Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Wei Chen stood at the doorway, gazing in the direction where the little stone had disappeared, the cold wind ruffling the stray hairs on his forehead. The child's last heartfelt "thank you" was like a warm current, dispelling the chill of the winter night and easing the unpleasantness brought by the Jia family. He gently closed the door, shutting out the noise and cold.

Inside, the stove was burning brightly, the kettle hissing softly as it boiled water, steam rising from the fire. Wei Chen placed the enamel basin beside the stove, lifted the coarse cloth to reveal two meticulously cleaned pheasants. He nodded in satisfaction; Little Stone, that kid, really put his heart into his work.

"I'll make braised chicken with potatoes tonight!" Wei Chen quickly made up his mind. The dish is generously portioned, flavorful, and served piping hot in a big pot—perfect for a cold winter night. And what he loves most is the wide, chewy noodles in the braised chicken that have soaked up the rich broth!

He moved swiftly. First, he scooped out the flour, added water to form a slightly stiff dough, and covered it with a damp cloth to let it rest.

Then I started preparing the chicken. I chopped one of the plump pheasants into evenly sized pieces and blanched it to remove the blood and impurities. I crushed and chopped the scallions, ginger, and garlic, cut the dried chilies into sections, and prepared the spices such as Sichuan peppercorns and star anise. I also "took" a few plump, red tomatoes from my game inventory, peeled and chopped them, and then took out a few green and red bell peppers, cutting them into chunks. Potatoes? Of course, I used the kind I grew myself, peeled and cut into chunks, they were soft, powdery, and golden.

Heat an iron wok and pour in golden rapeseed oil. Once the oil is hot, add a few pieces of rock sugar and stir-fry over low heat until it turns a beautiful dark reddish-brown color.

With a sizzle, the blanched chicken pieces were poured into the pot and quickly stir-fried, coating them evenly with an enticing caramel color. Next, scallions, ginger, garlic, dried chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and star anise were added and sautéed until fragrant, filling the entire small house with a rich, spicy aroma.

Add soy sauce and stir-fry evenly until the chicken turns an appealing reddish-brown color. Add chopped tomatoes and stir-fry until a rich, red sauce forms, then pour in enough hot water. Cover the pot and let the chicken simmer in the bubbling sauce.

While the chicken was stewing, Wei Chen began to process the risen dough. He kneaded it, rolled it out, cut it into even strips about a finger's width, and sprinkled a thin layer of flour to prevent them from sticking together.

The chicken was almost cooked through, and the broth had thickened and become a glossy red. Wei Chen added the chopped potatoes and bell peppers to the pot, stir-fried them evenly, and let them soak up the delicious broth. He covered the pot and simmered for a few more minutes, until the potatoes were soft and flavorful. Finally, he sprinkled on some chopped green onions.

The moment the pot lid was lifted, an indescribable, domineering yet savory aroma exploded and swept through the entire small house!

The rich flavor of the chicken, the soft and powdery texture of the potatoes, the freshness of the green and red peppers, the slight tartness of the tomatoes, and the intense spiciness created by the fusion of various spices intertwine perfectly, forming an irresistible and mouthwatering aroma. The glossy red broth coats every piece of food, shimmering with an enticing sheen under the glow of the fire.

Wei Chen cooked the rolled-out wide noodles in boiling water until done, then rinsed them in cold water to make them more chewy. He then placed them directly on top of the thick broth from the braised chicken. The noodles instantly absorbed the broth, becoming plump and tempting.

He filled a large bowl to the brim, with noodles at the bottom, topped with chicken, potatoes, and green peppers, and then poured a rich, bright red broth over it. He placed it on the small dining table and poured himself a small glass of bulk white liquor.

Pick up a mouthful of noodles soaked in broth and put it in your mouth. The rich aroma of the sauce, the slight spiciness, the sweetness of the potatoes, the chewy texture of the noodles... all kinds of flavors explode on your tongue, bringing unparalleled satisfaction.

Then pick up a piece of stewed pheasant meat that is tender and falls off the bone, with a rich, savory sauce. The meat is firm and chewy, with the freshness of the mountains, which is completely different from domestic chicken.

A bite of noodles, a bite of meat, and a sip of spicy and mellow liquor—a warm current flows from the throat straight to the stomach, then spreads to every part of the body, completely dispelling the cold of the winter night and the disturbances in the courtyard.

Wei Chen sighed contentedly. After moving to the courtyard house, apart from occasionally returning to the hunter's hut in the game world to use the modern kitchen utensils to cook some more complicated dishes or dishes that were more in line with his previous life's tastes, he usually cooked in his own little house.

He wanted to fill the house with the warmth of everyday life, with the feeling of home. His mother and sister would be arriving in a month, and he wanted them to feel the warmth and comfort of "home" as soon as they entered.

Just as Wei Chen was immersed in the deliciousness of the braised chicken and the anticipation of home, the domineering and intense aroma of the braised chicken, like an invisible tentacle, stubbornly penetrated the cracks in the doors and windows and drifted into the cold and silent courtyard.

This aroma was nothing short of olfactory torture for the neighbors who rarely ate meat, instantly igniting discussions and speculations in every household.

In the front yard, there lived the third uncle, Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui sat on a small stool, carefully wiping his precious glasses by the dim light of the stove. His third aunt, Yan Yangshi, sat on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), sewing shoe soles with her hands, while her nose strained to inhale the faint, alluring aroma of meat in the air.

