I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

"I don’t remember!"

"You know, the girl with the pigtail sticking straight up and yellowish hair who sat behind us."

"Oh, now I remember. You think *she’s* pretty? She looks like a green bottle fly."

"AHHH, Dongzi, I’m gonna kill you!"

The two of them wrestled playfully for a moment. Seeing that Liangzi’s mood had brightened considerably, Zhao Wendong waved his hand.

"I really have to go now. Brother Niu is still waiting outside."

"Alright, go on."

After leaving Liangzi’s house, the group boarded the large truck, its engine still running, and headed for Song Family Village in Minle Commune. When they arrived at the Guan Family’s home in the village, they saw white strips of cloth hanging on the main gate and in the courtyard. Much of the cloth was so old it had turned black or yellow, its original color barely recognizable.

Hearing the truck, Third Master Zhao and the others came out to greet them. The old man’s gaze first swept over Zhao Wendong, then quickly snapped back, sizing him up from head to toe before finally landing on his leather gloves.

"Heh, where’d you get a pair of gloves like these? This is good stuff. Back in the day, with Old Jiang’s gang, you had to be at least a division commander to wear something like this. You look so sharp. Did you run off and join Old Jiang to become a division commander, kid?"

"Give me a break. My red heart belongs to the Party. I’m a sworn enemy of Old Jiang."

The grandfather and grandson laughed and traded barbs. Zhao Wendong saw that Third Master Zhao seemed to be doing alright. Although there was sorrow in his brow, his spirits were good, which eased much of Wendong’s worry. He was especially concerned about the elders around him these days, terrified they might fall ill. The medical standards and conditions of this era were nothing like those of later generations.

The group entered the house of Guan Yongguang’s eldest uncle. The militiamen they had brought with them were also inside. Seeing Zhao Wendong, they all stood up one by one to greet him. Zhao Wendong smiled and returned their greetings.

"Third Master, is everything taken care of?"

"I suppose so. They’ve been buried. Since they died violent deaths, it wasn’t right to bury them in their village’s ancestral plot. Fortunately, that old fool Guan Xiangying’s cenotaph was also separate, so we just buried them right next to it. Let them keep their father company."

"If it’s all taken care of, why the long face? Look at you, you’ve got so many new wrinkles. When we get back, Granny Liu is definitely going to find you disgusting."

"You damn little brat! See if I don’t give you a thrashing."

Third Master Zhao was genuinely angry this time. The kid wasn’t even giving him any face in public. Today, he was determined to give him a good beating.

"Hahaha, don’t hit me, don’t hit me! I can solve your problem. If you hit me, I won’t help!"

"Really? How could you possibly know what’s worrying me enough to solve it?"

Half-doubting, Third Master Zhao let Zhao Wendong go and plopped back down on the kang. The entire room watched the grandfather and grandson chat, no one daring to interrupt. Even the production team leader of Song Family Village just watched obediently. Though it was his village’s affair, he seemed like an outsider.

"What’s so hard to guess? You’re worried about how this family, young and old, is going to survive from now on, aren’t you?"

"Sigh, you’re right. That’s exactly what I’m worried about. The Guan boy is only turning fifteen this year, and there’s not a single man left in the house. With so many kids, what are they supposed to do?"

After speaking, Third Master Zhao looked toward the Guan’s, and everyone’s gaze followed. A wave of sorrowful sighs went through the room. Four sallow, gaunt children, each with white mourning cloth tied on, stood in silence. Two women, one old and one young, were as thin as bamboo poles, their eyes swollen and red, their gazes lost. Only Guan Yongguang gritted his teeth, his expression resolute.

"It’s alright, Third Master. Fifteen isn’t a child anymore. I’m going to learn to hunt in the mountains like my dad and my uncle."

Hearing this, Zhao Wendong suddenly remembered something.

"That’s right, I forgot to return your father and uncle’s hunting rifle. I’ll bring it to you next time. Also, where did you get those Forest Frogs you had the other day? They should be hibernating now. They’re hard to dig up."

"I’m not too sure. My dad and uncle got them. It took them several days of hard work to get those Forest Frogs."

Guan Yongguang shook his head as he finished, a trace of grief entering his eyes. Zhao Wendong’s words had clearly reminded him of his father and uncle. Seeing this, Zhao Wendong decided not to beat around the bush and looked directly at Third Master Zhao.

"Third Master, have you guys come up with a solution yet?"

"There’s no easy solution. Sigh... such a big family without a single adult laborer, and four kids so young... It’s like heaven itself singles out the unfortunate for more hardship. I’ll try to think of something on my end. Captain Song, can you help look after them a bit?"

The production team’s Captain Song gave an awkward smile. "Every household is struggling right now. We can’t help much, just a little bit, a little bit..."

He was only saying that much to give Zhao Wendong face. Otherwise, he would have just said everyone is struggling and they should figure it out themselves.

"Dongzi, didn’t you say you could solve my problem?"

Seeing this, Third Master Zhao realized he was out of options. He cast his final, hopeful gaze upon Zhao Wendong. Recently, Zhao Wendong had changed immensely, accomplishing many things that seemed impossible. At this moment, he had become Third Master Zhao’s last hope. The old man was even conflicted, afraid that the solution Zhao Wendong proposed would be to support them with his own grain.

This wasn’t one or two people; it was six or seven mouths to feed. No matter how capable Zhao Wendong was, he couldn’t be expected to single-handedly support so many people who weren’t even his relatives. If Zhao Wendong really suggested it, Third Master Zhao wouldn’t know whether to accept or refuse.

"Have them all move to our Qianjin Commune. I have a plan."

"Huh?"

"What?"

Everyone was stunned by his words. The crowded room erupted in a flurry of hushed discussions.

"No, Brother San. Every family is having a hard time right now. There are so many of us, we can’t add to your burden. We’ll try our best to live. If we can’t, we’ll all go join my father and uncle below."

After Guan Yongguang spoke, his aunt and second-eldest sister both nodded in agreement. Though they needed help, they hoped even more to rely on themselves, not to make things worse for others by accepting their charity.

"Sigh... Wendong, you’re about to get married and build a house, and you have so many people in your own family to feed. There are your grandparents, and Er Gou is getting married too. Your burden is already huge. Let’s just forget it. I’ll think of another way. You don’t need to get involved."

Third Master Zhao sighed and spoke slowly.