Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

The long, rusty whistle of the steel rolling mill as it closed for the day pierced the hazy evening air of Beijing.

The sound was like an invisible gate, releasing a massive, gray-clad flow of people dragging their heavy footsteps. The bright, weathered gate of the courtyard house was gradually pushed open, revealing figures reeking of engine oil, metallic dust, and deep exhaustion.

The courtyard was busier and more chaotic than usual. The smoke from every household's chimney was much thinner and shorter than usual, and the air was filled with a compressed, slightly burnt aroma of food.

The women's shouts, urgings, and the sizzling of spatulas scraping against iron pots rose and fell, weaving together a tense variation of life.

"Dongxu! Hurry! The cornbread is in the pot, and the pickled vegetable shreds are mixed for you. Quickly scoop up a few bites!" Jia Zhangshi's voice was sharp and urgent, carrying the frustration of just returning from the "earthen basket." She knew how tiring the work was there. She had been watching her work for the past few days, even though she had been slacking off all day. She quickly told her son to scoop up a few bites of food, otherwise he wouldn't be able to keep up with the work at night.

"Okay, Mom! You're nagging me!" Jia Dongxu replied irritably, dragging his leaden legs into the house. He didn't even glance at Qin Huairu, who was sitting on a small stool by the door, her big belly protruding as she struggled to wash his work clothes covered in furnace ash. He plopped down on a small stool next to the dining table.

Qin Huairu raised her sweat-covered face, her lips moved, but she didn't say anything in the end. She just silently quickened her scrubbing movements, and the soreness in her back made her furrow her brows.

In the middle courtyard, Sha Zhu He Yuzhu swaggered in, carrying an empty lunchbox and humming an off-key Bangzi tune. As the head chef of the cafeteria, he was well-fed and required less physical exertion, so his energy was noticeably better than the others.

"Zhu Zi! You're back! Come on, I left you a bowl of cornmeal porridge too!" Aunt Yi, an older woman, poked her head out of the house to greet him.

"Alright! Thank you, Aunt Yi!" Sha Zhu replied cheerfully, taking a few steps into Yi Zhonghai's house. He was close to the Yi family and often ate there for free.

In the west wing of the backyard, Xu Damao pushed his gleaming bicycle through the door, a hint of smugness on his face.

He was a projectionist, a relatively easy job. Today he had shown a movie in the commune and earned some local specialties, so he was in a good mood. Seeing the busy scene in the yard, he pursed his lips, pushed his cart back to his room, and carefully propped it up.

Wei Chen followed the crowd back to the front yard. Pushing his bike, his gaze swept over the familiar yet bustling scene of chaos. Without stopping, he walked straight to his new home in the east wing, pushed the bicycle into the yard, parked it, and closed the brand-new gate.

After seeing Master Wu off, he originally planned to ride his bicycle to the Tulou area near the Drum Tower, but seeing that the steel mill workers were all going home for a bite to eat after get off work, he turned back and decided to join them later.

The gate shut out the outside noise, and the fresh scent of new bricks, wood, and earth in the courtyard gave him a slight boost. He didn't cook; he simply took out two meat buns he'd bought a few days earlier from his backpack. The buns were still warm, as if they'd just come out of the steamer, and his backpack remained still. He quickly finished his dinner with some cooled boiled water from his military canteen.

After finishing his meal, he walked to the newly built kitchen stove and washed his face with the pre-installed tap. The cool water droplets brought a sense of comfort to his cheeks, which had become slightly warm from cycling. Looking at all this newness, his anticipation for his new life grew even stronger.

At 6:20, the sky had already darkened. The noise in the courtyard subsided slightly, replaced by a tense atmosphere of impending action. At the entrance of the main house in the middle courtyard, under the dim light of a bulb, the figures of three stewards stood there like three temporary lighthouses.

An elderly man named Yi Zhonghai stood at the front, his hands behind his back, his back ramrod straight. His dark blue overalls were faded but meticulously washed, and his face was as serious as ever.

Second Uncle Liu Haizhong stood half a step behind him, his slightly protruding belly protruding, his hands behind his back, trying his best to imitate the demeanor of a leader, but the eagerness and anticipation in his eyes could not be hidden. He cleared his throat from time to time, obviously preparing a lot of "instructions".

Uncle Yan Bugui stood to the side, wearing a faded gray Zhongshan suit with shiny cuffs, glasses perched on his nose, his face bearing his usual shrewd calculation and indifferent detachment. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, as if calculating how much intangible "favor" he could exchange for this voluntary labor tonight.

"Is everyone here? Those of you participating in the steelmaking, come out and assemble!" Yi Zhonghai's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly drowned out the last rustling sounds in the courtyard.

Soon, figures emerged from the various doors. Sha Zhu wiped his mouth as he came out of the Yi family's house, Jia Dongxu was still chewing the last bite of cornbread, and Xu Damao also strolled out slowly, followed by several other young workers from different workshops in the steel rolling mill. Wei Chen also opened the east gate and walked out.

Several young men's eyes lit up when they saw Wei Chen, and they immediately surrounded him. They had heard during the day at the factory that Wei Chen's house was finished, and now they were taking the opportunity to get a closer look at this "big shot".

"Wei Chen! You're something else!" A young blacksmith named Wang Qiang patted Wei Chen's shoulder forcefully with a hint of envy. "You really managed to tidy up that dilapidated east courtyard without making a sound? I heard it's quite impressive? It must have cost a fortune, right?"

