Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

"Eat slowly, there's more in the pot." Wang Xiulan watched her son wolf down his food, feeling both heartache and satisfaction, and a smile of the most contentment she had shown in days appeared on her face. There wasn't much noodle in her own bowl, and the egg was noticeably less.

"Mom, you eat too, don't just watch us." Wei Chen said vaguely, putting a large piece of egg drop from his bowl into his mother's bowl, and then giving a large piece to Wei Ran, who was watching eagerly. "Xiao Ran, eat more too, you're growing."

"Brother, it's so delicious! A hundred times better than the cafeteria food!" Wei Ran said, her mouth glistening with oil, her cheeks bulging, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with happiness.

A simple yet heartwarming and delicious egg noodles dish dispelled the winter chill and allowed this little family to temporarily forget the hardships of the outside world and immerse themselves in a rare moment of warmth.

Wei Chen ate two large bowls, until his stomach felt warm and full, before finally putting down his chopsticks with satisfaction. He felt that most of the fatigue accumulated from the past few days had dissipated. Wang Xiulan looked at the empty bowls and her children's satisfied smiles, and the smile in her eyes and brows deepened. As she quietly cleared away the dishes, even her steps became lighter.

The next three or four days passed peacefully and comfortably. Wei Chen helped his mother chop firewood and sweep the yard, accompanied his younger sister to review her lessons, and occasionally went to his uncle's house to sit and listen to what was happening in the village, but most of the time he stayed at home, enjoying the brief tranquility before the storm.

He deliberately concealed all his involvement with the steel mill, acting like an ordinary worker on vacation. However, beneath this calm, the cold touch of the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle hidden in the tarpaulin bag, and Section Chief Jin Aimin's weighty entrustment, remained like a sword hanging over his head, silently reminding him that his return was imminent.

That evening, the family sat around the warm kang table for dinner. The meal consisted of cornbread made by Wang Xiulan with a little wheat flour, a pot of thick millet porridge, and a small dish of pickled vegetables that Wei Chen had brought back.

Although simple, it was clean, warm, and filling. Looking at her son's noticeably better complexion, Wang Xiulan hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "Chenzi, you've been back for three or four days now. Is work at your factory really that easy? Don't you have to clock in or show up for work? Do you think the managers are happy about that?"

Her tone carried concern, but also a hint of barely perceptible doubt. In her simple understanding, workers should go to get off work and leave on time, staying at their machines or posts; how could they stay for days at a time like her son?

Wei Chen paused for a moment as he picked up some pickled vegetables. The inevitable question had finally arrived. He swallowed the pancake in his mouth, a relaxed smile appearing on his face, and tried to sound natural: "Mom, don't worry. Our purchasing department is different from other workshops. Our main task is to go out and buy back the materials the factory needs. As long as the task is completed, the leaders don't care whether you're sitting in the office or running around outside."

"This month... well, I did a good job with the previous shopping tasks, even exceeding them ahead of schedule, so I was able to spare some time to come back and spend more time with you and Xiaoran." He paused, looking at his mother's still somewhat questioning gaze, and added, "Besides, I was thinking that you and Xiaoran are going to the city soon, so I wanted to come back to visit more, help you pack, and say goodbye to Uncle and the others."

The reason sounded reasonable. Wang Xiulan's doubts lessened somewhat, and she nodded: "Oh, I see. It's good that the task is completed. So... when do you plan to go back to the factory? It's only a few days left." She subconsciously glanced at the already dark sky outside the window, as if calculating how much longer her son could stay at home.

"Tomorrow then." Wei Chen put down his chopsticks, his tone tinged with reluctance, but more so with an undeniable certainty. "I've been home for several days already; it's time to go back and check on things. There might be new arrangements at the factory. I'll come back a day or two early to pick you up after Xiao Ran finishes her exams." He had to leave. Staying any longer would only deepen his mother's suspicions, and besides, the snow and prey deep in the Yanshan Mountains wouldn't wait for anyone. The gun on his shoulder needed to be used as soon as possible.

"Leaving tomorrow?" Wei Ran immediately pouted, put down her chopsticks, moved to Wei Chen's side, and tugged at his arm, her little face full of reluctance. "Brother, can't we stay a couple more days? Can't we leave together after my exams?"

Wei Chen's heart softened. He stroked his sister's hair and said gently, "Xiao Ran, be good. I have to go back to work. Study hard for your exams and get good grades. I'll bring you something delicious when I come back. When you're on vacation, I'll come pick you and Mom up, and we'll go live in a big house in the city, okay?"

Although Wei Ran was unwilling, seeing her brother's serious expression, she nodded obediently, only tightening her grip on his arm.

Wang Xiulan looked at her children and sighed softly, "Alright, work is important. Why don't you have breakfast before you leave tomorrow? I'll make you some egg pancakes for the road, okay?"

"Okay, thank you, Mom." Wei Chen felt a warmth in his heart and nodded in agreement.

