Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

After saying goodbye, Wei Chen picked up his simple luggage, mainly some wild vegetables and dried vegetables that his aunt had prepared as a token of her affection. Wang Xiulan also carried the bundle of old clothes she had brought with her.

Uncle Wei Changsheng said, "Chenzi, I'll have Fengzi take you to the commune station. I've borrowed Old Chen's bicycle from the village; Fengzi can ride it, it can carry one person and will be faster. Then I'll take you to your eldest sister's house."

Wei Chen thought for a moment. It was indeed a long walk from the village to the commune station. Having a bicycle would save a lot of time, so he nodded and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Brother Feng."

Wei Feng couldn't wait any longer and hurriedly pushed his old bicycle, which rattled everywhere except for the bell, over. In those days, bicycles were a rarity; there were only a few in the whole village. This one belonged to the village collective, so Wei Changsheng took it to use.

"Second Aunt, please sit on the back seat, I'll push you," Wei Feng said to Wang Xiulan after stabilizing the bicycle.

Wang Xiulan said somewhat embarrassedly, "I can walk, it's not far..."

"Sister-in-law, let Fengzi push it. The road is slippery with snow, it'll be safer for him to ride in it," Zhao Jinhua advised from the side.

Finally, Wang Xiulan sat sideways on the back of the bicycle, while Wei Ran was lifted up by Wei Chen and placed on the front bar. Wei Feng pushed the bicycle, and Wei Chen supported his younger sister beside him. The four of them, amidst the reluctant gazes of their grandparents, uncles, and other family members, slowly left the old house and headed out of the village.

The village was still asleep in the early morning, with only a few houses casting wisps of smoke from their chimneys. Snow covered the roads and fields, creating a desolate scene.

But Wei Feng pushed the cart with unusually light steps, as if the ground beneath his feet wasn't covered in snow, but rather a smooth road leading to a bright future. He chatted with Wei Chen from time to time, asking about the situation in the city, and Wei Chen patiently answered his questions.

When they arrived at the commune bus station, the dilapidated bus was already waiting there, with a few people sparsely seated on it. Wei Chen bought two tickets and helped his mother and sister board the bus and settle them in.

"Mom, Ranran, be careful on the road. I'll be back as soon as I'm done," Wei Chen instructed.

"Brother, come back soon." Wei Ran whispered, clinging to the car window.

"Chen'er, go to your sister's place and talk to her nicely, don't rush. Take me with you." Wang Xiulan added another instruction regarding the quota, still feeling uneasy.

"I understand, Mom, don't worry." Wei Chen nodded.

The car started shakily, belching out a plume of black smoke, and gradually disappeared into the distance. Wei Chen and Wei Feng stood by the roadside until the car vanished around the bend.

"Let's go, Brother Feng, to Xingshou Commune." Wei Chen withdrew his gaze.

"Hey!" Wei Feng straddled the bicycle, and after Wei Chen jumped onto the back seat, he pedaled hard. The bicycle wobbled along the dirt road where the snow had not yet melted, making a creaking sound.

The journey from the commune to Xingshou Commune was about ten miles, and the road conditions were even worse. Wei Feng, young and strong, was sweating profusely from pedaling, while Wei Chen on the back seat was also quite shaken.

The two brothers chatted casually, mainly Wei Chen reminding Wei Feng of things to be aware of after arriving in the city, such as the factory's rules and regulations, how to get along with leaders and colleagues, and issues like accommodation and meals. Wei Feng listened very attentively, nodding from time to time.

About an hour later, a village slightly larger than Baoyuquan Village appeared ahead, with houses more densely packed together, and a small supply and marketing cooperative by the roadside. This was the location of Xingshou Commune.

"Chenzi, we're here. It's just over there." Wei Feng pointed to a few rows of relatively neat mud-brick houses not far away. "Zhenzhen's house is over there, near the grain store."

The two got out of the car, and Wei Feng pushed it, following the route he remembered, turning into a narrow alley and arriving at a courtyard surrounded by a low earthen wall. The gate to the courtyard was a simple wooden fence, ajar. Through the gaps, they could see three main rooms inside, which were fairly clean. Several strings of dried chili peppers and corn hung under the eaves, some firewood was piled in the corner, and a thin, bony yellow dog lay listlessly beside its kennel.

"Big sister! Is big sister home?" Wei Feng called out from the doorway.

As soon as he finished speaking, the curtain of the main room was lifted, and a young woman wearing an old cotton-padded jacket with a blue background and white flowers and an apron tied around her waist came out.

She was in her early twenties, with delicate features, but her skin was slightly rough from years of hard work; it was Wei Zhenzhen. She was holding a shoe sole she was sewing in her hand. When she saw the person at the door, she was stunned for a moment, then a surprised smile appeared on her face.

"Fengzi? Oh! Chenzi! What brings you here?" Wei Zhenzhen hurried over, opened the door, and smiled sincerely and warmly. "Come in, come in! What brings you here in this cold weather? Is something wrong at home?" After the initial surprise, a hint of worry flashed across her eyes. Her cousin and younger brother from her maternal family had suddenly arrived together, which made her think things through.

"Sister, it's alright, everything's fine at home." Wei Chen greeted her with a smile and followed Wei Feng into the yard. The yellow dog barked symbolically twice, then lay back down when it saw that it was someone it knew.

