Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Upon hearing this, the expressions on the three old men's faces instantly became quite interesting!

The small eyes of the third uncle, Yan Bugui, hidden behind thick glasses, suddenly flashed with an undisguised glint!

Meat! Roe deer meat! And it's being cooked by Sha Zhu himself! This is like a windfall! His mind is already racing, calculating how much food this meal will save his family and how many days the oil and fat will last.

Her face immediately broke into an extremely enthusiastic smile, and she rushed to speak: "Oh! Wei Chen! You're too kind! You're too sensible! Inviting us to dinner? How could we possibly accept that..." She said this, but her tone and expression clearly showed that she was afraid Wei Chen would change his mind.

"I'm free! Of course I'm free!" Uncle Liu Haizhong's reaction was quick. His chubby face immediately broke into a big smile, and his voice was loud and clear, carrying a sense of satisfaction that "it's only natural for a leader to be invited by his subordinates."

He puffed out his belly, feeling that he clearly held a lot of importance in Wei Chen's heart, otherwise why would he have specially invited three old men?

This Wei Chen is sensible! He knows the rules! He knows how to respect his superiors! His gaze towards Wei Chen was full of approval. "Comrade Wei Chen has high awareness and this kind of heart; we, as his elders, must support and encourage him!"

The reaction of the elderly man, Yi Zhonghai, was much more profound. He also had a gentle smile on his face, but a hint of scrutiny and contemplation flashed in his eyes.

Inviting him to dinner? Especially at this sensitive time? And with the meat the neighborhood committee just gave him as a token of goodwill? Is this guy trying to curry favor? Or is he trying to probe his intentions?

His mind raced, but his face remained impassive. He simply nodded slowly, his smile warm: "Wei Chen, you're too kind. It's only right for neighbors to look after each other. You've just arrived, so you should get to know the place better. Okay, I'll come over with Lao Liu and Lao Yan tonight." He specifically mentioned that the three of them would be going together, emphasizing "neighbors" and "familiarity," subtly diluting any "special meaning" the meal might carry.

"That's great! Thank you for coming, gentlemen!" Wei Chen smiled sincerely. "Then it's settled, we'll stay at Brother Zhu's house tonight. I'll go back and pack up first, then come over later."

Watching Wei Chen turn and walk back into the courtyard, the three old men exchanged glances, each with their own thoughts.

Yan Bugui rubbed his hands together, already thinking about how to eat more meat that night, and hopefully take some home with him. Liu Haizhong was smug, feeling that Wei Chen was signaling his willingness to get closer to him, and was planning how to give Wei Chen some "guidance" on how to improve himself at the dinner table.

Yi Zhonghai stared in the direction Wei Chen had disappeared, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. This meal was probably not as simple as it seemed. This kid wasn't as innocent as he appeared.

As dusk settled, smoke rose from every household in the courtyard, mingling with the aromas of various dishes, some strong, some faint. The aroma emanating from He Yuzhu's house in the central courtyard was the most overpowering and alluring.

The small room of Sha Zhu was brightly lit at this moment, with the door and windows wide open. The rich aroma, a mixture of oil, spices and meat, wafted out as if it were a tangible thing, domineeringly invading the air of the entire courtyard.

The aroma is distinct, with the caramelized fragrance of oil stir-frying at high temperatures, the pungent aroma of scallions, ginger, and garlic released by hot oil, the savory aroma of soy sauce and sugar, and the rich, mellow meaty aroma of roe deer meat itself, which has a touch of wildness!

The faint scent seeped into the nasal cavity of everyone who passed by, causing countless people to stop, inhale, and swallow, before leaving with expressions of envy and craving.

"Sizzle—!" Another loud pop of hot oil came from inside the house, accompanied by Sha Zhu's signature loud voice shouting, "Wei Chen! Bring out the dishes! Stir-fried pork with green peppers, all ready!"

Wei Chen rushed out of the house at the sound of his voice, carrying a large, steaming, and glistening bowl. Inside, thinly sliced, dark brown meat, coated in a glistening sauce, was intertwined with bright green chili peppers, white garlic slices, and dark red dried chilies. The colors were striking, and the rich aroma was irresistible, making one's mouth water!

He carefully placed the generously portioned dish in the center of the makeshift, gleaming octagonal table.

Several plates were already laid out on the table: a plate of golden, tempting, fluffy, and tender scrambled eggs with scallions, clearly made with plenty of oil, the eggs were cooked to perfection, and the aroma was irresistible—this was the "heartfelt gift" brought by Uncle Liu Haizhong.

A plate of bright green stir-fried bok choy, fresh and crisp, seasoned only with a touch of salt and minced garlic, refreshing and not greasy—this was bought by Sha Zhu with the money Wei Chen gave him.

There was also a large bowl of steaming, milky-white bok choy and tofu soup, topped with specks of oil and bright green scallions. A small dish of finely chopped pickled vegetables drizzled with sesame oil was also served. The main dish was a large basket full of steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat and water, exuding a wonderful aroma.

The small octagonal table was filled with these dishes. Although it could not be called luxurious, in this era, especially in the courtyard where ordinary workers lived, this table had meat, vegetables, soup and staple food. In particular, the two large plates of meat dishes were substantial and oily, which could be described as extremely abundant!

