Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

The beef broth bubbled and steamed in the pot, filling the air with its aroma. Wei Chen tore two large flatbreads, still warm from the alleyway, into small pieces and soaked them in the boiling, thick broth. A mouthful of the hot soup, with its rich, savory flavor of beef and the complex taste of spices, instantly dispelled the chill from his body.

He took another bite of the pancake, which was soaked in broth, soft yet chewy, and paired it with a large slice of tender and flavorful beef. It was a simple dinner, but he ate until his forehead was slightly sweaty and his whole body felt comfortable.

"This is life," Wei Chen sighed contentedly. Compared to other families in the courtyard who might still be worrying about cornbread, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables for dinner, his life was like that of a god.

Just as he put down his bowl and before he could even clean up, three hurried knocks came from the moon gate, followed by Yan Jiecheng's booming voice: "Wei Chen! Is Wei Chen home? An old man asked me to announce that there's an upcoming general meeting for the entire compound! In the central courtyard! At least one head of household from each household is required!"

A general meeting of the entire courtyard? Wei Chen paused. Since arriving at the courtyard house, he had been leaving early and returning late, and living in a detached house, he hadn't really participated in any of the courtyard house's "traditional events" yet.

In the original story, this conference was a stage where all sorts of conflicts erupted and human relationships were on full display; even trivial matters could cause a huge argument.

Curiosity and a hint of schadenfreude welled up within him. "I heard you! I'll be right there!" Wei Chen called out in response.

He quickly tossed the bowl and chopsticks into the basin, too lazy to wash them immediately. He pulled a small stool out of the house, thought for a moment, then went into the inner room, grabbed a handful of fragrant, plump sunflower seeds from the cupboard, and stuffed them into his cotton-padded coat pocket. Only then did he unlock the moon gate and go out.

The front and middle courtyards were already lit with dim, yellow lights. The courtyard was filled with the lively atmosphere and noise of people coming home from get off work. Wei Chen rode his bike back and immediately heated up some beef soup, which was why he had just finished eating.

Most families had just returned home; the stoves had just been lit, the water in the pots had probably just been put on, and the aroma of the food was still faint. Instead, there was the smell of coal smoke and the sounds of children urging each other on and complaining about their exhaustion coming from each household.

When Wei Chen arrived at the central courtyard carrying a small stool, the assembly had clearly not yet officially begun. The three elders had not yet arrived, and there weren't many people gathered in the courtyard; most were teenagers and elderly people who didn't have to cook. They huddled together in twos and threes, whispering amongst themselves, but their eyes were all drawn to the area near the moon gate leading from the central courtyard to the front courtyard.

There, a good show is unfolding.

Sha Zhu, carrying his signature aluminum lunchbox net bag, had just stepped through the moon gate of the central courtyard. He seemed to be in a good mood today, humming a tuneless little tune.

Qin Huairu seemed to have been waiting there for a long time. As soon as he appeared, she immediately went to greet him with a smile that was just right, carrying a hint of sorrow and expectation.

"Zhu Zi, you're back?" Qin Huairu's voice was soft and weak, with a hint of flattery. "Was the factory... busy today?"

"Hey, it's alright, same as always." Sha Zhu replied casually, but his eyes couldn't help but glance at Qin Huairu's voluptuous figure, which was hard to hide even under her thick cotton-padded coat, especially the small section of her fair neck that was exposed at the neckline.

Qin Huairu took a step closer, almost touching Sha Zhu, and lowered her voice, pleading, "Zhuzi... look, Bang Geng has been complaining these past two days that he hasn't eaten enough, and he wakes up hungry at night... We really... really can't afford to eat... your lunchbox..." Her gaze was fixed on the heavy lunchbox in Sha Zhu's hand.

"Sister Qin, this..." Sha Zhu looked troubled, instinctively trying to hide the lunchbox behind his back, but his movements were clearly hesitant. "This... this food today... is for Yu Shui, she..."

"Zhu Zi!" Qin Huairu's eyes instantly reddened, her voice choked with sobs, "I know you've had a hard time, but Bang Geng is still young and growing... Please have pity on the child..." As she spoke, she reached out to pull Sha Zhu's arm, pressing her body even closer.

How could Sha Zhu resist this? When Qin Huairu leaned against him with her soft body, and her hair, which smelled of soap, brushed against his face, he felt half of his bones melt. His hesitation vanished instantly, and he grinned with his signature silly grin: "Oh, Sister Qin, look at what you're saying... Bang Geng is my nephew! We can't let anyone else go hungry! Here, here, take it!" As he spoke, he tried to stuff the lunchbox into Qin Huairu's hand.

"Hey! Silly Zhu! Trying to curry favor here again?" A voice with a distinctly teasing and sarcastic tone suddenly rang out from the side, breaking the slightly ambiguous atmosphere.

Xu Damao strolled leisurely through the moon gate in the backyard, his hands in his pockets. He was wearing a half-new woolen Zhongshan suit, his hair was slicked back and shiny, and he wore his usual smug smile, his eyes scanning back and forth between Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu with a mocking glint in his eyes.

"Tsk tsk tsk, I say, Sha Zhu, I bet most of the money in your lunchbox went to the Jia family, right? What, do you really think you're the Jia family's long-term worker? Or... are you planning to take over Jia Dongxu's job..." Xu Damao deliberately emphasized the word "take over," speaking in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the onlookers to hear.

