Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Yi Zhonghai, on the other hand, appeared much more composed. He first slowly picked up a piece of stir-fried bok choy with his chopsticks, then a slice of roe deer meat, chewing slowly and nodding occasionally to affirm Sha Zhu's cooking skills: "Hmm, Zhu's cooking is getting better and better. The meat is tender, the green peppers are crisp, and the flavor is just right." His eating movements were steady and unhurried, as if he were savoring the food rather than grabbing it.

He put down his chopsticks, picked up his wine glass, and looked at Wei Chen with gentle eyes: "Wei Chen, this meal today is quite expensive. Your father is a hero, and you are so young yet so capable. You can hunt and prepare meat, solving a major problem for the factory. The neighborhood committee also recognizes you. You are truly a promising young man."

He paused, his tone carrying the concern of an elder, but then subtly changed the subject: "However, as you've seen in our courtyard, there are many people and many opinions, and each family has its own difficulties. You've just arrived, so there may be some things you don't understand yet."

"In the future, if anything happens, talk to the old men more often. We can discuss things together. It's always better than you having to shoulder it all alone. After all, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative." These words, seemingly out of concern, were actually a test, a reminder to Wei Chen to "integrate" into the rules of the compound, subtly carrying a hint of control.

Wei Chen understood, but his face showed an expression of being taught. He quickly raised his wine glass and said, "What you say is right, sir! Golden words! I am young and I am ignorant in many ways. I will definitely learn more from you three gentlemen in the future! This glass is for you!" He tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass. The spicy wine slid down his throat, bringing a burning sensation.

"Great! That's awesome!" Liu Haizhong immediately cheered and drank it down, then poured himself a full glass.

Sha Zhu, who was eating with his mouth full of oil, listened to the three old men talking and chimed in, "That's right! Brother Wei Chen is a true friend! He thinks of everyone when he has meat! If you need anything in the future, just say the word! I, Sha Zhu, will definitely help you if I can!" His words were sincere and had a touch of chivalry.

The conversation at the dinner table unfolded amidst the eating, drinking, toasting, and seemingly casual conversation. After a few drinks, Liu Haizhong's voice grew louder as he began to boast about how he "led" the production team in the workshop and how he "guided" the young people to improve, his words filled with self-satisfaction.

Yan Bugui seized every opportunity to inquire about Wei Chen's hunting methods, such as where the forests were dense and what kind of prey was available in what season. His eyes gleamed with shrewd calculation, as if he was trying to figure out if he could get some meat.

Yi Zhonghai played more of a listener and guide role, occasionally interjecting a sentence or two to steer the conversation toward areas he was good at, such as "compound unity," "neighborhood mutual assistance," and "respect for elders." His words were gentle and persuasive, but he always tried to extract more information from Wei Chen, such as who else was in his hometown and how he planned to develop in the city.

Wei Chen handled the situation flawlessly. When Liu Haizhong boasted, he timely offered perfectly timed compliments like "Second Uncle is really amazing" and "I admire you so much"; when Yan Bugui tested him, he laughed it off, only saying that he was lucky to have encountered a herd of wild boars, and that hunting was hard and dangerous, without mentioning the specific location or techniques.

In response to Yi Zhonghai's subtle yet persuasive guidance and platitudes, he acted like a young man just entering society, somewhat naive but grateful. His words were filled with nostalgia for his father, gratitude to the organization, respect for the three elders, and a simple wish to make a good living with his own hands in the future. He firmly established the halo of being a "martyr's family member" and the image of being "down-to-earth and hardworking," while cleverly glossing over the core issues.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the generous plate of stir-fried roe deer with green peppers and two large plates of scrambled eggs had been mostly devoured, and quite a few steamed buns had also been eaten.

Yan Bugui glanced at the few remaining pieces of meat on the plate, a flicker of pain crossing his eyes. While Sha Zhu got up to ladle out the soup, he swiftly used his chopsticks to scoop the last few slices of meat and some oily scallions into his own bowl, then quickly piled a large piece of egg on top. His movements were so fast they were almost fluid.

"Here, Uncle, have some more soup." Sha Zhu handed him the soup bowl.

"Alright, alright, that's enough!" Yan Bugui held the bowl and took a big gulp with satisfaction, feeling comfortable all over. This meal was enough to feed his family for several days!

Seeing that they had almost finished eating, Yi Zhonghai put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, looked at Wei Chen, and said earnestly, "Wei Chen, you ate very well today. We've gotten to know each other better now. In the future, if anything happens in the compound, don't be shy. You are a martyr's family member, which is an honor, but you should also pay attention to maintaining good relationships with your neighbors. Help each other out when needed, and be considerate when appropriate. Our compound is all about unity, mutual assistance, respect for the elderly, and care for the young." His words were both a summary and a reminder, even carrying a hint of admonition.

Wei Chen nodded repeatedly: "Uncle, don't worry, I've kept your teachings in mind. I will definitely get along well with everyone."

Liu Haizhong, burping and beaming, patted Wei Chen on the shoulder: "That's right! Listening to Uncle Yi is the right thing to do! Follow the organization, and your future will be bright! In the future at the factory... burp... if anything happens, you can also talk to Uncle Er!"

