Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

The loading process lasted nearly two hours. When the last wild boar was finally crammed into the back of the truck and repeatedly secured with thick ropes and tarpaulins, everyone was exhausted, as if they had just been pulled out of the water. They collapsed onto the cold snow, panting heavily, with white steam rising violently in the frigid air.

The truck's huge cargo bed was crammed full, like a giant, blood-smelling can of meat. Even Wei Chen's old-fashioned bicycle could only be squeezed diagonally into the topmost gap, tightly tied with rope.

"My God... I've never done such tiring work in my life..." Liu Guoqing lay sprawled on the ground, feeling like all the bones in his body were about to fall apart.

"Under my butt...it's all meat..." Hu Songnian leaned against the wheel, looking at the high pile of meat in the back, a complex expression on his face that was both satisfied and tinged with dark humor. "This experience...is enough for me to brag about for half my life! Who would have thought that one day, I, Hu Songnian, would be able to ride back to the city on a mountain of wild boars?"

Although Jin Dong was also tired, his face showed a sense of relief and subtle excitement after completing the task: "It's worth it! No matter how tired I am, it's all worth it! When we get back with this truckload, our three groups... no, our entire purchasing department, will be able to hold our heads high!"

Wu Xiaojun was too exhausted to speak, but he just stared at the tall pile of meat and grinned foolishly, as if he saw countless certificates of merit and praise.

Liu Yuan was exhausted, but his spirits were extremely high. He patted Wei Chen's shoulder forcefully, his meaning clear without words: "Brothers, get in the car! Squeeze in! Old Wang, drive! Go as fast as you can! Back to the factory! Don't stop anyone on the road! Not even the King of Heaven himself!"

Driver Wang Aiguo nodded emphatically, his face showing unprecedented solemnity and a hint of tension. He knew the value and weight of this truckload of meat; in these times, it was life itself! He climbed into the cab and started the engine.

Liu Yuan and Wei Chen squeezed into the driver's seat. Liu Guoqing, Hu Songnian, Jin Dong, and Wu Xiaojun helped each other up, using both hands and feet to climb to the top of the high pile of meat.

The space was cramped, cold, and hard; the pungent smell of blood was almost suffocating, and the cold wind felt like knives cutting into their faces. They could only cling tightly to the edges of the ropes and tarpaulins, huddled together, struggling to maintain their balance amidst the bumps and swaying.

Beneath them lay a massive, cold, stiff body, exuding an aura of death. Every jolt sent shivers down their spines, fearing they would be thrown off or pierced by fangs. But a fire burned within each of them—an unprecedented excitement and pride in participating in the creation of a "miracle," sustaining them through this extreme "journey through the mountain of flesh."

The Liberation truck, like a giant beast burdened with heavy loads, roared as it rolled over the snow-covered, potholed dirt road, speeding towards Beijing. A long trail of snow billowed behind it, leaving a path of hope and bustling activity in the vast twilight.

As dusk settled and the city lights began to twinkle, the truck finally arrived at the familiar and imposing gate of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. The massive gate resembled the jaws of a giant beast in the night, while the guard post at the entrance was illuminated by a dim, yellow light.

The security guards on duty were Xiao Zhang and Xiao Li from the security department. Hearing the heavy rumble of the truck in the distance and seeing its headlights pierce the darkness, Xiao Zhang yawned, pulled his coat tighter, and prepared for his routine inspection. As the truck slowed down in front of the gate, its blinding headlights sweeping across the cargo bed, Xiao Zhang glanced at it casually.

The next second, he was like he had been struck by a high voltage, he suddenly jumped up from the chair, his eyes widened instantly, and his mouth opened so wide that a duck egg could fit inside!

"I...Fuck!!" A distorted exclamation suddenly burst from his throat, his voice cracking.

On the back of the enormous truck, the green canvas tarp bulged high, and along the edges, several thick, frighteningly large wild boar legs with menacing tusks were clearly visible! And there was the outline of a massive body covered in coarse bristles and stained with dark red blood! This was no ordinary truck for hauling steel raw materials; it was clearly a moving mountain of flesh!

"Meat! Wild boar! All wild boar!" Little Li finally saw it clearly, his voice trembling. Pointing at the truck, he was so excited he was almost incoherent, "Quick...look! My God! So much! Where did it all come from?!"

Xiao Zhang reacted even faster. He pushed open the guard booth door and shouted excitedly towards the driver's cab, "Team Leader Liu! Comrade Wei Chen! You...you've wiped out the wild boar's den?!"

But he didn't stop. He dashed into the factory area, yelling at the still-dazed Xiao Li as he ran, "What are you standing there for! Go report to the section chief! The deputy section chief! It's a huge deal! Go now! Tell them... tell them that Wei Chen and Team Leader Liu brought back a truckload of wild boars! A whole truckload! Like a mountain!"

Only then did Xiao Li snap out of his daze. Forgetting all about discipline, he took off running towards the security department's office building, shouting as he ran, "Section Chief! Deputy Jin! Meat! So much meat! Wild boar! It's as big as a truck!"

The truck slowly drove into the factory gate. Looking through the window at Zhang and Li's visibly agitated expressions, Wei Chen's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. He knew the real storm was just beginning.

