Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

On the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, the chill of the early morning already carried a hint of the New Year's atmosphere. The sounds of children playing in the alley were much louder than usual. The teenagers, who were on holiday, were like freed foals, kicking pebbles, spinning tops, chasing and playing, bringing the quiet courtyard to life.

As Wei Chen pushed his bicycle through the courtyard, Bang Geng was squatting on the steps in front of the Jia family's house, staring longingly at the small piece of golden rice candy in Yan Jiecheng's hand. Jia Zhangshi's signature curses could be faintly heard through the door, probably complaining that someone's child had stepped on her dried radishes.

Wei Chen smiled. This lively, bustling scene made him feel more at ease than the eternally silent forest outside the hunter's cabin. He got on his bike and joined the flow of people going to work.

The office of Purchasing Group Three at the steel rolling mill was still warm and inviting. Wei Chen pushed open the door and entered. The furnace was burning brightly, and the kettle was hissing as it emitted tiny white steam from the edge of the furnace. Hu Songnian was holding his enamel mug with red lettering, sipping hot water, while Lao Qian was holding a newspaper, his brow furrowed, muttering to himself.

"Hey, Wei Chen's here!" Hu Songnian looked up with a smile. "It's cold outside today, isn't it? Come and warm yourself by the fire."

"Good morning, Brother Hu. Good morning, Brother Qian." Wei Chen took off his cotton gloves and rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, by the stove. "It's cold enough; the wind feels like knives."

Old Qian put down the newspaper and sighed, "The newspaper says the situation is great, but I think with this year's harvest, even grain coupons and cloth coupons are tight in our hands. What's so great about it? Wei Chen, don't you think so?" His words carried a hint of complaint, but he also considered Wei Chen one of his own.

Wei Chen didn't address the sensitive topic, but just smiled and said, "The New Year is almost here, so there's something to look forward to. By the way, Brother Hu, Brother Qian, tomorrow is Sunday, I have to go back to the village."

"Back to the village?" Hu Songnian put down the jar. "To bring your mother and sister to the city for the New Year?"

"Yes," Wei Chen nodded, "Didn't we say last time that we wanted to bring them to live here? Let's take advantage of the free time before the New Year and get it done. We have a lot of stuff at home, and it's too much trouble and too slow to carry it all by bicycle."

Old Qian suddenly realized: "We need a car! How's it going? Have you made contact? Do you know anyone in the transportation department? If not, Old Hu, I remember you drank with Old Wang?"

"No need to trouble Brother Hu," Wei Chen hurriedly said. "I know a driver from the transportation department who drives around our village, Master Wang Aiguo. He's a really honest guy. I'll go ask him now if he has any assignments in our village tomorrow, and if he can give me a ride."

"Wang Aiguo?" Hu Songnian thought for a moment. "That big guy? Okay, that guy's not bad, pretty righteous. Go ask him quickly, it would be best if it works out, saves us a lot of trouble."

"Okay, I'll go take a look first." Wei Chen said, putting his gloves back on and turning to leave the office.

The transportation department was located at the other end of the factory area, near the truck parking lot. A row of red brick bungalows stood there, with several faded, mud-splattered Liberation brand trucks parked in front. The air was thick with the smell of diesel and engine oil. Several drivers, wearing oil-stained cotton-padded jackets, were fiddling with something around the hood of one of the trucks, discussing something loudly.

Wei Chen glanced around but didn't see Wang Aiguo's distinctively tall figure. He walked to the office door with the "Dispatch Room" sign and knocked.

"Come in!" a gruff voice rang out.

Pushing open the door, I entered a room filled with smoke. A middle-aged man in his forties with a square face and a wide mouth was frowning at several forms on the table. It was Old Ma, the dispatcher from the transportation department.

"Director Ma, busy?" Wei Chen greeted him with a smile, casually pulling out a half-open pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket, taking one out and handing it over.

Old Ma looked up and saw Wei Chen. A smile appeared on his face as he took the cigarette. "Oh, Wei, the purchasing agent? What a rare guest! What brings you to our Youwowo? What brings you here?" As he spoke, he struck a match, lit the cigarette, and took a deep drag.

"I have a small favor to ask you," Wei Chen said, lighting a cigarette for himself. "I was wondering if there are any transport missions heading towards Baoyuquan Village tomorrow? Is the driver Master Wang Aiwang?"

"Baoyuquan?" Old Ma flipped through the dispatch slips on the table. "Tomorrow... the 21st of the twelfth lunar month... there is! It's the Aiguo trip! We cooperate with that machinery factory there, so we run it quite often. We'll come back empty after unloading. What? You want to hitch a ride?"

"Great!" Wei Chen was overjoyed. "Here's the thing, Dispatcher Ma, I'm planning to go back to the village tomorrow to pick up my mother and sister to come to the city to stay. We have a lot of stuff, and I'd like to trouble you, Master Wang, to give them a ride back on your way back. Would you mind... asking Master Wang if you could let him know? He's just driving an empty truck anyway, so he might as well give them a ride."

"Hey! I thought it was something serious!" Old Ma waved his hand readily, "Aiguo is easy to talk to! Giving someone a ride in an empty car doesn't violate any principles, no problem! I'll just tell him later!"

"Thank you so much, Dispatcher Ma!" Wei Chen quickly expressed his gratitude. "When will Master Wang be back? I'd like to talk to him in person."

