Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

"Old Zhao, Master Li, I'm going out for a walk to see if I can find any connections," Wei Chen said calmly to his colleagues as he stood up. The pressure of the procurement task was real, and he needed this reasonable excuse to leave.

"Go ahead, go ahead, Xiao Wei is quick-witted, maybe he can find a way!" Old Zhao waved his hand, his face filled with worry and hope. The others nodded in agreement; at this critical juncture, anyone who went out to find a way was a good comrade.

Wei Chen pushed his old-fashioned bicycle and strode out of the steel mill gate. A biting wind swept over him, but he felt no chill; only a sense of urgency drove him forward. He hopped on his bicycle, pedaled hard, and the wheels spun rapidly along the deserted street, his destination clear—the neighborhood committee office!

In the familiar office of the neighborhood committee, Director Wang was hunched over her desk reviewing documents. She wore a dark blue Lenin suit, her short hair was neatly combed, and her brows displayed her usual shrewdness and competence, but a hint of weariness lingered deep in her eyes. The aftereffects of the Great Leap Forward and the immense pressure of supplying materials had clearly taken hold of her, a grassroots cadre.

"Director Wang!" Wei Chen knocked on the door, a perfectly timed smile that carried a youthful energy.

"Oh, Comrade Wei? Come in and have a seat!" Director Wang looked up and, seeing it was Wei Chen, immediately broke into a warm smile. The batch of "unplanned" pork that Wei Chen had procured last time had been a huge help to the neighborhood office, greatly enhancing her reputation among the families of martyrs and those in need. She had a very good impression of this capable and well-mannered young purchasing agent.

Wei Chen sat down opposite him, and without much small talk, got straight to the point, his tone sincere: "Director Wang, I'm here today to bother you because I have a personal matter I'd like to ask for your help with, and I'd also like to inquire about some policies."

"Oh? What is it? Tell me, and I'll definitely help if I can." Director Wang put down his pen, leaned forward slightly, showing that he took it seriously.

"It's like this," Wei Chen organized his thoughts, trying to make his reason sound reasonable, "My father passed away early, leaving only my mother and a younger sister in a village in Fangshan."

My mother is getting old and her health isn't very good, and my younger sister is still in elementary school. I work alone in the city, and I really can't bear to leave them both in the countryside. Now I've settled into a stable job at the steel rolling mill; I'm a permanent employee with a dormitory... oh no, the factory gave me a small courtyard, which is big enough for me. I was thinking, could I transfer my mother's and younger sister's household registration from the village to the city and register them under my name? That way, I can take care of them more easily.

He paused, observing Director Wang's expression, and then added at the opportune moment, "I've also inquired about the policy. It seems that urban employees whose family members meet the 'dependent' criteria can apply for it? I wonder if my situation qualifies?"

Director Wang listened attentively, her fingers lightly tapping the table as she pondered. After a moment, a knowing and approving smile appeared on her face: "Comrade Xiao Wei, your idea is correct! Filial piety is the most important virtue. Bringing your elderly mother and young sister here to take care of them is only natural, and it's something our new society advocates!"

She picked up the enamel mug on the table, took a sip of water, and continued, "In terms of policy, your situation is completely met! You are a formal employee of the steel rolling mill, with a stable job and source of income, and your household registration is in the city. Your mother is elderly and needs her children to support her, and your younger sister is a minor and needs a guardian to raise her. These are all clear conditions for 'relocation'! The procedures are also not complicated."

Wei Chen was secretly delighted, but maintained a calm demeanor: "That's wonderful! Director Wang, what exactly do you need me to do?"

"It's very simple," Director Wang put down his teacup and explained clearly, "You need to go back to your hometown village, find the village committee or production brigade where your mother's household registration is located, and get a certificate of consent to move out, clearly stating the basic information of your mother and your sister, as well as the reason for moving out."

Then, take the village's certificate to your office and get the official in charge of household registration to stamp it, confirming the situation is true and agreeing to the relocation.

"Finally," she said, looking at Wei Chen and emphasizing her words, "take the two original certificates stamped by the village and the commune, along with your steel mill work permit and household registration booklet, and come back to me. After I verify everything, I can directly process your household registration! Once your household registration is in your name, your grain and oil rations, and your non-staple food supply booklet will all be transferred and renewed!"

She specifically reminded him, "Remember, you can't be missing either the village or commune seals! If any of them are missing, I can't get this done."

"Understood! Thank you so much, Director Wang! You've really shown me the way!" Wei Chen stood up and thanked him sincerely. Director Wang's clear guidance saved him countless hours of trial and error.

"Oh, it's nothing. It's all within the scope of policy, and it's what I, as the street director, should do." Director Wang waved his hand with a smile, then, as if remembering something, his tone became more earnest, "Xiao Wei, this matter should be handled sooner rather than later... The sooner it's resolved, the sooner you can be at ease, and the elderly and children will suffer less. Don't you think so?"

Director Wang's seemingly casual reminder struck Wei Chen like a silent thunderclap! He keenly caught the unspoken meaning behind the words—"Combined with the information Old Li mentioned in the office, and the inside information that Director Wang, as a grassroots cadre, might have been exposed to... this almost subtly confirms his judgment: the household registration transfer policy is likely to tighten in the near future as the situation changes!"