The truck didn't drive directly to the warehouse. Instead, following the plan Wei Chen and Liu Yuan had discussed on the way, it drove straight to the open space in front of the factory's office building and stopped. The area was well-lit and had a wide view.

The engine shut off, and the massive truck stood silently in front of the office building like a mountain of flesh. A strong stench of blood instantly filled the cold night air.

The driver's cab door opened, and Liu Yuan and Wei Chen jumped out of the vehicle. In the back, Liu Guoqing, Hu Songnian, and the others also scrambled down, their hands and feet numb. Their faces were pale and their lips were purple, but their eyes shone with an astonishing light.

Almost the instant they landed, the factory building erupted in chaos!

First, the windows of several offices in the logistics department and purchasing department were suddenly pushed open, and astonished heads popped out.

"My God! What is that?!"

"Wild...wild boars? How come there are so many?!"

"It's Wei Chen! And the third purchasing team! They're back!" Exclamations spread rapidly like ripples.

Immediately afterwards, a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps came from inside the building. The first to rush out was the head of logistics, who hadn't even buttoned up his cotton-padded coat and was staring at the back of the truck in shock.

Next came the purchasing manager, panting heavily as he looked at the towering mountain of meat, then at Wei Chen and Liu Yuan standing beside the truck. His expression shifted from astonishment to ecstasy to disbelief, finally culminating in an excited shout: "Good lads! You guys are really something!"

But this is just the prelude.

Even bigger news is coming!

Then, Deputy Factory Director Li Huaide, who was in charge of logistics and was always known for his composure and demeanor, suddenly rushed out of the building's side entrance in a hurried jog! His secretary followed behind him, her face also full of anxiety.

Li Huaide didn't even bother to put on a hat; his meticulously combed hair was slightly disheveled by the cold wind. When he saw the truck full of wild boar carcasses piled up like a small mountain, he stopped abruptly, his face instantly filled with immense surprise and disbelief, and even his breathing became rapid!

Almost simultaneously, Director Yang, surrounded by a group of people, strode out of the main entrance of the building. This usually dignified and composed leader now wore obvious surprise and curiosity on his face.

Behind him followed several deputy factory directors in charge of production and technology, as well as some cadres from the factory office. Clearly, the "mad" report from Xiao Zhang and Xiao Li in the security department, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, had instantly alarmed the core management of the entire steel rolling mill!

The lights shone brightly on the open space in front of the office building. The truck stood like a giant stage, with Wei Chen, Liu Yuan, and several members of the purchasing team standing in front of it like triumphant soldiers. Behind them was the mountain of wild boar meat, exuding a strong aroma and symbolizing food and power.

Countless night shift workers, cadres, and their families, having heard the news, surged in from all directions like a tidal wave, completely surrounding the open space. Exclamations, whispers, and gasps of surprise rose and fell, merging into a massive wave of sound.

"My God! So many wild boars!" "Look! Those tusks! They're longer than knives!" "How much meat is that? Enough to feed the whole factory for a long time?" "It's Wei Chen! It was Wei Chen who brought them back again! That kid's amazing!" "Purchasing Team Three has done a great job this time!"

All eyes in the crowd eventually focused on Wei Chen. This excessively young purchasing agent, who had repeatedly created miracles, now seemed to be shrouded in a mysterious and dazzling halo in everyone's eyes.

At this moment of great attention and clamor, Wei Chen took a deep breath, met Li Huaide's excited and approving gaze, stepped forward, stood as straight as a javelin, and gave a salute in Li Huaide's direction that was not quite standard but was clean and neat!

His voice was clear and resonant, penetrating the noise of the scene and reaching everyone's ears clearly:

"Reporting to Deputy Factory Director Li! Wei Chen, Liu Yuan, and all members of Purchasing Group 3 have successfully completed their procurement mission after overcoming numerous difficulties and venturing deep into the Yanshan Mountains over a period of fourteen days! This is to report back!"

The phrase "procurement under orders" is like the finishing touch, instantly highlighting the legitimacy, organization, and the leader's wise decision!

Li Huaide was taken aback at first, then a huge warm current and an indescribable sense of comfort instantly surged through his body! This kid! He's so good at handling things! He knows the rules so well! This credit, this face, he delivered it perfectly, right to Li Huaide's heart!

A radiant, gratified smile instantly bloomed on his face. He strode forward, firmly grasped Wei Chen's hand, and patted Wei Chen's shoulder heavily with his other hand, his voice booming with undisguised praise and joy.

"Good! Good! Good! Comrade Wei Chen! Thank you for your hard work! Comrade Liu Yuan! All comrades in Purchasing Team Three! You have worked hard! You have made a great contribution to the factory! You have solved a major problem for all the factory employees! On behalf of the factory leadership, I thank you!"

He turned to the growing number of excited workers around him, and his voice rose even higher, "Comrades! You've all seen this! These are our steel rolling mill's purchasing agents! Undeterred by hardship, they bravely shouldered heavy responsibilities! They brought back the meat we desperately needed! Solving everyone's food problem! They're truly outstanding!"