Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Wei Chen quickly stood up, his face full of grateful smiles, and his attitude was respectful: "It is the greatest honor for me, Wei Chen, that you three gentlemen could come today! I am grateful for your help in making this trip and taking care of my family's affairs! I will remember this kindness! I will come to thank you again another day!" He spoke sincerely, giving the three gentlemen a way out and face.

"Hey! We're all neighbors, no need for such formalities!" Yi Zhonghai waved his hand and stood up first. "Alright, old man, you rest, we old folks will take our leave now, we won't disturb your family's conversation." He looked at Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui.

"Yes, yes, you guys chat, you guys chat!" Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui also quickly stood up.

Grandpa Wei Shoutian, eldest uncle Wei Changsheng, and third uncle Wei Laishun also stood up to see them off.

Wei Chen accompanied the three old men to the moon gate, thanked them again, and watched them pass through the moon gate, their figures disappearing into the passageway leading to the central courtyard. As Yan Bugui passed through the moon gate, he deliberately turned back and gave Wei Chen a reassuring look before strutting away with his hands behind his back, feeling quite smug.

After seeing the three elderly men off and closing the heavy south gate, the east courtyard instantly fell silent, leaving only family members. The lingering echoes of the previous lively commotion still gently reverberated in the air, and a more intimate and warm atmosphere of kinship quietly permeated the space.

Everyone returned to the living room and sat down again. Wang Xiulan and Wei Ran served freshly brewed large-leaf tea; the tea in the rough porcelain bowls was strong and steaming.

Grandpa Wei Shoutian picked up his teacup, blew away the foam, and sipped the scalding hot tea. The familiar, slightly bitter aroma of the tea seemed to soothe his weary body from his long journey.

He put down his teacup, his deeply lined face showing some fatigue from the long journey, but his eyes were unusually bright, his gaze fixed on Wei Chen, filled with relief and a heavy sense of entrustment.

"Chen'er," Grandpa's voice was deep and strong, carrying the honesty unique to farmers, "Grandpa has seen everything today: this house, this yard, and these stewards you invited. Excellent! Truly excellent! Even better than Grandpa dreamed!"

He looked around the bright and clean room, the brand-new furniture gleaming warmly in the setting sun. "You've managed to build this business and establish yourself in Beijing, you haven't disgraced the Wei family! Grandpa feels... at ease!"

Uncle Wei Changsheng nodded vigorously, his dark face full of emotion: "Yes, Chenzi! Back in the village, I always heard people say that the city was great, but I never imagined you could do this! This house, this furnishing, in our countryside, only landlords and rich people would have this kind of extravagance! Your father..."

He paused, his voice lowering slightly, "Your father passed away early. If he could see this, he would be so happy!" These words stirred everyone's emotions. Grandma Wang's eyes reddened again, and Wang Xiulan lowered her head and gently wiped the corners of her eyes.

Wei Chen's heart warmed, and he quickly said, "Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Third Uncle, I owe everything I am today to your help back home for my mother and Ranran. I will always remember your kindness. From now on, this is where we are rooted in the city!"

"Yes! You've taken root!" Grandpa Wei Shoutian nodded emphatically, his cloudy eyes sharpening as he stared at Wei Chen. His tone turned serious as he admonished, "Chen'er, now that you've taken root, you must stand firm and walk upright! The city is different from our countryside; there are people everywhere you look, more rules, and more cunning. You're young, and you work in a government factory, so you must be even more careful and cautious in everything you do!"

He stretched out his calloused, bony hands, counting on his fingers, giving his instructions one by one. His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried immense weight: "First of all, public affairs are of paramount importance! When you work, you must be willing to put in the effort, don't hold back, and don't try to shirk your responsibilities! You're eating the public food, so you have to live up to your salary and food rations!"

"Furthermore, when dealing with people, be kind and honest! Suffering a loss is a blessing! We country folk are straightforward and don't care for those shady dealings, but don't be naively naive either. You need to be cautious when necessary and have a sense of right and wrong! Especially your neighbors in the yard. It's true that a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative, but you need to know your limits. Don't let anyone look down on you or think you're easy to bully! If anyone bullies us, don't forget that there are plenty of people in our village!"

"Third, be filial to your mother! It wasn't easy for her to raise you and your siblings. From now on, you'll be her pillar of support in the city! Consult with her on everything. As for Ranran, fulfill your responsibilities as her older brother! Support her education so our Wei family can produce an educated person!"

"Finally," Grandpa's gaze swept over the brand-new house, a hint of barely perceptible worry in his eyes, "this house is quite respectable, but there must be plenty of famines out there, right? We need to live frugally! Save where you can, spend where you can, don't empty your pockets just to save face! Only by paying off our debts as soon as possible can we truly feel at ease!"

Grandpa's earnest words, without fancy words, struck Wei Chen's heart with every sentence, carrying the weight of the earth and the wisdom of life.

Wei Chen stood up, his expression solemn: "Grandpa, I've remembered everything you said! Every word is etched in my heart! Don't worry, I will definitely work hard, take good care of Mother and my sister, live a stable life, and never bring shame to the Wei family!"

