Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Director Wang's words, though not loud, were firm and resounding, carrying an undeniable authority. They echoed clearly in the courtyard and reached the ears of the three elderly men and the neighbors who had gathered around upon hearing them.

The expressions on the three old men's faces instantly became incredibly interesting. Yan Bugui's smile froze for a moment, his eyes flashing rapidly as if he were quickly calculating the weight of Director Wang's words and their potential impact on him. He subconsciously rubbed his hands together.

Yi Zhonghai's originally calm and composed face tensed almost imperceptibly for a moment. The curiosity and certain unspoken "thoughts" deep in his eyes caused by Wei Chen's ability to obtain a large number of wild boars cooled and faded quickly, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head.

He quickly adjusted his expression, regaining his usual composure, and even nodded slightly, as if he deeply agreed with Director Wang's words.

Liu Haizhong reacted most directly. He had always longed to impress his superiors, and now it was as if a fuse had been lit. Before Wang Xiulan and Wei Chen could respond, he suddenly stepped forward, puffed out his chest (even though his belly made it look more prominent), and pounded his chest so loudly it could almost shake the icicles off the eaves:

"Director Wang, you can rest assured! With our three stewards here, the safety and rights of the martyrs' families are absolutely guaranteed! Anyone who dares to show the slightest disrespect to Wei Chen's family is going against our entire courtyard! And against me, Liu Haizhong! I'll be the first to not let them off! Just you wait and see!"

His chubby face was full of seriousness and assurance, trying hard to create an aura of incorruptibility and responsibility, but he overdid it and it just came across as a ridiculous bureaucratic tone.

Wang Xiulan's hands trembled slightly as she accepted the heavy plaque commemorating a martyr's family. The red lacquer was warm and lustrous, the yellow characters dazzling. As her fingertips touched the cool wooden plaque, she seemed to see her husband's cheerful smile again.

A surge of overwhelming bitterness and indescribable pride welled up inside her, causing her to clench her lips tightly, struggling to hold back her tears in front of so many people. "Thank you... thank you Director Wang... thank you government..." she could only repeat these words, her fingers tracing the raised characters on the sign over and over again.

Wei Chen reached out at the opportune moment and firmly supported his mother's slightly trembling arm, his gaze calm and resolute as he looked at Director Wang and the three elderly men: "Thank you, Director Wang. We will definitely hang this sign up properly. Thank you also for your concern, gentlemen."

Director Wang nodded in satisfaction, then changed the subject: "Alright, Comrade Wei Chen, Comrade Xiu Lan, keep the plaques safe."

"Comrade Xiulan, Comrade Weichen, you are families of martyrs who made enormous sacrifices for the country. The government will not forget you, and the neighborhood committee is your support. This martyr's family plaque," she pointed to the plaque tightly clutched in Wang Xiulan's hand, "must be hung in the most prominent place! This is not only a tribute to the fallen heroes, but also a sign of respect for the living! Let everyone know that this lintel represents glory, and also represents inviolability! If you encounter any difficulties, or if anyone dares to gossip or even bully you and your son, come directly to the neighborhood committee to find me! Or find the three senior officials in charge! We will never allow it!"

Director Wang's resounding words were like a boulder thrown into a calm pond, creating ripples that spread instantly. The expressions of the three old men became subtle and complex once again.

Yi Zhonghai's humble smile faded, replaced by a more serious and solemn expression. Meeting Director Wang's gaze, his voice was steady and firm: "Director Wang is right! Wei Chen, Xiu Lan, don't worry! This plaque, once hung up, will be a symbol of our courtyard's glory! From now on, if anything happens at home, whether it's physical labor or minor squabbles between neighbors, feel free to speak up. The three gentlemen in our courtyard are here to mediate disputes, maintain harmony, and help those in need. With us here, we guarantee that the families of martyrs will live in our courtyard with peace of mind and comfort!"

His words were both a guarantee to Director Wang and a declaration to the entire hospital, implicitly placing himself in the leadership position of "protector".

Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's statement, Liu Haizhong immediately refused to be outdone. He puffed out his chest, his voice even louder than when he was in the backyard, as if he were giving an inaugural address: "Director Wang! Uncle Yi! You can rest assured! Wei Chen's family's affairs are my Liu Haizhong's family's affairs! If anyone dares to be disrespectful, I, Liu Haizhong, will be the first to object!"

"The atmosphere in our courtyard must be one of respecting the elderly and caring for the young, and supporting the military and their families! The families of martyrs being bullied? That's impossible! I, Liu Haizhong, will absolutely not allow such a thing to happen under my nose! Wei Chen, if you need anything in the future, just come to your second uncle!" He patted his chest forcefully, his chubby face turning slightly red, trying hard to project an unquestionable sense of authority.

