Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Wei Feng's arrival was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples throughout the courtyard.

That morning, Uncle Yan Bugui saw Wei Changsheng and his son arrive in a dusty state, pushing bicycles and carrying bedding. He also saw Wei Chen lead Wei Feng, who was dressed in a brand-new, clean, and old clothes, clearly intending to stay in the city, out of the house, saying they were "going to the factory on business."

Wei Feng hadn't intended to hide anything this time; everyone would find out sooner or later. None of this escaped Yan Bugui's shrewd eyes. He'd had some suspicions that day, but Wei Chen hadn't said anything, and he didn't dare ask.

Courtyard houses are never truly airtight; on the contrary, they are breeding grounds for all sorts of gossip and rumors. Who eats meat, who tears up a piece of cloth—these details can be thoroughly investigated, let alone matters as important as "work," which concerns a family's fate and can change one's social class.

At first, it was just whispers and speculation.

"Did you see that? Wei Chen's cousin from the countryside was hanging around the yard the other day, even following Wei Chen to and from get off work?"

"That's right, judging from their appearance, they seem to be looking for work in the city."

"Looking for work? What kind of work? It's so hard to find jobs these days. What good jobs can a country bumpkin like me find in the city without connections?"

"Hey, you never know. Wei Chen's got some connections now. He's a security guard at the steel mill, all the rage! Maybe he's the one who got him there!"

"Arrangements? What can he arrange? Temporary workers? That's still something! Even temporary workers at a steel mill are better than struggling to make a living in the countryside!"

The discussion brewed in private. Until one day, Xu Damao, the projectionist from the propaganda department, strolled to the Intermediate People's Court after get off work and chatted with a few old women. He seemed to inadvertently reveal a "bombshell".

"You guys don't know yet, do you?" Xu Damao cracked open some sunflower seeds he'd somehow gotten his hands on, lowering his voice with a sense of superiority that suggested he possessed exclusive information. "Wei Chen from our institute, didn't he do something meritorious recently? The factory leaders were so happy that they rewarded him with a permanent position! The kind with a government job, a transferred household registration, and guaranteed food rations!"

"What?! A permanent position?" The third aunt, who was washing vegetables by the sink, trembled, and vegetable leaves fell to the ground. "My God! A permanent position?" Jia Zhangshi's eyes widened, and she forgot to sew the shoe soles. Qin Huairu, who was watching the commotion, was also shocked. She slowed down her washing and quietly perked up her ears.

Xu Damao was quite satisfied with the result of his actions. Spitting out the sunflower seed shells, he continued his spiel: "It's absolutely true! I heard it from our head of the publicity department! But..." He deliberately paused, waiting for everyone to hold their breath and look at him intently before slowly saying, "However, it seems they've already been used up. Just a few days ago, didn't Wei Chen take his cousin to the factory? I reckon they went to get this!"

"Hiss—" A collective gasp filled the air.

"No wonder! No wonder that country bumpkin was dressed so neatly and went into the factory with Wei Chen! Turns out he's going to become a full-time worker!"

"Incredible! Incredible indeed! That kid Wei Chen, without making a sound, accomplished such a huge feat!"

"One spot? That's not certain. Wei Chen is a rising star in the factory right now. If he could say a word..." Someone muttered quietly.

These words were like a drop of cold water falling into a pot of boiling oil, instantly causing a stir in everyone's hearts!

Yes! A permanent position at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill in Beijing! What does this mean? It means a leap from poverty to high positions, a secure and stable job, and the potential for future generations to benefit! In an era where job opportunities are scarce and countless people fight tooth and nail for a single position, the value of such a position is immeasurable!

From that day on, the atmosphere in the entire courtyard became subtle and restless. Everyone closed their doors, and the topics of conversation revolved around "Wei Chen," "the quota," and "the job." Envy, jealousy, longing, scheming… all sorts of emotions surged beneath the calm surface. Everyone pricked up their ears and widened their eyes, searching for any clue related to the east wing or Wei Chen.

The front yard, Yan Bugui's house.

Dinner was, as usual, a thin cornmeal porridge so watery you could see your reflection in it, served with pickled vegetables and dumplings. Yan Bugui held his bowl, but he didn't taste anything. His eyes darted around behind his glasses, and his mind raced, rapidly calculating on an abacus.

"Hey, did you hear? Wei Chen might have a permanent job opening at the steel mill!" The third aunt said in a low voice, her tone filled with barely suppressed excitement and longing.

Yan Bugui slowly picked up a piece of pickled vegetable, put it in his mouth and chewed it carefully, as if he were savoring some delicacy, but in reality, his mind was in turmoil. "Xu Damao's mouth is full of lies, eight out of ten of his words are unreliable. But... there's no smoke without fire. That kid Wei Chen has been acting a bit differently lately. Look at what he brought back, and his cousin... I'd rather believe it's true."

"If it were really true..." The third woman's eyes lit up, and she leaned closer. "Our Jiefang is almost twenty-one, and doing odd jobs on the street every day isn't a long-term solution. If only..."

