I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: The Style of the Mongrels

”My god, Brother San, you’re so lucky!”

”I-I think it’ll be warmer in here than at home once we get a fire going!”

Zhao Ergou was constantly looking around. His steps faltered when he saw there was also a Type 38 rifle in the box.

Zhao Wendong smiled and said, ”This rifle is for you. Have you ever fired a gun before?”

Zhao Ergou shook his head, a little excited. He was younger and had a poorer physique, so he had never been selected for the militia or even touched a gun.

”Don’t worry, it’s very simple. I’ll take you out to practice in the mountains a few times over the next few days. You’ll get the hang of it after firing a few shots!”

On the way here, Zhao Wendong had already made his plans. With four guns, three dogs, and Xiaobai, their group was strong enough to venture deeper into the mountains. They would enter the mountains every morning and return to the stronghold at dusk. Venturing twenty or thirty *li* deep would definitely be no problem.

”Let’s go. Into the mountains!”

After putting away the quilts and tidying up the cave, Zhao Wendong grabbed the Golden Roc’s cage and called for everyone to leave the stronghold, beginning their first day of hunting.

The deep mountains, on the cusp of the twelfth lunar month, were bitingly cold. The wind felt like countless tiny knives scraping painfully against their faces. In many places, the snow was knee-deep, and every step required a strenuous effort to pull their legs free. The four men wrapped their cotton-padded clothes tighter, pulled the earflaps of their dog-fur hats all the way down, and wore neck gaiters, leaving only their eyes exposed.

General led the way, with Zhen Shan and Zhui Feng following close behind. The ropes on their necks had been untied. All three dogs had their ears pressed flat against their heads, their noses sniffing the snow warily.

”Third Brother, are these dogs really up to the task?”

Zhao Wenjun was a little worried. Hearing this, Zhao Wendong laughed.

”Big Brother, they may be small, but they’re still dogs, and they have the noses of dogs. Don’t worry, they’re definitely better than us searching around randomly!”

Before his words had even faded, General suddenly started barking toward a certain direction. The group looked over and saw a plump wild rabbit in the distance, huddled over and nibbling on something. Its greyish-brown fur was dotted with snowflakes, and its ears twitched from time to time. Hearing the dog’s bark, the rabbit instantly became a grey blur and dashed into the dense woods nearby.

”After it!”

”WOOF WOOF WOOF!”

The three dogs sped off after the wild rabbit, with Zhao Wendong and the other three men running madly behind them.

The rabbit weaved nimbly through the trees, making sharp turns every so often in an attempt to shake off the three pursuing dogs. General directed Zhen Shan and Zhui Feng to flank it from different sides. They quickly formed a triangular pincer and compressed the rabbit’s movements into a small area. Whether it was something Little Bastard’s grandfather taught them or an instinct they had developed since they were pups, their teamwork was incredibly skilled.

Forced into a corner, the rabbit hopped back and forth frantically on the snow. Zhen Shan suddenly accelerated and lunged at it. Pushed to its limit, the rabbit leaped into the air, its body twisting miraculously mid-flight. It landed and tried to bolt in a new direction, but Zhui Feng had already caught up and bit down on its hind leg.

”SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!” The wild rabbit let out a piercing shriek and struggled desperately. Its hind legs kicked so hard that Zhui Feng’s face was covered in snow. Zhui Feng held on tight, letting the rabbit twist and thrash while pressing its body low to pin it into the snow.

Zhen Shan rushed over and squatted beside General, panting with his tongue out. Both dogs stared intently at the rabbit to prevent its escape. Zhao Wendong quickly arrived, bent down, and grabbed the rabbit by its ears, hoisting it up.

This wild rabbit was very fat, probably four or five *jin*. Held in the air by Zhao Wendong, it was still kicking its legs with all its might. It was a mystery how it had grown so plump, but it was Zhao Wendong and his group’s lucky day.

Zhao Wendong drew the military bayonet from his waist and made a swift cut across the rabbit’s neck. The rabbit’s struggles gradually weakened, and after a few final kicks from its limbs, it went still.

