Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

The next morning, just as Wei Chen was pushing his bicycle to leave for work, Yan Jie appeared at the entrance of the east courtyard as if at the exact moment.

He forced a slightly stiff but enthusiastic smile: "Brother Wei Chen, off to work? Is there any water left in your water tank? I'll go fill it up for you right away!"

"Thanks, Jiecheng. You forgot, my house has running water directly!" Wei Chen laughed.

"Then let me sweep the yard for you!"

Before Wei Chen could respond, she picked up the broom by the wall and started sweeping with practiced ease. Her eagerness was so obvious that the neighbor who came out to empty the chamber pot next door just grimaced.

Wei Chen watched Yan Jiecheng's retreating figure, shook his head, and said nothing. He knew the Yan family's intentions perfectly well. As long as it wasn't excessive, he would let them be, and he was even willing to take care of the Third Uncle appropriately while fishing.

However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. Wei Chen's family's "luxurious" lifestyle, especially the earth-shattering pot of braised pork last night, finally made some people restless.

As evening approached, Wei Chen still hadn't returned. Yi Zhonghai, hands behind his back, strolled leisurely to the entrance of the east courtyard. With his usual gentle yet authoritative smile, he greeted Wang Xiulan, who was picking vegetables in the yard, "Xiulan, busy, aren't you?"

When Wang Xiulan saw Yi Zhonghai, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly put down the vegetables she was holding and stood up somewhat awkwardly: "Uncle...did you need something?"

"Hehe, it's nothing serious." Yi Zhonghai walked into the yard with a smile, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the neat vegetable plots and the corner of the wall with the running water pool, where the shadows of large fish could be vaguely seen swimming.

Finally, Yi Zhonghai's gaze fell on Wang Xiulan. "That's right, looking at your Weichen, he's really becoming more and more successful! His fishing skills are something else!" He gave a thumbs up. "He's solved a big problem for the factory! He's brought honor to our courtyard house!"

Wang Xiulan smiled ingratiatingly, but inwardly she became wary: "Uncle, you flatter me. It's all thanks to the factory leaders' care. The child was just lucky..."

"Hey, Xiulan, you can't say that." Yi Zhonghai waved his hand, interrupting Wang Xiulan's modesty, and then changed the subject, his tone becoming earnest, "Wei Chen is capable and living a good life, which makes us elders happy. However..."

He paused, a perfectly measured worry on his face. "Living like this, you can't just think of yourself. In our courtyard house, everything is about 'harmony' and 'helping each other.' Look at the Jia family in the front yard, Dongxu's wife just gave birth to a baby girl, and they're struggling financially! Banggeng's grandmother is old, and Dongxu's salary is all he has to support the whole family. They eat thin porridge and pickled vegetables every day, the adults don't have enough breast milk, and the baby cries from hunger... It's truly heartbreaking to see!"

Wang Xiulan's heart skipped a beat; she sensed something was amiss, but remained silent. She knew perfectly well that the Jia family was always one to feign poverty. Jia Zhangshi and Bang Geng were plump and healthy; they certainly didn't seem genuinely struggling.

Yi Zhonghai sighed, his voice becoming even more "earnest": "I know it's not easy for your Weichen to get fish and meat. But, neighbors should help each other out, right? Especially Huai Ru, she just gave birth and is very weak, she needs nutrition right now."

If your family has any fish or meat left over, share a little with the Jia family, even just a bowl of soup or a few pieces of meat. That would be a life-saving act of kindness! If word gets out, it will show that Wei Chen is a kind, sensible, and neighborly-friendly child! It's good for his reputation! Don't you think so, Xiulan?"

These words were spoken in a grand and impeccable manner, raising the banner of morality high and pointing directly at the "conscience" of Wang Xiulan and Wei Chen.

Wang Xiulan's face paled. She was gentle by nature, but raising two children alone in the countryside wasn't something easily bullied; she just hadn't expected to encounter such people in the city. Faced with Yi Zhonghai's combination of soft and hard tactics, his attempt to occupy the moral high ground for "persuasion," she was momentarily at a loss for words, feeling an immense pressure bearing down on her. She stammered, "Uncle...this...our family..."

Just then, a sarcastic, jealous voice came from outside the moon gate: "Oh! An old man here too? Here to help the Wei family open their granaries and give relief to us poor neighbors?"

Just then, Jia Zhangshi appeared at the door, pulling her plump son, Bang Geng, like a hyena smelling blood. She had clearly overheard Yi Zhonghai's last words and immediately seized the opportunity, her triangular eyes fixed on Wang Xiulan, her face contorted with exaggerated sorrow: "Wang Xiulan! You can't just stand by and watch him die! Our Huai Ru, poor thing! She gave birth to a money-losing child, her health has collapsed, she can't even get a bowl of thick porridge! Bang Geng is at the age where he needs to grow, he's so thin and pale from hunger every day!"

As she spoke, she pinched Banggeng's arm hard. Banggeng immediately cooperated by covering his lower abdomen and pretending to be hungry, but his round little face and sturdy body were really not convincing!

"Your family is so lucky, eating fish and meat every day. The aroma is so enticing that it makes my son and me lose our souls! Uncle Yi is right! Your Wei Chen is so capable. Getting food is easy for him. He only has a little bit left between his fingers, but that's enough for our family to survive! Please have pity on us, a widow and her child!" As she spoke, she pretended to wipe away non-existent tears.

