Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

On Saturday afternoon, the rolling mill's whistle signaled the end of another week of hard work and awakened the workers' anticipation for a short rest on Sunday. The roar of the machines in the workshop gradually subsided, replaced by the relaxed laughter of the workers, the clanging of tools being put away, and the noisy footsteps heading towards the factory gate.

Wei Chen finished his work at the security department's armory early—actually, today's work was mainly routine inspection and organization. His mentor, Li Zhijun, saw that he was steady and skilled, so he let him finish up early and also check on his cousin Wei Feng in the workshop to see how his first week was going. After locking the heavy iron door of the armory and checking that everything was in order, Wei Chen headed towards the second workshop.

The second workshop was tall, and even with the machines stopped, the air still carried the unique smell of machine oil, iron filings, and sweat. Many workers had already changed out of their stained work clothes and were walking out in twos and threes. Wei Chen stood in a slightly empty spot at the workshop entrance, waiting, his eyes searching for that familiar figure in the crowd.

"Hey, Officer Wei? Waiting for someone?" A slightly hoarse but strong voice rang out from the side.

Wei Chen turned his head and saw that it was Director Liu of Workshop 2, who was walking over with a chipped aluminum lunchbox in his hand. His face showed the fatigue of a day's work, but his eyes were still sharp.

"Director Liu, hello. I'm waiting for my cousin, Wei Feng." Wei Chen greeted him politely.

"Wei Feng," Director Liu nodded, a satisfied look on his face, "that kid is good. Tall and strong, quick-witted and observant. This past week, working with Li Dahai, he hasn't complained of being tired, doing whatever he's asked. You've probably heard about Li Dahai's temper in the security department—he's stubborn and inflexible. Getting him to nod and say 'not bad' is no easy feat." He paused, then added, "He's a hard worker who can endure hardship. Keep up the good work; in the fitter trade, you can't produce fine work without hard work. He's new, but if he's willing to learn, there's hope."

To receive such praise from the workshop director, especially coming from Director Liu, who is known for his strictness, shows that Wei Feng's performance this week was indeed remarkable.

Wei Chen was happy for his cousin, but he remained humble: "Director Liu, you flatter me. My brother is new here and doesn't understand much. I'll have to trouble you and Master Li to teach him. He's hardworking, but I'm afraid he might be slow to learn."

"Being slow isn't the problem; what's the problem is being unwilling to learn and unwilling to work." Director Liu waved his hand. "Alright, you wait here; they should be out soon. I'm leaving now." With that, he grabbed his lunchbox and joined the flow of people leaving get off work.

After waiting a while longer, when most of the people in the workshop had left, Wei Feng and his mentor Li Dahai walked out side by side. Li Dahai was still wearing his dark blue overalls stained with oil, carrying a tool bag in his hand, and his face was expressionless.

Wei Feng followed beside him, having also changed out of his work clothes and into a clean old outfit. However, traces of grease that hadn't been completely washed off could still be seen on his hair and face. Nevertheless, he was in good spirits, with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Master, Wei Chen!" Wei Feng grinned as soon as he saw Wei Chen, revealing a set of white teeth.

Li Dahai also saw Wei Chen and nodded as a greeting.

"Master Li, it's time to go home. I hope my brother hasn't caused you any trouble this week?" Wei Chen stepped forward and asked with a smile.

Li Dahai glanced at his apprentice beside him and said in a deep voice, "Not exactly troublesome. He's hardworking and obedient, but his hands are a bit rough and his mind isn't very quick." This sounded like a criticism, but those familiar with Li Dahai's temperament knew that this was a rare positive evaluation, at least affirming his two most basic qualities: "hardworking" and "obedient."

Wei Feng scratched his head sheepishly, but his smile didn't fade. He was already very satisfied to receive a "hardworking and obedient" compliment from his master.

"I'll need your help to polish it further." Wei Chen laughed. "Brother Feng, are you all ready? Come on, come home with me. Mom made a delicious meal and is waiting for you. Tomorrow is Sunday, you're not working overtime, are you? You can rest at home for a day."

"Okay! All packed up! No overtime!" Wei Feng nodded quickly, then looked at Li Dahai, "Master, shall I go now?"

"Okay, go ahead. Take a good rest tomorrow, and we'll continue next week." Li Dahai waved his hand and walked off in another direction.

The two brothers pushed their bicycles, following the flow of people out of the factory area. The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the vast factory area in a golden-red hue, and the towering chimneys still emitted wisps of smoke.

Wei Feng glanced back, his face full of emotion: "Chenzi, this past week has felt like a dream. I've really become a worker! Listening to the machines every day, learning the trade from my master—it's tiring, but I feel at peace!"

Looking at his tanned but radiant face, Wei Chen smiled and asked, "How are you feeling? Are you adjusting well?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" Wei Feng nodded vigorously, and started talking. "Everything in the workshop is new! Those machine tools are huge and strong! Master Li looks fierce, but he's actually a very nice person, just not very talkative."

He had me start with the basics: cleaning, moving materials, deburring parts... Although these were all odd jobs, he said they were fundamental skills, and I needed to familiarize myself with the tools and materials first.

He held out his hand, his palms showing noticeable small cuts and calluses. "Look," he said, "my hands hardly look like a farmer's anymore. But Master Li said that to be a fitter, you need calluses, strength, and accuracy! Now I can use a file to smooth out lumps of iron!"

