I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

"Dongzi, on behalf of everyone in our production team, thank you!"

Zhao Weiguo tightly gripped Zhao Wendong’s hand and shook it vigorously, his eyes red with emotion.

"Hahaha, I’m a member of the Dragon King Pond production team committee too. It’s what I ought to do!"

Zhao Wendong finished with a smile, glanced again at the four-character phrase the old man had given him, then took the letter of introduction and proof of identity from Third Master Zhao, dusted off his pants, and slipped away.

"Hehe, I’ll leave you to it. I’m off to get my marriage certificate!"

Long after Zhao Wendong had left, the four committee members in the room still hadn’t recovered. They looked at each other as if in a dream. Zhao Wendong had actually pulled it off. The county used its surplus goods to pay back the resold grain and even generate income. The brigade secured grain to provide a safety net for the villagers. And Zhao Wendong obtained the scarce bricks he needed to start building his new house. It was a perfect three-way win, with no losers.

When Zhao Wendong returned home with the letter of introduction, Lin Zhiyin and Jin Xiuying were already there. The four of them had a quick meal, and Niu Yuesheng arrived right on time. They all climbed into Niu Yuesheng’s truck and headed straight for the county seat.

Normally, they could get their marriage certificate at the Commune, but Zhao Wendong had to go to the county first. Lin Zhiyin’s proof of identity and letter of introduction had to be issued by the Youth Farm. Besides, Zhao Wendong had other plans; he absolutely had to have a talk with Old Qian.

"Dongzi, our transport team went to haul your bricks today. We have fewer assignments right now, so you don’t have to wait in line."

"Hehe, I’ve already arranged everything back home. Someone will be there to receive them when they’re delivered."

"If you manage to build this house, it’ll be the only one of its kind for a private individual in the communes around here! Only the supply and marketing co-op and the Commune compound have brick-and-tile houses!"

Niu Yuesheng said with no small amount of envy. What common person didn’t want to live in a spacious, bright, brick-and-tile house? But who had Zhao Wendong’s ability? Even if the rules were completely relaxed to allow individuals to buy or trade for bricks and tiles, how many people could afford to buy and use them like Zhao Wendong?

"In the future, every household will be able to live in one."

"Get outta here. How’s that possible?"

Niu Yuesheng pursed his lips in disbelief. Zhao Wendong didn’t argue with him. ’Although there are still decades to go, and it’ll be a bumpy road, things are always getting better. It’s completely different from the neighboring country Jin Xiuying comes from. That country is basically the same now as it will be decades from now.’

"By the way, Brother Niu, did you ask your sister when you went back yesterday? How did it go?"

"My sister said Er Gouzi is a good guy and she’s quite satisfied with him. Go back and ask Er Gou. If he’s willing too, we can arrange for someone to make the formal marriage proposal anytime."

Niu Yuesheng was stretching the truth a little. In reality, Niu Guizhi wasn’t particularly satisfied with Zhao Ergou’s height. Niu Yuesheng had to persuade her for a long time, emphasizing that with Zhao Wendong as his third brother, Zhao Ergou was a good choice. Only then did Niu Guizhi come to her senses.

"Hahaha, great! I’ll get on that as soon as I get back!"

Zhao Wendong laughed heartily, happy for Zhao Ergou. ’Seeing my family members who passed away in my past life now happy and well, seeing how Zhao Ergou’s family has also had their fate changed because of my rebirth... The three of them didn’t starve to death like in my past life, and now he’s even getting married.’ The sense of pride in Zhao Wendong’s heart was indescribable. ’This is the meaning of my return!’

The truck headed straight for the Youth Farm. At this time, the Youth Farm wasn’t very large. The number of educated youth who had voluntarily come to the countryside to provide support was still small, far from the scale it would reach a few years later. The entire farm was like a large courtyard, surrounded by a circle of adobe houses. Farm Director Qian’s office was a bit better; the base of its outer wall was made of gray bricks, making it look a class above the pure adobe houses.

