Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Wei Chen did not leave immediately. Instead, he clung to the cold wall like a gecko, held his breath, and concentrated all his mental energy into a beam, like an invisible probe, piercing towards the direction where the malice was strongest.

"Damn it! Where did they go?" "They were just here! They ran like a madman!" "Search! They can't have gone far! We can't let this fat sheep escape!"

Three angry, low curses came from different directions, followed by rustling sounds of searching. They circled the spot where Wei Chen had just set up his stall a few times in vain, finally dissipating with heavy resentment and hostility.

Wei Chen lay in wait in the shadows for a full quarter of an hour, until his mental energy repeatedly confirmed that the surroundings were completely "clean." Only then did he choose a completely different, more winding and difficult ravine, like a true nocturnal beast, and silently retreat from this dark place that devoured both wealth and humanity.

On the way back to the village, a faint sliver of gray was already appearing on the eastern horizon. Wei Chen reverted to his original appearance, carrying a basket on his back, concealed by the twenty jin of mixed flour and a few handfuls of wild vegetables he had traded. His steps were light yet he remained vigilant.

Clutching a thick wad of cash that reeked of ink, sweat, and raw meat, he was physically exhausted but mentally excited.

Over 1,400 yuan! In those days, that amount of money was enough to buy a small courtyard house in a good location in Beijing!

I only felt at ease after putting all the money and tickets into my backpack.

When he opened the door, it was already dawn. His mother, Li Xiulan, was busy at the stove. Hearing the noise, she turned around and saw her son returning home, covered in cold air, with a basket filled with flour and wild vegetables.

"Did you get it?" Li Xiulan asked casually, seemingly used to her son's midnight "food exchange." She walked over and naturally took the basket from Wei Chen's hand, weighing the bag of flour in her hand. "Wow, it's quite heavy. Is it mixed flour?"

"Hmm," Wei Chen replied, stretching his shoulders. "I was lucky. The person I arranged to come last time kept their word." He didn't explain further, and Li Xiulan didn't ask any more questions. She knew her son had learned hunting skills from Old Zhao, and that he was bold and resourceful. She was content as long as her son returned safely with food.

"Go wash your face, the food will be ready soon." Li Xiulan put the flour bag down and turned to continue working.

Wei Chen returned to the hut and bolted the door shut. He took off his coat and carefully pulled out several thick stacks of banknotes tied with rubber bands from his backpack. After counting, it was 1,432.75 yuan! Adding the change from previous transactions, the total was astonishing.

It feels so good to count the money. I put it in my backpack and checked the amount: 1478 yuan. I felt even more at ease!

After doing all this, an overwhelming sense of exhaustion finally overwhelmed him. He lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) fully clothed, listening to the sounds of his mother cooking and his sister humming as she got up outside the window, his heavy eyelids slowly closing.

A jumble of thoughts swirled in my mind, eventually converging into a clear signal: it was time to venture into that pivotal center of events.

With a heavy purse and endless plans for the future, Wei Chen drifted into a deep sleep. Outside the window, the sky was already bright.

After his last trip to the black market in Changping, where he obtained a considerable amount of money and tickets but nearly encountered danger, Wei Chen decided against going again anytime soon. He settled down at home to work and spent his nights in the game world killing monsters and grinding for experience. A week passed quickly.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed Baoyuquan Village in a warm golden hue, while the smoke from wood-fired stoves drifted along the field ridges.

Wei Chen and his mother, Wang Xiulan, were watering the last patch of cabbage in the field. The soil turned up by the hoes exuded a moist fragrance, and his younger sister, who had just returned from school, was helping out.

Sweat soaked through his coarse cloth jacket, clinging stickily to his skin, yet Wei Chen moved nimbly, seemingly tireless. The physical enhancements he gained from grinding monsters in the game world were fully manifested in his daily farm work, making Wei Chen's physique far surpass that of ordinary people.

"Everyone, stop right there—!" Uncle Wei Changsheng's booming voice rang out from afar. He swung his arms and strode briskly along the ridge of the field, his face beaming with an unusual joy. "Listen up, everyone! Something good is happening today!"

The commune members working in the fields straightened up, wiping their sweat as they looked over.

"The film projection team from Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill is showing a movie in Dongying Village tonight!" Wei Changsheng's voice carried far across the open fields. "They're showing 'Railway Guerrillas'! The commune specifically notified us that we're wrapping up half an hour early today. Everyone hurry home, get dinner ready, and then go see it! It's a rare gem of a film!"

"The movie's starting!"

"Railway Guerrillas? Oh, fighting the Japanese devils!"

"Great! It's been so long since I've seen a movie!"

The field instantly erupted in excitement, the dull atmosphere of labor vanished, replaced by childlike excitement and jubilation.

Wang Xiulan couldn't help but smile. While tidying up her hoe, she said to Wei Chen and Wei Ran, "Did you hear that? Hurry up and go home! Mom will make you some multigrain pancakes. Eat them first, then go get a good spot!"

