I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 130: Chapter 129: Saving Private Niu Yuesheng

”Quiet!”

Seeing the members of the transportation team erupt into a chaotic clamor, Captain Jiao let out a roar that instantly silenced everyone.

”Captain Zhao, did you really find it? Can you take us there?”

”Of course. Let’s go!”

Zhao Wendong nodded and released Xiaojin again. The eagle was already a pro at leading the way. Worried that Xiaojin might lose sight of him, Zhao Wendong turned down the offer to ride in the cab and climbed into the truck bed with Lin Zhiyin.

Captain Jiao and Wang Defa got into the cab, while two mechanics carrying their tools also climbed into the truck bed. The large truck roared to life and drove out of the transportation team’s yard.

Xiaojin led the way, flying for a stretch before pausing to wait for Zhao Wendong and the others. Fortunately, since they were in a truck this time, their speed was much faster, and Xiaojin never had to wait long. Under the eagle’s guidance, the group sped toward the spot where Niu Yuesheng had broken down.

After driving for about ten kilometers outside the county town, they all saw the faint outline of a large truck emerge through the swirling snow up ahead.

”Holy shit, we actually found it! This is incredible!”

Sitting in the cab, Captain Jiao grabbed Wang Defa.

”Old Wang, you’ve done me a huge favor! This young friend of yours is unbelievable!”

Wang Defa was inwardly astounded himself—he hadn’t really expected Zhao Wendong to find the truck—but his face wore an expression that said he knew it all along.

”Hey, Old Jiao, your business is my business, isn’t it? My young friend here was in a hurry to get home, but I specifically held him back just to help you find this truck!”

”Say no more! I’ll take care of dinner tonight!”

Captain Jiao clapped Wang Defa heartily on the shoulder, receiving a knowing smile in return.

Niu Yuesheng had been waiting for what felt like an eternity. As he watched the sun begin to set with no sign of any passersby, he knew his hopes of being found today were dashed. He could only pin his hopes on someone passing by tomorrow who could send a message for him.

’But how will I get through the night?’ He was cold and hungry; a single slip-up could mean freezing to death. Just as he was starting to brace for the worst, he suddenly heard the unmistakable roar of a truck in the distance.

He snapped his head up, staring in disbelief at the approaching truck as it sped over and stopped right in front of him. Then he watched as Captain Jiao and the others climbed out.

”Oh my God, Captain! How did you find me? You guys are incredible!”

Niu Yuesheng rushed toward Captain Jiao, a long trail of frozen snot dangling from his nose. His speech was slurred, his mouth stiff from the biting cold.

”Haha, it wasn’t us who found you. It was Comrade Zhao Wendong!”

”Brother Wendong? Seriously? So that eagle I saw really was yours?”

”Hahaha, so you saw Xiaojin, Brother Niu? That’s him, all right. He’s the one who found you!”

Zhao Wendong jumped down from the truck bed, and only after helping Lin Zhiyin down did he walk over to greet Niu Yuesheng.

Niu Yuesheng was so moved he came forward and hugged him, clapping him warmly on the back. He never imagined that this new farmer friend he’d just met would be the one to save his life. He glanced around excitedly.

”Where’s your eagle?”

”Looking for him? I’ll call him down!”

Zhao Wendong then formed a circle with his thumb and forefinger, put it to his lips, and let out a sharp whistle toward the sky. Xiaojin answered with a long cry and then dove, landing on Zhao Wendong’s shoulder in a gust of wind.

Niu Yuesheng couldn’t resist reaching out to pet him, but Xiaojin instantly flared its wings and fixed him with a sharp, fierce glare, scaring him into snatching his hand back.

”Incredible! You’re really something else, Brother Wendong! It’s only been a few days, and you’ve already trained this eagle to be so intelligent.”

”Hahaha, it’s just a parlor trick.”

”Comrade Zhao Wendong, you’re being far too modest! That’s no parlor trick. That’s an absolutely breathtaking skill!”

Captain Jiao shook his head and exclaimed with heartfelt admiration. The others all nodded in agreement. Lin Zhiyin watched Zhao Wendong, the center of everyone’s attention, and her eyes curved into smiling crescents.

Niu Yuesheng was grinning so wide his gums were showing. He grabbed Zhao Wendong’s hand and refused to let go.

”Haha, Brother Wendong! I saw your eagle flying overhead earlier, and I wondered if it could be yours. But then I thought, ’No way, how could he have trained it so fast?’ I can’t believe it really was you! My brother, you saved my life! If I had to spend a night out here in the wilderness, I was honestly afraid I’d be frozen solid!”

