Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Although Wei Guo didn't fully understand the specifics of his parents' discussion, he could sense the heavy and oppressive atmosphere. He timidly tugged at his mother's sleeve: "Mother..."

Li Xiuzhi looked down at her son's tender face, then at her youngest son Weimin, who was nestled in her arms and almost asleep. Finally, tears streamed down her face.

She seemed to see herself alone after her husband left home, toiling in the fields, sweating profusely, then returning home to care for two crying children, facing an empty house, feeling helpless and desolate in the quiet of the night. She also saw her husband in the city, scrimping and saving, sending most of his salary and food coupons home, while he himself might not even have a decent meal, lonely and missing his wife and children.

"His father..." Li Xiuzhi choked up, "The opportunity is rare... but, as a family, we are together. It may be tough, but at least we are a complete family. If you go to the city, how many times a year will you come back? The children won't be able to see their father, and I... I'll panic..." She didn't explicitly object, but the reluctance and fear in her words were already evident.

Hearing his wife's sobs and looking at his two young sons, Wei Laishun felt his heart breaking. How could he want to leave them? How could he want to abandon this family? He was the pillar of the household, the backbone of his wife and children!

But... that spot, like a ray of light in the darkness, lured him, beckoned him. To be trapped in this barren land his whole life, repeating the fate of his parents, earning a meager and unstable income, watching his children grow thin from malnutrition, watching his wife age from overwork... he was truly unwilling to accept it!

That night was exceptionally long for Wei Laishun's family. The couple barely slept, lying on the cold earthen bed, tossing and turning, whispering among themselves, sighing, and wiping away tears.

The two choices clashed repeatedly in their minds, the pros and cons weighed countless times. The prospect of moving to the city was certainly tempting, but the pain of separation and the hardships of reality were equally real. As dawn broke, both of them had dark circles under their eyes, which were bloodshot.

As the first ray of pale morning light shone through the cracks in the window covered with old newspapers, Wei Laishun looked at the blackened rafters on the roof and let out a long, heavy sigh.

That night, he thought about many things. He thought about the ambitions he had when he was young, the hard work and suffering of farmers, how his wife hadn't had many good days since marrying him, and the longing in his sons' eyes... But in the end, all his thoughts were fixed on his wife's swollen eyes and his children's tender faces as they slept soundly.

He reached out and grasped his wife's rough, cold hand, hardened by years of labor. Li Xiuzhi trembled and looked at her husband.

"Xiuzhi," Wei Laishun's voice was dry and tired, yet carried a calmness born of desperation, "I've made up my mind."

Li Xiuzhi's heart jumped, and she looked at him nervously.

"We don't want this spot anymore." Wei Laishun said, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with immense regret and reluctance, yet his tone was exceptionally firm.

Li Xiuzhi froze, opened her mouth as if to say something, but no sound came out. She felt a strange sense of loss, yet also as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. The complex emotions choked her, leaving her only able to shed tears.

"This is indeed an opportunity," Wei Laishun continued, as if trying to convince himself. "But I've thought about it all night. You can't come with me. What will happen to you three if I leave? Who will do the heavy work in the fields? Who will take care of the children if they get a headache or fever? It's too hard for you to be alone... I can't be so selfish as to only care about my own future and leave the family to you alone."

He turned to look at his wife, his eyes filled with guilt and a sense of relief after struggling: "I am the man of this family, the father of the children. I have to stay with you. No matter how good the opportunities are in the city, without a home, without you, no matter how much money I earn, my heart will be empty. We are a family, we suffer together, we get tired together, at least we are together."

Li Xiuzhi's tears flowed even more fiercely. She gripped her husband's hand tightly, nodded vigorously, and choked out, "Father... I... I'm just afraid... afraid that you'll resent me later, that this family has been a burden to you..."

"Don't talk nonsense." Wei Laishun forced a smile and reached out to wipe away his wife's tears. "It was my own choice. Our Guo'er is still young, and Min'er is even younger. They can't be separated from their father. In the village, our parents and older brother can take care of them. If we can endure a few more years, maybe... maybe there will be other opportunities." He couldn't even convince himself of these words, but at this moment, he had to give himself and his wife something to look forward to.

"Then... what about the quota?" Li Xiuzhi asked, sobbing.

"Give it to Dad, and give it back to Chenzi." Wei Laishun took a deep breath. "Our family's situation is special; we don't need it. We can't just occupy a position without using it. Chenzi trusts us and gave us the spot; we can't betray his trust. If we don't need it, let's give it back to him!" After making this decision, the heavy boulder called "opportunity" in his heart seemed to be lifted, but what followed was a dull, empty pain mixed with deep regret. He knew that he might have forever missed the best opportunity to escape rural life.

