Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

In addition to the stir-fried mixed vegetables with shiitake mushrooms and wood ear fungus that Xu Damao brought, the cold cabbage heart salad, stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar, and fried peanuts that Wei Chen had prepared beforehand, and the plate of golden, oily scrambled eggs that his second uncle "sponsored" later—a total of eight dishes, four meat and four vegetable, were laid out lavishly on Wei Chen's brand-new wooden square table! The quantity, the color, the aroma, in this era of material scarcity, were simply as luxurious as a dream!

Just as the dishes were being served, the invited young people began to arrive one after another.

Yan Jiecheng and Zhang Dashan from the front yard were the first to arrive together. Yan Jiecheng arrived empty-handed with a slightly embarrassed smile on his face. He was immediately captivated by the enticing aroma as soon as he entered, his eyes fixed on the meat on the table.

The tall and sturdy Zhang Dashan, carrying a bottle of "Red Star" Erguotou with a red label, grinned憨厚ly and said, "Brother Wei Chen, I don't have anything fancy, just a bottle of liquor. Let's all join in the fun!"

Next was Jia Dongxu from the Intermediate People's Court. He was also carrying a bottle of bulk liquor, which he had put in an old military water bottle. He looked a little tired, but his eyes lit up when he saw the table full of delicious dishes. He greeted Wei Chen politely.

Liu Erzhuang followed closely behind from the backyard, also carrying a bottle of wine, which was in an empty can. It looked a bit shabby, but the smile on his face was very sincere.

Finally, it was Liu Guangtian from the second uncle's family. He carefully carried a rough porcelain plate containing a plate of golden-yellow scrambled eggs, sprinkled with chopped scallions for garnish. He was clearly a little nervous. After placing the plate on the table, he stood awkwardly to the side, his eyes constantly glancing at the braised chicken pieces, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Sha Zhu took off his apron, wiped his hands, and came out of the kitchen. Xu Damao finally stood up from his chair as well. Including Wei Chen, there were eight people in total: Wei Chen, Sha Zhu, Xu Damao, Yan Jiecheng, Zhang Dashan, Jia Dongxu, Liu Erzhuang, and Liu Guangtian.

Apart from Liu Guangtian, who was noticeably smaller, the rest were all strapping young men in their early twenties, or strong laborers like Zhang Dashan and Liu Erzhuang who did manual labor on the streets. The small restaurant was instantly filled with the energy of young men, making it feel a bit crowded, but also full of vitality.

As soon as everyone entered, their eyes were immediately drawn to the spacious, bright, and "luxurious" kitchen and dining room with its brand-new dining table.

"Wow! Wei Chen, your kitchen... is quite impressive!" Zhang Dashan looked around and couldn't help but exclaim, his tone full of envy.

"Exactly! This table, these chairs, are they brand new? They're really nice and sturdy!" Liu Erzhuang patted the smooth tabletop and chimed in with a simple, honest voice.

"It's even brighter than my main room!" Jia Dongxu couldn't help but say.

Yan Jiecheng stared intently at the dishes on the table, muttering, "My goodness... how much meat is in all of this..."

Sha Zhu proudly raised his chin: "You're making a fuss over nothing, aren't you? This is nothing! If we weren't so pressed for time, I could have prepared a couple more hearty dishes for you!"

Xu Damao pursed his lips, wanting to say something sarcastic, but looking at the table full of delicacies and smelling the enticing aroma, he swallowed his words and just snorted.

Wei Chen smiled and greeted everyone, "Don't stand! It's a small place, so it'll be more lively if we squeeze in! Come on, take a seat! Brother Zhu has worked hard all night, just waiting for us to start eating! Come on, sit down! Don't be shy!"

The group politely shoved and jostled each other as they squeezed around the square table to sit down. Four long benches, each seating two people, were perfectly full. Liu Guangtian, the youngest, was seated next to Wei Chen.

