Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Just after five in the morning, the courtyard was still shrouded in the inky darkness of night, with only a few diligent households' windows emitting the dim glow of kerosene lamps.

Wei Chen's biological clock had long since adapted to the pure rhythm of this place, free from cell phones and internet interference. He opened his eyes, lying on the cold kang (heated brick bed), feeling the lingering chill in the room, yet his mind was perfectly clear. The effects of last night's alcohol had long since dissipated thanks to his powerful metabolism, leaving only a surge of energetic vitality.

He didn't linger in bed; he got up briskly, put on a thick cotton-padded coat and trousers, and pushed open the door to the main room. A rush of crisp, cold air instantly filled his lungs, invigorating him.

In the small courtyard of the east wing, a thin layer of white frost covered the ground, gleaming coldly in the dim morning light. Several crystal-clear icicles hung from the eaves.

Wei Chen walked to the center of the courtyard and stood still. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, a clear wisp of white mist stretching and dissipating in the cold air.

Instead of warming up with Tai Chi or running like most people, he adopted a strange starting stance—sinking his waist and sitting on his hips, with his arms embracing a full moon, his ten fingers slightly spread and his fingertips curled inward, as if he were holding an invisible bow!

This is precisely the external physical training method passed down in the "Nine Heavens Shooting the Sun Technique". This technique, with archery as its core, deeply understands that a strong bow and powerful arrow require a robust physique capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks as its foundation.

Therefore, its body-strengthening techniques abandon fancy techniques and focus directly on the core of strength and flexibility. The movements seem simple and unadorned, but in fact they contain profound mysteries, stretching and tempering every muscle and tendon to the extreme.

Wei Chen closed his eyes slightly, his mind calm, guiding the flowing energy within his body—the internal force condensed after drawing qi into his body—to circulate slowly along a specific route. Although it was impossible to increase internal force in the real world, it was still possible to use internal force to temper the body.

His movements then unfolded. First, his arms were drawn like a bowstring, slowly pulled apart to the sides, his shoulder blades making a slight "pop" sound. His chest expanded to its limit, and his latissimus dorsi and deltoid muscles instantly tightened like iron, with a clear feeling of stretching and numbness.

Next comes the twisting of the waist and hips, like a giant python turning over, causing the entire spine to emit a slight "crackling" sound, and a stream of heat rises from the tailbone along the spine.

Then comes the single-leg stance, where the other leg is slowly raised, resembling a rooster standing on one leg, but requiring absolute stability of the ankle, knee, and hip joints, as if nailed to the ground. The calf muscles tremble slightly from bearing the weight of the entire body, and a feeling of soreness rushes to the head. This is further supplemented by various peculiar bending, twisting, and stretching movements, some of which even require contorting the limbs to near the limits of yoga flexibility.

The cold wind was like a knife, stinging against exposed skin. But Wei Chen's forehead quickly beaded with fine sweat, and wisps of white steam even rose from his head.

Every movement is accompanied by extreme soreness, numbness, and swelling caused by the strong stretching and compression of muscles and fascia, as if countless tiny needles are pricking inside the body.

However, amidst this pain, a new warm current, guided by the deeper movements and internal energy, slowly flows and nourishes throughout the body, washing away fatigue and bringing a transformative sense of comfort.

He could clearly feel that after each extreme stretch and burst of power, his tendons and bones were quietly becoming more resilient, and his muscle fibers were subtly reorganizing and strengthening.

"breathe…"

Wei Chen's breathing became long and deep, each breath seemingly stirring the slightly chilly air around him. By the time he finished a complete set of body-strengthening movements and stood still, it was already past six o'clock.

As dawn broke, voices and footsteps began to fill the courtyard. Wei Chen slowly exhaled a long, stale breath, which, like a sharp arrow piercing the air, condensed into a straight white streak in the cool air, lingering for a long time.

He stretched his joints, making a series of crisp "crackling" sounds, and felt a warm, exhilarating sensation throughout his body, filled with an explosive sense of power. The hangover and fatigue from the previous night had been completely dispelled, and his mind was clearer than ever before. This daily exercise not only brought about a steady improvement in his physical condition but also a tempering of his will.

Back inside, Wei Chen splashed cold water on his face; the icy chill made him even more alert. His gaze swept across the main house, finally settling on the door leading to the kitchen. The scene of last night—a mess of dishes and grease—was still vivid in his mind. He smiled helplessly, rolled up his sleeves, and walked over.

Pushing open the kitchen door, a complex aroma, a mixture of strong meaty smells, alcohol, cooking fumes, and fermenting food scraps, hits you.

On the table, bowls and plates were piled high, with congealed grease and sauce forming dark red clumps at the bottom. Leftover chicken and rabbit bones were scattered among them, and several empty wine bottles lay askew on the corner of the table. Splattered soup and food scraps lay on the floor. The entire space reeked of the chaos that followed a wild party.

"Sigh, what's coming will come." Wei Chen muttered to himself, resignedly starting to clean up. He first gathered all the bowls, plates, chopsticks, and wine glasses into a large basin next to the stove, then drew cold well water from the water vat in the yard and poured it in, sprinkling a pinch of precious alkaline powder on top.

