Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

In the afternoon, the bleak sun hung listlessly in the gray sky, sparingly casting down a few patches of light. Instead of dispelling the chill in the alley, it only made the gray bricks and tiles appear even colder.

Wei Chen pushed his Forever brand bicycle, the wheels rolling over the frozen, hard muddy ground, making a monotonous and dull "crunch" sound.

He was going to the steel mill to see Sha Zhu. Yesterday, he had told Xu Damao that he wanted to invite the young people in the compound to a get-together. Last night, he was busy delivering meat to various places and didn't have time to go see Sha Zhu. He would go see him today to tell him that he would ask him to cook dinner tonight.

Wei Chen's invitation to the young people in the compound to dinner was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. He had been in this world for more than half a year, and he knew that neighborly relations were indeed very important in this era.

Asking Uncle San for help and assisting the needy residents of the courtyard were all intentional acts by Wei Chen. He had the ability and was willing to help those in need; he simply disliked being taken advantage of and didn't want to be a sucker!

The massive cast-iron archway of the steel rolling mill, like the open throat of a giant beast, swallowed and exhaled the flow of people. Armed security officers stood at the entrance, their sharp eyes scanning every person entering and leaving.

Wei Chen's face is now quite well-known in the factory. When he signed his name in the register, the clerk nodded at him as a familiar greeting.

Upon entering the factory area, a tremendous wave of sound immediately hits you—the clanging of metal, the roar of machines, the hissing of steam, mixed with the metallic smell of engine oil, coal smoke, and the metallic odor unique to steel after being baked at high temperatures, forming a never-ending industrial symphony.

Wei Chen pushed the cart nimbly through the narrow passageways piled with steel billets, slag, and material carts, turning familiarly towards the canteen area filled with the aroma of food.

The hustle and bustle of the cafeteria had just subsided, leaving behind a greasy weariness. The long, narrow dining tables were a mess, with leftover food, cold dishes, and oil stains running freely across the mottled paint.

Several apprentices, wearing greasy, twisted aprons and still looking quite young, were vigorously scrubbing the table with wet, suspiciously colored rags, while the water in the buckets was murky and foul.

The key figure in the canteen, head chef He Yuzhu, is not as imposing as he was at the beginning of the TV series. He is now just an ordinary level eight chef. However, because of his family's culinary skills and the solid teaching from the Sichuan cuisine master, Sha Zhu's cooking skills are indeed quite good, and he has already become quite famous in the steel rolling mill.

Although he wasn't officially assigned to the small canteen, his skills meant he was occasionally called there to cook. His status was naturally different from the hundred people in the main kitchen. However, he was prone to arrogance; with a bit of ability, he started bossing people around in the kitchen, and coupled with his foul mouth, he was generally disliked.

"Brother Zhu, you're living the good life!" A clear, cheerful voice suddenly broke the monotony of this greasy little world.

Upon hearing the voice, Sha Zhu raised his eyelids and, upon seeing who it was, his lazy expression was instantly replaced by surprise. "Hey! Wei Chen?!" He slammed down his teacup, the movement so large that a few drops of dark brown tea spilled out, leaving a small dark stain on the greasy table.

"A rare guest! A real rare guest!" He stood up, his thick, oily hand slapping Wei Chen's shoulder with a gust of wind. "You're a first-timer at my Kitchen God Temple! What's wrong? Did the sun rise from the moat today?" His loud voice drew curious glances from several helpers at Wei Chen.

Wei Chen smiled and stepped aside to avoid the powerful slap, glancing around at the messy kitchen. "I came to see the prestige of your 'important place,' Brother Zhu. By the way," he paused, his smile widening, "I need to talk to you about something."

"You wanted to see me?" Sha Zhu was taken aback, then suddenly slapped his shiny bald head with a crisp "smack." "Hey! Look at me, you blockhead! You mean you got promoted and you're treating us?"

He grinned widely, revealing teeth yellowed from cheap cigarette smoke, and his voice rose even higher, filled with genuine excitement, "Congratulations! Level 8 Clerk! The big red banner is posted on the factory gate bulletin board; I saw it from way out! You're something else! You've risen faster than a rocket! In just a few days? Even a rocket couldn't do that! From now on, I'll have to call you 'Clerk Wei' properly when we meet!"

Sha Zhu's tone was genuinely happy for Wei Chen, but a fleeting hint of envy and bitterness, unnoticed even by himself, flashed deep in his eyes. He had been cooking in this cafeteria for over a decade and was still just a cook, while Wei Chen had only been there for a short time. However, this envy was fleeting; he was genuinely kind to those he liked.

"Brother Zhu, don't embarrass me," Wei Chen waved his hand, his smile carrying just the right amount of humility. "It's all thanks to the factory leaders' trust and the help of my colleagues. I'm just a gofer."

He abruptly changed the subject, leaning forward slightly and lowering his voice in a friendly, consultative tone: "Brother Zhu, are you free tonight? I'm thinking of setting up a table in the yard and inviting a few of the guys around my age to get together and have some fun. You know, I just got promoted, so this is a good excuse. Who else but you, Brother Zhu, would dare to sit in this head chef's seat? I'm afraid someone else would ruin the food."

