Courtyard House: Home Alone

"Xiao Fan, tell me the truth," she lowered her voice, "did you already know Xu Zheng was coming?"

The sound of Qiuju chopping filling came from outside the window, a distinct rhythm, occasionally interspersed with the crisp sound of the knife blade hitting the cutting board.

The sound was as ordinary as any evening in a Beijing courtyard house, yet it made the deaf old woman's tense shoulders relax slightly—as if as long as the warmth of human interaction remained, the clash of swords and shadows would temporarily be unable to enter this door.

Lin Yifan did not answer her question. He walked to the window and pushed open the carved wooden window a crack, letting in the fragrance of winter plum blossoms from the courtyard in the cold wind.

The chimney in the west wing was emitting wisps of smoke, and Qiuju's figure was cast as a blurry silhouette on the window paper. With each flick of her wrist, the minced meat on the cutting board gradually turned into a uniform red paste.

"Grandma Long, can you smell that?" he suddenly asked. "Qiuju is chopping cabbage and pork filling, adding scallion and ginger water, and drizzling sesame oil on top."

The deaf old woman paused for a moment, then her nostrils twitched slightly. Sure enough, besides the fragrance of plum blossoms, there was also a faint, pungent smell of meat in the air, mixed with the spiciness of Sichuan peppercorns, making one's stomach rumble.

"Please stay for dinner." Lin Yifan closed the window, keeping out the chill. "I'll have Qiuju make some extra dumplings."

"Xiao Fan, what's wrong with you...?" The deaf old woman's voice was a little hoarse.

"Xu Zheng's men are still keeping watch outside."

Lin Yifan's voice was as soft as a falling leaf, "Just eat your dumplings in peace, and go home to sleep peacefully after you've finished eating."

"Just keep an eye on the girls for me, make sure no one bullies them. There are tall guys to hold the fort if the sky falls."

The deaf old woman stared blankly at the eight-year-old child in front of her. He was standing on tiptoe, taking two roasted chestnuts from a porcelain jar on the table, handing one to her, and peeling the other himself.

"As for Xu Zheng, if he wants to play chess, we'll play with him. But we'll have to draw the chessboard ourselves."

The deaf old woman took the chestnut and suddenly felt her eyes well up with tears. She remembered that twenty years ago, before her first mission, her instructor had also given her a piece of candy, saying that eating it would make her less nervous.

The candy was bitter, with a quinine-like taste, and it wouldn't dissolve in her mouth. She held it in her mouth for three hours before daring to spit it out.

And this chestnut is sweet.

"Xiao Fan," she said, clutching the chestnut in her hand, "does your father...Professor Lin, know about all this?"

Lin Yifan paused for a moment while peeling the chestnut. The shell broke in two, revealing the whole kernel inside, like a tiny heart.

"My dad?"

He smiled, a smile carrying a maturity beyond his years. "My dad only knows his son is a genius, able to get first place without going to school. As for anything else..."

He didn't continue speaking, tossing the chestnut kernel into his mouth and chewing it slowly. The sound of Qiuju chopping filling outside the window stopped, replaced by the muffled thud of the iron pot hitting the stove and the sizzling sound of oil splashing into the hot pan—she was stir-frying meat, and this was quite a first for her.

"Xiao Fan, what about three days from now?"

Three days later, Xu Zheng would either have already left Beiping, or…

Before he could finish speaking, the door to the main room was suddenly pushed open a crack, and Chunxing poked her head in: "Young Master, the dumplings and stir-fries are ready. Should we set them out now or...?"

"Set it up," Lin Yifan raised his voice, "Grandma Long is eating here, so add a dish of pickled cucumbers and a dish of shredded tofu."

Chunxing responded and left, and the door was closed again.

The deaf old woman tucked the roasted chestnut into her bosom. As she stood up, the hem of her cotton robe brushed against the chair leg, making a soft rustling sound. She didn't ask any further questions, but as she walked to the door, she suddenly turned back and glanced at Lin Yifan.

"Xiao Fan, how old are you exactly this year?"

Lin Yifan was bending down to pull out a pair of tiger-head cotton shoes from under the bed when he heard this. He looked up, the candlelight casting interplay of light and shadow on his face: "Grandma Long, it says on the household registration book that you were born in 1933, eight years old by the Chinese age reckoning, and seven years old by the Western age reckoning."

"Seven years old..." the deaf old woman murmured repeatedly, reaching out to pull the latch. Her withered fingers slid across the brass ring before she gripped it firmly.

The door opened, and a cold wind swept in, carrying the twilight. Chunxing was carrying a tray out of the west wing. Seeing the deaf old woman come out, she quickly stepped aside to let her pass: "Mrs. Long, the dumplings must be eaten while they're hot. I'll put them in a clay pot for you; you can keep them warm when you get home."

"No need," the deaf old woman waved her hand, then, as if remembering something, she took out a piece of oil paper wrapped in her sleeve and handed it to Chunxing, "This is something I brought myself, braised pork hock. You can cut it up and let the young master have a taste."

Chunxing paused for a moment, then looked down at the oiled paper package in her hand; the aroma of oil was already emanating from it. When she looked up again, the deaf old woman had already passed through the moon gate, her figure disappearing into the shadows of the corner of the wall. Only a corner of her worn dark blue cotton robe flashed by in the twilight.

"Young master, what's wrong with Mrs. Long...?"

"Keep it."

Lin Yifan had already put on his shoes and was standing in the center of the main room, stretching his ankles. "I'll cut it up tonight, and the three of you can share it."

Chunxing said "Hey," tucked the oil paper package into her bosom, and carried the tray into the main room. Qiuju and Xiahe followed behind, one carrying a vinegar pot and garlic cloves, and the other carrying dishes.

Lin Yifan sat down at the table, and Chunxing set out chopsticks and plates for him.

He took the chopsticks, picked up a dumpling, put it in his mouth, smacked it twice, and narrowed his eyes: "It tastes really good. Qiuju's cooking skills are getting better and better. I wonder who will be lucky enough to marry you in the future?"

Qiu Ju's face flushed red instantly, and she almost dropped the vinegar pot, spilling a few drops onto the table. She hurriedly tried to wipe it with her sleeve, but Xia He grabbed her arm, saying, "Sister, don't mind the young master. He's just teasing you."

"that is,"

Chunxing smiled, her chopsticks never stopping, as she placed two more dumplings on Lin Yifan's plate. "Young master, how old are you? Already thinking about matchmaking?"

Lin Yifan swallowed the dumpling in his mouth, deliberately putting on a stern face: "I'm just concerned about you guys. Since the three of you are with me, I have to find you a good future. Qiuju's skills are something ordinary families can't afford."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the three girls' faces. Chunxing was steady and composed, Qiuju was skillful, and Xiahe was clever; each had her own merits.

But these days, good girls don't necessarily have good fortune. Since Grandpa Tang sent her over, he has to take full responsibility.

"Young master,"

Chunxing suddenly stopped laughing, her voice lowering, "What did Mrs. Long come to say? Is... is something unsettled outside again?"

The main room fell silent for a moment. The sky outside the window was completely dark, with only the embers in the stove casting a faint reddish glow through the window paper.

Lin Yifan picked up another dumpling, dipped it in vinegar, and chewed it slowly: "It's nothing serious. You don't need to worry about anything, just stay home and behave yourselves. Chinese New Year is in half a month, do you want me to send some New Year's goods back to your families?"