Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

"Master He, here, this is from the factory union. It's for next Wednesday evening at the staff club, a social tea party." Director Ma's expression was extremely complicated, as if he wanted to give a serious instruction but couldn't help but want to laugh. The muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched, ultimately forming a strange look.

Sha Zhu paused for a moment, then suspiciously took the rather "high-class" piece of cardboard. It was printed with neat characters, some of which he recognized, especially the words "Comrade He Yuzhu" and "Friendship Association," which he saw very clearly.

In an instant, an indescribable surge of heat rushed to my head, my heart pounded wildly, and my fingers holding the invitation trembled slightly.

Surprise, excitement, disbelief, and a mix of warmth and grievance that "the organization still cares about us" made his face, which was tanned dark red by the fire for years, even darker, and the tips of his ears turned red.

"This...this is for me? The union...really invited me?" His voice rose involuntarily, trembling noticeably, as he repeatedly asked for confirmation.

"It's written in black and white, your name is on it, how could it be fake?" Director Ma nodded, trying to keep a straight face. "Zhu Zi, this is a rare opportunity, the leaders value it, you absolutely have to live up to expectations! Go there and perform well, be polite and composed when you talk to people, don't be rash, don't embarrass our No. 1 canteen! Do you hear me?"

"Hey! Hey! Director, don't worry! You can rest assured!" Sha Zhu nodded hurriedly, clutching the invitation tightly to his chest as if afraid it would fly away. A silly yet incredibly bright smile spread across his face. "I'll definitely be careful! I promise! I absolutely won't cause trouble! I won't cause any trouble for the leaders! I won't bring shame to the cafeteria!" He stammered his promise, so excited that he spun around halfway on the spot, not knowing how to express this sudden "favor".

The news spread faster than the factory's loudspeaker. Almost at the same time that Sha Zhu received the invitation, the explosive news, "Sha Zhu received an invitation to the social gathering!" exploded like a drop of water falling into a pot of boiling oil, first spreading inside the canteen, and then sweeping across the entire factory like wildfire.

"Did you hear? Sha Zhu is going to the factory's social event!"

"My God! What's the union up to? Didn't they make a scene last time?"

"This is going to be really interesting! How many minutes do you think he can keep it up without giving himself away?"

"I bet a pack of 'Beihai' cigarettes that he'll be exposed within half an hour of him entering the venue!"

"Would any woman dare to talk to him? I bet not, unless the sun rises in the west."

"Not necessarily. Maybe some people are just after him because of his good family background and high salary?"

"Forget it, with his tarnished reputation and dog-like temper, who would dare to mess with him? What would they want from him? His ruthless beatings? His foul mouth?"

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"Just wait, next Wednesday night, the club will be even more lively than a movie screening!"

Inside the courtyard house, the chain reaction triggered by this news was equally intense, and even more subtle and complex.

When Sha Zhu came home from get off work, he specially changed into a "decent" work uniform that had been starched and faded. He carefully tucked the invitation into his inner pocket, pressing it repeatedly. Then, when he "coincidentally" ran into Uncle Yi Zhonghai, who was repairing an old bench in the courtyard, he suppressed his pride and said in a tone that was deliberately calm but actually full of ostentation: "Uncle, the factory union gave me an invitation to attend that... youth workers' social tea party next Wednesday."

Yi Zhonghai was hammering a tenon when he heard this, his hand paused, and he almost hit his finger. He looked up, a look of surprise and astonishment flashing across his face, which was quickly covered by his usual calm and concerned expression.

He put down his tools, stood up, dusted off the sawdust from his hands, walked over to Sha Zhu, and his gaze fell on Sha Zhu's bulging chest. "Oh? Is that so? Let me see the post." Yi Zhonghai's voice was very calm.

Sha Zhu hurriedly pulled out the invitation like a precious treasure and handed it over with both hands. Yi Zhonghai took it, carefully checked the signature and seal, and only after confirming that everything was correct did he look up, a perfectly measured smile of satisfaction on his face. He patted Sha Zhu on the shoulder: "Good! Good, Zhu! This is great news! It shows that the factory leaders haven't forgotten you, and the union members are actively helping you solve your problems! This shows the organization's care and trust in you!"

He spoke earnestly, his eyes kind: "Zhuzi, this opportunity is hard-won, you must cherish it! You must learn from the lesson of last time! When you get there, observe more, listen more, and speak less. Be polite when greeting people, think before you speak, don't just blurt things out. When you see women, be composed, don't stare at them. Behave properly, don't be loud and boisterous. Got it?"

"I've got it! Grandpa, I've kept your words in mind!" Sha Zhu straightened his back, nodding emphatically as if receiving an important mission. "I will definitely do as you say! I absolutely won't bring shame to our courtyard! This time, I will definitely... I will definitely pretend to be a decent person!"

Yi Zhonghai smiled and nodded, returning the invitation to him. He then gave him a few more instructions, such as what clothes to wear, that his hair and beard should be neatly groomed, and that he should think of a few topics to talk about in advance.

Sha Zhu nodded repeatedly, his eyes sparkling with an unprecedented hope for the future, as if the softly lit social gathering had paved a broad road to a happy family for him.

Back in the backyard, at the deaf old lady's place, Sha Zhu couldn't wait to share the good news. The old lady was sitting on a small stool by the door, basking in the sun, dozing with her eyes half-closed. Hearing Sha Zhu's joyful report, her cloudy eyes widened instantly, and her withered hand grabbed Sha Zhu's arm with astonishing strength.