Uncle Wei Changsheng patted Wei Chen on the shoulder, his voice booming, "Chenzi, your grandfather is right! Work hard at the factory! For us farmers, strength is our capital! Your third uncle and I are here at home. Your mother and Ranran are in our hometown, we'll take care of them, don't worry! After the New Year, if you want to move here, just give me the village and commune paperwork." Uncle Wei Laishun wasn't good with words, but he nodded vigorously, his honest face full of support.

Grandma Wang, who had been holding Wang Xiulan's hand, couldn't help but interject, her voice trembling slightly, "Chen'er, your grandfather and your uncle are both right. Your mother is in the city, so please take good care of her... And hurry up..."

The old lady's tone shifted, her face showing urgency and anticipation as her gaze swept over Wei Chen. "You've got a job now, and you've bought a house. You need to hurry up and find a wife for yourself! Someone pretty and virtuous is all you need! Get married soon and have a healthy baby boy! Grandma's been waiting to hold her great-grandson!"

This sudden pressure to get married made Wei Chen blush instantly, his previous composure vanishing completely. He waved his hands awkwardly, "Grandma! What are you saying! How old am I? I've just gotten a stable job, and I haven't even paid off my debts yet. How can I think about this! Besides, this... this matter depends on fate! It can't be rushed!"

"Why aren't you in a hurry?" Grandma Wang was displeased, reaching out to poke Wei Chen's forehead. "You'll be eighteen after the New Year, nineteen by the traditional Chinese age reckoning! In our village, kids that age are already running around everywhere! And you, you still think you're young? I think you just don't care!"

"Okay, Grandma! I'll try my best! But if you want to have a great-grandchild, my eldest brother has to put in some effort! And he'll have to get married first!"

"That's true, the eldest son isn't young anymore!" The old lady shifted her attention, immediately looking at her cousin Wei Feng, who was sitting next to her with a teacup in hand, watching the commotion with a silly grin.

"Fengzi!" Grandma Wang's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable authority. "Did you hear that? Your brothers are all worried about you! I'll go back and talk to your mother, and have her quickly talk to that matchmaker Wang at the east end of the village! She'll find you a husband in the spring! This time next year, Grandma will be able to drink your wedding wine! Do you hear me?" The old lady's eyes were burning, as if her great-grandson was already in her arms.

Wei Feng was savoring the taste of the braised pork when his grandmother suddenly called on him and brought up his marriage prospects. He blushed deeply, even more embarrassed than Wei Chen. He almost dropped the rough porcelain teacup in his hand and stammered, "Grandma...Grandma...I...I..."

He stammered for a long time without getting a coherent answer, scratching his head in frustration, which made everyone in the room burst into laughter. Even his usually reserved third uncle, Wei Laishun, couldn't help but grin. The somewhat melancholic atmosphere was dispelled by this interlude, and filled with a joyful, lively atmosphere.

Happy times always fly by. As the sun gradually sets, the sunlight changes from warm yellow to orange-red, casting longer shadows through the window.

Uncle Wei Changsheng glanced at the sky and stood up: "Father, Mother, it's getting late, we have to get going. If we stay any longer, we won't be able to get back to the village before dark."

Upon hearing this, both Grandma Wang and Wang Xiulan showed deep reluctance. Wang Xiulan held her mother-in-law's hand: "Mother, how about... you and Father stay here for a couple of days? Let Chen'er show you around the city?"

"Yes, Grandpa, Grandma, please stay for a couple of days!" Wei Chen quickly urged them to stay. "The house is all cleaned up, and the bedding is all new!"

Grandpa Wei Shoutian shook his head firmly, his face bearing the stubborn attachment a farmer has for his land and home: "No, no, there's no place like home. No matter how nice the city is, my old bones can't get used to this soft bed, can't get used to this... this city smell. Those chickens, those acres of land, they can't do without me."

He paused, looking at Wei Chen with loving eyes, "Grandpa and Grandma appreciate your kindness. We'll come again when Xiao Chen gets married!"

Grandma Wang patted Wang Xiulan's hand with a smile, then glanced mischievously at Wei Feng, who was still blushing, and said to Wang Xiulan in a low voice, "Xiulan, you have to keep an eye on Chen'er for your mother. You really have to take this daughter-in-law matter seriously! And Fengzi's side, I'll go find his mother when I get back..." She kept nagging and instructing, as if she wanted to cram all her worries into these few words.

The one who was most reluctant to leave was Wei Ran. From the moment the little girl learned she had to go back, her lips had been pouting so much they could hang an oil bottle. She dawdled to the door of her west room, her little hand gripping the brand-new door frame, and half her body peeked inside, gazing longingly at the small bed with its clean floral quilt, and the enamel basin with red carp painted on it that Wei Chen had bought for her on the windowsill. Her eyes were red-rimmed, like a little abandoned rabbit.

Wei Chen felt a pang of heartache seeing his sister like this. He went over, knelt down, and gently stroked his sister's soft hair, soothingly saying, "Ranran, be good, don't cry. Didn't I tell you? There are only two months left, three months at most! When you're on winter break, I'll come pick you and Mom up! Then, this house will be yours forever! You can decorate it however you like! I'll even buy you a new schoolbag and some pretty hair ties!"