Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Ever since that time on the west bank of Houhai Lake in Shichahai, when he followed Wei Chen and caught a golden carp, Yan Bugui seemed to have unlocked his full potential and completely understood the "true meaning" of life—follow Wei Chen, and you'll have meat to eat!

So, every time Wei Chen went out with his fishing rod, Yan Bugui would appear like a ghost at the courtyard gate, his face plastered with an almost fawning smile: "Wei Chen! Going fishing again? The weather's great today, you're sure to have a big catch! Your uncle's just sitting around at home anyway, I'll come with you, lend a hand, even just carry the bucket!" His reasons were sound, his attitude humble, making it hard to refuse. Wei Chen was too lazy to argue with him, treating him as a follower who could sometimes help fend off unnecessary onlookers and pestering.

Yan Bugui's "investment" yielded a rich return. He discovered a magical pattern: whenever Wei Chen had a "lucky streak" and caught a series of big fish, even giants weighing tens of kilograms, then Yan Bugui, as long as he fished near Wei Chen, would always catch one or even two decent-sized fish! It was like manna from heaven!

Once or twice could be a coincidence, but what about three or four times? Yan Bugui's heart was completely boiling! He believed that Wei Chen had his own method for observing whether there were fish underwater, and that he was also a lucky person.

That evening, he sat cross-legged on his kang (heated brick bed), sipping cheap, diluted liquor with a small dish of pickled vegetable shreds, excitedly analyzing the situation with his third aunt, spittle flying everywhere:

"Old woman! Have you noticed? Wei Chen, that kid, he's not just lucky, he's incredibly lucky! He's... he's blessed with good fortune! It's like the God of Wealth is chasing after him!"

Yan Bugui's small eyes lit up, and he excitedly tapped the kang table with his fingers. "Just think about it! How long has he been in the city? He got a job, a permanent employee at the steel mill! He got a house, such a big east wing! And now? Fishing is like child's play for him, the fish all jump onto his hook! If we follow him, won't we always be able to benefit from it?"

That time at Shichahai was one example, and it happened several times afterward! Whenever he catches a big fish, we're guaranteed to make some money too! What does that mean? It means he's a living treasure trove! His luck is incredible! As long as we stick close to him, we'll never have to worry about not having good days ahead!

The old woman nodded repeatedly, her cloudy eyes filled with hope: "Old man, you're right! This Wei Chen, he seems so quiet, but he's actually very lucky! The future of our Jie Cheng, Jie Fang, and Jie Kuang might just depend on him!"

The couple grew increasingly excited as they talked, as if they could see countless large, shimmering fish and glistening, fatty pork belly beckoning to them. Yan Bugui immediately gave the order, issuing an important family directive:

Yan Bugui will definitely continue to be Wei Chen's "fishing follower" without fail, rain or shine! He will also try his best to emulate Wei Chen in the compound if he can help him.

"Yan Jiecheng, as the eldest son in the family, you should take the initiative to get close to Wei Chen! If you see any heavy work at Wei Chen's house, no matter if they ask you or not, take the initiative! Carry water, chop wood, sweep the yard! Be observant! Be sweet-talking! Consider it as exercise! Small contributions now will be great rewards in the future!" Yan Bugui said earnestly.

"Jiefang, you need to take extra care of Wei Chen's younger sister, Wei Ran, at school! That girl, Wei Ran, is so clever! Jiefang, keep an eye on her at school, don't let anyone bully her! Remember, she's your brother Wei Chen's own sister! Getting along well with her is more effective than your dad catching ten fish!"

So, while others in the courtyard were envious and jealous of the aroma of meat from Wei Chen's family, secretly cursing or plotting how to take advantage, the Yan family, like the most devout believers, launched a comprehensive "licking" campaign around Wei Chen, this "living god of wealth."

That evening, the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the rooftops of the courtyard house in a golden-red hue. From the east wing, an unprecedented, overwhelmingly powerful aroma of meat wafted through the air! This fragrance was incredibly complex and rich, a blend of the caramelized aroma of frying oil, the robust scent of spices like star anise and cinnamon, the mellow richness of soy sauce, and a... a pure meaty aroma that sent shivers down one's spine!

It's not a fish! It's definitely not a fish!

This aroma is richer, more domineering, and more captivating than fish-fragrant aroma! It's like an invisible hand that instantly grips the throats of everyone in the entire courtyard!

In the middle courtyard, Sha Zhu, who was absentmindedly washing vegetables at the tap, dropped a cabbage into the basin with a "plop," splashing water everywhere.

He seemed frozen in place, abruptly raising his head, his nose twitching violently, his eyes wide, his Adam's apple bobbing wildly: "My...my God! This...this is...stewed meat?! Braised pork?! This flavor...is amazing!" As a chef, he had an extremely high level of discernment when it came to the smell of meat. This aroma was even more enticing than the one from his own Tan family's secret recipe! A strong craving and professional curiosity instantly seized him.

Madam Jia was stirring the cornmeal porridge in the pot, which was so thick you could see your reflection in it, while cursing and swearing. The rich aroma of meat blasted in like a cannonball, and the spoon in her hand fell to the edge of the pot with a clatter.

She rushed to the door, flung open the curtain, and gasped greedily, almost frantically, drool dripping from the corner of her mouth: "Meat...meat! Real meat! Not fish! It's pork! It's pork belly! My dear mother and great-grandmother!"

"That little beast Wei Chen...where...where did he get this meat?! How much oil, soy sauce, and all those good ingredients must he have used! Wasteful! That damned spendthrift! How...how dare he do this?!" Her eyes were red with jealousy, and she wished she could rush into the east courtyard and snatch that pot of meat right away!

