Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

A large group of people arrived at the south gate of the east courtyard. Wei Chen took out his key and unlocked the door. When the gate was pushed open, and with the help of the newly installed electric lights under the eaves and the hazy moonlight, everyone gasped when they saw the two enormous trees leaning against the tree pit.

"Wow! Good heavens! It's huge!" Sha Zhu exclaimed first, stepping forward to pat the thick trunk. "Brother Wei Chen, what you bought isn't just a tree, it's a tree ancestor! No wonder you needed help!"

Xu Damao clicked his tongue and said, "This clod of earth... is almost as big as a millstone! How much effort must have taken to bring it back?" Yan Jiecheng and Liu Guangtian were even more dumbfounded. At their age, they rarely saw such huge trees being transplanted.

Even Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses, examining the tree closely: "Hmm... judging by its shape and trunk, it must be at least ten years old! Wei Chen, you... you've really invested a lot! No wonder you said one person couldn't manage it!"

Wei Chen smiled and said, "Yes, it's an old tree in the village. I was hoping that if we moved it here, it would bear fruit next year. Thank you all for your hard work! The pit was prepared when the house was built, and the soil was loosened. We just need to put the tree in, fill it with soil, and tamp it down."

"Alright! Let's get started!" Yan Bugui instantly found his place. He cleared his throat, put his hands behind his back, and looked like an experienced commander.

"Jiecheng, Guangtian, you two are young, go get the shovels! Just the ones by the tool shed! Zhuzi, Damao, Dongxu, you three are strong, you're in charge of lifting the tree root end! Weichen, you hold the middle of the trunk! I'll keep an eye on the orientation and direct you to put it in the right place!"

Under his direction, the young men immediately sprang into action. Tools were quickly brought over: several gleaming shovels and a large pickaxe. The most important part of planting trees was, of course, moving the heavy clods of earth into the planting pits.

"Come on! One, two, three! Lift!" Sha Zhu, as the main force, shouted. He, Xu Damao, and Jia Dongxu grabbed the hemp rope and wooden bar binding the clod of earth and pulled with all their might. Jia Dongxu was obviously struggling, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.

Wei Chen steadily supported the middle of the tree trunk, subtly reducing his own weight, yet perfectly distributing a large portion of the weight so that the three people at the base of the tree didn't feel completely unable to bear it. Even so, the huge mound of earth was still incredibly heavy when it was lifted.

"Slow down! Slow down! Aim at the pit! A little to the left! A little more to the left! Okay! Drop! Drop gently!" Yan Bugui nervously directed from the side, his glasses reflecting the light.

"Thump!" The huge mound of earth from the jujube tree finally landed steadily in the pre-prepared tree pit, almost perfectly positioned. Next came the filling. Yan Jiecheng and Liu Guangtian wielded shovels, forcefully shoveling the loose soil piled up beside them into the pit. Sha Zhu and Xu Damao also joined in, using the backs of their shovels or their feet to tamp down the backfilled soil. Wei Chen, meanwhile, held the tree trunk, constantly adjusting its verticality.

The peach trees were planted in the same way. With many hands making light work, and with the pits already prepared and the soil loose, the two large trees were quickly planted. The huge mounds of earth were covered and compacted with fresh soil, and the pruned branches stretched out under the light. Although sparse, they had taken firm root in this courtyard house in Beijing.

"It's done!" Yan Bugui clapped his hands in satisfaction, looking at his "masterpiece." He suddenly remembered something and said to Wei Chen, "Wei Chen, I remember you got running water in your yard, right? You mentioned it when you connected the pipes."

These newly planted trees need to be thoroughly watered the first time! This is called "root-setting water," and it can't be taken lightly! You wait here, Uncle San will go get you a bucket! With that, without waiting for Wei Chen's reply, he turned and ran home.

Wei Chen was somewhat surprised, but he didn't stop him. Soon, Yan Bugui returned carrying his old tin bucket, which still had some mud on the sides. He found the brand-new tap in the corner, turned it on, and clear tap water gushed into the bucket.

"Come on, everyone lend a hand! Water them!" Yan Bugui called out. Sha Zhu and Xu Damao, who had just finished their work, were happy to help, taking turns carrying heavy buckets of water and slowly pouring cool water onto the roots of the two large trees. The water quickly seeped into the soil, making a soft hissing sound.

As Yan Bugui watched the watering, he rambled on, imparting his "experience" to Wei Chen: "Wei Chen, this tree was just moved; it's still recovering, so you have to take good care of it. For the first three days, you have to water it thoroughly twice a day, morning and evening, you can't let it thirst!"

"After ten days to two weeks, once the leaves look healthy, you can water them less frequently, only watering when the soil is dry to the touch, otherwise the roots will easily rot!"

"When spring comes, it's best to apply some more fertilizer, chicken manure or soybean cake will do, as long as it's well composted..."

"Also, I see there's still some empty space under your yard wall. When spring comes, scatter some wildflower seeds there, like henna or sunflowers—they're easy to grow and look nice! Much better than bare ground!"

Wei Chen listened attentively, nodding occasionally in agreement: "Yes, okay, Uncle San, you're right, I've got it. Thank you for reminding me! I'm really grateful to you today!"

