Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Director Wang listened quietly, her face expressionless, though her sharp eyes lingered for a moment on Jia Zhangshi and Yi Zhonghai's faces before sweeping over the anxious neighbors. Once they had both finished speaking and the room quieted down, she cleared her throat, her voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"Everyone, please be quiet. I had already consulted with the relevant departments and reviewed the relevant documents before I came regarding the issue of planting vegetables in the small spaces around houses, walls, and corners."

She looked calmly at the crowd and continued, "I believe everyone is aware of the current situation across the country. In many rural areas, to address temporary difficulties and improve the lives of commune members, they are actively encouraging and organizing them to utilize idle and marginal land around houses and along field edges to cultivate vegetables or raise chickens and ducks, within the scope permitted by policy. This is called 'self-help through production'! It is permitted and even encouraged by the state under the current circumstances!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi's smugness and excitement instantly froze, her eyes widening as if she couldn't believe her ears. Yi Zhonghai's pupils also contracted slightly, a crack appearing in his composed expression, and his hand unconsciously clenched in his sleeve.

Director Wang's tone became more serious: "Just a few days ago, the higher authorities issued a special notice to all streets, factories, and units, requiring us at the grassroots level to give full play to our initiative and, without affecting urban sanitation, traffic, or neighborly harmony, to carry out various forms of 'production self-help' activities according to local conditions, in order to reduce the burden on the state and improve the lives of employees and residents!"

Her gaze shifted to the vegetable growers who had been anxious moments before, and her voice softened: "I'm not here to criticize anyone, much less to clean up anything. On the contrary, I heard that some residents in our No. 95 compound have spontaneously and ingeniously come up with ways to grow vegetables along the wall for self-sufficiency, and they're doing quite well. I came specifically to see the actual situation and summarize their experience! If it proves feasible, we'll promote it throughout our entire neighborhood!"

A low murmur rippled through the crowd. Jia Zhangshi's face turned from red to white, then from white to green. Her mouth hung open, unable to utter a single word for a long time, looking like a chicken with its neck being choked.

Yi Zhonghai felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water, chilled to the bone. The feigned composure on his face shattered completely, leaving only undisguised embarrassment and disappointment. He never imagined that his carefully prepared "attack" would become a stepping stone for Wei Chen and the others to "claim credit." His own "high-level" speech now sounded like a joke!

Those residents who had planted vegetables breathed a sigh of relief, their faces beaming with smiles of relief, and their backs seemed to straighten a bit more.

Director Wang, no longer observing the complex expressions on Jia Zhangshi and Yi Zhonghai's faces, said to the group, "Let's go, take me to see for myself. I heard that the two families in your courtyard are doing quite well under Wei Chen's guidance?"

So, amidst the complex gazes of the crowd, Director Wang first carefully examined the narrow yet lush "miniature vegetable garden" at the base of Grandma Li and Aunt Liu's wall, asking what they had planted, how they usually took care of it, and how the harvest was. Grandma Li and Aunt Liu were a little nervous, but they still answered truthfully. Director Wang nodded frequently as he listened.

Finally, the group arrived at Wei Chen's vegetable garden in the east courtyard. Compared to Grandma Li and Aunt Liu's "single line" vegetable garden, Wei Chen's vegetable garden was significantly larger. Although it was only a small plot, it was neatly planned, with different varieties of vegetables planted in separate rows, arranged at varying heights.

Chinese cabbage, radish, spinach, chives, scallions... there were even a few pumpkins and loofahs climbing along the low wall. Although the leaves were withered and yellow, a few old pumpkins could still be seen hanging on the vines. The soil in the ground had obviously been turned over and looked very fertile.

However, Wei Chen's yard is large and not representative of the general situation; the yards near Grandma Li and Aunt Liu's houses are more representative.

"Is Comrade Wei Chen home?" Director Wang asked.

Wei Chen was inside when he heard the noise and came out. Facing the neighborhood director, he remained neither servile nor arrogant, and his attitude was calm and composed.

Director Wang asked him several questions: How did you come up with the idea of ​​using this vacant land? What vegetables did you plant? How did you manage it? Did you encounter any difficulties?

Wei Chen was well-prepared. He combined some simple ideas about balcony planting and vertical planting from later generations, and of course, "packaged" them in a way that suited the specific circumstances of this era, and spoke eloquently.

For example, you can use discarded wooden boxes or broken jars to fill with soil, which can be moved around flexibly without damaging the ground; you can build simple bamboo pole frames to allow melons and beans to grow upwards, saving ground space and providing shade; you can use household rice water, rotten vegetable leaves, wood ash, etc. to make fertilizer, improve the soil, and reduce input; you can choose cold-resistant, drought-resistant varieties with short growth cycles to improve production efficiency, and so on.

He spoke clearly and logically, in a simple and practical way, which made Director Wang's eyes light up more and more. He nodded repeatedly and even took out a small notebook from his pocket to take notes.

