I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 156: Chapter 155: No Life is Worth More Than Another

For the first time, a flicker of doubt appeared on Little Bastard’s impassive face.

”Listen, Ai Zhongguo, you need to remember this: no one’s life is more precious than anyone else’s in this world. Whether they’re a high-ranking official or a rich merchant, or you and me, we’re all just flesh and blood. One bullet, and we all go see King Yama. So stop putting yourself down all the time, always talking about how your life is worthless. Live a good life. Your grandpa is still waiting for you to have a good life together!”

”What I’m about to say, you have to burn it into your memory. Don’t forget a single word.”

Zhao Wendong took a deep breath and began to speak, carefully enunciating each word.

”So, how did Zhao Feihu go looking for his relatives? That night, he first went to the railway tracks three kilometers south of the county seat. There’s a small, temporary station there called Mantun. A train passes by in the middle of the night and only stops for one minute. The platform is completely unsupervised. He easily climbed onto the train there and was taken to the regional city. Once he got there, he found some people loading and unloading cargo at the station to help him. He paid them some money and they smuggled him into the cargo hold of a train heading to Shanghai that same night. The journey takes about five or six days. When the train finally stops for good, that means you’re in Shanghai.”

”After Zhao Feihu arrived in Shanghai, he wandered around randomly and ended up in a place called Fangua Lane. There, he had a chance encounter with an acquaintance from the Commune’s agricultural technology station, an educated youth named Li Dong, whose nickname was Little Shanghai. With Li Dong’s help, Zhao Feihu continued his journey south, eventually reaching Bao’an County in Nanmin. But it turned out the relatives he was looking for were no longer in Bao’an; the entire family had moved to the Hong Kong area on the other side.

The locals there all know where you can get through the barbed-wire fence to cross into Hong Kong. For a bit of money, they’re more than happy to help. Once Zhao Feihu got to Hong Kong, he could live an ordinary life, find a shop to do odd jobs, or he could live a life of violence. The 14K, some Chief Inspector with the surname ’Lui’... those were all good options for him. In short, Zhao Feihu started living a happy life after he got to Hong Kong. He even writes to me at least four or five times a year.”

”Got it?”

For the first time, Little Bastard’s eyes were wide with shock. He leaned his head back, completely stunned by what he’d heard. He replayed Zhao Wendong’s words in his mind a few times before nodding in amazement, utterly astonished.

”I got it. Zhao Wendong, what the hell are you? How do you know so much? How many schemes are cooking in that head of yours?”

”Haha, how else could I take good care of your grandpa! If there’s anything you don’t understand, write me a letter. I can always give you ideas.”

”Fine, I get it!”

The two of them walked far out of the village. Ahead, a large truck waited quietly by the roadside. Niu Yuesheng stood by the truck, smiling as he watched them approach.

Zhao Wendong gave Niu Yuesheng a wry smile.

”Brother Niu, you shouldn’t have gotten involved in my business!”

”Brother, if it weren’t for you last time, I might have frozen to death in my broken-down truck in the middle of the night. You treat me like a brother, so don’t say things like that. Since I came back, it means I’ve already thought everything through.”

”Alright, I won’t be sentimental then. Brother Niu, from now on, we’re true brothers. Just drop my friend off somewhere deserted outside the county seat.”

Niu Yuesheng had an ’I understand’ look on his face. He glanced at Little Bastard, then asked Zhao Wendong.

”All taken care of? Then we’ll be going.”

Zhao Wendong hesitated for a moment, then waved Little Bastard over again. Although he had made every preparation he could think of, this journey was still incredibly perilous for Little Bastard.

”Ai Zhongguo, come here for a second.”

”Fuck, what is it now!”

Little Bastard walked over, his face full of impatience. Zhao Wendong pulled him into a fierce hug and patted him hard on the back a few times.

”Brother, take care!”

Little Bastard’s body stiffened. In his entire life, no one had ever called him brother, and no one had ever hugged him.

He opened his mouth to say something, but his throat felt like it was filled with lead; no words would come out. In the end, he just curled his lip and turned his head away in disdain.

”Shit, all this sentimental crap. You’re worse than a bunch of old women!”

With that, he yanked open the truck door, climbed into the cab, and pulled his hat down over his eyes.

Zhao Wendong reached in and pulled the hat off. He looked at Little Bastard’s red eyes and nodded in satisfaction, chuckling. Then he took off his own hat and placed it on the boy’s head.

