Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

The heavy engine roar of the Jiefang brand truck shattered the silence of a winter afternoon in Nanluoguxiang. When that military green truck finally turned into the alley and came to a steady stop in front of the pair of weathered stone lions in the courtyard of No. 95, the three people crammed into the cab all subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Outside the car window, the gray sky was already tinged with a heavy twilight, and the high, gray walls of the courtyard house appeared even more imposing and solemn in the twilight.

"Finally, we arrived before dark!" Wang Aiguo breathed a long sigh of relief, pulled the handbrake, and the huge car body emitted a slight metallic tremor before falling completely silent.

The driver's cab was filled with a complex smell of gasoline, leather, and human scent. He rubbed his stiff neck. "It gets dark really fast these days."

Looking through the car window at the unfamiliar yet imposing mansion before her, Wang Xiulan felt a sudden tightness in her chest as she saw the heavy, tightly closed gate painted black and the pair of menacing stone beasts at the entrance.

This visit felt completely different from the last one. From today onwards, this is truly my home. I never imagined I'd be enjoying the blessings of having a son so soon.

The city compound was a completely different world from her bright and spacious farmhouse. She subconsciously gripped her daughter Wei Ran's hand tightly, the cold fingers conveying her unease.

Wei Ran opened her eyes wide with curiosity, looking at the place that her brother had described. Her little face showed both excitement and a hint of timidity as she arrived.

Wei Chen struggled to squeeze out of the cramped space behind the driver's seat and stretched his almost numb legs. A chill immediately enveloped him from all sides.

"Mom, Ranran, get out of the car, we're home." He opened the car door, and a blast of biting cold air immediately rushed in. He jumped out of the car first, then reached out to help his mother and sister.

Wang Xiulan climbed down the carriage step somewhat clumsily, her body swaying slightly as her feet touched the cold bluestone slab.

Wei Ran nimbly jumped down and curiously looked around. There weren't many people in the alley, only a few figures wrapped up tightly and hurrying by. The air was filled with a faint smell of coal smoke and the aroma of food.

"Master Wang, thank you for your hard work! It's been a bumpy journey." Wei Chen thanked Wang Aiguo again, and handed him a cigarette. "Please wait a moment, I'll call a few people to help unload the truck. There's not much stuff, it'll be done soon. It's freezing cold, I can't keep you waiting."

"Okay! Go ahead! I'll just have a smoke and rest for a bit." Wang Aiguo took the cigarette, lit it with Wei Chen's famous match, leaned against the hood of the car, and took a leisurely puff. The white smoke quickly dissipated in the cold air.

Wei Chen turned around and jogged to the tightly closed, heavy black lacquered gate of the courtyard house. The gate was half-open; courtyard houses were usually left open during the day, with so many people watching from inside.

At this time of year, the women in each household usually go home to cook. If it's a little earlier, especially if the weather is nice, there will be a large group of middle-aged women working and chatting at the front door.

"Hey, Wei's back from shopping?" Old Wu from the front yard, the boiler operator, was back early. Seeing it was Wei Chen, a smile spread across his face, and he quickly opened the door wider. Seeing the car outside, he exclaimed, "All these bags and packages...moving?"

"Yes, I'm bringing my mother and sister to stay with me," Wei Chen explained briefly. "Could you please help me unload these things? I'll go get a few more people."

"Okay! Please wait a moment! I'll be right there," Old Wu replied.

Wei Chen didn't delay and quickly walked into the yard. It was a break before he got off work, so the yard was relatively quiet. He went straight to the front yard, where a dim light shone from Yan Bugui's window. He stood at the door of Yan's house and called out in a raised voice, "Jiecheng! Jiefang! Are you home? Come out and help me out!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Jiecheng's tall and thin figure emerged from the house, followed by Yan Jiefang, who was peeking around curiously. "Brother Weichen? What's up?" Yan Jiecheng asked, still carrying the warmth from the house's heating system.

"My stuff has arrived. It's on the truck at the gate of my yard. We don't have enough manpower. Can you lend a hand and help unload it?" Wei Chen stated his purpose directly.

"Sure! No problem!" Yan Jiecheng readily agreed. Yan Jiefang nodded in agreement as well.

Wei Chen then turned to the Intermediate People's Court and shouted in the direction of Liu Haizhong's house, "Guangtian! Guangfu! Come out and help unload the truck!"

Liu Guangtian's burly figure quickly appeared at the door, followed by his younger brother Liu Guangfu. "Brother Weichen, what truck are we unloading?" Liu Guangtian's voice was quite loud.

"I'm moving things, and the truck is at the gate. Give me a hand, it'll be quick!" Wei Chen explained.

"Okay! Coming right away!" Liu Guangtian replied, went back inside and briefly told his family, and then the two brothers came out.

Just then, a small, thin figure appeared out of nowhere and silently stood beside Wei Chen. It was Xiao Shitou. This child was about ten years old. He didn't talk much, but he was observant and always the first to appear whenever there was any commotion at Wei Chen's house.

"Brother Wei Chen, me too!" Little Stone said, looking up at the ground.

"Okay! Stone, come on over too!" Wei Chen patted him on the shoulder.

Yan Jiecheng, Yan Jiefang, Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, Xiao Shitou, and Wei Chen—six and a half young men—quickly gathered together. Wei Chen led them across the courtyard and out through the small side gate on the south side.

