Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

The Intermediate People's Court, at Sha Zhu's house.

He Yuzhu, wearing an apron, was busy preparing the last dish at the stove—stir-fried cabbage with vinegar. His cooking skills were indeed quite good; with only a pound of meat from the factory and some common ingredients, he managed to prepare several decent dishes.

A bowl of braised pork belly, not much meat, but with an enticing color; a bowl of minced pork stir-fried with pickled mustard greens; a plate of fried peanuts; plus this stir-fried cabbage with vinegar and a large plate of pork and cabbage dumplings—it's quite a feast.

He Yushui sat at the table, watching her brother busy himself with longing eyes, swallowing her saliva from time to time.

"Alright, all done!" Sha Zhu took the stir-fried cabbage out of the pan, plated it, and placed it on the table. He took off his apron and sat down. "Rainwater, let's eat!"

"Brother, you're awesome!" He Yushui cheered, eagerly picking up a piece of braised pork and putting it in her mouth, her eyes narrowing. "Mmm! Delicious!"

Sha Zhu smiled smugly, picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, took a sip with the bulk liquor, and smacked his lips contentedly: "That's right, my cooking skills are no joke! Working in the factory is a waste of my talent!"

The brother and sister ate with great relish. Silly Zhu was simple-minded; as long as there was meat to eat, wine to drink, and his sister was happy, he felt the year had been good.

As he ate, he habitually started cursing again: "That bastard Xu Damao, he's probably back at his parents' place eating and drinking like a king! Humph, what is he? A projectionist, so what? He's destined to have no descendants!"

"Brother, it's the New Year, let's not talk about these things," He Yushui advised.

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about that bastard." Sha Zhu took another sip of wine, his face flushed. "Yu Shui, after the New Year, I'll definitely put in a lot of effort and ask someone to find me a wife! Then our family will be even more lively!"

"Yes! Brother, you'll definitely be able to marry your sister-in-law!" He Yushui nodded vigorously. The brother and sister looked forward to the future, temporarily putting aside their hardships and the disputes in the courtyard.

As night deepened, the sporadic sounds of firecrackers began to increase in frequency. Midnight was approaching, and the old year was drawing to a close.

In the east courtyard, the stove fire was still warm. The leftover food on the table had been cleaned up and replaced with peanuts, melon seeds, and fruit candies.

Wang Xiulan and Wei Ran were making dumplings for tomorrow morning, while Wei Chen helped roll out the dough. Cheerful music and the New Year's countdown played from the radio.

"Mom, I'll be twenty years old after the New Year (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning)." Wei Chen said while skillfully rolling out dumpling wrappers, "I was thinking that when spring comes and the weather gets warmer, you can go back to the village and invite my grandparents to stay for a couple of days."

"Okay, whatever you say. Your grandparents have treated us well, so we should be as filial as possible to your heartless father." Wang Xiulan replied with a smile, deftly pinching out a dumpling shaped like a gold ingot.

"Brother, can I plant some flowers in the yard?" Wei Ran asked, tilting her head up.

"Sure, let's plant some pretty flowers, then our yard will look beautiful too."

"I want to get a kitten too!" Wei Ran pushed her luck.

"Well...we'll have to see if there's anything suitable," Wei Chen said with a smile. The family chatted and laughed, planning their life for the coming year. Although the wind was still biting cold outside, and the general circumstances of the times remained difficult, this small east courtyard was filled with hope for the future and the warmth of everyday life.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven..." The countdown sounded from the radio.

"Happy New Year!" Wei Chen, Wang Xiulan, and Wei Ran said in unison, their faces beaming with genuine smiles.

"Crackling and popping—" Outside the courtyard, someone lit firecrackers first, and then more firecrackers rang out from all directions, merging into one, announcing the arrival of the New Year.

The old year, with all its hardships, struggles, calculations, and warmth, has passed. The new year, with its unknowns, hopes, challenges, and opportunities, has quietly arrived.

The air above the courtyard house was thick with the smell of gunpowder and the excited screams of children. The lights of each household flickered in the night, reflecting their different joys and sorrows and their own hopes.

Behind the window in the east courtyard, the warm light still lingered, creating a joyful atmosphere.

The first day of the first lunar month in 1960, the Gengzi year of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Even before it was completely dark, there were already rustling sounds coming from the courtyard. As the old year departs and the new year begins, regardless of wealth, this day always carries the most hopes and a strong sense of ritual for people. The custom is to "rise at dawn," hoping for a fresh start in the new year, and to be early rather than late.

In the east courtyard, Wang Xiulan woke up almost immediately upon hearing the first faint crowing of a rooster in the distance. She got up quietly, without turning on the light, and by the dim light of the snow outside the window, she groped her way to put on her half-new, clean, dark blue cotton-padded jacket. She combed her hair meticulously and tied it into a bun at the back of her head.

Instead of waking her children immediately, she went to the main room and lit three thin incense sticks in front of the altar where her husband's memorial tablet and ancestral tablets were placed, inserting them into a small incense burner. The faint red light flickered in the darkness, illuminating her devout and serene face.

She prayed silently, wishing her husband's soul to rest in peace, that her ancestors would bless her two children with safety and prosperity, and that this family, which had endured so much hardship, would henceforth embark on a smooth path.

After doing all that, she went into the inner room and gently nudged Wei Ran, who was still fast asleep: "Ranran, wake up, it's time to get up. It's the first day of the new year, so wear new clothes to welcome good fortune."

