I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: The Fox

Ye Qingmei looked astonished. They were always so careful when hiding their grain; no one but the two of them could possibly know!

"Heh heh, your grandson knows more than you think. You two just wait and enjoy a comfortable life!"

"You hear me? From now on, no more skimping on rations. Eat it all. Get your bodies healthy and strong, and wait for me to provide for you both! Move the grain to a new spot soon, or else the rats will steal it all tonight."

The old woman wiped her eyes and patted Zhao Wendong’s shoulder, her face beaming.

"Alright, Grandma will listen to you. We’ll move it to a new spot in a bit! Your grandpa and I will be waiting to live off our grandson’s good fortune!"

They didn’t stay long at Zhao Dahai’s home. Once Zhao Wenwu had put on his mountain gear, the two brothers said their goodbyes. They were heading into the mountains on foot, so the earlier they set out, the better.

The old couple, trembling, wanted to see them out, but Zhao Wendong stopped them right away. It was freezing cold, for one, and old folks usually stayed indoors all winter. Besides, his grandparents were so weak from hunger he was genuinely afraid they’d fall and hurt themselves.

Once they left the village, Zhao Wenwu was buzzing with excitement the entire way. It was his first time heading into the mountains in winter. He’d gone with Zhao Dashan a few times during the summer, but they had always stuck to the outer edges.

"Third Bro, these mittens are a pain. I’d rather just rest my hands on the basket."

"Nope. I told you to listen to me..."

They took the same path into the mountains as the day before yesterday. The trees along the way were draped in snow-white frost, glittering like terrestrial coral under the sun. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Zhao Wenwu kept trying to kick snow from the frosted branches onto Zhao Wendong as he passed under the trees, but Wendong dodged him easily every time.

Walking and horsing around with his second brother, chatting idly, and taking in the delightful northern scenery, the three-hour journey passed in the blink of an eye.

He used to be so accustomed to the icy landscape that he never found it particularly beautiful. But now, starting over, Zhao Wendong was beginning to notice the beauty hidden in everyday life. He’d been keeping an eye out for animals along the way, but unfortunately, he’d only seen a few sparrows and magpies fly past and hadn’t managed to eavesdrop on any of their thoughts.

By the time they reached the spot where they’d run into the wolf two nights ago, the sun was nearly overhead. It was probably a little after ten. Watches existed in this era, but rural families couldn’t afford them. Everyone told time by the sun.

"Third Bro, which way now?"

"This way!"

Zhao Wendong pointed toward the ravine where Zhao Dashan had fallen.

Halfway there, as they passed a pine tree, Zhao Wendong stopped in his tracks.

"Second Bro, dig!"

Zhao Wendong pointed at the base of the tree, which he had marked.

"Right!"

Zhao Wenwu remembered his promise from the journey here: wherever Wendong pointed, he’d dig. Without asking what for, he pulled out a short-handled shovel and got to work.

Zhao Wendong’s family might have been so poor that its eight members couldn’t scrape together nine pairs of pants, but the shovel in Zhao Wenwu’s hand was a high-quality piece of equipment: a genuine military-issue entrenching tool. There wasn’t much else to go around in this era, but nearly every household could dig up a piece or two of military surplus.

A few scoops with the shovel revealed a hole, packed to the brim with all sorts of nuts.

"Third Bro, you’re a genius! Hahaha! How’d you know there was something down here?"

Zhao Wenwu excitedly emptied the cache. There were at least two or three pounds of hazelnuts, walnuts, and pine nuts, all of them large and plump. As he stuffed them into his sack, Zhao Wendong thought, ’I didn’t know. Its owner told me.’

Speak of the devil. A gray-and-white squirrel, its fluffy tail twitching, zipped over from a distance and scurried up a nearby tree. When it saw the scene before it, the little creature froze, its eyes wide with disbelief.

’My food! Damn it, it’s that human from last time.’

’Aaaah, I’m so mad!’

Seeing its hidden stash plundered by the two humans, the little squirrel chittered in fury. Its fur stood on end, and its once-fluffy tail puffed up like a little truncheon.

Having just stolen the squirrel’s food, Zhao Wendong had the gall to wave at it and gloat.

"Heh heh, thanks for the gift, little buddy. We’re pals now. If you ever need anything, just let me know!"

The squirrel grew even more incensed. It leaped up and down on the branch, chittering and screeching as it stomped its feet in a frenzy. Zhao Wenwu looked at Zhao Wendong, then back at the furious squirrel in the tree.

"Third Bro, you’ve got a real villain’s smile right now."

"Did we just steal its food?"

Zhao Wendong looked at Zhao Wenwu with amusement.

"Yup, Second Bro. It’s his. What are you gonna do about it?"

Zhao Wenwu tilted his head, watching the squirrel in the tree for a moment before licking his lips.

"Are squirrels better roasted or stewed?"

Zhao Wendong grabbed him and started walking away. ’Good grief,’ he thought. ’That’s my second brother for you. An absolute savage. Not only does he take the guy’s food, he wants to eat the owner too.’

