I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 36: Chapter 316: Nuts and Sticky Bean Buns

"Lin Zhiyin, why are you the one doing the work again!"

Zhao Wendong’s voice was so loud that people in both the men’s and women’s educated youth dorms could hear him. While there was no reaction from the men’s side, the door to the women’s dorm opened at once.

Li Juan, one of the female educated youth, peeked her head out. She avoided Zhao Wendong’s gaze and explained timidly.

"Um, we didn’t make her do it. She was the one who insisted on going out to shovel snow."

Zhao Wendong’s brow furrowed. He looked at Lin Zhiyin and asked, "Really?"

Lin Zhiyin was already feeling awkward seeing Zhao Wendong, not knowing whether to hide or not. Now that he was asking her, she could only give a slight nod in response.

"Fine, then this is none of your business!"

Zhao Wendong’s expression softened slightly. Li Juan quickly pulled her head back and shut the door tightly.

"Come with me!"

Zhao Wendong commanded, then led the way. Seeing him pull this stunt again, Lin Zhiyin lifted her head and shot his back an annoyed glare, revealing her beautiful dark eyes, before quickly lowering her head again, resuming her image as a grimy girl.

When they reached a nearby tree, Zhao Wendong looked at Lin Zhiyin with a hostile expression, his face fierce.

"What’s wrong with you? It’s still snowing, what are you doing shoveling snow by yourself? What if you freeze?"

Lin Zhiyin kept her head down without a word, but where Zhao Wendong couldn’t see, the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.

Zhao Wendong knew what was troubling her, but he was busy trying to find food right now and had neither the time nor the ability to solve her problem. He’d help her deal with it later. So, without any more nonsense, he simply continued to order her around.

"Open your pocket."

Seeing Lin Zhiyin remain motionless, Zhao Wendong took matters into his own hands, holding open the outer pocket of her coat. Lin Zhiyin was a little resistant to the physical contact but only shrank back slightly.

Zhao Wendong grabbed a handful of nuts and put them all into her large coat pocket. Seeing that her other pocket still had some room, he thought for a moment and took out a few of the sticky rice buns Uncle Weiguo’s family had just given them, stuffing those in as well.

"This stupid stuff sticks to your teeth, I don’t like it. You take it and eat it!"

The occasional, unintentional brush of their fingertips sent a strange ripple through both of them.

Lin Zhiyin wanted to refuse, but she didn’t want to speak too much and give herself away. Besides, she was smart enough to know that refusing would be futile. Zhao Wendong would surely just keep up his fierce act and force her to accept them.

"Right, keep these for yourself. Don’t be an idiot and give them to others! If anyone bullies you, you have to tell me. If I find out you didn’t tell me and made me lose face, you’ll see how I’ll deal with you!"

Zhao Wendong made his threat viciously, but Lin Zhiyin wasn’t scared at all. She even had to hold back a laugh. She could feel his fervent affection for her, even if its origins were a bit baffling.

A couple of days ago, the educated youth had gone to the production team leaders to complain that Zhao Wendong had beaten them and kicked down their door, only to be criticized by Zhao Weiguo for their troubles. For the past few days, no one had dared to bully her. The comfortable life was something she found hard to adjust to, which was why she had taken the initiative to come out and shovel snow to get some activity. She felt terribly cooped up; being used to constant movement, the sudden idleness made her feel restless all over.

She had long since seen through Zhao Wendong’s act. He was only pretending to be like this to make her accept his kindness. ’But he looks so childish.’ Lin Zhiyin bit her lip, trying not to laugh out loud, and forced herself to nod in response to Zhao Wendong.

"Alright, go on back. I’ll come see you again when I’m done with my work."

Lin Zhiyin subconsciously clutched the pockets of her coat, her fingertips touching the smooth nuts. A wave of warmth spread up from her fingers. Her face was still smudged with a bit of soot from the stove, her hair was messily tied up—a deliberately sloppy appearance that couldn’t hide her eyes, which shone like stars after a snowfall. She kept her head down, her long lashes veiling the emotion in her eyes. She wanted to say thank you, but in the end, it came out as a soft "mhm" before she turned and ran toward the educated youth dorm, her steps stumbling as if she were afraid he’d take it all back.

"Jeez, why are you running so fast? Got a wolf on your tail?"

Zhao Wendong grumbled under his breath as he watched her retreating figure, but the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve into a smile. He quickly suppressed it, pretending to be nonchalant as he hummed a little tune and walked away.

The moment Lin Zhiyin got back to the dorm, the glares of the other young women locked onto her. When they saw her pull a few sticky rice buns and some nuts—a rare treat for this time of year—out of her pockets, they all lost their composure.

"Did that hoodlum give you all this?"

"He’s not eating it himself?"

"Oh my god, that’s all food!"

