I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

"Alright, no problem. Come with me, then. Will everything be okay at home if you don’t go back?"

"It’s fine. My younger brother and sister are at my uncle’s house, and my aunt is looking after them. We still have some grain at home, so it won’t be a problem if I don’t go back for a day or two."

After speaking, the young man once again held out the half-full bag of Forest Frogs.

"Big Brother, you’ve helped me so much. These Forest Frogs are what my dad and uncle managed to preserve. I want to give them to you as a thank you. I know you don’t lack for things like this, Big Brother, but if you don’t accept them, I’ll be too embarrassed to go with you."

Zhao Wendong was about to refuse, but the boy, Guan Yongguang, cut him off before he could speak. He could only shake his head in resignation. Deciding not to argue the point further, he casually took the half-full bag of Forest Frogs.

"Alright, come with us."

Forest Frogs were indeed a delicacy. The oil, in particular, was extremely valuable and very rare at this time of year.

On the way back, the younger people all greeted Zhao Wendong warmly. The older folks, however, smiled as they looked at Little Tuanzi, greeting her constantly. Little Tuanzi, in turn, continued to spout all sorts of well wishes, wishing everyone happiness and bringing smiles to even more faces.

By the time they got back to Liangzi’s house, the area was crowded with other stalls set up by people who had arrived later, forming a long row. It was a far cry from the Zhao Family’s single, lonely stall from before. Chen Yanmei was there, stomping her foot anxiously. The moment she saw Zhao Wendong and the others return, she rushed over and looked him up and down.

"Oh, Wendong! I heard from people passing by that you got into a fight! How did that happen again? Are you hurt?"

"I’m fine. It didn’t really have anything to do with us. It was about this boy."

Zhao Wendong pulled Guan Yongguang over and explained what had happened from beginning to end. As soon as Chen Yanmei heard the story, she was absolutely furious.

"Good! Wendong, you did the right thing beating them! Using cornmeal mixed with sand and dirt to trick a kid... Those sons of bitches deserve to be beaten! That’ll teach them to bully people!"

After her outburst, she noticed the two bags Zhao Wenwu was carrying.

"Are these the two bags of cornmeal mixed with sand?"

"Yeah. I didn’t want it to go to waste, so I had my second brother bring them back. If we sift through it, there’s still a lot of usable cornmeal."

Chen Yanmei hurriedly opened a bag to inspect it. She and Liangzi’s Mother rummaged through it for a moment, and their anger only grew.

"This was good cornmeal! They mixed the sand and dirt in afterward. What a waste of good food! Beating them to death wouldn’t be an injustice."

Liangzi’s Mother nodded in agreement, her expression pained.

"I’ll take it home and help you sift it."

Zhao Wendong quickly stopped her.

"Auntie, don’t go to the trouble. Just keep these two bags of cornmeal here. When you and Uncle have some free time, you can sift through it and keep it for yourselves. That way, the food won’t go to waste."

Sifting through those two bags wouldn’t be a quick job. Liangzi’s father nodded and carried them directly into his courtyard without any ceremony. He wasn’t one to stand on ceremony with Zhao Wendong; their relationship was such that being overly polite would feel distant. He simply did as Zhao Wendong arranged.

Zhao Wenjun was focused on something else. He looked at Guan Yongguang in surprise, unable to resist confirming.

"Is he really related to those two hunters who died on the mountain?"

"Yeah, that’s right. He’s from Song Family Village. We misheard it last time. The gun, the clothes, and his appearance all match the description."

After Zhao Wendong spoke, the others sighed with emotion once more. Guan Yongguang, however, who had broken down in tears after hearing the news earlier, now had a clear and resolute expression. The sadness was gone, replaced by a sudden maturity. The look on the boy’s face sent Zhao Wendong into a daze. ’This must be how I looked right after Zhao Dashan’s accident,’ he thought. ’The responsibility suddenly falls on your shoulders, and you have no choice but to force yourself to mature in an instant.’

Zhao Wendong’s group took over for Zhao Wenjun’s. Then, Chen Yanmei and the rest of the large party went off to wander the market. Little Tuanzi hadn’t had her fill of exploring, so she went along, as did Liangzi’s parents. In the end, only Zhao Wendong’s group of four and Guan Yongguang remained.

Zhao Wendong took a look at the goods Chen Yanmei’s group had bartered for. A good portion of the fish they’d brought had been traded away for a plentiful haul: fiddlehead ferns, dried dandelion greens, pickled cabbage, and some green and red radishes. They had even managed to get some garlic from someone. These were all good finds. There was also half a bag of sticky bean buns—the kind made with broomcorn millet, which was an even rarer treat.

In addition, there was half a bag of frozen crabapples. Zhao Wendong hadn’t eaten those in years. He grabbed three or four for everyone, pressing some into Guan Yongguang’s hand as well. Wiping one off casually, Zhao Wendong popped it into his mouth. It was ice-cold. He let it soften a little before biting down. The icy, sweet-and-sour flavor sent a sharp pang through his teeth. He blissfully ate the rest, still wanting more when they were gone.

"Third Brother, this is delicious! I want more."

Zhao Wenwu hadn’t had his fill either and held out his hand to Zhao Wendong for more.

"Second Brother, we can’t eat the rest. We have to save them for the family."

"Oh."

Zhao Wenwu immediately withdrew his hand. In his heart, family came before himself. The four of them stayed there for a while, and people kept coming up to greet and chat with Zhao Wendong. In the end, Zhao Wendong decided to stand a little further away and leave the stall to Lin Zhiyin and the others, so he wouldn’t interfere with them trading for the things they wanted.

By the time Chen Yanmei and her group returned, satisfied after their long walk around the market, Lin Zhiyin’s group had also made a good haul. Zhao Wendong noticed that Guan Yongguang had been helping out the entire time. The boy reminded him of Zhao Ergou; he was very observant and proactive. He was taller and more handsome than Er Gou, too. Watching him, Zhao Wendong nodded to himself in silent approval.