I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 123: Chapter 122: Gift-Giving is an Art

Thanks to their connection with Zhao Wendong, Lin Huaimin and Wang Lulu’s visiting hours were no longer restricted. The couple and their daughter, Lin Zhiyin, had really lucked out and were able to talk their hearts out. By the time Zhao Wendong came to call them for dinner, their eyes were as swollen as walnuts, but their emotions had stabilized considerably.

The meal consisted of corn buns with a side of cabbage and potatoes. Liu Haisheng was a man of principle, not just toward others, but toward himself as well. Even when treating Zhao Wendong’s group to a meal, he insisted on paying with his own money and ration coupons. This gave Zhao Wendong a deeper understanding of the man: he was principled, but not stubbornly inflexible.

”Farm Director Liu, we couldn’t possibly let you spend your own money. We can pay for it ourselves!”

As he spoke, Zhao Wendong reached for his pocket. He wasn’t just posturing; he really was well-off. Chen Yanmei had stuffed a whopping fifty yuan on him before he left, and he hadn’t even touched it yet.

”Captain Zhao, I’ll be offended if you try to pay. I’m treating you in all sincerity. You have no idea how much that man-eating tiger was tormenting me. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep... I felt like my hair was about to fall out. That goddamn son of a bitch!”

”Sit, quickly, everyone sit down and eat.”

Zhao Wendong’s group sat at the innermost table. As groups of people came one after another to get their food, they saw Lin Huaimin and Wang Lulu chatting and laughing with the farm director, and couldn’t help but cast envious glances their way. This improved Lin Huaimin and Wang Lulu’s mood even more.

Halfway through the meal, Zhao Wendong suddenly remembered something and his chopsticks paused mid-air.

’That favorite curse of Liu Haisheng’s suddenly made him recall something. Isn’t this Liu Haisheng the same guy who eventually rose through the ranks to become a regional official and then made it all the way to Beijing?’

’This was a man destined for a smooth-sailing career in government.’ Now that he remembered, Zhao Wendong immediately resolved to befriend him. Liu Haisheng’s career path would take him from their very county all the way up to the regional level.

”Farm Director Liu, I didn’t argue with you about paying for this meal, but it’s only right for friends to exchange gifts, don’t you think? I have a roe deer on my sleigh outside. Please, take it as a thank-you gift for treating us to dinner!”

”No, absolutely not! That’s far too valuable!”

Liu Haisheng quickly refused. ’Are you kidding me?’ This meal had cost him practically nothing, while a roe deer was worth ten, even twenty times as much.

”Farm Director Liu, if you don’t accept it, you’re looking down on me, Zhao Wendong. You don’t want to acknowledge me as a farmer friend, is that it?”

Seeing that Zhao Wendong was dead set on giving him the gift, and hearing his forceful words, Liu Haisheng fell silent, unsure whether he should accept it.

Once again, it was Chen Baoguo who came up with a perfect compromise. He smiled at the two men.

”This is simple. We can’t outright refuse Brother Zhao’s kind gesture, but it’s too valuable for us to accept for free. Since Brother Zhao’s father-in-law and mother-in-law are here with us, why don’t we convert the value of the roe deer into grain and add it to their rations over time? That way, our farm will have its meat for the New Year! What do you think, Director?”

Liu Haisheng’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. He gave Chen Baoguo an appreciative glance and nodded with a hearty laugh.

”That works!”

Of course Liu Haisheng liked good food, especially wild game. Hadn’t Chen Baoguo’s eyes lit up at the mere mention of roe deer? Zhao Wendong’s gift would solve their meat problem for the New Year. Liu Haisheng simply didn’t want to take undue advantage of the man or become indebted to him. Now, by slowly ”repaying” the gift through Lin Huaimin and Wang Lulu’s rations, he could avoid breaking any rules and the whole arrangement was justifiable. Besides, the farm was already responsible for feeding Lin Huaimin and Wang Lulu, so it wasn’t an additional burden.

There was another point Liu Haisheng kept to himself. He couldn’t quite figure Zhao Wendong out; the man was clearly no ordinary farmer. He was capable and witty, and his manner was confident without being arrogant or subservient, which Liu Haisheng greatly admired. Befriending such a remarkable person might mean that one day, he could be the one asking Zhao Wendong for help.