"Great! Zhu Zi's cooking skills are truly superb!" Liu Haizhong was the first to step across the threshold. His voice preceded his arrival. With his belly protruding, he sniffed and stared at the dishes on the table with shining eyes, especially the plate of glistening slices of roe deer with green peppers in the center. He praised it loudly and without reservation. He was carrying a small cloth bag in his hand.

"It smells so good! It smells so good!" Yan Bugui followed closely behind, his eyes wide behind his glasses, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he tried to suppress the urge to pounce on him. He was also holding a plate covered with a cloth.

Yi Zhonghai was the last to enter, his face bearing his usual gentle smile. His gaze swept steadily across the table before finally settling on Wei Chen. He nodded approvingly, "Wei Chen, thank you for spending the money. Zhu Zi's dishes look authentic." He was carrying two bottles of baijiu (Chinese liquor) tied with paper twine, their labels worn and visible as the common "Erguotou" liquor.

"Please, gentlemen, have a seat!" Wei Chen hurriedly greeted them, taking the wine from Yi Zhonghai's hand. "You're too kind, sir, to bring wine with you."

"How can you have a feast without wine?" Yi Zhonghai said with a smile, sitting down naturally in the main seat facing the door. Liu Haizhong immediately sat down next to him on his right, while Yan Bugui sat to Yi Zhonghai's left. Wei Chen and Sha Zhu, who came in last with two bowls of rice, sat at the lower end of the table.

"Come on, Uncle Er, Uncle San, put up the dishes you brought too." Sha Zhu put down his rice bowl and greeted them warmly.

Liu Haizhong then remembered the dishes he had brought. He quickly brought out a plate of scrambled eggs that were also golden, but not nearly as oily as the plate on the table. He placed it on the table with some pride: "My wife at home makes these, they can't compare to Zhu Zi's cooking. I'll add another dish, I'll add another dish!" The plate of eggs he brought was smaller in portion and had less oil. The eggs were overcooked and darker in color, which was in stark contrast to the plate of eggs that Sha Zhu had made on the table.

Yan Bugui quickly lifted the lid of the plate he had brought. Inside was half a plate of... cucumber salad? The cucumbers were thinly sliced, wilted, and sprinkled with only a few bits of minced garlic and salt, without a trace of oil. "Grown in my own yard, fresh, refreshing, refreshing!" He smiled somewhat awkwardly, clearly feeling it wasn't quite presentable, but even a small amount was still a dish.

Looking at the wine and dishes that the first and second uncles brought, and then at his own cucumber salad, the third uncle, Yan Bugui, blushed for once and said, "Wei Chen, your third uncle's family... well... isn't as well-off as your first and second uncles. My salary alone has to support a family of six. Your third uncle's family is struggling to make ends meet, so I'm sorry!"

If Wei Chen hadn't watched the TV series, he would have been completely captivated by the third uncle's acting skills; the tears just flowed so easily! Wei Chen didn't bother to argue, saying, "It's already a great honor that the three gentlemen came; what's the point of bringing anything?"

Wei Chen and Sha Zhu both thanked him with smiles. Wei Chen knew perfectly well that this Third Uncle's shrewdness and calculation were truly ingrained in his bones.

"Alright, alright, the dishes are all ready! Let's eat!" Sha Zhu, as the head chef and practically the host, waved his hand generously, grabbing a steamed bun first. "Don't be shy! Try my stir-fried roe deer with green peppers! The meat Wei Chen brought is really fresh!"

His greeting instantly enlivened the atmosphere at the dinner table. But beneath this apparent liveliness, undercurrents were already stirring.

Liu Haizhong was the first to act. He eagerly reached for his chopsticks, clearly aiming for a large slice of roe deer meat coated in sauce, and stuffed it into his mouth. After chewing a couple of times, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed indistinctly, "Mmm! Good! Delicious! Tender! Zhu Zi, your cooking is amazing! The heat is just right! This roe deer meat isn't dry at all, it's tender and flavorful! Delicious!"

As he spoke, he quickly picked up a large piece of meat and raised his glass. Wei Chen had already poured wine for everyone. He said to Wei Chen, "Wei Chen! This meat is good! And the cooking is excellent! Come, let me toast you! Thank you for your hospitality! On behalf of our hospital, I welcome you, this young and promising family member of a martyr!" He spoke as if he were the representative of the entire hospital.

Wei Chen quickly raised his wine glass and said humbly, "Second Uncle, you're too kind. I should be thanking the three gentlemen for their future care. I toast you!" The two clinked glasses, and Liu Haizhong drank it all in one gulp, appearing incredibly hearty.

Yan Bugui adopted a "steady, accurate, and ruthless" tactic. Unlike Liu Haizhong, he wasn't boisterous, but his chopsticks moved with remarkable speed and frequency. He first picked up a small piece of the cucumber salad he had brought, then his chopsticks landed precisely on the plate of oily scrambled eggs with scallions, grabbing a large chunk. He then quickly reached for the roe deer meat slices, steadily picking up two pieces, then swiftly added a piece of bok choy on top, before finally stuffing it into his mouth. He chewed slowly, a look of extreme satisfaction on his face.

The whole process was quick and efficient. His mouth was full, but he still managed to mumble a compliment: "Hmm... good... Zhu Zi's cooking... impeccable... Wei Chen's meat... authentic..." He rarely raised his glass, only taking a small sip when others offered a toast, saving time to eat more of the food.