Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Seeing that the time was right, Yi Zhonghai began his concluding remarks, essentially delivering his "verdict": "The matter is clear. Xu Damao, your malicious sabotage of Comrade He Yuzhu's blind date is extremely egregious, severely damaging neighborhood unity and the reputation of the compound. You must make a profound self-criticism! Write a self-criticism of no less than 500 words tomorrow, and read it aloud at the next compound-wide meeting!"

Xu Damao's face turned green. Reading a self-criticism in public? That's more humiliating than paying compensation! But he didn't dare to argue. Yi Zhonghai was clearly on Sha Zhu's side, and he had now incurred public wrath.

"He Yuzhu," Yi Zhonghai then looked at Sha Zhu, "you hit someone, which is a serious mistake! You must make compensation! Here's the deal: you pay Xu Damao five yuan for medical expenses, and we'll call it even!"

Five yuan! That's a lot! It's equivalent to several days' wages for Sha Zhu. But compared to Xu Damao having to make a public apology, it seems lenient. Moreover, Yi Zhonghai specifically emphasized that "this matter is considered even," meaning that Sha Zhu had hit someone, paid compensation, and that was the end of it. Xu Damao could not pursue the matter further, nor could he call the police.

Although Sha Zhu was distressed about the money, he knew that Yi Zhonghai was protecting him. After all, he was in the wrong for hitting someone, and if it really escalated to the police station, paying compensation would be a minor issue; he might even be detained for a few days, and his job could be affected.

He gritted his teeth, pulled a crumpled five-yuan note from his pocket, and slammed it hard on the table in front of him: "Fine, I'll pay! I'll just consider it dog food!"

Xu Damao looked at the five yuan, then thought about having to undergo a public examination, and felt incredibly aggrieved, but dared not cause any more trouble. Yi Zhonghai's verdict, seemingly punishing both sides equally, was clearly biased towards Sha Zhu. But he was in the wrong first and had incurred public wrath, so he could only swallow his anger. "Hmph, this isn't over," Xu Damao thought to himself. "I'll definitely get my revenge later!"

"And one more thing!" Yi Zhonghai said, raising his voice as he surveyed the room one last time, "From this day forward, our compound must take this as a warning! If there are any conflicts between neighbors, they should be resolved face-to-face, or they should seek mediation from us three elders! We will absolutely not allow any more instances of backstabbing, malicious slander, or physical fights to occur! Anyone who does this again will not be let off lightly! Meeting adjourned!"

A single "Meeting adjourned!" signaled the end of the entire courtyard assembly. The neighbors dispersed, murmuring amongst themselves. Some felt Yi Zhonghai had handled the situation fairly, giving both sides equal blame; others felt he had favored Sha Zhu; and many more cast disdainful and wary glances at Xu Damao. After all, who hasn't had a wedding or marriage proposal at some point? Having a neighbor who enjoys stabbing people in the back and ruining marriages—who wouldn't be wary?

Xu Damao picked up the five yuan on the table and slunk towards the backyard, feeling as if countless eyes were piercing his back. Sha Zhu spat at Xu Damao's retreating figure and also turned and went back into the house. The five yuan hurt him, but Xu Damao's reputation was ruined and he had to undergo a public examination, which made him feel slightly better, but his hatred for Xu Damao only deepened.

Yan Bugui tidied up his teacup, shook his head, and said in a low voice, "Old Yi... raised it high, then let it fall gently. Xu Damao has really fallen this time." Liu Haizhong was still somewhat indignant, feeling that Yi Zhonghai hadn't given him, his second uncle, enough face, but he couldn't say anything.

Wei Chen helped his mother up and went home. From beginning to end, he hardly said a word, merely observing coldly. He clearly saw Yi Zhonghai's bias.

Using the "marriage anxiety" of all the young people in the college to manipulate public opinion was indeed a clever tactic. Although Sha Zhu lost money, he completely stood on the moral high ground, while Xu Damao became a villain that everyone was wary of.

For Yi Zhonghai, this outcome served three purposes: it protected his favored Sha Zhu, intimidated Xu Damao, and consolidated his authority within the hospital—a triple win. However… is Sha Zhu's impulsive nature truly suitable as a "backup plan" for retirement? And Xu Damao, having suffered such a significant loss, will he, given his personality, let it go easily?

Back inside, Wang Xiulan sighed, "That Xu Damao is too vicious. And Zhuzi too, he has such a violent temper."

Wei Chen said calmly, "One's stupid, the other's wicked; neither of them are good people. Mom, just stay away from them from now on."

Outside the window, the night deepened. A general meeting of the entire courtyard seemed to have calmed the storm, but the feud between Sha Zhu and Xu Damao was now truly over. Beneath the seemingly calm surface of this courtyard, a new whirlpool was quietly stirring because of this conflict.

Yi Zhonghai's bias, Xu Damao's resentment, Sha Zhu's unwillingness to accept defeat, and the various calculations of the neighbors after seeing through the ways of the world all quietly fermented on this cold winter night.

It was another Sunday morning, and the sky was just beginning to lighten, with the city of Beijing still shrouded in a cool silence.

