I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 165: Chapter 164: The Dawn of the Brick House

The members of the production team committee’s eyes lit up. Third Master Zhao, who had been sipping his white liquor, quickly put down his bowl.

”That’s right, Dongzi! Li Dalian is dead, so there’s no one to stop us now. As long as you can bring food to the village, forget bricks—the team would agree even if you wanted to trade for airplanes and cannons! We’ll do whatever you say.”

Zhao Wendong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’What the hell would I do with airplanes and cannons? Start my own gang in the mountains and become a bandit like my uncle?’

In reality, everyone knew Zhao Wendong wanted the bricks for himself. He was just borrowing the production team’s name to make the process legitimate. But this was an unspoken understanding. After all, an individual couldn’t use collective property. Even with the new policies that had just been introduced, they were only being tested in a few regions, making it a very sensitive issue.

”So, Dongzi, you’re dead set on living in this brick house, huh?”

Wang Defa directly brought the issue out into the open for Zhao Wendong. The conversation had led to this point, and with a little liquor in them, the atmosphere was just right. Jiang Weimin and Yang Wenxue were also in high spirits, so why not take this chance to give Zhao Wendong a push? It would serve as an unofficial report to both the Commune and the county.

Zhao Wendong shot Wang Defa a grateful look, then pretended to be embarrassed and scratched his head.

”Sirs, it’s not that I, Zhao Wendong, am seeking pleasure or demanding special treatment by insisting on a brick house. Look at my fiancée, Lin Zhiyin. You all know the kind of life she used to have. Now she’s willing to be with me, and she’s been through so much hardship. I just really want to give her a more decent home. The last time I went to the Commune’s supply and marketing co-op, I saw those brick-and-tile houses with their clean, tidy glass windows, and I was so envious!”

”Besides, my family was already planning to build a new house this coming spring. My second brother and I are both waiting to get married. The other day, I saw all those unused bricks in the yard of the Main Procurement Station, and that’s when I got the idea. Heh heh, I just thought, if I could get it all done in one go, that would be for the best. I don’t have any other skills; I’m just lucky enough to be able to get a lot of game from the mountains and fish from the sea. So if I can trade food for some building materials, I’m more than willing.”

Jiang Weimin smiled noncommittally. In the county, most government offices and units had already switched to brick-and-tile houses with glass windows. Their own county committee office even had cement floors, and the dormitory compound for the committee was also filled with brick-and-tile buildings. Besides, those bricks were leftovers from last year. The county’s brick kiln would be producing new ones next year—in fact, there was a surplus. With new bricks available, who would want the old ones?

Zhao Wendong was trying to set a precedent for upgrading the housing of an ordinary production team. There was no explicit rule forbidding it. It was just that when others were living in dim, squat adobe houses, you living in a bright brick-and-tile house could easily attract jealousy and gossip. However, Zhao Wendong’s family had a good revolutionary background. As long as the bricks were obtained legitimately and the transaction was documented—not stolen or swindled—it wouldn’t be a major issue.

He thought for a moment, then looked at Zhao Wendong seriously.

”Comrade Wendong, if you really want to make a trade, it won’t be for a small amount. Even if the county has that many materials available for you, and even if we agree to let your team use food and resold grain coupons to offset the cost, are you sure you can get your hands on that much food?”

Zhao Wendong’s expression immediately brightened. Jiang Weimin’s words meant there was a real chance!

”Hey, if I can buy something with money, I’ll definitely use money! I’ll only trade food if it’s absolutely necessary. Everyone knows how precious food is these days. When I do bring out food to trade with the county, you can’t take advantage of me! Don’t try to fool me by talking about the ’normal procurement price’ or whatever!”

Zhao Wendong deliberately put on a timid expression, as if he were afraid of being wronged, which once again sent the crowd into fits of laughter.

Just then, the venison offal soup was ready. Steaming bowls of it were passed around. The villagers of Dragon King Pond, holding various containers they’d brought from home, lined up to get their share, following an order of elders first, then children. The containers in their hands were a motley collection: there were chipped bowls, basins, ceramic jars, and tin cans. A few who had nothing else at home to hold the soup simply brought gourd ladles.

