I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Farm Director Qian’s spirits lifted as soon as he heard this, and his heart settled. He’d thought Zhao Wendong was after his life and his house. ’Is that all? Why didn’t you say so sooner?’

"Comrade Zhao Wendong, what a coincidence! Our farm was just preparing to recall all the dispatched educated youth. The production teams’ own grain supplies are tight right now, and our youths are supposed to be there to help, not to add to their burdens, right? Besides, we’re short-staffed here at the Youth Farm. I’ll arrange for the educated youth supporting Dragon King Pond to be withdrawn today!"

"As for the two houses that will be freed up, I’ll entrust them to Comrade Zhao Wendong to look after and use!"

"Not entrusted to me. Entrusted to our Dragon King Pond Team Committee."

"Yes, yes, of course. My mistake. I should be slapped!"

Old Qian gave his own mouth a couple of fake slaps before speaking with a sincere expression.

"Then we’ll have to trouble the Dragon King Pond Team Committee with the follow-up!"

"Hahaha, it’s no trouble. How about this? Coincidentally, Comrade Niu Yuesheng from the transport team is heading to our village today, and some other comrades from the team are also making deliveries there. You can arrange for your people to go with them, and then have the educated youth come back with them!"

Hearing Zhao Wendong’s proposal, Old Qian thought, ’He doesn’t want to wait even a single day.’ Still, having a convenient ride was indeed a good thing, so he quickly nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes. I’ll take my people to the transport team right now to catch a ride to Dragon King Pond. Then I’ll arrange for all the educated youth to return to the county with the truck. I guarantee those two houses at the youth station will be empty tonight."

"Hahaha, excellent. Thank you, Farm Director Qian!"

The heavy truck had driven quite a distance, but they could still see Farm Director Qian from the Youth Farm enthusiastically waving goodbye. A strange mix of pride and bemusement rose in Lin Zhiyin’s heart. She recalled Farm Director Qian’s arrogant, high-and-mighty demeanor when they had first arrived to report for duty. Comparing it to now, she shifted her gaze to Zhao Wendong, who was shooting the breeze with Niu Yuesheng, her eyes filled with amusement.

The truck drove all the way back to the Commune. When Yang Wenxue saw Zhao Wendong arrive, he smiled and took out their hunting permits and Jin Xiuying’s identification papers for him.

"In such a hurry, Comrade Wendong? It’s all ready. Here you go. Don’t forget the Commune’s big market for the Little New Year in six days. Come early and give everyone a talk!"

"Heh heh, I won’t forget. And I have to trouble you with one more thing, Secretary Yang. Could you help us get our marriage certificates?"

"Oh? You’re getting married? Congratulations, congratulations! Come on, I’ll take you."

Yang Wenxue led them to a room farther away. As they passed Li Dawei’s office, he was drinking hot water. Spotting Zhao Wendong and the others, he hurried out to follow them.

"Brother Dong, where are you guys off to?"

Zhao Wendong looked at Li Dawei, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. ’He’s really calling me Brother Dong!’

"We’re getting our marriage certificates."

"Oh, congratulations, congratulations! By the way, Brother Dong, there have been a lot of grain thefts and robberies in the Commune recently. I’m under a lot of pressure. Could you help me out?"

"Huh? How can I help you?"

Zhao Wendong wondered if he’d misheard. ’A public security special agent asking a street loafer for help? Is that right?’

"Brother Dong, your reputation in the surrounding villages is much more effective than mine right now. Can you pass a message to those brothers of yours? Ask them to help keep an eye out."

"Sure, I’ll talk to them."

Zhao Wendong agreed with a direct nod. Li Dawei had treated him well. Last time in the village, he had clearly become suspicious of him, but when Director Fei questioned him, he hadn’t said a thing. This small favor was no trouble at all. Besides, even though Zhao Wendong and his friends were street loafers who often got into fights, they looked down on petty thieves and robbers, thinking such people were too low.

With Yang Wenxue leading the way, things naturally went very smoothly. Zhao Wendong sometimes wondered why he had met only good people since his rebirth. After thinking it over, he felt it was due to a saying he’d heard in his previous life: "The poor are ignored in a bustling city, while the rich have distant relatives visiting them in the deep mountains." Or maybe it was the other one: "When you are powerful enough, everyone around you is a good person."

