Chapter Four: New Order
In the gunfire’s echo, Snowball’s soul tore free from Mark’s body once more, a wisp of a specter drifting above Honey Farm. Having sparked the animals’ revolt, he had fallen yet again to human blades, now rootless, his fate uncertain. He gazed about, lost, until Moses’s tales of the celestial Honey Mountain paradise surfaced in his mind. With a surge of will, Snowball leaped toward the heavens, only to feel an invisible chain dragging him back, unable to rise.
At that moment, a familiar shadow glided near—the specter of the guard dog. It exerted no effort, yet an unseen force gently lifted it upward. Quick as a flash, Snowball seized the four-eyed dog’s tail, hoping to hitch a ride to the sky.
The guard dog turned, eyes burning with resentment, snarling, “Snowball, your Animalism is venomous! You turned my pups against their own kin, even to bite their mother!” It thrashed its tail, desperate to shake Snowball off, but to no avail.
Snowball, unabashed, grinned, “Easy now, we’ll ascend together! I’ll make sure you live grandly in that honeyed paradise!”
The four-eyed dog snorted coldly, still flicking its tail, but the upward pull grew stronger, carrying Snowball along, albeit slowly. At last, they reached the gates of Honey Mountain’s paradise.
A giant mountain surrounded by fairy air, shrouded in clouds and mist, with birds singing and flowers blooming in the mountains, fruit trees laden with honey-like fruits, streams flowing with nectar-like sweet springs, and all kinds of animals living at the foot of the mountain, living in harmony and without worries. Looking up the mountain, there seems to be all kinds of fairyland, layers of deep realms, beautiful beyond words. The animals at the foot of the mountain are only a very small part of the fairy mountain, and almost none of them are qualified to set foot in the upper fairyland.
Snowball could only see a small door for the animals to enter and exit, and he was stunned. In front of the door was a white jade bridge. Snowball saw that there was no bottom under the bridge, and there was a faint glow of hellfire. He couldn’t help but tremble all over.
The gate’s guardians, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, spotted Snowball clinging to the guard dog’s tail. Ox-Head yanked him down, barking, “Snowball? How dare you show up here? This isn’t your place! Report to hell’s guardians at once!”
Snowball, defiant, jutted out his chin. “I made Animalism resound through the mortal world, my deeds unmatched! Why can’t I bask in this bliss?”
Horse-Face sneered, “Deeds? Your wretched Animalism has brought calamity to this paradise!”
Snowball scoffed, “Calamity? This place is a thousand times better than Honey Farm! What calamity?”
Ox-Head roared, “Do you know how pure and radiant this sky once was? Since you stirred chaos below, even this paradise’s light has dimmed! Your words stink worse than pig dung, fouling this sacred air!”
As they spoke, Snowball saw the four-eyed dog cross the jade bridge unhindered, steadying itself on the railing and strolling into the paradise gate. Panic seized him—crossing that bridge meant freedom. Mimicking the dog, he tried to glide forward, but his spirit felt leaden, unable to lift, scrambling and rolling toward the bridge in vain.
Ox-Head warned, “You burdened soul, don’t force your way! This bridge, though delicate, tests the heart. Fall, and you’ll plunge into the abyss, damned to hell forever!”
Just then, Moses fluttered in, landing by the bridge. Snowball, spotting him, shouted, “Moses, perfect timing! Settle this! The guard dog bit men, chased animals, gnawed bones—did every foul deed—yet it enters paradise? I, a kind old pig who never ate flesh or chewed bones, why am I barred?”
Moses ruffled his black feathers, speaking deliberately, “The guard dog’s actions were its duty. Biting thieves, herding animals—that was its role. But you, fanning rebellion, twisting truth, defying justice, bear grievous sins!”
Snowball stomped, furious. “Justice? What justice! Fetch my ancestor Pig Bajie—let him smash this paradise to bits with his nine-toothed rake! He had eight precepts; I gave the animals Seven Precepts! How’s that not a grand virtue?”
Moses replied coolly, “Your Seven Precepts? Mere tools to manipulate hearts! As for Old Major, his Animalism led to such evil he’s long been cast into hell, beyond redemption!”
Enraged, Snowball reared on his hind legs, jabbing a hoof at Ox-Head and Horse-Face, bellowing, “You know nothing of violence? Violence seizes power, wins everything! Block me, and I’ll make you taste my hooves!” He brandished his hooves, fierce and menacing. In this realm of purity and kindness, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, unaccustomed to such bravado, recoiled several steps, exchanging stunned glances.