Though the vessels for the soup varied, the expressions on everyone’s faces were the same. Joy and satisfaction beamed from every face. After the ordeal of the past few days, they could finally have a proper, filling meal. At this moment, the villagers of Dragon King Pond were undoubtedly the happiest people in the world. Their gratitude for Zhao Wendong was beyond words, so they could only crowd around Chen Yanmei and Ye Qingmei, showering them with praise.

Watching them, Zhao Wendong felt a pang in his heart. ’Compared to a few decades in the future, people now are truly poor.’ Freshly emerged from an era of war and turmoil, their desires in life were so simple, boiling down to just having enough food and clothing.

But even though Zhao Wendong was living a second life, he was still just a farmer in this life. He knew some things about the future but was keenly aware that he had no power to change the grand scheme of things. The only thing he could do was work hard to ensure his family lived a good life first, and then help these fellow villagers as much as possible. If it weren’t for the villagers today, Li Guangming would have taken Lin Zhiyin away. The consequences of that would have been unimaginable.

As for those in the village who hadn’t helped—and especially the militiamen, led by Zhao the Sixth, who had been issued guns yesterday but still stood by and watched today—Zhao Wendong snorted coldly in his heart. ’In a little while, I’ll kick them out of my core militia unit. Then they can fend for themselves. Whether they live or die from now on has nothing to do with me.’

The soup in the two large pots was soon more than half gone. The room was filled with the sound of SLURPING. Jiang Weimin, Yang Wenxue, Wang Defa, Li Dawei, and Niu Yuesheng were also holding their bowls, drinking until their foreheads beaded with sweat. The venison offal soup, paired with roasted venison, was almost too nourishing.

For them, this meal was also a welcome change of pace. Although they all received state-supplied grain rations and their work units ensured they never went hungry, it had still been many days since they’d eaten meat.

Just then, Zhao Ergou and Zhao Wenjun walked in, carrying several brand-new basins. Only Zhao Wendong’s family had such new things. During his previous big shopping trip, Zhao Wendong had replaced all their old eating utensils. Chen Yanmei usually couldn’t bring herself to use the new ones. But today, since all the old ones were in use, she had brought out the new set. Seeing them, Chen Yanmei’s brow furrowed slightly with a pang of regret, but she was in such a good mood that she decided to let it go. ’I’ll just pretend I didn’t see it.’

Zhao Ergou and Zhao Wenjun ladled some soup, grabbed a piece of roasted meat, and were about to take it back. The sharp-eyed Li Dawei spotted them in the crowd and waved them over.

”You’re back? Weren’t you going to pick up your grandfather’s sworn brother? You didn’t bring him?”

”We brought him. He’s at Brother San’s house talking with my second uncle. We’re just taking some food back to them!”

After speaking, Zhao Ergou glanced at Zhao Wendong, who nodded. Then, looking at the bones left over after everyone had eaten, Zhao Wendong remembered something.

”Er Gou, go bring General and the other two dogs. Let them have a taste of meat, too.”

”Yup!”

Zhao Ergou nodded in agreement and hurried off, following behind Zhao Wenjun.

”Dongzi, what’s wrong with your dad?”

Hearing what Zhao Ergou had just said, Wang Defa realized that while Zhao Wendong’s mother and grandparents were present, his father was not.

”A while ago, he went into the mountains and accidentally fell into a deep snowdrift, breaking his leg!”

”Oh my, is it serious?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Weimin also put down the piece of venison in his hand and asked with concern.

”It’s fine, it’s fine. He’s recovering well. I estimate he’ll be able to get around on crutches by the New Year.”

”Oh, that’s good.”

Whether Jiang Weimin’s concern was genuine or just for show, Zhao Wendong had to admit that in that moment, it thoroughly warmed his heart.

Zhao Wendong searched his memories. He had no recollection of Jiang Weimin, but he did have a vague impression of Li Dalian. He seemed to recall Li Dalian sitting in the center of the rostrum at a big Commune meeting once. ’Could it be that in my past life, Jiang Weimin lost a power struggle to Li Dalian and was then transferred or marginalized?’

The only person whose trajectory Zhao Wendong knew for certain was Liu Haisheng. Although he was currently just the director of a Labor and Reform Farm, in a dozen or so years, he would become a rising star, soaring through the ranks.