The clerk at the Commune office briefly checked the four individuals’ identification papers, household registration certificates, and letters of introduction from their brigade, then issued the marriage certificates on the spot. Each couple received two copies, one for each person. At ten cents per certificate, the four of them spent a total of forty cents.

Zhao Wendong carefully examined the marriage certificate in his hand, which looked like a kindergarten award certificate. It was decorated with the national flag, five-pointed stars, ears of rice, flowers, and peace doves, symbolizing the worker-peasant alliance and peaceful construction. Written on it in traditional characters was: "Zhao Wendong and Lin Zhiyin voluntarily marry. After review, this marriage complies with the provisions of the Dongda Marriage Law regarding marriage. This certificate is hereby issued."

"Haha, wifey," Zhao Wendong called out to Lin Zhiyin with delight, holding the marriage certificate.

"Yes!" Lin Zhiyin answered, her eyes curving into crescents. The way she looked at Zhao Wendong was clearly different than before. From now on, they were a real married couple, one family. Her future was now inextricably linked with Zhao Wendong’s, never to be separated again.

"Wife, why are those two so sappy?"

Zhao Wenwu muttered to Jin Xiuying. She shot him a look, then went back to gazing happily at the marriage certificate in her hand. From this moment on, she truly had a home again. Although her man was a bit of a simpleton, she found it reassuring; she would never have to worry about Zhao Wenwu betraying her.

Yang Wenxue was very courteous, walking Zhao Wendong to the gate of the Commune courtyard with Li Dawei. Suddenly, Zhao Wendong remembered something.

"Secretary Yang, in previous years, didn’t the Commune always butcher a pig for the New Year and distribute the pork and lard? This year..."

"Sigh, don’t count on it. Forget about butchering a pig this year, we don’t even know where to get the Commune’s food rations for the New Year. It’s every man for himself now!"

Zhao Wendong nodded, understanding the situation. He said his goodbyes to Yang Wenxue and Li Dawei. There was a pile of things to do at home, and he was eager to get back and share the good news about the marriage certificates with everyone.

After leaving the Commune, Zhao Wendong remembered his promise to Li Dawei and went to Zhang Dadan’s cotton shop. But Zhang Dadan wasn’t there; Uncle Zhang said he’d gone on a long trip. So Zhao Wendong decided to head straight to the supply and marketing co-op to find Liangzi.

He lifted the door curtain of the co-op, and the saleswoman by the entrance, who got a blast of cold wind, started to frown. But when she saw it was Zhao Wendong leading the way in, she immediately let out a cry of surprise.

"Liangzi, your childhood friend is here to see you!"

Her voice was incredibly enthusiastic, a complete one-eighty from Zhao Wendong’s first visit. They’d all been hearing stories about Zhao Wendong, the most famous person in the Commune lately. More than once, she’d felt a secret, lingering fear. ’If Liangzi hadn’t stopped him last time, would Zhao Wendong have killed me for my bad attitude? Thank you, Brother Dong, for sparing my life! Thank you, Liangzi, for saving me!’

Liangzi, who was dozing on the counter as usual, lifted his head in pleasant surprise. Even though they had just hung out together all day yesterday, that’s how it was with brothers—they could never get enough time together.

"Dongzi, what brings you here?"

"Heh heh, we came to get our marriage certificates. Look!"

Zhao Wendong smugly showed the marriage certificate to Liangzi. At first, Liangzi was happy for him, but the more he looked, the more he felt a pang of bitterness. His brother had married such a beautiful wife, and suddenly his heart ached a little.

Something his parents had been nagging him about every day recently surfaced in his mind again. ’Dongzi is married now. Should I keep holding out and waiting?’

"Oh, right. Weigh out two jin of candy balls for me. I’m going back to hand out wedding candy. Also, there’s something else. Old Li just asked me to tell everyone to keep an eye out for thieves and robbers. If anyone spots anything, they should report it to him. I just went looking for Dadan, but he’s away on a long trip. No idea where he went. So, could you pass the message on to the guys?"

"Hahaha, Li Dawei is asking us for help? Now that’s a real honor! Usually, when he sees us, it’s like a cat spotting a mouse. So Li Dawei has a day like this too! Sure, I’ll go tell them after work."

