Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

By the time she finished, it was almost two in the afternoon. Wang Xiulan walked to the door and listened carefully to the sounds coming from the yard.

The front yard, near Yan Bugui's place, seemed quite lively; she could faintly hear haggling and smell the ink. She took a deep breath, carefully unlatched the door, and opened the kitchen door a crack, peeking out like a thief, taking a deep sniff of the outside air.

Thankfully! The cold wind was biting, and the smell of ink wafting from the front yard seemed even stronger. The intensely rich aroma of meat and oil from my own kitchen, after more than an hour of being closed off and exposed to the afternoon's cold wind, seemed to have dissipated considerably. At least, standing in my own yard, I could no longer smell any unusual odors.

Wang Xiulan finally breathed a sigh of relief, a relaxed smile spreading across her face. She turned to Wei Ran, who was clearing the dishes, and instructed her again, "Ran, remember what I said! Don't say a word about what happened today, or about what's in our cupboard! Understand?"

"I heard you, Mom! I promise! Pinky promise!" Wei Ran held out her greasy little finger. Wang Xiulan smiled and hooked her own little finger around her daughter's: "Pinky promise, for a hundred years, no take-backs!"

After tidying up, Wang Xiulan opened the moon gate completely, carrying a small stool, and with her usual gentle smile on her face, she walked towards the place in the middle courtyard where Grandma Li and the others often gathered to sunbathe and do needlework.

Wei Ran, like a happy little bird, hopped and skipped off to play with her good friends, Little Stone and Little Grass. However, when sharing a few roasted beans with her friends, her little hands would unconsciously reach for her pockets, as if hiding some earth-shattering secret. She tried hard to maintain her usual smile, but in her heart, she kept repeating, "I can't tell! I absolutely can't tell!"

The daily routine of the courtyard house at the end of the year continued amidst the scent of ink, neighborly greetings, and children's laughter. Only the locked oil jars and the aroma of meat left a warm imprint, making Wang Xiulan's steps in the sunlight more steady and lighter than ever before.

When Wei Ran plays with her friends, she occasionally recalls the greasy taste of lunch, and a happy smile unconsciously appears on her lips.

This year will be exceptionally different for them, mother and daughter.

On the afternoon of the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the winter sun was setting in the west, casting long shadows across the massive outline of the steel rolling mill. Unlike the relaxed atmosphere of the morning, the factory was now filled with an irrepressible restlessness and a joyful anticipation of returning home. Workshops that had completed their tasks began to ring out the whistles to signal the end of the workday, much earlier than usual.

The workers surged toward the exits like a floodgate opening, each carrying carefully a paper package tied with hemp rope—a heavy, oily pound of welfare meat, the most dazzling medal of the day, and even the entire year-end.

The road leading to Nanluoguxiang was noticeably more crowded than usual. Bicycle bells rang out crisply, and pedestrians chatted in twos and threes, their conversations invariably revolving around the piece of meat in their hands.

The golden rays of the setting sun shone on people's tired but more satisfied faces, illuminating the shared, heavy anticipation of the year-end in their hands.

Yi Zhonghai, Jia Dongxu, and Sha Zhu were also in this flood of people returning home. Yi Zhonghai walked in the middle, his steps steady, carrying a square oil paper package in his hand, the outline of his fat clearly visible, and it was quite heavy.

His face carried the usual composure befitting an eighth-grade worker, but upon closer inspection, there was also a subtle hint of relaxation between his brows.

Jia Dongxu followed closely beside Yi Zhonghai, also carrying a bag of meat, though the oil paper package looked rather thin and its shape was not very regular. His face was a mixture of excitement and a lingering anxiety, his gaze frequently glancing at the obviously thicker piece of meat in his master's hand, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

Sha Zhu walked on the other side, carrying the meat much more casually. He tied the oil paper package haphazardly to the handlebars of his bicycle with a thin hemp rope, letting it sway precariously with the bike's bumps. The logistics staff had actually collected it a couple of days ago, but he missed it that day and only got it today.

He hummed a tuneless little tune, his eyes scanning the roadside scenery with a hint of a chef's pickiness and nonchalance. He seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood today, probably because the cafeteria closed early.

As they walked, Jia Dongxu licked his slightly dry lips, leaned closer to Yi Zhonghai, and forced a fawning smile onto his face, lowering his voice slightly: "Master, can I discuss something with you?"

"Hmm? What is it?" Yi Zhonghai turned his head and looked at his apprentice.

"That's right," Jia Dongxu rubbed his hands together, organizing his thoughts, "Last night, Huai Ru mentioned to me that you and Auntie were spending the New Year alone, which was rather lonely. Our house, although it's a bit small, is full of people and it's lively! My mom, Huai Ru, and the baby in my belly, plus you and Auntie, it's so nice to spend the New Year together! Everyone is so lively, and the New Year atmosphere is really strong!"

"How about... you and your aunt come to our house for Chinese New Year this year? Huai Ru's cooking is pretty good, she'll definitely make sure you eat and drink well!"

