Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Sha Zhu finished speaking in one breath, staring expectantly at the female cadre, his expression resembling that of a large, impatient dog waiting to be fed.

"Pfft—cough cough cough!" The male cadre holding the documents finally couldn't hold it in any longer. He turned around abruptly, buried his face in the pile of documents, and let out a series of strange coughs that were forcibly suppressed but still leaked air. His shoulders heaved violently.

The old man took off his reading glasses, rubbed the corners of his eyes vigorously with his rough fingers, and made a "hoarse" sound in his throat, as if he was choking or laughing.

The female cadre took a deep breath, then another, finally managing to suppress the laughter and absurdity that were about to burst forth. She pursed her lips tightly, trying to make her voice sound normal, but it still trembled uncontrollably.

"Comrade He... He Yuzhu, right? You... you don't have to be anxious, sit down, sit down and talk." She pointed to an empty wooden chair next to her, trying to keep her tone gentle, as if she were comforting an agitated child.

Sha Zhu felt as if he had been granted a pardon and sat down with a thud, but his back remained straight, his hands were placed properly on his knees, and his eyes were fixed intently on the female cadre, awaiting her "verdict".

The older comrade then picked up the conversation, his tone laced with a mix of teasing and disbelief: "Young man, finding a partner and getting married is a personal matter. You have to take initiative! Participate in more group activities, interact more with women, and show your strengths. Our union sometimes organizes social events for everyone, but... not like those marriage agencies! You're just coming here... looking for a wife? Hahaha..." As he spoke, he chuckled to himself, shook his head, and put his reading glasses back on, but the smile was impossible to hide.

"I'm not asking the organization to arrange things for me!" Sha Zhu panicked and quickly explained, "I just... I just want the leaders to keep an eye out and create some opportunities! I don't have any connections myself! Last time I went to find a matchmaker outside, I spent money, but nothing came of it, and I got really angry! I trust our factory and our organization! Leaders, please give me a straight answer, does the union handle this kind of thing?" His tone was stubborn, with a bit of the recklessness of a young man from the alley, but mixed with a kind of sincerity that made people both laugh and cry.

The atmosphere in the office grew even more awkward. The three cadres exchanged glances, all seeing a look of utter astonishment on each other's faces. This He Yuzhu was truly an extremely "down-to-earth" person.

Ultimately, it was that female cadre, in the spirit of "solving practical difficulties for the masses" and with a hint of urgency to "get this big shot away as soon as possible," who gave a compromise, vague answer:

"Comrade He Yuzhu, well then, our union... understands your basic information and personal requests. We'll write down your name and workshop." She picked up a pen and wrote "He Yuzhu, Third Canteen" on a sticky note, then looked up at Sha Zhu.

"In the future, if the factory organizes social events for young employees, or if there are joint construction and exchange activities with other units, we will consider inviting you to participate. This can also help you... broaden your social circle and create opportunities to meet friends. As for introducing you to potential partners or arranging blind dates... this is really not part of the union's regular work process. You can also talk to the senior workers and older women in the canteen and workshop and ask them to help keep an eye out for you. They are experienced and know many people, so they might be more helpful than us."

Hearing this, Sha Zhu was a little disappointed that it was "not regular work," but when he heard "write it down" and "notify him to participate in the activity," he felt that the union leaders hadn't completely rejected him and still "cared" about him, so hope was rekindled in his heart. He immediately straightened his back and began to give a detailed "report" like pouring beans from a bamboo tube:

"Okay, okay! Leave your information! My name is He Yuzhu, I'm 25 years old, a cook at the No. 1 canteen, and I live in a courtyard house at No. XX, Nanluoguxiang. It's the main house in the middle courtyard, facing south, and it's bright! My salary is 33.5 yuan, and I have all the necessary food coupons, oil coupons, and cloth coupons! I can also cook; I can make a little bit of Sichuan and Shandong cuisine! I'm looking for someone..." He began to elaborate on his "marriage requirements": good-looking, healthy, hardworking, preferably with a city household registration, and preferably with a formal job, but temporary work is also acceptable, but she must be honest, reliable, and able to manage a household...

The union cadres listened to his detailed description, which was comparable to a marriage advertisement, and their expressions were a variety of emotions. They wanted to laugh but could not laugh out loud, and they were very reluctant to do so.

