Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

That afternoon, the sun was shining brightly. Wei Chen had just come out of the steel rolling mill and was on his way to the steelmaking site of the neighborhood committee when he saw carpenter Master Liu standing at the gate of the courtyard house, tiptoeing and looking into the alleyway.

Upon seeing Wei Chen, Master Liu's wrinkled face immediately broke into a smile, and he waved and called out from afar, "Comrade Wei! Comrade Wei! We've been waiting for you! All the work in your room is done! We're just waiting for you to come and inspect it!"

Wei Chen was overjoyed and quickly walked over to greet him: "Master Liu, thank you for your hard work! It's done so quickly?"

"Hey! We couldn't be careless with the work you assigned! We worked day and night, and thankfully, we didn't delay your schedule!" Master Liu rubbed his rough hands together, his tone filled with pride. "Come on, take a look! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

The two walked through the central courtyard and arrived at the brand-new door in the east wing. Master Liu took out his key and solemnly unlocked the door, as if he were opening not an ordinary courtyard gate, but a meticulously crafted work of art.

The door opened, and a pleasant aroma of fresh wood, varnish, and a faint scent of tung oil wafted out. The afternoon sun streamed in through the newly installed glass windows, illuminating the entire hall brightly and warmly.

Wei Chen's gaze swept across the room. The floor was covered with smooth, dark-colored tiles, reflecting a warm luster. Against the wall stood a row of floor-to-ceiling cabinets, their doors featuring simple vertical stripes, and their hinges and handles made of brass, gleaming with a subtle light.

A large, sturdy wooden coffee table sits in the center of the hall, flanked by equally solid, sleek wooden sofas. One side has a three-seater bench, while the other has two single sofas, with a small coffee table between the single sofas. The sofas are upholstered in custom-made foam cushions.

This was designed by Wei Chen and crafted by Master Liu. Such wooden sofas were very common in rural areas in the 1990s. They still exist today, but they weren't something the average person could afford.

In the east bedroom, the large bed was already in place, and the bedside table and wardrobe were all ready. There was even a recessed area on the bedside table for a kerosene lamp.

The west room is temporarily being used as a study. A large desk is placed by the window, where the light is plentiful. Next to it is an equally tall bookshelf with evenly spaced shelves, exuding the fresh scent of wood. All the furniture's edges have been polished smooth and rounded, and the paint finish is even and even, gleaming softly in the sunlight. Master Liu's craftsmanship is indeed exquisite.

However, the room is large enough, and it also has a large bed, which can be used as a bedroom for sleeping whenever needed.

"Great! Excellent!" Wei Chen exclaimed sincerely, his fingers tracing the smooth surface of the table, feeling its delicate texture. "Master Liu, your craftsmanship is truly impeccable! Everything fits perfectly; it looks sturdy and durable!"

"That's right!" Master Liu straightened his back, his face even more proud. "Look at these mortise and tenon joints, these joints, all made with old-fashioned techniques, guaranteed to last for decades without any problems! And this paint, it's made with the best tung oil, brushed on three times inside and out, and then left to dry thoroughly in the yard for more than a week. You can smell it, there's not a single pungent smell! It's good for your health!" He patted his chest to guarantee it.

Wei Chen carefully inspected every detail: whether the cabinet doors opened and closed smoothly, whether the drawers slid smoothly, whether the bed was stable, whether the bookshelf shelves were sturdy... everything was impeccable.

The rooms in the east wing were also decorated according to Wei Chen's requirements, and Wei Chen looked them over and found no problems.

He nodded in satisfaction: "Master Liu, thank you for your hard work and the other masters! The work is excellent! I'll settle the balance for you right away!" As he spoke, he took out a thick envelope that he had prepared beforehand from his bag, counted out the full amount of wages, and handed it over.

Master Liu took the money, carefully counted it while licking his lips, his smile as bright as a blooming chrysanthemum. He gently tucked it into his inner pocket, then solemnly handed a heavy set of brass keys to Wei Chen: "Comrade Wei, please keep these keys safe! From now on, this yard and this house are your home! If there are any scratches or dents in the furniture that need fixing, just let me know, and I'll be there in no time!"

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Mr. Liu finally took his leave, satisfied.

Standing in the empty but newly renovated house, Wei Chen looked out the window at the two jujube and peach trees in the yard that had taken root firmly and seemed to be sprouting new green leaves. A strong sense of belonging welled up in his heart.

Finally, in this era, in this city, he has a warm home that is entirely his own.

The furniture had been airing out in the yard for over a week, and now that it was moved inside, just as Master Liu had said, there was almost no pungent smell, only a faint, reassuring woody fragrance. Wei Chen was thinking about choosing a date to officially move in.

Just as Wei Chen was standing in the courtyard, contemplating the moving arrangements, a familiar voice, carrying its usual enthusiasm or perhaps calculation, came from the moon gate:

"Hey! Wei Chen! Master Liu just left? This is... is the house all tidied up?" Uncle Yan Bugui, carrying his signature little teapot, strolled over leisurely, his small eyes scanning the open doorway, his face beaming. "Oh my, look at this big cabinet! This wooden sofa! So impressive! This must have cost a fortune!"