"What? Pillar, what did you say? The union asked you... asked you to find a wife?" The old lady was a little hard of hearing, but she heard the key words clearly.

"It's a social gathering, Grandma! It's a gathering for young men and women to get to know each other!" Sha Zhu leaned close to her ear and explained loudly.

"Great! Great!" The deaf old woman was overjoyed. The deep wrinkles on her face smoothed out, and she smiled broadly, revealing her sparse teeth. "My grandson is finally going to have a bright future! God has smiled upon us! The union leaders are good people!"

She grabbed Sha Zhu's hand, looked him up and down, and kept nagging, "You'd better dress smartly! Take out that old blue khaki trousers you've been saving! Shave your beard clean, and tidy your hair! You can't drink that 'cat pee' (alcohol) anymore, not a drop! You hear me? Look at that Chen from next door, wasn't he set up by the union? Now he's married and living a great life! You have to have that ambition!"

Infected by the old lady's emotions, Sha Zhu's eyes welled up with tears, and he repeatedly assured her, "Don't worry, Grandma! I'll definitely do my best and try to bring you a granddaughter-in-law too!"

The news spread through the front and middle courtyards, amidst a seemingly peaceful atmosphere of congratulations. Uncle Yan Bugui, the third son, overheard it at his doorstep, pushed up his glasses, which had slipped down to the tip of his nose, and clicked his tongue: "Oh, so Sha Zhu has finally caught the organization's eye this time? A social gathering, hmm, a legitimate avenue. But..."

He didn't say the second half of his sentence, but just shook his head, walked back into the house with his hands behind his back, and pondered whether he could get some benefits from this news from Sha Zhu, or at least, have another case to "analyze" at the next hospital-wide meeting.

The three older women and several other women were washing vegetables by the communal sink, whispering among themselves: "Is Silly Zhu going to a social gathering? Tsk tsk, everyone has their own kind of good fortune."

"Good fortune? I think that's a joke! Someone like him would only embarrass himself if he went."

"That's hard to say. What if some clueless girl takes a liking to him?"

"What girl would be so foolish as to fall for him? What does she want from him? His house is a mess like a pigsty? His father ran off with someone else?" This remark elicited a chorus of suppressed snickers.

In the Jia family compound, Jia Zhangshi was sitting at the door sewing shoe soles when she heard the noise. Her triangular eyes rolled, and she sneered at Qin Huairu, who had just returned from get off work, saying, "Did you hear that? That idiot Zhu is going to the matchmaking club to find a wife! Humph, the union must be blind to hire someone like that! What kind of good wife can he find? I bet she'll be some nobody!"

Qin Huairu was rinsing rice when she heard this. She paused, lowered her head, and didn't reply. Her mind was filled with complicated emotions. If Sha Zhu really found someone and got married, would he still be able to support her family like he was now? Those extra meals he occasionally took, those "borrowed" mesh lunchboxes... She didn't dare to think too much about it and just silently quickened her pace.

Yi Zhonghai returned home, closed the door, and the smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a deep worry and entanglement.

An older woman poured him a glass of water. Noticing his pale face, she asked, "What's wrong? Isn't it a good thing that Zhu Zi is going to the social gathering? Haven't you always hoped he could settle down and start a family?"

Yi Zhonghai picked up his cup but didn't drink it. He sighed heavily, "It's a good thing, but it's not a good thing either."

"What do you mean by that?"

"If Zhu Zi really meets someone suitable at the social gathering and gets married, that would be a good thing. It would show that he has grown up and his life is on the right track."

Yi Zhonghai said slowly, his eyes somewhat unfocused, "But... if we find a good wife, and the couple lives happily together, with Zhu Zi's mind focused on his own little family, will he still care about this courtyard and us older folks like he does now? What if he finds a strong-willed wife who controls Zhu Zi too much, or who thinks we're a burden... then what about the future..."

He didn't finish speaking, but the older woman already understood what he meant. Yi Zhonghai had no children and had always regarded the honest, skilled, and well-known Sha Zhu as his most important candidate for old age care. Over the years, his open and covert care, favoritism, and guidance were all investments in this hope of "having someone to rely on in old age."

If Sha Zhu remains single, this dependence and connection will be very strong. Even if he gets married, he'll have to find someone Yi Zhonghai approves of, someone obedient and manageable.

The matchmaking events organized by the union were attended by thoughtful women. Yi Zhonghai felt that they would not be interested in Sha Zhu, so he did them a favor by saying nice things and showing concern for Sha Zhu.

But anything can happen. What if someone with no sense takes a liking to Sha Zhu? Once they get married, they'll have their own blood relatives and a core family that they need to manage. In Sha Zhu's eyes, Yi Zhonghai's importance will inevitably decrease.

If the daughter-in-law is also opinionated and unwilling to suffer losses, then the hope of taking care of her in old age may be dashed, and even the existing close relationship may be affected.

"Well... Zhu Zi isn't the kind of person who forgets kindness," an older woman said hesitantly. "Zhu Zi is loyal and righteous, but he's not easily swayed, especially when it comes to women he likes..." Yi Zhonghai shook his head. "It's hard to say. Right now, I both hope he'll be well, and I'm also afraid he'll... be too good."

This conflicting feeling made him restless. He couldn't stop Sha Zhu from pursuing happiness (that would completely ruin their relationship), nor could he control the direction things were taking. This sense of being out of control made this old man, who was used to being in charge of things in the courtyard, feel more agitated than ever before.