Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Wei Chen ignored all of this and led Wei Feng straight into the east courtyard. Entering the courtyard felt like entering another world. Although the courtyard wasn't small, it was spotless and tidy, with a few hardy plants in the corner still radiating green. The windows of the main house were sparkling clean, letting in warm light.

Hearing the commotion, Wang Xiulan and Wei Ran came out to greet them.

"Fengzi's here! Come in, come in!" Wang Xiulan said with a smile, and stepped forward to take the net bag from Wei Feng's hand, which contained his change of clothes and toiletries.

"Second Aunt, I can do it myself, I can do it myself!" Wei Feng quickly stepped aside, embarrassed to let his aunt do it.

"Brother!" Wei Ran called out sweetly, curiously looking at her cousin who had become somewhat different.

"Auntie, Ranran." Wei Feng smiled warmly and walked into the house. Although this wasn't his first time here, stepping into this clean, warm, and lively courtyard and house again still gave him a sense of awe and peace.

Compared to the dark and dilapidated mud-brick house back home, this place was simply paradise. A secluded courtyard, quiet and peaceful; the house bright and clean; his aunt and cousin warm and welcoming. All of this was earned by his cousin Wei Chen. His gratitude and admiration for Wei Chen deepened even further.

"Are you tired? Sit down and rest, have some water." Wang Xiulan hurriedly poured water for Wei Feng, and then said to Wei Chen, "Chen'er, take your brother to the west room of the main house. I've already made the bed."

Wei Chen led Wei Feng to the west room of the main house. This room was originally a complete room with a bed and a table, but it was usually filled with miscellaneous items since no one lived there. Now, Wang Xiulan had carefully tidied it up, and there was a large bed, a desk, and a chair.

The bed was covered with clean bedding, though it was worn, it was washed until it was almost white and smelled of sunshine. The windows had also been wiped clean, and the afternoon sun shone in, making it feel warm and cozy.

"Brother Feng, this is your room from now on. If you don't get enough rest in the factory dormitory, come back here. Even if you don't go home on Sundays, come back here!" Wei Chen said.

Looking at the tidy room, Wei Feng's eyes stung. From childhood to adulthood, he had always shared a kang (a heated brick bed) with his younger brother, never imagining he would have his own room. "Chenzi, Aunt... this... this is wonderful! I... I really don't know what to say..." He rubbed his hands, so excited he was almost incoherent.

"We're family, don't be so formal," Wang Xiulan interrupted him with a smile. "Just stay here and relax. It's close to work, and it's convenient to come home for meals. If you need anything, just tell your second aunt."

"Sigh!" Wei Feng nodded heavily, a warm feeling welling up inside him. This affection and care were more precious than anything else.

After settling her luggage, Wang Xiulan began preparing dinner. To welcome Wei Feng, she specially made several good dishes: a plate of scrambled eggs with scallions, golden and glistening; a bowl of stewed cabbage and tofu, with a few slices of cured meat; the staple food was steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat and water, and she also cooked a pot of thick corn porridge. This would normally be a very sumptuous meal.

The food was served, its aroma filling the air. The four sat around the table, the dim lighting creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. Wang Xiulan kept putting food on Wei Feng's plate: "Fengzi, eat more. Working at the factory is tiring; you need to eat well. Look at you, you seem to have lost weight in just one week."

"Auntie, I haven't lost weight, I actually feel stronger!" Wei Feng said, his mouth full of steamed buns, his words muffled. "The food in the factory canteen is pretty good, more oily than at home. It's just... it's just not as good as your cooking, Auntie!" He added with a sheepish grin.

One sentence made everyone laugh. Wei Ran chattered on and on about what was happening at the factory, and Wei Feng was happy to share his new experiences with his lively younger sister. Although it was all about the workshop, machines, masters, and coworkers, Wei Ran listened with great interest.

At the dinner table, Wei Chen briefly inquired about Wei Feng's situation over the past week and gave him some reminders, such as being observant, diligent, and talkative when learning from his master, but not too talkative; being honest with his coworkers but not naively honest; and being able to come back and discuss problems if he couldn't solve them. Wei Feng carefully noted down all of these points.

This heartwarming scene stood in stark contrast to the atmosphere of envy, jealousy, or disappointment among the other families in the courtyard.

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of the courtyard: Wei Chen's cousin, Wei Feng, had officially started working at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill and become a regular worker. He even moved into Wei Chen's house tonight, and it seemed he was going to stay permanently.

The last glimmer of hope was extinguished by this undeniable fact. Those who had once harbored illusions and tried to "get a share" from Wei Chen were now left only with bitterness and resigned acceptance of their fate.

The atmosphere at the Jia family home was oppressive. Dinner was, as usual, thin porridge and pickled vegetables. Jia Dongxu ate his porridge in silence, his face gloomy. While feeding him corn cobs, Jia Zhangshi muttered rudely, "Hmph, what's so great about him! He's just an apprentice, and from the countryside no less! Let's see how long he lasts! What's he so smug about!"

Qin Huairu ate her food silently, without saying a word. She recalled seeing Wei Feng by the pool that afternoon—that radiant, hopeful energy that came from someone with a stable job, something her husband Jia Dongxu had long since lost, something she desperately longed for yet could never attain. She stole a glance at her husband, who was engrossed in his porridge, a bitter feeling rising in her heart. As for Uncle Yi, there was probably little hope left.