His tone was filled with pride and excitement, the fulfillment of finding direction and engaging in work. Wei Chen listened, and was happy for his cousin as well. Wei Feng wasn't the kind of person who was particularly quick-witted, but he was down-to-earth, hardworking, and able to endure hardship. These qualities were often more valuable than cleverness in a factory, especially in the front-line workshop.

"You'll get used to it. How are you getting along with your coworkers? Are you settling into the dorm?" Wei Chen asked again.

"My coworkers are all pretty good. There are a few around my age, and we can chat for a bit after get off work. The dormitory is a bit cramped, eight people to a room, and it's a bit noisy, but it's cleaner and brighter than the earthen beds back home! We eat in the canteen, and the steamed buns are unlimited, and the dishes are quite oily!" Wei Feng said enthusiastically, his eyes shining as he recounted his new experiences of the week.

The two brothers chatted all the way back to Nanluoguxiang by bicycle. As they approached the courtyard house, Wei Feng seemed to remember something, hesitated for a moment, and asked softly, "Chenzi, if I move in... will it cause you and Auntie some trouble? Those people in the courtyard..." Although he was honest and simple, he wasn't stupid. The probing look his third uncle had given him when he last came to report for duty had made him somewhat uneasy.

Wei Chen smiled easily: "What's the trouble? That's our own home. Let the people in the yard say whatever they want, don't worry about them. Just live in peace, go to work, rest after get off work, and don't think about anything else." His confident tone gave Wei Feng great comfort.

Sure enough, as soon as they arrived at the courtyard gate, they saw Uncle Yan Bugui standing in his "old spot" with his hands in his pockets, as if he was looking at the scenery or waiting for someone.

When Yan Bugui saw the Wei brothers riding over, especially when he saw Wei Feng's simple yet energetic appearance, looking every bit like a city worker, the muscles on Yan Bugui's face twitched involuntarily. His eyes behind his glasses were complex and hard to read—there was envy, jealousy, disappointment at his failed scheme, and a hint of barely perceptible annoyance.

"Uncle, are you enjoying the cool air?" Wei Chen stopped the car and greeted him politely, as if the previous probing about job openings had never happened.

"Ah...hey, you're back?" Yan Bugui forced a smile, his gaze sweeping over Wei Feng. "This is...Wei Chen, your cousin? Is he...working at the factory?" He couldn't help but ask, even though he already knew the answer in his heart.

"Yes, this is my brother Wei Feng. He's an apprentice in Workshop Two," Wei Chen introduced frankly, then said to Wei Feng, "Brother Feng, this is the third uncle in the compound."

"Hello, Third Uncle!" Wei Feng quickly got off his bicycle and greeted him respectfully. He remembered Wei Chen's instructions to be polite to people in the courtyard.

"Okay, okay..." Yan Bugui replied dryly, his last shred of hope completely extinguished. Not only had his cousin come, but he'd also secured a job, and it seemed he was doing quite well. All his previous scheming, those "brilliant ideas" of exchanging cabbages and radishes for job opportunities, now seemed like a complete joke in retrospect.

Feeling a little embarrassed, he gave a perfunctory reply like "Young man, do your best," then excused himself, saying he had something to do at home, and hurriedly returned to the front yard, his back looking somewhat desolate and disheveled. He was completely disheartened, and at the same time, he realized more deeply that Wei Chen was someone he couldn't outmaneuver.

Wei Chen and Wei Feng pushed the stroller into the yard. By the pond in the middle courtyard, Qin Huairu was washing clothes, while Bang Geng played with Xiao Dang nearby. Seeing the Wei brothers, and especially Wei Feng's distinctly different appearance from the country folk and the faint smell of engine oil, Qin Huairu paused in her washing. She lowered her head, vigorously scrubbing the clothes in her hands, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Her husband, Jia Dongxu, begged an old man and even swallowed his pride to plead, but got nothing in return. Meanwhile, Wei Chen easily got his cousin a job at the factory, a permanent worker. This contrast left her feeling like she had a lump of cotton stuck in her throat, a bitter and suffocating feeling. Bang Geng glanced curiously at Wei Feng, but Qin Huairu quietly stopped him.

Liu Haizhong, the second uncle in the backyard, was walking towards the central courtyard with his hands behind his back, seemingly "contemplating national affairs." When he saw Wei Chen bring Wei Feng in, Liu Haizhong stopped in his tracks, his fat face twitched, he let out a barely audible snort, and turned his head away, pretending not to see him.

He was so jealous he could barely contain himself. His second son, Liu Guangtian, was only two years younger than Wei Feng and had a city residency permit, yet he was still wandering the streets, struggling to find even a temporary job.

Wei Chen's poor relative from the countryside suddenly became a formal apprentice at the steel rolling mill! How could this "second uncle," who considered himself the "leader" of the institute and was eagerly hoping his son would succeed so he could bring him honor, bear it?

But what could he do, no matter how unwilling he was? The spot belonged to Wei Chen, and it was only right that he gave it to his relative. He had tried to put on airs and exert pressure before, but he had only been rebuffed. Now, seeing Wei Chen made him feel ashamed, so he simply decided to avoid him altogether.