Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Sha Zhu's arrival seemed to inject a powerful boost into the chaotic scene, as if it had turned on some invisible switch within him.

He immediately switched into "Qin Huairu's exclusive firefighting captain" mode, his movements were surprisingly swift, completely unlike his usual lazy and domineering demeanor in the cafeteria.

He shoved the obstructing Jia Zhangshi aside roughly, causing her to stumble. She glared at him resentfully, then quickly glanced around, grabbed a relatively clean thin quilt from the bed, and carefully, trying to avoid touching Qin Huairu's sensitive areas, tried to wrap her up, muttering, "Sister Qin, bear with it! We're going to the hospital right away! With Brother Zhuzi here, everything will be alright! Everything will be alright!"

When Jia Zhangshi was pushed away by Sha Zhu, she was stunned at first, but then, as if she had found her pillar of support, her wailing grew louder, but the content changed: "Zhu Zi! Zhu Zi, you've come at the right time! Quick! Help our family! Her pregnancy is unstable, she must be that jinx... Oh dear, what are we going to do! The hospital... how much will the hospital cost!" In the last sentence, her voice suddenly dropped, filled with heartache.

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai also arrived after hearing the news, followed by his second uncle Liu Haizhong, third uncle Yan Bugui, and several other stewards, as well as some neighbors who had come to watch the commotion.

As soon as Yi Zhonghai entered, he was startled by the stench of blood and the chaotic scene inside. However, being a mature and composed old man, he immediately said in a deep voice, "Don't panic! Zhu Zi is right, it's too dangerous to give birth at home. We must get her to the hospital! Dongxu, get ready quickly!"

His gaze swept around and immediately spotted Wei Chen standing in the shadows by the door, frowning as he observed the situation. Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat, and an idea quickly formed in his mind: this was a good opportunity to build rapport, demonstrate the spirit of "collective mutual assistance," and also save him the trouble of borrowing a cart.

He strode up to Wei Chen, his face bearing the solemnity and urgency of someone saying, "The organization needs you!" He said, "Wei Chen! It's an emergency! A life is at stake! Do you have a bicycle? Quick! Bring it out and take Huai Ru to the hospital! The bicycle is fast!" His voice was loud, carrying a sense of moral pressure, as if Wei Chen's refusal to agree would be tantamount to abandoning someone to their death.

All eyes instantly focused on Wei Chen. Jia Dongxu, as if grasping at a straw, also looked over expectantly.

Jia Zhangshi stopped howling, her cloudy eyes gleaming with calculation.

Sha Zhu, who was struggling to lift Qin Huairu, who was wrapped in a blanket, immediately looked up at Wei Chen upon hearing this, his eyes filled with an urging that seemed to come without question: "That's right, Wei Chen! Your bicycle seat is wide, tie it securely and it'll be fine! Hurry up! Stop dawdling! Saving lives is the priority!"

Wei Chen's gaze calmly swept over Yi Zhonghai's anxious face, Sha Zhu's worried eyes, and Jia Zhangshi's calculating expression, finally landing on Qin Huairu, who was suffering terribly on the kang (heated brick bed).

He felt nothing but deep disgust and wariness towards this kind of moral blackmail. He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but clearly drowning out the noise in the room: "Sir, are you sure you want a pregnant woman about to give birth and bleeding to sit on the back of a bumpy bicycle all the way to the hospital? Do you think her condition isn't dangerous enough and want to push her harder?"

Wei Chen's words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly sobering up some of the people who had been blinded by the slogan "send her to the hospital." Yes, the bicycle was so bumpy, and given Qin Huairu's condition... Several older neighbors showed knowing and agreeing expressions on their faces.

Yi Zhonghai was taken aback, his old face slightly embarrassed, but he immediately retorted, "There's no other way! Borrowing a cart takes time! Every second counts now! Wei Chen, young people should have some responsibility! It's only right for neighbors to help each other! How can you be so heartless? You can't bear to see Huai Ru in so much pain?" He tried to use the banner of morality to pressure him again.

Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai say that Wei Chen "lacks compassion," and with Qin Huairu's painful groans constantly stimulating his nerves, Sha Zhu felt a surge of lust rise within him. He forgot that he had just enjoyed a pleasant dinner at Wei Chen's house that evening, and that Wei Chen had just praised his cooking skills.

At this moment, in his simple and stubborn logic, Wei Chen's refusal to lend him the car was tantamount to delaying "Sister Qin" who was trying to save him, and it showed his cold-heartedness! He suddenly sat up straight and roared at Wei Chen, spitting as he spoke:

"Wei Chen! Are you even human?! That old man is right! You're ungrateful! You have no compassion! You're cold-blooded! Sister Qin is in such a state, what's wrong with lending you a broken bicycle? Is it going to kill you? You always act all respectable, but when it really matters, you have no heart for helping your neighbors! Selfish and selfish! Bah!" Sha Zhu became more and more agitated as he cursed, the veins on his neck bulging, as if Wei Chen had committed an unforgivable crime.

Faced with Sha Zhu's tirade, Wei Chen didn't even flinch. He couldn't be bothered to waste words on this "simp" whose IQ plummeted whenever Qin Huairu was involved.

He just stared coldly at Yi Zhonghai, his eyes sharp as knives, his voice as cold as ice: "Uncle, you're really brave. Fine, let me deliver it."

You should write me a written agreement now, clearly stating in black and white: It was you, Yi Zhonghai, the senior manager of the compound, who forcibly demanded to borrow Wei Chen's bicycle, and I don't care what the bicycle is used for.

