Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Li Huaide's tone softened even more, showing greater trust: "Xiao Wei, don't overthink it. It's not that I don't trust you. It's just that this matter is of utmost importance, and we must be cautious. Here's what we'll do: tell me your current address and contact information, and I'll immediately find a way to raise the money and wire it to you! Fifteen thousand yuan! You must handle this matter flawlessly! As long as the goods can be safely transported back, I, Li Huaide, will certainly not treat you unfairly! You will be the number one hero in our steel rolling mill's logistics system!"

"Yes, Director Li! Don't worry! I will do my best to ensure that the goods are brought back safely and intact!" Wei Chen's voice was filled with excitement and a sense of mission.

Next, Wei Chen gave the guesthouse's name, address, and room number. Li Huaide carefully noted it down, and repeatedly reminded him to be careful, stay in touch, and pick up the goods immediately after receiving the money, before hanging up the phone.

Putting down the receiver, Wei Chen breathed a soft sigh of relief. The first step was successful. Li Huaide's reaction was as expected; it was both a sign of trust and a deeper bond.

For the next two days, Wei Chen did not leave the guesthouse, but occasionally went out to wander around the neighborhood to familiarize himself with the environment and keep an eye out for anything unusual.

During this time, he first went to the abandoned brick kiln outside the city, which he had already scouted out with his mental power. He then carefully selected thirty medium-sized, but not top-tier, wild donkeys and two hundred well-fed gazelles and put them into his spatial backpack.

The cold northern climate froze the meat solid overnight, which was deliberately arranged by Wei Chen. Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense for the station to send people to fetch meat while Wei Chen only brought out fresh meat from his space!

The next morning, the staff at the guesthouse reception stopped Wei Chen, who was about to leave: "Comrade Wei Chen, there's a telegram remittance slip for you!"

Wei Chen took the thin piece of paper, which was indeed a wire transfer voucher. The amount transferred was 15,000 yuan, and the remitter's name was a subordinate department of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill (obviously arranged by Li Huaide). The remarks column only contained the simple words "procurement expenses".

Li Huaide's efficiency and decisiveness are evident. Fifteen thousand yuan was a truly enormous sum in that era.

Wei Chen immediately went to the designated post office to withdraw the cash, several thick stacks of "Big Black Ten" bills, carefully wrapped them in old newspapers, and put them into his spatial storage—there was no safer place than here.

His opinion of Li Huaide rose even higher. This Deputy Factory Director Li was indeed bold and decisive in critical moments, and he had enough means and power.

After withdrawing the money, he did not immediately go to "pick up the goods." Instead, he found a quiet place and dialed Li Huaide's number again.

"Director Li, the money has been received! Fifteen thousand yuan, not a penny less!" Wei Chen reported. "Good! Xiao Wei, it's up to you now! Did the pickup go smoothly? How was the transportation handled? What kind of cooperation is needed from the factory?" Li Huaide's voice was filled with concern and urgency.

"Director Li, I was just about to report to you about the transportation," Wei Chen said. "I've confirmed the goods; they're in a suburban area. But there are too many to handle with manpower and ordinary vehicles. We need large trucks, and ideally, they should be able to drive directly to the train station. Rail freight is the fastest and safest option."

Our factory is located in Baotou. Are there any transportation connections we can utilize? Or, could we coordinate with the railway department here under the guise of "special material support" for our factory? After all, this large quantity of meat is necessary to ensure our factory's production and the livelihoods of our employees; it's a special case.

On the other end of the phone, Li Huaide was silent for a moment, clearly thinking quickly. Coordinating railway transportation across provinces, especially mobilizing trucks and arranging special trains, is extremely difficult and requires very strong connections and justifications.

However, Wei Chen's mention of "special material support" is indeed a good starting point. For state-owned factories with tens of thousands of employees, year-end supplies, especially scarce strategic materials like meat, can sometimes be obtained by breaking with convention.

"Xiao Wei, your thinking is spot on!" Li Huaide made up his mind. "You just wait at the guesthouse and don't do anything rash. I'll immediately contact Baotou through the factory and ministry connections! Prepare your letter of introduction and identification, and be ready to cooperate with the railway officials there! Remember, follow orders in all actions, and safety comes first!"

