I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Pork Stew with Cabbage, Potatoes, and Vermicelli

A sudden shout startled the three of them.

A stout, heavyset man in a cadre’s uniform burst out, his face contorted with anger.

Fat people were a rare sight in this era.

”Little Shanghai, what did I tell you? Didn’t I tell you to stay put at the farm machinery station and stop running around all day? And who are these people?”

The man stopped mid-sentence as he noticed Zhao Wendong and his companion.

”They’re my friends.”

”Friends? What kind of friends would an educated youth from Shanghai have around here? And that tractor that came in last time, isn’t it fixed yet?”

Little Shanghai nonchalantly scratched his head and curled his lip.

”Besides the engine, which might be salvageable, there’s not a single good part on that whole tractor. It’s like a person whose only working organ is a barely beating heart. How am I supposed to save that...?”

”I don’t care how you save it! All I know is you have to fix that tractor. If you can’t, you can pack your bags and get the hell out!”

With that, the fat man stomped away in a huff.

”Fuck, who’s that fatty? Thinks he’s hot shit, huh?”

Zhao Wendong narrowed his eyes as he watched the man’s retreating back.

”Damn it! That’s our farm machinery station chief, Fatty Li. He’s nothing without his powerful father, just struts around all day giving orders and talking nonsense! I’m not gonna fix it. Even if I can, I won’t. Let’s see what he can do to me!”

”Worst comes to worst, I’ll just quit. I can go back to the educated youth camp and ’till the earth.’ It’s all just passing the days anyway. Without me, let’s see who’s going to fix the heavy machinery at this station. Damn it!”

Zhao Wendong understood. The man was confident because he had real skills. ’People with genuine talent can afford to be defiant.’

”Master Hu, you’re the man!”

Zhao Wendong gave Little Shanghai a thumbs-up. Little Shanghai clearly enjoyed the praise, accepting it with a smug look on his face.

”Come on, Wendong, here’s the sled. Take it.”

Little Shanghai pulled a sled out from a corner of the yard.

”Thanks!”

Zhao Wendong’s heartfelt thanks, however, seemed to displease Little Shanghai.

”Damn it, why are you being so formal with me? What’s there to thank me for? I felt a connection the moment I saw you!”

”Same here, haha! I like your attitude.”

The two of them acted like they were long-lost comrades reuniting on Jinggang Mountain, just short of becoming sworn brothers on the spot.

Zhao Wenwu rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath.

”’A turtle sizing up a mung bean—a perfect match.’”

Seeing how enthusiastic Little Shanghai was, Zhao Wendong thought for a moment and took out the half-jin of pork from his bag.

”Little Shanghai, didn’t you say you were craving some meat? Take it!”

”Wendong, what are you doing? Take it back, I don’t want it. I was just talking. You should take it home for your family. Food is so precious these days.”

”Stop arguing. We have enough to eat at home. When I tell you to take it, just take it!”

”Damn it, you’re bullshitting. Whose family isn’t short on food these days? I’m not taking it.”

The two of them pushed it back and forth for a long time until Zhao Wenwu grew impatient.

”You want him to eat it, he wants you to eat it. Why don’t you just eat it together? So stupid!”

The two of them froze, then looked at each other and burst into laughter.

”Turns out Second Brother is the smartest one here!”

”Right, right! His words have awakened us from a dream!”

”Perfect, it’s past noon anyway. Little Shanghai, my brother and I will eat here with you. I’ve got potatoes and cornmeal.”

Little Shanghai was also delighted to hear they were staying for a meal. He thought for a moment.

”No need for the cornmeal. I still have some white rice I was saving for the New Year. I’ll be alone then anyway, so today I’ll treat you two to rice. Oh, and I have some cabbage and vermicelli. Let’s make a pork and potato stew with cabbage and vermicelli!”

Zhao Wenwu’s eyes lit up. He immediately put down the burlap sack and started taking out the potatoes and pork.

The farm machinery station had a large yard with a repair workshop. Since it was only at the Commune level, it was poorly equipped and felt empty. The only thing inside was a two-wheeled walking tractor with two handles.

You couldn’t see these kinds of tractors on the roads in later generations, but at this time, they were a genuine heavy asset—a real rarity.

Inside the workshop was a small room with a clay stove, a small bed, and a little table. This was Little Shanghai’s home.

Zhao Wendong thought about him coming from a huge metropolis to this poor, remote place, guarding this tiny hovel. ’It’s no wonder he became a street loafer just like me. The fact that he hasn’t gone crazy just shows how strong he is inside.’

Little Shanghai skillfully lit the fire to stew the vegetables, then used another stove to start cooking the rice. Zhao Wenwu voluntarily helped tend the fire, his eyes fixed on the pot. He was much quieter than usual, but the constant bobbing of his Adam’s apple betrayed his inner thoughts.

Zhao Wendong and Little Shanghai chatted idly. One was a street loafer from Dragon King Pond with decades of knowledge from a future era, the other a street loafer from the Commune who hailed from the international metropolis of Shanghai Beach. The conversation never once faltered.

The more they talked, the more they clicked, and the happier they became. Little Shanghai clapped Zhao Wendong on the shoulder excitedly.

”Wendong, your insight is something no ordinary farmer has. You’re truly a kindred spirit! It’s a shame we didn’t meet sooner! From now on, you’re my, Li Dong’s, best brother. You have to come visit me often!”