"Before we begin, let me say a few words!" Xu Damao took the lead, raised his wine glass, cleared his throat, and tried to regain some composure. "Thank you, Brother Wei Chen, for hosting this event, allowing us brothers to gather together and strengthen our bonds! Come on, everyone, let's toast Brother Wei Chen first!" He tried his best to make his words sound good, but his eyes kept glancing at the meat.

"Yes, yes, yes! Respect to Wei Chen!" "Brother Wei Chen is a true gentleman!" "Thank you for the hospitality!"

Everyone responded enthusiastically, raising their glasses and expressing their gratitude to Wei Chen in a flurry of voices, instantly creating a lively atmosphere.

Wei Chen also raised his glass, which was filled with clear Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor). He smiled and looked around, "Thanks for joining us, brothers! We're all brothers from the same compound, so thanking each other is too formal! It's all about having fun and being lively! Come on, let's all have a drink! It doesn't matter how much, the friendship is in the drinks!"

"Cheers!" "One more!" "Deep feelings, bottoms up!"

The clinking of glasses rang out, and the spicy liquid slid down the throat like a ignited fire. This fire instantly dispelled the chill of the winter night and ignited the youth's strong appetite and enthusiasm.

"Start eating! Start eating!" As the head chef, Sha Zhu waved his hand with great enthusiasm, picked up a large piece of trembling pheasant meat covered in sauce, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed it with satisfaction, his cheeks bulging out.

This sound was like a starting gun, and eight pairs of chopsticks, like eight dragons emerging from their caves, eagerly reached out towards the mouthwatering main dishes in the center of the table!

Their primary focus was on the largest portion of braised pheasant chunks! Zhang Dashan and Liu Erzhuang, who did heavy physical labor, were swift and precise with their chopsticks, picking up large pieces with chicken legs or wings attached.

Yan Jiecheng's chopsticks were quick as well, precisely picking up a thick piece of chicken breast. Jia Dongxu, on the other hand, chose a piece of chicken neck soaked in broth, sucking on the flavor from the bone. Even the youngest, Liu Guangtian, after his initial restraint, quickly picked up a smaller piece of chicken, stuffed it into his mouth, and even though it was so hot that he was spitting it out, he couldn't bear to spit it out.

The stir-fried rabbit cubes, with their domineering spicy and savory flavor, quickly won over everyone's taste buds. The crispy outer layer and tender inside, combined with the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns, the spiciness of chili peppers, and the aroma of garlic cloves, created a flavor storm in the mouth, leaving one sweating and with numb lips, yet unable to stop eating. Xu Damao, inhaling deeply, couldn't help but comment, "That's powerful! Shazhu, you didn't skimp on this dish!"

The milky white pork belly soup was a lifesaver for relieving the spiciness and soothing the throat. The tender pork slices melted in the mouth, the broth was clear, fresh, and rich, and the crispness of the winter bamboo shoots and the plumpness of the shiitake mushrooms blended perfectly. One sip soothed the throat all the way to the stomach, greatly relieving the spiciness of the stir-fried rabbit pieces. Liu Guangtian almost buried his face in the bowl, sipping the soup in small sips, his face showing unprecedented satisfaction.

The twice-cooked pork was oily and savory, the mixed vegetables were refreshing, the cold cabbage heart salad was sweet and sour and crisp, the stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar were sour and spicy and appetizing, the fried peanuts were crispy and fragrant, and there was also a plate of golden and oily scrambled eggs... Every dish was "sweeped" by the chopsticks.

Wei Chen took out four brand-new bottles of "Red Star" Erguotou, and the two bottles brought by Zhang Dashan and Liu Erzhuang were also opened. The six bottles of high-proof liquor visibly decreased amidst the clinking of glasses and shouting of the eight young men.

The atmosphere grew increasingly lively, and the effects of the alcohol began to take hold. The young people gathered together, their conversations ranging from all over the world. They talked about everything from amusing incidents in the factory workshops to observations on the street, their aspirations for the future, and even their "comments" on certain people in the compound.

