Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

The atmosphere eased again. Wang Xiulan glanced at the sky, stood up, and said, "We've been so busy talking that it's almost dark. Fengzi must be hungry after rushing back. I'll go cook now. We'll have a good meal tonight to welcome you back and celebrate your safe return." She then said to Wei Ran, "Ranran, come help Mom start the fire."

"Yes!" Wei Ran obediently responded and followed her mother to the kitchen.

Wei Chen and Wei Feng chatted about the factory. Wei Feng was an apprentice fitter in the second workshop of the steel rolling mill. The work was hard, but he was diligent and eager to learn, and his master had a good impression of him. He talked on and on about the interesting things that happened in the workshop, which master craftsman was skilled, which coworker loved to boast, how happy everyone was on payday... Although he had only been working for a short time, Wei Feng got along well with his coworkers, and his words were full of appreciation for his job and anticipation for the future.

Wei Chen listened patiently, occasionally asking questions and offering work-related advice. He knew that for a rural youth like Wei Feng, being able to go to the city and work in a factory, securing a stable job, was a tremendous opportunity and a crucial step in changing his destiny. Helping him was not only a favor to his relative, but also meant having another reliable ally in the factory.

As dusk fell, the sounds of pots and pans clattering and the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen. Wang Xiulan worked quickly and efficiently, preparing dinner in no time. She had made a particularly lavish meal today because Wei Feng was coming back.

The meal was served: a steaming bowl of thick, fragrant millet porridge, a large bowl of stew made with pork from Wei Chen's pig (it's cold now, so a big pot is used to heat up a bowl for each meal), and most importantly—Wang Xiulan took out half a braised pork recipe covered with a bowl from the cupboard! Wei Chen had made this before the New Year, and his family has been heating it up every day during the holiday.

At this moment, the meat was reheated, glistening with oil and reddish-brown, and its aroma was irresistible. Wang Xiulan sliced ​​it into evenly thick pieces, adding most of it to the stew to simmer together, so that every bite of the stew was infused with the rich flavor of the meat broth. Only a few of the fattest and leanest slices were reserved and placed separately on a small plate. In addition, there was a large plate of warmed white steamed buns, eight of them, each one soft and fluffy.

"Come on, Fengzi, sit down and eat while it's hot!" Wang Xiulan greeted him warmly, serving Wei Feng a full bowl of thick, golden millet porridge.

Looking at the hearty meal on the table, especially the glistening, reddish-brown slices of meat and the snow-white steamed buns, Wei Feng's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. Back home, even during the New Year, it was rare to see such a substantial meal of oily food and white flour. He felt a little embarrassed: "Second Aunt, this...this is too much of a waste. I can eat at the factory canteen..."

"Don't waste any money! You've come all this way back, how could I let you go hungry?" Wang Xiulan said without waiting for a reply, picking up two slices of lean and fatty meat and placing them in Wei Feng's bowl. "Try it, this meat was cooked by your brother Chen before the New Year, it's so delicious! Eat more, you work hard at the factory, you need to nourish yourself!"

Wei Ran picked up a steamed bun and handed it to Wei Feng: "Brother Feng, here's a steamed bun for you! My mom's steamed buns are so delicious!"

Wei Chen smiled and placed a piece of stew soaked in meat juice on Wei Feng's plate: "Brother Feng, don't be shy, make yourself at home. Eat up."

Wei Feng didn't refuse any longer. He thanked them, picked up the bowl, and first took a big gulp of millet porridge. The porridge was cooked just right, with rice oil rendered out, warming and comforting his stomach. Then he took a bite of the steamed bun; it was soft, sweet, and had a long-lost pure wheat aroma. Finally, he put a piece of meat along with some vegetables soaked in broth into his mouth.

In an instant, the rich aroma of meat, the mellow fragrance of soy sauce, the sweetness of vegetables, and the savory flavor of broth exploded in his mouth, blending with the firm texture of the steamed bun to create an indescribable sense of satisfaction. Wei Feng almost instinctively quickened his chewing pace, his face revealing undisguised enjoyment and happiness.

"Mmm! Delicious! So delicious!" he exclaimed indistinctly. "Second Aunt, your cooking is amazing! This stew is ten times more fragrant than the gravy in our factory canteen!"

Wang Xiulan couldn't stop smiling: "It's not my cooking, it's all done by your brother Chen. I'm just helping out now. I don't know who Chen learned it from, but he's really good at cooking."

Wei Chen laughed and said, "Just something I was thinking. If Brother Feng likes it, eat more. There's still some meat left; I'll reheat it tomorrow."

Wei Feng nodded repeatedly, took another big bite of the steamed bun, and ate it with the fragrant stew until sweat beaded on his forehead, thoroughly enjoying himself. At that moment, the fatigue of the journey and the worries about the situation back home seemed to be temporarily dispelled by this warm and hearty meal. This was the taste of home, the taste he often missed on his cold bed in the dormitory.

The meal was eaten in great enthusiasm. Wei Feng had a very good appetite, eating three large steamed buns and drinking two bowls of porridge. He even devoured all the meat slices and fried tofu in the stew. Wang Xiulan and Wei Chen kept putting food on his plate, while Wei Ran chattered excitedly about the fun she had during the New Year and her trip to the park the day before. The room was filled with a long-lost liveliness and warmth.

