Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

The night was as dark as ink, and the courtyard house was completely asleep. The lights in the east wing had long been extinguished, leaving only Wei Feng's increasingly steady and long snores coming from the west room of the main house, and Wei Ran's light and even breathing from the west wing.

In the main room's stove, most of the coal had burned out, and only a few dark red lights peeked through the cracks, like the eyes of a sleeping beast, slowly releasing their last warmth to ward off the increasingly biting cold outside the window.

Wei Chen returned to his room in the east wing, closed the slightly heavy wooden door behind him, and carefully secured the old-fashioned brass latch. He didn't immediately go to bed, but as he had done many nights before, he went behind the door, stretched out his finger, and slowly and intently traced an invisible path with his fingertip in an inconspicuous, shadowy corner on the inside of the door panel.

A barely perceptible "mental imprint," which only he could clearly perceive, clung quietly to the wood grain like the finest spider silk. This was the product of a combination of a certain mental power application technique he brought from the game world and his own high level of alertness.

If footsteps that don't belong to family linger outside the door for an extended period, or if there are unusual movements such as prying or spying, this connection between his mind and heart will be plucked like a string on a musical instrument, instantly pulling him back to reality from his immersion in the game world.

In this unpredictable and not entirely peaceful courtyard, and even in the wider world, this is an invisible warning line he has built for himself and his family.

After completing this routine "safety measure," he turned off the bedroom light. Darkness surged in like a tide, quickly filling every corner of the room. Only the faint light reflected from the snow outside the window vaguely outlined the silent silhouettes of the table, chairs, and cabinets.

Wei Chen lay down fully clothed, beneath a thick cotton quilt sewn by his mother. He closed his eyes, his breathing gradually becoming calm and long, but his thoughts, like those of a diver, sank into the depths of his consciousness towards that strange light.

The slight, familiar dizziness vanished in an instant, like passing through a thin film of water. When I opened my eyes again, the atmosphere around me was different.

The lingering smells of coal smoke, dust, and old houses were completely replaced by a refreshing and invigorating atmosphere, filled with the fragrance of damp earth, the scent of grass, and the slightly cool pine aroma emanating from the distant forest.

The view suddenly opened up, with a pure, almost ethereal blue sky above and flat, soft black earth beneath one's feet. In the distance, the dark green forest rippled gently in the breeze.

The first thing that catches the eye is the ten acres of land that has already been neatly planned. On half of the land, various fruit tree seedlings stand in a staggered manner—the cold-resistant apple and pear seedlings are beginning to take shape, the southern orange and banana trees are also thriving in the special environment of the game world, and there are also jujube trees, persimmon trees, walnut trees... all of which are common varieties that he carefully collected by going out to purchase, entrusting Wei Feng, or through the Pigeon Market and other channels. There are only one or two of each variety, which are used to decorate the land.

At this moment, these saplings are growing in excellent condition in the stable and suitable climate and soil of the game world. Although they have not yet reached the fruiting period, their branches and leaves are stretched out, lush and green, and their veins seem to flow with vigorous vitality.

Wei Chen strolled through this nascent "orchard," his fingertips occasionally brushing against the tender leaves, a sense of peace settling over him. He wasn't in a hurry to force the fruit to grow; instead, every few days, he would use the "Planting Technique," a life skill he had learned from the game—a technique that used mental power to guide the faint life energy in the world space, gently promoting plant growth and improving its essence.

Like spring rain nourishing all things, it nourishes silently. He knows that only a steady stream of water can build a solid foundation. This orchard will be a stable source of fruit for his family in the future, and also a delightful "rare find" that can be provided when necessary.

The other half of the land, about five acres, is his "instant food and vegetable supply area." At this moment, it is lush and green: plump cabbages tightly wrapped in their hearts, radish buds are bright green and pleasing, spinach leaves are glossy, and a small patch of potato seedlings next to it is also growing luxuriantly.

On a vacant lot next to the vegetable plot, a crop of winter wheat had just been "harvested" yesterday using his mind. The neat stubble still remained on the ground, emitting a faint, dry, grainy fragrance. Everything here followed his needs: sowing, performing planting techniques, and harvesting within one to two days.

This speed is nothing short of miraculous in reality, and it can guarantee basic taste and nutrition. Although it is not as flavorful as naturally grown crops, it has solved the urgent problem of food security.

He walked to the vegetable patch, and with a slight thought, an invisible and intangible spiritual force, as gentle as the warm spring sun, slowly emerged from his palm, like the softest mist, evenly covering the vegetables.

The changes are almost imperceptible to the naked eye, but experienced farmers would be amazed by the vegetables' sudden, fuller, and more lustrous sheen, as if they had been infused with extra vitality.

Next, he went to the wheat stubble field and took out plump wheat grains, which he had saved as seeds, from the game's built-in storage compartment, which had a near-time-stopping preservation function. With a wave of his hand, the wheat grains, like golden raindrops, were evenly scattered into the freshly turned soil, and a thin layer of soil was used to cover them.

