Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

"Take it." Deputy Factory Director Li said in a flat tone, as if he were handing over an ordinary document rather than a thick stack of banknotes.

Wei Chen's gaze lingered for a moment on the astonishing thickness of the envelope, but he did not immediately reach for it.

"This is just a small token of my appreciation. Your two deer are indeed good stuff. You won't regret working for me." Deputy Factory Director Li leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and spoke with a sincere tone, "1,500 yuan! And some national grain coupons, oil coupons, and cloth coupons. It's not much, just a token."

He looked into Wei Chen's eyes, a deeper meaning creeping into his smile. "In the future, if you come across anything like this 'good stuff,' whether it's wild game from the mountains or fresh seafood from the water, as long as it's good, just send it to me! Don't worry about the price! I'll definitely make you satisfied!"

The encouragement and implication in his eyes were blatantly clear: "As everyone knows, I never mistreat those who work for me! They'll receive everything they're entitled to!"

Wei Chen knew perfectly well what was going on. This Deputy Factory Director Li was greedy, but he was indeed skilled at getting things done. He understood the principle of "spending money to attract people," and he was generous when it came to making money. He was also very good at winning people over.

Without further hesitation, he boldly reached out and picked up the heavy envelope. It was incredibly heavy; his fingertips could clearly feel the crisp outline of the stacks of banknotes and the rigidity of the bills inside.

"Thank you, Director Li! Don't worry, I'll be the first to send you any good stuff in the future!" As he spoke, he casually stuffed the envelope into his military green canvas satchel.

Hidden by the fabric curtain hanging from his satchel, his wrist dipped almost imperceptibly, and the bulging envelope vanished without a trace, disappearing into the mysterious dimensional space behind him as if it had sunk into the sea.

"Good! A straightforward person!" Seeing that Wei Chen accepted the offer so readily and without any hesitation, Deputy Factory Director Li's smile widened, revealing a sense of satisfaction that he was "teachable." "Do a good job! I have high hopes for you! Go on, and if you need anything, come find me anytime!" He waved his hand, his demeanor friendly yet carrying the inherent aloofness of a superior, indicating that the conversation was over.

"Then I'll be leaving now, so as not to disturb your work, Director Li." Wei Chen stood up, bowed slightly, and left the warm office, which was filled with invisible pressure.

The next destination is the security department.

The steel rolling mill's security department was a self-contained unit, occupying a row of low, sturdy red-brick bungalows in the northwest corner of the factory area, completely out of place with the bustling main factory area. The atmosphere here was somber, and two heavily armed security officers at the entrance scanned the surroundings with eyes like hawks, the cold barrels of their guns gleaming eerily in the winter sun.

Wei Chen found the office with the wooden sign that read "Deputy Section Chief". The door was ajar. He straightened his clothes, stood at attention in the doorway, and called out in a deep voice, "Report!" This was an unwritten rule of the security section, reminiscent of the military.

"Come in!" came Jin Aimin's slightly hoarse but powerful voice from inside.

Wei Chen pushed open the door and entered. Jin Aimin was hunched over an old wooden table, writing something. His back was straight as a javelin, and he was dressed meticulously in an old military uniform that had been washed to a crisp and had dark patches on the elbows. Even the top button was fastened tightly.

Hearing the noise, he looked up and saw that it was Wei Chen. His face, which had been hard-lined and somewhat serious due to years of being stern, instantly blossomed into an undisguised, warm smile, as if spring ice had thawed.

"Comrade Wei Chen! Quickly! Please come in!" He immediately put down his pen, stood up, walked around the table to greet him, and his movements were as swift and efficient as a soldier's.

He personally ushered Wei Chen into the house, then slammed the door shut behind him, blocking any view from outside. He then quickly walked to the thermos in the corner, picked up an enamel mug with a bright red "Award" printed on it, and poured Wei Chen a full cup of hot water. This enthusiasm was even more genuine than it had been in Deputy Factory Director Li's office earlier.

"Section Chief Jin, you're too kind." Wei Chen took the jar with both hands, feeling its warmth against his skin.

"Don't be so polite! Between us, there's no need for such formalities!" Jin Aimin rubbed his hands together, his bronze face beaming with barely suppressed excitement and a hint of disbelief. "Brother, you really are... really this guy!"

He gave Wei Chen a thumbs-up, his eyes gleaming. "Amazing! Absolutely amazing! I only mentioned it yesterday, and last night... it was done? I got a report from my buddies this morning that they'd received two big guys over there. I thought they were just delirious from sleep! I rode my bike over there myself to check, and wow!"

He slapped his thigh hard, making a "smack" sound. "Two fat and strong wild boars! As big as calves! Their weight, when they were weighed, was 623 jin!"

"Brother Wei Chen, your efficiency and ability are truly impressive! I'm completely convinced! You keep your word and act decisively! On behalf of all the brothers in the security department, I, Jin Aimin, thank you for this!" His tone was excited, with the straightforwardness and commitment characteristic of a soldier.

