Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

After Wei Ran finished washing the dishes, Wang Xiulan urged her daughter, "Ran, have you finished your homework? If not, hurry up and finish it. Once you're done, wash up and go to bed early, you have school tomorrow."

"Okay!" Wei Ran replied obediently. Knowing that her mother and brother had something to talk about, she took her schoolbag and went into the inner room.

The main room fell silent, leaving only the mother and son. The dim light of the kerosene lamp cast long shadows on them. The occasional soft crackling of the coal in the stove further emphasized the tranquility of the night.

Wang Xiulan picked up her sewing basket and, by the light of the lamp, began mending an old shirt belonging to Wei Chen, her stitches fine and even. Wei Chen didn't speak immediately; instead, he picked up the thermos, refilled his mother's enamel mug with hot water, and poured himself a cup. The rising steam slowly ascended.

"Mom," Wei Chen took a sip of water, breaking the silence, his voice lower than before, "besides what I just mentioned, there are other rewards from the factory."

Wang Xiulan paused in her sewing, looked up at her son, and asked, "Anything else? What else? Did you win an enamel mug or a towel?" In her mind, the most she could win was some practical items.

Wei Chen put down his cup, looked directly into his mother's eyes, and slowly said, "The factory... also gave me a permanent position in the steel rolling mill."

"Clatter".

Wang Xiulan dropped the needle and thread from her hand into the basket. She seemed not to have heard clearly, or perhaps she had heard but couldn't understand, staring blankly at her son: "Wh...what? A permanent...position?"

"Yes." Wei Chen's voice was clear. "It's a formal employee position at the steel rolling mill, a secure job, with guaranteed food rations and all the benefits of regular employees. The factory specially approved it for me, as... an extra bonus."

Wang Xiulan opened her mouth, but remained silent for a long time. Of course, she knew what "permanent employment quota" meant. How many young people in the city were unemployed at home, eagerly waiting for a job opportunity? Not to mention anyone else, Yan Jiecheng from the third uncle's house in the front yard was almost 21 years old, and he was also doing odd jobs outside, but he had never had a job.

How many people in rural areas desperately want to escape rural life and secure a government job? A permanent position in a large state-owned factory can change the fate of an individual, or even an entire family!

It is an opportunity that countless people would fight tooth and nail for, pull every string they could, and spend all their savings to obtain! It represents more than just a fixed monthly salary and food stamps; it represents dignity, security, urban status, and a possible future for one's descendants!

"The factory... just like that... gave it to you?" Wang Xiulan's voice was dry and trembling with disbelief. She even subconsciously glanced around, as if afraid someone would overhear.

"Yes." Wei Chen nodded, then provided even more startling information, "And there's more than one."

Wang Xiulan froze completely, not even noticing the fabric slipping from her hand. "No...more than one?"

Wei Chen took out a folded kraft paper envelope from his pocket (actually from his spatial storage), without opening it, but gently placed it on the table and pushed it in front of his mother: "Deputy Factory Director Li... gave me another one privately. There are two in total."

"Two..." Wang Xiulan's gaze was fixed on the ordinary kraft paper envelope, as if it contained burning coals that could scald people, or as if it were a treasure that could illuminate everything.

Her breathing quickened, her chest heaving slightly. The immense shock left her speechless for a moment, her mind a jumbled mess. Two permanent positions! This…this was like a windfall falling into her lap! No, not just a windfall, but a mountain of gold!

After a long while, she slowly raised her head and looked at her son. Under the lamplight, her son's face still had the sharp features of a young man, but his eyes were so steady that even she, as his mother, felt a pang of admiration. She suddenly realized that her son was no longer the boy who needed her protection; he had grown into a man capable of supporting his family and even managing to acquire such astonishing resources.

"Chen'er..." Wang Xiulan's voice was a little hoarse, "This...this thing is too precious! You must keep it safe! Don't let anyone know!" Her first reaction was worry, fearing that this unexpected blessing would bring disaster.

"Mom, I know. I haven't told anyone except you, not even Xiaoran." Wei Chen held his mother's cold hand, trying to convey some warmth. "This thing is what the factory and Deputy Director Li valued me for, and it's what I got in exchange for those 20,000-plus jin of meat. It belongs to our family now, and we'll discuss how to use it."

Wang Xiulan gripped her son's hand tightly, nodding vigorously. Her initial shock gradually subsided, replaced by a heavy sense of responsibility and indescribable excitement. Two spots! What did this mean? It meant that besides her son, the family could have two more workers! It meant that the Wei family had truly settled down in the city, no longer rootless drifters!

"Chen'er," Wang Xiulan took a deep breath, her gaze becoming firm yet gentle, "What do you plan to do with this?" She didn't ask her son how he had received such a generous gift from Deputy Factory Director Li; she trusted that her son knew how to act. She was only concerned with how to use these two life-changing opportunities.