Once again, the "Planting Technique" was used, this time focusing more on stimulating and guiding. Within a few breaths, one, two, and countless tender green shoots stubbornly pushed through the dark brown soil, stretching towards the sky. Although it would take another day and night cycle in the game world for them to blossom, flower, and turn the fields golden, the speed of their germination was already astonishing.

"It does have a bit of the charm of 'Happy Farm,' only the output is much more substantial." Wei Chen's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint but genuine smile. These ten acres of land, combined with his planting techniques, were one of his greatest sources of confidence in making a living in this era of scarcity. They were a lifeline for healing the sick and a reserve of grain for a rainy day. This sense of control brought him peace of mind.

After finishing with the matters concerning the fields, he turned around and cast his gaze toward the edge of the deep forest in the distance.

The daily spawning animals are a stable source of experience points, fresh meat, and fur. He retrieved the dark, cold-to-the-touch, heavy hunting bow with simple vine patterns from the warehouse and nocked an arrow from the same game world.

His figure seemed to blend into the deepening shadows of the forest, his steps as light and nimble as a raccoon, his aura almost imperceptible, as he stealthily made his way into the forest.

Soon, several short, muffled "plop" sounds echoed through the woods, followed by silence. Two plump gray rabbits and a young roe deer were the spoils of today's hunt.

With practiced ease, he cast a "Gathering" spell, collecting the clean chunks of meat and intact pelts into his backpack. A faint but distinct warm current flowed through his body, slowly pushing the experience bar forward a fraction of an inch.

The improvement brought by this daily hunting was negligible, but the accumulation day after day had a subtle and lasting benefit on his physical fitness, the enhancement of his five senses, and especially the refinement and growth of his mental strength.

With everything settled, he returned to the modern villa known as the "Hunter's Lodge." Time seemed to flow more stagnant and stable there, making it an excellent quiet room for meditation, rest, and reflection.

He took a comfortable hot shower to wash away his mental fatigue, changed into soft loungewear, and lay down on the large, soft bed.

Yet his consciousness always maintained a tiny thread, remotely connecting with the mental imprint on the door of the real world. This was a method of multitasking he had mastered after countless attempts, allowing him to both get deep rest here and, like a lurking cheetah, be aware of any movement in the outside world.

The night passed peacefully.

In the real world, the sky gradually changed from a deep inky blue to a pale white amidst the distant and intermittent crowing of roosters. Wei Chen opened his eyes precisely on time, his consciousness instantly returning from the tranquil villa to the slightly firm kang bed.

The room was warm and cozy, the fireplace burning brightly. The air felt somewhat stuffy due to the enclosed space. He quickly got up, his movements swift and silent, and washed himself with the cold water he had prepared and left in the room the night before. The chill of the water made his skin tighten, but it also instantly dispelled the last trace of drowsiness, leaving his mind clear and alert.

Dressed neatly—still in his navy blue steel mill work clothes, washed and ironed, with a thick cotton overcoat of the same color on top, a dark gray cotton hat on, and a woolen scarf knitted by his mother around his neck.

The young man in the mirror had a calm face and sharp yet reserved eyes. The naivety and confusion he had felt when he first entered this world had long since faded from his brows, replaced by a composure and perseverance tempered by trials and tribulations.

Wang Xiulan had already gotten up, and there were slight noises and the crackling of firewood burning in the kitchen. A simple breakfast was ready: a pot of thick and fragrant cornmeal porridge, a small dish of pickled vegetable shreds drizzled with sesame oil, and a few leftover white flour buns from last night, toasted until golden brown and crispy by the stove.

Wei Feng also came out of the main room rubbing his eyes. He had also changed into his work clothes. Although he was still a little sleepy, he was in good spirits.

"Good morning, Xiao Chen!" Wei Feng greeted him, his voice still hoarse from just waking up. "Good morning, Brother Feng. Is the kang (heated brick bed) still warm?" Wei Chen asked, adjusting his sleeves. "Warm! Much better than that shabby kang in the dorm!" Wei Feng chuckled sheepishly, rubbing his hands together. "I slept soundly this time!"

The three of them sat around a small square table, quietly eating a simple breakfast. The cornmeal porridge warmed their stomachs, the toasted bread slices were crispy, and the pickled vegetables were refreshing. There were few words exchanged, yet a peaceful atmosphere unique to family life flowed between them.

"Mom, we're leaving." Wei Chen finished the last mouthful of porridge and put down his chopsticks. "Okay, be careful on the road. Remember to eat something hot at the cafeteria for lunch, don't just grab something quick." Wang Xiulan reminded him as always, picking up his lunchbox bag and carefully checking it before handing it to him. "Okay, Mom."

Pushing open the courtyard gate, a rush of crisp, dry air hits you. The alley is already bustling with people; the sounds of bicycle bells, hurried footsteps, and brief greetings between acquaintances intertwine, creating a uniquely busy symphony of the early morning.

Red remnants from the New Year celebrations piled up in the corners, mingling with the still-smoky, dirty snow. The expressions on people's faces had shifted from the relaxation of the holiday to the tension of their daily lives.

Along the way, slogans such as "Go all out and strive for excellence" and "Safety in production, building the motherland" are particularly eye-catching in the morning light, reminding people that the new year's struggle has begun.