The "old place" that Jin Aimin mentioned was an unspoken "secret base" within their security department, an abandoned small warehouse located on a street corner not far from the factory area. It was used by the security department to temporarily store some scarce supplies that were "unplanned" and to provide some benefits for their subordinates, or to dispose of some "special items" that could not be made public.

"Section Chief Jin, you flatter me," Wei Chen put down his teacup, his tone still calm. "I promised you, and I will definitely do my best. I'm also happy to be able to help the brothers in the security section."

"You've been a huge help! Absolutely a huge help!" Jin Aimin exclaimed, his voice slightly hoarse with excitement. "With these two wild boars as a foundation, each of our hundred or so brothers in the security department will get at least two extra pounds of meat this year! It'll allow everyone to have some meat in their bowls and have a decent New Year! This real benefit is all thanks to you, Brother Wei Chen!" His face beamed with genuine satisfaction and pride in securing benefits for his men.

He opened the drawer and took out a kraft paper envelope, slightly thinner than the one Deputy Factory Director Li had given him, but still quite heavy. The envelope was sealed tightly with glue. "Here, brother, this is the payment for the goods."

Without any hesitation, Wei Chen naturally reached out and took the envelope, without even looking at it, and put it directly into the thick inner pocket of his cotton-padded coat.

Upon seeing this, Jin Aimin was visibly taken aback for a moment, then his smile quickly spread like ripples, his eyes filled with admiration and a sense of kinship: "Hey! You rascal!"

He raised his hand and pointed at Wei Chen, his tone teasing and affectionate, "You don't even glance at him? You trust your older brother that much? Aren't you worried about not having enough money?" Despite his words, he was extremely pleased.

Wei Chen smiled, his tone sincere and frank: "Section Chief Jin, you're being too polite. You're a veteran who's been through thick and thin, your word is law, even your spit can leave a crater! If I don't trust you, who else can I trust?"

"Good! Good lad! Straightforward! I like your straightforwardness and your trust!" Jin Aimin was inspired by these words and stepped forward. His thick, calloused hand slapped heavily on Wei Chen's shoulder, with a force even greater than that of Sha Zhu, making Wei Chen's feet sway slightly.

"Let's be frank! The price can't be as outrageous as the black market; after all, we're dealing with the department, so there have to be rules. But!"

His tone was resolute, "Brother, I absolutely cannot let you, my sincere friend, suffer a loss! Let's say one yuan per jin! Two pigs, 623 jin exactly, 623 yuan! Not a penny less! There are also some industrial coupons and soap coupons as a small token of my appreciation. The money and coupons are all inside, do you want to count them now?" He looked intently at Wei Chen, though he was certain that Wei Chen wouldn't count them.

"I have complete confidence in Section Chief Jin's work. There's no need for an order." Wei Chen shook his head with a smile.

Jin Aimin was greatly relieved, feeling that Wei Chen was honest, reliable, and worthy of deep friendship. He took a step closer, lowered his voice, and spoke with the solemnity of sharing a secret: "Brother, if you ever want to touch a gun again, come find me anytime! The shooting range key is hanging on my waist! Lots of bullets! As long as it doesn't interfere with your work or violate discipline, I guarantee you'll have a blast! Practice until you're good!" This was not only an acknowledgment and gesture of goodwill towards Wei Chen's abilities, but also a signal to include him in his inner circle.

"That's great! Section Chief Jin, you've really satisfied my craving! Thank you in advance!" Wei Chen's eyes lit up, revealing just the right amount of joy. The opportunity to practice shooting was exactly what he desperately needed to improve his self-defense capabilities.

The two chatted for a while about interesting anecdotes from the factory, and Jin Aimin even told some of his "glorious deeds" of shooting in the army back then, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Seeing that it was getting late, Wei Chen got up to say goodbye. Walking out of the row of bungalows belonging to the security office, which exuded an invisible, chilling atmosphere, he pushed his bicycle and leisurely strolled out of the factory. Since he didn't have to work today, he decided to go home first.

On his way home, in a secluded corner, with a slight thought, two plump pheasants with brightly colored feathers and red combs on their heads, and a robust wild rabbit with glossy gray plumage, appeared out of thin air in the front basket of his bicycle.

The pheasant's bright tail feathers were still trembling slightly. Everything was frozen in the most vibrant moment when they were killed and sent into space, carrying the unique, still lingering wildness of the mountains and forests.

Just as I rode back to the gate of the compound, I saw Uncle Yan Bugui, the third uncle, pacing back and forth under the eaves of the gate like a dutiful sentry, his hands behind his back. His shrewd triangular eyes were like searchlights, sharply scanning everyone returning home from get off work, especially those carrying bulging net bags and lunchboxes, who were obviously "staking out" to see if they could "pick up" anything or "get something for free".

The striking color and furry figure in Wei Chen's bicycle basket instantly caught his eye. The Third Uncle's face immediately lit up with an incredibly warm smile, as if he were seeing his own son, and he rushed over in a few quick steps.