However, if you use a bicycle to transport Qin Huairu, a pregnant woman experiencing severe postpartum hemorrhage, to the hospital, this behavior may lead to unpredictable dangers for the pregnant woman and the fetus. All consequences, including but not limited to miscarriage, severe bleeding, fetal injury, or even death, shall be borne entirely by the person making the request, Yi Zhonghai, and the pregnant woman's family members, Jia Dongxu and Jia Zhangshi, and shall have nothing to do with me, Wei Chen.

"Write this down, sign your name, and put your fingerprint on it. Then have Jia Dongxu and his mother do the same. As long as I have this agreement, I'll get the car out immediately."

Wei Chen's words were clear and logical, each word like a heavy hammer blow to Yi Zhonghai's chest. In particular, the words "miscarriage," "masturbation," "fetal injury or even death," and "taking full responsibility" made Yi Zhonghai's face turn deathly pale instantly.

His lips trembled as he looked into Wei Chen's calm yet all-seeing eyes, a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He only wanted to drag Wei Chen down with him, to show that he was "in control", and to do Jia Jia and Sha Zhu a favor. How could he dare to take on such a huge responsibility?

If this agreement were actually written, and something were to happen on the way, Yi Zhonghai's reputation, his position in the factory, and even his hopes for retirement would all be ruined! The Jia family, mother and son, would definitely put all the blame on him!

"You...you..." Yi Zhonghai pointed at Wei Chen, his fingers trembling, too angry to utter a complete sentence, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. He dared not, he absolutely dared not write this agreement! Wei Chen's move directly pierced through his facade of a "moral exemplar," revealing his calculating and risk-averse selfishness.

Madam Jia Zhang understood immediately and shrieked, "Why should we put our fingerprints on this? Wei Chen, you little bastard, what are you up to? Trying to harm our family? Uncle, you can't listen to him! He just doesn't want to help!" Jia Dongxu stammered, "That's right...that's right...Wei Chen, you're going too far..."

Sha Zhu was also enraged by Wei Chen's "heartless" words. Just as he was about to curse again, Yi Zhonghai, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, suddenly waved his hand and, his voice hoarse with exasperation, forcefully interrupted Sha Zhu's impending profanity: "Enough! Stop arguing! Zhu! This is not the time to be angry! Saving lives is the priority! Go quickly to Old Li's house in the next alley and borrow a cart! They have one! Go now! Run there!" He dared not bother Wei Chen any longer and could only settle for second best.

Startled by Yi Zhonghai's shout, Sha Zhu glanced at the agonizing Qin Huairu, then glared fiercely at Wei Chen, his eyes filled with anger and the disappointment of "I misjudged you." Ultimately, the thought of saving Sister Qin prevailed. He stomped his foot and charged out like a raging bull: "Wait! Sister Qin, hold on! I'll be right back!"

Yi Zhonghai took a deep breath, suppressing the frustration in his heart and a trace of apprehension towards Wei Chen, and began to exert his "organizing ability" as an old man: "Guangtian! Jiecheng! You two young men, don't just stand there! When Zhuzi comes back with the cart, help push it! Dongxu, you support Huairu, be careful! Old sister-in-law, you...you should go and keep an eye on things too!" He originally wanted to arrange for Jia Zhangshi to stay home and watch over the rice.

Upon hearing that she was to go to the hospital, Jia Zhangshi immediately shook her head vigorously, shoving the terrified and wailing Xiao Banggeng into the arms of an older woman: "Oh, Uncle! I can't! My heart is racing and I'm short of breath; I'd only cause trouble if I went! I have to stay home and look after my grandson Banggeng! He's so young; he can't be without me! Huairu can be taken care of by Dongxu and you men!"

Mrs. Jia was already afraid of spending her money at the hospital and wanted to back out, but as she spoke, she noticed the increasingly strange looks she was receiving. Remembering her grandson's birth and the need to be the first to see him, she handed the stalk to an older woman and said, "Auntie, could you please look after the stalk for a while? I'll go with him!"

An older woman, holding the crying baby boy, sighed helplessly. Yi Zhonghai watched Jia Zhangshi's retreating figure as she entered the house, his lips twitching slightly as he said, "Alright! Guangtian, Jiecheng, put in more effort later!"

Liu Guangtian and Yan Jiecheng, two teenagers, were called upon, both looking somewhat unwilling. Liu Guangtian muttered, "It's the middle of the night...we have school tomorrow..." Yan Jiecheng also looked distressed, "Pushing a cart to the hospital will be exhausting..." But under Yi Zhonghai's stern gaze, the two shrank back and didn't dare to utter another word.

Before long, Sha Zhu returned, panting heavily, pulling a dilapidated cart. The cart creaked and groaned, as if it might fall apart at any moment. With a few hands and feet, and under Sha Zhu's direction and amidst Qin Huairu's suppressed cries of pain, they finally managed to carefully move her, wrapped in a blanket, onto the cart. The cart was covered with only a thin layer of straw, which was uncomfortable, and every slight bump caused Qin Huairu to gasp in pain.

"Steady! Push steadily! Don't jolt Sister Qin!" Sha Zhu, like a commander-in-chief, held the edge of the cart while shouting at Liu Guangtian and Yan Jiecheng who were pushing it. He himself followed the cart, stumbling along, his eyes fixed on Qin Huairu on the cart, his face full of heartache and anxiety, sweat dripping down his bowl-cut hair.

Jia Dongxu, supporting himself on the other side, was pale and kept saying, "Huai Ru, bear with it, we'll be at the hospital soon..." Yi Zhonghai followed behind the cart, his brows furrowed, looking worried and burdened with a heavy responsibility.

Under the dim streetlights, the cart creaked and swayed as it made its way toward the nearest hospital. Wei Chen stood at the entrance of the courtyard house, watching the chaotic, slow, snail-like procession disappear around the corner of the alley, before turning back to his own courtyard expressionlessly.