"A treat?" Sha Zhu's small eyes lit up instantly, like two tiny light bulbs had been lit. He thumped his chest loudly. "Hey! Who else would do this job? I'm not bragging, but Brother Zhu's cooking skills, even if I wouldn't say they're top-notch in Beijing, are definitely among the best! Leave it to me! I guarantee it'll be a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, making those guys swallow their tongues! Who's coming?"

He then lowered his voice warily, his disgust undisguised, "Are you going to call that bastard Xu Damao or not? If you are, I'm telling you beforehand, I'm going to put an extra two ounces of salt in this dish, enough to make him sick of salt!"

Wei Chen chuckled: "Brother Zhu, you two are really a love-hate relationship! You say the same things. We're all from the same compound, so it wouldn't be right not to call each other. He was the one who contacted me yesterday and invited me to dinner. That's when I realized I've been living here for a while now and haven't really gotten to know the young people in the compound properly. So I thought I'd invite everyone to get together. We're all family, so let's have some fun and peace and quiet."

"Alright! I'll let him off this time for Wei Chen's sake! That bastard Xu Damao is disgusting to look at, he ruins our performance!" Sha Zhu said while cursing Xu Damao.

"Okay! No problem! I'm free this afternoon, and there's no special meal for the boss tonight anyway. I'll talk to that stingy cafeteria manager and sneak back early to get things ready for you! Meat...vegetables...all prepared?"

"Brother Zhu, don't worry!" Wei Chen quickly interrupted him, his tone reassuring. "I've prepared plenty of meat and vegetables, more than enough! You, the chef, just focus on showing off your skills!"

"Great job!" Sha Zhu gave Wei Chen a big thumbs up, his face full of admiration. "Great job! Okay, it's settled then! I'll be back to find you this afternoon! Just you wait and see!" He seemed to already see himself showing off his skills and winning applause, and he became excited.

After saying goodbye to Sha Zhu, who was itching to get back to cooking, Wei Chen pushed his cart through the main road of the factory, which was piled high with steel and filled with the heat and smell of rust, towards the gray three-story administration building. The heavy wooden door to Deputy Factory Director Li's office was tightly closed, exuding an unspoken, solemn authority.

"Knock, knock, knock." Wei Chen tapped three times with moderate force. "Come in." The voice of Deputy Factory Director Li, slightly hesitant and bureaucratic, came from inside.

Wei Chen pushed open the door and entered. The office was spacious and bright, with the heating on full blast, a stark contrast to the chill outside. Deputy Factory Director Li was buried in his work behind a large mahogany desk, a document spread out in front of him, his brows slightly furrowed, seemingly deep in thought about some difficult problem.

On the table, the delicate aroma of Biluochun tea wafted from a white Jingdezhen covered teacup with blue floral patterns. Hearing the noise, he raised his eyelids, saw that it was Wei Chen, and his slightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed, a warm but formulaic smile quickly spreading across his face. He put down the documents and stood up.

"Oh, Xiao Wei! Come, come, sit down! I was just thinking about you!" He walked around the desk, appearing exceptionally warm, and personally picked up the thermos to pour hot water into the empty cup in front of Wei Chen. "We received those two deer yesterday, they're really good stuff, you've been a huge help! Haha, Xiao Wei, I have to give you the credit for this!" His laughter was hearty, with a hint of deliberate intimacy.

Wei Chen sat down on the soft leather sofa, took the water glass with both hands, and felt the warmth from the glass on his fingertips: "Director Li, you're too kind. It's just my job. It's my honor to be able to help the leader with his work."

His tone was humble, and his posture was very unassuming. After setting down his water glass, he sat up straight, his expression becoming somewhat solemn: "Furthermore, the main reason I came here today is to express my gratitude to you in person. I will always remember your guidance and mentorship regarding my position as an eighth-level clerk."

"Hey!" Deputy Factory Director Li waved his hand, sat back in his large, comfortable, swivel leather chair, leaned back slightly, crossed his hands on his slightly protruding belly, and struck a pose of effortless ease and discerning insight.

"Xiao Wei, what are you saying? This is the organization's full affirmation of your work ability! You did a great job! The solid achievements speak for themselves! That batch of pork was crucial at a critical moment, stabilizing the morale of tens of thousands of employees. This is a solid achievement!"

"Promoting you is a decision made collectively and unanimously by the factory leadership! It's well-deserved! Just relax and work hard! Your future is bright!" His words were grand and impeccable, emphasizing the organization's fairness while also hinting at his "key role."

"Yes, Director Li, I will definitely work harder and live up to your trust and the organization's training." Wei Chen reiterated his commitment at the opportune moment, his eyes sincere.

"Hmm, it's good that you have this awareness." Deputy Factory Director Li nodded in satisfaction, his smile widening. He opened the drawer on the right side of his desk, his movements casual yet carrying an undeniable weight, and took out a bulging, almost bursting, kraft paper envelope. He placed it on the smooth mahogany table and gently pushed it in front of Wei Chen.