Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

Ever since the fifty acres of land in the northwest suburbs were fenced off and leveled, He Damin's life seemed to have become much more leisurely. In the depths of winter, the frozen soil was as hard as iron, and construction was temporarily suspended until the thaw in the spring. Captain Zhao of the Production and Construction Corps left with his men, leaving only an old man to guard the site, sitting around a charcoal brazier, watching over the empty frozen soil and the dusty fence.

He Damin suddenly felt a little out of sorts. He had grown accustomed to the solitude of his seclusion, to the meticulous planning and scheming that followed his emergence, and to the recent flurry of activity surrounding land acquisition and house construction. Now, everything was temporarily settled—Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old woman were dead, the white widow had vanished, Wang Hongxia had "committed suicide," Zhu Zi had returned to Hongbinlou, Yu Shui had enrolled in school, the land was acquired, and the wall had been erected… For a moment, he felt a strange sense of emptiness, as if he had nothing to do.

He became a rising star among the "street hustlers" in the Nanluoguxiang area—of course, in a completely different style.

Every morning, after seeing off the energetic Zhu Zi to Hongbinlou, he would lead the still sleepy Yushui to Hongxing Elementary School. Upon returning, he would leisurely stroll out the door. He didn't go anywhere in particular, just wandered aimlessly through the streets and alleys of Beijing. From the bustling Qianmen Street to the quieter depths of the hutongs; from newly opened department stores to old teahouses and storytelling venues. He walked among the predominantly gray, blue, and black crowds, wearing a new Chinese-style cotton robe—exquisitely made and perfectly tailored—that Chen Xueru had later personally delivered (she certainly hadn't "delayed" him for too long). His long hair was tied up, his face serene, and his demeanor outstanding, attracting many glances, but he seemed oblivious.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator, his perception of time differed from that of mortals. Eight years of seclusion passed in the blink of an eye. Now, strolling through the streets, watching the flow of traffic and people, listening to the hustle and bustle of the city, every breath seemed to be stretched out, becoming clear and concrete. He could see the frostbitten cracks on the hands of the candied hawthorn vendor, hear the excitement and worry in the voices of the old people in the teahouse as they talked about the victories of the Volunteer Army, and feel the complex light in the eyes of ordinary people under the new regime, a mixture of hardship and hope.

As he walked, he would occasionally think of his Jeep—an American-made Willys—that had been gathering dust in the small world. It was in excellent condition, gleaming with oil. If he could drive it out, it would be much more convenient to go anywhere: pick up school students, check on construction sites, or even explore further afield. But the problem was that private ownership of cars, especially those of unknown origin, was a sensitive issue these days.

He made a special inquiry. Under current policy, private ownership of cars is generally prohibited; it's considered "bourgeois." Existing private cars (legacy from before liberation) require registration with the traffic management department, a process with extremely strict scrutiny. The department often recommends that the vehicle be "valued" and transferred to the public or registered under the name of a state-owned enterprise. Purchasing a new car is virtually impossible; quotas are strictly controlled, requiring application from the work unit and planned allocation. Gasoline is also strictly rationed, purchased and distributed by the work unit.

"Looks like I need to find a 'work unit' for this car," He Damin thought to himself. His "vehicle repair service station," still just on paper, was a ready-made name. Perhaps he could wait until the service station was somewhat established and then apply for a vehicle quota under the pretext of "work needs"? Or... to be more direct, he could use Director Yang's connections to go through "special channels" and "register" this Willys Jeep with him, and then find a way to get some gas vouchers. This wasn't urgent; he could work it out slowly. A monk's walking speed wasn't actually slow, but... having a car would always be more convenient, and it also better suited his future "businessman" persona.

Aside from strolling around and thinking about cars, He Damin focused most of his attention on his home.

Although Zhu Zi went to Hongbinlou Restaurant and worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, He Damin could tell that the boy's health was still weak. Years of hunger and cold had damaged his constitution. The oil and food from the kitchen and regular exercise alone couldn't make up for it.

That night, Zhu Zi dragged his tired but satisfied body home (Master Li Baoguo was strict and the apprentice worked hard). After dinner and washing up, he was about to go to bed when He Damin called him back.

"Zhu Zi, come here." He Damin pointed to the huge, steaming wooden bathtub on the floor of the inner room. "Take a soak and relax. I've already boiled the water."

Zhu Zi was a little puzzled. Why did his uncle suddenly decide to let him take a bath today? But he was always obedient, especially to his uncle, so he took off his clothes as instructed, sat in the boiling hot water, and breathed a long sigh of relief.

He Damin stood aside and watched him soak for a while. Once his pores were open and his blood and qi were active, he took out a small, white porcelain bottle from his bosom (which was actually a small world) and poured out a pill the size of a longan, which emitted a faint fragrance and had cloud patterns flowing on its surface.

"Take this pill." He Damin handed the pill to Zhu Zi's mouth.