”Don’t worry, brother. I will!”

Being with Little Shanghai, Zhao Wendong also found himself slipping back into his old, relaxed, roguish state. His speech became more freewheeling, but he felt completely relaxed and comfortable, inside and out.

When the fragrant stew of cabbage, potatoes, pork, and vermicelli was served, even Zhao Wendong couldn’t help but swallow, feeling as if every craving he ever had had been awakened.

”Third Brother! It smells... it smells so good!”

Zhao Wenwu was so excited he was grinning from ear to ear.

Little Shanghai opened another pot and dished out a large basin of white rice. The aroma of the rice wafted through the air, tantalizing them. He tilted his head, looking at the meal, and then clapped his hands and laughed as an idea struck him.

”Damn it, how can we have such good food with the best of brothers and not have some booze? Wait here!”

He hurried off and quickly returned, looking furtive, and pulled a more-than-half-full bottle of baijiu from his coat.

”Whoa! Fengcheng Old Cellar! Now that’s the good stuff!”

”Hehe, it’s Fatty Li’s! He can’t even bear to drink it himself, just sneaks a sip now and then. Thinks he’s hidden it so well. Well, it’s our lucky day!”

Zhao Wendong was a little worried for him.

”Won’t he find out?”

”It’s fine. Even if he suspects, there’s nothing he can do to me. After we finish it, you take the bottle with you. Does Fatty Li have any proof then?”

”Hahaha, you’re one of a kind!”

Zhao Wendong laughed and held out his bowl directly to him.

”Come on, pour it up!”

In his past life, when he was alone, he often relied on alcohol to numb himself when he couldn’t sleep. He really loved a good drink. Besides, in the dead of winter, a little alcohol would warm him up and give him energy.

”Wendong, I really like how you don’t mess around! Haha, come on, let’s drink!”

The more Little Shanghai looked at Zhao Wendong, the more he felt they were on the same wavelength, and he laughed heartily.

The two poured the liquor, and the three of them prepared to eat.

There was a huge pot full of stew, and Little Shanghai had gone all out with the rice, cooking up all he had left into a massive basin. The scale of this meal was no less than a state banquet in a future era.

Zhao Wenwu held his rice bowl, looking left and right with a conflicted expression. Zhao Wendong smiled and said to Little Shanghai.

”Do you have a basin?”

”Yeah, why?”

Little Shanghai looked puzzled.

”My second brother thinks your bowls are too small. It’s not satisfying enough for him!”

”Hahaha, I’ll go find a big treasure for Second Brother.”

Little Shanghai found a small basin, a size smaller than the one holding the stew. Zhao Wenwu happily took it, filled it halfway with rice, then poured half a basin of stew over it. Then he buried his entire face in his new ”bowl” and started eating with loud slurps.

’So good! Fucking amazing! I, Zhao Wenwu, have never fought such a rich and delicious battle in my entire life.’

Little Shanghai was dumbfounded. Zhao Wendong had to wave a hand in front of his face to snap him out of it.

”Haha! Tell me, doesn’t a meal feel more appetizing with my second brother around?”

”It does! So damn appetizing, I’m tempted to eat like that myself!”

”Hahaha!”

They both burst out laughing. Accompanied by the cheerful rhythm of Zhao Wenwu eating like a pig at a trough, the two of them also began to eat and drink happily.

The pork belly was stewed until it was fall-apart tender, rich but not greasy. The vermicelli had soaked up the thick broth, becoming smooth yet chewy. The cabbage was sweet, its stalks slightly crisp, while the potatoes had dissolved into the stew, making the broth rich and velvety.

With one spoonful, the savory meat, sweet vegetables, and springy vermicelli melted in their mouths, bringing the three of them the most profound satisfaction on this winter day. Paired with a bottle of Fengcheng Old Cellar, it was so comforting it felt like every pore on their bodies had opened up!

As the saying goes: The simple flavors of a home-cooked meal are the greatest comfort to an ordinary soul.

Zhao Wenwu scraped his basin clean, then picked up every last bit of food that had fallen on the table and his lap and popped it into his mouth. He let out a satisfied burp.

”Third Brother, I’m sleepy.”

He rubbed his belly and, without another word, ignored the other two who were still slowly sipping their liquor and lay down directly on Little Shanghai’s bed.

The next second, he was snoring like thunder.

Little Shanghai glanced at Zhao Wenwu with envy.

”It’s good to be like Second Brother. Not so many worries!”

”What, you have a lot of worries?”

Zhao Wendong looked up at him.

Little Shanghai’s brow furrowed.

”Not worries, exactly. It’s just... there’s no hope. No end in sight. My family were just common folk in Old Shanghai Beach. My grandfather was a rickshaw puller.”

”He and my dad scrimped and saved to send me to school so I could learn to read, hoping that one day I could make something of myself. And in the end... damn it!”

”I don’t know when I’ll ever be able to leave this place and go back to them. When will I ever have the chance to give them a better life!”

”My grandpa’s health isn’t good either. I’m so worried about him now! Damn it!”

Zhao Wendong poured him another half-bowl of the Old Cellar liquor.

”If you miss them, then go back and see them!”

”Fuck, it’s not that easy. Forgetting about not having a ticket or the papers to return to the city, my pockets are cleaner than my face. What would I do back there? I’d just be another mouth for the family to feed!”

”Did you know, Wendong? People are already starving to death in the south!”