"Yeah, Brother Wei Chen, when are you going to invite us to check it out and broaden our horizons?" another young machinist chimed in.

Wei Chen wore a perfectly measured smile, neither smug nor overly humble, and gave a vague reply: "Well, it's just a bit of a hassle, just for convenience. As for the money... I scraped together what I could, emptying my savings. Once it's all sorted out, I'll definitely invite you guys over." He skillfully avoided mentioning the exact amount.

At this moment, Xu Damao's eyes darted around, and he joined in. He plastered a warm smile on his face, deliberately standing next to Wei Chen, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for those nearby to hear: "Brother Wei Chen, don't be so polite with them! Your house is absolutely top-notch! With Master Wu's craftsmanship and your generous use of materials, it's definitely the best in our area!"

He gave a thumbs-up, then changed the subject, adding with a touch of camaraderie, "From now on, if anything happens at the factory or in the yard, just let me know. We're brothers, aren't we?"

Xu Damao's words carried a clear intention to win him over. He glanced sideways at Sha Zhu, who was whispering with Yi Zhonghai not far away, his meaning self-evident.

In this courtyard, he and Sha Zhu were notorious rivals, fighting since they were children. However, Sha Zhu was ruthless and strong, and Xu Damao would suffer losses nine times out of ten.

During a large meeting in the factory, Uncle Yi Zhonghai often openly or secretly favored Sha Zhu. Xu Damao had been holding back for a long time, always looking for an ally. Wei Chen, the newcomer, was capable, seemed to be well-connected in the factory, and most importantly, hadn't clearly taken sides yet—he was practically a godsend ally! If he could get Wei Chen on his side, he would have much more confidence in dealing with Sha Zhu in the future.

Wei Chen knew exactly what Xu Damao was up to; he saw right through him. He had a backup of all the chaotic scenes from "The Courtyard House" in his mind.

His smile remained unchanged, but he knew in his heart that this guy wanted to use him as a pawn. No way! Their messy, ridiculous affairs were just something to watch live for amusement.

It's best to keep to ourselves and avoid conflict. But if any fool dares to set their sights on me, they'll think all my skills are for nothing. I'll teach them a lesson they won't forget!

While his mind raced with thoughts, he merely gave Xu Damao's "kindness" a perfunctory smile: "Brother Xu, you're joking. I remember your help back then. Let's look out for each other in the future." He neither refused nor agreed, speaking flawlessly.

"Is everyone here?" Yi Zhonghai's voice rang out again, interrupting the pleasantries. He glanced around, pausing briefly on Wei Chen to confirm that he wasn't "missing" this time.

"Everyone's here!" someone responded.

Yi Zhonghai nodded, cleared his throat, and began a brief "pre-battle mobilization": "Comrades! Neighbors! The Great Leap Forward in steel production is a glorious task entrusted to us by our superiors! It is a top priority concerning the prosperity of our nation and catching up with Britain and the United States! As an advanced courtyard, our Hongxing Courtyard must not lag behind! The neighborhood committee has entrusted us with the responsibility of the open space east of Gulou, which is a sign of their trust in us! Tonight, we must show the spirit of the working class, not afraid of hardship or fatigue..."

Before he could finish speaking, Uncle Liu Haizhong, who was standing next to him, couldn't contain his eagerness to show off. He stepped forward, his belly protruding, and interrupted, raising his voice deliberately in an official tone: "Yes! Uncle is absolutely right! This... we not only have to complete the task, but we have to exceed it! We must demonstrate the high level of ideological awareness and revolutionary spirit of the residents of our courtyard! Especially those of us who are the backbone working in the steel rolling mill, we must play an exemplary role! We must..."

"Second Uncle! It's getting late! If we keep talking, we'll really be late!" Jia Dongxu was the first to shout impatiently. He was exhausted after a long day and all he wanted to do was finish those three hours of hard labor and go back to his room to lie down.

"Yeah, grandpa, let's talk as we walk! The neighborhood office is urging us to come!" Sha Zhu chimed in, not because he was afraid of being late, but because he couldn't stand Liu Haizhong's pretentious, bureaucratic attitude.

"Yes, yes, let's go! Being late will result in a deduction of work points. Although voluntary labor is unpaid, the neighborhood committee takes attendance, which will affect performance evaluations and potential benefits, so it's not worth it!" Others chimed in.

Liu Haizhong's carefully prepared, yet unreleased "instruction" was abruptly cut off. His chubby face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, his lips trembling as he pointed at the crowd: "You...you...what...what kind of talk is this! You have no sense of organization or discipline at all!" He was so angry that he was panting heavily.

Uncle Yan Bugui, standing to the side, pushed up his slipped glasses, a barely perceptible, amusement playing on his lips. He wouldn't bother speaking up and offending anyone for nothing; he was happy to see Liu Haizhong get his comeuppance.

Yi Zhonghai glanced helplessly at Liu Haizhong and waved his hand, "Alright, alright, enough talk! Let's go! Be careful on the road!"

He took the lead, leading this large and somewhat weary, disorganized group—managed by the old man in charge, mainly composed of workers, and interspersed with unemployed residents from several street offices—out of the courtyard gate and into the larger "voluntary labor army" flowing to various steelmaking sites.