I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Lin Zhiyin pursed her lips and smiled. The scene was just too amusing; she really couldn’t help it.

”Zhao Yinhua is my second aunt. I’m Zhao Wendong!”

Hearing Zhao Wendong’s words, the young man tossed aside his axe and strode over, a smile spreading across his face.

”Cousin Wendong, what brings you here? Haha, I’m Zhou Mancang!”

Zhao Wendong hopped off the horse-drawn sleigh, and Lin Zhiyin quickly stood up as well, watching the two greet each other warmly.

”Haha, Cousin, what a coincidence! It’s been ten years in a flash, hasn’t it?”

”More than ten years! The country hadn’t even been founded back then!”

”And this must be your lady? Come on, come on, let’s get you inside!”

Zhou Mancang grabbed Zhao Wendong’s arm to pull him inside, but Zhao Wendong quickly asked.

”Where’s Second Aunt? Is she here too?”

”No, they live on the front street. Wait a sec, I’ll take you there right now.”

”Alright.”

Zhou Mancang dashed back into the house. In the inner room, his wife was stitching a shoe sole on the kang bed-stove, while a half-grown child crawled around on it.

”What were you shouting about out there just now?”

His wife asked as soon as he came in.

”My cousin Zhao Wendong, from Third Uncle’s family, is here! I’m taking them to Mom and Dad’s. You should bring the kid over in a bit to see them. Oh, and grab the rest of the sorghum rice we have.”

”But that’s the last bit of food we have left…”

”Mom and the others must have even less. We have guests, what else can we do? Just bring it. Dad and I will go up the mountain tomorrow and see what we can find.”

The color drained from Zhou Mancang’s wife’s face when she heard him.

”It’s so dangerous to go up the mountain now! What will the child and I do if you get eaten?”

”Sigh, just bring the rice for now. We’ll talk about the rest later. I’m going, my cousin and his guest are still waiting outside!”

”Oh, alright!”

Although Zhou Mancang’s wife was extremely reluctant, she had no choice but to agree. In the Northeast, heaven and earth may be vast, but the guest is vaster still.

Darkness fell early in the dead of winter. The sun had not yet set, but the night was already eager to arrive. Zhao Wendong led the horse-drawn sleigh, following Zhou Mancang to Second Aunt Zhao Yinhua’s house. The sleigh’s runners scraped against the packed snow on the road, leaving a trail of SWISHING sounds, like someone brushing against your pant leg.

Second Aunt Zhao Yinhua’s adobe house was much like Zhao Wendong’s own—old and dilapidated. The difference was that her house was tilted, propped up only by a single wooden beam against the east wall to keep it from collapsing completely. This was a common sight in the villages these days.

Zhao Wendong followed Zhou Mancang into the house first, asking Lin Zhiyin to watch the sleigh outside for a moment. The moment Zhou Mancang opened the door, he hollered inside.

”Mom! Mom!”

A woman’s voice, lacking strength yet still managing to be loud, called back.

”Mancang, is that you? What are you shouting for? Got too much energy from a full stomach, have you?”

’Zhao Wendong felt a sudden surge of emotion, his heart finding it hard to settle. Though in the memories of two lifetimes he had only met Second Aunt Zhao Yinhua once, the bond of blood seemed to reawaken the moment he heard her voice.’

Zhao Wendong followed Zhou Mancang inside. Several people were lying on the kang. An old woman was slowly sitting up—though calling her an old woman wasn’t quite accurate. Second Aunt Zhao Yinhua was only two years older than Zhao Dashan. Barely in her early fifties, the years had already carved deep lines into her face.

Judging by her energy and physical condition, Zhao Wendong knew that his second aunt’s life over the years had been even harder than his own family’s. She looked far older than Chen Yanmei.

”Mom, look who’s here!”

Zhou Mancang happily pushed Zhao Wendong in front of Zhao Yinhua. At his words, Zhao Yinhua squinted, studying Zhao Wendong closely. With night about to fall, the dim, murky light inside the house made it even harder to see clearly.

