Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

On Friday morning, Wei Chen got on his bicycle early, and the wheels rolled over the country dirt road wet with morning dew, speeding towards Weijiazhuang.

Familiar fields and villages unfold under the morning sun, the air filled with the fresh scent of soil and crops.

When she pushed open the creaking gate to her own courtyard, her mother, Wang Xiulan, was sitting on a small stool in the yard mending something, while her younger sister, Wei Ran, was squatting in the corner, intently watching a few ants carrying a grain of rice that was bigger than her fingernail.

"Mom! Xiao Ran!" Wei Chen's voice was light and cheerful, as if he were returning home.

"Brother!" Wei Ran jumped up like a little sparrow and rushed over to hug Wei Chen.

Wang Xiulan put down her work, a warm smile spreading across her face, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothing out: "Chen'er's back? Have you eaten? Mom will cook for you?"

"Mom, don't bother, I've already eaten." Wei Chen patted his younger sister's head and walked to his mother's side. "The house is all set up and furnished. I'm thinking of officially moving in this Sunday. Why don't you and Xiao Ran come with me tomorrow, Saturday, to get settled in and familiarize yourselves with the place?"

A glint of anticipation flashed in Wang Xiulan's eyes, followed by some hesitation: "Go tomorrow? I cook in the cafeteria, and... there are chickens and ducks at home..."

"Mom, it's just for two days. I can just ask the cafeteria for leave. I'll ask the aunt next door to keep an eye on the chickens. I'll bring her some Beijing snacks later." Wei Chen had already thought it through. "Look, the bedding you made for me, I can take it with me tomorrow to put on the bed." He pointed to the room.

Mentioning bedding immediately drew Wang Xiulan's attention, and a proud gleam appeared on her face: "Yes, yes! Four quilts! Two thick winter quilts, stuffed with new cotton, one spring/autumn quilt, and one thin summer quilt, all sewn up! The linings are all made of newly bought cloth!"

As she spoke, she got up and went into the inner room. A moment later, she brought out a stack of neatly folded quilts, carefully wrapped in blue and white striped cloth. Each bundle was bulging and exuded the clean scent of new cotton and the smell of sunshine.

Looking at the four large bundles of bedding, Wei Chen suddenly realized a practical problem—normally, when he was alone, he could simply toss his things into his spatial storage, but now that he was traveling with his mother and sister, these four bedding bundles, plus the pots, pans, clothes, and other valuables his mother would surely pack, couldn't possibly be carried by a single bicycle. He frowned slightly, his mind racing. The steel mill's transport team's trucks that run this route! Especially the one Wang Aiguo mentioned he often runs! Maybe he could hitch a ride tomorrow.

"Mom," Wei Chen made up his mind, "we have a lot of stuff, so we need to get around. I'll go to the main road later and see if I can flag down a truck that's delivering goods from the steel mill. We can ask them to give us a ride tomorrow, since it's on their way."

"A big bus?" Wei Ran's eyes lit up instantly, filled with novelty and excitement. "But... is it okay? Will the driver be willing to give us a ride?" Wang Xiulan was a little worried; country folk always had a bit of awe about riding in cars.

"Let's give it a try. I know the driver who runs this route," Wei Chen reassured her. "You should first pack up your things. I'll go to my uncle's house to tell him and my grandparents about the move and invite them over for dinner on Sunday. I also need to tell my third uncle."

"Okay, go ahead. I'll take care of things at home." Wang Xiulan nodded.

Wei Chen went to his uncle's house first. When his uncle heard that his nephew's house in Beijing was ready and he was moving in on Sunday, and that he wanted to invite them to dinner, he was so happy that he slapped his thigh and said, "Good lad! You've really made something of yourself! You've settled down in the city! This is a great event for our Wei family! Go! You must go! Your grandparents will definitely be happy too!" His voice was so loud that it made the windows rattle.

Grandpa and Grandma were beaming with joy, their wrinkled faces radiating satisfaction and pride. Grandma held Wei Chen's hand, nagging him with advice: "Chen'er, moving to a new house is a joyous occasion, so make sure it's well-organized! A family meal is a must! Tell your mother not to overwork herself, and if she needs anything, just let us know..."

Wei Chen agreed to everything, feeling a warm glow in his heart. After leaving his eldest uncle's house, he went to his third uncle Wei Laishun's house. His third uncle Wei Laishun was more reserved and didn't talk much, but when he heard that his nephew had settled down in the city, he smiled broadly and said repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I'll definitely go."

At the same time, Wang Xiulan went to the production team's accountant's house to ask for leave. He was in charge of the village canteen, and since she would be leaving for the weekend, she needed to give advance notice.

The accountant was a reasonable old man. Knowing that Wang Xiulan's son was doing well in the city and was moving, he readily approved her leave: "Go ahead! It's a joyous occasion at home! I'll find someone to cover for you at the cafeteria for a couple of days, don't worry!"

After settling things at home, Wei Chen hopped on his bicycle and headed straight for the gravel road leading to Beijing, next to the abandoned outpost outside the village.