Forced to retreat by the two's coordinated attack, Wang Xiulan's face turned deathly pale, and she felt utterly helpless, unable to defend herself. Just as she was about to be overwhelmed, a calm and cold voice rang out behind her:

"Grandpa, Grandma Jia, what's going on here?"

Wei Chen returned at some point. He stood expressionless beside Wang Xiulan, pushing his bicycle. His gaze, like two cold knives, swept over Yi Zhonghai's hypocritical face and finally landed on Jia Zhangshi's greedy and mean-spirited face.

When Yi Zhonghai saw Wei Chen, his heart tightened, but he maintained the "concern" of an elder: "Wei Chen's back? Perfect timing. Your mother and I were just talking about how neighbors should help each other. The Jia family is really struggling right now; Huai Ru is weak, and Bang Geng is hungry. Your family is a bit better off, so could you... give them some help? A bowl of soup, a few pieces of meat—it's nothing to you, but it could be a lifesaver for them! This also reflects the spirit of unity and mutual assistance in our compound!"

Jia Zhangshi immediately chimed in, her voice shrill: "That's right! Wei Chen! You're one of us from this compound! You can't forget your roots just because you've become successful! You can't forget your neighbors! Look at our Dongxu, he works at the same factory as you! Can you bear to watch his wife and children go hungry? The meat you stewed last night, the aroma… oh my, it was so tempting! What's wrong with sharing a bowl with us? It'll cost you a piece of your flesh!"

Looking at the two faces before him, etched with calculation and greed, and listening to their high-sounding "moral blackmail," Wei Chen felt a surge of anger rising in his chest. A cold smile curved his lips, and his voice, though soft, carried clearly to everyone's ears:

"Oh? Difficulties? Need help?" He paused, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Yi Zhonghai. "Uncle, you're a grade eight worker, with the highest salary in the entire compound. Your family consists of just you and your wife, so your burden is the lightest. Logically speaking, shouldn't you be the one to 'take the lead' in helping the Jia family?"

Even a little bit of food leaking from between your fingers would be enough to feed the Jia family for a month, wouldn't it? Shouldn't your level of awareness and neighborly affection, which you're supposed to be, be reflected in your actions?

Yi Zhonghai blushed at the question and stammered, "I...I...this..."

Wei Chen didn't give him a chance to explain. He turned his gaze to Jia Zhangshi, his tone even colder, filled with undisguised sarcasm: "Aunt Jia, you say your family is poor? Eating thin porridge and pickled vegetables every meal? Starving and emaciated?"

He looked Jia Zhangshi up and down, observing her plump figure and Bang Geng's round face. "Oh, where does your son Jia Dongxu's monthly salary of twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents go? How come you two are so 'pale and thin'? I think Bang Geng's physique is much stronger than our Xiao Ran's!"

"What's wrong with Jia Dongxu? Qin Huairu can't even get an egg while she's in postpartum confinement. Where's the money? Did your son gamble it away? Did he lose it? Or did it all end up in your pocket, saved for your retirement and your coffin?" He emphasized the words "pale and thin".

When Wei Chen touched a nerve, especially when his secret stash of money was mentioned, Jia Zhangshi jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointing at Wei Chen and cursing, "Bullshit! You little beast! You're spouting nonsense! Our family's affairs are none of your business! You..."

"Shut up!" Wei Chen shouted suddenly. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable chill, instantly suppressing Jia Zhangshi's tantrum.

His gaze swept over Yi Zhonghai and Jia Zhangshi, sharp as lightning, and he said, word by word: "Want to eat? Sure. Bring your food coupons! Bring your money! The fish I, Wei Chen, catch and the meat I hunt don't fall from the sky! And they're not for you parasites who only know how to ask for handouts and complain about being poor, but actually eat better than anyone else! How my family lives, whether we eat fish or meat, how much we eat, is none of your business! If you dare to make a scene at my door again, don't blame me for being ruthless! Get out!"

The final "Get out!" was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, shocking Yi Zhonghai and Jia Zhangshi, turning their faces pale and making them tremble.

Looking into Wei Chen's cold, all-seeing eyes, Yi Zhonghai felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. The "old man" dignity he had carefully maintained vanished in that instant.

His lips trembled, and he wanted to say something to save face, but he couldn't utter a single word. In the end, he could only glare fiercely at Wei Chen, throw down the words "Incomprehensible!", and turn away in a sorry state.

Madam Jia was also intimidated by Wei Chen's imposing manner, especially by the words "parasite" and the cold "get lost," which filled her with unprecedented fear. She cursed fiercely but inwardly, "You little beast, you just wait!" and dragged the still dazed Bang Geng away, slinking off in a sorry state.

Looking at her son's upright figure and the two men's disheveled escape, Wang Xiulan breathed a long sigh of relief. The anxiety that had been hanging over her finally subsided, but then a trace of worry welled up again: "Chen'er... will this... be..."

Wei Chen turned around, his icy expression instantly melting into a gentle smile. He patted his mother's hand, "Mom, it's alright. Reasoning with these people who take advantage of you, pretending to be pitiful even though they're not poor, is useless. They need to learn their lesson. If they dare come again, just call me. We'll live our own lives behind closed doors. Whether the meat tastes good or not, we know best." He glanced at Wei Ran and Xiao Cao, their little heads peeking out from the doorway of the main room, looking at him with adoration, and laughed, "Come on, come inside. Tonight, there's plenty of braised pork!"