"Yes! I understand!" Wei Chen replied.

The following day, Wei Chen waited at the guesthouse. He behaved like an ordinary business traveler anxiously awaiting instructions from his superiors. During this time, the guesthouse receptionist received another call for him; it was Li Huaide, who told him that they were working hard to coordinate and asked him to wait patiently.

On the afternoon of the third day, a dark green "Jiefang" brand truck with a railway emblem on its front rumbled to a stop in front of the guesthouse. Two men jumped out: one, in his forties, wearing a faded railway uniform, with a serious face and sharp eyes; the other, younger, appeared to be an assistant or driver. Five workers who looked like loaders were also on the truck behind.

The serious-looking middle-aged man walked straight to the front desk and showed an ID: "Comrade, we're looking for Comrade Wei Chen, who lives here at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill in Beijing."

The front desk staff didn't dare to be negligent and quickly gave directions.

Soon, there was a knock on Wei Chen's door. He opened the door, and the two exchanged a brief glance.

"Are you Comrade Wei Chen? I'm Zhang Jianguo from the Logistics Dispatch Section of Baotou Railway Station." The serious-looking middle-aged man spoke in a businesslike tone. "I received a notice from higher authorities and a coordination letter from your factory to assist you in transferring a batch of 'special support materials.' Here's the approval slip." He handed over a piece of paper stamped with a red seal.

Wei Chen took the document with both hands and quickly glanced at it. The document approved the use of one truck from within the station to assist Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill in transferring a batch of "urgently needed production support materials." It was signed and stamped by a department of the railway station.

"Section Chief Zhang, thank you for your hard work! Thank you for the support from the railway station leaders!" Wei Chen immediately smiled gratefully. "The supplies are just outside the city, not far. I'll lead the way."

"Okay, get in the car." Zhang Jianguo's words were concise and to the point, without any unnecessary words. Clearly, his instructions were simply to complete the task without asking any more questions or saying anything more.

The truck drove out of the city and, guided by Wei Chen, drove along a bumpy dirt road for about half an hour until it arrived at the abandoned brick kiln.

Wei Chen went ahead first, and with a thought, he placed the previously frozen meat through the wall into the broken brick cave.

When Zhang Jianguo and his young assistant and five loaders saw the mountain of frozen, plump wild donkeys and gazelles piled up in the brick kiln, even the most knowledgeable among them couldn't help but gasp in astonishment, their eyes filled with shock.

"This...this was all obtained by your factory?" Zhang Jianguo couldn't help but ask, his tone filled with disbelief. Such a large quantity of high-quality wild game was simply incredible in the current climate.

"Yes, the factory put in a lot of effort, and we were lucky to have caught the animal migration," Wei Chen explained vaguely, then changed the subject, "Section Chief Zhang, how do you plan to load the trucks? Do you need our help?"

Zhang Jianguo composed himself and resumed his serious, professional demeanor: "No need, we have experience. Xiao Liu, get the notebook, and do the inventory and registration! Note that, according to the approval document, we are only assisting in the transfer to the designated warehouse within the station, and we will not inquire about the specific categories or origins." The last sentence was clearly addressed to both his assistant and Wei Chen, indicating that they were only responsible for transportation and would not be concerned with anything else.

The young man named Xiao Liu immediately took out a register and a pen and began counting the animals with Wei Chen. Wei Chen naturally reported the numbers as thirty wild donkeys and two hundred gazelles. Zhang Jianguo supervised from the side, occasionally checking the quality of the frozen meat and nodding in approval.

After the inventory was completed, Zhang Jianguo and Xiao Liu began to have the loaders load the truck in an orderly manner. They were all experienced and knew how to make full use of the truck space, neatly stacking the wild donkeys and gazelles and securing them with the tarpaulins and ropes they had brought. Wei Chen also helped with delivering and binding them.

It took more than an hour of work to load the truck completely, and then cover it tightly with a thick tarpaulin. Zhang Jianguo checked the ropes again to ensure they were secure and nodded.