"His shift is in the afternoon, so he should be back at the factory to hand over the car around 2 PM," Old Ma estimated.

"Alright! I'll come back to see him this afternoon!" Wei Chen felt reassured. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Old Ma, he took his leave. After leaving the dispatch room, he thought for a moment, then went to the factory's small shop and bought a whole pack of Daqianmen cigarettes with his cigarette coupons, stuffing it into his pocket.

Just after 2 p.m., Wei Chen arrived at the transportation department's parking lot again. The cold wind swirled the dust on the ground, and several trucks that had just returned were emitting exhaust fumes. He immediately spotted Wang Aiguo, who had just jumped out of the driver's seat.

His tall figure was wrapped in a heavy military green cotton coat, wearing a fur-lined cotton hat, and his face was smeared with oil. He was taking off his greasy gloves while talking loudly to a driver next to him.

"Master Wang!" Wei Chen walked over quickly and greeted him with a smile.

Hearing the voice, Wang Aiguo turned around and saw Wei Chen. A simple, honest smile spread across his dark face: "Hey! Brother Wei Chen! You wanted to see me? Dispatcher Ma told me you're taking the train tomorrow?"

"Yes, Master Wang, thank you for your help!" Wei Chen said sincerely. "I want to go back to Baoyuquan tomorrow to pick up my mother and sister and bring them to the city. There are a lot of jars, pots, and bedding at home, and I really can't manage it all by bicycle. So I thought I'd be shameless and ask you to hitch a ride back with me."

"Hey! What's the trouble!" Wang Aiguo waved his hand, his voice so loud it seemed to make the hood of the truck next to him vibrate. "It's on my way! Anyway, I'm just driving back empty after unloading! We've done business before, so I'm being nice to you as a brother. Old Ma already sent word, and you still went out of your way! What kind of relationship do we have? No problem at all! Where are you waiting for me tomorrow? At the village entrance?"

"Yes, yes, the village entrance will do!" Wei Chen quickly replied, "I'll definitely be waiting for you there around three o'clock this afternoon!"

"Okay! Three o'clock, at the village entrance!" Wang Aiguo said readily. "Does your mother and the others have a lot of stuff? If they have a lot, I can drive right to your door. Is the road in front of your house big enough for a truck to get in?"

Wei Chen felt a warmth in his heart; Wang Aiguo had thought of everything. He recalled the terrain of Baoyuquan Village: "Yes! My house is at the east end of the village, and there's a fairly wide dirt road leading to my yard; a truck can turn around there!"

"That makes things even easier!" Wang Aiguo grinned. "I'll just drive the car to your doorstep to load it! It'll save your mom and the others the trouble of carrying it all the way! It's settled then!"

"Thank you so much, Master Wang! You've been a huge help!" Wei Chen expressed his heartfelt gratitude, pulling a brand-new box of Daqianmen cigarettes from the inside pocket of his cotton-padded coat and stuffing it into Wang Aiguo's rough hands without further ado. "It's just a small token of my appreciation; hopefully it'll help you relax on your journey!"

When Wang Aiguo saw that it was a whole pack of Daqianmen cigarettes, his smile widened, but he declined, saying, "Oh! Brother Weichen, look at you! You're too kind! This cigarette... I'm so embarrassed! It's just something I brought along!"

"You absolutely have to accept it!" Wei Chen pressed his hand down. "It's freezing cold, and I already feel bad for making you come all this way. If you don't accept it, I'll feel embarrassed to ride in your car tomorrow!"

"Haha! Okay! You know how to talk!" Seeing Wei Chen's resolute attitude, Wang Aiguo stopped being coy, readily stuffed the money into his cotton-padded coat pocket, and patted Wei Chen's shoulder forcefully. "Alright! Tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock, at the east end of the village, in front of your house! Don't be late!"

"Okay! See you there! Thank you so much, Master Wang!" Wei Chen thanked him again, watching Wang Aiguo stride towards the dispatch room to hand over the delivery slip, a weight lifted from his heart. With this big truck, the move would be a breeze.

At noon, the steel rolling mill canteen remains the busiest and most vibrant place in the entire factory area. The huge space is filled with the sounds of people talking, mixed with the aroma of food, the smell of sweat, and a faint smell of coal smoke. Long queues slowly infiltrate the several food serving windows.

Wei Chen, Hu Songnian, and Lao Qian arrived early and were at the front of the line. Sha Zhu wasn't at the window getting food today; he probably went somewhere to slack off after finishing cooking the big batch of dishes.

Behind the window was a young, unfamiliar cook. Wei Chen ordered a pork and cabbage stew with vermicelli, which was noticeably less oily than a few days ago, but at least there were still a few slices of meat, a stir-fried potato shred, and two steamed buns made from mixed flour.

The group found a seat on the side and had barely taken a few bites when the closing bell rang sharply. The cafeteria doors burst open like a floodgate, instantly pouring in a dense, dark mass of people, the noise rising several decibels in an instant. Blue and gray work uniforms formed a torrent, surging towards the various food windows, stretching the queues several times longer in a flash.

As Wei Chen ate, his gaze habitually swept across the crowd, and sure enough, he saw many familiar faces. The neighbors from the courtyard house had come in twos and threes.

"Brother Wei Chen, eating?" Guo Da Piezi walked by with a lunchbox, greeting him with a smile. "Wei Chen!" Liu Erzhuang also saw him. "Yeah, eating!" Wei Chen nodded in response with a smile.