"If we can get this spot, our family's liberation will be a dream come true!" Yan Bugui chimed in, his voice even lower, trembling with excitement. "A permanent position at the steel mill! At least twenty or thirty yuan a month, plus all sorts of ration coupons and benefits! After a few years, getting a house won't be a dream! And then, we'll have a lot more confidence when it comes to finding a wife!" He could almost see his son in his brand-new work clothes, bringing home his salary on time every month.

"But...but that's Wei Chen's spot, can he give it to us?" The third aunt was a little discouraged again. "I heard he has a good relationship with the Liu family in the middle courtyard, and he's also close to Grandma Li in the back courtyard. As for our front courtyard...it's just a favor."

Yan Bugui narrowed his eyes, a flickering light behind his glasses: "It's all about human effort! There's only one spot, and we're not the only ones who want it. Liu Haizhong's two sons, Jia Dongxu has a job, but his wife Qin Huairu is from the countryside and doesn't work… and all the other unemployed young people in the courtyard, who isn't envious!" He carefully analyzed the situation in the courtyard, "We have to get there first! Wei Chen, that kid, looks young, but he's shrewd and not easily fooled. Just asking directly won't work; we need a strategy…"

"What strategy?" the third aunt asked eagerly.

Yan Bugui didn't answer immediately. Instead, he put down his bowl, put his hands behind his back, and paced around the small room, looking like a mouse plotting how to steal the sesame oil. "First, we need to confirm if the news is true. Second, we need to sound out Wei Chen to see if he has any vacancies, whether he intends to give this spot to someone else, or if he has any conditions. Finally…"

He stopped, a shrewd and mercenary smile spreading across his face. "We can't come empty-handed. But we can't spend too much money either... We have to make him feel that we're sincere and helping each other as neighbors, while also making him feel obligated."

"Then... what should we take?" The third aunt was worried; she really didn't have anything presentable to bring from home.

Yan Bugui's gaze swept around the room, finally settling on the pile of cabbages and radishes he had grown himself, which were still not finished, in the corner. "Just... take some vegetables. Homegrown, fresh, it's a small gift but a big sentiment. The key isn't what you give, it's how you say it." He had already decided to use "neighborly affection" and "asking for help in need" as a starting point to conduct an emotional investment and a moral test.

Intermediate People's Court, Liu Haizhong's home.

The dinner was noticeably more upscale than that of the Yan family in the front yard; at least there was a plate of scrambled eggs on the table. But the atmosphere was somewhat heavy. Second Uncle Liu Haizhong sat in the main seat, holding a small white wine cup, taking a sip, his brows furrowed.

The second aunt sighed and complained, while the second son, Liu Guangtian, ate his rice, his eyes glancing at his father every now and then with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. The eldest son, Liu Guangqi, was at boarding school and not at home.

"Dad, say something!" Auntie Er couldn't hold back any longer. "It's all over the neighborhood, Wei Chen really has a job opening! Our Guangtian's almost eighteen, and he's always wandering the streets, hanging out with shady characters. I'm worried sick about him every day! If only he could have a proper job..."

"How could I not know?" Liu Haizhong slammed his wine cup down with a loud thud, displaying his annoyance and authority. "I've been the second-in-command of the compound for so many years, what don't I know? Wei Chen, that kid, just got incredibly lucky! But he's already used one spot, and nobody knows if he has any left! If he does..."

He paused, his fat fingers tapping the table, and said in a bureaucratic tone, "However, we can't just let him have his way! He's a resident of the compound, and I'm the second oldest! When it comes to benefits, we can't just think about his own relatives! We have to consider the overall situation of the compound! We have to be fair and take care of those in need!"

He spoke with such high-sounding words, as if he were the embodiment of fairness, but in reality, he was scheming in his heart: his three sons, the eldest Guangqi was in vocational school, which was a good way out, the youngest Guangfu was still young, and the most important thing right now was to find a proper job for the second son Guangtian!

Once Guangtian has a formal job at the steel rolling mill, Liu Haizhong's position in the compound will be more secure, and he'll have more leverage! If Guangtian marries a city girl in the future, the Liu family will be truly rooted in Beijing!

"Then... what should we do?" Liu Guangtian couldn't help but ask, his eyes filled with longing. He desperately wanted a job. With a job, he would have money and status, and he wouldn't have to be scolded by his father for being "useless" or gossiped about by the neighbors for being idle.

"What should we do?" Liu Haizhong snorted, putting on airs. "Tomorrow, I'll go talk to Wei Chen! As the second oldest in the compound, I'll present the facts and reason with him! I'll make him consider the bigger picture and think about the future of the other young people in the compound!"

"Our Guangtian is the right age, has an urban household registration, and is of impeccable character. Isn't he much better than his country cousin?"

He automatically ignored the fact that Wei Feng had already used up one of the spots, and selectively ignored the fact that his family and Wei Chen's family were not close, and that their relationship was not very harmonious because of some minor issues in the past.

In his mind, he was the "second uncle" and the "leader". He took the initiative to lower himself to talk. How could Wei Chen, a mere young man, not give him face?