Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Lin Yan was still asleep when he felt a wet, warm touch on his face. He opened his eyes and met Xiao Qi's big, round, dark eyes.

"Little Seven..." he said helplessly, but when the little guy saw that he was awake, he licked him even more vigorously, giving him a full-body "baptism of love".

"Stop, stop, stop!" Lin Yan, both amused and exasperated, blocked its attack with his hand, deliberately putting on a stern face and threatening, "Little Seven, if you lick it again, half of today's spirit beast meat will be deducted!"

Xiaoqi froze instantly, its little ears drooping down, and it rubbed its head against his hand with a pitiful expression: "Brother, it's snowing outside! It's snowing so much! Get up quickly and come out to play with me!" Its little paws kept pawing at the blanket.

Its antics completely banished his sleepiness. Lin Yan sat up, ruffled Xiao Qi's fluffy head, put on his coat, and walked to the window. Sure enough, the yard and rooftops were covered with a layer of fresh, white snow, making the whole world appear exceptionally tranquil.

After washing up, Wang Yuling's gentle voice came from the courtyard: "Young Master, Xiao Qi, breakfast is ready!"

Little Qi, who was still rolling around in the snow and making plum blossom marks, immediately rolled over and rushed into the dining room like a little white cannonball when she heard the word "breakfast," happily circling around Wang Yuling's feet.

Lin Yan smiled and shook his head, then walked towards the dining room. Just as he sat down at the table, Lin San pushed open the door and walked in.

"Young Master, did you sleep well last night?" Lin San asked routinely, then his expression turned serious as he asked in a low voice, "About the ice rink yesterday, should I take care of it and give them a heads-up?"

Lin Yan picked up a crispy fried dough stick, took a bite, and then put a piece of steamed spirit beast meat, which was Xiao Qi's favorite, into its special little plate: "It's just a little incident, no need to make a fuss."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Lin San already understood the implication and respectfully replied, "Yes, young master, I understand."

Lin Yan looked down at Xiao Qi, who was engrossed in her food and munching away, and his tone became more relaxed: "Xiao Qi, what do you want to do today? I'm free today, I'll play with you."

Little Seven lifted his head from his food bowl, his beard still glistening with meat juice, his bright black eyes sparkling. He exclaimed excitedly, "Brother, I want to play that again! Skating on the ice! I didn't get to play yesterday because the bad guys stopped me!"

Recalling yesterday's unpleasantness, Xiaoqi huffed angrily.

Lin Yan was amused by its cute appearance, reached out and wiped the meat juice off its whiskers, and readily agreed: "Okay, then let's play that again."

"Yay! Brother is the best!" Xiao Qi cheered and sped up her eating, wishing she could rush out into the snow and ice right away.

After finishing breakfast, Xiao Qi eagerly grabbed its special little leash and ran to Lin Yan's feet, rubbing against him repeatedly. Lin Yan smiled and tied it up for it, then dressed it in a red vest made of soft cashmere by Wang Yuling, making it look like a fluffy Fuwa mascot rolling in the snow.

"Let's go, Little Seven King. Today, wherever you point, I'll go."

This time, Lin Yan didn't choose the bustling Shichahai. Instead, led by Lin San, they arrived at a more secluded, almost deserted small frozen lake in Beihai Park. The lake was covered with thick ice and surrounded by ancient trees.

"Wow—!" Xiao Qi cheered, pushing off with all four paws and rushing onto the ice. With yesterday's experience, it was much bolder today. Its short legs worked hard to dart around on the ice. Although it still slid crookedly, it fell much less often. More often, it glided across the ice like a little white fur ball, leaving long tracks behind.

"Brother! Look at me! How far did I glide?" Xiao Qi exclaimed excitedly.

Lin Yan stood on the shore, watching with a smile, and gently threw a few soft snowballs at Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi shrieked and pounced, swatting at the snowballs with its paws and headbutting them, smashing them to pieces. Then, amidst the swirling snowflakes, it sneezed, overjoyed.

Lin Yan, also indulging in his childlike spirit, stepped onto the ice and began to "skate" with Xiao Qi. With a few casual steps, his movements were graceful and elegant. Whenever Xiao Qi was about to crash into the rocks by the lake, Lin Yan would always pull her back at just the right moment and push her towards the middle of the frozen lake.

Xiao Qi's cheerful "woof woof," the "scratching" sound of its paws scraping the ice, and Lin Yan's occasional low chuckles echoed all around.

After playing for half a day, Xiao Qi finally got tired and, panting, ran back to Lin Yan's feet, looking at him expectantly. Lin Yan bent down and picked it up.

"Have you had enough fun?"

"Mmm! Brother, I'm so happy!" Xiao Qi buried her fluffy head in the crook of his neck and rubbed against him contentedly.

"As long as you're happy. I'll take you to buy candied hawthorns." Lin Yan hugged it and walked towards the main street.

On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, Qianmen Street was bustling with activity, as if the entire city of Beijing had flocked there to buy New Year's goods. Various shouts rose and fell, some long and melodious, some short and loud, and some without even using their voices but with instruments. There were cloth vendors shaking their rattles merrily, and there were tin kettle welders striking their metal plates with a crisp "clang," creating a lively and extraordinary auditory spectacle.

"Hard-crusted buns!"

"Selling melon seeds!"

"Honey, oh my—candied hawthorns, oh my!"

"Buy—hair oil, buy—hair net!"

The crowds were immense, shoulder to shoulder, truly a place where the most vibrant and lively human life unfolded.

Weaving through the bustling crowd, Xiao Qi's bright eyes couldn't take it all in, and her little nose kept sniffing the mixed aromas of food in the air.

Hearing the cry of "Candied hawthorns," Lin Yan paused and walked to the stall.

"Boss, give me two skewers of candied hawthorns."

"Alright, comrade!" the stall owner replied briskly. "Five cents a skewer, ten cents in total!"

Lin Yan casually pulled a 10-yuan note from the pocket of his wool coat and handed it over. The denomination surprised the stall owner, and several people around who noticed it also gasped in surprise. The stall owner quickly rummaged for change.

Lin Yan took two strings of bright red candied hawthorns covered in a transparent sugar shell from the straw target. He took a bite of one himself, finding it sweet, sour, and crunchy, and then carefully fed one to Xiao Qi.

Xiaoqi hugged the candied hawthorn with its two front paws, took a bite, and its eyes squinted because of the sourness, but it was immediately attracted by the sweetness and happily gnawed on it, with sugar crumbs all over its face.

The candied hawthorn vendor, while making change, couldn't help but stare at Xiaoqi's little red vest, clicking his tongue in amazement: "Wow, comrade, what kind of family do you come from? Such fine red cloth, such thick cotton, and you actually... you actually made a vest for your little dog? This is truly..."

Before he could finish speaking, the people around him noticed him and Xiao Qi, looking at them as if they were looking at a spendthrift.

He took the large wad of change from the shopkeeper, stuffed it back into his pocket without even looking at it, and patted Xiaoqi's head: "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

"Xiao Yan, is that you? Xiao Yan!" Lin Yan stopped and turned to look at the person who had come, giving a shy smile.

"Brother Da Mao, Sister Xiao E, long time no see!"