Yan Bugui quickly added, "Wei Chen is a good kid! Sensible! We'll keep in touch!"

Seeing that it was getting late, Wei Chen got up to say goodbye: "Thank you for your help, gentlemen. It's getting late, I have to go back to my dormitory at the factory. I have to go to work tomorrow."

The three old men and Sha Zhu also stood up. Sha Zhu patted his chest and said, "Okay! Drive carefully! Tell me what you want to eat next time!"

Yi Zhonghai nodded: "Go ahead, get some rest."

Liu Haizhong waved his hand: "Okay, be careful on the road."

Yan Bugui looked at the leftover food on the table, wondering how to ask Sha Zhu to let him take the remaining soup and some leftover vegetables back with him...

"Zhu Zi, it's getting late. It's too much trouble for you to clean up. I'll have your third aunt clean and wash these for you and bring them over to you tomorrow morning, how about that?" Yan Bugui said.

Seeing that the plate was almost empty, with only some soup and liquid left, Sha Zhu, too lazy to clean it up, nodded and said, "Okay!"

The third uncle happily carried the plate home, and after cleaning up, it was another delicious and oily meal.

To Wei Chen's surprise, he didn't witness the "Qin Huairu borrowing flesh" scene tonight. It seems that Jia Dongxu is alive, and it's not a difficult time now. Everyone's life is okay, and it hasn't developed into the situation depicted in the TV series.

Wei Chen smiled and bid farewell to everyone, walking out of He Yuzhu's small house, which was filled with the rich aroma of meat. The air outside was much cooler, carrying the chill of a late autumn night. There were still scattered lights and whispers in the courtyard, but it was much quieter than before.

After leaving the gate, Wei Chen pushed his bicycle toward the steel rolling mill.

Walking into a deserted alley, Wei Chen quickly glanced left and right to make sure no one was paying attention. With a slight thought, his figure vanished from the spot as if erased by an eraser.

The next second, Wei Chen found himself in a completely different world.

The fresh, crisp air, carrying the fragrance of pine and earth, instantly filled my lungs. Before me stood the familiar hunter's cabin, warm and peaceful, with a modern bedroom that was soft and cozy. The cabin maintained a temperature of around 26 degrees Celsius year-round, perfect for resting and sleeping.

There is no smell of sweat from crowds, no noisy voices, no calculating eyes that need to be constantly watched, and no lingering, foul smell of cheap coal smoke and leftover food.

Wei Chen let out a long, thorough sigh, as if expelling all the pent-up air from his chest. He walked to the water dispenser, filled a cup with sweet drinking water, and gulped down several large mouthfuls. The cool water slid down his throat, bringing a refreshing and comfortable feeling from the inside out.

He took off his coat, which was stained with the smell of cooking oil and alcohol, and casually draped it over the back of the chair. Wei Chen walked to the large, sturdy bed, looking at the thick, soft down comforter, and then thought of the hard wooden bed, the musty-smelling bedding, and the constant snoring and stench of feet in the steel mill dormitory…

"Heh..." He couldn't help but chuckle softly, a sense of relief and relief at his wise choice. With this warm, cozy, quiet, and absolutely private hunter's cabin, only a fool would squeeze into that cold, hard dormitory!

He comfortably slumped into the soft bed, the thick, plush blankets gently supporting his body, warmth instantly enveloping him. Outside, there was a tranquil play area, his own private space.

At 5:30 a.m., the sky over Beijing was already showing a bluish-green hue, but the sweltering heat of summer had already spread impatiently, pressing heavily on every corner. The massive silhouette of the steel rolling mill stood tall in the dim morning light, the dim streetlamp at the entrance appearing listless.

Wearing his newly issued work vest with the sleeves rolled up, Wei Chen appeared at the factory gate on time. Now, with Wei Chen's physical condition, this kind of weather no longer has any effect on him.

From afar, you could see Master Hu Songnian's tall and thin figure pacing back and forth under the lamp. He would occasionally raise his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead and neck with his sleeve, and his cloth shoes would rub against the slightly damp ground.

"Master Hu! Good morning!" Wei Chen strode forward, his voice carrying the crispness of the morning.

"Wei Chen! Good lad, right on time!" Hu Songnian turned around at the sound of his voice, a smile of approval on his face. He then wiped away his sweat. "This damn weather! It wasn't cool at all during the first half of the night! We've only been sleeping for a little while in the second half of the night and we have to get up now. Let's hurry up, or the sun will be so strong it'll peel our skin off! We're counting on this bit of cool air to get on the road." He patted the old-fashioned bicycle next to him, which rattled everywhere except for its bell, his tone carrying the urgency typical of a seasoned purchasing agent.

Without much small talk, Hu Songnian got straight to the point. As he rummaged through his faded canvas bag, he said rapidly, “Look at my memory, I was so happy yesterday that I forgot to get down to business.” He pulled out a rectangular object carefully wrapped in old newspapers, peeled back a few layers to reveal a stack of crudely printed, yellowed, and brittle mimeographed forms.