"Come in quickly, it's warm inside!" Wei Zhenzhen lifted the curtain and ushered the two into the main room. The room was small and simply furnished, but it was tidy and organized, showing how diligent the lady of the house was. A little boy, about two or three years old, with a chubby face, was learning to walk while holding onto the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). He wasn't afraid of strangers and stared at them curiously with his big, dark eyes.

"Tiger, look who's here! These two are your uncles, call them uncles!" Wei Zhenzhen said to her son with a smile, then quickly called to Wei Chen and Wei Feng, "Come sit on the kang (heated brick bed) and warm up. Have you eaten yet? I'll get you something to eat." As she spoke, she headed towards the kitchen.

"Sister, don't bother, we've already eaten breakfast." Wei Chen quickly stopped her, and casually placed a small cloth bag he was carrying on the table. Inside were several packets of biscuits and fruit candies he had taken from his spatial storage as gifts for the children. "I brought some snacks for Tiger."

"Look at you, you came all this way, but you brought nothing with you," Wei Zhenzhen said reproachfully, but her smile deepened. She poured hot water for the two of them, then sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), asking with concern, "Are you really alright? Are Mom and Dad in good health? Grandpa and Uncle's family are doing well too?"

"Everything's fine, everything's fine." Wei Feng said with a simple and honest smile, "My grandparents are in good health, and my parents, my third uncle and aunt are all well."

Wei Zhenzhen was slightly relieved and then looked at Wei Chen: "Chenzi, how are you doing in the city? Is work going well? How many days are you coming back this time?" She had a deep impression of this younger cousin. His father had passed away early, and he had taken on the burden of the family at a young age. Now he was a worker in the city and was the most promising person in her eyes.

"Sis, I'm doing fine, and work is going smoothly." Wei Chen took a sip of water to warm his frozen hands and decided to cut to the chase. He looked at Wei Zhenzhen and his tone became serious, "This time I came back not only to see Grandpa and Grandma, but also because there's something important I want to discuss with you and your husband."

"Important matter?" Wei Zhenzhen's heart jumped again, and she subconsciously glanced at her son Huzi, who was crawling around on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Wei Feng sat up straight, knowing what he was about to say.

Wei Chen organized his thoughts and tried to speak in plain and easy-to-understand language: "Sister, I was working at the factory when I went on a business trip a while ago and did some good work. As a reward, the factory gave me two permanent employee positions."

"Permanent employee positions?" Wei Zhenzhen didn't react for a moment, repeating it again, her eyes somewhat blank. This term was too distant for her.

"Yes, it means you can join our Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill as a formal worker, with a government job, the ability to transfer your household registration, receive government-subsidized grain rations, and get a monthly salary," Wei Chen explained.

The shoe sole in Wei Zhenzhen's hand fell to the ground with a "thud." She suddenly widened her eyes, her mouth slightly open, and stared at Wei Chen, as if she didn't understand what he was saying.

Go to...go to the city? Become a worker? A permanent employee? Get a government-subsidized food ration? These words, put together, seemed like a fantasy to her. It was something from another world, seemingly a world away from her, a rural woman whose days revolved around the stove, her children, and her small plot of land.

"Chenzi...you...what did you say?" Her voice trembled slightly, "A reward for you...two spots?"

"Yes, sis." Wei Chen nodded affirmatively, "One was given to my brother Feng, and he's going to the city to report for duty the day after tomorrow." He pointed to Wei Feng.

Wei Feng nodded quickly, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement and pride.

Wei Zhenzhen's gaze shifted back and forth between Wei Chen and Wei Feng, seemingly processing this unbelievable news. Her younger brother, Wei Feng, was going to be a factory worker? Her honest, kind-hearted cousin, whom she'd grown up with, actually had this ability? This…this was like a dream! It was wonderful! She was genuinely happy for her brother!

"Then... what's the last one?" she asked instinctively.

Wei Chen looked at her, his tone gentle yet clear: "There's another one. Because Guo'er and Min'er are too young, my third aunt couldn't manage everything on her own. After much consideration, my third uncle voluntarily gave up his responsibilities for the sake of his family."

Wei Zhenzhen nodded. She could understand her third uncle's situation; the two children were indeed too young.

"This spot is now open," Wei Chen continued. "I was thinking, sister, you've helped our family a lot in the past, and my mom and Ranran remember your kindness. Now, brother-in-law is doing odd jobs at the commune, and his income isn't stable. So, I discussed it with grandpa, eldest uncle, and third uncle, and we decided to give this remaining spot to your family. Whether it's you or brother-in-law, it's fine. Once you get a job in the factory and have a stable income, life will be easier."

Wei Zhenzhen was completely stunned.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Her mouth hung open, her eyes fixed on Wei Chen, her mind blank, only those few words echoing in her mind—"Give you a home," "A formal job," "Easy life"...

For her family? A permanent position at a state-owned factory in Beijing? This... how is this possible? Is this a dream? Is Chenzi joking? But looking at his expression, so serious, so sincere, and Fengzi nodding vigorously beside him... it doesn't seem fake.

The immense shock rendered her incapable of reacting; she simply sat there, oblivious to even her son, Tiger, crawling to her feet and tugging at her trouser leg.

"Sister? Sister?" Wei Feng called softly when he saw his eldest sister was stunned.

Wei Zhenzhen jolted awake, her chest heaving, her hands trembling uncontrollably. She looked at Wei Chen, her lips quivering, wanting to say something but unable to utter a sound. Tears welled up unexpectedly, large drops falling from her eyes. These weren't tears of sorrow, but rather an indescribable outpouring of emotion from extreme shock, disbelief, and overwhelming elation.