"Comrade Wei Chen, get on the train. We'll go straight back to the station and put the goods in the No. 3 backup warehouse. It's quiet there, and it will be easier for you to arrange railcars later," Zhang Jianguo said.

The truck, laden with heavy "New Year's goods," roared towards Baotou Railway Station. On the way, Zhang Jianguo was quiet, only occasionally inquiring about the steel rolling mill, avoiding any discussion of the meat's origin, displaying a high degree of professional tact. Wei Chen was happy with this, chatting casually.

Upon arriving at the train station, the truck drove directly into the freight yard through a side gate and proceeded to a relatively quiet warehouse. The warehouse manager, who had been notified beforehand, was already waiting there and opened the warehouse door. Everyone busied themselves unloading the goods and neatly stacking them in a corner of the warehouse. Zhang Jianguo had the manager issue a temporary storage slip, in duplicate, one copy for Wei Chen and one for the station staff.

"Comrade Wei Chen, my mission is complete." Zhang Jianguo extended his hand. "Your factory should have already coordinated with the passenger and freight transport department regarding the subsequent railcar scheduling. We will notify you of the specific time. This batch of goods... is very good. Your factory is fortunate." He rarely showed a smile.

"Thank you so much, Section Chief Zhang! And Comrade Liu too! You've worked so hard!" Wei Chen grasped Zhang Jianguo's hand tightly, expressing his sincere gratitude. Of course, Wei Chen didn't skimp on the "gifts" either! On the way there, Wei Chen had already handed over a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes! Of course, this was covered by special funds, and Deputy Factory Director Li would reimburse him later. Without the meticulous and responsible Section Chief Zhang and the cooperation of the railway station behind him, this batch of goods could not have entered the railway system so smoothly from the field.

After seeing Zhang Jianguo and Xiao Liu off, Wei Chen looked at the mountain of prey piled up in the warehouse and felt a huge weight lifted from his heart. The most troublesome part—the transfer—was solved. Next, it was just a matter of waiting for the special train.

The waiting time was shorter than expected. Just one day later, Li Huaide called again, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement: "Xiao Wei! Great news! The wagon has been arranged! It's not an ordinary freight car, but an insulated car attached to a special cargo train! Directly to Beijing! Loading will begin tomorrow night, and it will depart early the day after tomorrow! You'll come back with the train! Be careful on the road and keep an eye on the goods!"

"Yes, Director Li! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Wei Chen's spirits lifted.

Shocking the entire factory (Add one chapter)

The following evening, with the cooperation of the station staff, the thirty wild donkeys and two hundred gazelles were carefully loaded onto the carriage equipped with simple insulation facilities.

Wei Chen, acting as the "escort," also boarded the carriage. The doors closed and were locked from the inside. The carriage had no windows, only a few small ventilation openings, and was dimly lit, filled with a cold, chilly air and the distinctive, but not unpleasant, smell of fresh flesh.

The train rumbled into the night, departing from Baotou Station and speeding southeast towards the city of Beijing.

The train carriage lurched, and the air was biting cold. Wei Chen wrapped his coat tighter around himself, leaned against the neatly stacked pile of meat, and closed his eyes to rest. His mood, however, was as turbulent and expectant as the speeding train. This carriage carried not only meat, but also the key to a new chapter in his life after returning to Beijing.

After a two-day, one-night journey, the train slowly pulled into the West Station of Beijing one morning.

The train carriage door was pulled open from the outside, letting in bright morning light and slightly murky, cold air. The first thing Wei Chen saw was a group of people eagerly waiting on the platform. Leading them was a slightly plump man in a dark blue Zhongshan suit and a gray scarf, with fair skin—it was none other than Deputy Factory Director Li Huaide!

He was accompanied by several cadres, including the director of the factory office and the head of the logistics department, as well as seven or eight strong young workers wearing steel rolling mill uniforms.

Li Huaide spotted Wei Chen standing at the carriage door at a glance, and also saw the shocking mountain of flesh piled up inside the carriage! His eyes widened instantly, his face flushed with excitement and the cold wind, and his lips trembled slightly.