After Liu Haisheng agreed to accept the roe deer, the atmosphere at the dinner table became noticeably warmer and closer.

Lin Huaimin watched Zhao Wendong with admiration. ’The farmer my daughter found is truly remarkable.’ As for Wang Lulu, it was a classic case of a mother-in-law adoring her son-in-law; the more she looked at him, the more she liked him. Thanks to Zhao Wendong’s skillful maneuvering, they would finally be able to live on the farm without constantly being on edge.

After dinner, with the afternoon nearly over, it was time for Lin Zhiyin to say goodbye to her parents. The others tactfully moved away, giving the family some privacy for a heart-to-heart talk.

”Mom, Dad, I’m leaving now. I’ll come see you again next time.”

”Alright, Yinyin. Don’t trouble yourself running back and forth. Just focus on taking care of yourself. Didn’t you hear? Farm Director Liu and Wendong both said that your mother and I won’t have to do manual labor anymore.”

Lin Huaimin’s eyes were smiling. It was the joy of seeing his daughter again, mixed with the relief of knowing she had found someone she could rely on. From his point of view, Zhao Wendong’s performance today had been outstanding in every way, and he was truly happy for his daughter.

Wang Lulu, however, took Lin Zhiyin’s hand and urged her.

”Yinyin, Wendong’s feelings for you are genuine; he’s not just after your good looks. That’s incredibly rare. He’s capable and smart, an absolutely top-tier choice for a husband these days. You have to hold onto him!”

”Things aren’t like they used to be, and we’re not the Lin Family we once were. Didn’t you say a lot of the girls in the village have their eyes on him? You need to act fast! If worse comes to worst, you should just... seal the deal. You’ve been clever since you were little. I’m sure you can handle it!”

”Oh, Mom!”

Lin Zhiyin immediately blushed. ’Seriously, what kind of parents say things like that to their daughter?’ But when she saw the earnest looks on their faces, the corners of her lips curled into a confident, mischievous smile.

”You both said I’m clever, so don’t you worry. No one is going to snatch a man away from me, Lin Zhiyin. Zhao Wendong is just a silly goose; he can’t escape the palm of my hand.”

”I’m flying where?”

Zhao Wendong’s voice suddenly cut in. Lin Zhiyin jumped in fright. Turning around, she saw him walking over, holding a ceramic jar. She glared at him in annoyance.

Zhao Wendong had only vaguely heard his name as he approached and had asked casually. When he saw Lin Zhiyin’s glare, he simply raised an eyebrow back at her. The exchange greatly comforted Lin Huaimin and Wang Lulu. ’They have such a good relationship!’

Seeing their daughter, who had been so smug just a moment before, now flustered, Lin Huaimin and Wang Lulu couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

”Don’t you make any sound when you walk? Why are you sneaking up on me while I’m talking to my parents?”

Lin Zhiyin snapped at Zhao Wendong, but before he could reply, Wang Lulu cut in, tapping her daughter’s arm.

”Yinyin, why are you speaking to Wendong so harshly? Be more careful in the future!”

Lin Zhiyin’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if she’d been struck by lightning. ’I’m their real daughter!’

’They’re already defending Zhao Wendong? And things have barely even started!’

She shot a wounded look at Lin Huaimin, hoping for support, but to her dismay, he was nodding in solemn agreement. Seeing her gaze, he even added...

”Yinyin, you can’t be throwing your spoiled little tantrums anymore. A woman needs to be reasonable and focus on living a good, stable life, you understand? Now, apologize to Wendong!”

”You... you two...”

Lin Zhiyin’s vision nearly went black. ’Oh, heavens! Have my own parents sold me out this quickly?’

As if with a mind of its own, her hand shot out and viciously pinched Zhao Wendong’s waist. Unfortunately, his padded cotton jacket was too thick, and her fingers couldn’t find any flesh.

”Hahaha!”

This sent Zhao Wendong, Lin Huaimin, and Wang Lulu into another fit of laughter. Furious and frustrated, but completely helpless, all Lin Zhiyin could do was stomp her foot.