As dawn broke and the snow stopped, the chill intensified. The Wei family hastily ate some leftovers from last night and, with mixed feelings, headed towards their old house.

Meanwhile, Uncle Wei Changsheng's family had already packed up, and the whole family had changed into their cleanest and tidiest clothes, though they were old. Everyone's face was filled with barely suppressed joy and excitement, especially Wei Feng, who was fidgeting with his hands, restless and anxious, as if today was not announcing a decision, but reporting to the factory.

Inside the main room, the stove fire burned brightly. Grandpa Wei Laoshuan sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), puffing on his pipe, his face calm, but the slightly trembling pipe betrayed his inner turmoil. Grandma and Wang Xiulan were talking quietly in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. Wei Ran and Wei Min were playing in the inner room, whispering secrets between girls.

Wei Chen also got up and was stretching his arms and legs in the yard. Seeing his eldest uncle's family and his third uncle's family come in one after the other, he went up to them and greeted them: "Uncle, Third Uncle, good morning. Brother Feng, Xiao Yan, good morning."

"Good morning, Chenzi." Uncle Wei Changsheng's voice was loud and cheerful. Uncle Wei Laishun simply nodded, his smile somewhat forced, the dark circles under his eyes indicating that he hadn't slept all night.

The group entered the room, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then took their seats. The atmosphere was somewhat subtle, a mixture of excitement and trepidation, expectation and disappointment.

Grandpa tapped his pipe and cut to the chase: "Everyone's here. How did the discussion go last night? Changsheng, who's going from your family?"

Wei Changsheng immediately straightened his back, glanced at his eldest son beside him who was nervously sweating, and said loudly, "Dad, we've discussed it. This spot is for our eldest son, Wei Feng! He's of age, honest, and hardworking. He'll definitely do a good job at the factory, won't bring shame to the family, and won't cause trouble for Chenzi!" His words were resolute.

Wei Feng quickly stood up, his face flushed red, and stammered but with unusual determination, "Grandpa, Chenzi, I...I will definitely do my best! I will never bring shame to the family! I...I have the strength, I'm not afraid of being tired!"

Grandpa nodded, then turned his gaze to his third son: "Third son, where is your family?"

All eyes were on Wei Laishun. He slowly stood up, his Adam's apple bobbing a few times, as if he had made a great decision, before speaking, his voice somewhat hoarse: "Father, elder brother, Chenzi... our family... we... don't want it anymore."

"What?" Uncle Wei Changsheng was stunned and exclaimed in surprise. Wei Feng also looked at his third uncle in surprise. Even Wang Xiulan and Grandma in the kitchen heard it and lifted the curtain to look over.

Grandpa Wei Laoshuan paused in his smoking, squinted, and looked at his third son: "You don't want it anymore? Why? Explain yourself."

Wei Laishun took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady: "Father, it's not that we don't want to go, it's just... the actual situation doesn't allow it." He glanced at his wife, Li Xiuzhi, who was standing beside him with her head down, then at his two bewildered sons, and continued...

"Guo'er and Min'er are still young and need constant care. Xiuzhi has to manage the household chores, tend the small plot of land, and look after the two children all by herself; she's simply too busy. If I were to go to the city, half the sky would fall over our family. Besides..."

He gave a wry smile. "Even if I went, I don't know how long it would take to establish myself, and the salary wouldn't be high enough to bring Xiuzhi and the children over. I can't bear to leave them struggling in the village while I'm in the city. It's better for the family to stay together."

He paused, a hint of regret in his voice, but more so, a sense of composure: "This spot is precious; we can't waste it on our family. Let's give it back to Xiaochen! Xiuzhi and I have discussed it; we'll give it up."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent. Everyone could hear the struggle, reluctance, and ultimate sacrifice and responsibility he made for his family in Wei Laishun's words.

Grandpa Wei Laoshuan remained silent for a long time, the tobacco in his pipe glowing faintly. He gave his third son a deep look, his gaze filled with regret, understanding, and a hint of approval. He sighed deeply: "Laishun... have you thought this through? This opportunity might only come once in your life."

"Dad, I've thought it through." Wei Laishun nodded emphatically, his eyes slightly red, but his gaze was firm. "I don't regret it. I feel at peace with my family, my wife and children."

"Good, good..." The old man nodded repeatedly, his voice tinged with emotion, "You can think this way and make this choice, you're a responsible man! I don't blame you, I... know what I'm doing."

He knew his third son was thoughtful and responsible, and that he must have gone through unimaginable torment to make this decision. But for the sake of his family, he gave up a potential opportunity for personal advancement. This loyalty and sense of responsibility made the old man both heartbroken and gratified.