These words were actually hard-won by Qin Huairu last night amidst Jia Zhangshi's scolding. Jia Zhangshi had originally been furious when Qin Huairu suggested inviting outsiders to the New Year's Eve dinner to celebrate the New Year together, and she immediately scolded Qin Huairu for being wasteful and siding with outsiders.

It wasn't until Qin Huairu explained softly, "Mom, even Uncle has a pound of meat! His salary is so high, and his benefits are so good, he'll definitely have plenty of New Year's goods! When he comes to our house for the New Year, do you think he'll come empty-handed? With his share of meat, plus ours, we can eat even better, right? We won't lose out!"

Jia Zhangshi's shrewd little eyes darted around a few times, pondering the "pound of meat" and Yi Zhonghai's possible "New Year's goods," before she reluctantly hummed in agreement, which led to Jia Dongxu's invitation at this moment.

Who is Yi Zhonghai? He knows the Jia family's wealth and Jia Zhangshi's schemes inside and out! His apprentice's invitation, on the surface, is a show of filial piety and celebration, but he knows exactly what his true intentions are.

They were simply eyeing his share of meat and the New Year's goods he might bring. He was trying to figure out how to politely decline without hurting their feelings, since Jia Dongxu was his apprentice and also his neighbor in the courtyard, someone he would run into every day.

Before Yi Zhonghai could even speak, Sha Zhu, who had been eavesdropping nearby, sneered and interrupted without any politeness: "Come on, Jia Dongxu! Stop trying to sweet-talk your master!"

Jia Dongxu was taken aback, a little embarrassed: "Shazhu! What nonsense are you spouting! I'm talking to Master, what's it to you?"

"Hey! What do you mean I'm not involved?" Sha Zhu stopped his bicycle, propped one leg on the ground, and glanced sideways at Jia Dongxu. His mouth was as sharp as popping beans. "What's your family's situation like? What kind of person is your mother? Everyone in our neighborhood knows! Stinginess and scheming are etched on her forehead! If Uncle Yi really goes to your house for the New Year, with your mother's ruthless nature, Uncle Yi will just be taking away this good piece of meat..."

He pointed to the thick, oil-paper package in Yi Zhonghai's hand, "Do you think an old man like me could even get a bite? He probably wouldn't even get a whiff of it; it'd all end up in your mother's and Jia Dongxu's stomachs! An old man toils all year, and in the end, he can't even get a piece of meat he raised himself. What kind of situation is this? How could you even think of that! Old man, don't fall for it!"

Sha Zhu's words were like a knife, mercilessly piercing Jia Dongxu's petty thoughts and exposing Jia Zhangshi's scheming to the naked truth. Jia Dongxu's face flushed red and then turned pale, trembling with anger: "Sha Zhu! You...you're slandering me! My...my mother isn't that kind of person!"

"Whether someone is that kind of person or not, everyone knows the truth!" Sha Zhu curled his lip, too lazy to argue with him, and turned to Yi Zhonghai, saying, "Uncle, if you feel lonely and want to find someone to share the New Year with, come to me! I'm all set, my kitchen is fully equipped, and you can trust my cooking skills! We can cook some hearty dishes and heat up some wine, isn't that a hundred times better than going to his house, having to put up with his attitude, and not even getting a bite of meat in the end?"

Listening to Sha Zhu's rapid-fire words, Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat; he was indeed tempted. Sha Zhu's words, though crude, were not without merit. He knew Jia Zhangshi's character all too well. Going to the Jia family for the New Year meant his share of meat and New Year's goods would most likely be wasted.

Sha Zhu's suggestion did sound more practical; at least it would be peaceful and he could eat comfortably. Sha Zhu's cooking skills were legendary.

However, Yi Zhonghai is, after all, Yi Zhonghai, and the burden of being a "moral saint" is too heavy. He can't go to his apprentice's house for the New Year because it would seem distant, but he also can't really spend the New Year with that bachelor Sha Zhu.

That would seem too cold-hearted and would easily give others cause for criticism. He needed to find a reason more in line with his status.

So, Yi Zhonghai showed a troubled yet considerate expression, raised his hand to stop Jia Dongxu from arguing further, and waved to Sha Zhu: "Zhuzi, I appreciate your kindness. Dongxu meant well too."

He first gave both sides equal blame, then changed the subject, his tone heavy and helpless, "However, this year is really not an option. You know your aunt's health; she hasn't been well since winter began and needs constant care. With the Lunar New Year approaching, she can't withstand any more strain; it's best for her to rest at home. Besides, what about the deaf old lady in the backyard?"

He gestured towards the courtyard house, "The old lady is getting old and her teeth aren't good, so she likes soft, mushy food. She usually relies on us to take care of her, and now that it's Chinese New Year, we should go over and visit her, keep her company, and make her something she likes. The old lady's tastes and habits are different from yours, young people. If we all spend the New Year together, I'm afraid the old lady will feel uncomfortable, and I'm also afraid you'll feel awkward."

These words were reasonable and justified, showing consideration for his sick wife and demonstrating the "noble character" of caring for the elderly living alone. They also presented a flawless excuse for not being able to go to the Jia family or to Sha Zhu's place, while subtly elevating his own moral standing.