Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

"Okay, Mom, I'll do as you say." Wei Chen nodded vigorously. "So, how do you think we should allocate these two spots?"

Seeing that her son respected her opinion, Wang Xiulan felt even more comforted. She put down her needlework, picked up her enamel mug, took a sip of water, and fell into deep thought. Two permanent employee positions—this was no small matter; it concerned the fate of two people, and even two families.

The main room fell silent again, broken only by the occasional soft crackling of the kerosene lamp wick. Wei Chen didn't urge him, waiting quietly.

After a long silence, Wang Xiulan slowly spoke, her voice filled with a sense of nostalgia and gratitude: "Chen'er, do you still remember the first few years after your father passed away?"

Wei Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded. That memory was an unforgettable darkness for both his mother and him. His father's sacrifice had crumbled the pillar of the family, leaving behind a widow and her orphan, who were almost driven to despair in the rural environment.

"Back then, it felt like the sky had fallen." Wang Xiulan's voice choked with emotion. "You were so young, and Xiaoran was still a tiny baby. Everyone in the village said that our family couldn't make ends meet. Some people advised me to remarry, and some wanted to take advantage of the situation... But it was our own Wei family members, your grandfather, your eldest uncle, and your third uncle, who stood up for us."

Her gaze became distant, as if piercing through time: "Your grandfather took out his savings for his funeral and gave your father a decent funeral. He also gave me money to raise you. Your uncle, back then his family was also struggling, with several children waiting to be fed. But every few days, he would have your aunt bring some grain and pickled vegetables over. During the busy farming season, he couldn't even take care of his own work in the fields, he would come and help our family plant and harvest the crops first."

Your third uncle is stubborn and used to argue with your father. But in those years, whenever he went into the mountains to hunt and gather herbs, he would always remember to leave some meat for our family or pick a few cheap but effective herbs for you to nourish your body…”

Wang Xiulan's tears slid silently down her cheeks, but a warm smile remained on her face: "Without their help and protection, my daughter and I would probably have starved to death or been bullied to death long ago. We will remember this kindness for the rest of our lives."

Wei Chen listened quietly. The little moments of warmth from those difficult years, now being mentioned by his mother, still touched his heartstrings. His grandfather's silent support, his eldest uncle's honest help, his third uncle's stubborn care... he remembered them all.

"Mom," Wei Chen asked softly, "you mean...?"

Wang Xiulan wiped away her tears, her eyes becoming clear and firm: "These two spots are too precious. If we use them ourselves, an old woman like me can't use them, and your sister is still too young. Saving them for the future? There are too many variables. It's better to use them wisely, to use them on the people who need them most."

She looked at her son and said, word by word, "Go back to your hometown, to your eldest uncle's family, or your third uncle's family. The children of those two families, your cousins, are all grown up and need to find a way out."

Rural life is tough; you can barely earn a few work points a year, enough to survive but not starve either. If one of them could go to the city and get a stable job, it wouldn't just change one person's life, it would change the lives of their entire family! We've received kindness from them, and now that we have the ability, we should repay them. We must never forget our roots.

Wei Chen was deeply shocked. He had considered the use of those two spots, even thinking about whether to save them for more important "favors" in the future. But he certainly didn't immediately think of his relatives back home. It wasn't that he was ungrateful, but rather that he subconsciously overlooked that point.

His mother's words were like a wake-up call, jolting him awake. Yes, forgetting one's roots is a major taboo in life, especially in this era that values ​​clan and personal relationships.

Adding flowers to brocade is never as good as providing charcoal in the snow. Giving these two invaluable permanent employee positions to the loved ones who lent a helping hand in our desperate times is of far greater significance and value than any exchange of benefits.

This not only repays the kindness shown to them in the past, but also closely unites their relatives in their hometown, forming a truly reliable blood alliance. Their eldest and third uncles now have someone to rely on in the village, and also "their own people" in the city. This bond is stronger than anything else.

Moreover, from a practical standpoint, having cousins ​​working in the city means having more close relatives to support you in Beijing. If you need to do anything in the future, or if your family needs assistance, you'll have more reliable support. It's a win-win situation.

"Mom, you're right." Wei Chen held his mother's hand, his eyes bright. "We can't forget our roots. These two spots are most suitable for my eldest uncle's and third uncle's families."

Seeing that her son agreed with her idea, Wang Xiulan smiled with relief, as if she had accomplished a major task: "Your uncle's family has two sons. Your brother Feng is older than you and he is not married yet. I guess it's because of the famine that he doesn't want to feed the family. If he gets a job, it will be different. Your brother Feng is smart and hardworking. With a job, he can date any kind of girl!"