That night, Wei Chen lay on his familiar earthen bed, with a thicker mattress his mother had specially added for him, making him feel warm and secure.

The cold wind still howled outside the window, rattling against the windowpane. He listened intently to the even breathing of his mother and sister in the inner room, his heart filled with longing and reluctance.

This small courtyard where he grew up holds too many memories and sheltered his most cherished family members during this special era. However, the heavy responsibility on his shoulders, like a silent bugle call, urged him to leave this warm harbor and step into the wind and snow once again to fight for an unknown future.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the pale sunlight seeped through the window paper covered with old newspapers. Wang Xiulan was already up early, and the kitchen echoed with the soft clanging of pots and pans and the crackling of burning firewood. Soon, the enticing aroma of scallion oil mixed with eggs filled the air.

Wei Chen quickly got up and dressed. As he slung the heavy canvas bag over his shoulder, his fingers instinctively checked the presence of his steel companion inside through the thick oilcloth. The cold touch transmitted through the fabric instantly calmed his chaotic thoughts, and his eyes regained their usual calm and determination.

Inside the main room, a steaming breakfast was already laid out on the kang table. Golden scallion and egg pancakes were crispy on both sides, emitting a delightful aroma; a small bowl of thick, steaming millet porridge; and a small dish of finely shredded pickled vegetables. Simple, yet filled with the taste of home and a mother's love.

"Chenzi, eat it while it's hot." Wang Xiulan put the last pancake on a plate and urged him. Wei Ran also rubbed her eyes and got up, sitting at the table. Although she was still sleepy, she tried her best to open her eyes wide and look at her brother.

Wei Chen sat down, picked up a pancake, and took a big bite. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, savory and delicious. He ate heartily, drinking the hot porridge, as if he wanted to take all the warmth and strength into his stomach and carry it with him.

"Mom, your pancakes still smell so good," he said sincerely.

Wang Xiulan watched him eat, a satisfied smile on her face, while muttering, "Ride slowly on the road, it's cold and the roads are slippery. When you get to the factory, work hard and don't worry about home. Xiaoran and I are doing fine. We'll wait for you to come back and pick us up."

"Okay, Mom, don't worry." Wei Chen nodded in response and quickened his eating pace.

After finishing their meal, it was already quite bright outside. Wei Chen put on a thick cotton-padded coat, a cotton hat, and a scarf, wrapping himself up tightly. Wang Xiulan carefully wrapped several still-warm egg pancakes in a clean cloth and stuffed them into Wei Chen's satchel: "Take these, have some if you get hungry on the road."

"Mom, brother, come to the city soon!" Wei Ran tugged at Wei Chen's sleeve, her eyes a little red.

"Yes, definitely. Listen to Mom at home and do well on your exams." Wei Chen hugged his sister tightly, then looked at his mother, "Mom, I'm leaving now. You and Xiao Ran take good care of yourselves at home."

"Okay, let's go. Be careful on the road." Wang Xiulan stood at the door of the main room, watching her son go, her eyes filled with worry.

Wei Chen said no more, pushed his mud-covered Phoenix 28 bicycle, and strode out of the courtyard. The morning wind, like countless tiny ice needles, immediately pierced through the gaps in his thick scarf and stung his face. He hopped on the bicycle, pedaled hard, and the wheels rolled over the frozen, hard village road, making a monotonous but clear "crunch" sound.

He didn't turn around. He knew his mother was still standing at the door, watching him go. He was afraid that if he turned around and saw the deep worry and reluctance in his mother's eyes, his hard-won resolve would waver.

The bicycle left the village entrance and turned onto the dirt road leading towards Beijing. The village gradually blurred behind, shrinking into an inconspicuous gray dot in the winter wilderness.

Ahead lay a long, winding road covered with a thin layer of snow and frozen ground. At the end of the road was a massive steel city, billowing thick smoke. To the north of the city lay his true destination—the snow-covered, unknown depths of the Yanshan Mountains.

Wei Chen faced the biting north wind, his back hunched, pedaling hard. The few warm egg pancakes in the canvas bag clung to his back, providing a faint warmth, while the rifle hidden under the oilcloth on his shoulder exuded a cold and solid sense of power.

Two distinctly different sensations, accompanied by the monotonous sound of wheels rolling over frozen earth, blended together into the vast, cold winter morning. His figure, standing alone and resolute on the desolate plain, resolutely marched towards his battlefield.

After the familiar dirt road of Baoyuquan Village completely disappeared behind him into the outline of the rolling mountains, Wei Chen no longer lingered.

He found a secluded ravine hidden by withered grass and jagged rocks. After confirming that no one was around, he had a sudden thought, and the mud-covered Phoenix bicycle and the things his mother had prepared vanished instantly, as if they had never existed.

Instead, there was a heavy canvas gun bag slung across his shoulder, inside which was tightly wrapped the cold Type 56 semi-automatic rifle.