Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

The hunter's cabin's comfortable temperature makes sleeping a pleasure, free from the sweltering heat and mosquitoes of summer nights, with only the tranquil backdrop of the eternal forest outside the window.

Wei Chen opened his eyes on the large, soft bed, his consciousness quickly pulling him from deep sleep back to full wakefulness. The tranquility unique to the early morning enveloped the space.

He rolled out of bed, stepped onto the thick carpet, and walked to the huge French windows. Outside, a dreamlike forest awoke in the morning light, glistening dewdrops rolling on the leaves—everything was so perfect it seemed unreal. The hustle and bustle and emptiness of the real world were temporarily shut out.

His stomach rumbled at just the right moment. Wei Chen walked to the kitchen area, but instead of turning on the stove, he skillfully used his mind to take out a large pot of rich, fragrant beef soup that had been simmered and sealed in his backpack, as well as a large bag of evenly sliced ​​cooked beef.

These were all carefully prepared by him in the space kitchen a few days ago. Utilizing the time-stopping property of the space backpack, they were still steaming hot and fragrant when taken out, as if they had just been taken off the fire.

He poured half a pot of soup into a soup pot and set the smart stove to low heat. The rich aroma of beef, accompanied by bubbling bubbles, quickly spread, arousing a strong appetite.

He took out several thick, golden-brown sesame seed cakes—he'd stumbled upon them a few days earlier while wandering around Beijing, sold by an old man from a cart; they tasted amazing, and he'd bought over twenty to store in his storage space. Even now, they were still crispy and fragrant.

The beef broth boiled again, and Wei Chen tore the sesame flatbread into small pieces and dropped them into the boiling soup. The flatbread quickly absorbed the amber-colored broth, becoming soft and flavorful.

He then sliced ​​a thick plate of braised beef, weighing more than half a pound, and placed it in the soup bowl. This was his simple yet incredibly hearty breakfast—beef soup with flatbread and large slices of braised beef.

He sat at the bar, eating heartily. The piping hot, fragrant, and rich broth mixed with the broth-soaked flatbread, and then he took a bite of the savory and firm braised beef. A huge sense of satisfaction rose from his stomach, quickly dispelling the last trace of laziness in the morning.

After finishing breakfast and tidying up, Wei Chen changed into a clean and tidy blue work uniform—the "work clothes" of a purchasing agent. He was in the hunter's cabin, his mental energy like invisible tentacles, instantly penetrating the spatial barrier to probe the situation in the dead-end alley outside.

Deep within the alley, all was silent. Only the faint sounds of the city awakening could be heard in the distance: the clanging of the early morning trams, the splashing of water being poured in the courtyard, and the distant, faint whistles of factories. Confirming that no one was approaching this forgotten corner, Wei Chen's mind stirred slightly.

The space shifted, and the familiar dizziness was instantly replaced by the summer heat and the unique mixed smells of the alley. He was still standing in the place where he had disappeared last night, surrounded by piles of construction debris and discarded furniture, covered with a thin layer of morning dew.

He quickly scanned the area to confirm that everything was correct, and then with a slight thought, a Forever brand 28-inch bicycle, gleaming and with a green canvas satchel hanging from the handlebars, appeared out of thin air beside him.

He flipped himself onto the bicycle, the chain making a crisp, light sound. Wei Chen pedaled hard, and the bicycle shot out of the dead end like an arrow, merging into the bustling streets of Beijing that were gradually coming to a head in the early morning.

The steel rolling mill's tall gatehouse stood in the morning light, ushering in workers heading to their early shifts. Wei Chen flashed his brand-new work badge, and the gatekeeper glanced at it before waving him through. He parked his bicycle in the bike shed in front of the office building with practiced ease, locked it, and strode towards the purchasing team's office.

Pushing open the door, he found the office empty, just as he expected. The two desks by the window were spotless, clearly indicating their occupants had already left. Hu Guohua's desk was slightly cluttered, with some documents and notebooks spread out. Wei Chen's desk, in the corner, was also empty.

Well, they're all gone. Is this the characteristic of Group Three? Wei Chen was also about to go out when he came out of the office and ran into Liu Yuan, the group leader of Group Three, who was coming out of the separate office next door.

"Wei Chen? So early?" Liu Yuan's voice carried a hint of surprise. He looked somewhat tired, with obvious bags under his eyes, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept well last night or had come to handle some matters early in the morning.

"Good morning, Team Leader Liu." Wei Chen walked over and stopped. "I was thinking of going to the countryside today, so I came to check if there were any last-minute tasks for the team, or if anyone needed my help."

Liu Yuan put down his newspaper, rubbed his temples, and smiled slightly: "How's it going? You've been following Master Hu for two days, have you figured out the procedures? That old Hu is a veteran in our group, he knows a lot about things." His tone showed his approval of Hu Guohua's professional skills.

"Master Hu taught me very carefully, going through the whole process, how to fill out the forms, who to find in the village, how to talk to them, and all the precautions," Wei Chen replied sincerely. "I feel I've learned a lot, and today I want to find a village to try it out myself."

"Yeah, young people need that kind of drive." Liu Yuan nodded, stood up, picked up the large tea mug on the table, and poured water from the thermos in the corner. As he poured, he said, "You've seen the situation in our group. Apart from me, who's 'keeping watch' and ready to support you guys who're on the field, everyone else basically goes out the door as soon as they get their task slips on Monday morning. They rarely come back to the office until the end of the workday or when the task is completed. Master Hu must have told you too, purchasing agents, you do all the work outside."