Beside the truck, Wang Xiulan and Wei Ran, wrapped tightly in their cotton-padded coats, stood in the cold wind, somewhat hesitant as they watched the group of unfamiliar teenagers emerge. Wang Aiguo had finished his cigarette and was rubbing his hands to warm them.

"Mom, Ranran, you two come inside first. It's warm inside. We'll unload the things and move them to the doorway. You can put them away inside." Wei Chen said to his mother and sister as he opened the small door to their south-facing courtyard. They could unload the things from there without having to go around to the main courtyard.

"Auntie," he saw the auntie who had heard the commotion and peeked out from behind the curtain, "Do you have a moment? Could you please help my mother and sister with their things inside?"

The aunt was a shrewd woman, and her face immediately lit up with a warm smile: "Oh my! Wei Chen has come to pick up my mother and sister? This is wonderful news! Alright, alright! Leave it to me! Sister-in-law, sister, come inside and warm up! It's so cold outside!"

She walked over quickly and, without saying a word, affectionately took the arm of Wang Xiulan, who was still somewhat at a loss. Then, she called to Wei Ran and warmly led the mother and daughter into the courtyard.

Yan Bugui had already told her that Wei Chen was a well-connected and generous young man, someone worth cultivating a relationship with, and that it wouldn't hurt to get closer to him whenever possible.

Wang Xiulan was a little embarrassed by the three women's enthusiasm. She thanked them repeatedly, glanced back at her son and the car full of things, and then nervously let the three women half-help and half-pull her into the small door. Wei Ran followed closely behind.

"Alright, brothers, let's get started!" Wei Chen shouted, grabbing the edge of the carriage panel and pulling it down hard. The heavy iron plate slammed down onto the ground with a thud.

"Move it!" Liu Guangtian shouted loudly and was quite strong. He was the first to jump onto the carriage and reached for a bulging sack. Yan Jiecheng also nimbly climbed up and, together with Liu Guangtian, lifted the heaviest sack of grain. The two shouted in unison, "One, two, lift!" The heavy sack was lifted up.

Yan Jiefang and Liu Guangfu were responsible for providing support outside the vehicle. The two of them worked together to hold the bottom of the sack and staggered towards the small side gate. Xiao Shitou silently picked up a wicker basket that looked quite heavy and followed steadily behind.

Wei Chen and Wang Aiguo worked together to carefully untie the bicycle from the side panel. Wei Chen held the handlebars while Wang Aiguo lifted the back seat, and the two of them carried the bicycle over the threshold and leaned it against the wall in the front yard.

The items weren't many, but they all carried substantial weight—sacks of grain, large bundles of bedding and clothing, and willow baskets filled with jars and pots.

The young men were strong and energetic, and with Wei Chen and Wang Aiguo as the two mainstays, they unloaded the truck quickly. The heavy footsteps, occasional shouts, and the dull thuds of things hitting the ground broke the tranquility of the courtyard at dusk, attracting some residents to curiously lift their curtains and peek out.

The third aunt wasn't idle inside either. While helping Wang Xiulan temporarily pile the bundles and baskets she'd brought in onto the floor of the main room, she kept chattering away like popping beans: "Oh, sister-in-law, your good fortune is just beginning! Look at Wei Chen, what a promising young man! He's settled down in the city at such a young age, and even brought you and your sister here to enjoy your retirement! In our whole neighborhood, that's the first thing like this!"

"Look at this room, how neatly it's tidied up! These tables and chairs look so sturdy! Wei Chen is such a reliable kid!"

"You can just relax and enjoy your retirement from now on! In the city, there are stoves in winter, it's much warmer than in the countryside! Shopping is also convenient, there's a cooperative right outside your door..."

When Wang Xiulan first arrived, she could only nod and smile awkwardly in response to the barrage of enthusiastic praise from the three aunties, but her hands and feet were busy carefully moving the things she had brought in against the wall so as not to block the way. Wei Ran, on the other hand, looked around the unfamiliar new home with sparkling eyes.

As the old woman spoke, her hands moved swiftly. Seeing a bundle come loose, she immediately went over and neatly re-tied it; noticing a loose end of rope on the ground, she bent down to pick it up.

As she helped organize them, her eyes quickly scanned the packages and baskets, silently assessing their weight and value.

When Xiao Shitou came in carrying the willow basket containing Wang Xiulan's "treasures," she greeted him warmly and took a handful, her fingers inadvertently stroking the inside of the basket.

One by one, items were brought in, and the floor of the main room was soon piled high. When Yan Jiecheng carried in the last bundle and put it down, Wei Chen also dusted himself off and came in.

"Thank you all for your hard work! It's all done!" Wei Chen said to the young men who had helped, then turned to Wang Aiguo, "Master Wang, thank you so much! It's taken up so much of your time, it's already dark. Please go home now, and drive carefully!"

"Don't mention it! It's my pleasure!" Wang Aiguo laughed heartily, patted Wei Chen on the shoulder, "Alright, I'm off then! Let me know if you need any work later!" With that, he turned around briskly, strode out of the side gate, and jumped into the driver's seat. The engine roared again, the truck clumsily turned around, kicked up a cloud of dust, and quickly disappeared around the corner of the alley.