Wei Ran groggily opened her eyes, but upon hearing the words "new clothes," she immediately perked up and jumped out of bed. Wang Xiulan turned on the light and took out a new red cotton-padded jacket with small white flowers and a new pair of dark blue trousers from the closet, both made from fabric bought before the New Year. Wei Ran happily put them on and twirled in front of her mother: "Mom, does it look good?"

"She looks good, my daughter looks good in anything." Wang Xiulan smiled as she straightened her collar and neatly combed her two little braids tied with red ribbons. "Go and wake your brother up."

"Brother! Get up! It's New Year's!" Wei Ran skipped and hopped to the outer room to push Wei Chen.

Wei Chen had actually been awake for a while and was lying in bed meditating. Hearing his sister's call, he opened his eyes and replied, "I'm up."

I put on the navy blue Zhongshan suit that my mother had prepared, which was also half-new. I washed my face with cold water. The icy water made my skin feel slightly tight, but it also made my mind clearer.

Stepping outside, the sky was still dark, but the eastern sky was already faintly showing the first hint of dawn. A crisp, fresh scent filled the air, mingled with the faint smell of gunpowder lingering from the previous night. The snow in the courtyard, still unmelted, gleamed coldly in the dim light.

"Chen'er, take these and put them by the door. We'll put them out after we cook the dumplings." Wang Xiulan took out a string of 500-shot Liuyang red firecrackers, a dozen or so double-bang firecrackers, and several "Didi Jin" (a type of thin, sparking firework) to hold in her hand. This was considered quite "luxurious" at the time; ordinary families would at most have a string of firecrackers and a few "Ma Lei Zi" (another type of firework).

"Hey." Wei Chen took the firecrackers and hung them on the bamboo pole that had been nailed to the courtyard gate. He placed the double-bang firecrackers and the "Didi Jin" firecrackers on the dry stone platform next to them. Wei Ran followed behind her brother, watching curiously. She wanted to reach out and touch the bright red firecrackers, but she was also a little scared.

"When they put it on later, stand far away and cover your ears," Wei Chen instructed his sister.

"Mmm!" Wei Ran nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling.

Wang Xiulan returned to the kitchen and began boiling water to cook dumplings. The dumplings had been made the night before while staying up to welcome the New Year; they were filled with cabbage and pork, and each one was plump and round, like a gold ingot. The water bubbled and boiled in the pot, and white steam rose up, carrying the unique aroma of flour and meat filling.

She first ladled out three small bowls, three dumplings in each, and quietly placed them on the offering table in the main room. She set out the chopsticks, and whispered a few words, as if inviting her ancestors and husband to "taste the fresh dumplings." Only then did she put the remaining dumplings into the pot.

The Chinese people's tradition of respecting their ancestors has never been broken. Even in this day and age, although it cannot be done openly, many families will secretly offer incense to their ancestors during festivals!

The dumplings floated and sank in the boiling water, quickly becoming round and translucent. Wang Xiulan carefully scooped them out with a strainer and placed them into three large bowls. The bowls already contained minced garlic, vinegar, and a little sesame oil.

"Time to eat dumplings!" Wang Xiulan came out carrying a bowl, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Time to eat dumplings!" Wei Ran cheered.

Wei Chen helped carry the bowls to the octagonal table in the main room. Wang Xiulan lit a small red candle and placed it in the center of the table. The dim yellow light enveloped the three bowls of steaming dumplings, making the room look especially warm and cozy.

"Come on, Ranran, come with Mom and your brother, kowtow to our ancestors and your father to thank them for their blessings and pray for a peaceful new year." Wang Xiulan pulled Wei Ran down to kneel before the offering table.

Wei Chen straightened his clothes and knelt down solemnly. The three of them respectfully kowtowed three times. Wang Xiulan's eyes were a little moist, but she smiled. Wei Ran imitated her mother, her little face serious. Wei Chen silently prayed, both to comfort the original owner of this body's father and to pray for his own rebirth.

After kowtowing, Wang Xiulan urged, "Quickly, eat the dumplings while they're hot! Eating these dumplings will bring you wealth and prosperity in the New Year!"

Wei Ran couldn't wait any longer. She picked up a dumpling, blew on it, and carefully took a bite. The delicious juice immediately filled her mouth. "Mmm...delicious! It has meat!" She squinted her eyes happily.

Wei Chen also picked up a dumpling, dipped it in vinegar and garlic, and put it in his mouth. The dumpling skin was thin and the filling was plentiful. The freshness of the cabbage neutralized the greasiness of the pork, making it truly delicious. More importantly, behind this meal of dumplings was a symbol of a family escaping poverty and moving towards stability.

Wang Xiulan watched her children eat with relish before slowly starting to eat herself, savoring each dumpling as if she were appreciating this hard-won happiness.

After finishing the dumplings, it was already getting a little brighter. Wei Chen picked up the incense stick he had prepared earlier and walked to the courtyard gate. "Ranran, stand back a bit and cover your ears!" he reminded her again.

Wei Ran immediately ran behind the door of the main room, only peeking out her small head, covering her ears tightly with her hands, but staring at her brother without blinking.

Wei Chen lit the fuse of the whip with incense and quickly stepped back a few paces.

"Sizzle—" The fuse ignited. "Crackling crackling—!!!" A deafening firecracker suddenly exploded, red paper scraps flying everywhere with the sparks and smoke, instantly shattering the morning's tranquility and announcing the official start of the New Year in the East Wing!