I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

A wave of panic washed over them both. But when their eyes met, Zhao Ergou wasn’t shy this time. He looked at Niu Guizhi with unwavering resolve. Niu Guizhi slowly nodded, a smile gracing her face as her frantic heart instantly settled.

"Daughter, what do you think?"

Father Niu asked Guizhi, who nodded and replied with a firm voice.

"I agree."

"Great! Then it’s settled!"

Seeing his daughter was willing, Father Niu slapped his thigh and happily settled the matter. "Wendong, about this... shouldn’t we ask your third aunt for her opinion? And will it be too much trouble for you?"

"It’s fine, let’s settle it. I can make the decision. There’s no need to ask my third aunt—she’d just ask me anyway. Uncle, Auntie, we’ll do it on the third day of the New Year. It’s an auspicious day, and it’s no trouble at all. The more, the merrier!"

"You just get ready to come pick up the bride on the morning of the third. Come to our village, and we’ll have a big, lively wedding celebration together."

"Sounds wonderful."

Father Niu and Mrs. Niu smiled, satisfied. They were finally, completely at ease, and they had even more confidence in their son’s decision.

Zhao Wendong’s original plan was to have Zhao Wenwu hold a joint wedding so his second brother and sister-in-law could share in the festive atmosphere. He was happy to share the lively occasion with Wenwu. Now that Er Gou’s wedding was also set, and since the other family was flexible about the date, it was clearly better to hold them all together. This would get it done sooner and bring a new person into his third uncle’s family, giving Er Gou a wife to help support their home.

With the matter settled, Zhao Wendong and the others got up to leave and do some shopping. Lin Zhiyin pulled Niu Guizhi along, inviting her to go to the supply and marketing cooperative with them. Blushing, Guizhi agreed. Before leaving, Zhao Wendong gave Niu Sheng’s family five or six more fish, each weighing two or three pounds.

"Whoa, Dongzi Brothers, what’s all this? Didn’t Er Gou’s family already provide so much?"

"That was the betrothal gift from Er Gou’s family. This is from me, for you and your wife for the New Year. It’s different, right? Go on, take it. Don’t argue with me over a few fish!"

"Alright then. Honey, take the fish."

Hearing this, Niu Yuesheng stopped protesting and smilingly told his wife to take the fish. With this, their family could also have fish for the New Year, symbolizing a "surplus year after year."

After leaving Niu Yuesheng’s home, Zhao Wendong and Niu Yuesheng first drove the family to the supply and marketing cooperative, leaving the women to browse for New Year’s and wedding supplies. Then, Zhao Wendong started making his rounds. His first stop was Wang Defa’s house. The main purchasing station was always crowded, and Zhao Wendong worried about the impression it would create if he was seen there, so he went straight to Wang Defa’s home, whose address he happened to know. To his surprise, Wang Defa was in.

"Wendong, what’s all this?"

Wang Defa looked at the large pile of fish Zhao Wendong offered, his expression one of friendly protest. Zhao Wendong was his lucky star; his own good fortune was due after the New Year, and it was all thanks to him. He felt that he should be the one giving gifts to Zhao Wendong, not the other way around.

"I didn’t expect you to be home! Why are you always ditching work to run home? I came to bring some fish to your wife and kids for the New Year. Now, move aside."

Seeing how insistent he was, Wang Defa could only shake his head with a laugh and let his wife accept the fish. His eyes, full of envy, swept over the military-style wool overcoat Wendong was wearing.

"That’s a sharp-looking coat. I’d love to get one for myself. Oh, right—wait here a second."

As if suddenly remembering something, Wang Defa dashed back into the house and quickly returned with a pair of black leather gloves. They were exquisitely made, with five fingers, a pure leather exterior, and a fleece lining.

"Heh heh, I never had the heart to wear these myself. They’re still new. All yours!"

Zhao Wendong accepted them without a second thought, happily pulling them on. He stuffed his old padded mittens into his coat pocket; he’d long felt they didn’t match his coat and hat.

"Looking sharp! If you get a pair of big leather boots, you’ll look just like a proper General!"

"Hahaha, though I get the feeling he doesn’t look like one of *our* generals."

Wang Defa paused, then quickly caught Zhao Wendong’s meaning, and both of them burst into laughter. After a few more words of conversation, in which he told Wang Defa he was getting married on the third, Zhao Wendong said his goodbyes and headed straight for the county committee compound.

Meanwhile, Former Secretary Tao had already stopped coming into the office. Jiang Weimin had effectively taken over his duties and was just waiting for the post-New Year meeting where his appointment would be officially announced. The gatekeeper recognized Zhao Wendong and even saluted him. The large truck drove right into the compound, and Zhao Wendong hopped out with fish in hand. Here, with Jiang Weimin, there was no need for secrecy.

He ran into a few acquaintances on the way who warmly gave him directions, and soon Zhao Wendong entered Jiang Weimin’s office.

"Well now, Comrade Wendong, what brings you here?"

Jiang Weimin was reviewing a document behind his desk. Looking up and seeing it was Zhao Wendong, he immediately stood and came over to shake his hand warmly.

"Heh heh, it’s the New Year. I’ve come to give you a gift, Secretary. The question is, do you dare to accept it?"

Seeing the fish in his hand, Jiang Weimin burst out laughing.

"Fish from the ’Little Fishing Virtuoso’ personally christened by the Old Gentleman himself? Of course I dare to accept! I’d be upset if you brought too little. How else would you live up to that title?"

He pulled Zhao Wendong over to a chair and chatted warmly with him, asking about his production team’s preparations for the spring planting and how much grain he had traded for those bricks. When he heard Zhao Wendong had already delivered two thousand jin, he clapped him happily on the shoulder.

"Wonderful, just wonderful! I’m now eagerly awaiting the day you deliver the two thousand jin owed to the county. That’ll be grain conjured out of surplus materials. Let’s see who dares to make irresponsible remarks then."

"What’s wrong? Are people talking?"

Zhao Wendong was quite sensitive on this point. He wanted to live in a brick and tile house, but he wanted to do so in peace even more.

"It’s nothing, just the same old complaints. ’How can collective property be used for personal enjoyment,’ and so on. Don’t worry about it."

"Actually, Secretary Jiang, I have an idea. Here it is: if you can give us more materials, I’m prepared to add two rooms to the house to serve as our production team’s elementary school."

"What?"

Jiang Weimin shot to his feet, staring at Zhao Wendong in disbelief. ’Is he really willing to do this?’ He knew Zhao Wendong had some savings, but that came from selling four thousand jin of fish and from his hunting expeditions. Building two brick-and-tile rooms was already an incredible feat; now he wanted to build two more and give them to the production team to use as a school?