”Haha, these three dogs are amazing!”

Zhao Wenjun excitedly patted the three dogs’ heads, earning a flurry of wagging tails in return.

Once the rabbit’s blood had drained, Zhao Ergou happily took it and put it in the bag he was carrying on his back.

”Brother San, would you call this getting off to a good start?”

”Hahaha, of course!”

Indeed, that had just been a good start. The three dogs went on to show their incredible prowess, not only catching three more wild rabbits but also chasing down two pheasants. Their record was outstanding. Zhao Wendong gave them an extra meal as a treat, directly rewarding them with the rabbits’ entrails and other organs. They ate with great delight, their tails wagging like propellers.

”With such amazing hunting dogs, I can’t believe Little Bastard was starving enough to resort to robbery!”

Zhao Wenjun thought of Little Bastard and shook his head in disbelief.

Zhao Wendong smiled but didn’t comment. ’Little Bastard had mentioned taking the dogs into the mountains before, but he had come back empty-handed. Why no success? Because prey is hard to find in winter, and Little Bastard had no experience. I, on the other hand, have the experience of a past life. Though it might look like I’m just wandering around aimlessly, I’m choosing places where my years of experience tell me there might be prey. Naturally, that gives the three dogs a chance to show what they can do.’

Seeing that the sun was about to set, the group decided to head back. Just then, Xiaobai, who had been off wandering somewhere all day, suddenly appeared and started whimpering insistently at Zhao Wendong and the others.

’Humans, don’t miss out on this good stuff!’

”Third Brother, what’s Xiaobai trying to say?”

Zhao Wenwu asked Zhao Wendong directly. He had always been firmly convinced that Zhao Wendong could understand what animals were saying.

”Let’s follow him and see!”

The group followed Xiaobai for a while until it stopped at a large grove of broad-leaved trees. Zhao Wendong immediately thought of something and hurried forward to check.

Sure enough, clusters of golden-yellow frozen mushrooms were glistening in the light of the setting sun.

”Oh my god! Mushrooms!”

”Frozen mushrooms! Haha, Xiaobai, you’re the best!”

”Oh, that’s great! We can have mushroom soup tonight!”

Everyone cheered and then eagerly dove into the woods to start picking the mushrooms. The patch Xiaobai had found was much larger than the one Zhao Wendong and the others had picked from last time. It took filling half of each of the four men’s bags to gather them all. Since they didn’t have baskets, more of the mushrooms got crushed, but there was nothing to be done about that.

”Awesome!”

Zhao Wenjun couldn’t help but shout. Zhao Ergou nodded in agreement.

”Our luck is incredible!”

Who would dare guarantee a good haul when going into the mountains these days? Yet here they were on their very first day with so much to show for it. Er Gou felt their luck was off the charts.

Zhao Wendong smiled again. ’It has nothing to do with luck. It’s just my decades of experience from a past life, plus the help of my golden finger ability to hear the thoughts of animals.’

The group started back to the stronghold. This time, Xiaobai didn’t run off, but followed them obediently. As they neared the stronghold, Zhao Wendong had everyone spread out to look for the cross-shaped marks on nearby trees. He had set two traps the last time he was in the mountains.

Soon, one of the traps was found. It had caught a rabbit, but unfortunately, only half of the body remained. The other half had been gnawed away by some unknown animal.

”Brother San, come quick! The trap is over here!”

Zhao Ergou’s voice rang out. The others quickly gathered around him. When they got to his side, they discovered that the second trap had caught a roe deer, which was already frozen solid.

”Haha, not bad! A triumphant first outing!”

Pleased, Zhao Wendong removed the roe deer, then reset the two traps in new locations and marked them. The group then returned to the stronghold before dark.

They had just returned to the cave, lit the torches, and started a fire in the stove when Zhao Wendong heard a thought from the Golden Roc, which hadn’t eaten or slept for another day.

’Thirsty.’

Zhao Wendong paused. ’It seems the opportunity to build a good relationship with this Golden Roc has finally arrived. The fellow can’t hold out any longer.’