Sha Zhu and Xu Damao, these two old rivals, started bickering again after a few drinks. From comparing their drinking abilities to revealing each other's shortcomings, and then to gesturing that they wanted to "have a match," their shouting and spittle flying made them the liveliest part of the meal. However, thanks to the delicious food on the table and the persuasion of Wei Chen and Zhang Dashan, they didn't actually fight, but instead added a lot of "spice" to the banquet.

Zhang Dashan and Liu Erzhuang didn't talk much. They buried themselves in their work, focusing on finishing the food in front of them, occasionally giving a simple, honest smile and a few words of agreement.

Jia Dongxu seemed preoccupied, didn't talk much, but drank quite a bit, and his eyes were somewhat unfocused.

Yan Jiecheng seemed a bit awkward, especially when Xu Damao and Shazhu teased him about the embarrassment of him arriving empty-handed while everyone else was offering "extras". His face turned bright red and he could only keep drinking to cover it up.

As the host, Wei Chen was busy taking care of everyone, adding wine and serving dishes, creating a lively atmosphere, and observing everyone's reactions. He noticed that although Liu Guangtian was young, he was very sensible, only taking food from the dishes in front of him and eating carefully, afraid of making a mess of the table. Wei Chen then took the initiative to put a few large pieces of meat on his plate, and seeing his flattered yet restrained excitement, Wei Chen felt a warmth in his heart.

In the midst of their revelry, the large bowl of steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat flour and cornmeal was completely devoured. Zhang Dashan even used a steamed bun to soak up the last bit of broth before swallowing it.

Six bottles of baijiu were finally emptied. Apart from Liu Guangtian, the other seven people, including Wei Chen, all had obvious flushes on their faces, glazed eyes, and their speech was somewhat slurred.

Sha Zhu and Xu Damao, arms around each other, were arguing indistinctly about whether braised chicken or stir-fried rabbit was tastier. Zhang Dashan and Liu Erzhuang let out satisfied burps. Jia Dongxu lay on the table, seemingly asleep.

Yan Jiecheng stared blankly, still sipping the last bit of wine from the bottom of his bowl. Liu Guangtian, his face flushed, looked at the messy but still fragrant plates and bowls, and licked his lips with lingering satisfaction.

The dishes on the table were almost completely empty, with hardly any broth left; it truly was a "clean plate."

"Brothers! We drank to our hearts' content today! And ate to our hearts' content even more!" Sha Zhu stood up unsteadily, slurring his words, "We'll get together more often in the future! Wei Chen... you're a true brother! Brother Zhu... I... didn't work in vain!" He patted Wei Chen's shoulder hard.

Xu Damao also struggled to his feet, swaying slightly: "Right...right! Brother Wei Chen...you're a true friend! Sha Zhu...your...cooking skills...are...not bad!" He rarely "praised" Sha Zhu.

Everyone stood up, staggering and supporting each other, saying words of thanks and farewell as they walked unsteadily out. Liu Guangtian thoughtfully helped clear away the dishes in front of him and followed behind.

Wei Chen escorted everyone to the Moon Gate, watching them support each other as they stumbled into the shadows of the courtyard in the dim moonlight, the noisy voices gradually fading away. A night breeze blew, and the effects of the alcohol mixed with exhaustion surged up like a tide.

He turned around and locked the small wooden bolt on the moon gate. Back in the side room of the dining room, looking at the messy table with its dishes and grease, and smelling the strong, mixed aromas of food, alcohol, and cooking fumes in the air, a huge sense of exhaustion instantly overwhelmed him.

"Never mind." He rubbed his throbbing temples. "Let's talk about it tomorrow."

He didn't even bother to turn off the lights. Dragging his heavy steps back to the main bedroom, he collapsed onto the cold kang (heated brick bed) without even taking off his clothes. The strong effects of the alcohol and the drowsiness after a hearty meal enveloped and overwhelmed him instantly, like two thick quilts.