I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Frozen Mushrooms

There, at the base of a rotting log, were several clusters of buttery-yellow mushrooms. Half were covered in ice and snow, while the other half glowed gold in the lingering sunset.

”Holy crap! Hahaha, they’re really mushrooms!”

Zhao Wendong lunged forward excitedly and took a closer look. They were mushrooms, all right.

These were *yuanmo*, also known as frost mushrooms in some places—a peculiar type of fungus that could grow even in winter. In his previous life, despite living for decades, he had only seen them in the mountains during winter two or three times.

”Second Brother, quick, look around! This stuff grows in patches.”

”You got it!”

Zhao Wenwu quickly found many more of the mushrooms nearby. The two brothers cheerfully became little mushroom pickers, and by the time the sun set, they had gathered half a burlap sack full.

”Hahaha! Wendong, this is great! This many mushrooms will be enough to feed our family for several days!”

Zhao Wenwu shouted happily. Zhao Wendong was in a good mood too. They hadn’t bagged any game, but this was a great haul nonetheless. As long as it was food, it didn’t matter if it was animal or vegetable. Besides, you’d get sick of eating meat every day.

”Let’s go, let’s go! Back to the stronghold!”

Zhao Wendong had commandeered the Japanese soldiers’ old stone chamber as their stronghold. His father had been worried about them having a place to sleep at night, but now with the stronghold, staying in the mountains for a month wouldn’t be a problem.

Originally, Zhao Wendong’s plan for overnighting in the mountains was to dig a snow cave, which would have been troublesome and uncomfortable. Now, all those worries were gone. In fact, the chamber was quite cozy; they could even use it as a long-term post if needed in the future.

Back at the stronghold, Zhao Wendong had Zhao Wenwu block the entrance with the stone slab to prevent wild animals from sneaking in at night. He then made sure to give Zhao Wenwu a serious warning.

”Second Brother, remember this. Don’t tell anyone about the stronghold except for Mom, Dad, Eldest Brother, and our sister-in-law. Not even Shitou or Little Tuanzi. You have to remember, you hear me?”

Seeing how serious Zhao Wendong’s tone was, Zhao Wenwu nodded earnestly.

”Yeah, I’ll remember!”

Only then did Zhao Wendong relax.

They had just entered the stronghold when Zhao Wenwu let out a cry of surprise and delight.

”Xiaobai!”

Zhao Wendong looked up and saw a ball of snow-white fur lying in the corner. Who else could it be but the fox, Xiaobai? He looked at the fox, and the fox looked back at him with a shifty gaze.

’The more I think about it, the angrier I get. This young master is back! You damned human, just wait until I get my chance. No one has ever dared to hit me like that in my entire life! First, I’ll trick him into giving me some food and drink.’

Zhao Wendong rolled his eyes. ’Damn, this little thing can really hold a grudge. I only slapped you a few times, didn’t I?’

”The hell? What are you doing here? Scram.”

”Wendong, Xiaobai is a good boy. Don’t yell at him.”

Zhao Wenwu immediately came to Xiaobai’s defense. The little fox yipped at him in response, all while shooting a smug look at Zhao Wendong out of the corner of its eye.

’As long as this young master can win over this stupid human, it’s only a matter of time before I get my revenge on that bad one!’

Seeing Zhao Wenwu having such a good time with the little schemer, Zhao Wendong just shook his head and ignored them. He started preparing dinner instead. Man is iron, and food is steel; your body is your greatest asset. They had to eat and drink their fill to have the strength to get more food. Besides, both his and Zhao Wenwu’s bodies were clearly malnourished and needed to be properly nourished.

As for this scheming little fox, since he could hear its thoughts at any time, what was there to be afraid of? In fact, Zhao Wendong was rather looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble the little guy would stir up. In an age without telecommunications or the internet, it might provide some much-needed entertainment!

The stronghold had a stove and a pot, which made cooking much more convenient. After lighting a fire and boiling some snowmelt, the next question was what to eat for dinner.

Fortunately, this wasn’t the modern world. There weren’t many options, so he didn’t have to face the ’problem of the century’—not knowing what to eat. For the staple food, there was nothing else but cornbread patties. As for the main dish, Zhao Wendong decided on a mushroom soup.