"Third Bro, what are you pulling me for? Let’s get it! It’ll starve to death sooner or later without its food anyway."

Zhao Wendong just smiled and shook his head.

"Don’t worry, Second Bro. Squirrels hide food in lots of different holes for the winter. Taking this one stash won’t be enough to starve it."

This was why Zhao Wendong had been willing to raid its stash in the first place. Humans were going hungry right now; the squirrel would just have to make do with a little less.

"Oh, really? Then let’s follow it and find its other stashes!"

Zhao Wendong was speechless.

This confirmed it. His second brother was truly heartless.

Zhao Wenwu didn’t seem to mind Wendong’s silence. He just took out a few pine nuts, popped them in his mouth, and broke into a huge grin.

"Third Bro, these are delicious!"

Zhao Wendong took out a pine nut himself. He squeezed it between his fingers, and with a sharp CRACK, the kernel popped out of its shell.

He popped it in his mouth. The kernel was crisp, with a delicate pine aroma that brought a breath of autumn to the dead of winter.

"Third Bro, are you eating pine nuts or smoking opium?"

Zhao Wenwu said, seeing his brother’s enraptured expression, a line that was surprisingly witty for him.

"COUGH, COUGH!"

Zhao Wendong choked on the nut. His brother’s words had just brutally murdered the poetic mood he was cultivating.

He shot his brother an annoyed glare, but Zhao Wenwu paid it no mind, happily munching away on his pine nuts.

"Don’t eat too many. They’ll give you heartburn."

"Oh!"

Zhao Wenwu obediently put the rest of the pine nuts back in his sack.

"Heh heh, these pine nuts are great. Third Bro, I knew you were the most capable one! I was right to come up the mountain with you. It’s fun, and we get good stuff to eat."

"Haha, everyone says you’re a simpleton, but I’d say you’re the sharpest one of all!"

Zhao Wendong laughed and teased him, then led him slowly toward the gully where Zhao Dashan had fallen.

The footprints from two days ago were still visible in the snow, along with the tracks left when Zhao Wendong had half-carried, half-dragged Zhao Dashan out. As they climbed back down into the gully near that same pine tree, Zhao Wenwu immediately clamped a hand over his nose.

"Third Bro, it stinks!"

"Get lost, you’re the one who stinks!"

Though his retort was sharp, Zhao Wendong’s eyes were already scanning the sides of the gully, searching for any trace.

"Haha, gotcha!"

There, in a crevice on the gully wall, was a mess of fox tracks. The musky smell was coming from inside it.

This had to be the fox’s den!

Zhao Wenwu realized what was happening and looked at the den in surprise.

"Third Bro, there’s a fox in there?"

"Yep. A big white one. I saw it when I was rescuing Dad two days ago."

Zhao Wenwu’s eyes lit up. He rubbed his hands together and pulled out his shovel.

"Second Bro, what’re you doing?"

Zhao Wendong looked confused.

"Digging it out! To catch the fox!!"

Watching his second brother brandish the shovel, Zhao Wendong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He gestured for him to get to work.

"It’s not that complicated, Second Bro. Go find some dry firewood. Stay close, don’t go far."

"You got it!"

Zhao Wenwu soon returned with an armful of dry branches. Zhao Wendong was ready. He built a small, pyramid-shaped frame of twigs at the den’s entrance, then pulled some pine tinder and a piece of birch bark from his bag and lit them with a match.

’Huh? Why do I smell smoke?’

A thought suddenly echoed from deep within the den. Zhao Wendong nodded, confirming the fox was home. He could now proceed to the next step.

"Second Bro, keep adding dry wood. Once it’s burning well, start throwing in this damp wood. When you put the damp wood in, give me a loud shout."

Zhao Wenwu nodded. He was used to building fires at home, so this was second nature to him.

Zhao Wendong took a net out of his bag, climbed back to the top of the gully, and waited. A moment later, Zhao Wenwu’s shout echoed from below.

"Third Bro, I’m adding the damp wood!"

"Got it!"

Zhao Wendong’s senses sharpened. He shouted back a reply and began scanning the area. Soon, he spotted a plume of black smoke rising from the ground not far away. He rushed over and, sure enough, found a small hole.

This was the den’s other exit. Zhao Wendong spread the net over the opening and settled in to wait.

’Ugh, so much smoke! It’s choking me!’

Hearing the fox’s thoughts again, Zhao Wendong knew it was about to bolt. He crouched, ready to spring.

A moment later.

’I can’t take it anymore! I’m outta here!’

Just as the thought came, a flash of white shot out of the hole Zhao Wendong was guarding, crashing headfirst into the net.

"YELP! YELP!"

The impact sent the net flying, wrapping it around the fox’s body. Tangled in the mesh, the fox let out panicked yelps like a frightened puppy, struggling frantically to break free.

Zhao Wendong was ready. He lunged, pouncing on the ensnared animal.