”I wouldn’t mind so much if it were just me freezing to death, but this truck and all its cargo... this is all the people’s precious property! If anything had been lost, my crime would have been immense. I wouldn’t have been able to rest in peace! Brother, I can’t thank you enough!”

Zhao Wendong was moved. ’People in this era are so sincere,’ he thought. He pulled out his cigarettes, gave one to Niu Yuesheng, and lit it for him to help him calm down. Then he passed them around to the others.

”Brother Niu, it was nothing, really. Why all the thanks? Didn’t we agree last time? We’re good friends now. All this thanking me makes us sound like strangers, and that’ll hurt our brotherly bond!”

Niu Yuesheng beamed upon hearing this.

”You’re right, you’re right, I was being too formal. Brother, say no more. From now on, your problems are my problems. If you need anything, just say the word. Your big brother here will come running!”

Captain Jiao and the others standing by nodded repeatedly. ’This Zhao Wendong is the real deal,’ they thought. ’He’s capable and loyal—definitely someone worth befriending.’

Soon, with the help of the two mechanics, Niu Yuesheng’s vehicle was repaired. The large truck’s engine finally sputtered to life. Zhao Wendong couldn’t refuse Niu Yuesheng’s fervent invitations, so he had no choice but to ride with Lin Zhiyin in his cab.

”Brother Wendong, what brings you to the county? Is this your wife? She’s absolutely beautiful! I haven’t seen a prettier woman in the entire county—no, the entire region!”

On the truck, Niu Yuesheng put away the hand crank, started the engine, and fell in line behind Captain Jiao’s vehicle. Then he voiced the question that was on his mind.

Zhao Wendong didn’t hide anything and told him about his trip to the farm to see his future parents-in-law. Niu Yuesheng generally didn’t think highly of the people on the labor farms, but since these were Zhao Wendong’s in-laws, it was a different matter entirely. Besides, personal connections always mattered more than strict rules!

”The labor farm? I go there all the time, haha! That means your father-in-law is practically my own... well, my own uncle and aunt! From now on, I’ll stop by and check on them for you every time I go!”

”Really? Thank you so much, Brother Niu!”

A look of delight spread across Zhao Wendong’s face. His biggest worry had been the poor communication and transportation, which made it impossible to get regular updates on Lin Huaimin’s situation. Now, with Niu Yuesheng’s help, a great weight was lifted from his shoulders. Lin Zhiyin was even more ecstatic, thanking Niu Yuesheng profusely.

”Hehe, Brother Wendong, there’s something else that concerns you! The last driver who went to the regional capital with Secretary Jiang told me that your fish were taken very seriously. They were immediately transferred to a regional vehicle, which was decorated with two large red-flower ribbons and sent further up the chain that very night!”

”You’ve really earned some major credit this time. This is a big deal!”

”Ah, what credit? What use does a farmer like me have for credit? I just want to live a peaceful, steady life!”

”That’s not the right way to think about it! What’s wrong with being a farmer? The farmers are the true masters of this land! You created so much productive value with your own two hands. That’s a merit, and a great contribution to our nation’s socialist modernization!”

Zhao Wendong was surprised that he had a whole repertoire of such sayings, but he had to admit, it was gratifying to hear.

”Hahaha, well then, I hope your auspicious words come true, Brother Niu!”

The two large trucks drove one after another back to the county town. By the time they reached the transportation team’s yard, the sky had grown dark. Zhao Wendong and his group tried to take their leave, but Captain Jiao grabbed hold of him and refused to let go.

”Absolutely not! You have to stay and have a meal with us. After you’ve done us such a huge favor, if I let you leave without even a bite to eat, everyone will say that I, Old Jiao, have no sense of decency! Nobody’s leaving tonight! We’re not going home until we’re drunk!”

Niu Yuesheng and the others chimed in, urging him to stay. Zhao Wendong looked down at his captured arm, then shot a helpless glance at Wang Defa.

Wang Defa just chuckled.

”Well, since Old Jiao is being so sincere, I suppose we can trouble ourselves to accept his meal.”

”Get lost, Old Wang! I’m inviting Comrade Zhao Wendong, I never said anything about including you!”

”Hahaha!”

Everyone burst into laughter. Lin Zhiyin, who had been standing quietly by Zhao Wendong’s side, also had a smile as beautiful as a blooming flower, one so radiant it seemed to dazzle the group of men.