Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Looking at the piece of meat, then at the pheasants and rabbits in the basin, and imagining the lively scene to come, a surge of pride welled up within Sha Zhu. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Great! With this piece of meat to back it up, plus these pheasants and rabbits, if I, Brother Zhu, don't prepare a few dishes so tough they'll break your teeth tonight, I'll change my name to 'Sha Zhu'!"

He picked up the gleaming knife again, his eyes sharpening, his entire demeanor changing, like a general about to go into battle. "Just you wait! Tonight, you bunch of brats will have your tongues licked clean!"

Just as Sha Zhu was pondering whether to braise or make steamed pork belly in front of that excellent piece of pork belly, a head with a slicked-back hairstyle and wearing a navy blue woolen Zhongshan suit peeked in through the open moon gate of the east courtyard. Immediately following was a deliberately affectionate yet slightly shrill raspy voice:

"Xiao Wei! Brother Wei Chen! Are you home?"

Xu Damao arrived. He had obviously seen the moon gate open and strode in without any ceremony, carrying a bulging old net bag in his hand.

The net bag contained several large potatoes covered in fresh soil, a small bundle of plump shiitake mushrooms, a bunch of bright green garlic sprouts, and a small packet wrapped in old newspaper that looked like wood ear fungus.

"Brother Da Mao, you're here? Come in quickly!" Wei Chen peeked out from the kitchen doorway and greeted him.

Xu Damao, carrying a net bag, walked familiarly towards the brightly lit kitchen, waving the contents in his hand as he went: "Look! Isn't that a good buddy? I knew you were short on side dishes! I just came back from showing a movie in the commune, and I picked them up from a fellow villager on the way! They're fresh! I guarantee they'll be a nice touch to Brother Zhu's main dish..." He had just stepped into the kitchen when the word "flower" caught in his throat, and his smile instantly froze.

In the kitchen, Sha Zhu was wearing an apron, holding a newly sharpened, gleaming cleaver, gesturing at the pheasant on the cutting board.

Hearing Xu Damao's voice, he didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, merely letting out a cold snort filled with undisguised contempt: "Hmph! Who do we have here? It's our factory's 'famous' projectionist, Xu! What's wrong? Did the sun rise in the west today? You, this 'noble person,' have actually condescended to come to our smoky, fiery kitchen god's territory?"

Xu Damao's facial muscles twitched, instantly extinguishing the enthusiasm he had just deliberately cultivated, replaced by his habitual sarcasm: "Idiot Zhu! Don't mess with me! I'm here to deliver food to Brother Wei Chen! Do you think I want to see your shoehorn face?"

He tossed the net onto an empty bench beside him, put his hands on his hips, and glared back at Sha Zhu defiantly. "Besides, is this your kitchen? I, Xu Damao, can come and go as I please! Is it getting in your way while you're cooking?"

Sha Zhu slammed the cleaver down on the cutting board with a "smack," making the pheasant jump. He turned around, hands on his hips, chest puffed out, like a fighting rooster: "Hey! You little brat! Looking for a fight, huh? Getting in my way while I'm tossing the wok? You're polluting my wok's aroma just by standing here! Look at you with those lousy potatoes and rotten mushrooms, and you still have the nerve to show off? Trying to fob me off like a beggar? Does Brother Wei Chen need your junk? Get out of here and stay somewhere cool! Don't delay me from getting things done!"

"Shazhu! Who the hell are you calling a grandson?!" Xu Damao's face turned bright red. He hated Shazhu calling him a "grandson" the most; it was like hitting a sore spot. "You're the grandson! Your whole family are grandsons! You stinking cook! What can you do besides wielding your broken cleaver? If you're so capable, why don't you try cutting me?" He took a step forward, his spittle almost spraying onto Shazhu's face.

Seeing sparks flying and the two were about to escalate their argument into a fight, Wei Chen quickly stepped between them, placing his hands on their shoulders: "Alright, alright! Brother Zhu! Brother Da Mao! Calm down! For my sake, okay?" His tone was earnest, and he subtly applied some pressure with his hands.

He first looked at Sha Zhu and lowered his voice: "Brother Zhu, you're so magnanimous! Brother Da Mao may be a bit of a chatterbox, but he really meant well and specially brought fresh vegetables. Look at these mushrooms, how fresh they are! They'll enhance the flavor of the stewed chicken later, won't they? We shouldn't get angry with him and ruin the main course for dinner, that would be such a waste, don't you think?" He cleverly diverted Sha Zhu's attention with the "main course".

