I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Third Master Zhao knew this might mean abandoning the Guan Family to their fate. But he couldn’t bear the thought of Zhao Wendong saddling himself with all six or seven of them. If it were just one or two people, he might have been able to stomach it, but the Guan Family simply had too many mouths to feed.

"Whoa, what’s the rush? Let me finish explaining my plan. If you’re still not on board after you’ve heard it all, I’ll just get up and leave."

Zhao Wendong smiled, gratified by their reaction. Then he began to speak slowly, laying out his plan step by step.

"The Guan Family, all seven of them, will move into the Commune’s agricultural technology station."

"A brick house?"

Captain Song of the production team couldn’t help but leap to his feet and exclaim in shock. He had been to the Qianjin Commune once and knew the agricultural technology station was a brick house, and a pretty big one at that. Zhao Wendong shot him a glance, clearly displeased at being interrupted. He ignored him and continued laying out his plan.

"Then, Guan Yongguang will go work at the Commune. He’ll be a correspondent under Secretary Yang Wenxue."

Upon hearing this, Guan Yongguang’s face showed his shock, which was immediately followed by a wave of irrepressible, wild joy. He couldn’t control his expression. ’He’d only mentioned it in passing to Zhao Wendong yesterday, and today it was already all arranged for him?’

Third Master Zhao’s eyes lit up, and he nodded in gratification. ’A job is good. He can gain some experience and maybe become a high-ranking cadre in the future.’ Guan Yonghe and her mother looked at each other, their faces filled with surprised delight. ’With a place to live and Guan Yongguang working at the Commune, eating the state’s food... it was like their lives suddenly had hope. If they just worked a little harder and found ways to earn some more money and food, they could make it through. And they had heard what the production team captain said—a brick house! Wasn’t that where the Commune cadres worked? They would get to live there too?’

"The third arrangement." Zhao Wendong cleared his throat and continued.

"Guan Yongguang, what’s your second sister’s name?"

Zhao Wendong asked, gesturing to Guan Yongguang’s second older sister, who had clearly hit the genetic jackpot. She was exceptionally beautiful, bearing a striking resemblance to a famous actress from Hong Kong.

"Guan Yonghe."

"Not bad, that’s a great name!"

Zhao Wendong’s praise was sincere. He was a huge fan of the TV show *Armed Reaction*. He was amazed that Guan Yongguang’s sister not only looked just like the lead actress but even had a name that sounded exactly the same.

"Guan Yonghe, after the New Year, you’ll go to the county’s Number Two Silk Factory to work. That should solve your family’s food and living situation."

Guan Yonghe froze, pointing at herself in disbelief. ’Me? A factory worker?’ Her gaze toward Zhao Wendong grew complicated, then shifted to Lin Zhiyin beside him. If Lin Zhiyin weren’t even more beautiful than she was, she would have suspected Zhao Wendong had taken an interest in her. ’And if he really was interested, should she consider it, or should she play hard to get for a bit?’ The young woman’s heart was thrown into turmoil. Meanwhile, the surrounding crowd erupted the moment they heard Zhao Wendong’s words, and a buzzing clamor filled the air.

"Did you guys hear that?"

"Yeah, I heard it!"

"My god, I think I’m still dreaming. This is unreal."

"A brick house, a cadre job at the Commune, and a factory worker position for the Guan family’s second daughter... Is it too late for me to tell my dad to go up the mountain and run into a Wolf Pack?"

Guan Yongguang’s paternal aunt stared at Zhao Wendong, her eyes wide and unblinking, terrified she had misheard. Guan Yongguang’s hands began to tremble uncontrollably. Meanwhile, the captain of the Song Family Village production team, who had been smoking his pipe, was completely numb. His pipe was about to fall from his grasp, but he didn’t react. Ash and embers from the bowl fell onto his cotton-padded jacket, burning several small holes in it, yet he remained oblivious. Only when he smelled something burning did he snap out of it. He hurriedly brushed the embers off his clothes and, without even stopping to feel bad about the damage, scrambled to speak first.

"C-Captain Zhao, is what you said all t-true? Really?"

"What, Captain Song? You think I’m bullshitting you?"

"N-no, I wouldn’t dare."

Captain Song shook his head vigorously. This was the famous Zhao Wendong, after all. Subconsciously, he believed every word, but the whole thing was just too outrageous. Zhao Wendong’s influence was just too immense. ’Maybe I should talk to him... see if I can get him to make me a secretary at the Commune, too.’ Captain Song’s mind was already racing, taking stock of any bargaining chips he might have to sway Zhao Wendong.

"But none of this changes their status with your production team. They’re still registered as your people, so you can’t skimp on the rations they’re owed. Understand?"

"Mhm, we understand, we understand."

Captain Song nodded his head like a chicken pecking at grain, as obedient as if he were meeting a county leader.

"So, how about it, Third Master? Are you satisfied with my arrangements? Did I or did I not solve this headache for you?"

Looking at Zhao Wendong’s incredibly smug, punchable face, Third Master Zhao, for the first time, didn’t curse him out. A smile bloomed across his deeply wrinkled old face, and his eyes glistened with tears. He reached out an old hand and roughly ruffled Zhao Wendong’s hair twice.

"You little rascal. You’ve arranged all this, how could I possibly be dissatisfied? I’m thrilled!"

THUD~

The moment Zhao Wendong heard that sound, his head throbbed. ’Here we go again.’ This was the one scene he dreaded most, yet he could never seem to avoid it. Turning his head, he saw, sure enough, all seven members of the Guan Family kneeling neatly on the ground, preparing to kowtow to him. Zhao Wendong immediately let out a loud shout, scaring them into freezing in place.

"Get up, all of you! If you dare to kowtow, I’m leaving, and I won’t have anything more to do with you! Guan Yongguang, get your family up, now!"

The Guan Family looked at each other, not knowing whether to get up or to continue kneeling. Zhao Wendong’s help had been so immense that, besides kowtowing to him, they truly couldn’t think of any other way to express their gratitude.