"Good! Very good!" Director Wang closed his notebook, a rare approving smile appearing on his face. "Comrade Wei Chen, your methods are very practical and insightful! This is truly using your brains and finding ways to improve production and save ourselves!"

It doesn't occupy public land or disturb others, it effectively solves the family's vegetable problem, and it also beautifies the environment! Your experience is excellent and worth promoting! I'll have someone compile the materials and we'll try it out in our neighborhood. If it works well, I'll consider it a great achievement!

Later, Wei Chen actually received a certificate with a red stamp from the neighborhood committee and a Hero brand fountain pen for this. The items weren't expensive, but they were very meaningful.

More importantly, thanks to Director Wang's public affirmation and deliberate promotion, the practice of growing vegetables in the corners of courtyards and even the surrounding alleys has transformed from "potentially making a mistake" into "a good thing worth encouraging," and has even become a new trend.

Jia Zhangshi had been holding back her anger for several days, making veiled accusations at home, but no one echoed her anymore. Yi Zhonghai's attempt to regain his prestige through this completely failed; instead, his "reminder" made him appear narrow-minded and out of touch with reality, and his authority plummeted to rock bottom.

Recalling this past event, Wei Chen's lips curled slightly. A speck of dust in the era may fall as heavy as a mountain on an individual's head, but sometimes, a little wisdom in going with the flow can also cause some people to shoot themselves in the foot.

He shook his head, shaking off those thoughts; right now, something warmer awaited him.

"Grandma Li, Aunt Liu, please don't refuse." Wei Chen said with a sincere smile, his tone leaving no room for refusal. "We're all family here, and my Xiao Ran has always received a lot of help from you. We happened to have some good food today, and I was planning to invite Xiao Shitou and Xiao Cao over for a treat tonight, but this is perfect timing, saving me the trouble of making another trip. Please stay, let's all have a hot meal together!"

As he spoke, he walked to the bicycle and pointed to the two earthenware pots: "Look, everything is ready."

He first picked up the smaller earthenware pot, wrapped in a dark old cotton-padded coat. It was warm and heavy to the touch. He handed it to Niu Dali, who was standing next to him looking a little helpless: "Dali, give me a hand. Take this to the kitchen. Be careful, it's a bit hot."

Niu Dali exclaimed "Hey!" and quickly took it with both hands. The earthenware pot was warm to the touch, and even through his cotton-padded coat, he could feel its weight. Moreover, an indescribable, mouthwatering aroma wafted out, making him swallow hard.

Then, Wei Chen bent down and steadily picked up the larger earthenware pot, which was wrapped in a light-colored old cotton-padded jacket, and said to his mother, "Mom, I'll take this to the house first."

Wang Xiulan glanced at her son, then at the tightly wrapped earthenware jar, and seemed to understand something. A look of understanding and relief flashed in her eyes, and she nodded: "Yes, go ahead."

Wei Chen carried the large earthenware jar into the house. Grandma Li and Aunt Liu exchanged a glance. They were both shrewd people; Wei Chen must have brought back something good again. Neither of them asked what was in the jar, but they were even more impressed with Wei Chen's abilities and felt a surge of gratitude. In these days, to be able to get something "good" and still think of them—this kindness was truly profound.

Wei Chen quickly came out empty-handed, a relaxed smile on his face. He explained to Niu Dali, who was full of curiosity, and his mother, Grandma Li, and Aunt Liu, who were looking at him with questioning eyes, "It's beef soup. A friend who works at a slaughterhouse got it. He got some meat from me before and shared some with me out of gratitude!"

It was simmered until very thick, with a thick layer of oil floating on top! I was thinking, since it's getting cold, it's a good time to invite Grandma Li, Aunt Liu, and Little Stone and Little Grass over for some hot soup to warm us up and satisfy our cravings.

"Beef soup?" Grandma Li and Aunt Liu exclaimed simultaneously, their faces lighting up with unbelievable joy. Beef! This was even rarer than pork! It was usually only seen during festivals or special occasions, and even then, it was mostly just tough bits and pieces. Wei Chen had actually managed to get his hands on beef and make soup! This kindness…

"This...this is too precious! Wei Chen, you can't accept this!" Grandma Li hurriedly waved her hands, her withered hands trembling slightly. "You keep it for yourselves to nourish yourselves! How can we..."

"Yes, Wei Chen, you young people need nutrition, and your mother needs to nourish her body too. This is good stuff, you should all..." Aunt Liu quickly declined, although the faint aroma of meat made her swallow hard.

"Oh, Grandma, Auntie, don't be so polite!" A clear and cheerful voice came from the courtyard gate, accompanied by the sound of thumping footsteps.

Wei Ran flew in like a little bird, her schoolbag bouncing behind her. Behind her followed a chubby-faced, tanned little boy and a little girl with two pigtails, thin but with exceptionally bright eyes.

It was Little Stone and Little Grass!

"Godmother! Brother Chen!" Little Stone shouted loudly, scratching the back of his head a little embarrassedly. Niu Xiaocao, on the other hand, shyly hid behind Little Stone and whispered, "Godmother, Brother Chen."