Your third uncle's two brothers are both young, but your third uncle is still relatively young! We can't decide who gets the job; we'll have to go back and discuss it with your grandfather, eldest uncle, and third uncle. After all, it's a major decision that concerns your child's entire life.

"Yes, that's a good idea." Wei Chen nodded. "Let's go back to our hometown together this weekend. We'll bring Xiao Ran along; it's been a long time since we've visited Grandpa."

"Good, good!" Wang Xiulan nodded repeatedly, her face beaming. "It's time to go back and visit! And... also offer incense to your father and tell him that our family is doing well now, Chen'er is successful, and... can help the family now." Her voice choked up at the end.

"Mom, everything will be alright," Wei Chen comforted her softly.

The mother and son, under the lamplight, discussed in detail the process of returning to their hometown. What to bring, how to tell their grandparents, how to allocate the spots more appropriately... The topics were trivial and specific, yet filled with warmth and anticipation.

As night deepened, Wei Ran's even breathing could be heard from the inner room. The kerosene lamp in the main room had burned down to its last flame, making the light increasingly dim.

"Alright, Chen'er, go to sleep early. You have to go to work tomorrow." Wang Xiulan finished sewing the last stitch, bit off the thread, and folded the mended shirt neatly.

"Okay, Mom, you should get some rest too."

Wei Chen blew out the lamp, plunging the room into darkness, with only the faint glow of the stove fire flickering.

Two coveted permanent positions, which would have sparked fierce competition among countless people, were decided in a simple yet profound conversation between mother and son. There was no calculation of maximizing profits, no consideration of currying favor with the powerful; there was only simple gratitude and the most traditional family affection.

Outside the window, the courtyard was shrouded in silence, broken only by the occasional cough from some unknown house or the faint barking of a dog in the distance. But within this small east wing, a warm and resolute force was gathering.

Night fell as dark as ink, slowly enveloping the city. The hustle and bustle of the day gradually subsided, leaving only scattered lights and the faint sound of train whistles in the distance, reminding people that the city's pulse was still beating.

In the courtyard house at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, the windows of each household gradually darkened, marking the end of a busy and calculating day, and the beginning of a peaceful or anxious sleep.

In the small house of the Wei family in the east courtyard, the kerosene lamp had already been extinguished. On the kang (heated brick bed) in the inner room, Wei Ran was fast asleep, her little face appearing particularly serene in the hazy moonlight. In the west wing, Wang Xiulan, after a busy day and a heartfelt conversation with her son that evening, relaxed and soon began to breathe evenly and slowly.

Wei Chen lay on his bunk by the window, eyes closed, but unable to sleep. He was waiting, waiting for the courtyard to sink into the deepest silence, waiting for that secret moment that belonged only to him to arrive.

Judging that it was about time, he quietly got up. His mind stirred; his mother's snoring was rhythmic and long, while his sister remained completely still. He focused his mental energy on the door latch and slipped into his own game world.

In the next instant, he found himself in a vast, fresh, and vibrant world, having left his room.

This is his "game world," a place completely different from reality, yet connected to and influencing reality in some mysterious way. Before him lies a familiar scene: distant green mountains like dark eyebrows, lush forests nearby, a clear stream flowing gently by, and the air filled with the fragrance of grass and earth. Taking a deep breath, one's heart and lungs feel refreshed.

Not far away stood a "Hunter's Lodge" bound to his consciousness—a comfortable three-story villa with a rustic exterior but modern interior facilities.

But at this moment, Wei Chen had no time to appreciate the beautiful scenery that resembled a paradise, nor did he intend to enjoy the soft bed and hot shower in the cabin for the time being.

His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scanned the surrounding woodland. This world was not entirely peaceful; according to some "rules" he did not yet fully understand, aggressive beasts would "spawn" every day, which he jokingly called "monsters."

Defeating these "monsters" not only grants "experience points" that can be used in this world, but also sometimes yields unique materials, and in rare cases, "items" that can be used in the real world may even drop.

This has become his nightly "routine," serving as both exercise and a form of accumulation.

Tonight's "prey" included the usual ones, as well as a group of huge wild boars roaming the stream. Their tusks were gleaming white, their manes were like steel needles, and they were grunting and rooting in the mud, looking aggressive and dangerous.

In reality, capturing a wild boar of this size requires the combined efforts of several experienced hunters and carries considerable risk.

But here, Wei Chen possesses a near-omniscient perspective, as well as excellent weapons redeemed from the "game store"—an ancient-looking yet incomparably sharp longbow and several specially made carbon fiber arrows.

Like a nimble raccoon, he stealthily approached, using the trees as cover. His mental energy, like invisible tentacles, had already fed back every movement of the wild boar, even its every breath. Fifty meters, thirty meters, twenty meters… optimal range!