Chapter 364 - 239: Prey in Crisis

Chapter 364: Chapter 239: Prey in Crisis

At Third Master Zhao’s home, Grandmaster Ai and Third Master Zhao weren’t big eaters. After a few drinks, the two left the table. They sat warming themselves by a brazier, smiling as they listened to the three young men chat.

Little Shanghai’s face was flushed from drinking. He put down his cup and looked at Zhao Wendong, still in a state of disbelief.

"Dongzi, thinking about it now, it still feels like a dream. I just went back home for the New Year, for a month at most, and when I came back, I barely recognized the place."

"How so?"

"What do you mean, ’how so’? When I left, I was just a gofer at the Agricultural Technical Station. I come back and find out I’m the station head? What’s that all about? Me, an educated youth from Shanghai, being the station head here? Damn, I thought they must have gotten the wrong person. I even ran over to ask Farm Director Qian, and what do you know? He was so polite to me, treated me like I was his own damn father."

Hearing this, Liangzi laughed. "That’s because Dongzi scared the hell out of him."

An excited expression also crossed Little Shanghai’s face. He said, amused, "That’s for sure! He even asked me to pass on his best to Dongzi!"

"Hahaha."

"Nothing more needs to be said. We’re both riding your coattails, Dongzi. Come on, the two of us will toast you."

"Fuck, cut that out. We’re brothers, aren’t we? From now on, the Commune’s Agricultural Technical Station is Dragon King Pond’s Agricultural Technical Station. And the Commune’s Supply and Marketing Cooperative is Dragon King Pond’s Supply and Marketing Cooperative. How about it?"

"Deal. Absolutely."

"No problem. We’ll do as Dongzi says."

After they ate for a while longer, Liangzi suddenly let out a chuckle.

"Dongzi, Huang Xiaomei came back looking for me, hehe."

"Oh yeah? When was this?"

"Just the day before yesterday. I didn’t even let her in the door."

Seeing Liangzi’s nonchalant expression as he said this, Zhao Wendong was finally relieved. ’Looks like Liangzi has truly moved on.’

"A true man never worries about finding a wife. Besides, haven’t I already set you up with Guan Yonghe? You should go see her at the Agricultural Technical Station every day."

After saying this, Zhao Wendong remembered something. "Little Shanghai, now that you’re the station head, you can’t keep sleeping in that little room, can you? Are the Guan’s living on the kang bed in the main house?"

"Hehe, it’s fine. I’m used to living in that little room."

Little Shanghai waved his hand dismissively, and then the conversation turned to what they’d all seen and heard over the past few days. Zhang Liang said that supplies at the cooperative were getting tighter and tighter, with many items out of stock. Even matches were being rationed. Little Shanghai, in turn, said that things were tight over in Shanghai too, and shared stories from his train ride.

That evening, Zhang Liang and Little Shanghai didn’t leave. After dinner, Zhao Wendong, his brothers, and his family lit diesel-soaked corncobs and laid them out in the courtyard and along the road outside. Under the disk-like moon, clusters of flames flickered like sprites scattered across the earth. In the vast, snowy night, the long line of lights illuminated the path for the ancestors to return home.

That night, Zhao Wendong and his two friends squeezed onto the large kang bed in Zhao Wenwu’s house with him. Jin Xiuying went to sleep next door with Lin Zhiyin. Both women were a little resentful of Liangzi and Little Shanghai. After all, Zhao Wendong’s group was heading into the mountains tomorrow, and a precious night of intimacy—worth a thousand pieces of gold, as they say—was being interrupted by them. Chen Yanmei was also a bit displeased. ’Isn’t this just delaying my chances of holding a grandchild?’ But since the guests were her son’s best friends, she could only endure it helplessly.

Early the next morning, a crowd gathered again at Zhao Wendong’s house. As usual, Zhao Ergou was the first to arrive.

"Are Sister Damei and your wife doing well?"

Zhao Wendong smiled as he looked at Zhao Ergou. After getting married, his little brother’s clothes were no longer filthy, his hair was no longer a mess, and his face was even a shade paler than before. Such were the benefits of having a wife. Zhao Wendong also knew their house was a bit crowded now, and he made finding a new home for Er Gou a top priority.

"Yeah, they’re all doing great."

Happiness was written all over Zhao Ergou’s face. Even though his household had grown with the addition of his sister and her two children, and her divorce wasn’t even finalized yet, their family life was comfortable thanks to Zhao Wendong’s care. Once Zhao Damei’s health improved a little, she was able to help with chores. And after Niu Guizhi married into the family, she never once complained about their poor conditions, instead helping to keep the house neat and tidy. Their life was getting better and better every day.

A little while later, Zhao Tiehua and Wei Laishun arrived. As soon as Zhao Tiehua entered the house, she grabbed Zhao Wendong.

"Oh, my dear nephew, I’ll have to trouble you with Laishun."

Hearing that Zhao Wendong was taking Wei Laishun with him, the mother and son had been too excited to sleep well the previous night.

"Don’t worry, Third Aunt."

Zhao Wendong nodded at Zhao Tiehua. He understood his third aunt’s worries. ’Her husband passed away, and her other children are unfilial. All she has left is her considerate son, Wei Laishun. She’s happy that I’m taking him, but also worried about her son going into the mountains. Still, she’s even more afraid of her son having nothing to do and amounting to nothing if he stays here.’

"Mom, tons of people would kill for a chance to go into the mountains with Brother San. Don’t you worry. I’ll definitely listen to him and work hard."

Wei Laishun, on the other hand, saw the situation more clearly than Zhao Tiehua. ’Ever since I came to Dragon King Pond, I’ve eaten my fill every day—this is a life fit for the gods! I’m bursting with energy and itching for a way to use it. I have to follow Zhao Wendong, make a good impression, establish myself in Dragon King Pond, and give Mom a good life. I never want to go back to being caught while trying to trade for grain again.’

Zhao Wendong clapped him on the shoulder. Everything was understood without a word.

Soon, Zhao Baozhu also arrived, full of excitement. He had a gun issued by the militia, but he hadn’t brought it. That was because Zhao Wendong didn’t allow militia members to use their guns for personal reasons, and not a single person in the militia dared to disobey him.

"Brother San, I’m here!"

"Heh, come on, eat."