, the group found their backbone. They calmed down instantly and looked at him expectantly.

"All our stuff is on the boat. Row it out into the sea while I stay on the shore. Then, wait for my signal. If I start jumping and waving at you, come back!"

"Okay!"

Zhao Wenjun and the others’ eyes lit up, and they all agreed.

"I’ll go help."

"Me too!"

Liangzi and Little Shanghai both offered to help. Zhao Wendong nodded in agreement. The boat was heavily loaded, and more people would make the rowing faster.

"Brother Dong, there are a few other boats over there. Should we sink them? What if they chase us?!"

Zhao Ergou pointed to several wooden boats tied up by the pier, a cold glint in his eyes. Hearing this, Liangzi grabbed an axe and was about to do it. Zhao Wendong couldn’t help but glance at Zhao Ergou. ’This kid is surprisingly thorough,’ he thought.

"No need for all that trouble. Just take the oars from these boats. And for that one with a sail, take the sail too."

"Haha, you got it!"

"Dongzi’s still the sharpest one here!"

Without another word, the group sprang into action, everyone pitching in.

Meanwhile, at the purchase station, the courtyard was a complete mess. Someone had even found the keys and opened the doors to the rooms, but of course, they came up with nothing.

"Nothing. Could it be hidden somewhere else?"

"Where else could it be?"

"Didn’t they say it was fish? Could it be at the pier?"

Many of the villagers froze. That’s right, could it be at the pier?

The quick-witted and fast-footed ones were already on the move, running toward the pier. The others hurriedly followed, and the dark mass of people began to surge toward the pier once more.

Zheng Guangrong was frantic but helpless. He had no choice but to run along toward the pier. As he passed the entrance, he saw Fatty Li on the ground, groaning and clutching his groin in pain. Zheng Guangrong spat. ’Serves you right,’ he thought bitterly. ’This is what you get for hounding me about the fish.’

Outside, Big Sister Hua was anxiously watching the purchase station. There were too many people for her to dare push her way in, so all she could do was worry about Zheng Guangrong’s safety. When she saw him run out—disheveled but physically unharmed—she finally let out a long sigh of relief and hurried over to meet him.

With so many prying eyes around, Big Sister Hua didn’t dare act too intimate. She could only draw close and run alongside Zheng Guangrong, asking in a low voice.

"Are you all right?"

Zheng Guangrong felt her concern and forced a pained smile at her.

"I’m fine. They’re going to the pier now. I have to follow and see what’s happening. I hope Zhao Wendong and his group were prepared, or else all that fish might get stolen."

Hearing this, the color drained from Big Sister Hua’s face, and she too began to worry for Zhao Wendong and the others.

Meanwhile, in the secretary’s office at Qianjin Commune, First Secretary Yang Wenxue heard about the incident at the purchase station. He anxiously found the Commune’s public security commissioner, Li Dawei, and the two of them rushed to the station. Seeing the crowd swarming toward the pier, they hurriedly ran after them.

At that moment, by the sea at the pier, Liangzi’s parents grew nervous as they watched the crowd appear in the distance. Zhao Wendong narrowed his eyes slightly and subconsciously touched the inside of his jacket.

’These fish are mine, Zhao Wendong’s. They’re my ticket to a better life for my family. I’m no selfless hero; other people’s lives are not my problem. In my past life, when my family fell apart, no stranger ever helped me. If anyone tries to rob me, they shouldn’t blame me for fighting them to the death.’

"Have you seen any fish? Thousands of pounds of fish!"

The first to arrive was a middle-aged man. He looked at Zhao Wendong and the other two and asked anxiously.

"No idea. We haven’t found any either!"

Zhao Wendong spread his hands, his expression a mask of innocence.

"SIGH!"

The middle-aged man slapped his thigh and squatted on the ground in defeat.

Soon, more and more people arrived until the pier was black with a crowd of two or three hundred.

"Look out at the sea! That boat’s stopped out there. Is that their fish?"

"Even if it is their fish, are you just going to go out and rob them?"

"So what if I do?"