"Wei Chen! You've worked hard!" Li Huaide was the first to step forward, tightly grasped Wei Chen's hand, and shook it vigorously, his eyes overflowing with excitement and admiration.

"Director Li, it's no trouble at all, I've accomplished my mission!" Wei Chen responded "excitedly."

"Quick! Unload the truck! Be careful! Load it directly onto the truck from our factory!" Li Huaide immediately turned around and gave instructions, his voice booming with a triumphant air. The cadres and workers were also stunned by the scene inside the truck, and then burst into excited whispers, starting to unload, weigh, and load the goods with great enthusiasm.

The scene was bustling yet orderly. Li Huaide personally took the notebook and checked the quantities with the head of the logistics department. With each head counted, his smile grew brighter.

While everyone's attention was focused on unloading the goods, Wei Chen quietly approached Li Huaide and said quickly in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Director Li, at the very back of the cargo pile, near the side of the truck bed, there are three of the largest red deer covered separately with an old tarpaulin. Their pelts are intact. They were specially reserved for you and have not been recorded in the accounts."

Li Huaide paused slightly as he took notes, his pupils contracted instantly, and he abruptly looked up at Wei Chen. Wei Chen's expression was calm, his eyes clear, carrying a hint of unspoken respect.

For a fleeting moment, a look of extreme surprise crossed Li Huaide's face, which then transformed into an indescribable, deep smile that mixed ecstasy, admiration, and utter relief.

Wei Chen took the task assigned to him to heart. He not only completed the factory's task and solved his biggest problem, but also fulfilled the promise he had made in private. What leader wouldn't like a subordinate like that!

He nodded almost imperceptibly, said nothing, but patted Wei Chen's shoulder forcefully, three times harder than before.

it is more than words.

In this era, a three-headed, high-quality red deer was valued not only for its meat, but also as a scarce form of hard currency used for high-end patronage.

Wei Chen's "secret" generous gift not only demonstrates his thoroughness and prudence, but also serves as an effective pledge of loyalty and a binding of interests.

This shows that Wei Chen is not only a capable assistant who can accomplish great things for you, Li Huaide, but also a "one of our own" who knows the rules, knows when to advance and retreat, and is willing to share core interests with you.

The last trace of doubt and unease in Li Huaide's heart caused by the huge remittance vanished at this moment. In its place was an unprecedented sense of importance and trust, and a determination to truly include him in the core circle.

Wei Chen is an exceptionally capable and incredibly lucky person. What's even more remarkable is his understanding and loyalty (at least that's how he's acted so far). We must keep him firmly in our grasp!

"Wei Chen," Li Huaide said in a normal yet unusually warm tone, watching the workers busily moving the materials, "you've done a fantastic job this time! After the materials are stored, go home and rest for a few days, spend time with your mother and sister. The factory will definitely recognize your merit and reward you handsomely! Your position and salary will also be reconsidered! From now on, you'll need to take on more responsibility in logistics and procurement!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Director Li! I will definitely continue to work hard and live up to your expectations!" Wei Chen replied loudly, his mind clear and bright.

As the sun fully rose, its golden rays bathed the platform and illuminated the truckloads of bountiful prey—symbols of harvest, achievement, and new beginnings—that were about to be transported to the steel rolling mill.

Standing beside Li Huaide, Wei Chen watched the busy and hopeful scene, knowing that his nearly month-long trip to the grasslands, filled with both thrills and opportunities, had finally come to a perfect end, far exceeding his expectations.

Several large trucks, loaded with thirty wild donkeys and two hundred gazelles, drove slowly into the logistics compound of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, like a triumphant army, amidst a "human wall" of welcome spontaneously formed by the steel mill workers.

The wheels rolled over the factory roads, still covered in snow, leaving deep ruts. On the truck, the "trophy," covered with a thick tarpaulin, swelled high, exuding a cold yet alluring aura, attracting countless burning gazes.

The news had already spread throughout the entire factory like wildfire. When the truck came to a stop in front of the largest warehouse, number one, the open space in front of the warehouse was already packed with people. It wasn't just the logistics staff; many workshop workers had also rushed over during their breaks, standing on tiptoe, craning their necks, their faces filled with excitement, curiosity, and disbelief.