Sha Zhu, panting heavily, glared at Xu Damao, but when Wei Chen mentioned the "main dish," he subconsciously glanced at the tempting piece of pork belly on the cutting board, then at the wild game in the basin, and his anger was immediately suppressed by his desire to "show off his skills."

He snorted heavily and didn't say anything more, which was considered giving Wei Chen face. He turned around, picked up the kitchen knife again, and started chopping at the poor pheasant as if the chicken bones were Xu Damao himself.

Wei Chen then turned to Xu Damao with a helpless smile on his face: "Brother Damao, you should say less. You know that Brother Zhu is a straightforward person. He's thinking about how to make these pieces of meat into something amazing right now. If you interrupt, it'll set off a firecracker."

We're all here to have a good time and enjoy ourselves, let's not make a scene before the meal even starts. Your dishes arrived just in time, they'll come in very handy! Brother Zhu's cooking skills combined with your fresh ingredients are a perfect match! Please sit down, have some water to calm down." He casually poured a cup of hot water from the thermos next to him and handed it to Xu Damao.

Xu Damao took the water glass, his expression still not very good, but Wei Chen gave him a way out and flattered him, so he couldn't make a scene. He just snorted and walked angrily to the dining table, sitting down far away from Sha Zhu, muttering to himself, "That stinky cook... what's with all the swagger..."

The commotion was temporarily quelled by Wei Chen's mediation. Sha Zhu, a true master chef with years of experience in the kitchen, became completely absorbed once he got into it. He wielded his knife with lightning speed, quickly dissecting the plump pheasant into evenly sized pieces, bones broken and meat separated—clean and efficient.

Then came the rabbit, skinned, deboned, and the lean meat diced with fluid, almost rugged grace. Finally, his gaze settled on the piece of pork belly, a work of art, his eyes becoming incredibly focused, as if admiring a rare treasure.

He carefully lifted the knife, held his breath, and steadily lowered his wrist, the blade slicing between the fat and lean meat with a soft "shh" sound. Thin, even slices of meat, with alternating layers of fat and lean, were laid out on the cutting board like flower petals, each slice almost transparent, showcasing his breathtaking knife skills.

Wei Chen's family indeed didn't have enough bowls and plates. Looking at the several large basins of meat that Sha Zhu had prepared, and then at the few rough porcelain bowls and plates in his own cupboard, Wei Chen said to Sha Zhu, who was heating up the pan in front of the stove to prepare to sauté scallions, ginger, and garlic, "Brother Zhu, I don't have enough plates and bowls here. I'll have to borrow a few from your house."

"Alright! The cupboard is in the inner room against the wall, go get it yourself! Pick a bigger plate!" Sha Zhu ordered without turning his head, stirring the boiling oil with a large iron ladle in his hand. When the scallions, ginger, and garlic were added to the pot, they sizzled and burst with a rich aroma.

Wei Chen responded and strode out of the east courtyard, through the central courtyard, and headed straight for the main room where Sha Zhu lived. Just as he reached the door, he bumped into his second uncle, Liu Haizhong, who was returning from get off work. The second uncle, with his slightly protruding belly, walked with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of officialdom.

Seeing Wei Chen come out of Sha Zhu's house, carrying several plates in his hand, he stopped. His eyes, which were squeezed into small pieces by fat, flickered behind his glasses, with a scrutinizing look and a hint of barely perceptible inquiry.

"Wei Chen?" The second uncle cleared his throat and spoke in a very official tone, "I heard from Guangtian that you're hosting a dinner party in the courtyard tonight? And it'll all be young people?"

Wei Chen's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm and nodded, saying, "Yes, Second Uncle, let's invite a few of the guys in the courtyard who are about the same age to have some fun together."

"Oh..." the second uncle drawled, nodding thoughtfully, forcing a "kind elder" smile. "It's good for young people to get together and strengthen their bonds! It's good!"

He changed the subject, his tone leaving no room for argument, "My son Guangqi is in vocational school and isn't home. Guangtian, though a bit younger, is fifteen this year, practically a grown man! Staying cooped up at home all day isn't good!"

