Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Of course, some people also ran into obstacles. In the backyard, at Liu Haizhong's house, the second aunt was actually tempted. Seeing the aroma of meat wafting from other people's houses, she felt a strong urge to go. But as soon as she mentioned it, Liu Haizhong rudely interrupted her: "You're not allowed to go! I, Liu Haizhong, would rather starve than eat his handouts! It's shameful!" Naturally, the second aunt didn't dare to go to Wei Chen.

Madam Jia Zhang had naturally heard the rumors; many families in the courtyard had bought meat from the "black market"! Madam Jia Zhang sent Jia Dongxu to check the black market, but he went twice and couldn't find any. The Jia family then realized that everyone in the courtyard had probably swapped meat with Wei Chen, but no one admitted it!

Madam Jia was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. At home, she cursed those who went to exchange meat as "spineless bastards" and cursed Wei Chen as "rich but heartless" and "looking down on the poor." But she only dared to curse behind closed doors.

She knew that even if she went shamelessly, she would only humiliate herself. Listening to her mother-in-law's scolding and seeing the children's listless expressions, Qin Huairu felt as if a huge rock was pressing on her heart, making it hard to breathe.

Yi Zhonghai took in all these undercurrents, and his sense of crisis grew stronger. He clearly saw that a new power structure, centered on Wei Chen, was taking shape. This was not based on seniority, position, or moral preaching, but on the most tangible and scarce resource—the distribution of food.

Those families who received the meat, though they didn't say it aloud, were noticeably more enthusiastic and polite towards Wei Chen's family, even subconsciously protective of them.

The order of "respecting the elderly and caring for the young" and "putting the collective first" that he had cultivated and tried to maintain for many years seemed so pale and powerless in the face of the "stomach problem." He felt a deep sense of powerlessness and the fear of being marginalized.

When Sha Zhu heard that even people like Liu Erzhuang and Zhang Dashan, who were usually on decent terms with him, had gotten their hands on meat, he knew without a doubt that it was from Wei Chen! He felt even more resentful. He felt "betrayed" and was jealous of Wei Chen's "good relationships," so he could only drown his sorrows in alcohol, cursing and swearing in the room.

Xu Damao became even more determined to "cultivate a good relationship" with Wei Chen. He observed Wei Chen's actions with great discipline, knowing when to be firm, when to be gentle, when to be generous, and when to refuse without hesitation.

Such people are best befriended, not offended. He began to ponder what pretext to use and what "substance" to bring to knock on the door of the east wing.

On the night of the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, the courtyard seemed quieter than usual. But behind the windows of many families, illuminated by the firelight, were busy figures with joyful expressions.

The housewives carefully processed the hard-won small piece of meat, pondering whether to cut it into small cubes and mix it into the cabbage filling to make more dumplings, or to slice it thinly and stew it in a large pot of radish so that the whole family could enjoy some oil.

The children gathered around the stove, watching eagerly, as the air was filled with the long-lost, truly festive, and hopeful aroma.

Inside the east courtyard, Wang Xiulan tallied up the spoils of the past few days' "trade": a small bag of millet, half a bag of flour, dozens of eggs, some dried vegetables and pickles, several pairs of well-made cotton shoes and hats, some loose tickets and certificates, and that precious jar of sesame oil.

The items weren't numerous, but they were diverse, representing the sincere efforts of a dozen or so families who had scraped together every penny or crafted them with skill.

"That's about enough," Wei Chen said to his mother. "We've lent a hand to those we could and should. As for the rest, everyone has their own destiny, and we can't and shouldn't interfere."

Wang Xiulan nodded, looking at her son with a mixture of relief and worry in her eyes: "Chen'er, Mom knows you mean well. But... isn't this too conspicuous? The taller the tree, the more the wind will blow."

"Mom, don't worry." Wei Chen held his mother's rough hand, his tone steady. "We're not giving it away for nothing, it's an exchange. They get the benefits, we get the goods and the favor, and we're even. Besides, I only chose honest, upright families who know what's good for them. I won't give a single penny to people like the Jia family or Liu Haizhong. As for Zhao Feng..."

He paused, a sharp glint in his eyes, "As long as we stand firm, act with discretion, and don't give others any leverage, the wind may not be a bad thing when it blows."

Looking into her son's calm and determined eyes, Wang Xiulan's worries gradually dissipated. Her son had grown up; he was thoughtful and considerate, even more so than she, his mother, had considered. She believed he could handle everything.

Night deepened, and a cold wind swept across the rooftops. The courtyard was immersed in silence and the secret hopes of its inhabitants. Wei Chen stood by the window, gazing at the deep darkness outside. He knew that after these past few days of "secret deals," his status in this courtyard had subtly changed.

He is no longer just a capable and formidable young employee, but has become a key figure with special resources who can influence neighborhood relations and even the "ecology" of the courtyard to a certain extent.

This influence is intangible and intangible, yet it truly exists. As Lunar New Year's Eve approaches, the flavor of the New Year grows ever richer and more real amidst the subtle aroma of meat, the complex calculations, and the silent exchanges and rearrangements of interpersonal relationships.

This year is destined to be anything but peaceful. Wei Chen has already built an invisible yet resilient barrier for himself and his family in this complex and chaotic compound.