Of course, Liangzi knew what Zhang Dadan was up to, but he didn’t say anything. Heh heh, he was waiting to give Zhao Wendong a surprise. Thinking back, they were all amazed at the group’s wisdom and creativity back then!

They bought three yuan worth of candy balls, which came in a big, full package wrapped in heavy kraft paper. Zhao Wendong first popped one in everyone’s mouth, not leaving out Liangzi or Niu Yuesheng. Then, he said goodbye to Liangzi, left the co-op, and was about to get in the truck to go home when another heavy truck pulled up next to Niu Yuesheng’s. Big Wang jumped down from the driver’s seat.

"Haha, Dongzi, what a coincidence! Didn’t expect to run into you here."

"Brother Wang, where are you off to?"

Big Wang leaned in close and lowered his voice.

"I’m delivering your grain. I’ve finished the trade. Got you a total of two thousand two hundred jin, mostly coarse grains, just like you prefer."

Zhao Wendong’s heart leaped with joy. All his hard work these past few days hadn’t been for nothing. Thinking of what Yang Wenxue had said, he also pulled Big Wang aside.

"Thanks, Brother Wang. Make sure you take a good cut for yourself."

"I’ve already taken my share, don’t worry. I won’t short-change you, but I won’t short-change myself either."

"Hahaha, that’s good then."

Zhao Wendong smiled. He liked Big Wang’s straightforward style, how he put everything out in the open. Even when he was making money off you, he did it transparently.

"Brother Wang, I’m hoping to get some pork for the New Year. Do you have any connections?"

"I’ll see what I can find for you."

Big Wang didn’t give a definite answer, which meant he wasn’t completely sure either. Zhao Wendong had only asked on a whim. It would be great if he could get some, but it was fine if he couldn’t. He just wanted his family to eat a little better for the upcoming New Year. However, there were many things that required money and grain soon, so he’d have to tighten his belt and save up for a new house.

Two heavy trucks, one after the other, headed toward Dragon King Pond. As they arrived back at the warehouse by the Dragon King Pond team headquarters, they were greeted by a bustling scene. Four transport team trucks were parked in a row, their beds filled with red bricks. Members of the militia were on the truck beds, passing bricks down to others waiting below. Still others were carrying the bricks into the brigade’s warehouse yard, where another group was neatly stacking them one by one.

"Quick, two more trucks are here!"

Many of the spectating villagers in the distance had never seen six heavy trucks gathered in one place in their entire lives, so they immediately started shouting out warnings. Zhao the Fourth turned his head and realized something was off. It was Zhao Wendong returning, not another brick truck.

"Dongzi, what’s in the truck behind you? It’s full of sacks."

"Resold grain."

"What!"

Zhao the Fourth cried out in astonishment and immediately turned and ran. A moment later, Zhao Weiguo and Third Master Zhao hurried over. Despite his advanced age, Third Master Zhao was the first to climb onto the truck bed to inspect the grain, his eyes glistening with tears of excitement.

"Wonderful! Now I can finally rest easy. We don’t have to worry about anyone in Dragon King Pond starving to death!"

Zhao Weiguo was also thrilled for a moment, but he quickly thought of something and tapped Zhao Wendong’s shoulder.

"Dongzi, arrange for some men to stand guard, just in case."

Zhao Wendong nodded. He knew Zhao Weiguo’s concern was valid. This was grain, not bricks; it was better to be safe than sorry. He turned and shouted to the crowd of workers.

"Old Nian, Shisan, Shuanzi..."

He called out a total of eight names. The men whose names were called gathered around, while the others glanced over but didn’t let it interrupt their work, continuing to move bricks.

"You all go get your guns right now, then come back and assemble here."

"Yes, sir!"

The group didn’t even ask why Zhao Wendong wanted them to get their guns. The militia’s main focus now was loyalty. Besides, with the exception of Zhao Lao Nian, all the men Zhao Wendong had picked were from the group that had gone with him to the Wang Family’s Hut. Their loyalty was maxed out.

Soon, the eight men came running back, carrying their respective gear. Zhao Wendong’s gaze swept over them. Although they were still sallow and gaunt, at least their spirits were high. Finally, his eyes fell on the many onlookers, and he began to speak slowly.

"This truck is full of grain. You are responsible for protecting it until it is safely in the warehouse and for maintaining order here. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" the eight men roared, their reply sonorous and powerful, their presence imposing.