The north wind, like a tireless sentinel, howled and swept through the alleyways, swirling up scattered withered leaves and dust, and rattling against the tightly closed doors and windows of every household. The familiar smell of coal smoke mixed with the dry, cold air unique to winter penetrated one's nostrils, reminding one that this was a harsh season requiring one to wrap oneself tightly in a cotton-padded coat.

Inside Wei Chen's family's small house, a dim light had already been lit, and shadowy figures filled the air, revealing an unusual busyness and a hint of suppressed anticipation.

Today is the day they return to their hometown, Baoyuquan Village, to visit relatives.

Wang Xiulan and Wei Ran have been in the city for almost a year, only managing to return twice in quick succession. The last time was during the summer harvest, and almost half a year has passed since then. As the end of the year approaches, their longing for their relatives back home is like the smoldering firewood in the stove on a winter's day—not intense, but continuously radiating warmth and affection.

Wang Xiulan barely slept a wink all night, and got up quietly before dawn. She tiptoed over and checked her luggage, which she had already repeatedly packed the night before.

She stuffed two faded blue cloth bundles, made from old bed sheets, into them, making them bulge and sharp.

Inside were carefully folded old cotton-padded clothes that she and Wei Ran had taken off—although patched, they were washed clean and thick, and were still considered good items in the village; there were also a few pieces of fabric that had been saved for a long time and were still relatively bright in color, which were intended to be used to make new clothes or mend clothes for the elderly and children.

In addition, there were some odds and ends that could be easily bought in the city: a few packs of matches, two bars of Lighthouse soap, a pack of needles, a few spools of thread, and even a small bottle of precious face cream, which was a welfare benefit given by Wei Chen's factory, and she had never been willing to use it.

The other bundle was lighter, containing two kinds of flatbread she had made before dawn—a mixture of wheat and cornmeal, each one round and thick, wrapped in a cloth and still slightly warm—dry rations for the journey. A military-green water bottle, its paint chipped, was filled with boiling water and carefully wrapped in an old cotton cover to keep it warm.

Wei Chen also got up very early. Unlike his mother, he didn't busy himself in the outer room. Instead, he closed the door of his own little room, sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and immersed his mind in that mysterious space that only he could perceive—his "space backpack".

His consciousness swept over the various supplies neatly categorized and stacked inside. Various meats and fruits from the game world, refined wheat flour, cornmeal, and other grains, and even his own pressed peanut oil! He exchanged them for noodles, national grain coupons, meat coupons, and sugar coupons; and of course, the earliest and most precious batch—"spoils of war" from the Inner Mongolian grasslands: dried mutton, beef jerky, milk tofu, butter, and even a few pieces of hard cheese carefully wrapped in oil paper.

Returning to one's hometown is not an option, especially at the end of 59, during the most critical period of the three years of hardship. Grain and meat, which are already scarce and carefully managed items in the city, are life-saving commodities in the countryside and the most practical bond to maintain family ties.

But it couldn't be too conspicuous; he understood the principle that possessing a treasure could invite trouble. He needed to choose carefully, something that would genuinely improve his family's life for a period of time without arousing too much suspicion or trouble.

After careful consideration, he took out twenty catties of the finest refined white flour—snow-white and delicate, a quality that a rural mill could never produce; fifty catties of golden corn grits; and fifteen catties of plump millet.

Grain is fundamental, and refined grains are of paramount importance. For meat, he selected two heavy, perfectly dried hind legs of lamb, each weighing six or seven pounds, with a rich, muttony aroma; about five pounds of long-lasting dried beef; four pieces of milk tofu the size of washbasins, wrapped in three layers of oiled paper; and a piece of butter weighing about two pounds, also carefully wrapped in oiled paper and dried lotus leaves. These items from the grasslands are rare even in Beijing, and in the rural areas where oil and meat are scarce, they are unimaginably precious.

He packed the supplies into two worn, unassuming burlap sacks. One sack was mainly for grain, with wheat flour packed separately in a thick, coarse cloth bag at the bottom, covered with corn grits and millet, and on top of that, a few dried-skinned sweet potatoes and potatoes brought in from outside.

Another burlap sack contained meat and dairy products, similarly separated and covered with rags and hay. In this way, even if someone curiously weighed it, they would only think it was some ordinary coarse grains and groceries.

Wei Ran had been awake for a while, and excitedly tossed and turned on the kang (a heated brick bed). It wasn't until she heard her mother and brother making noises in the outer room that she jumped up.

She put on her favorite floral cotton-padded jacket—it was made from the fabric Wei Chen had brought back last time, and Wang Xiulan had spent several nights making it for her. Although it was a little short, it was washed clean and had no patches.

The little girl washed her face herself, braided her hair into two pigtails, and her cheeks were flushed with excitement and anticipation, like two little apples.

Clutching her little cloth bag—containing the fruit candies, animal crackers, and a few pieces of peach shortbread that her brother had carefully saved up—she kept running to her mother's side to check on her, then peeking at her brother's door to listen for any sounds, whispering, "Brother, when are we leaving? The sun's almost up!" "Will Grandma not recognize me?" "Sister Xiaomin must have grown so much!"

"Almost there. Wait until I've packed everything, then we'll leave after breakfast." Wei Chen opened the door, smiling as he gently pinched his sister's slightly red nose, feeling a warm glow in his heart.