I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 228: Chapter 197: The Most Handsome Man at the Big Market

The frigid wind, carrying flurries of snow, howled and swirled about, but its path was blocked by a huge snowman standing tall at the village entrance, and it immediately quieted down. The villagers of Dragon King Pond, supporting the old and leading the young, all came to watch the spectacle. In the crowd, Zhao Wendong saw Grandmaster Ai and Granny Liu. He also saw his own grandparents, who waved at him happily. Children surrounded the snowman, clapping their hands and jumping with joy. The entire village gazed at the massive snowman, their eyes lit up.

Many in the crowd looked at Zhao Wendong with amused expressions, waiting to see how he would ”invite the god.” In reality, everyone now knew it was just a misunderstanding. But with such a huge snowman already built, it felt as though the fiction had become fact. Everyone chuckled, waiting to see how Zhao Wendong would get himself out of this.

”You made this mess, you fix it!”

Zhao Weiguo gave Zhao Wendong a little push forward. Third Master Zhao and the others also watched him, their faces full of amusement, ready for a show. Zhao Wendong wasn’t flustered. He glanced back at the huge, beautiful snowman and cleared his throat.

”First things first, you really can’t blame me for what happened today. It was Uncle Wang who misheard things, and Aunt Wang whose mouth is too fast!”

The moment he finished speaking, a burst of laughter erupted. Aunt Wang, in the crowd, laughed especially loud, looking around as if she had just been praised.

”But it’s not just Uncle and Aunt Wang’s fault. You should also blame me for having such a beautiful wife, because it was her idea to build a snowman that led to all this today.”

”BOOOO~”

Zhao Wendong’s shamelessness successfully earned him a chorus of boos, with the jeers from his brothers in the militia being especially loud. After the booing subsided, everyone laughed even more heartily. Zhao Wendong had been so damn impressive lately that at times, he didn’t feel like the man they knew. But right now, everyone felt that the familiar, mischievous rascal had returned.

”And I also have to blame all of you. Why are you all so supportive? I said I was going to invite a god, and not only did you not stop me, you all came to help! Besides, how would I even know how to do something like that? You should’ve thought about it—if anyone was really going to do the inviting, it’d be Granny Liu officiating!”

Granny Liu was in the crowd, grinning widely, her neat dentures particularly conspicuous. Seeing Zhao Wendong look over, she even waved at him.

”And finally, I think I have to blame myself. I mean, why am I so well-liked by everyone? The second anything happens with me, everyone really shows up to support me!”

”So shameless.”

”Brother Dong is the man!”

”HAHAHA!”

This time, people were shouting all sorts of things. The atmosphere was as lively and festive as a comedy sketch during the New Year. In the crowd, Lin Zhiyin had her arms linked with Lin Huaimin and Wang Lulu. She watched Zhao Wendong act like a clown, making the whole village beam with joy. She was happy too, her smiling face blooming like a flower.

”But, I have to say!”

The playful smirk on Zhao Wendong’s face vanished, replaced by a very serious expression. Everyone stopped laughing along with him, eager to hear what he was about to say.

”Actually, I was just joking. I don’t blame anyone. In fact, I want to thank everyone. Because this snowman... it’s a great one!”

”A disaster year is upon us. Everyone’s short on cash, and the grain jars are empty. The adults are so hungry they have no strength, and the children are crying from hunger. What are we going to do? Wait to starve to death? Absolutely not! No matter how hungry or how hard it gets, the people of Dragon King Pond cannot bend their backs! Our spirit cannot be broken!”

”Just like this snowman, and just like the three words on it, as long as we in Dragon King Pond unite as one, we can overcome this disaster year and live good lives!”

”YES!”

”Dongzi’s right! Man can conquer nature!”

”Our spirit can’t be broken! Let’s just get it done!”

”We’ll follow the committee, we’ll follow Dongzi!”

The members of the committee started clapping, and soon everyone was applauding enthusiastically. Many people excitedly shouted out all kinds of encouragements. Excitement and hope shone in everyone’s eyes. The giant snowman stood at the village entrance, braving the wind and snow. At this moment, it was no longer just a plaything, but the personification of the spirit of the people of Dragon King Pond. So what if a disaster year had come? As long as everyone’s hearts and efforts were aligned, there was no obstacle they couldn’t overcome. This winter was hard, but the people of Dragon King Pond used this great snowman to declare that their backs were not bent, and their spirit was not broken.

「The next morning.」

It was the Little New Year, a day for sweeping away the old to welcome the new, cleaning the dust, and honoring the Kitchen God. As the giant snowman at the village entrance seemed to watch them go, the militiamen of Dragon King Pond drank their porridge, ate their corn buns, and carried their issued rations. With rifles on their backs, they marched in neat formation toward the Commune. They were joined by many other villagers carrying bundles and pushing carts. Everyone was heading to the market, hoping to trade their household goods for something more, or something they needed more.

Zhao Wendong’s family was also in the crowd. They were carrying an exceptional amount of goods, their sleigh piled high. Little Tuanzi was wearing her new padded cotton coat, her hair tied up in two little tufts, hopping along as she held Lin Zhiyin’s hand. She had been eating well these past few days, and her little face had grown rounder. Paired with her big, adorable eyes, she was the picture of cuteness. The whole family had come out this time. Even Song Xiaoyu had left Yadan in Zhao Dashan’s care to come out and relax for a bit. It had been a long time since she’d left the village.

The little White Weasel poked its head out from Lin Zhiyin’s arms, looking a little fearfully at the surrounding crowd. It was the only animal that had come along. Xiaobai had wanted to come too, but it was too big of a target and they feared someone might just grab it and roast it, so it was left at home to keep Zhao Dashan company. Lin Huaimin and Wang Lulu were also walking with the Zhao family, talking and laughing. Before, each day had felt like a year, but now, every day seemed to pass so quickly. ’I wish time would slow down.’