”Wear this one. It’s new. The size is right and it doesn’t smell.”

”Oh, for fuck’s sake, I can’t take this anymore! Brother Niu, get in and drive! If this son of a bitch keeps dawdling, the sun’s going to be up.”

”Hahaha!”

Hearing Little Bastard’s urging, Niu Yuesheng laughed, picked up the hand crank, and started the engine. Once the truck rumbled to life, he waved to Zhao Wendong, sat down in the driver’s seat, and prepared to leave. The passenger-side window rolled down, and Little Bastard stuck his head out into the biting north wind.

”Brother, my grandpa likes to smoke. My mom’s buried behind my house.”

The words had barely left his mouth when the truck accelerated and disappeared down the road. Zhao Wendong stood there motionless, silently watching the direction the truck had gone. After a long while, he slowly started walking back to the village. Just as he reached the entrance, he heard the production team’s loudspeaker crackle to life.

”Attention, all Commune members, attention! The canteen is serving dinner tonight! Our militia captain, Comrade Zhao Wendong, is treating all the villagers to deer meat!”

The announcement was repeated three times, and Dragon King Pond Village instantly burst into life. People were already grabbing their stools and running towards the canteen.

Just as Zhao Wendong got home, Zhao Wenwu let out a curious ”Huh?”

”Where’s that Little Bastard? That kid was pretty amusing...”

Before he could finish, Jin Xiuying clapped a hand over his mouth. Zhao Wendong clapped his own hands and shouted loudly.

”Come on, everyone grab your stools! Bring the iron skewers from the house, too. Let’s all go over to the canteen tonight and have a good time. Today’s a good day, let’s celebrate properly.”

”Eldest Brother, Second Brother, bring the red deer over too.”

At his words, the Zhao family sprang into action. Only Zhao Dashan was left lying pitifully on the kang.

”Son, what about me? I want to go too.”

”Xiaojin can keep you company.” Zhao Wendong pointed to the hanging eagle’s cage.

”Fuck!”

Zhao Dashan couldn’t help but curse out loud. He had helped watch it for two days before, and it nearly killed him. Now, he didn’t even want to make eye contact with Xiaojin.

”I’m going to get my grandparents. Everyone should join the fun.”

”Alright. Zhiyin, you go with him.”

Chen Yanmei looked at Lin Zhiyin, who nodded happily.

”Okay!”

After Zhao Wendong and Lin Zhiyin left, the Zhao family suddenly fell silent again.

Zhao Wenwu scratched his head.

”What’s wrong? Why is everyone acting so weird today? Didn’t Third Brother say we’re roasting that big red deer tonight? Let’s go! If we’re late, there won’t be any meat left!”

Jin Xiuying chuckled and gave him a light slap.

”The deer is still here at our house. If we don’t bring it over, what are they going to roast?”

”Oh, right! Hahaha, you’re so smart, honey!”

The heavy atmosphere in the house was instantly broken by the goofy Zhao Wenwu, and everyone couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

The more Zhao Dashan and Chen Yanmei looked at Jin Xiuying, the more pleased they were. They felt they could tell that her affection for Zhao Wenwu wasn’t an act. Jin Xiuying, for her part, was also very content. ’I have a man like Zhao Wenwu who will never betray me and will always protect me, and I have the warmth of Zhao Wendong’s family. Most importantly, I realized something else today.’

’Given Zhao Wendong’s capabilities and his influence, that Li Guangming—a man who would be a powerful feudal lord in my neighboring country—will probably disappear tonight.’

’And the two leaders in Dragon King Pond are actively helping Zhao Wendong, issuing notices and organizing village-wide activities to create an alibi for him. With such a powerful brother-in-law, even if my identity is discovered one day, they wouldn’t be able to take me away without bringing a whole company of soldiers.’

Lin Zhiyin was especially clingy today, holding onto Zhao Wendong’s arm with both hands and refusing to let go. She paid no mind to the strange looks from the other villagers. As people passed by, they all greeted Zhao Wendong warmly and proactively.

”Brother Dong!”

”Wendong, out for a walk with your girlfriend? My, what a beautiful girl!”

”Dongzi, thanks for treating everyone to meat!”

Zhao Wendong responded enthusiastically to everyone who greeted him. He was so busy with greetings along the way that it took him more than twice as long as usual to get to his grandparents’ house.