The female cadre held a pen and scribbled randomly on a sticky note, not taking any notes at all, nor intending to take any. After much coaxing and persuasion, she finally convinced Sha Zhu, who was still eager to set a date for the blind date on the spot, that the union had "attached great importance" to his personal life and would "consider it carefully." She told him to go home and wait for news, and that she would definitely notify him of any events.

Sha Zhu was finally satisfied, as if he had accomplished something great. He stood up, respectfully said to the cadres, "Thank you, leaders! I've troubled you!" Then he turned around, head held high, and strode out of the union office with light and powerful steps. He even felt that the air in the corridor was much fresher, as if his wife was already waving to him.

Behind him, the dark green door had just closed—

"Pfft, hahaha—!!!" The suppressed laughter that had been building up for so long burst out almost simultaneously, filling the entire office.

"My God! He Yuzhu! Master He! Hahahaha!" The male cadre laughed so hard he slumped into his chair, clutching his stomach. "He went straight to the union to ask for a wife! And he did it so confidently! So detailed! I've really seen something new today!"

The female cadre laughed so hard she almost fell over, tears streaming down her face. Wiping her tears, she exclaimed, "Oh my god, I was so frustrated! This young man… his way of thinking… I'm truly amazed! Does he really think our union is a 'job placement agency'? Leaving his contact information and waiting for notification! My goodness!"

The old comrade slapped the table, laughing so hard he was panting: "This kid is interesting! Adorably silly! But then again, it also reflects some problems!"

These older single people, especially those working in factory canteens and with limited social circles, do indeed find it difficult to resolve their personal problems. His method, while… cough cough, while a bit too direct and frightening, at least shows he trusts the organization and is willing to seek its help! It's just that his approach… is debatable, haha, debatable!

"Trust is trust, but this is just too outrageous!" The male cadre finally managed to stop laughing. "Now, shouldn't we add a line to our union's work report this year: 'Successfully handled the first employee's direct marriage introduction application, and conducted preliminary registration and reassurance work'? Hahaha!"

This extraordinary event, unprecedented in the history of the steel rolling mill, spread rapidly like ripples in water, far exceeding the speed and scope of Xu Damao's fragmented rumors, thanks to the vivid and embellished accounts of several cadres in the union office.

The news began to spread almost at the same time that Sha Zhu left the union building.

It started in the factory's office building. The personnel department, publicity department, factory office next door... soon all heard about this amusing incident. People whispered among themselves, their faces showing disbelief and barely suppressed laughter.

"Have you heard? That idiot cook from the third canteen went to the union!" "What for? To complain about the canteen?" "That's even more impressive! He went to the union... to demand a wife for him!" "What?! A wife?!" "It's true! Sister Li from the union said it herself, and everyone was laughing their heads off!" "My god... is there something wrong with this guy?" Someone pointed to their head.

Immediately afterwards, the news spread rapidly to various workshops as workers finished their shifts and officials went about their business.

In the fitter's workshop, the workers were resting around their toolboxes. "Hey, big news! That idiot Zhu from the canteen did something truly earth-shattering today!" "Did he turn the vegetables into lumps of coal again?" "That's even more exciting! He went straight to the factory union, blocked the door, and demanded they solve his personal problems—find him a wife!"

"Huh?! Asking the union for a wife? How can he do that?" "Just say it directly! 'Boss, I'm twenty-five, single, the union has to take care of this!' Everyone at the union was stunned!" "Hahaha! This silly Zhu, is he crazy for a wife? Who does something like this!" "Exactly, he's embarrassed himself in the factory! What girl would dare date him now?"

In the forging workshop, the deafening noise subsided slightly, and the workers chatted, wiping their sweat. "Have you heard? That kid He Yuzhu made a fool of himself today!" "What happened? Got into a fight again?" "What fight? He went to 'civilize' some business—to the union to apply for a 'matchmaker'! Hahahaha!"

"Holy crap! Really? Is that even possible?" "Those guys at the union are probably still laughing right now! That idiot Zhu, he's a real character!" "But then again, he's in a hurry enough. Twenty-five, he should be worried." "Even in a hurry, he can't do something like this! He's become the laughingstock of the whole factory!"

In the logistics department, warehouse, broadcasting station, clinic… in every corner where people were, the news was spreading, being discussed, and being laughed at. The more it spread, the more exaggerated the details became. Some said Sha Zhu pulled out his pay slip and food ration book to show the union cadres on the spot; some said he had even thought of names for his future children; others said the union cadres, unable to resist his pestering, agreed to “transfer” one of their children from the textile factory for him…