Deputy Factory Director Li Huaide stood beside a makeshift table at the warehouse entrance, his face beaming with pride and high spirits. The factory office director, logistics chief, security chief, and a whole host of other staff surrounded him, all equally excited. Wei Chen, as the "number one contributor," was also specially called to stand beside Li Huaide.

"Comrades! Quiet down!" Li Huaide, holding a tin megaphone, spoke loudly, drowning out the noise of the scene. "Today is a joyous day for our Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill! Our purchasing agent, Comrade Wei Chen, who was sent to Inner Mongolia, has lived up to expectations, braving hardships and dangers, and successfully purchased a batch of extremely valuable New Year's supplies for our mill under such difficult circumstances! Now, let's open the boxes, publicly count, weigh, and register them! Let's see with our own eyes what Comrade Wei Chen has brought back for our mill!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the young and strong workers from the logistics department, who had been prepared, rushed forward, lifted the tarpaulin, and began unloading the truck. When the first large, frozen, gray-brown wild donkey was lifted off the truck by four people and placed on the large weighing scale that had been prepared, the first gasp of surprise erupted from the crowd.

"My goodness! It's huge!" "Is that a wild donkey? It looks even bigger than a domestic donkey!" "How much does it weigh?!"

The weights on the scales were expertly moved, and the logistics accountant, responsible for recording the data, loudly announced: "First one, a wild donkey, net weight 487 jin!"

A louder exclamation rang out.

Then came the second, the third… Each wild donkey was carried off the ground, its reported weight between 450 and 500 jin (approximately 225-250 kg), plump and strong, making one's eyes water and heart race. The wild donkey's unique lean physique and firm muscles, even when frozen, exuded a wild and powerful aura.

After all thirty wild donkeys were unloaded and weighed, their total weight was 13,528 jin (approximately 6,665 catties)! This number was written heavily in chalk on the blackboard erected to the side by the head of the logistics department, each number seemingly burning into people's eyes.

Then came the gazelles. Compared to wild donkeys, gazelles are much smaller, but there are more of them. When two hundred cleaned, golden-furred, and frozen-hardened gazelles were unloaded from the trucks like a golden stream and piled up into a small golden mountain in the open space, the excitement at the scene reached its peak.

"So many gazelles!" "Look at their plumpness! So sleek and shiny!" "Now we have hope for the New Year!"

The weighing of yellow sheep was even more efficient; the workers operated in an assembly line fashion, and the accountant's calls to action were almost continuous: "Sixty-five jin and six liang!" "Fifty-seven jin!" "Fifty-four jin and eight liang!" "Sixty-six jin exactly!"...

In the end, the total weight of the two hundred gazelles was 12,120 jin!

Wild donkeys and gazelles, totaling 25,648 jin! This doesn't even include the three extra deer that Li Huaide had secretly transported away without publicly weighing them.

When the logistics chief, with trembling hands, wrote the final total weight on the blackboard, the entire area in front of the warehouse fell into a deathly silence, as if stunned speechless by the enormous number. Then, like a volcanic eruption, deafening cheers, applause, and shouts of approval suddenly exploded! The sound soared to the heavens, seemingly silencing even the roar of machines in the nearby workshops!

"Over 25,000 jin! Over 25,000 jin of meat!" "Wei Chen! Well done!" "Our steel mill is set for the New Year!" "Hero! Wei Chen is our mill's hero!"

The workers were so excited their faces were flushed, and they patted each other on the shoulder. Some of the older workers even wiped their eyes with emotion. In this time of national hardship, food rations were reduced, and the supply of non-staple foods was almost cut off. Every household was worried about how much oil and fat they could make for the end of the year.

For the steel rolling mill, which employs thousands of workers and their families, the supply of over 25,000 kilograms of high-quality wild game is undoubtedly a godsend and a piece of great news! This means that this year, during the Spring Festival, every household is likely to have a real piece of meat on their table, or even a hearty bowl of braised pork!