He knew in his heart that Yan Bugui's initiative to help water the plants and share his experience was largely because of the few candies he gave the children and the "Daqianmen" cigarette, which made him feel like he had gotten a small advantage and needed to "make up" for it. But this "making up" felt particularly real and heartwarming at that moment.

The water had soaked through, leaving the ground wet. Everyone looked at the two large trees standing steadily in the yard. Although the branches and leaves had been pruned and they looked somewhat "bare," under the lamplight and moonlight, they could already imagine what they would look like in the future, with lush foliage, flowers, and fruit, bringing boundless vitality to this brand-new little yard.

"Alright! Mission accomplished!" Sha Zhu wiped his sweat. "Brother Wei Chen, if there are any more good things like this in the future, please call us again!" Xu Damao said with a grin.

"Thank you! Thank you, brothers!" Wei Chen sincerely thanked everyone again, then offered them cigarettes. "You've all worked so hard today! Thank you all!"

The crowd dispersed, chatting and laughing, each returning to their own homes. Yan Jiecheng took his younger siblings home as well. Liu Guangtian, still lingering with a cigarette dangling from his lips, pulled Liu Guangfu, who was still licking a candy wrapper, back to the backyard. The yard instantly fell silent, leaving only Wei Chen, Yan Bugui, and the two newly built houses standing quietly.

Yan Bugui, carrying an empty bucket, watched Wei Chen lock the moon gate leading to the middle courtyard before saying, "Wei Chen, the trees are planted. You should go back and rest early. Just keep an eye on them and water them regularly, as I told you."

"Okay, I know, Uncle. Thank you so much for your help today." Wei Chen thanked him again. "I have to go back to my dormitory at the factory now."

"Okay, take care on your way home." Yan Bugui nodded, picked up the bucket, and turned to go home.

Wei Chen stood in the courtyard, taking one last look at the jujube and peach trees casting dappled shadows in the moonlight, then at the tightly closed moon gate and south gate. He walked to the moon gate, pulled down the bolt, and locked the door from the inside. Then he went to the south gate, unlocked the back door, slipped out, and locked the door from the outside.

The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly along the blue brick path. Wei Chen pushed his bicycle, which was parked by the back door, and his figure quickly disappeared into the shadows of the alley, riding towards the steel mill dormitory.

In the small courtyard behind, two trees from the mountains quietly took their first roots under the moonlight of Beijing.

The uproar over the two thousand catties of wild boar at the steel rolling mill's logistics warehouse was like a boulder thrown into a lake, its ripples spreading throughout the factory area for several days before gradually subsiding.

Wei Chen's name, along with the exaggerated legend of him "single-handedly taking down a wild boar's den," became a long-standing topic of conversation among the workers. However, for Wei Chen, who was at the center of the storm, the most direct benefit of this huge "achievement" was that it bought him a precious chance to catch his breath.

For the next two weeks, Wei Chen's life suddenly became more relaxed and regular, even exuding a rare sense of leisure.

At dawn, as the gray-blue sky of Beijing was just beginning to lighten and the first long cry of "Pour out the dirt!" rang out from the alleyways, Wei Chen was already pushing his old bicycle out of the steel mill dormitory. He didn't rush to the purchasing department, but instead rode leisurely through the gradually awakening streets and alleys.

Sometimes, he would wander into the Dongdan vegetable market, strolling through the bustling atmosphere filled with the earthy smell of fresh vegetables and the faint fishy odor. His eyes would scan the juicy fruits and vegetables on the stalls, and his ears would catch the bargaining between vendors and housewives about prices and freshness—these sounds of everyday life were his window into understanding the pulse of the city.

More often than not, he would ride to a park lake further away, find a quiet bench to sit on, and watch the elderly doing their morning exercises slowly practicing Tai Chi, or gaze at the golden light scattered on the calm lake surface by the morning breeze, until the flow of people going to work became overwhelming, and then he would pedal into the crowd.

In the purchasing department office of the steel rolling mill, filled with the mixed smells of old newspapers, cheap tobacco, and aged tea, Wei Chen became the most "idle" person.

His old desk by the window became a makeshift tea table. An enamel mug with the words "Labor is Glorious" printed in red always contained roasted camellias brought from the village, slightly charred and fragrant.

Boiling water was poured in, and the dark brown tea swirled, the rising steam carrying the rustic fragrance of the mountains and fields, dispelling the stuffiness of the office.

"Little Wei, here to enjoy your celestial tea again?" Master Hu strolled over, carrying a chipped teacup. Without any hesitation, he picked up the thermos to refill his water bottle and sat down in the empty seat opposite Wei Chen. He was a veteran in the purchasing department, having spent his entire life traveling to the countryside, and his eyes held a profound wisdom that reflected the ways of the world.

"Master Hu, please have a taste. This year's new tea is roasted quite well." Wei Chen smiled and pushed the tea canister over.

"Mmm, that's the taste!" Master Hu took a sip, squinting as he savored the flavor. "It's much better than the tea dust the factory gives out! You've brought back two huge 'mountains of meat,' you're set for the month! When Director Li sees you, his grin will stretch to his ears!" His tone was a mix of good-natured teasing and a hint of barely perceptible envy.