I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

"Let him get some experience at the Commune first. He can start right at our Commune!"

"Alright, I’ll write you a note. Take it back to Yang Wenxue and explain the situation to him. Actually, with your relationship with Yang Wenxue, wouldn’t it be easier to just tell him directly?"

Zhao Wendong didn’t respond, just chuckled. ’These guys are all shrewd; their words are full of hidden meanings, and I’m not about to fall for it.’ Seeing his tight-lipped expression, Jiang Weimin also shook his head and smiled. He promptly wrote him the note and casually asked him a question.

"You’re putting so much effort into helping someone unrelated to you. Why don’t you ever ask me for help for yourself, or your family?"

Zhao Wendong naturally couldn’t say, ’None of you will accomplish anything significant in the next twenty years. It’s more comfortable just being a farmer.’ Instead, he replied with a composed look.

"I know my own limits. My family and I are cut out for farming and hunting. If we were to work in a field we’re not skilled in, we’d likely turn a good thing into a disaster. As the old saying goes, an incompetent general wears out his entire army. While I may not be able to serve the people, I definitely don’t want to be a burden to them."

"Well said! That’s very well said! Comrade Wendong, if everyone had your level of awareness, we wouldn’t be..."

Jiang Weimin suddenly trailed off, and Zhao Wendong quickly made his escape. There were some things he’d rather not hear. Outside the county committee courtyard, Niu Yuesheng looked at the pile of fish still left in the truck and gave Zhao Wendong a puzzled look. ’Does he know other leaders? Is my information network getting slow?’

"Brother Dongzi, where to next?"

"To Former Secretary Tao’s house. Do you know where he lives?"

"I do, but..."

Niu Yuesheng hesitated for a moment before offering a word of caution.

"I know you’re a badass, but that kid, Tao Dongdong, is just spoiled rotten. He hasn’t really done anything truly heinous. Besides, Former Secretary Tao has a great reputation. Is it really necessary for you to go pick a fight at his house?"

Hearing Niu Yuesheng’s misunderstanding, Zhao Wendong let out a chuckle. "Brother Niu, I’m going to deliver a gift, not pick a fight. Relax."

"Huh? Oh, alright then."

Niu Yuesheng started the big truck and drove Zhao Wendong toward Former Secretary Tao’s house. Sitting in the truck, Zhao Wendong mulled over what Niu Yuesheng had just said. ’Assuming Tao Dongdong really is just a spoiled brat who hasn’t done anything truly awful, then his involvement in beating Guan Yongguang to death with those thugs in my past life must have been an accident. In this life, with Little Tuanzi and Zhao Wenwu there, the tragedy was prevented. I even taught him a lesson myself. So, how should I treat him? Should I see him as the murderer from my past life, or as the kid I just taught a lesson to in this one?’

’My visit to Former Secretary Tao’s house isn’t really to give a gift. I mainly want to see the old secretary’s reaction for myself. Yang Wenxue said he wasn’t angry and even invited me over, but I’m not so sure. I might as well go see in person. If he really holds no grudge against me, I was thinking of asking him for a favor. Yesterday, Zhao Weiguo mentioned that Zhao Xiaoyan wants to become a city worker, and the first place that came to my mind was the Second Silk Factory that Big Wang took me to.’

’Niu Yuesheng mentioned before that Former Secretary Tao used to be the director of the Second Silk Factory, so he knows that place best. If I get the chance, I can sound him out and get this taken care of during my visit. Zhao Weiguo has helped me a lot, so I have to at least try to return the favor. But if the opportunity doesn’t arise, I’m not going to suck up to anyone just for Zhao Xiaoyan’s sake.’

Under normal circumstances, it was extremely difficult for a farmer to change their status from rural to urban and become a city worker without special connections. In this era, the difference between a worker and a farmer was like the difference between heaven and earth. To give a few examples: first, the income was several times higher, and many jobs weren’t physically exhausting. Food was provided in rations, and the factories had their own dormitories, bathhouses, and hospitals. During last year’s national electrification campaign, many factories built their own small power plants or bought large generators, and a major factory like the Second Silk Factory was no exception.

Take social interactions, for example. People addressed workers as "Master" out of respect, while farmers were called "Commune Member" or "Comrade." Their social standing was completely different. So, with all these benefits, why didn’t Zhao Wendong go through the trouble of becoming a worker himself, or getting his family into it? To be honest, he just didn’t think it was all that great. He was confident he could lead his family to a far more superior life in Dragon King Pond than they could ever have as factory workers.

"Wait a minute, Brother Niu, how did you know that I dealt with Tao Dongdong?"

Zhao Wendong suddenly snapped out of his thoughts, remembering Niu Yuesheng’s earlier words of caution.

"Ha! One of you is the county’s little tyrant, the other is the famous new Civilian Militia Captain. The whole county knew about your clash at the market on the very first day! You’re a sensation now. No exaggeration, you’re more famous than Secretary Jiang Weimin. A lot of people don’t know who Secretary Jiang is, but now, you mention Brother Dong, Zhao Wendong, and anyone in the county who hasn’t heard your name is either deaf or a baby. The stories of your mighty display, and even the exact words you said, have been spread far and wide. Here, let me do an impression."

"Brothers, get him! Keep hitting him! Crawl over here! If you don’t eat this, you’ll die right here! You, who are supposed to serve the people, have turned against them and started bullying them instead..."

"Heh... Fuck. Alright, alright, that’s enough. Stop it."

Zhao Wendong gave a bitter laugh and stopped Niu Yuesheng. ’Just a couple of days ago I was talking about keeping a low profile, and then Tao Dongdong serves himself up on a platter for me to make a name for myself. Low profile my ass.’ The county seat wasn’t that big, and soon they pulled up in front of a large courtyard with a brick-and-tile house. Zhao Wendong got out of the truck and stared at the compound, a bit dazed. ’Isn’t this what a typical rural house will look like in a few decades? It’s even the kind of house I want to build. I can’t believe Former Secretary Tao is already living in one.’