Wei Chen turned around, a smile on his face: "Uncle, you've arrived. We just finished the inspection, and Master Liu's skills are indeed excellent."

Yan Bugui strolled into the courtyard, pretending to admire the two trees, but his gaze kept drifting towards the house: "Great! Really great! Wei Chen, your house is finished, and the furniture is all done. This is a momentous occasion! According to our old customs, moving is a big deal! We have to have a big feast, invite the neighbors to get acquainted, add to the festivities, and make it lively!"

He turned around, his face full of sincerity, "When do you think it's time? Uncle San will help you make arrangements. Our idiot Zhu is a master at organizing banquets! I guarantee it will be a grand and respectable affair for you!" His unspoken message was practically written on his face—Chen knew perfectly well that this meal would be quite lucrative.

A hint of embarrassment immediately appeared on Wei Chen's face. He even subconsciously raised his hand to cover his pocket, leaning back slightly as if the pocket might bite him. He spoke heavily, his voice carrying a deliberate "heavy" tone:

"Oh dear, my dear uncle! You've really gone too far!" He winced in anguish. "Look at this house, and look at all this new furniture. To be honest, I've squandered all the savings my family had accumulated, and even the little bit of money the factory gave us as a bonus last time—it's all gone! We still owe Master Liu and the others several hundred yuan in debt!"

He spread his hands, his tone filled with heartfelt helplessness, "Right now, I'm penniless! I even have to think twice before buying a pack of good cigarettes! Treating guests? Hosting a banquet? I really don't have the means! You tell me, I can't just come empty-handed and shamelessly invite everyone to come with nothing, can I? That would be a laughing stock!"

As he spoke, he observed Yan Bugui's expression. Sure enough, upon hearing "owed several hundred yuan," Yan Bugui's eager smile flickered, and a hint of disappointment and understanding, "So it's just an empty shell," flashed across his eyes, only to be quickly masked by his usual shrewdness.

"Sigh...yes, yes, such big rooms, and so nicely decorated, it must have cost a lot of money." Yan Bugui clicked his tongue, his tone "understanding" with a hint of "as expected," "Building a house and acquiring belongings, that's truly an incredibly difficult and timeless task!" He patted Wei Chen's shoulder, adopting the air of someone who'd been there before, "Alright, since you're short on cash, let's put the treat on hold for now. But..."

He changed the subject abruptly, his eyes gleaming: "Moving is always a happy occasion, it wouldn't be right not to show some appreciation. How about you buy some candy and give it to everyone in the courtyard to sweeten their mouths, that way you'll let everyone know that you, Wei Chen, have moved to a new house! It shouldn't cost much, right? And it'll save face!" He had a clever plan; he made himself seem reasonable, helped Wei Chen, and hinted at the specific "appreciation" of "candy."

Wei Chen chuckled inwardly, but on his face, he feigned relief, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes! Third Uncle, you've reminded me so well! Look at my brain, I was only thinking about how difficult it would be to treat everyone, but you've thought of everything! Buy some candy! I'll definitely make sure to give all the children in the yard a sweet treat! Thank you, Third Uncle!"

"Hey, we're neighbors, it's only right!" Yan Bugui, having achieved his goal, took a satisfied sip of tea. "Then I'll head back now. Let me know when you've set the moving date!" With that, he picked up the teapot, humming an off-key Peking Opera tune, and slowly walked away.

Wei Chen watched his figure disappear behind the moon gate, then wiped the "sorrow" from his face and a faint, meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

He turned around and gently closed the brand-new south gate of the east courtyard. The sunlight shone brightly in the courtyard, and the new furniture sat quietly in the corner of the house. His life was about to officially begin in this small space.

The flames of the steel furnace licked the blackened furnace for the last time on Thursday evening. The heavy breathing of the blowers gradually subsided, leaving only scorching slag on the ground and the lingering smell of sulfur in the air.

Wei Chen took off his sweat-soaked, coal-dust-covered gloves and his worn-out willow safety helmet, and went to the registration desk to sign out. Old Zhang, who was in charge of registration, looked up, adjusted his reading glasses, and said, "Young Wei, working until the end of the day again? Your energy is truly admirable!"

"Director Zhang," Wei Chen wiped the sweat from his face, revealing a set of white teeth, "I need to ask for leave. There are some things to take care of at home this Sunday; I need to move, so I might not be able to come."

Old Zhang paused for a moment, then laughed heartily, making a mark in the register: "Moving? Great! That's a big deal! Okay, leave approved! This is voluntary work anyway, everyone has things to do sometimes. As long as you're not working sporadically, just ask for leave! Just let me know in advance! Come back and continue working once you're settled!"

He patted Wei Chen on the shoulder, his eyes full of understanding and support. "Where's your new home? When you have time, the old folks from our neighborhood will come over for a celebratory feast to add to the festive atmosphere!"

"Thank you, Director Zhang! It's a courtyard house in Luogu Lane," Wei Chen replied with a smile. "Once it's all set up, I'll definitely invite you and the other craftsmen over for a visit!"

Leaving the bustling threshing ground, a cool evening breeze brushed against his sweat-dampened back. Wei Chen took a deep breath of the relatively fresh air. The moving date was set for this Sunday.