The young women’s eyes were filled with jealousy and disbelief. ’Is that Zhao Wendong blind? In terms of figure or looks, how am I any worse than that filthy Lin Zhiyin? None of us have anything to eat, but that spendthrift is giving so much food to her?’

They wanted to mock Lin Zhiyin but were afraid Zhao Wendong would find out. They wanted to ask her to share, but they didn’t dare. In the end, they could only snort coldly and lie back down on the kang, trying to ignore her. But their half-empty stomachs betrayed them, GROWLING as the fresh, fragrant scent of Lin Zhiyin’s nuts wafted through the air.

Like a little squirrel, Lin Zhiyin held the nuts in both hands, savoring the taste of autumn within them. From time to time, she would glance at the other women tossing and turning on the kang, a happy smile spreading across her face.

’Being protected by someone isn’t so bad, I guess. Maybe I’ll say a word or two more to him next time he comes?’

On his way back, Zhao Wendong saw two figures, one large and one small, by the seashore in the distance. He frowned. From their backs, they looked like Er Gouzi from the back of the village and his younger brother. Seeing them searching for something in the distance, Zhao Wendong’s mood grew heavy as he returned home. As soon as he walked in, he saw Chen Yanmei stoking the fire. Because the three brothers were going into the mountains today, their afternoon meal was early.

"Mom, after we leave today, can you check on Er Gouzi’s family when you have a moment? If they don’t have any food, give them some of ours."

"Huh?"

Chen Yanmei was taken aback, but then she remembered that her youngest son had become quite decisive lately, so she nodded and made a mental note.

Zhao Ergou’s father was Zhao Dashan’s third younger brother. He’d been stubborn since childhood and had cut ties with the family after a falling out, moving to the back of the village to live alone. He fell ill and died last year, leaving Zhao Ergou, who was two years younger than Zhao Wendong, as the man of the house, taking care of his younger brother and his mother, who had a lame leg.

"Oh, right, Mom, cook these up too."

Chen Yanmei looked at what Zhao Wendong handed her and said with pleasant surprise.

"Oh, sticky rice buns! Where’d you get these?"

"From Uncle Weiguo’s family! Mom, can we pan-fry the buns?"

"You little spendthrift! Do you know how expensive oil is? I think I’d rather pan-fry you!"

Seeing Chen Yanmei grab the spatula to give him a dose of "motherly love," Zhao Wendong beat a hasty retreat.

"Third Brother, you just got back, and you’re going into the mountains again!"

Little Tuanzi said reluctantly, though it was unclear whether she couldn’t bear to part with Zhao Wendong or with Xiaobai in her arms.

Zhao Wendong patted her little head. With the improved food over the past few days, the little one’s hair had gained some shine, and her face was starting to fill out.

"Mhm, Third Brother is taking Big Brother and Second Brother to get some food for Little Tuanzi. We’ll be back tomorrow!"

"Okay, Third Brother is the best! Mwah!"

Little Tuanzi planted a sweet kiss on him, making Zhao Wendong beam with delight.

The food on the Zhaos’ dinner table had become visibly more abundant, a far cry from the days when they had no rice for the pot.

There was meat, canned goods, and mushrooms. In the very center sat a woven mat, on which were a dozen or so cream-colored sticky rice buns resting on perilla leaves to prevent sticking.

"Mom, can we get some sugar!"

Seeing the sticky rice buns, Zhao Wendong was getting ideas again. Chen Yanmei shot him a glare but went to the outer room to fetch the sugar jar. She carefully scooped a spoonful of brown sugar into his bowl.

"That’s too little! Two more scoops!"

"You’re such a spendthrift!"

Chen Yanmei grumbled, but her hand obediently added two more spoonfuls of brown sugar for him.

Zhao Wendong picked up a glistening yellow bun, dipped it in the brown sugar, and took a bite. Mmm~

Beneath the soft, chewy skin was the rich aroma of rice, followed by the smooth sweetness of the bean paste, and finally, the grainy texture of the brown sugar melted on his tongue. The warm bean paste filling dissolved in his mouth, its perfectly balanced sweetness warming him from his tongue all the way to his heart. The feeling was pure bliss.

"Mhm, mhm, delicious!"

Zhao Wendong’s face lit up. He devoured one in a few bites, then picked up another, dipped it in the sugar, and placed it in Little Tuanzi’s bowl. Following that, he shared the love, dipping buns in sugar and putting one in everyone’s bowl. Now, everyone could share in the sweetness.

After the meal, the three brothers got dressed and ready. Zhao Wenjun didn’t have a fur coat for the mountains, so he had to wrap himself in an extra cotton-padded jacket. They pulled the sleigh and, under the concerned gazes of their family, the three of them disappeared once more down the village road, into the swirling snow.

’Think you can leave this young master behind? Not a chance!’

Xiaobai, who had been in Little Tuanzi’s arms, transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot off after the three brothers.