Wei Ran, the younger sister, jumped up with joy, her face flushed: "Brother! Let's go see a movie!" She tugged at Wei Chen's clothes, her eyes shining like they were filled with stars.

Wei Chen smiled with feigned delight, "Great! Let's go watch the fight against the Japanese!" But in his mind, he was calculating rapidly. Open-air movies in this era held little appeal for him, a "person from the future." However, village activities, especially such rare entertainment, were essential social occasions to participate in. Besides, he had keenly grasped the key phrase "Red Star Steel Rolling Mill."

Having finished work early, smoke rose from the chimneys of every household earlier than usual, filling the air with the aroma of various foods. Wang Xiulan worked quickly and efficiently, soon baking a stack of multigrain pancakes and chopping some pickled vegetables. Wei Chen helped bring them to the table, and the three of them hurriedly finished eating.

Just as I finished clearing the dishes, my cousin Weifeng's loud voice rang out from outside: "Xiao Chen! Second Aunt! Ranran! Let's go! Let's go! All the good spots will be taken if we stay any longer!"

Wei Chen's family went out and met up with his uncle Wei Changsheng's family and his third uncle Wei Laishun's family, who were already waiting outside the courtyard. Besides his aunt, his uncle's family included his cousin Wei Feng (20 years old), his younger cousin Wei Yan (15 years old), and his younger cousin Wei Min (10 years old); his third uncle's family consisted of his third uncle and aunt, along with his 10-year-old cousin Wei Guo and his aunt's younger cousin Wei Min. The large group set off towards Dongying Village, three miles away, as dusk settled.

Wei Ran, Wei Min, and Wei Guo, three teenagers, were like birds released from their cages, running and playing excitedly at the front and back of the group, their clear laughter echoing along the country lane. Wei Chen walked with his uncle, third uncle, cousin Wei Feng, and cousin Wei Yan. The men's conversation revolved around crops, the harvest, and the upcoming autumn grain procurement.

Wei Chen pulled a pack of "Economy" brand cigarettes from his patched-up trouser pocket. These cigarettes were cheap, only 15 cents a pack.

A few days ago, I used cigarette coupons I got on the black market at the commune's supply and marketing cooperative to buy a few packs of Grade B cigarettes called "Daqianmen" specifically for "socializing." I also bought a few packs of economy cigarettes, which didn't require coupons.

Most villagers smoke pipes or roll their own cigarettes; these economical cigarettes are usually used for family events or when they want to splurge. He unpacked the cigarette, took one out, and respectfully offered it to his uncle, Wei Changsheng: "Uncle, please have a smoke."

Wei Changsheng was a little surprised, but he took it with a smile: "Oh, Xiao Chen has become quite successful, even smoking now? Smoke less, this stuff costs money."

"I don't smoke much. My master won't let me, saying that wild animals can smell it before they go hunting. I just bought it to strike up a conversation. Here's one for you." Wei Chen smiled and handed one each to his third uncle, Wei Laishun, and his eldest brother, Wei Feng.

When it was the third brother Wei Yan's turn, the kid chuckled and reached out to take it, but his uncle slapped his hand away quickly. "You're not even fully grown yet, what are you doing smoking! Learn something good from your brother Xiao Chen!" Wei Changsheng scolded with a laugh.

Wei Yan withdrew his hand, touched the reddened back of his hand, and pouted aggrievedly, which made everyone laugh.

Wei Chen lit one himself, striking a match. He inhaled the pungent, acrid smoke, frowning slightly; the taste was truly unpleasant. But amidst the swirling smoke, the unspoken intimacy between the men seemed to intensify. He wasn't a heavy smoker, nor did he smoke regularly; he only smoked on occasions like this.

Wei Chen noticed that his older brother, Wei Feng, took a puff, a clear look of enjoyment on his face—in these impoverished times, even cheap cigarettes were a rare treat and a source of "face." It seemed he smoked quite often! In these days, no one cared if kids smoked when they grew up; it was even seen as a sign of growing up.

As night deepened, the chirping of insects rose and fell along the roadside. Before even reaching the entrance of Dongying Village, one could see the bright lights and bustling crowds in the distance. The threshing ground was illuminated as if by two dazzling gas lamps, and was already packed with people.

Almost everyone from the nearby villages came out in droves, young and old, calling out to their friends and family, crowding the entire courtyard. The screams and running of children, the shouts and greetings of adults, the clattering of benches, and the excited chatter mingled together, creating a noisy and lively atmosphere, like a festival.

The air was filled with the smells of sweat, dust, and cheap tobacco, as well as the faint aroma of roasted melon seeds and sweet potatoes—the smell of a few daring villagers secretly setting up stalls on the edge of the market. They didn't earn much money, and the village turned a blind eye.

In the center of the venue, a huge, taut white cloth curtain hangs high between two thick locust trees, like a giant flag.

Not far from the projector screen, a wooden table had already been set up. What attracted the most attention was the figure busy beside the table—he was wearing a clean and presentable blue khaki overall, his hair was slicked back, and he was deftly securing a heavy iron box (projector) to the table, while carefully taking out two heavy iron reels wrapped with film from another box.