Snowball roared with laughter, smugly turning to stride onto the jade bridge. He tread carefully, the surface seeming steady, and he smirked, certain of victory. Ox-Head and Horse-Face called after, “Pig brother, slow down, don’t fall!”
Snowball snorted dismissively, taking another step, only to feel the bridge vanish beneath him. His body lurched. He reached for the railing as the guard dog had, but the jade was a mirage, his hooves grasping air. The bridge itself dissolved, an illusion crumbling underfoot. Snowball, gripped by terror, shrieked, “Help!” as he plummeted into the chasm below, engulfed by searing flames and sulfurous fumes that swallowed him whole.
Toad Pig had ruled the Pig Throne Building for three days, each night guzzling fine liquor and collapsing drunk on opulent bedding, lost in blissful dreams, heedless of all else. But this morning, it jolted awake from a nightmare—Snowball plummeting into a bottomless abyss, while it teetered on the edge. As Honey Farm’s supreme leader, Toad Pig suddenly sensed peril lurking, as if unseen eyes peered from the shadows of the lawn plaza.
The animals, still reveling in their triumph over the farm, soon found reaping victory’s spoils far trickier than seizing it. Instinct told them to till, harvest, and manage the farm, but lacking human skills and tools, everything descended into disarray. Feed dwindled, and each day they flocked to the Pig Throne Building, nostrils flaring, yearning for honey and whiskey.
From the top-floor balcony, Toad Pig gazed down at the ravenous throng in the plaza, Napoleon’s fate flashing through its mind—that pig, neglecting the resentment of lesser animals, met his end under a horse’s hoof. It sneered inwardly: These fools, unless tamed by fear and ignorance, will grow bold and become a scourge to pig rule! Summoning the Wolf Warriors, it ordered them to restore order in the plaza and convene a meeting to teach these begging animals a lesson.
Toad Pig appeared on the balcony, cleared his throat, and said in a loud voice: “Comrades! We have driven away Mr. Stone’s family and his lackeys who exploited and enslaved us, and overturned the shackles and mountains that weighed on our heads! Animals are the masters of their own destiny! We have stood up from now on!”
When the animals heard the words “stand up”, they felt something strange. They blinked and took a closer look, and were immediately stunned: Toad Pig was standing in a human posture, wearing a neat suit and a bow tie, and he looked even more impressive than Mr. Stone! The Wolf Warrior beside him also stood on his hind legs, wearing a guard uniform and a sword and gun at his waist. The most astonishing thing is Xi Gua, the stupid pig that once walked on two legs and carried 200 kilograms of grain. Now, it is dressed in the clothes of a general, holding its head high and walking steadily, like a human commander, with no risk of falling.
Around the plaza, Wolf Warriors prowled, baring teeth and growling, the air thick with menace. The animals sensed the pig and dog essence beneath those human guises, the eerie majesty amplifying their dread. They scarcely dared breathe, their minds clouded, unable to fathom how these pigs and dogs had donned human forms.
A few bold animals began mimicking the upright stance, attempting to balance on hind legs, only to topple in a comical, pitiful heap. A gray rabbit hopped a few times, then spat indignantly, “Animals are animals—why ape human walking? It’s against nature! I was born to hop, not to meddle in such perverse nonsense!”
Its words poured fuel on the fire. At Xi Gua’s command, Wolf Warriors lunged, dragging the gray rabbit to the platform, demanding a public confession. Though small, the rabbit stood defiant, head held high, refusing to yield. The Wolf Warriors then seized the clucking chickens, craning ducks and geese, and the loose-tongued Head Sheep, hauling them all to the stage.
Toad Pig strode from the balcony to the plaza’s central platform, a cold glint in its eyes, proclaiming sharply, “The gray rabbit spews reckless defiance, guilty of high treason! The chickens, ducks, and geese stir trouble with their clamor, inciting riots! Head Sheep fans the flames, plotting to topple pig rule and shake our animal regime!”
Xi Gua added, “Every animal must declare allegiance, or be deemed complicit!” The animals hesitated, especially the poultry and sheep, reluctant to turn on their own. Yet, stunned to see four-legged pigs and dogs now strutting on two, the chickens, ducks, and geese secretly rejoiced, redirecting their ire at Head Sheep, cursing its old cry of “Four legs good, two legs bad.”