Sure enough, not long after, Yi Zhonghai strolled into the Jia family home with his hands behind his back. Jia Dongxu, as if seeing a savior, quickly stood up: "Master, you've arrived? Have you eaten? Would you like some…?"

"I've already eaten." Yi Zhonghai waved his hand, sat down on the stool, sighed, and showed a regretful and helpless expression on his face. "Dongxu, I've asked Wei Chen about the matter you asked me to handle."

Jia Dongxu's heart jumped, and he looked nervously at Yi Zhonghai: "Master, what...what did he say?"

Qin Huairu also stopped what she was doing and pricked up her ears.

Yi Zhonghai shook his head and sighed, "Sigh, that kid... he's really stubborn. He said there's only one spot, and it's already been used by his cousin. All the procedures are done, and the factory has it registered. It can't be changed."

He also said that he was just a low-level clerk and had no authority to assign work. I tried to reason with him, saying that the neighbors in the courtyard were in trouble and that we should help each other, but he... wouldn't listen to reason. He perfectly expressed a sense of regret that he had "tried his best but there was nothing he could do" and a hint of dissatisfaction with Wei Chen for "disregarding neighborly relations".

The light in Jia Dongxu's eyes dimmed instantly, and he plopped back down on the stool, remaining silent for a long time. Although he had expected it, hearing the confirmation with his own ears still felt like being doused with cold water.

"Master... I'm so sorry to have troubled you..." Jia Dongxu's voice was hoarse. What else could he say? Blame his master for not trying his best? Yi Zhonghai had indeed gone to inquire. Blame Wei Chen for not giving him face? Wei Chen had a valid reason; giving the spot to a relative was perfectly reasonable.

"Dongxu, don't be too discouraged." Yi Zhonghai patted his shoulder and said in a comforting tone, "You just missed the opportunity this time. You're still young, work hard at the factory, try to get promoted as soon as possible, and with a higher salary, your family will be better off. As for Huairu... we'll think of a way later, see if there are any temporary jobs in the neighborhood. Life has to go on." He said this in a grand and respectable way, both comforting Jia Dongxu and hinting at future "hope," while casually attributing the Jia family's predicament to "missing the opportunity" and "thinking of a way later."

Jia Dongxu nodded blankly. Advancement? Easier said than done. He'd been stuck at level one for years, his skills hadn't improved, and his interpersonal relationships were so-so. Temporary street worker? Those were all tiring, low-paying, and unstable jobs.

Yi Zhonghai offered a few more words of comfort before getting up and leaving. As he walked out of the Jia family's house, with his back to the dim light, the regret and helplessness on Yi Zhonghai's face slowly faded, replaced by a barely perceptible sense of relief and satisfaction.

It's good that it didn't work out. The Jia family still needs his support, and Jia Dongxu still needs to rely on his mentor. If Qin Huairu can't change her household registration, she will always be the Jia family's "weak link," needing to depend on the help provided by Yi Zhonghai.

This sense of control, this feeling of being needed and respected, is what he truly values. As for the Jia family's difficulties? In his view, as long as they don't starve, a little hardship is good, because it makes them easier to manage.

On the other side of the Intermediate People's Court, at Liu Haizhong's home, Liu Haizhong was drinking alone, while his second aunt scolded her second son, Liu Guangtian: "Look at him! They're both unemployed, but Wei Chen managed to get his cousin from the countryside into a steel mill! And you? All you do is wander around aimlessly! Your dad's the second oldest in the neighborhood, what good is he!"

Liu Guangtian retorted defiantly, "How can you blame me? Wei Chen is capable! My dad..."

"Shut up!" Liu Haizhong slammed his hand on the table, making the wine cup jump. His fat face was flushed, whether from the alcohol or anger, it was hard to tell. "You still have the nerve to talk! I've raised you for nothing! Starting tomorrow, you're going to line up on the street! If you still can't find work, I'll break your legs!" He vented all the anger he had suffered at Wei Chen's place and his disappointment in his son's lack of ambition.

Liu Guangtian trembled in fright and dared not utter another sound, but a strange resentment arose in his heart towards Wei Feng, whom he had never met before, and even Wei Chen. Why?

In the front yard of the Yan family's house, Yan Bugui listened to the third aunt's rambling about how Wei Feng had moved into the east wing and was now practically a city worker. His heart felt like a spice shop had been overturned, filled with mixed emotions.

He pushed up his glasses and sighed, "Alas, what is destined to be yours will be yours, and what is not, you cannot force. All your scheming and plotting is not as good as having a good relative."

Despite saying that, the sourness in his tone was impossible to hide. He was completely disheartened, but even more convinced that Wei Chen was no ordinary person; he could only befriend him, not offend him. He needed to find a way to secure that meat as soon as possible and maintain the relationship.

As night deepened, the courtyard returned to tranquility. In the east wing, Wei Feng lay on his clean and warm bed, listening to the occasional soft sounds coming from outside the window and smelling the sunshine on the quilt, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

The events of this week are replaying in my mind like a revolving lantern. The huge factory, the roaring machines, the strict supervisors, the unfamiliar coworkers, the food in the canteen, the crowded dormitory... and now, at my cousin's house, my aunt has specially prepared a small space just for me.

It all felt like a dream, yet so real. He knew that all these changes stemmed from his cousin, Wei Chen. He secretly vowed to work hard, master the skills, live up to Chenzi and his aunt's expectations, and establish himself in this city.