Farm Director Qian had been sick for the past two days. He suspected it was from fright. It wasn’t until he recently heard that Zhao Wendong had received a piece of calligraphy from the old man that his "heart-sickness" was half-cured. ’Life is so good for Zhao Wendong now; there’s no way he’d give that up just to come looking for trouble with me again,’ he thought. With this in mind, he contentedly poured himself a cup of hot water and steeped a few goji berries in it. This was good stuff; he had asked someone to get it for him.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK~

A knock came from outside. Comrade Old Qian was a little impatient. ’The New Year is almost here, who keeps coming to find me for no reason?’

"Who is it?"

The door creaked open, and a young man with a wide grin on his face walked in. Old Qian slowly raised his head to look at the young man’s face.

THUD—!

The next moment, Old Qian fell right off his chair and onto the floor. The tea mug in his hand spilled, but he paid no mind to the scalding hot water soaking his pants, making it look like he’d wet himself. He just trembled as he fearfully begged Zhao Wendong for mercy.

"Don’t kill me! It had nothing to do with me! It was that bastard Li Guangming who dragged me into it! I told him I wouldn’t go, but he insisted! WAAAAH!"

Lin Zhiyin and the others, who had followed him in, exchanged amused glances. They hadn’t expected Farm Director Qian to be this terrified of Zhao Wendong. Zhao Wendong himself didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he stepped forward to help Old Qian up.

"Hey now, Farm Director Qian, what are you doing? I just came to ask you to write a proof of identity and a letter of introduction. Oh dear, you spilled the hot water. And these goji berries are so nice, too. What a waste."

Old Qian only calmed down a little after seeing the group of people who had come in behind Zhao Wendong. ’He wouldn’t bring a whole group with him if he were going to kill me,’ he reasoned. He nodded mechanically.

"Yes, yes, a proof of identity and a letter of introduction. I’ll write them for you right now. The goji berries are good? They’re all here, take them all."

Old Qian took a whole bag of goji berries from his drawer and stuffed it into Zhao Wendong’s hands. Then, he frantically searched for a pen and paper. Only after he had everything ready did he realize he had no idea what Zhao Wendong wanted him to write.

"Lin Zhiyin’s proof of identity and a marriage letter of introduction."

The moment Zhao Wendong finished speaking, Old Qian wrote it all out with a flurry of strokes. He quickly took out the official seal and stamped it, then speedily retrieved Lin Zhiyin’s household registration certificate from the cabinet behind him. He swore he’d never been so efficient in his entire life.

"Comrade Zhao Wendong, you’ll need this for your marriage too. With this, she can have her household registration transferred directly to your production team, and she won’t be considered an educated youth anymore."

"Heh, thanks, Farm Director Qian."

"Don’t mention it, don’t mention it. Just call me Old Qian."

Farm Director Qian wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes filled with the eager hope that Zhao Wendong would leave quickly.

"Ahem, well, Farm Director Qian, there’s one more thing."

"As you know, Lin Zhiyin and I are getting married, and my second brother is also preparing to get married. But my family is poor; we don’t have a house to live in at all."

"Huh?"

Old Qian’s face fell, but when his eyes met Zhao Wendong’s smiling ones, a shiver ran through him and he gritted his teeth.

"My two-room house is a bit old, but it’s conveniently located near the county center, perfect for you newlyweds. Since you don’t have a place to live, Comrade Zhao Wendong, I’ll just give you my house..."

"Hahaha!"

Zhao Wendong burst out laughing at Old Qian’s reaction and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Farm Director Qian, you’re a real stand-up guy! No, no, if I took your house, where would you live? Besides, my family lives in Dragon King Pond, why would we live in the county seat? What I mean is, last time you came to our village, didn’t you say the educated youth assigned to our area could be recalled? Can they be recalled a bit earlier?"

"That way, the houses at the two educated youth posts by the sea would be empty, right? If you could just show a little more of that generous spirit and lend them to me, wouldn’t that be enough for my second brother and me to use for now? What do you say, Farm Director Qian?"