Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

"The crucial step! Cooking the vinegar!" Sha Zhu picked up the vinegar pot and quickly poured a small amount of aged vinegar along the edge of the scalding pot. "Sizzle—!" A loud explosion rang out! A rich white steam, mixed with the aromas of vinegar, soy sauce, oil, and fish, instantly rose up, forming a complex and domineering aroma that surged out of the kitchen like an invisible giant wave, sweeping across the entire courtyard!

Wei Ran and Xiao Cao, who were watching the fish by the pond, couldn't help but sniff hard and exclaimed in unison, "It smells so good! It smells amazing!"

Add enough boiling water to just cover the fish pieces. He casually sprinkled in a pinch of his homemade five-spice powder, then added a pinch of white sugar to enhance the flavor, and finally covered it with a heavy cedar wood lid.

"Put the heat on high, then reduce to medium and simmer steadily for twenty minutes! Don't keep lifting the lid to check! Let it steep and release its fresh aroma!"

Sha Zhu clapped his hands, exuding the air of a confident general. "Auntie, remember this: the heat is the key! When the time is up, the broth will naturally thicken and coat the spoon, and the fish will be perfectly cooked! Finally, sprinkle on some bright green cilantro, and hey! All done!" He proudly raised his chin.

Wang Xiulan nodded repeatedly, her eyes fixed on the billowing white steam carrying a rich aroma rising from the gap in the pot lid, trying her best to memorize every step and every key point.

Wei Chen also watched intently from the side. Sha Zhu's seemingly bold and expansive techniques, which actually concealed exquisite skill, were indeed unique and could not have been mastered overnight.

While the fish was stewing, Sha Zhu instructed Wei Chen's mother to make a milky white and fragrant crucian carp and tofu soup using the two small crucian carp that Wei Chen had caught earlier. The tofu was cut into neat squares and floated in the bubbling milky white soup.

I also used freshly picked, prickly cucumbers and ripe, bright red tomatoes from Wei Chen's garden to make a refreshing, red and green salad, drizzled with a few drops of sesame oil, which smelled wonderful.

Night fell like a thick velvet blanket, completely covering the courtyard. A bright kerosene lamp with a glass shade was lit on the old elmwood table in Wei Chen's main room. Under the warm light, several dishes emitted an enticing sheen and an irresistible aroma.

In the center of the table was a large bowl of braised grass carp, its color a tempting red, its broth thick and honey-like, the fish meat trembling as if it had absorbed all the essence. Next to it was a milky white crucian carp and tofu soup, garnished with bright green scallions. The vibrant green cucumber and tomato salad was eye-catching. There were also cornbread buns steamed by Wang Xiulan, which were extra soft and golden due to the addition of a little white flour, and they exuded a simple, sweet aroma of grain.

The bottle of Erguotou that Sha Zhu brought was unscrewed, and its rich, pungent aroma powerfully joined the olfactory feast. Wei Chen filled the white porcelain wine cups in front of Sha Zhu and himself. In front of Wang Xiulan, Wei Ran, Xiao Cao, and He Yushui were warm, thick cornmeal porridges.

"Come on! Brother Zhu, you've worked hard today! Let me toast you!" Wei Chen raised his wine cup, his expression sincere.

"Hey! Forget the formalities! We're all family! Cheers!" Sha Zhu raised his wine cup with great enthusiasm, lightly clinked it with Wei Chen's, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. The spicy liquid rolled down his throat, and he exaggeratedly exhaled, smacked his lips, and looked thoroughly satisfied.

Wang Xiulan picked up a large, juicy piece of fish belly meat, coated in a thick sauce, from the bowl she had prepared and placed it steadily into Sha Zhu's bowl: "Zhu Zi, try it quickly. I made it the way you said. See how it tastes? Is the saltiness to your liking?"

Sha Zhu didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the trembling piece of fish, symbolically blew on it, and put it in his mouth. The moment the fish entered his mouth, the slightly charred sauce on the outside melted away, while the inside was as tender as tofu. The sweet juice burst on his tongue, and the rich sauce perfectly enveloped the fish's sweetness. The complex aroma of the five-spice powder perfectly neutralized the last trace of earthy taste, leaving only a mouthful of richness, smoothness, and a satisfying sense of fulfillment that progressed layer by layer.

"Mmm—!" Sha Zhu closed his eyes and let out a long, satisfied sigh from deep in his throat. He suddenly raised his thumb and praised indistinctly but decisively, "Amazing! Auntie! You've got the cooking time just right! It's no worse than what I make! So flavorful! So delicious! Absolutely delicious!" His praise was seven parts genuine and three parts flattery, and Wang Xiulan had indeed learned it quickly and well.

Wei Chen also picked up a piece of fish back meat and put it in his mouth. The flavor was rich and layered, salty and fresh, and the fish meat was firm but not dry. It was indeed a significant improvement over what he usually made at home. He couldn't help but sincerely praise, "Brother Zhu, your cooking skills are truly impeccable! I'm impressed!"

He Yushui quietly ate her cornbread in small bites and drank the fragrant and rich fish soup, a serene and content smile on her face. Occasionally, she would glance up at the chatting and laughing crowd, her eyes clear.

Wei Ran and Xiao Cao ate until their mouths were shiny with oil, their cheeks bulging like two happy little hamsters, their eyes squinting into crescent moons with satisfaction. Xiao Cao, of course, was someone Wei Chen had insisted on keeping for them.

