Courtyard House: Rebirth of a Shopkeeper in 1937

Everyone worked efficiently. Auntie, Sister Shanshan, Aunt Long, and Aunt Deng sat around the charcoal fire, mending clothes by the light of the fire. Their stitches were fine and meticulous, carefully patching up the holes. Father, along with his eldest brother, second brother, and Brother Dashan, collected the few thinner coats the students wore, took them to the kitchen, gently washed them with warm water, wrung them out, and laid them out on the bamboo drying rack by the stove to dry slowly with the heat of the fire, so they could wear them the next morning. The students weren't idle either. Those who were a little better sat aside helping to pass needles and thread and arrange fabric, while those who were weak rested by the charcoal fire. The previous somber mood in the kitchen was gone, replaced by a busy yet warm atmosphere.

Everyone was so engrossed in mending and washing clothes that they had worked all afternoon without realizing it, completely forgetting about Guixiang, who had been carried back to her room to sleep by her eldest brother. It wasn't until evening, when the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, that they suddenly heard a pitiful sob coming from the inner room. Then, Guixiang, rubbing her sleepy eyes and with her hair all messy, stumbled out, her little mouth pouting so much it could hang an oil lamp, her stomach growling loudly. She mumbled in a tearful voice, "You all forgot about me... I woke up hungry, and no one woke me up..." Her pitiful appearance instantly amused everyone busy at work, and the warmth in the kitchen deepened.

After a night's rest, the sorrow in the kitchen completely dissipated. The next morning, as dawn broke, the warm winter sun pierced through the clouds, shining on the bamboo building of the kitchen and dispelling the lingering chill. The last group of teachers and students from Sanmin Middle School, after half a day of rest and a good night's sleep, looked much better; their eyes had lost their previous numbness and fatigue, and their steps had become more steady. After packing their simple belongings, they set off for Sanmin Middle School in the Medicine Capital, seeing off their fathers and Xingbao's family.

Father had already cooked a large bag of sweet potatoes in the kitchen beforehand. Each one was round and warm, wrapped in a clean coarse cloth, and placed in the hands of each teacher and student. He gently instructed them, "If you get hungry on the way, eat some sweet potatoes to tide you over. They are all homegrown, very sweet and sticky. Take care on your journey, and remember to let us know when you arrive at school safely." The teachers and students held the warm sweet potatoes, their hands warmed, and their hearts warmed even more. They thanked Father repeatedly, their eyes full of gratitude.

As they were about to part, the two gentlemen suddenly stopped and turned to look at the Sanmin Middle School flag still fluttering at the entrance of the shop. Their eyes were full of solemnity. One of the gentlemen stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and asked, "Shopkeeper, could you please keep this flag for a little longer? If any teachers or students from our school happen to pass by and see this flag, they will know that they can rest here and get help."

Father followed the teacher's gaze to the flag. Although the flag was somewhat old, it was still upright. He immediately nodded, his tone firm and sincere: "Teacher, rest assured, unless the flag is broken or there is some other unavoidable reason, I will keep it planted at the gate to protect the teachers and students who pass by." He knew in his heart that this flag was not only the symbol of Sanmin Middle School, but also the hope of these students who were going through hardships. Every bit of help he could give was a helping hand.

"Then we'll have to trouble you, innkeeper!" The two gentlemen bowed deeply to the father again, their eyes filled with gratitude and entrustment. Without saying anything more, they turned and followed the group without looking back. After half a day of rest, their steps were noticeably more steady, their postures more upright, and their faces had lost their previous haggardness, replaced by more spirit. They steadily made their way towards the medicine capital, their figures gradually disappearing at the end of the mountain path.

After seeing off the last group of teachers and students, Dad and Mom exchanged a glance and let out a long sigh of relief. The weight that had been pressing on their hearts for days was finally lifted. These past few days had been filled with the busy work of hosting wave after wave of teachers and students, but the family had also felt completely at ease. Now that the last group had departed, they could finally relax and prepare for the New Year.

Life returned to its usual tranquility. Xingbao continued at his own pace, memorizing a few pages of his book each day. When tired, he would immerse himself in the medical books left by his master, or play with Guixiang in the yard for a while. In his spare time, he would quietly tend to his personal space, feeling a sense of peace as he looked at the thriving crops within. With the Lunar New Year fast approaching, his elder brother Yanbang grew anxious, noticing that Xingbao hadn't finished most of his memorization. He knew Xingbao would be going to Shuangfeng Academy after the New Year, and he urged him several times to speed things up and finish the book so he could use the holiday break to study properly.

But Xingbao remained unperturbed, completely unperturbed. Every time his older brother urged him, he would wave his hand with a smile, his tone both playful and self-righteous: "Big brother, what's the rush? You won't need these books for the next few years. I'll use them as practice to slowly improve my handwriting, isn't that good? Look at me, so young, yet I still have to memorize and read medical books every day. You wouldn't want to push me too hard, would you? If you wear me out, Mom and Dad won't let you off the hook!" As he spoke, he deliberately tilted his head, looking completely innocent, which made Guixiang laugh heartily. His older brother, speechless, could only shake his head helplessly and let him do as he pleased.

Time flew by, and it was already the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month. That morning, the eldest brother, Yanbang, finished his last lesson at the village's literacy class, finally fulfilling his promise to the villagers. He gently put away his textbook, his fingertips brushing the yellowed pages, a warm smile on his face, and announced the holiday to the children: "Class, that's all for now. We'll continue learning when we have the chance. Everyone, pack your things and take them home to prepare for the New Year. After the New Year, we'll be busy working in the fields, so you can take a good rest during the holiday." As soon as he finished speaking, the children stood up, bowed deeply to their elder brother, and respectfully said, "Thank you, Mr. Yanbang," their voices clear and sincere. Then, they each carried their own wooden stools, chatting and laughing in small groups as they walked home, their steps light, their faces full of undisguised joy, their eyes brimming with eager anticipation for the New Year.

Once everyone had left, the main room returned to its usual quiet. The tables and chairs were back in their places, and the floor was spotless, as if the lively scene had never happened. The eldest brother stood in the center of the room, his gaze slowly sweeping across the empty space. His fingertips unconsciously traced the stone slab used for teaching—the children's clear voices reciting their lessons, their eager inquiries, seemed to still echo in his ears. Now, only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire remained. A sense of emptiness welled up inside him, a barely perceptible hint of loss and a touch of undisguised longing flickered in his eyes. In truth, the whole family knew that the eldest brother had always harbored an ideal of educating and nurturing students. He loved watching the children shed their ignorance and learn to read, loved their wide, bright eyes and attentive expressions as they listened to lessons, and loved the solid feeling of being needed and recognized when he was teaching. However, his knowledge was not yet deep enough, so he had to temporarily suspend the literacy classes and devote himself to further study and accumulate knowledge. But everyone believes that one day, he will stand before his students again with more solid knowledge and a more determined heart, fulfilling his wish to teach and educate people, and also fulfilling the villagers' expectations for literacy and reason.