After dinner, Wei Ran offered to help clear the table. Wei Feng insisted on washing the dishes, but Wang Xiulan stopped him, saying, "You should rest. You've been traveling all day and must be exhausted. Let Ranran do it; there aren't many dishes."

The three sat back down by the stove, drinking tea brewed by Wei Chen. The tea leaves were from the game world; the family didn't know much about tea, but they just thought it tasted good. The warm orange glow of the fire illuminated everyone's faces.

"Second Aunt, Brother Chen," Wei Feng said, holding his teacup. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "There's something I don't know if I should say... I think our courtyard and the alley seem... not as difficult as our hometown? At least, we can still celebrate the New Year properly."

Wang Xiulan sighed, "The city is a bit better than the countryside; there's a ration of grain and wages. But every family is still struggling, and we have to be careful with our money. Our courtyard... it's only this year that things are a little better because Chen'er was able to get some things. You haven't seen how difficult it was in previous years."

Wei Chen chimed in, "Brother Feng, there are indeed difficulties in the city. But generally speaking, workers have a fixed food ration, so they are more resilient to risks than farmers who rely on the weather. But this year, no one is having an easy time, and food is precious. While you're at the factory, try to be careful, don't flaunt your wealth, and help your fellow workers when you can, but don't be a sucker."

Wei Feng nodded earnestly: "I'll remember that, Brother Chen. My master often tells me that in the factory, talk less, work more, keep your hands steady, and keep your mouth shut."

After chatting for a while, seeing that it was getting late, and that Wei Feng was going back to the factory to resume work the next day, and Wei Chen was going to start a new year's work, Wang Xiulan urged everyone to get some rest.

Wei Feng returned to the west room of the main house. Ever since he came to work in Beijing, his second aunt had cleaned up this room so that he could come back and stay whenever he had time. The room was simply furnished, but it was clean and tidy. The bedding and blankets had been aired out by Wang Xiulan in advance; they were fluffy, soft, and smelled of sunshine.

He closed the door, shutting out all outside noise. The room was quiet, save for the occasional crackling of the stove. Wei Feng took off his coat, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked around his small but private space. Compared to the cramped eight-person dormitory in the factory, this was paradise. Clean, quiet, and warm.

He thought of the low, dilapidated mud-brick house in his hometown, drafty in winter and sweltering in summer; he thought of the mingled smells of sweat, foot odor, and snoring in the dormitory; and then he compared it to the neat east wing that his cousin Weichen had bought, with its spacious rooms, separate kitchen, and even a small courtyard to move around in… A complex mix of emotions welled up in his heart. There was envy, gratitude, and also anticipation for his own future, along with a touch of anxiety.

"Brother Chen is really capable..." he murmured softly. When Wei Chen decided to buy this land and house, he heard that some people were saying behind his back that he was making a fuss over nothing, and that waiting for the housing allocation would be better. But now it seems that Wei Chen's vision and courage are unmatched by anyone in the compound. Who wouldn't envy how well this compound is managed!

"Waiting for the factory to allocate housing, who knows when that will be..." Wei Feng lay down, staring at the dark roof beams, pondering to himself.

He has a rural household registration, and although he got a job as a worker in the city, it's very difficult for him to get a house in the factory. Apprentices earn low wages and aren't eligible to apply. If he could become a permanent employee, there might be some hope, but that would be a long way off. If only... if only he could be like Chen Di, even if it was just saving up to rent a private room like this, instead of having to squeeze into a shared dormitory, how wonderful that would be.

The thought, once it took hold, was like a seed planted in his heart. He knew it would be difficult, but he was young, strong, and willing to work hard, and now he had a stable job. As long as he worked hard, there was still hope. His younger brother Chen had managed to build his business from scratch; if he learned from him, he would eventually have a chance.

Faint sounds of firecrackers drifted in from outside the window; some children were probably still playing with leftover firecrackers. Wei Feng rolled over in his warm bed, listening to the distant, indistinct sounds, smelling the sun-dried scent of the bedding, thinking of his family back home, his work at the factory, and the possibilities of the future, before slowly drifting off to sleep. In his dream, he seemed to have his own warm little house.

In the main room of the east courtyard, the fire in the stove was gradually dying down. Wang Xiulan checked the doors and windows, added the last piece of coal to the stove, and prepared to rest. She walked to her son's room and heard the faint sound of turning pages inside. She said softly, "Chen'er, go to sleep early. Don't read, it'll strain your eyes."

"Okay, Mom, I'll go to sleep now," Wei Chen replied.

Wang Xiulan returned to her room and lay down on the warm kang (a heated brick bed), but couldn't fall asleep. The news from her hometown brought by her nephew Weifeng weighed heavily on her heart.

My eldest brother, my third brother, and the villagers—I don't know if they can survive this spring famine… Fortunately, my son is doing well; he not only helped his wife and daughter establish themselves in the city but also helped support our hometown.

Finally, there was hope. Gazing at the blurry rooftop in the darkness, she silently prayed: "God, please bless everyone back home with peace and safety, bless Chen'er with a successful job, and bless Ranran with healthy growth..."

As night deepened, the courtyard fell completely silent. The year-end, a time of transition between the old and new, was drawing to a close, and tomorrow, the gears of life would begin to turn again. But on this ordinary night, the lights in the east wing were warm, and people felt at peace, with a mixture of worry and hope for the future.