Someone ran to one of the docked boats, intending to row closer to Zhao Wendong’s boat for a look, but they found there were no oars.

"Fuck, the oars are all gone!"

"The fish are definitely on that boat."

Watching the crowd cause a scene, Zhao Wendong started to get anxious himself. ’With so many people here, how am I supposed to sell my fish?’

"Comrade commune members, please calm down and listen to me!"

Suddenly, a man stepped forward. He was in his forties, wearing a crisp cadre’s uniform and glasses. Many people recognized him as the Qianjin Commune’s First Secretary, Yang Wenxue. Standing beside him were Zheng Guangrong and the commune’s public security commissioner, Li Dawei.

"Fellow commune members, I have a clear understanding of the situation now. It was all a misunderstanding. No grain has been distributed. If any of you are facing food shortages, please report the situation to your team leaders. We will compile the reports and submit them to the higher-ups!"

"But right now, please be aware that your behavior has become highly inappropriate. If you take this any further, it will be considered a criminal offense!"

Yang Wenxue’s words completely calmed the crowd. At the same time, a convoy of vehicles came speeding over. In the lead was a jeep, from which five public security officers in dark blue police uniforms jumped out, holsters at their waists. Following it were three large trucks, which disgorged a group of militia, all carrying rifles on their backs.

Seeing this display of force, the crowd at the pier instinctively took a few steps back, leaving a large open space.

Yang Wenxue immediately spotted Jiang Weimin walking at the very front and hurried to his side, extending a hand.

"Secretary Jiang, what brings you here?"

"Why are so many people gathered here? What happened?"

Yang Wenxue lowered his head and explained what had transpired. Jiang Weimin nodded, then ordered the public security officers and militia to start dispersing the crowd. Once the people had scattered in small groups, he turned to Yang Wenxue.

"You need to learn a lesson from this incident and reflect on it seriously. And you must find the root cause of the problem. Why did a phone call from the comrade at the purchase station lead to the news spreading so quickly? How does your commune normally handle confidential work?"

"Yes, yes. It was all due to my negligence."

Yang Wenxue kept his head bowed, admitting his mistake.

Jiang Weimin said no more, because Station Chief Wang had already brought Zheng Guangrong to wait at the side. Seeing Secretary Jiang look over, Station Chief Wang quickly gave Zheng Guangrong a push.

"Secretary Jiang, this is Comrade Zheng Guangrong from our Qianjin Commune purchase station!"

Jiang Weimin took Zheng Guangrong’s hand and patted it, then looked out toward the sea. "The fish you mentioned, are they on that boat?"

"Yes, yes!"

Zheng Guangrong nodded, somewhat excitedly. He had originally thought Station Chief Wang was bringing people, but he never expected that Secretary Jiang, who was directly in charge of grain, would come in person.

"Come here, Comrade Zhao Wendong!"

Zhao Wendong had been keeping an eye on the situation from the side. When he heard Zheng Guangrong call his name, he quickly walked over.

"Secretary Jiang, this is Comrade Zhao Wendong. He and his group are the ones who brought back a full boat of Hai Pangtou last night."

"Comrade Zhao Wendong, hello. Thank you for your contribution to our county’s food production!"

Zhao Wendong’s heart skipped a beat. ’They’re not just going to give me a certificate and five hundred yuan, are they?’

He quickly put on a simple, honest smile and said.

"We’re just fishermen. We live off the sea. We’re just trying to get a little extra food to make life at home a bit better. I wouldn’t dare call it a contribution."

Jiang Weimin was taken aback for a moment. He studied Zhao Wendong carefully, and the more he looked, the more he felt there was something extraordinary about him. Most ordinary farmers would be either nervous or over-excited to see them. However, Jiang Weimin was not a shortsighted man. He smiled and patted Zhao Wendong on the shoulder.

"Well said, Comrade Zhao Wendong. Could you have your boat come back now so we can start weighing the fish?"

Zhao Wendong nodded, then asked, pretending to be cautious.

"Secretary Jiang, what price is the county offering for our fish?"