Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Wei Chen finally understood. Jin Aiguo was indeed shrewd; the security personnel had already divided up the venison without anyone noticing. Of course, it wasn't free; they had all paid for it! Even so, everyone appreciated the favor, since being able to open a meat container was a skill in this situation, and many people couldn't buy meat even with money!

Jin Aiguo's actions not only benefited his brothers but also silenced any potential gossip, and allowed Wei Chen to do him a favor and receive money—a win-win situation. No wonder the security personnel were looking at him so eagerly today.

"As long as everyone enjoys the food," Wei Chen said with a smile, without asking further about the specifics of how it was divided. Some things are better left unsaid.

The equipment depot has been quite quiet lately. Li Zhijun has always maintained the equipment that needs servicing very well, and his records are clear. Most of the time, the two of them just sit by the stove, drinking tea and chatting, which is quite comfortable.

Just as Wei Chen and Li Zhijun were chatting casually about factory gossip, there was a knock on the door. A young security officer poked his head in: "Wei Chen, Section Chief Jin is looking for you."

"Okay, I'm coming." Wei Chen replied, greeted Li Zhijun, and then got up and went to Jin Aiguo's office.

Jin Aiguo was holding a teacup and looking at documents when he saw Wei Chen come in. He gestured for Wei Chen to sit down and casually tossed him an unopened pack of "Daqianmen" cigarettes: "Try it. You've been smoking your cigarettes all the time, try mine."

Wei Chen didn't stand on ceremony. He took the cigarette, lit one for Jin Aiguo first, and then lit one for himself. Amidst the swirling smoke, Jin Aiguo spoke up: "The venison has been distributed to the brothers, five jin each, billed at one yuan and fifty cents per jin. The money's all here." He opened a drawer, took out an envelope, and pushed it in front of Wei Chen. "Count it."

Two yuan a pound of venison—that's practically free. You can't find it on the market at all; if you did on the black market, it'd fetch several times the price and people would still be scrambling for it. Jin Aiguo is clearly doing Wei Chen a favor, while also making the distribution of the meat public knowledge within the department—everyone paid for it, they didn't get it for free.

Wei Chen picked up the envelope; it was quite heavy, probably worth about 1,500 or 1,600 yuan. He didn't count it, just stuffed it into his pocket, and laughed, "I trust Director Jin to handle things. I'm just glad the brothers are having a good time."

"Happy! How could I not be happy?" Jin Aiguo exhaled a smoke ring, a smile on his face. "These days, being able to get meat is a skill! Let alone venison. You've really won over everyone in our department this time. A lot of people are praising you." He paused, then casually asked, "By the way, do you have enough stuff at home for the New Year? If you're missing anything, just let me know, and I'll try to figure something out."

"That's enough, Jin Ke, thank you for your trouble." Wei Chen knew this was just a polite remark, but also a further gesture of goodwill, and he appreciated it. "As for you, have you prepared all the New Year's goods at home? Do you need any wild game? I'll try to figure something out."

"Me? Don't you know me? One person eats their fill, the whole family isn't hungry!" Jin Aiguo laughed heartily. He was an old bachelor with no children. "The factory will provide New Year's goods, enough to eat. Plus, with the venison you prepared, it'll be more than enough for the New Year! It's good that you have the thought. Alright, that's all, go back now. Oh, right," he seemed to remember something, "the factory might organize a training session in a couple of days, so don't wander off."

"Okay, I understand." Wei Chen got up to leave. He knew that Jin Aiguo's last words were a reminder that there might be some developments or tasks at the factory after the New Year.

The next few days passed uneventfully. Wei Chen went to work and came home as usual, occasionally showing his face to Li Huaide in the logistics department to report on his "work" (actually, there was nothing specific to do, just maintaining contact).

The factory's commendation fervor gradually subsided, and the colleagues' initial excitement slowly faded, as life returned to normal. The courtyard house, however, was a bit more lively than usual because of Sha Zhu's blind date.

That evening, Wei Chen returned home from get off work. As he pushed his bicycle into the front yard, he saw his third uncle, Yan Bugui, standing with his hands in his pockets at his door, gazing towards the moon gate. He seemed to be waiting for someone, or perhaps deep in thought. Seeing Wei Chen, his eyes lit up, a smile spreading across his face as he greeted him, "Wei Chen's back? Off work?"

"Uncle, are you... waiting for someone?" Wei Chen stopped, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and offered one to Wei Chen. It was a "Peony" cigarette given to him by Li Huaide, better than the ones he smoked himself.

Yan Bugui took the cigarette, lit it with Wei Chen's famous match, took a satisfying drag, and then lowered his voice, saying with a hint of mystery and excited anticipation, "Who am I waiting for? I'm just... sigh, there's some good news in the courtyard, I was just thinking..." He gestured towards the central courtyard, "Tomorrow, Sha Zhu's going on a blind date! A girl's coming over! Hey, this is a big event for our courtyard before the New Year!"

Wei Chen suddenly realized why Sha Zhu was dressed like a groom that day. He lit a cigarette and stood with Yan Bugui at the door, casually asking, "Really? Where is she from? What are her conditions like?"

"I heard she's the daughter of a worker at the bearing factory," Yan Bugui said, well-informed and listing the details like the back of his hand. "I heard she's pretty, quite capable, but unemployed. Her father works at the bearing factory. Tsk, I don't know what kind of luck that Sha Zhu had, that matchmaker Liu actually found him a match."

