Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Zhao Gensheng raised his head, his wrinkled face expressionless. He simply raised his chin, gesturing for him to sit down, and pointed to an empty bowl next to him: "There's still porridge in the pot, help yourself."

Wei Chen didn't stand on ceremony. He served himself a bowl of porridge and sat down on the stone stool opposite his master. "Master, the house in Beijing is all set up. We're picking up Mom and Xiao Ran today, and we'll officially move in tomorrow, Sunday. Would you... like to come over for a visit tomorrow? To get acquainted with the place?"

Zhao Gensheng didn't even lift his eyelids, continuing to drink his porridge until he scraped the bottom of the bowl clean before putting it down, wiping his mouth, and saying in a hoarse and flat voice, "Moving? Good thing. I won't go. Too many people, too much noise, I'm not used to it."

He paused, his cloudy but still sharp eyes glancing at Wei Chen. "The city is a place with many rules and a lot of people. You've got the skills, but you still need to hone your character. Remember, keep your sharpness hidden and your strengths concealed; too much rigidity leads to breakage. Don't get arrogant just because you have some skills."

"Understood, Master," Wei Chen replied respectfully. His master's teachings always went straight to the point.

Zhao Gensheng didn't say anything more. He got up, hunched over, and slowly walked into his low, mud-brick house. A moment later, he dragged out a heavy object, put it down at Wei Chen's feet with a dull thud.

"Take it, consider it a congratulatory gift." Zhao Gensheng's tone remained calm. Wei Chen untied a corner of the oilcloth, and a strong stench of blood and wild game wafted out—it was half of a huge wild boar's hindquarters, still attached to a thick hind leg! The flesh was dark red, and the fat was snow-white, clearly freshly hunted. This weight was at least seventy or eighty pounds!

"Master, this..." Wei Chen was somewhat moved. He knew that his master had a hard time making a living in the mountains, and this "gift" was too precious.

"We caught it on the mountain, and we can't finish it all. It'll attract bugs if we leave it too long." Zhao Gensheng waved his hand, as if he were just tossing him a bundle of firewood. "There's a shortage of meat in the city. Take this to add to your dishes, or you can exchange it for something else. Alright, get out of here after lunch." After saying that, he ignored Wei Chen, picked up the medicine pot, poured the dark medicine into a bowl, frowned, and drank it all in one gulp.

Looking at his master's hunched yet still strong back, Wei Chen felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He didn't say anything more, silently rewrapping the heavy wild boar meat. This "gift" from the mountains, carrying his master's warmth and affection, was far more precious than any gold or silver.

I had a simple lunch at my master's place—cornbread, pickled vegetables, millet porridge, and a small dish of wild rabbit meat that my master had pickled himself.

After the meal, Wei Chen wrapped the huge wild boar meat tightly and carried it on his back. The heavy weight made his shoulders feel slightly sluggish, but it also made him feel exceptionally at ease.

"Master, I'm leaving. Take care of yourself. If you need anything, please ask someone to pass on a message." Wei Chen stood at the courtyard gate. Zhao Gensheng simply waved his hand with his back to him, as if shooing away a fly.

"Just enjoy yourself on the mountain!" Wei Chen grinned, his voice booming. "Enjoy yourself for another ten or eight years! When you can't keep up anymore, your apprentice will take you to the city to live a life of luxury!"

Zhao Gensheng didn't turn around, but his hunched back seemed to pause slightly. Wei Chen didn't linger; carrying the heavy weight of the master-disciple bond, he turned and strode down the mountain.

When Wei Chen returned to his family's courtyard carrying the huge bundle of wild boar meat, it was already past two in the afternoon. In the yard, his mother, Wang Xiulan, had already packed everything they needed to take. Four large bundles of bedding were tightly bound with thick hemp rope, along with two willow baskets—one containing several pots and pans, and the other containing a change of clothes and some odds and ends. His younger sister, Wei Ran, moved back and forth between the bundles and baskets like a little supervisor, her little face full of excitement and anticipation.

"Brother! What are you carrying? It's so big!" Wei Ran pointed curiously at the oilcloth bag on Wei Chen's back.

"Great stuff! Wild boar meat from Master, to bring us good luck in moving!" Wei Chen put down the package and wiped his sweat.

Looking at the huge chunk of meat, Wang Xiulan was both surprised and distressed: "Oh dear! Your master is too extravagant! Such a big piece of meat! Chen'er, you must be exhausted. Quickly drink some water and rest!" She quickly brought over a bowl of cool boiled water.

"Mom, is everything here?" Wei Chen took a drink of water and pointed to the luggage on the floor. "Yes, that's all. Bedding is the biggest item; the rest is lighter stuff."

As Wang Xiulan spoke, she bent down again to carefully check whether the ropes binding the bedding were tied tightly. "Shall we move it to the main road now? Don't make the driver late."

"Okay, let's move!" Wei Chen tied up the wild boar meat bundles and started transporting them on his bicycle. The four quilts were too bulky; the bicycle could only carry two bundles at a time, and he had to be very careful. He first carried two bundles of quilts and a basket, then had his younger sister, Wei Ran, follow him to the roadside to watch over them. Wei Ran nodded vigorously as if she had received an important mission, and with her short legs, she followed closely beside her brother's bicycle.