Hot water was poured into the teacup, and a cloud of white steam rose. Liu Yuan blew on it, took a big gulp, and let out a satisfied sigh. Then he looked at Wei Chen and said, "It was right for you to go down and test the waters yourself. Don't be afraid of setbacks. It's good if you can get some radishes and cabbages at the beginning. Take it slow; you have to find your way through. If you encounter any difficulties that you can't solve, or if you need a letter of introduction from the factory for coordination, come back to me or Master Hu anytime."

"Understood, thank you, Team Leader Liu," Wei Chen replied earnestly.

"Okay, go ahead then. Be careful on the road, the country roads are difficult to navigate, ride your bicycle carefully." Liu Yuan waved his hand, then sat back down in his chair, picked up the newspaper, clearly still had things to take care of.

Wei Chen didn't disturb him any longer and took his leave of the office. After going downstairs, he took out his bicycle, but instead of immediately riding out of the city, he turned his bike around and headed towards one of the most prosperous areas in Beijing—the department store.

Even in the early morning, Wangfujing Street was already showing its bustling activity. The crowds were noticeably denser than on other streets, and the air was filled with the aroma of breakfast stalls and the hum of trams.

The department store, this magnificent Soviet-style building, stands like a huge fortress of supplies on the street corner. It is not just a store, but also a symbol of the abundance of goods and planned supply in that era, and a "shopping paradise" that countless citizens yearn for.

Wei Chen locked his bicycle in the designated parking area, paid a penny for parking, and followed the crowd toward the heavy gate.

Upon entering, a distinctive department store scent, a mixture of fabric, cosmetics, candy, leather, and a faint disinfectant aroma, hits you.

The vast space was bustling with noise. Under the high dome, rows of glass counters stretched out in all directions like a neat square formation.

A huge ceiling fan spun slowly overhead, stirring the somewhat stuffy air. Salespeople, dressed in uniform blue or white work clothes, stood behind the counters, each with a different expression: some greeted customers warmly, some were expressionless, and some carried the condescending arrogance typical of state-owned enterprises.

Wei Chen had a clear goal and headed straight for the "Watches and Eyeglasses Department" located on the east side of the first floor.

It's relatively quiet here. Inside the glass display case, under the soft light, watches lie quietly on dark velvet cushions, gleaming with the luster of metal and glass.

Shanghai brand, Tianjin Seagull brand, Beijing brand... domestic watches dominate the market, while a small number of expensive imported Swiss watches are carefully displayed in separate counters, like exhibits. Several well-dressed people are carefully selecting and asking questions in front of the counters, and the sales clerks are using velvet cloths to carefully take out watches for customers to try on.

Wei Chen walked to the counter of the "Shanghai" brand watches. Behind the counter was a saleswoman in her forties with neat short hair and wearing sleeves, wiping the glass counter with a focused expression.

"Comrade, could you please take a look at the Shanghai brand all-steel shockproof watch?" Wei Chen's voice was calm.

The saleswoman looked up and sized up Wei Chen. He was wearing clean work clothes, was tall, and had a calm demeanor; he didn't seem like someone who was just browsing.

"Do you have tickets?" "Yes!"

She didn't have the bad attitude often depicted in novels. After a simple inquiry, she nodded, took out a tray covered with velvet from under the counter, unlocked the counter, and, using the velvet as a pad for her hand, took out a brand new, simple and elegant all-steel Shanghai brand watch.

The silver-white case, the polished crystal, the black dial, and the gold hands and markers gleam under the light. In this era, it is a symbol of status and power.

"This is the latest model, all-steel case, 17-jewel shock-resistant movement, accurate timekeeping, and reliable quality." The salesperson introduced it skillfully, gently pushing the tray in front of Wei Chen, indicating that he could pick it up and take a look, but his eyes were fixed on the watch, clearly paying attention to the customer's actions.

Wei Chen didn't take it, but examined it carefully. He didn't need to try it on, just confirm the style. He carefully took out a small paper packet from the inside pocket of his work jacket, opened it, and inside was the hard-won "watch receipt"—a receipt with intricate patterns and the steel mill's official seal, marked "For Watch Purchase Only." He handed over the receipt along with a wad of cash he had prepared.

"I'll take this one. Please give me the receipt." Wei Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it drew envious glances from several other customers looking at their watches. 120 yuan! That's no small sum, and you need a receipt!

The saleswoman's attitude became noticeably more enthusiastic upon seeing the receipt. She carefully checked the information on the receipt, confirmed it was correct, and then took out a triplicate form, quickly filling in the product name, model number, and unit price with a dip pen.

After filling out the form, she clipped the receipt and money together and beckoned to a young clerk who was responsible for running errands not far away: "Xiao Wang! One watch, collect payment and issue a receipt!" Her voice was particularly clear in the relatively quiet area.

Xiao Wang ran over, took the receipt and money, and quickly ran to the cashier. Wei Chen waited patiently. A few minutes later, Xiao Wang ran back with the third copy of the invoice (customer's copy) stamped with a red "Cash Received" seal and the change, handing it to the salesperson along with his watch.

The sales clerk checked the ticket again to make sure it was correct before carefully putting the watch back into its original small green tin box, which had the Shanghai brand logo printed on it. The box was then carefully wrapped in a piece of kraft paper with the words "Department Store" printed on it, tied securely with paper rope, and finally handed it to Wei Chen with both hands.

"Sir, here's your watch. Please keep it safe. The warranty certificate is in the box; please take care of it," the salesperson instructed.

"Thank you." Wei Chen accepted the heavy little package, which represented his status and convenience. He felt little emotion despite the subtle gazes around him.

With this, things will be so much easier in the real world, especially for purchasing work that requires precise time management. He simply slung the watch bag over his arm and put the salesperson's receipt into his storage space; this was very important and needed to be kept safe.