The road ahead may still be turbulent, but at least this year, many families' dining tables will be filled with a rare warmth and smiles because of that little bit of "unexpected joy" from the East Courtyard.

This, perhaps, is the small but real "meaning" he brought about by his time travel, besides protecting his family.

On the morning of the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the courtyard was still shrouded in the gray-blue morning mist characteristic of winter. The air was dry and cold, and breathing it in brought a slight stinging sensation to the lungs. However, unlike the deathly cold of the past, the chill of this day seemed to be mixed with a hint of restlessness and anticipation.

From the far end of the alley, one could already hear the sporadic "crack" sounds of daring children secretly setting off individual firecrackers, their crisp sounds briefly breaking the silence before being swallowed up by an even deeper stillness.

A faint smell of gunpowder wafted in the air, mixed with the extremely faint aroma of meat being cooked in advance by some people, together forming an invisible signal—the New Year is really close.

In the east courtyard, Wei Chen had already risen. Dressed in a single garment, he slowly began to practice his stance on the cleared ground in the courtyard. Through daily tempering with the "Nine Heavens Sun-Shooting Technique" and continuous honing of his martial arts skills, his physique appeared no different from before, but the flow of his inner energy had become smooth and enduring.

The fierce and violent nature of Bajiquan and the supple and continuous nature of Taijiquan, when combined in his hands, are no longer just simple changes of moves, but rather have begun to show the beginnings of integration and the harmonious combination of strength and softness.

Each punch, seemingly slow, carried the sound of wind and thunder; each transition, light and agile, contained the force of a thousand pounds. After completing a round of punches, only a light sweat appeared on his forehead, and the white breath he exhaled from his mouth and nose condensed into a straight line, about a foot long, before dissipating, showing that his internal energy was quite profound.

He stood still, feeling the warm, nourishing energy in his dantian slowly calming and flowing through his limbs, dispelling the last trace of chill. Wei Chen gently exhaled a breath of stale air, his eyes clear. Today he was going to visit several key leaders, and he needed to be in high spirits and impeccably dressed.

Back inside, Wang Xiulan had already prepared hot water. After a quick wash, Wei Chen changed into his slightly worn but very crisp dark blue Zhongshan suit. The suit was made by his mother herself, sewing it herself stitch by stitch with the cloth she had recently bought using her accumulated cloth ration coupons. The stitches were fine and even.

He wore a pair of brand-new cotton shoes with thick soles, made by his mother and younger sister Wei Ran in their spare time; they were thick and warm. He straightened his collar in front of his mother's somewhat blurry dressing mirror. The young man in the mirror was tall and straight, with calm eyes. Although he was not particularly handsome or dazzling, his steady and capable temperament far surpassed that of his peers.

"Chen'er, is everything ready?" Wang Xiulan held a brush in her hand, carefully brushing away non-existent dust from her son's shoulders, her eyes full of concern and a hint of barely perceptible tension. Her son had made something of himself; he was going to pay New Year's respects to the factory's top leader, which she considered an extremely important matter, fearing that something might be overlooked.

"Mom, don't worry, everything is ready." Wei Chen patted the military green satchel he carried with him. The bag didn't contain the usual snack boxes, canned fruits, or cigarettes and alcohol that are common when traveling during the holidays.

There were only three tea bags, each weighing about two pounds, carefully wrapped in thick kraft paper and oil paper, square and tied with fine hemp rope. This tea came from the spiritually rich tea garden in the game world, and he personally processed it using ancient methods passed down through generations. Although it had no illustrious name, Wei Chen was confident that its color, aroma, taste, and flavor were enough to make it stand out in the world.

The key to this gift is its uniqueness and thoughtfulness; it should be unconventional, eye-catching, and demonstrate care and consideration.

"Come back early, the roads are slippery, be careful riding your bike," Wang Xiulan reminded him again, seeing her son to the door. Wei Ran also came over and handed her brother a small, still warm handkerchief pouch: "Brother, I brought you two pieces of candy, have one if you get hungry on the way."

Wei Chen smiled and ruffled his sister's hair, then took the candy and put it in his pocket: "Okay, I know. Listen to Mom at home."

Pushing open the courtyard gate, a refreshing chill swept over him. Early risers in the alley were already sweeping their doorways, and seeing Wei Chen pushing his gleaming Forever 28-inch bicycle out, they all greeted him with smiles: "Wei Chen, out so early?" "Yeah, I have some errands to run!" Wei Chen responded with a smile to each one, his attitude calm, neither arrogant nor overly enthusiastic.

I hopped on my bicycle, and the crisp sound of the bell echoed through the alleyways in the early morning. The wheels crunched over the still-unswept snow and ice.

Most of the shops on both sides of the street were not yet open, but the brand-new red paper couplets and upside-down "Fu" characters pasted on the doors already exuded a strong festive atmosphere. Occasionally, a figure carrying a basket would rush by to buy the last of the New Year's goods, and most of them had a busy and expectant look on their faces.

Wei Chen's first stop was naturally Li Huaide, the deputy factory director in charge of logistics. This man was shrewd and capable, skilled at cultivating relationships with superiors and subordinates, and in the original storyline, he was the figure who would steer the steel rolling mill when things took a turn for the better. Maintaining a good relationship with him was not only about immediate work convenience for Wei Chen, but also a long-term investment.