Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Wei Ran excitedly pressed her face against the car window, her eyes wide open, her little face pressed against the slightly blurry glass. She exclaimed repeatedly, "Mom, look how tall that building is! There's even a clock on top!" "Mom, what are all those people queuing up to buy?" "Brother, what's that house with the big roof?"

Wei Chen patiently answered his sister's questions, occasionally pointing things out to his mother: "That's the telegraph building...that's the department store...that's the movie theater over there, I'll take you to see a movie sometime."

Seeing his mother gradually relax and his sister's joyful expression, he felt a sense of peaceful contentment. This was what life should be like: ordinary, warm, and full of hope, far removed from petty scheming and calculation.

Their destination was Zhongshan Park. This is one of the oldest and largest parks in Beijing, a popular leisure spot for citizens on ordinary days, and even more lively during festivals.

Sure enough, even before reaching the park entrance, the crowd had noticeably increased, bustling with activity. Huge red lanterns and a banner proclaiming "Happy Spring Festival" hung above the park's vermilion gate, flanked by festive couplets. A short queue formed at the ticket window, mostly families with children or young couples.

Wei Chen told his mother and sister to wait in an open space a little further away while he went to queue for tickets. The tickets were very cheap, five cents for adults and three cents for children. Holding the three small pink tickets with the words "Zhongshan Park" and simple patterns printed on them, Wei Ran clutched them like treasures, turning them over and over to look at them.

Upon entering the park, the view suddenly opened up. Although it was winter and the vegetation was bare, the pines and cypresses in the park were evergreen, and the willows by the lake, though only bare branches remained, still had a unique desolate charm. Many tree trunks were wrapped with straw mats for warmth or tied with red ribbons.

The park was brightly decorated, with colorful flags lining the main roads and thin ropes strung between the trees, from which hung numerous small triangular paper flags in red, yellow, blue, and green, swaying gently in the breeze. Visitors thronged the area, shoulder to shoulder. Children chased and played in the open spaces, flying their homemade kites, spinning tops (sometimes called "bingga" or "hanjian" because of their resemblance), or playing hopscotch and jacks.

Young people gathered in twos and threes to chat or stroll along the lake. The men mostly wore blue-gray-green Zhongshan suits or Lenin suits, while the women mostly wore floral cotton-padded jackets and hand-knitted scarves, their faces radiating youthful vigor.

Some amateur cultural troupes organized by various units or neighborhoods set up in several open spaces, beating drums and gongs and performing simple programs: some were dancing the Yangko, dressed in colorful clothes and holding red ribbons, moving enthusiastically to the beat of the drums and gongs; some were singing revolutionary songs or local operas, and although the equipment was simple, the performers were very engaged, and the crowd would burst into applause and cheers from time to time; and in another place, a group of people were gathered around, and in the middle, two people dressed in traditional clothing were telling jokes, eliciting bursts of laughter.

"It's so lively... like going to a big market, no, even more lively and interesting than a market." Wang Xiulan couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes couldn't take it all in.

She had lived in the countryside her whole life, and even after moving to the city, she was confined to a small space. She had never seen such a scene before. This liveliness was vibrant and full of life, completely different from the oppressive and calculating liveliness in the courtyard houses.

During difficult times, when daily necessities were scarce, poverty and hardship could never deter the optimistic and positive Chinese people who pursued life! Various sounds filled the air: the sound of gongs and drums, laughter, children's screams, vendors' shouts, and the singing of the art troupe... all intertwining to create a vivid symphony of the Spring Festival.

"Mom, there's a sugar figurine vendor over there!" Wei Ran, with her sharp eyes, pointed to a small stall surrounded by a group of people under a big tree not far away and called out.

An old craftsman, dressed in an old cotton-padded coat and wearing a felt hat, was sitting on a small stool. In front of him was a small charcoal stove and a small copper pot for boiling sugar. With skillful hands, he used the melted golden sugar syrup to pinch, pull, blow, and pick, deftly shaping various animals and figures, which he then stuck into the straw bundles next to him.

Under the sunlight, the sugar figurines were crystal clear and sparkling, attracting many children to gather around and look, their mouths practically watering.

"Come on, let's go take a look." Wei Chen smiled and led them through the crowd.

The stall was surrounded by layers of people, mostly children, but also some adults accompanying their children.

The old craftsman's hands moved with incredible speed. He scooped up a small spoonful of sugar syrup and quickly sketched a few lines on the smooth stone slab, and a lifelike little rabbit began to take shape. Then, he used a thin bamboo skewer dipped in sugar syrup for eyes, glued on two small pieces of red paper for ears, and inserted the bamboo skewer. A vivid sugar rabbit was complete. Next came monkeys stealing peaches, roosters, magic gourds... eliciting gasps of amazement from the children.

"Comrade, how much are the sugar figurines?" Wei Chen asked a woman next to him who had just bought a "rooster" for her child. "Small ones are three cents, like these simple ones. More complicated ones, like those with figures, are five cents. Custom-made ones with your desired designs are ten cents!" the woman replied.

Wei Ran looked at this and then that, her eyes sparkling. Finally, she pointed to a relatively complex "Sun Wukong" figure that was being made: "Brother, I want that Sun Wukong! He can do somersaults!" She was referring to the figure of Sun Wukong standing on one leg with his hand shading his eyes, which was indeed more exquisite than the simple animal figures.