Yan Bugui, on the other hand, appeared much more "pragmatic." A smile plastered on his face, his eyes quickly scanning between the meat in Wang Xiulan's hand and the brand-new martyr's plaque, finally settling on Wei Chen's face with a mixture of deliberate intimacy and barely perceptible shrewdness.

"Yes, yes! Director Wang and Uncle Wang have hit the nail on the head! Wei Chen, Comrade Xiu Lan, you two should just settle down here! Once this plaque is up, you'll be the 'first' in our compound! It's an honor! Let's visit each other more often and look after each other! A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative! If you need any help, just tell your Uncle Wang! Our compound should be like Director Wang said, united and helping each other!" His words not only praised the glory of the martyr's family, but also subtly revealed his intention to get closer to Wei Chen, this young man with a degree.

Wei Chen took in the three men's drastically different responses and understood their meaning. He maintained a polite smile and nodded to Director Wang and the three men, saying, "Thank you, Director Wang! And thank you, Uncle Wang, Uncle Wang, and Uncle Wang, for your concern! I will definitely trouble you if needed." His tone was neither humble nor arrogant, expressing gratitude while maintaining a certain distance.

Seeing that the desired effect had been achieved, Director Wang asked Wang Xiulan a few more questions about her well-being, inquired about her daily life, and urged her to take care of herself before taking his leave with his clerk, Xiao Li. The three old men escorted Director Wang to the gate of the courtyard house, watching her disappear into the night in the alley before turning back.

After the official representatives left, the atmosphere in the small courtyard relaxed. Several neighbors who had been peeking around to watch the commotion retreated behind their door curtains. Before leaving, Yi Zhonghai said a few more polite words to Wei Chen and his mother: "Chenzi's mother, Wei Chen, get some rest. It's a good thing the sign is up; it puts my mind at ease."

Liu Haizhong emphasized again, "Speak up if you have something to say!" Yan Bugui, who was last, added with a smile, "Yes, we have a long time ahead of us, let's take it slow." Then they all dispersed.

The courtyard finally returned to tranquility. The cold wind seemed to have subsided a bit.

Back inside, she closed the door, shutting out the winter chill. The dim light bulb cast a limited glow, elongating the shadows of the mother and son against the wall. Wang Xiulan solemnly placed the brand-new plaque, with its red background and yellow lettering reading "Glorious Family Member of a Martyr," on the eight-immortal table in the center of the main room.

The room was quiet. Wang Xiulan silently picked up a clean, faded soft cloth and walked to the table. She didn't sit down immediately, but stood there, her gaze fixed intently on the sign, as if trying to etch those four words into her heart.

After a long while, she slowly sat down, her movements as gentle as if she were handling fragile porcelain. She dipped a cloth in the water in the bowl and wiped the surface of the sign with extreme care and slowness.

Her movements were light and focused. Her gaze seemed to penetrate the cold wood, as if she could see a battlefield filled with smoke and fire, and her husband's bright smile, his young face ultimately frozen in a black and white photograph.

The fabric rubbed against the smooth, lacquered surface, making an extremely faint rustling sound. In the quiet night, it sounded like a silent lament, striking Wei Chen's heart. His mother's slightly trembling shoulders and her suppressed, almost inaudible gasps silently spoke of the deep-seated, unhealed pain buried in her heart.

Wei Chen watched quietly, a mix of emotions welling up inside him. He didn't rush forward immediately, but silently walked to the stove, picked up the tin kettle that was warming on the stove, and poured a cup of hot water. He walked to the table and gently placed the warm cup next to his mother's hand, the bottom of the cup making a soft "click" sound as it touched the table.

The slight sound seemed to startle Wang Xiulan from her reverie. She paused in her wiping motion, took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly and deliberately, as if trying to forcefully suppress the turbulent emotions within her.

She looked up, her eyes red-rimmed and the tip of her nose tinged with red, but her gaze had regained its usual resilience. She looked at her son, forcing a somewhat strained smile, her voice slightly hoarse: "Chen'er, Mom's fine... it's just... seeing this sign reminds me of your father..."

Wei Chen felt a pang in his heart. He reached out and placed his hand on his mother's cold hand; the rough touch made his heart ache even more.

He softened his voice, revealing a maturity beyond his years: "Mom, don't be too sad. Dad is watching over us from heaven. He's happy to see how much the government cares about our family, how well you've raised me, and how our lives are getting better and better. This plaque is a glory that Dad earned with his life; we must protect it for him, live with dignity, and not bring shame to him."

As Wang Xiulan listened to her son's words and felt the warmth and strength from the back of his hand, she finally couldn't hold back her tears, which rolled down in large drops, splashing onto the cloth used to wipe the sign and leaving dark water stains.

She nodded vigorously, choking back tears, "Yes... Mom knows... Mom knows... It's just... my heart... feels so heavy..." She raised her other hand, wiping away her tears fiercely with her sleeve, her expression almost stubborn, "Your father... he deserves this honor! We, mother and daughter... can't let him down!"