Qin Huairu stood by the window, holding her crying, hungry daughter Jia Dang in her arms. The rich aroma of meat wafted into her nostrils, like a hook, fiercely stirring the churning hunger in her stomach. Looking at her thin, crying daughter in her arms, and then at the thin, watery porridge in the pot, a huge wave of sorrow and grievance surged into her heart, and tears silently streamed down her face.

They are both women, both have children, so why is there such a big difference? The mother-in-law, Jia Zhangshi, is well-fed and plump, and her son, Banggeng, has a round face and a strong physique compared to other children his age. Only she and her newborn daughter seem to be outsiders in this family, unable to even get a decent meal.

Yi Zhonghai stood at his own door, his face so gloomy it could drip water. The aroma of the meat was like a resounding slap across the face of this "highly respected old man."

Wei Chen, that kid, not only eats fish every meal, but now he's even eating pork! He's living a better life than this level eight worker! How is he supposed to reconcile this? How is he supposed to convince everyone?

The most important pawn in his retirement plan, Jia Dongxu's family, although they were used to crying poor and playing the victim, actually lived a life far from being destitute thanks to Jia Dongxu's salary, Yi Zhonghai's overt and covert assistance, and Sha Zhu's occasional lunchboxes.

But Wei Chen's "luxurious" lifestyle was undoubtedly a slap in the face to Yi Zhonghai! A strong sense of crisis and anger at being offended rose in his heart.

Liu Haizhong, his belly protruding, stood under the moon gate in the backyard, his face ashen. He inhaled deeply the meaty aroma in the air, an aroma that both tantalized and enraged him. His thick hands clenched into fists: "Outrageous! Utterly lawless! Where did this brat get his meat ration coupons? Where did he get the money to buy so much meat? There's definitely something fishy going on here!"

"This must be investigated! It must be dealt with seriously! This is undermining socialism! It is a serious case of bourgeois hedonism!" He felt that his authority and sense of superiority as a "leader" had been completely trampled by this pot of meat.

Yan Bugui also smelled it, but his reaction was completely different. He was squatting at his doorstep, repairing his dilapidated bicycle, which rattled everywhere except for the bell, in the dim light of the setting sun.

Upon smelling the overwhelming aroma of meat, he was first taken aback, then his small eyes suddenly lit up! He threw down the wrench, jumped up, and a smile of almost ecstatic joy spread across his face. He lowered his voice and excitedly said to the three women in the house, "Old women! Can you smell it? Can you smell it? Meat! Wei Chen's family is stewing meat! Good heavens, this smell... it must be at least top-quality pork belly! And they must have been generous with the seasoning!"

What does this mean? It means that Wei Chen, that kid, has some connections! He can even get his hands on meat! We've chosen the right person to follow! We've chosen the right person! Success! Success! He shouted excitedly into the house, "Tomorrow! Go to Wei Chen's house first thing tomorrow morning! Check if the water tank is empty? If there's enough firewood? You need to be observant! You need to be observant!"

While the aroma of the pot of meat made all the neighbors in the courtyard restless and each harbored their own secrets, the scene in the east wing was quite different.

In the kitchen, Wang Xiulan, wearing an apron, looked at the tempting, bright red, marbled pork belly chunks bubbling in the pot, her face full of heartache and reluctance: "Chen'er, this... this is such a waste of oil and soy sauce! And this sugar... such precious stuff! Stewing a fish would be so much better..." She was used to being frugal, and seeing her son putting so many precious seasonings into the pot made her heart bleed.

Wei Chen carefully turned the meat pieces in the pan with a spatula, ensuring each side was evenly coated with sauce. A relaxed smile played on his lips. "Mom, don't worry. Fish has its own way of being eaten, and meat has its own flavor. It's not like we can't afford to eat like this now."

"You've worked hard all your life, so you can afford to have braised pork occasionally. Your son can still grow! Xiao Ran and Xiao Cao are at the age where they need to grow; just eating fish isn't enough. They need some variety and some oil." He pointed to the stove, "Look, you're almost out of oil and soy sauce, aren't you? I'll get some tomorrow, I promise there will be plenty."

He spoke casually, but Wang Xiulan knew her son had "connections." Although she still felt it was a luxury, looking at the trembling, glistening chunks of meat in the pot, smelling the irresistible aroma, and thinking of her daughters' longing eyes, she swallowed the rest of her words.

Wei Ran and Xiao Cao were already huddled together at the kitchen door, their little heads pressed together, their eyes wide open, watching the meat bubbling in the pot, swallowing hard, their faces filled with eager anticipation. Yes, Xiao Cao was practically like a daughter to Wei Chen, but Wei Chen was willing, and Wang Xiulan also liked this sensible child.

"Brother, is it ready yet? It smells so good! My stomach has been growling a hundred times!" Wei Ran couldn't help but urge her. "Brother Chen, when can we eat the meat?" Xiao Cao's voice was soft and sweet, filled with anticipation.

Wei Chen laughed heartily, "Almost done! Let it simmer a little longer until the broth thickens and the meat melts in your mouth—that's when it'll taste best! Go, set the table, get all the bowls and chopsticks ready, and let's eat!"

The two little girls cheered and flew towards the main room like two happy little birds.

The rich aroma of meat, like a domineering declaration, wafted continuously from the east courtyard, stirring the tense and greedy nerves of the entire courtyard. A storm surrounding this pot of meat was silently brewing.