"Master, give me a Sun Wukong one," Wei Chen said to the old craftsman. The old craftsman looked up at him, nodded, and without saying a word, his hands moved even faster.

In his hands, the sugar syrup seemed to come alive. He stretched, wrapped, shaped, and decorated it, and in no time, a lifelike sugar figurine of Sun Wukong holding his "golden cudgel" (a thin sugar stick) was made and placed in the most conspicuous position on the bundle of straw.

"Five cents," the old craftsman said succinctly. Wei Chen paid and handed the sugar figurine to Wei Ran. Wei Ran took it carefully, initially hesitant to touch it, only gently stroking the smooth, cool surface with her fingers before finally sticking out her little tongue to lick it.

"So sweet! So beautiful! Thank you, brother!" She was overjoyed, holding the sugar figurine and looking at it from left to right, reluctant to take a big bite.

"Mom, would you like to try some?" Wei Ran held the sugar figurine to Wang Xiulan's lips.

Wang Xiulan laughed and dodged, saying, "Mom won't eat it, it's too sweet, my teeth can't handle it. You eat it, eat slowly, don't make a mess."

"Brother, have a bite!"

"I don't like sweets, you eat them." Wei Chen ruffled his sister's hair.

Holding the crystal-clear candy figurine of Sun Wukong, Wei Ran was even happier, skipping and hopping ahead, attracting envious glances from many children her age.

Looking at her daughter's carefree figure as she walked away, and then at her tall and composed son beside her, Wang Xiulan was filled with mixed emotions. A year ago, she was still worrying about her next meal, concerned about her daughter's tuition fees, and uncertain about her son's future.

Who would have thought that one day I could stroll leisurely in the park, watching my daughter holding up an exquisite sugar figurine, enjoying the sunshine and the lively atmosphere? This life feels like a dream, yet it's so real and within my grasp.

"Chen'er," Wang Xiulan called softly, her voice choked with emotion, "Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, I still feel like it's not real, afraid that this good life is just a dream, and it will be gone when I wake up."

Wei Chen understood his mother's feelings and held her somewhat rough but warm hand: "Mom, it's not a dream. Things will only get better from now on. Just relax and enjoy your life. Look how happy Ranran is."

Wang Xiulan nodded, squeezed her son's hand tightly, her eyes slightly red, but her face beamed with an unstoppable smile. Yes, her son had grown up and become capable; this family finally had a pillar of support and hope.

The three strolled slowly along the park's main path, blending into the bustling crowd. Passing a large area gathered around, they discovered it was an ice rink. Although most of the lake was frozen, the park had specially designated a flat area, watered it, and created a small natural ice rink.

Many young people, and even some middle-aged people, are gliding on the ice wearing their own skates—mostly simple blade skates, with more advanced figure skates being extremely rare.

Some skaters displayed skillful technique and graceful movements, drawing cheers from the crowd; others, beginners, stumbled and fell, laughing heartily at their own agility. A thick crowd of spectators surrounded the ice rink, with children peering over the railings, watching with great interest.

Wei Ran was mesmerized, her little hands gripping the railing tightly, her eyes following the figures speeding across the ice.

"Bro, ice skating is so much fun! It feels like flying!"

"Next winter, I'll try to get you a suitable pair of ice skates and teach you how to skate," Wei Chen promised. In this day and age, ice skates were a rarity, but he believed he could always find a way.

"Really? That's great! Pinky promise!" Wei Ran extended her little finger.

"Pinky promise, a hundred years from now!" Wei Chen smiled as he hooked his finger around his sister's.

Leaving the ice rink, I saw another snack cart. The cart was covered with a clean white gauze. Lifting a corner revealed the goods inside: roasted sunflower seeds and roasted peanuts wrapped in triangular packets of old newspaper; loose glutinous rice strips; walnut and jujube pastries wrapped in oil paper; and hawthorn and water chestnuts skewered on bamboo sticks.

There was a small sign next to it listing the product names and prices: sunflower seeds 2 cents, peanuts 3 cents, glutinous rice strips 5 cents, walnut shortbread 8 cents...

Wei Chen bought another bag of sunflower seeds and a bag of peanuts, carrying them on an old newspaper. Wang Xiulan wanted to stop him, thinking it was just another expense, but seeing her son's smiling eyes and her daughter's expectant expression, she swallowed her words and just muttered softly, "Buy a little, just enough for them to taste..."

"Mom, it's Chinese New Year, let's eat some sunflower seeds and chat." Wei Chen shared the sunflower seeds and peanuts with his mother and sister, and grabbed a small handful for himself. The sunflower seeds were roasted until fragrant, and the peanuts were crispy. Although they weren't anything special, the family walked around in the sunshine, eating them as they went, listening to the lively conversation and enjoying the scenery. It was a uniquely leisurely experience.

Tired from walking, they saw a pavilion with stone benches and went in to rest. In another corner of the pavilion, a bespectacled man who looked like a student was sketching portraits for people using charcoal and white paper. The sketches were quite lifelike, and he charged one cent per sketch. Several people were waiting in line to have their portraits drawn. Wei Ran looked on curiously, but Wei Chen didn't join in the fun.