Wei Ran didn't forget to put some food on He Yushui's plate next to her, saying, "Sister Yushui, try this fish belly meat, it's so tender and delicious!"

The dim, warm light enveloped the small main room, the aroma of food wafted through the air, and relaxed laughter mingled with the gentle clinking of bowls and chopsticks.

In this era of extreme scarcity, the small east courtyard of Wei Chen's family was filled with an almost luxurious warmth and joy.

Outside the courtyard wall, one could faintly hear the soft sounds of Uncle Yan Bugui slamming bowls and chopsticks and a barely audible sigh, but these discordant sounds were quickly drowned out and swallowed up by the lively conversation, the rich aroma of fish and meat, and the rare warmth inside the courtyard.

Sha Zhu's booming voice and Wei Chen's steady responses intertwined to form the main melody, He Yushui's occasional soft echoes were like decorative notes, Wei Ran and Xiao Cao's chattering childish words were a lively accompaniment, Wang Xiulan's satisfied and slightly shy laughter was a warm undertone, and the rich aroma of fish that permeated the air, seeped into every pore, and lingered for a long time was mouthwatering—all of this together solidified into a precious and warm amber frame in the long river of these difficult years.

The dim yellow light danced in Wei Chen's tidy main room, reflecting the satisfied blush on everyone's faces.

The pot of rich, dark-sweet stewed grass carp on the table was almost empty, and the milky white crucian carp and tofu soup was also gone, with only a few pieces of tender tofu remaining at the bottom of the bowl.

Sha Zhu was excitedly recounting amusing anecdotes from the steel mill's kitchen, making Wang Xiulan and the two girls giggle. He Yushui quietly ate her cornbread, a serene smile on her lips. Wei Chen picked up his rough porcelain wine cup, about to offer Sha Zhu another toast to thank him for sharing his fish-cooking secrets.

Suddenly, a sharp, piercing, and distorted cry, like a cold steel needle, pierced the tranquil night of the courtyard and broke the cozy little world of the east wing.

"Oh my god—! It's going to kill me! Dongxu! Dongxu, come quick! Huairu... she's dying!" It was Jia Zhangshi's unique, tearful, and exaggeratedly terrified scream. Her voice was sharp and piercing, and it exploded from the direction of the Jia family in the front yard, echoing throughout the entire courtyard.

Immediately following was Jia Dongxu's panicked, trembling reply: "Mom! Mom! Don't shout! Huai Ru! Huai Ru, hold on! I'll go get someone! Uncle! Uncle, help me!" Accompanied by hurried footsteps and the loud bang of the door being violently kicked open.

The laughter and conversation inside the room abruptly stopped. Sha Zhu's smile froze instantly, and the wine cup in his hand slammed down on the table with a "clatter," spilling a few drops of wine.

He jumped to his feet, the movement so forceful that the chair legs scraped loudly on the floor. The slight flush from the alcohol on his face vanished instantly, leaving only an almost instinctive, frantic anxiety: "It's Sister Qin! Sister Qin is about to give birth? Something's wrong! Something's happened?!"

He didn't even have time to say goodbye to Wei Chen's family before he rushed out like a cannonball.

He Yushui was also startled and looked worriedly in the direction where her brother had disappeared. Wang Xiulan, Wei Ran, and Xiao Cao all showed expressions of fear and worry.

Wei Chen frowned, put down his wine cup, and said in a deep voice to his mother and sisters, "Mom, tidy up and lock the door. I'm going out to check on the situation." He strode out of the main room.

Inside the small room of the Jia family in the front yard, chaos reigned. Under the dim light, Qin Huairu lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), her face ashen, her forehead covered in large beads of cold sweat, her hair soaked with perspiration and clinging to her cheeks in clumps.

She gripped the greasy sheets beneath her with both hands, her knuckles turning white from the force, and suppressed, intermittent groans of pain escaped her throat.

Beneath him, a large patch of dark red blood had soaked through, and the pungent smell of blood mixed with the lingering musty and cheap grease odor in the room was nauseating.

Standing by the kang (a heated brick bed), Madam Jia slapped her thigh and wailed, her voice carrying a strange, theatrical exaggeration: "My God! This is going to kill off the Jia family line! Huai Ru! You can't die! If you're gone, how will we, a widow and orphan, survive! Dong Xu! Think of something! My precious grandson hasn't come out yet!" Her face was covered in tears and snot, but her eyes kept glancing towards the door, observing the situation.

Jia Dongxu paced around the cramped room like a headless fly, his face even paler than Qin Huairu's, his lips trembling as he stammered, "What to do... what to do... Mom, stop crying! What's the use of crying! Uncle! Why isn't Uncle here yet!" He was completely lost, wanting to touch Qin Huairu but not daring to, stamping his feet in frustration.

Just then, Sha Zhu rushed in like a whirlwind, almost blowing the tattered curtain at the doorway away.

"Sister Qin! Sister Qin, how are you?!" He completely ignored Jia Zhangshi's wailing and Jia Dongxu's panic, rushing to the edge of the kang (heated brick bed). Seeing Qin Huairu's pained expression and the bloodstains beneath her, his eyes instantly reddened, and his voice trembled, "Oh dear! This...this is so much blood! No, no! We have to get her to the hospital right away! She can't give birth at home! It's too dangerous!"

He whirled around and yelled at the still-dazed Jia Dongxu, "Dongxu-ge! What are you standing there for! Quickly grab a blanket! Wrap Sister Qin up! Get her to the hospital!"