Just then, footsteps and voices came from the moon gate; it was Xu Damao returning. Xu Damao seemed to have gone to the countryside to show movies today; he was carrying a canvas bag and looked travel-worn. As soon as he entered the front yard, he saw Yan Bugui and Wei Chen smoking and talking at the door, so he came over as well.

"Uncle, Wei Chen, what are you talking about?" Xu Damao took out his cigarettes, a "Great Production" brand, and offered them to Yan Bugui and Wei Chen. Yan Bugui took them, while Wei Chen waved the half-smoked cigarette in his hand, indicating that he didn't need any.

"That just proves it about Sha Zhu's blind date tomorrow." Yan Bugui took Xu Damao's lighter, lit it, and exhaled a smoke ring.

"A blind date?" Xu Damao raised an eyebrow, his face immediately revealing his usual sarcastic and gloating smile. "Him? A complete idiot, wanting to go on a blind date? What kind of matchmaker is so blind as to push a girl into a fire pit? That's just ripping her off!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it still carried far in the quiet evening courtyard.

As luck would have it, Sha Zhu happened to be coming out of the central courtyard, seemingly heading to the public restroom. He had just reached the vicinity of the moon gate when he overheard Xu Damao's words. He was already feeling both excited and uncertain about his blind date the next day, and upon hearing Xu Damao's words, his anger flared up instantly.

"Xu Damao! Who the hell are you calling an idiot? Who the hell are you calling a living hell?" Sha Zhu strode over, pointing at Xu Damao's nose and cursing, "You despicable, rotten bastard! You can't get a wife yourself, so you can't stand seeing others have it, huh? Gossiping behind people's backs, what kind of piece of trash are you!"

Xu Damao was startled, but he quickly realized that he wasn't afraid of Sha Zhu, especially in front of Yan Bugui and Wei Chen, he couldn't back down.

He slammed his canvas bag on the ground, put his hands on his hips, and said sarcastically, "Who am I talking to? Whoever answers, I'll talk to them! What's wrong, you idiot, did I hit a nerve? Getting angry? Someone like you, with a house like a pigsty and a temper like a firecracker, you think you can find a wife? I bet if that girl comes tomorrow, she'll be lucky if she's scared away by your filthy house and your rotten temper!"

"Fuck your grandpa! Xu Damao! Are you looking for a beating?" Sha Zhu was so angry that his face turned red, and he rolled up his sleeves and was about to step forward.

Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Yan Bugui quickly stepped forward and stood in the middle, trying to smooth things over: "Hey, hey, Zhuzi, Damao, say less! We're just neighbors, it was just a joke, why are you getting so worked up!"

Wei Chen frowned and said, "Alright, everyone, say less. Tomorrow is Brother Zhu's big day. What kind of talk is this?"

Sha Zhu was furious. Hearing Wei Chen's words, although he knew that Wei Chen was right, he had nowhere to vent his anger. Seeing Xu Damao hiding behind Yan Bugui with a smug look on his face that said, "Go ahead and hit me if you dare," he became even more enraged.

"A joke? How can he joke like that? Wei Chen, don't interfere! If I don't teach this bastard a lesson today, he won't know how many eyes the King of Horse has!" Saying that, he was about to walk past Yan Bugui to grab Xu Damao.

Xu Damao, ever the sharp-tongued one, kept adding fuel to the fire as he dodged away: "Hey! I hit the nail on the head, are you getting angry now? Sha Zhu, let me tell you, you're destined to be a bachelor! If that girl takes a liking to you tomorrow, I'll change my name!"

"Damn it!" Sha Zhu was completely enraged. He shoved Yan Bugui, who was blocking the way (Yan Bugui cried out "Ouch!" and almost fell down), and swung his fist at Xu Damao!

Despite his stubbornness, Xu Damao was no match for Sha Zhu when it came to a fight. Terrified, he cried out "Oh my god!" and ran towards the central courtyard, shouting, "Someone's being hit! Sha Zhu's hitting someone! Help!"

Sha Zhu chased after him relentlessly, yelling, "You little brat! Don't run! I'll tear your mouth apart!"

The two chased each other into the middle courtyard. Many households in the front and middle courtyards were alerted and came out to see what was happening. Some tried to break up the fight, some took sides, and some were simply there for the amusement. For a time, the courtyard was in complete chaos, a lively scene indeed.

Yan Bugui was pushed by Sha Zhu, and his old back twisted a bit. He leaned against the door frame, groaning, and muttered, "That Sha Zhu, he's really strong... Wei Chen, look at this..."

Wei Chen shook his head helplessly and helped Yan Bugui up: "Third Uncle, are you alright? Let me help you inside to rest for a while. Let them fight it out; they'll stop when they get tired." He was already used to the daily bickering between Sha Zhu and Xu Damao, and as long as nothing serious happened, he was too lazy to get involved.

Sure enough, just as Sha Zhu was about to catch up with Xu Damao, and Xu Damao was about to sneak back into his house, the door of the main house in the middle courtyard creaked open, and Yi Zhonghai walked out with a sullen face.

"Stop! What's all this commotion!" Yi Zhonghai shouted, his voice not loud, but carrying the authority of a long-time manager.

Sha Zhu's fist froze in mid-air. Xu Damao, as if he had found a savior, quickly hid behind Yi Zhonghai and pointed at Sha Zhu: "Grandpa! Did you see that? Sha Zhu hit someone for no reason! You have to stand up for me!"

"I'm beating you, you foul-mouthed bastard!" Sha Zhu gasped for breath, his eyes wide open.