After three trips, they finally managed to transport everything to the roadside next to the abandoned outpost. On the last trip, Wang Xiulan locked the door and followed them to the roadside. The three women stood guard over the mountain of luggage on the ground, their gazes fixed on the distant road stretching into the distance.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the sun had begun to set, but the sunlight was still scorching. Wei Ran was initially jumping around excitedly, asking from time to time, "When is the car coming?" Gradually, the anxiety of waiting replaced her excitement.

She began counting the wildflowers by the roadside and watching the clouds in the sky change shape. Wang Xiulan, on the other hand, seemed restless, constantly adjusting her bundle and glancing at the sun, muttering to herself, "Don't miss it... don't miss it..."

Wei Chen felt a little uneasy, but he remained calm. He took out his pocket watch and checked the time; it was 3:40. Just as Wang Xiulan was about to ask, "Did you remember the time wrong?", the familiar roar of an engine, growing louder as it approached, rang out again!

A similarly military green Jiefang truck, billowing with dust, appeared on the horizon, heading towards them! As the truck became clearer, Wang Aiguo's familiar smiling face in the driver's cab was waving at them through the windshield!

"It's here! Mom, Xiao Ran, the car's here!" Wei Chen immediately stood up and waved vigorously. Wang Xiulan and Wei Ran also stood up excitedly.

The truck came to a smooth stop in front of them. Wang Aiguo jumped out with a nimble step, his voice booming, "Brother Weichen! Were you waiting long? Da Gang told me! Bringing you some things is no big deal!"

He immediately noticed the mountain of luggage on the ground and the conspicuously large oilcloth bag, as well as the simply dressed middle-aged woman with a reserved smile and the timid little girl beside Wei Chen. "Oh! These must be Auntie and Little Sister, right? Hello, Auntie! Hello, Little Sister!"

"Hello, Master Wang! I'm sorry to trouble you!" Wang Xiulan rubbed her hands nervously.

"Hello, Brother Aiguo!" Wei Ran called out softly from behind her mother, her big eyes curiously observing the tall truck and the driver in work clothes.

"No trouble at all! It's perfect timing to drive back empty!" Wang Aiguo laughed heartily, walked to the back of the car, and with a whoosh, pulled open the heavy cargo bed cover.

He quickly started loading the luggage into the car, saying as he did so, "Auntie, sister, why don't you sit in the driver's seat? It's cleaner and safer inside."

"No...no need, no need!" Wang Xiulan hurriedly waved her hand, her face showing the fear of a country bumpkin riding in a car. "We...we can sit in the back! It's spacious in the back!" She clearly felt that sitting in the driver's seat would be a big trouble for the driver, and in her opinion, that place was "where cadres sit," and she felt very uncomfortable sitting in it.

Wei Ran whispered in agreement, "Mom, I want to sit in the back! To see the scenery!" She had no idea what the driver's seat was like, but she thought the big truck bed in the back would be more fun.

Wei Chen understood his mother's thoughts and smiled at Wang Aiguo, "Brother Aiguo, my mom and the others are afraid they'll feel awkward sitting in the front, so let them sit in the back for a spin. I'll sit in the front and keep you company." As he spoke, he pulled out a specially prepared, unopened box of "Da Qianmen" cigarettes from his pocket and handed it to Wang Aiguo, saying, "A little something to help you relax on the journey!"

Looking at the brand-new "Daqianmen" cigarette in his hand, Wang Aiguo's smile widened. Without much hesitation, he casually stuffed it into his work uniform pocket: "Hey! Brother Weichen, you're too kind! Okay, Auntie and Sister can sit in the back if they want, it's spacious enough! Come on, give me a hand, let's get everything upstairs!"

Working together, the three of them quickly loaded the four quilts, two willow baskets, and the huge package of wild boar meat onto the empty carriage.

With Wei Chen's help, Wang Xiulan clumsily but diligently climbed onto the truck bed. Wei Ran, like a nimble little monkey, easily climbed up with her brother's support, curiously touching and looking around the truck bed.

Wei Chen lifted his old-fashioned bicycle onto the truck bed and placed it against the side wall. Then he went around to the driver's side, opened the door, and sat in the passenger seat. The driver's seat was filled with a faint smell of engine oil, tobacco, and leather seats.

"Hold on tight, auntie? Sister?" Wang Aiguo leaned out and called out to the back of the carriage. "Hold on tight, Master Wang!" Wang Xiulan's voice came from behind, a little nervous. "Alright! Let's go!" Wang Aiguo shouted, skillfully shifting gears, releasing the handbrake, and stepping on the gas.

The truck gave a low growl and slowly started moving, gradually increasing its speed. Wei Chen rolled down the window slightly, and a cool breeze immediately rushed in. He glanced back through the rear window and saw his mother, Wang Xiulan, gripping the guardrail tightly against the side of the truck bed, sitting upright with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness on her face.

The younger sister, Wei Ran, excitedly leaned against the side panel of the carriage, her little head peeking out a little bit. Her black hair was blowing wildly in the wind, and her big eyes were sparkling as she watched the rapidly receding fields and trees, letting out a small gasp of surprise.

"Is this your first time riding in a big truck, Auntie and Sister?" Wang Aiguo asked with a smile, holding the steering wheel with one hand and taking out the box of "Daqianmen" cigarettes that Wei Chen had given him from his pocket with the other. He opened it, popped one out and put it in his mouth, and then handed one to Wei Chen.

"Hmm, first time." Wei Chen took the cigarette, lit it for Wang Aiguo with a match, and then lit it for himself. The pungent smoke, mixed with the cool breeze coming in from the window, brought a strange sense of comfort.