Xi Gua sneered and said to Head Sheep, “Did you hear the people’s cry? I have no choice but to sentence you to death!”
Head Sheep was so scared that he quickly explained: “How could I know that you would all become two legs! I kneel down and admit my mistake! I am a loyal supporter of Animalism! I was the first one to shout “Long live the great Toad Pig!” The flock of sheep in the audience echoed and tried their best to protect Head Sheep. Toad Pig saw that it was difficult to step down, and Head Sheep confessed his guilt with sweet words. He was about to let him go, but Gray Wolf, who was drooling at the side, stopped him and whispered, “We can’t let this fat sheep go. The brothers are all hungry. It would be a pity to miss it!”
Toad Pig rolled his eyes and changed his tone, “It’s no use admitting your guilt! Unless you find a scapegoat!” Upon hearing this, the flock of sheep lowered their heads and retreated, only one little lamb stood with its head held high, bleated twice, and resolutely volunteered to be the scapegoat. Head Sheep was spared death, but was thrown into the bullpen for life. The gray rabbit, chickens, ducks, geese and scapegoats were taken to the execution ground inside the courtyard wall.
When the old duck stepped into the gate of the courtyard, he suddenly turned around and quacked, “Comrades! Why are pigs and dogs not equal to us? Why do they have to dress up as humans?” Before he could finish his words, a Wolf Warrior pounced on him, bit his neck, and dragged him to the execution ground. A Wolf Warrior sneered, “You are still a tough guy!”
The chickens, ducks and geese flapped their wings hard, looking up at the sky and wanting to fly away immediately. However, reality shattered their hopes and they were mercilessly torn apart within the courtyard wall. Amidst the screams, only a feather flew up. The clucking, quacking and bleating sounds gradually weakened until deathly silence. The Wolf Warriors howled with satisfaction, and feathers flew all over the square. The animals were trembling with fear and knelt down in unison to show their loyalty to Toad Pig.
Before the bloody rally was over, Wolf Warrior rushed into the rally again and dragged out Old Horse, Gray Donkey and the cow. Toad Pig said coldly, “Messenger Pigeon reports that the pigeons have discovered that the old horse, Gray Donkey, and the cow are flirting with each other in the face of an enemy conflict while monitoring from the air! Not only are they silent, but their faces also show their dissatisfaction with their new masters! They marked with feces, which landed precisely on the heads of the criminal animals.”
The three animals touched their heads and found feces, and they were unable to defend themselves. The old horse hesitated and said, “I… I saw the words ‘Honey Farm’ on the wall, and I thought of Mr. Stone. I am his mount, and I have a deep relationship with him…”
Toad Pig put his hands on his hips and turned his gaze towards the cow. The cow trembled and said, “I saw the milk bucket and gloves, and remembered that it was time for Mrs. Stone to milk…”
Gray Donkey felt uneasy when he saw Toad Pig’s look, and thought of the strange sight of Painted Skin in the backyard, but he didn’t dare to say it. He stammered, “I, I…look, look…”
Toad Pig interrupted, “Enough! So you all miss Mr. Stone!” He gave an order, ordering the animals to drag all of Mr. Stone’s belongings, including the saddle, pedals, bucket, toilet, and soup ladle, to the square and burn them. He also ordered the clothes and supplies in the Pig Throne Building to be cleared out and thrown into the fire, leaving only whips, shotguns, knives, and ropes as evidence of “hate education.” The words “Honey Farm” and a painting of the manor landscape on the wall were scribbled with red paint.
Toad Pig also ordered everyone to forget everything about Mr. Stone as if he had never existed! It roared like thunder: “Comrades! We are the masters of our own house. We will use Animalism to hate humanity and create a new era! We will produce according to the plan, distribute according to the plan! Eat and drink according to the plan, so don’t come to the lawn square to beg for food anymore. We will provide rations for every animal.”
Messenger Pigeon answered passionately: “Comrades! The premise is: you must sincerely obey Toad Pig’s leadership, move in unison, and follow his orders before you can get the rations.”
Xi Gua said, “Now, listen to my command: kneel down and pay tribute to the great Toad Pig!”
In the square, the animals all knelt down, lowered their heads, and shouted in unison: “Toad Pig will never die! Animalism will live forever!”
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