I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Zhao Wendong Fixes the Well

Entering the inner room, he saw Zhao Lao Nian’s family of four huddled together on the kang bed, covered by two tattered cotton quilts. When Zhao Lao Nian and his wife saw the group of people walk in, they quickly sat up, their wrinkled faces filled with unease. The couple were both people of few words.

”Captain, what brings you all here?”

”Nothing much, just came by to see how you’re doing.”

As Zhao Weiguo spoke with Zhao Lao Nian, Zhao Wendong’s gaze fell upon Zhao Lao Nian’s two children. The older one was a girl of about five or six, and the younger was a boy, just over three—about the same age as Shitou and Little Tuanzi.

The brother and sister were currently clutching each other tightly under a torn quilt, dressed in worn-out, heavily patched cotton jackets. Their small faces were deathly pale, completely devoid of color. Their eyes looked exceptionally large because of how thin they were, and they stared with curiosity at the large group of unexpected visitors.

”How are things, Old Nian? Didn’t cook today?”

Hearing Zhao Weiguo’s words, a film of moisture welled up in Zhao Lao Nian’s cloudy eyes. He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse.

”No... we didn’t. There’s not enough grain at home for two meals, so we didn’t dare to eat.”

Zhao Lao Nian’s wife silently wiped the corners of her eyes. Looking at the family, the members of the village committee fell silent. Finally, Zhao Weiguo stood up and patted Zhao Lao Nian.

”Hang in there. Old Nian, you have to pull yourself together. Heaven won’t let a blind sparrow starve! The team will figure something out for you all!”

”I’ve tried, Captain, but in this bitter cold, I really can’t conjure food out of thin air. Thank you, Captain!”

Zhao Lao Nian thanked him emotionally. His wife was even quieter than he was; she didn’t know what to say and just stood by, forcing a smile.

Soon, the group left Zhao Lao Nian’s house and returned to the team headquarters with heavy hearts. Sitting on the kang bed, everyone was lost in thought, and the atmosphere was somewhat gloomy.

”How many other families in the village are in the same situation as Old Nian’s? Let’s get a count.”

After Zhao Weiguo spoke, he first mentioned two families he knew of. The others chimed in, adding a few more. Suddenly, Third Master Zhao remembered something and said,

”What about Er Gouzi’s family? His mother and the two of them will probably have a hard time this winter, too.”

Zhao Wendong immediately ruled them out.

”No need. Er Gouzi’s family is fine. They have food. I’ve been taking Er Gou out hunting!”

”Dongzi, you’ve really become something else. You’ve changed so much I almost don’t recognize you. Now you’re even able to support Er Gouzi’s family. Just a month ago, Police Li from the Commune told us to keep a close eye on you, afraid you’d go out and get into trouble.”

After Liu Xiufen said this, she found it amusing herself and chuckled out loud.

Zhao Wendong scratched his head.

”Auntie, wasn’t I just messing around and being immature before? I know how to walk the straight and narrow now!”

”Mhm, you’re just still not very serious!”

Third Master Zhao added, and the committee members all laughed, lightening the previously heavy atmosphere a bit.

Zhao Weiguo smiled as well before continuing with the count. In total, there were five families, twenty-six people in all, who needed help. With the New Year a month away and spring nearly three months off, if the village committee didn’t help these families find a solution, there would likely be problems this winter.

Zhao Wendong guessed that they must have had this same discussion in his past life. But based on his later memories, they definitely hadn’t found a solution. After all, grain couldn’t appear out of thin air, and you couldn’t just ask other families to give up their rations to help them. So, the tragedy for these families had been unavoidable. ’But what about this time?’ he thought. ’With my rebirth, will things be different?’

”Weiguo, what did the Commune say? Will the relief grain be distributed?”

Zhao Weiguo shook his head, his expression grim.

”The Commune said: cities first, then countryside; workforce first, then the old and weak. If you have problems, overcome them yourselves first!”

The room fell silent once again.

Third Master Zhao’s beard trembled with anger. He couldn’t help but say,

”We can’t be so foolish again next year!”

Zhao Wendong remained silent. There were many things he knew but couldn’t say.

After speaking, Third Master Zhao remembered something else.

”Right, Weiguo, what about the two thousand jin of resold grain the county promised us for exceeding our quota?”

Zhao Weiguo nodded, took a handkerchief from his clothes, and unfolded it. Inside was a slip of paper stating that Dragon King Pond was to receive two thousand jin of resold grain, stamped with the official seal of the county committee.

”The slip is right here. I’ve already gone to ask about it. The answer is always ’wait’.”

After he finished, the four of them fell silent again, all at a loss. It was Zhao Wendong’s first time participating in a village committee discussion, so he hadn’t rushed to voice his opinion, listening to the other four talk. Now, seeing they were out of ideas, he shared the plan he had just come up with.

”Just sitting at home and suffering won’t solve anything. How about this? I’ve noticed the platform around the village well is covered in ice, which is very dangerous. We could find some people to rebuild it, and the team can give some food to those who participate in the work. We’d give priority to the families we just listed. What do you think?”

The others’ eyes lit up, and Zhao Weiguo nodded.

”That’s a good idea, a work-for-pay program. The only problem is, the team doesn’t have any grain either!”

Zhao Wendong said with a smile,

”I happen to be leaving for a long trip soon. I’m planning to accompany Lin Zhiyin to the farm to meet her parents. I’d like to rent the team’s horse-drawn sleigh at a high price. The team can set the rental fee, and I’ll pay in grain.”

”Renting it again?”

”How many days will you be gone?”

”Huh? You’re already meeting the parents?”

”Will you be passing through the county seat?”

Good grief, four people asking four different questions at once.

Zhao Wendong answered them one by one.

”Quote a high price, so high that no one can complain. As for the trip, it’ll take five or six days round-trip, plus time to get things done, so let’s say seven or eight days! And yes, I’m going to meet her parents, so Aunt Liu, you don’t need to set me up with anyone, haha! I will be passing through the county seat; you have to go through it to get to the farm.”

Liu Xiufen sighed, a little regretfully.

”Ai, such a good young man like Dongzi... why did he have to fall for a rich city girl!”

Zhao the Fourth, however, hesitated before quoting a price he thought was quite high.

”Then how about twenty jin of grain for using the horse-drawn sleigh for seven or eight days?”

Zhao Wendong shook his head. That amount was too little; it wouldn’t be enough to save anyone.

”Too little. Let’s make it one hundred jin. I’ll give the team one hundred jin of grain, otherwise it won’t be enough to feed more than twenty people for a few days.”

Zhao Weiguo looked at Zhao Wendong and nodded in gratification.

”Alright. The team will owe you the remaining eighty jin. We’ll write you an IOU. We’ll pay you back first, with interest, before we hand over the public grain levy next year.”

Zhao Wendong nodded without a word. This grain was something they had worked hard to get, from the mountains and the sea. If it weren’t for his ability to hear the thoughts of animals, he might not have been able to acquire it at all. Naturally, he couldn’t just give it to the team for free.

”Really? You’re really giving one hundred jin of grain?”

Zhao the Fourth excitedly grabbed Zhao Wendong’s hand. He had been a little unhappy about Zhao Wendong taking over his position as Civilian Militia Captain, but now all he wanted to say was that Zhao Weiguo and Third Master Zhao were brilliant.

”Yes, really. And it’ll be cornmeal!”

”Good, that’s great!”

Zhao the Fourth happily patted Zhao Wendong’s hand, his lips trembling as he tried to speak but couldn’t. This wasn’t just one hundred jin of grain; this was the very lives of those families who had run out of food.