A suppressed chuckle suddenly erupted from the crowd. Many people's gazes became ambiguous.

Sha Zhu's face instantly turned a deep liver color! He hated it most when people talked about his relationship with Qin Huairu, especially when those words came from his mortal enemy, Xu Damao!

"You son of a bitch! Xu Damao! Are you asking for a beating?!" Sha Zhu suddenly turned around, shielding Qin Huairu behind him. He didn't even care about the lunchbox, throwing it on the ground with a "bang," and rolled up his sleeves as he charged at Xu Damao! His eyes were wide open like copper bells, and his fists were clenched so tightly they cracked.

Qin Huairu exclaimed in surprise and quickly bent down to pick up the lunchbox, her face turning red and white in turns.

Seeing that Sha Zhu was really anxious, Xu Damao felt a little scared, but he still wouldn't let it go. As he retreated towards the moon gate in the backyard, he pointed at Sha Zhu and shouted, "What's wrong? Did I hit a nerve? Are you angry? Jia Dongxu is still here, and you're always hanging around him. Do you want to cuckold Jia Dongxu? Aren't you afraid Jia Dongxu will kill you with his lover!" Xu Damao continued to shout as he ran.

"I'm telling you, you toad-like fool, you think you can eat swan meat? Do you think Sister Qin would even look at you? Take a good look at yourself in the mirror! You're destined to be childless!"

The words "extinction of the family line" were like a red-hot branding iron, fiercely searing Sha Zhu's most sensitive nerve! This was his greatest pain and taboo!

"Fuck your grandpa Xu Damao! I'm going to tear your stinking mouth apart today!" Sha Zhu completely lost it! Like an enraged bull, he roared and rushed to Xu Damao in a few steps, his fist, as big as a sand bowl, whistling through the air as it aimed at Xu Damao's punchable face!

Xu Damao yelled "Mommy!" and scrambled into the moon gate, his movements surprisingly swift. Sha Zhu's fist grazed the back of his head and slammed against the doorframe with a dull thud!

"Shazhu is hitting someone! Shazhu is going to kill someone! Help!" Xu Damao screamed as he ran through the backyard. Shazhu wasn't about to let him go and chased after him into the backyard, cursing and swearing at him in a string of Beijing slang.

"You idiot Zhu! You bastard! Don't you dare run away!"

"You grandson Xu Damao! You stop right there! I'll rip your balls out and stomp on them!"

The shouts, the sound of chasing footsteps, Xu Damao's exaggerated screams and pleas for mercy, and the excited shouts of the children in the courtyard... instantly shattered the tranquility of the courtyard at dusk. Like cold water being poured into a boiling oil pot, the entire middle courtyard and even the backyard erupted in chaos!

The previously somber atmosphere of waiting vanished instantly. The adults, no longer concerned with cooking, peeked out from their rooms, some shaking their heads and sighing, some unable to suppress their laughter, and some simply enjoying the spectacle.

"Oh dear, these two clowns are bickering again!"

"Xu Damao too, what a smartass! He knows perfectly well that Sha Zhu has a fiery temper!"

"That silly Zhu, he resorts to violence at the slightest provocation..."

"Heh heh, hit him! Hit him hard! Xu Damao's foul mouth needs to be taught a lesson!"

The three old men also came out of the main house in the middle courtyard upon hearing the noise. Yi Zhonghai frowned, his face serious: "Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! Old Liu, Old Yan, hurry up and go to the backyard to check! Don't let it really escalate into something serious!" Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui quickly responded and jogged towards the backyard.

Wei Chen found an inconspicuous spot against the wall, put down his small stool, and sat down steadily. He slowly took out the fragrant sunflower seeds from his pocket, picked one up, and gently cracked it with his front teeth. With a crisp "crack," the plump sunflower seed kernel fell into his mouth, filling it with fragrance.

He watched with great interest the chaotic scene unfolding before him, the three elderly men rushing off to "put out the fire," and the expressions of concern, excitement, or schadenfreude on the faces of his neighbors. Under the dim light, familiar yet unfamiliar faces created a vibrant and lively panorama of everyday life in the city.

"Tsk, the opening of this college-wide assembly... is quite lively." Wei Chen smiled with a hint of amusement as he cracked open another sunflower seed.

"Zhu Zi! Stop right there! Did you hear me?!" Yi Zhonghai's roar was like a thunderclap, instantly drowning out the commotion of chickens and dogs running wild in the backyard.

He pushed aside a few teenagers who were peering out to watch the commotion and strode into the backyard, his face so dark it could drip water. Liu Haizhong followed closely behind, his slightly protruding belly protruding as he tried to project an air of authority, while Yan Bugui, concerned, adjusted his glasses, which had been jostled askew, and jogged to catch up.

The scene in the backyard was truly horrific.

Sha Zhu, like a mad bear, was straddling Xu Damao, raining down his massive fists on Xu Damao's greasy face. "I'll teach you to be foul-mouthed! I'll teach you to be childless! I'll make you childless! I'll make you childless!" Sha Zhu cursed as he hit him, spittle flying everywhere, his eyes bloodshot. He was clearly outraged and had completely lost his mind.