In the dead of winter, a bowl of hot mushroom soup would be unbelievably comforting. Just the thought of it was heavenly.

He washed the mushrooms, waited for the water to boil, and then tossed them right in. He added a little coarse salt and soy sauce, then threw in a few shelled pine nuts to enhance the flavor. The aroma instantly filled the stronghold.

Zhao Wenwu and the fox, Xiaobai, both froze and turned toward the iron pot. Their expressions were perfectly synchronized, noses twitching as they looked on with mouths watering.

”Wendong, it smells amazing!”

’It smells so good! This young master wants some!’

Soon, the mushroom soup was ready, and the patties were heated up.

Zhao Wenwu sidled over with eager eyes and sat down to wait. The little fox squatted right next to him, its dark, glistening eyes fixed on the steaming iron pot, drool practically dripping from its mouth.

The Japanese soldiers had left behind seven or eight basins, an aluminum ladle, and several Shōwa Type 5 mess kits and canteens. After he’d scrubbed the rust off with sandpaper, they looked as good as new.

He took two basins, ladled out two servings of soup, and they each grabbed a warm patty. The two brothers sat on the wooden bench, ready to eat.

”Yip! Yip! Yip!”

Seeing that it didn’t get a share, the little fox grew anxious and started yipping insistently at the two of them.

’Despicable humans! Hurry up and give this young master some! I want to eat too!’

Zhao Wendong watched the scheming little fox with a smirk, deliberately not moving.

Finally, Zhao Wenwu couldn’t stand it anymore and pleaded on its behalf.

”Wendong, Xiaobai wants some too. Give him a little.”

”Hahaha!”

Zhao Wendong laughed heartily. He was just teasing the little schemer. With so much soup, it wasn’t like they couldn’t spare a mouthful for it.

Finding a dented basin among the soldiers’ old gear to use as a bowl for Xiaobai, Zhao Wendong ladled a few spoonfuls of mushroom soup for it.

”It’s hot! Don’t rush, take it slow.”

Zhao Wendong reminded his brother, then blew on his own soup a few times before slowly taking a sip. The comforting warmth made him want to cry out. It was so damn good.

Savory!

”Ah, that’s satisfying. It’s so fucking good!”

The mushrooms’ savory flavor had been fully released into the soup, along with the rich aroma unique to fungi and their oils. It was a satisfaction that seeped deep into Zhao Wendong’s bones.

”Oh... ohhh...”

Zhao Wenwu had already started moaning in pleasure. The delicious mushroom soup seemed to open up every pore in his body. He felt it was the best soup he had ever tasted in his life.

”Yip yip yip!”

As Xiaobai lapped up the mushroom soup, it also let out happy little yips.

’Delicious, so delicious! Human life is so comfortable!’

Zhao Wendong shot Xiaobai an amused look. He had a bad feeling about this. It seemed wild animals could never resist the temptation of domestication. ’Lying flat’ was the ultimate end goal of the law of the jungle, after all. He hoped this scheming little fox wasn’t going to get attached to them.

The incredibly fresh and fragrant mushroom soup was a satisfying meal for the two men and one fox. Even the cornbread patties seemed exceptionally delicious. Full and content, drowsiness washed over them. The brothers took turns going outside to relieve themselves, then rearranged the straw on the stone chamber floor, lay down, and, covered by their leather coats, drifted sweetly off to sleep.

They slept soundly through the night. The next day, when Zhao Wendong woke up, he pushed aside the stone slab and stepped out of the stronghold. His expression changed instantly. The sun was already high in the sky, and snowflakes had begun to fall.

A snowy day was not a good day for hunting. Tracking prey relied on animal footprints, but animals were reluctant to come out after it snowed. Even if they did, their tracks would quickly be covered by the falling snow, making it very difficult for a hunter to follow.

”Second Brother, wake up! Let’s go, we need to get out there and take another look around.”

Zhao Wendong woke his brother. With no time to heat up their food, they grabbed the patties and their gear and left the stronghold.

They weren’t in the mountains to have fun; they were here to hunt. If they came back empty-handed a few times in a row, not only would they have wasted their energy and supplies for nothing, but their family would go hungry again.