Wei Chen looked at his mother and said earnestly, "Mom, you're the first person I thought of."

"Me?" Wang Xiulan was taken aback.

"Yes." Wei Chen said sincerely, "You've worked hard for most of your life, raising me and bringing my sister to the city with you. You haven't had many good days. Now that we have this opportunity, if you're willing, you can go work at the steel rolling mill."

No need to go to the factory. I'll try to find an easy job in logistics, the warehouse, or a daycare center. There's a fixed monthly salary, food coupons, oil coupons, and cloth coupons; you'll be sheltered from the wind and rain, and you'll have a pension when you get old. You should enjoy your retirement.

Wei Chen spoke slowly, each word clear and forceful. He genuinely hoped his mother could have a stable and respectable future. His family wasn't short of money or food, but the sense of honor of the working class in this era was irreplaceable.

Wang Xiulan listened quietly, her eyes swirling with complex emotions. There was gratitude, relief, and satisfaction at her son's filial piety, but above all, there was a clarity and determination that had been tempered by the years.

After Wei Chen finished speaking, she didn't answer immediately. Instead, she lowered her head, picked up the unfinished shirt, and continued sewing, stitch by stitch. The light cast her profile on the wall, making her appear exceptionally serene.

After a long pause, she slowly spoke, her voice low but each word clear: "Chen'er, I'm content with your kindness, more content than if you gave me mountains of gold and silver." She raised her head, looking at her son with gentle yet firm eyes, "But I can't accept this spot."

"Mom..." Wei Chen wanted to say something.

Wang Xiulan raised her hand to stop him and continued, "Listen to your mother. First, I'm a country woman. I've spent half my life working the land and never had much schooling. I can't read many characters."

"How big is that steel rolling mill? It has lots of rules, and all sorts of people. If Mom goes there, she won't know anything. What if she says or does something wrong? Wouldn't that embarrass you and hold you back? You just got an award and were promoted; so many people are watching. Mom can't go and cause you any trouble."

She stopped sewing and looked out at the deep night, as if reflecting on the path she had walked: "Secondly, you're not young anymore. After the New Year... you should start thinking about settling down. Getting married, having children, all these things require an elder in the family to take care of them."

"If Mom also goes to the factory, working every day, who will take care of the family? Who will cook and do laundry for you? Who will help take care of the children when you have them? You're busy with work, and your future wife... she might also have a job. Wouldn't this family fall apart?"

She turned back to look at her son, her eyes filled with love, but also with unwavering determination: "Third, and most importantly, Chen'er, does our family still need my twenty or thirty yuan a month?"

She's not stupid; she just trusts her son and doesn't ask too many questions! The food and supplies her son brings home each month sometimes exceed his salary, not to mention that he doesn't spend his salary at all; he puts it all into her account every month!

She paused, her voice softening, yet revealing a worldly wisdom: "You earn sixty-two yuan a month now, which is equivalent to the salary of two or three workers. You're also capable, able to procure some rare delicacies from time to time. Our family has no worries about food and clothing now, and we even have some money left over."

Mom's biggest wish now isn't to go back to the factory to earn that wage, toil away, and put up with other people's attitudes. Mom's wish is to take good care of our family, raise your sister well, and wait for you to get married and have children, so that our family can live a peaceful and harmonious life. Protecting this home for you, so you can venture out into the world without worries—that's Mom's greatest duty now, and it's more important than anything else.

Her words were reasonable and insightful, taking into account reality while also conveying a mother's deepest love and plans for her son and family.

Wei Chen fell silent. He realized he had underestimated his mother's wisdom and foresight. His mother was not a narrow-minded peasant woman; she could see the situation clearly, knew how to weigh the pros and cons, and understood what was the best choice for the family and for her son.

"Mom..." Wei Chen's throat tightened a little, "You've worked hard your whole life, I just want you to relax a bit."

"Mom isn't tired at all." Wang Xiulan smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes blooming like chrysanthemums. "Seeing you succeed, seeing Xiaoran be sensible, seeing our family's life getting better day by day, Mom's heart is sweeter than honey, and I'm full of energy! Staying in our own yard, planting vegetables, cooking, sewing and mending, waiting for you to come back, this is the life Mom wants most, the happiness I enjoy the most."

She picked up her needle and thread again, her tone softening: "So, Mom doesn't want this spot. Give it to someone who needs it more, or use it where it's more appropriate."

Wei Chen knew his mother had made up her mind, and further persuasion would be futile. A bittersweet feeling welled up inside him, ultimately transforming into deep respect and a sense of relief. Yes, his mother was right. A stable, warm, and welcoming home was the strongest support he could rely on in his adventures. His mother staying home and taking care of everything was her greatest support for him.