The icy well water made his fingers go numb, but he didn't care. He rolled up his sleeves and began to scrub vigorously. The greasy grime gradually dissolved and fell off under the alkaline water and vigorous scrubbing, making a "splashing" sound.

After washing the pots and pans, he picked up a broom and dustpan and carefully swept away the food scraps on the floor. Finally, he used a damp cloth to wipe the greasy dining table and benches several times until the wood grain was visible again. With all this done, the kitchen was finally clean again. Although a slight odor lingered in the air, the unpleasant mess was finally gone.

His stomach rumbled at just the right moment. Wei Chen walked to the cupboard and took out three eggs. Watching the golden egg yolks swirl in the rough porcelain bowl, he thought for a moment, then took out a small handful of bright green scallions from his spatial storage, washed and chopped them, sprinkled them in, and added a few drops of sesame oil and a pinch of salt.

Heat a small spoonful of lard in a wok, then pour in the beaten eggs with a sizzling sound. They instantly puff up into a large, golden, fluffy plate. A simple scrambled egg with scallion oil, paired with a bowl of leftover steamed buns from last night, sliced ​​and toasted until crispy, makes for a simple yet satisfying breakfast. The aroma of the food completely dispels the last trace of unpleasant smells from the kitchen.

At 7:30, Wei Chen pushed his brand-new "Forever" 28-inch bicycle out of the east courtyard, through the central courtyard, and prepared to exit the main gate of the courtyard house.

"Wei Chen, going to work so early?" In the front yard, Uncle Yan Bugui was tending to his precious potted plants. Seeing Wei Chen, he pushed up his glasses and greeted him with a smile, his tone much warmer than usual. Last night's sumptuous dinner had clearly brought them closer.

"Yes, Uncle San, good morning too!" Wei Chen replied with a smile.

"Good morning, Brother Wei Chen!" Just then, Yan Jiecheng came out of the house rubbing his eyes. When he saw Wei Chen, he immediately put on a smile, with a hint of embarrassment for having freeloaded last night, but more of a sense of closeness.

"Good morning, Jiecheng!"

Passing through the hanging flower gate into the central courtyard, Qin Huairu was filling a water tap. Seeing Wei Chen, she smiled and nodded, "Brother Wei Chen, off to work?" There was a hint of envy in her eyes.

"Good morning, Sister-in-law Jia!" Wei Chen replied politely.

Even Jia Zhangshi, who usually doesn't pay much attention to people, was holding a stick and getting some fresh air at the door. When she saw Wei Chen pushing his shiny bicycle over, she raised her cloudy old eyes and, unusually, didn't roll her eyes. She just snorted as a greeting.

Wei Chen nodded in response throughout, genuinely feeling the changes brought about by the meal. The invisible barrier between neighbors seemed to have been diluted considerably by the oil and alcohol, replaced by a warmer, more human touch. He understood that in this era of scarcity, those who generously share food naturally gain favor.

I had just carried the heavy bicycle over the high threshold of the courtyard gate when a familiar, hoarse voice came from behind me:

"Wei Chen! Wait for me!"

Wei Chen turned around and saw Xu Damao pushing his old Flying Pigeon bicycle, which was issued by the factory, as he squeezed out of the door. He was still wearing his navy blue wool Zhongshan suit, and his parted hair was neatly combed, but his face showed signs of fatigue from a hangover.

"Brother Da Mao, you're up so early too?" Wei Chen stopped in his tracks.

"Hey, what can I do!" Xu Damao pushed his cart over and sat next to Wei Chen. "I have to go to the factory to pick up the film today, and I have to go to Hongxing Commune this afternoon for a screening assignment. Unlike you, kid, you can sit in the office and relax after you finish your assignment!" He complained, but his tone carried a sense of superiority from his fieldwork.

The two men each mounted their bicycles. The brand-new "Forever" and the slightly worn "Flying Pigeon" rode side by side in the somewhat empty alley in the early morning, making a crisp sound of the chains turning and the rustling of the tires rolling on the road, which was particularly eye-catching.

It was rush hour, and the alleyways and streets were teeming with people. But the vast majority of them were on foot, wearing bulky cotton-padded coats and trousers, their necks hunched, hands tucked into their sleeves, hurrying along against the cold wind. Occasionally, one could see one or two people riding bicycles, mostly officials-looking individuals with lunchboxes hanging from the handlebars.

The two bicycles, Wei Chen and Xu Damao, side by side, instantly became the center of attention. Envious, surprised, and even somewhat jealous glances came from all directions. The steel mill workers, in particular, were buzzing with discussion upon seeing their own factory's "Forever" and "Flying Pigeon" bicycles.

"Look! Aren't those Wei Chen from the purchasing department and Xu Damao from the publicity department? Each of them has a bicycle, how impressive!"

"Tsk tsk, the factory provided it, right? For that job, you can't do without a car!"

"Xu Damao goes to the countryside to show movies, so it's normal for him to have a car. How long has Wei Chen been here? I heard he was just promoted? Is the purchasing department that lucrative?"

"That takes skill! I heard they brought back dozens of wild boars this time! They did a great job!"

"Sigh, it's so frustrating to compare yourself to others! We're walking on our own two feet, while they're going around in circles..."