"Alright, I'll have him come over later too! Let him broaden his horizons by following you successful older brothers! And," he paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, or perhaps implying some kind of "favor," "have your second aunt fry some eggs and have Guangtian take them over! It'll be an extra dish!"

Wei Chen was taken aback. When he discussed the list with Xu Damao, he hadn't included Liu Guangtian, Yan Jiefang, and other teenagers who were only fourteen or fifteen years old.

But when his second uncle said it like that—"adding more food" and "showing off his skills"—his attitude was neither too high nor too low, so he couldn't directly refuse. He glanced at his second uncle's chubby face, which was trying hard to be kind but couldn't hide his calculations, and his mind raced. He quickly weighed the options: one more teenager wouldn't eat much, and he could at least give his second uncle face to avoid any gossip behind his back. Besides, a plate of scrambled eggs was a decent extra treat in those days.

"Alright, Second Uncle, you're too kind." Wei Chen smiled appropriately, a hint of flattery in his expression. "Brother Guangtian is welcome to come and have fun! The more the merrier!"

"Hmm!" The second uncle was clearly satisfied with Wei Chen's "sensible" behavior. His smile became more genuine, and he straightened his back, his official tone becoming more pronounced. "That's right! Wei Chen, your initiative to integrate into our compound and get along with everyone is commendable!"

"Excellent! Keep it up! Young people should have this kind of awareness!" He gave a few more words of encouragement, like a leader making a concluding speech, before walking with his hands behind his back, taking measured steps, and walking contentedly towards his own home in the backyard.

Wei Chen looked at his slightly chubby back, secretly pursed his lips, turned around and went into Sha Zhu's house, picking out a few of the largest and relatively cleanest coarse porcelain plates from the cupboard.

When he returned to the kitchen in the east courtyard with the plate, it was already steaming and filled with a delicious aroma. Sha Zhu, like a composed general, moved about in front of the stove. In a large iron pot, golden chicken pieces tumbled in a dark sauce, bubbling and bubbling, the rich aroma of meat mixed with the scent of spices dominating the entire space.

In another, slightly smaller pot, diced rabbit meat was sizzling and popping with dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns in hot oil, releasing a spicy and savory aroma that filled the nostrils.

In a clay pot next to it, milky white broth was gently bubbling, and tender slices of meat, white bamboo shoots, and fresh shiitake mushrooms could be vaguely seen inside. It was simmering over a low flame, emitting a mellow and mild aroma.

Xu Damao sat at the dining table, peeling garlic idly, his eyes occasionally glancing at the stove, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily with the aroma wafting from the pot.

"The plates are here!" Wei Chen placed the borrowed plates in an empty spot on the stove.

Without turning his head, Sha Zhu tapped the side of the pot with his spoon: "Perfect timing! Hurry up and scald these plates with hot water! Get them ready to be plated! The pheasant will be ready soon!"

With Sha Zhu's order, one main dish after another was served.

First up is a large bowl of bright red and tempting braised pheasant pieces! The chicken meat is soaked in the rich sauce, giving it an enticing amber color, and is garnished with bright green garlic sprouts. The broth is thick and steaming hot, and the rich aroma of meat and sauce wafts straight into your nose.

Next up was a large plate of stir-fried rabbit meat! The rabbit meat was stir-fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a caramelized surface covered with bright red chili flakes and golden Sichuan peppercorns. Interspersed among the bright green garlic sprouts and white garlic cloves, the red, green and white colors created a strong visual impact, and the domineering, spicy and savory aroma made one's mouth water.

Then came a large bowl of steaming, milky-white pork belly slices with bamboo shoots and shiitake mushrooms! The translucent slices of pork belly floated on the surface of the soup, which was as thin as cicada wings. The bamboo shoot slices were as white as jade, and the shiitake mushrooms were thick and tender. A few bright green scallions floated on top of the soup. The soup was fresh and mellow, which contrasted sharply with the two rich and colorful dishes before, yet complemented each other perfectly.

Finally, Sha Zhu used the remaining pork belly to quickly stir-fry another dish of twice-cooked pork! The slices of pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat were stir-fried until the oil was rendered, the edges curled slightly and turned golden brown, and paired with garlic sprouts, fermented black beans and bright red broad bean paste, it was savory, slightly spicy, oily and fragrant!