But as Zhao Yinhua looked at Zhao Wendong’s vaguely familiar face, it was as if she were seeing herself as a child, running around everywhere with her little brother on her back.

”You… you’re from Dashan’s family. Wenjun? Wenwu? No, you’re Wendong. You’re Dongzi, right?”

”Haha, Second Aunt, you can still recognize me! I’m Zhao Wendong. I came to see you!”

Zhao Wendong broke into a happy smile. Zhao Yinhua grabbed his hand and held it tight, as if afraid he would run away.

”Oh my goodness, Dongzi! What are you doing here? Hahaha! Quick, get up on the kang and warm up!”

Zhao Wendong’s ears were ringing. ’Yup, that’s my second aunt’s familiar loud voice, alright.’ The others lying on the kang had also sat up by now. Zhao Yinhua pointed to a man who looked as ancient as a little old man.

”Dongzi, this is your second uncle!”

”Hello, Second Uncle!”

”Hey, hello, hello! Dongzi, hurry up on the kang, it’s warm.”

Zhou Laogen chuckled, revealing a row of uneven, yellowed teeth.

There were two other children on the kang: a girl of eleven or twelve and a boy of eight or nine. The boy had a sturdy-looking head, but neither of them seemed to have much energy. Even wrapped in quilts, you could tell they were both rail-thin.

”Still sitting there? This is your older cousin. Greet him!”

Zhao Yinhua shot them a look, and the two children quickly spoke up.

”Cousin!”

”Hey, hey, hello you two!”

Zhao Wendong chuckled and nodded. ’Looks like my second aunt holds a position of authority in this family.’

”Go on, go on, everyone get off the kang and get to work! Light the brazier, get the stove pit going! We have a guest, don’t you have any sense?”

Zhao Yinhua’s loud voice boomed nonstop. Just moments ago she was telling Zhou Mancang to save his energy, and now she was louder than anyone. Zhao Wendong’s arrival had left her overjoyed; she was visibly buzzing with excitement.

She ordered everyone off the kang, then got down herself and dug out a kerosene lamp that hadn’t been used in a long time. When she found it wouldn’t light, Zhao Yinhua grit her teeth, and with a grand wave of her hand, brought out the candle saved for New Year’s and lit it directly. The room filled with a warm candlelight.

”So Dongzi, how did you get here?”

Hearing his mother’s question, Zhou Mancang slapped his forehead.

”Mom, Wendong came by horse-drawn sleigh. Oh, right! Wendong’s girlfriend is still outside with it!”

Zhao Yinhua panicked at the news. She immediately rushed outside, not even stopping to put on her winter coat.

”Mancang, you’re really something else! Why didn’t you say so earlier! What are we going to do if my nephew’s girl freezes to death?”

Watching her bustle about, Zhao Wendong felt a warmth spread through his chest, and he couldn’t keep the smile off his face.

”Oh my heavens, this girl is just gorgeous! Wendong, how did you get so lucky? Where did you find such a wonderful partner? She looks like a fairy from the heavens.”

Zhao Wendong froze. ’What’s she talking about?’ Then he saw Lin Zhiyin being pulled along by his aunt, and his jaw nearly hit the floor.

While they were inside, Lin Zhiyin had actually wiped the pot soot and grime off her face. The faint smudges of ash that remained on her fair skin could no longer hide her radiance. Although he had seen her in his past life, it had been from a distance on the shore. Seeing this pretty face again, more beautiful than any celebrity from the future, left Zhao Wendong completely stunned.

”Aiya, Dongzi, are you two married yet? You must not be, or you would have definitely sent word to your second aunt! When are you planning to get married? Your second aunt will definitely be there to drink at your wedding feast! Oh my goodness, my nephew’s fiancée is too beautiful! Dongzi! Dongzi! Why are you staring like it’s the first time you’ve ever seen your wife? What are you bugging your eyes out for!”