I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

"So how many people does your aunt have to take care of?"

Zhao Wendong decided to test him, to see how good his arithmetic was.

"My family has three people, including me. My uncle’s family has four, including my aunt. That’s seven people in total. She has to take care of six people, not counting my married older sister."

Zhao Wendong nodded in satisfaction. Guan Yongguang wasn’t just good at arithmetic; his logic was also very clear. What seemed like a simple headcount actually involved a great deal of logical thinking. Guan Yongguang had given what could be called a textbook answer. If you asked most other people, they wouldn’t be nearly as detailed.

In his previous life, Zhao Wendong had seen a video on TikTok. The challenge was to take a picture with several shapes and describe it so that others could draw it, then see how many people could successfully recreate the image. Not a single person in the test managed to get everyone to draw it successfully. That’s how important logic is.

"Back to my original question. What do you want to do in the future? Do you think it’s possible to feed so many mouths just by farming and hunting?"

Guan Yongguang fell silent. What Zhao Wendong said was precisely the reason for his earlier despair. His father and uncle, the two pillars of their families, were gone. They had lost their seasoned hunter, and their workforce for farming was gone too. With only the rest of them left, he truly felt there was no way to survive. They might not even make it through the winter. The Forest Frogs he had brought yesterday were the last things his family had.

"Let’s set that aside for now. I’ll ask a different question. What is it you want to do most? What job do you want when you grow up? What kind of person do you want to be?"

"I want to be someone who can help others, just like Brother San!"

The words tumbled out of Guan Yongguang’s mouth, but then he fell into deep thought. He wanted to be like Zhao Wendong, but he knew his own limits. He didn’t have Zhao Wendong’s commanding presence, his domineering air, or his ruthlessness. He couldn’t learn those things. His mind raced, and suddenly, the image of Yang Wenxue popped into his head.

"I want to be the Commune secretary. That way, I can organize big markets so everyone has a place to gather and trade for what they need before the New Year. That’s the kind of person I want to be."

"Become an official?"

Zhao Wendong looked at him with a smile, his eyes holding a profound meaning.

"Yes, an official. To serve the people."

Guan Yongguang nodded firmly. Zhao Wendong had asked what kind of person he wanted to be and what job he wanted to do. He had originally wanted to say ’become a soldier’—that was every boy’s dream. But then he thought of all the people at home waiting for him to take care of them. Somehow, the idea of becoming an official came to mind, and the thought grew stronger and stronger. If he became an official, he could help more people, which of course included his own family.

"Good, I understand!"

Zhao Wendong nodded, then returned to the original topic.

"You don’t have to worry about not being able to support your family and your uncle’s family. Third Master is here. He treats you like his own grandson, so you should treat him like your own grandfather. You’re Third Master’s grandson, which makes you my little brother. As long as I’m around, your family won’t go hungry. I’ll even help you on this path to becoming an official. But, Guan Yongguang!"

Zhao Wendong’s tone suddenly became extremely serious. His eyes, sharp as Xiaojin’s hawk eyes, stared straight into Guan Yongguang’s heart. Guan Yongguang felt an overwhelming pressure envelop him completely.

"You must remember this: Serve the people! Your power comes from the people. If I ever discover that you have failed the people, you will be my enemy. Do you understand?"

"I... I’ll remember, Brother San!"

Guan Yongguang nodded forcefully. For some reason, he had complete faith in Zhao Wendong’s words. He didn’t doubt for a second that Zhao Wendong could feed their families and arrange for him to become an official. He etched Zhao Wendong’s words into his heart. He, Guan Yongguang, would never become an enemy of the people, or of Brother San, as long as he lived.

Zhao Wendong and the others headed into the mountains. They didn’t go toward the cave stronghold, but headed straight for the place where Guan Yongguang’s father and uncle were buried in the snow. Thankfully, there were markers along the way. After walking for over two hours, just as they were getting close, Dahuang and the other dogs suddenly crouched low, letting out deep growls.

’It’s those things again.’

Dahuang’s thought came through. Zhao Wendong’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly raised his hand.

"Something’s up! Load your weapons!"

SHICK-SHACK~

The sound of rifle bolts being worked filled the air. Zhao Wendong and his three brothers were armed with a Type 56 carbine and three bolt-action rifles. The eight militiamen with them weren’t carrying the worst black-powder guns, either. The firepower of twelve men meant they could walk through these mountains unchallenged.

"Follow them!"

Zhao Wendong unleashed the dogs and led the men, following Dahuang and his pack as they charged forward.

AWOOO—!

A wolf’s howl suddenly rang out. Zhao Ergou’s eyes narrowed. The sound was all too familiar. It was more rhythmic than a normal howl. This was the third time he had heard it.

"Brother San, it’s that White Wolf!"

"Yeah. Let’s get it!"

Zhao Wendong nodded, raising his Type 56 and charging to the front. Both Zhao Wendong’s party and the White Wolf knew the other was their enemy. Given the chance, either would kill the other without hesitation.

A few gray wolves were gathered around the two snow mounds marking the graves of Guan Yongguang’s father and uncle. They were frantically digging at the snow around the mounds, trying to unearth the bodies. Fortunately, Zhao Wendong and his men had packed the snow down firmly. So far, the wolves had only managed to claw a few grooves into the surface.

The White Wolf’s howl sounded again. The other wolves froze for a moment, then immediately stopped what they were doing and began to retreat. Zhao Wendong wasn’t about to let them escape. He roared.

"Fire!"

As he shouted, he took aim at the distant white Wolf King and pulled the trigger. But the White Wolf had been watching Zhao Wendong the whole time. Seeing him raise his arm, it leaped away in a flash, disappearing into the forest.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

After a volley of shots, the Wolf Pack was down two more members. Zhao Wendong was anxious to check the snow mounds, so he called Dahuang and the other dogs back. The last two times they’d caught a wolf, it was with Xiaojin’s help. Xiaojin wasn’t here now, and they were in a hurry to see if the bodies of Guan Yongguang’s father and uncle had been dug up. So Zhao Wendong didn’t send Dahuang and the others out to give chase.

’Damn wolf. I’ll kill it sooner or later.’

Dahuang sat to the side with his two brothers, watching as Zhao Wendong’s men moved the stones and branches weighing down the snow mounds. He was still grumbling under his breath. Zhao Wendong shot him an amused glance before turning his attention back to their surroundings, standing guard with his rifle while the others worked.

Luckily, they had arrived in time. The wolves hadn’t reached the bodies at all. Zhao Wendong had no idea how the pack found this place. Were they looking for food, or was this simple revenge? That White Wolf was starting to feel unnaturally intelligent, almost like a spirit.

"It’s okay, they’re still here!"

As the snow mound was slowly excavated, the two bodies Zhao Wendong and his men had buried gradually came into view. Thanks to the depths of winter, they were perfectly preserved, looking just as they did when they were buried.

"Dad! Uncle!"

Staring at the two figures in the snow, Guan Yongguang dropped to his knees with a THUD and began to weep with heart-wrenching sobs.