This road is the main thoroughfare connecting several nearby communes to the city. It's relatively wide and is also the only route for the steel mill's transport teams to haul goods. He parked his bicycle under the shade of a tree by the roadside and stood on a hillside with a wide view, his eyes fixed on the distance where the road stretched out.

Time ticked by as he waited. Occasionally, oxcarts and horse-drawn carriages would slowly sway by, raising a light dust. A few tractors would also chug by, but none of them were the target Wei Chen was waiting for.

The sun grew increasingly intense, and sweat trickled down his forehead. He considered that if he couldn't wait any longer, he'd have to find a way to call the commune, to call his team leader Liu Yuan, and ask him to inquire about the transport team's schedule, or even try to contact Wang Aiguo. In those days, communication was difficult; even sending a message was a struggle.

Just as he was considering whether to try his luck at the commune, he heard the familiar, deep roar of an engine in the distance.

A military green Jiefang brand truck, its front gleaming with metallic luster, was approaching from afar, kicking up clouds of dust. The words "Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill Transportation Team" were faintly visible on the truck's side.

Wei Chen perked up and immediately ran down the slope, stood in a conspicuous spot by the roadside, and waved his arms vigorously.

With a screeching sound of brakes, the truck came to a stop a few meters in front of Wei Chen, its massive momentum kicking up dust that billowed up in his face.

The driver's side door opened, and a young driver in blue overalls and a baseball cap poked his head out, his face showing fatigue from a long drive and annoyance at being interrupted: "Hey buddy, what's up? Why are you stopping my car?"

Wei Chen quickly stepped forward, a smile plastered on his face, and deftly pulled a pack of "Da Qianmen" cigarettes from his pocket, offering one with both hands: "Master, I'm sorry to bother you. Have a smoke!"

The driver's displeasure lessened slightly upon seeing it was a "Daqianmen" cigarette. He took it, and Wei Chen immediately lit it for him with a famous match. The driver took a deep drag, exhaled a smoke ring, and his tone softened: "What's the matter? Go ahead and say it."

"Master, I'm from the purchasing department of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. My name is Wei Chen." Wei Chen introduced himself.

"Wei Chen?" The driver paused, looked him over carefully, and his expression immediately turned to surprise and enthusiasm. "Oh my! You're Wei Chen? Everyone in our transport team knows about you! Those ten wild boars last time, and the seven the time before that, were they all you who brought back? Wang Aiguo has been talking about you a lot! He says you're the top talent in the purchasing department! My name is Zhao Dagang, and I'm in the same team as Wang Aiguo!"

"Hello, Master Zhao!" Wei Chen felt relieved, and his smile became even more sincere. "It's all factory orders, I was just lucky. Comrade Wang Aiguo mentioned me to you, that's great! So, I wanted to ask you if our transport team still has any trucks running this route back to the city tomorrow, Saturday? I'd like to trouble the driver to give me some things, and two family members are also going into the city."

"Tomorrow?" Zhao Dagang thought for a moment, then said confidently, "Yes! Wang Aiguo will be running this route tomorrow! We basically take turns running this route, but he does it more often. You want him to deliver something? No problem! He's an honest guy! You two know each other, so it'll be even easier!"

"That's wonderful!" Wei Chen was overjoyed. "Master Zhao, could you please tell Comrade Wang Aiguo for me tomorrow that I, Wei Chen, would like to ask him to stop at the abandoned outpost at the village entrance on his way back tomorrow afternoon to give him some things and help his family into town? What time will you be passing by here on your way back?"

"We usually pass by here between 3:30 and 4:00 PM!" Zhao Dagang readily agreed. "I'll tell him when I get back! I promise I'll deliver it!"

"Thank you so much, Master Zhao! You've really gone to so much trouble!" Wei Chen thanked him repeatedly, then pulled out another "Da Qianmen" cigarette and handed it to him, saying, "You must be tired from the journey, have another one!"

Zhao Dagang smiled and took the cigarette, tucking it behind his ear: "No problem! Don't mention it! Okay, I'll be going now, I have a mission!"

"Take care! Drive carefully!" Wei Chen watched the truck restart and disappear into the distance, kicking up dust, and finally felt a weight lifted from his heart. With Wang Aiguo's connection, things went much more smoothly.

On Saturday morning, Weijiazhuang was shrouded in a thin mist. Wei Chen didn't sleep in; he got up early, ate a simple meal, and then pushed his bicycle out the door. His destination was deep in the back mountains, to his master Zhao Gensheng's almost secluded courtyard.

The mountain path was rugged, and the forest was lush. Wei Chen walked briskly, breathing in the fresh air filled with the scent of grass and trees, and soon arrived at the familiar mountain hollow.

Pushing open the half-closed wooden door, Master Zhao Gensheng was sitting on a stone stool in the courtyard, slurping down millet porridge with a dish of pickled vegetables. On the small stove next to him, a dark medicine pot was bubbling away, emitting a strong, bitter medicinal aroma.

"Master!" Wei Chen called out.