"Tsk...smells so good!" Yan Bugui took off his glasses and couldn't help but sniff, his Adam's apple bobbing. "This Wei Chen, his cooking skills are really good! The smell is like he added chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and sauce...is it braised? Or stewed chicken?" He tried to use the analysis of a "cultured person" to cover up the craving in his stomach.

"Who cares how it's cooked, it's good meat anyway!" The third aunt curled her lips, her tone filled with envy and a hint of sourness. "Two pheasants! And that fat rabbit from this afternoon! Goodness, how much good stuff will this meal consume! It's really... eating all by herself!" She still felt a bit resentful when she remembered being rejected by Yan Bugui's "invitation" at the door that afternoon.

Yan Bugui pushed up his freshly cleaned glasses, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness behind the lenses. Unlike his wife, he didn't complain; instead, he lowered his voice and spoke with a hint of lecturing: "What do you know! Eating alone? Others earned their food through their own hard work, why can't they eat it themselves? I think you're just short-sighted!"

He leaned closer to his wife, lowering his voice even further, and analyzed, "You saw what happened this afternoon, too? Qin Huairu, heavily pregnant, went to ask for it back, pleading and almost crying, and what was the result? She got a cold shoulder! Wei Chen, that kid, isn't old, but he's very shrewd! He's not some brainless pushover like Sha Zhu!"

"What about the Li family in the backyard? Didn't they give us chicken giblets too?" the third aunt retorted indignantly.

"That's the key!" Yan Bugui slapped his thigh, his eyes gleaming even brighter. "Those two, the Li family grandmother and grandson, are really in dire straits! Old Mrs. Li has backbone; she refuses to take things from others for nothing. And Little Stone, you've seen him too, he's as thin as a bean sprout, yet so sensible!"

They genuinely helped Wei Chen sweep the doorway! Wei Chen helped them out of genuine pity for them, and also because he appreciated Xiao Shitou's grateful heart! This is what they call "helping in an emergency, not in poverty; helping people from the heart!"

"Look at the Jia family again? Jia Dongxu, a grown man, a full-fledged first-class worker, his salary isn't low, right? That old woman, Jia Zhangshi, is lazy, greedy, and insatiable! Qin Huairu… humph, too cunning! Do you think Wei Chen would even look at them? Help them? That's like throwing good money after bad, it'll only create enemies!"

He concluded, "So, old woman, listen to me! From now on, stop scheming against Wei Chen and stop being envious. That kid is smart, generous, and compassionate, but more importantly, he has principles! He's not a pushover! We need to change our approach!"

He paused, looked at his wife, and said earnestly, "If you have the chance, keep an eye out. See if there's anything you can help Wei Chen with? Like, when he's busy, help him take in the laundry? Or if he comes home late and the stove is out, can we offer to help him start a fire? Even just smiling more and being polite when we meet!"

Remember, it's about genuinely helping with small favors; don't expect immediate returns! These kinds of people remember even the smallest kindness and will repay you tenfold when the opportunity arises! This is called "long-term investment," understand? It's a hundred times better than those who relentlessly scheme to get a bite to eat from someone!

The woman listened to her husband's analysis, still somewhat confused, but she took his words to heart: "Wei Chen won't let us suffer." She nodded thoughtfully, "Okay, old man, I'll listen to you. I'll be more careful from now on."

The Intermediate People's Court, the home of an elderly man named Yi Zhonghai.

An older woman was knitting while recounting in detail what she had seen that afternoon to Yi Zhonghai, who was sitting at the octagonal table drinking tea. This included Wei Chen asking Xiao Shitou to process the pheasant and deliver the chicken giblets, and Qin Huairu being refused when she asked for a wild rabbit.

"...Old Yi, you didn't see it, but Wei Chen is really good to the Li family in the backyard. He even cleaned up the chicken giblets and gave them to Xiao Shitou. When the boy carried the potatoes back, his eyes were practically disappearing with laughter. I think Wei Chen is a kind-hearted kid who knows how to help neighbors in need." The old lady's tone was full of affirmation for Wei Chen.

Yi Zhonghai held the enamel mug, blew away the tea leaves floating on top, and slowly sipped, his brow furrowing slightly. He put down the mug, his voice low and carrying his usual tone of "moral authority": "Kind-hearted? I doubt it! He's just unable to distinguish right from wrong, unable to grasp the important from the trivial!"

The older woman was taken aback: "What do you mean by that?"

"Hmph!" Yi Zhonghai snorted coldly. "The Li family, grandfather and grandson, are indeed in trouble, but ultimately, that's the neighborhood committee's responsibility! In our compound, who are the neighbors who truly need care and help? It's the Jia family!"

He raised his voice slightly, with an undeniable assertion, "Dongxu's wife is pregnant, carrying such a big belly and still has to do laundry and cook, how difficult is that! Banggeng is at the age of growing up! Jia Zhangshi is also getting old! This family has old people, young children, and pregnant women, how difficult life is!"

"Wei Chen is capable, hunting so much game. It's one thing for him to keep it all to himself, but Dongxu's wife already asked, and he didn't even show any consideration, directly refusing? And he even brought Dongxu up as an excuse? What kind of behavior is this! This is heartless! He doesn't understand neighborly help! He has no regard for the elderly and children!"