Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

The New Year's greetings and visits on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year were somewhat like a carefully rehearsed play, each person harboring their own thoughts, which finally came to a slow end near noon.

In the courtyard, the noise gradually subsided, and the children, with their pockets full of their spoils—a few fruit candies, a few melon seeds, or duds they had found—dispersed contentedly, starting to plan how to enjoy this rare "treasure."

The adults went back to their rooms to prepare lunch or visit each other for a chat. The air was still filled with a faint smell of gunpowder and the aroma of food, but the deliberately created, superficial liveliness and politeness made Wei Chen feel a little tired.

He disliked this kind of insincere socializing, and the calculations, envy, or jealousy hidden behind the smiles. Rather than staying in the courtyard watching people's faces and dealing with greetings that were hard to tell were genuine, he preferred to take his mother and sister out for a walk and truly enjoy this rare holiday and time together as a family.

"Mom, Ranran," Wei Chen said as he entered the house to his mother, who was clearing the dishes, and his younger sister, who was playing with her newly received New Year's money. "We've already paid our New Year's visits this morning. The weather is nice today, so how about we go out for a walk this afternoon? I heard there are some activities in the park, and it looks quite lively. Let's go check it out together."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiulan paused in her work, a mixture of hesitation and longing on her face. She had been in Beijing for over a year, spending her days with her family and children, at most buying things at the nearby cooperative. She had never truly had the time or inclination to explore the city.

Before, we didn't have the means or the inclination—making a living was too much of a struggle. Now that life is better and our son is successful, this suggestion is like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating ripples in our hearts.

"Want to go out... for a walk?" She dried her hands and walked to the window to look at the sky. It was a rare sunny day in winter. Although the sunlight was weak, it had at least dispelled the gloom of the past few days, and the sky had a clear gray-blue color.

"Won't this be...too expensive? I heard the park entrance fee isn't cheap, and transportation costs money too..." Her thrifty habits made her subconsciously consider expenses first.

"Mom, it's Chinese New Year, it's all about having fun," Wei Chen said with a smile. "It won't cost much. You've been in the city for so long, you should go out and see the world. Ranran hasn't had a proper outing in ages, has she?"

Wei Ran had been listening intently for a while, and as soon as she heard that they were going out to play, she jumped up and grabbed Wang Xiulan's arm, shaking it: "Mom! Let's go! I want to go to the park! I heard there's a lake and a rockery in the park, it's so much fun!" The little girl's eyes sparkled with excitement, full of curiosity about the unknown world.

Looking at her daughter's expectant face and then at her son's gentle yet firm gaze, Wang Xiulan's hesitation vanished, replaced by a bittersweet warmth.

Yes, the hard times seem to be really over. My son is capable of giving this family a better life, so why should I cling to the past suffering and refuse to enjoy this hard-won peace?

"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you and go for a walk." Wang Xiulan finally nodded, a relieved smile spreading across her face. "Then I'll change my clothes." After thinking for a moment, she put on the half-new, dark blue cotton-padded jacket, smoothed her hair again, and pinned it with a simple black hair clip.

Wei Chen turned and went into the house. He casually took out a small cloth bag that he had prepared beforehand from the game world cabin. Inside were some change, a few grain coupons, and a little bit of candy and snacks. Everything was ready.

After the family finished lunch, around 1 p.m., the sun was shining brightly and the wind was light. The mother and her two children locked the courtyard gate and left the courtyard.

Red paper scraps from firecrackers lingered in the alley, the air crisp and fresh. Occasionally, neighbors would bump into each other, exchanging New Year's greetings. Seeing a family of three dressed neatly as they went out, they would cast curious or envious glances.

"Wei Chen, taking your mom and sister out?" Yan Bugui, who was pretending to sweep the yard with a broom in the front yard, greeted them with a smile when he saw them, his eyes behind his glasses sweeping over the three of them.

"Yes, Third Uncle, let's go for a walk." Wei Chen replied politely, without stopping.

"Alright, alright, it's time to go out and have some fun! New Year, new look!" Yan Bugui watched them leave, thinking to himself: This Wei family kid is really getting different. He still has the leisure to take his family to the park on the first day of the Lunar New Year. It seems his family is really well-off. Should I ask Jiefang and Jie Kuang to keep in touch with him more often?

Stepping out of the alley and onto the main street, the festive atmosphere immediately enveloped us. Red banners with eye-catching white characters hung on the tree trunks and utility poles along the street: "Happy Spring Festival," "Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China," "Long Live the General Line!" "Long Live the Great Leap Forward!" "Long Live the People's Commune!"

New Spring Festival couplets were pasted on the doors of some government agencies and state-owned stores, and large red lanterns were hung. Some of the lanterns had the words "increase production and save money" written on them, while others had simple pictures of workers, peasants and soldiers.

There were many more pedestrians on the street than usual, most of them dressed in neat or even brand-new clothes, with festive smiles and a refreshed spirit on their faces.

The children, dressed in brightly colored new clothes, were running in the wind with colorful paper windmills in their hands, the windmills spinning with a "whoosh" sound; some were holding up crystal-clear candied hawthorns and licking them with small bites; and some were holding their parents' hands, their eyes fixed on the simple but attractive toys in the hands of roadside vendors—clay figures, bamboo dragonflies, and diabolo.

Occasionally, a person riding a bicycle with a box of snacks or fruit in a net bag hanging from the handlebars would hurry by, leaving behind a string of crisp bell sounds and faint envious glances.

There were quite a few people waiting at the bus stop, forming a small queue. The buses were painted with slogans and propaganda posters, mostly depicting workers, peasants, soldiers, or construction scenes.

Wei Chen helped his mother and sister onto the bus and bought three tickets for six cents. The ticket seller was a loud-voiced, rosy-cheeked woman wearing a faded blue uniform and arm sleeves. She greeted everyone warmly, "Comrades boarding, please move in! Move in! Happy New Year, everyone!"

The carriage was somewhat crowded, filled with the smells of tobacco, face cream, new fabric, and the warmth emanating from people, but the atmosphere was lively.

Some people were talking loudly about the New Year's Eve gala and editorials they had heard on the radio last night; some were boasting about how many meat dishes they had for their New Year's Eve dinner; some women with children were soothing their crying toddlers; and several young workers were arguing about the factory's production targets for the year.

The street scene outside the window kept changing; the gray walls, the red slogans, and the occasional magnificent buildings all filled Wang Xiulan and Wei Ran with a sense of novelty.

Wang Xiulan held Wei Ran's hand tightly, looking nervously at the unfamiliar scenery rushing past the window. Since coming to the city, she had only taken the bus a handful of times, let alone "strolled" around like this without a care in the world.