"Yes! You're absolutely right!" Wei Chen nodded immediately, his expression extremely serious. "I'll ask for leave right away and go back to get it done this Sunday! I'll definitely get the certificate and bring it back as soon as possible!"

Seeing Wei Chen's decisive and efficient manner, a barely perceptible hint of approval flashed in Director Wang's eyes. She liked this kind of young man who was efficient and understood her. As Wei Chen was saying goodbye and reaching the door, Director Wang seemed to suddenly remember something and called him back:

"Hey, Xiao Wei, wait a minute."

"Director Wang, is there anything else you need?" Wei Chen stopped in his tracks.

Director Wang gave a slightly embarrassed yet expectant smile: "Well... there's only about a month left until the Lunar New Year. The subdistrict office wants to distribute some more gifts to the families of martyrs and impoverished households in our jurisdiction, so everyone can have a slightly more comfortable New Year. Especially meat... it's in such high demand, the planned amount isn't enough at all. You see... you have connections, if you could get some more before the New Year... any kind of meat! We don't need too much, just a few dozen kilograms, the subdistrict office will buy it at the market price... no, we can buy it at a slightly higher price! Do you think there's any hope?"

Wei Chen's mind raced. Director Wang was clearly returning the favor, a test of his abilities, and a way of "pre-ordering" him. A bright and confident smile immediately spread across his face: "Director Wang, don't worry! You've helped me so much, this little thing is on me! I'll do my best to find out! I'll definitely give you a definite answer before the New Year!"

"Great! Great! That's wonderful! Xiao Wei, I knew you were capable!" Director Wang's face immediately lit up with a smile, praising him repeatedly. "Then I'll be waiting for your good news!"

Stepping out of the neighborhood office, the winter sun shone palely on his face. Wei Chen took a deep breath of the cold air, feeling a huge weight lifted from his heart, but also a heavy responsibility weighing on him—the meat Director Wang wanted was a piece of cake for him, but it also reminded him that a real storm was brewing. Time was truly running out.

Early Sunday morning, just as dawn was breaking, Wei Chen rode his bicycle, braving the biting wind, towards Baoyuquan Village in Fangshan District. The icy air he inhaled was sharp and invigorating. The fields on either side of the road were covered with a thin layer of frost, appearing vast and desolate.

Back in the familiar farmhouse courtyard, Wang Xiulan, the mother, was both heartbroken and delighted to see her son return so early in the cold wind. She quickly pulled him into the room where the kang (a heated brick bed) was heated and poured him a bowl of piping hot ginger and brown sugar water.

"Chen'er, why are you back so early? Is the factory not busy anymore?" Wang Xiulan asked with concern, patting the cold air clinging to Wei Chen's cotton-padded coat.

"Mom, there's something important I need to discuss with you and Ranran." Wei Chen took the bowl to warm his hands, his expression serious. Without much small talk, he got straight to the point. He called his younger sister, Wei Ran, over and explained in detail what he had heard in the city about the severe drought in the south and the potential food shortage, as well as the household registration policy he had learned about from Director Wang, and his concerns about the possibility of future difficulties in transferring household registration.

"...Mom, I'm not exaggerating." Wei Chen looked at his mother's increasingly serious expression and spoke earnestly, "Think about it, if it's really like the older generation says, a bad year, at least in the city there's a government ration of grain based on household registration, so no one will starve. But in the countryside, we rely on the weather for our livelihood. What if... I mean, what if the harvest is bad? Life will be too hard! You're not in good health, and Ranran is still young. I can't let you take this risk in the village! The policy still allows me to bring you over, the procedures are clear, and Director Wang has agreed to help. We have to seize this opportunity! First, we need to transfer your household registration to the city under my name; that's the most important thing!"

Wang Xiulan remained silent, her face, etched with the marks of time, a mixture of hesitation, reluctance, and worry. She had lived her entire life in Baoyuquan Village, where every blade of grass and every tree held the imprint of her sweat and memories.

The sudden decision to leave for a vast and unfamiliar city filled her with unease. But how could she not feel the urgency in her son's words and his deep concern for their safety? Especially when she heard the words "people starving to death," it reminded her of the difficult years she had experienced in her youth, and her heart clenched.

"Brother, if I go to the city, will I still be able to go to school?" Wei Ran asked timidly, her big eyes filled with apprehension about the unknown and dependence on her brother.

"Yes! Of course!" Wei Chen answered immediately and firmly, his tone softening. "The schools in the city are better than those in our village, and there are more teachers there. I'll find you a good school close to our home! Once your household registration is settled, we'll transfer you there next semester! I promise, it won't interfere with your studies!"

Wei Chen then turned to his mother: "Mom, I know you're reluctant to leave the village. But the situation is special right now. It will take some time to process the household registration, and there's less than a month until school's winter break. What I mean is, let's transfer the household registration first; that's the most important thing!"

This past month, you and Ranran have been staying in the village, going to school and tidying up. I'll come back to pick you both up and take you to the city after winter break! This way, Ranran's studies won't be affected this semester, and you'll have time to say goodbye to your old neighbors and put things away. Does that sound alright?

Wei Chen's arrangement was reasonable, taking into account both the fundamental issue of household registration and the current situation and emotions of his mother and sister.