Zhu Zi stared at the beautiful pill for a moment, then without hesitation, took it and swallowed it. The pill melted instantly in his mouth, and a warm, slightly tingling sensation slid from his throat into his stomach, then spread rapidly throughout his body!

"Ugh!" Zhu Zi groaned, feeling as if countless tiny mice were scurrying inside his body, a sensation that was itchy, numb, and hot. His skin quickly turned red, and wisps of white steam rose from the top of his head. He instinctively tried to resist, but then he heard his uncle's calm voice: "Don't resist, relax, bear with it. This is a Marrow Cleansing Pill, meant to cleanse your bones and strengthen your foundation."

Marrow Cleansing Pill! Although Zhu Zi didn't understand cultivation, he had heard some legends about it and knew it was an extraordinary treasure. He gritted his teeth and endured the increasingly intense soreness, numbness, swelling, and pain in his body, as if his bones were being torn apart. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his muscles trembled uncontrollably.

He Damin placed one hand on his head, and a wisp of pure and peaceful true energy slowly flowed in, guiding the medicine to operate in an orderly manner, protecting his heart and major organs, alleviating the pain, and ensuring maximum absorption of the medicine's effects.

This process lasted for about half an hour. The water in the bathtub turned murky and black, emitting a foul odor, which was the impurities and toxins expelled from Zhu Zi's body. Zhu Zi was almost exhausted, but after the pain subsided, he felt an unprecedented sense of ease and strength, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted, his internal organs felt much clearer, and his vision and hearing seemed to have become clearer.

"Alright, come out now and rinse yourself with water." He Damin withdrew his hand, his expression unchanged.

Zhu Zi staggered out of the bathtub, rinsed his body, and dried himself off. He felt refreshed and energetic. Although he was tired, he was unusually full of energy. Even the soreness in his wrists from tossing and chopping vegetables during the day had disappeared.

"Starting tomorrow, get up at cockcrow every day," He Damin said. "I will teach you a set of boxing techniques to strengthen your body and also to defend yourself."

"Fist techniques?" Zhu Zi's eyes lit up.

Bajiquan.

Thus, a new scene appeared in the courtyard's backyard at dawn. Before daybreak, He Yuzhu, under He Damin's guidance, was already practicing the basic stances and power generation techniques of Bajiquan meticulously in the quiet courtyard. He Damin taught with great patience, from the most basic stances and horse stance to simple movements like the hammer strike and the horse paw strike. Every movement required precision, and the power generation emphasized "sudden, powerful strikes" and "movement like a taut bow, release like thunder." With the help of the Marrow Cleansing Pill, Yuzhu's muscles and bones were much stronger, and his comprehension was also good. He practiced extremely seriously, and soon sweat appeared on his forehead, rising in the morning light as white mist.

He Damin would occasionally demonstrate the movements himself. The movements seemed simple and unadorned, but the inner strength made the air hum. Zhu Zi was mesmerized and focused even more intently.

Besides Zhu Zi, another person who began to frequently appear in the He family's life was Chen Xue Ru.

Ever since that "love at first sight" moment at the silk shop, Chen Xueru had taken the initiative. The clothes were already made, and she personally delivered them, also "casually" bringing a few brightly colored scraps of fabric to tie Yushui's hair, and "coincidentally" chatting about whether Yushui was adjusting well to school and whether she needed a new schoolbag…

As time went by, she visited No. 95 Nanluoguxiang more and more frequently. The reasons were varied: a new batch of good fabric had arrived, which she thought would be suitable for Brother He (that's what she insisted on calling him) to make spring shirts; she heard that Yushui liked to listen to stories, so she brought a newly published comic book; she even "passed by" to see if there was anything she could help with at the construction site (although she was a silk shop owner who knew nothing about construction).

He Damin was initially somewhat distant, but Chen Xueru was warm and straightforward, and her sense of propriety was impeccable; she never overstepped boundaries, always treating herself as a neighbor and friend. More importantly, Xiaoyushui unexpectedly adored this beautiful and generous "Aunt Xueru." Chen Xueru would style her hair beautifully, take her out for delicious snacks, and tell her interesting stories, filling the long-standing void in the little girl's life—the tenderness and companionship of a female elder. Every time Yushui saw Chen Xueru, she would show a rare, genuinely happy smile, chattering incessantly.

He Damin, with his keen insight, naturally understood Chen Xueru's thoughts. Through occasional conversations and indirect observation, he also learned about Chen Xueru's current situation. She was indeed unmarried, and her only family was her mother. Her parents had previously arranged a marriage for her with a man surnamed Hou, who was said to be from a well-off family, but seemed somewhat unreliable, with rumors that he wanted to run away abroad. Chen Xueru herself was proud and ambitious, deeply influenced by new ideas, yearning for free love and an independent career, and extremely averse to arranged marriages. After her father's death, she used the excuse of needing to care for her mother and running her shop to withstand the pressure and reject the engagement. Now, the silk shop was thriving under her management; she was a true "little woman" and a strong woman.

Seeing how Yu Shui depended on Chen Xue Ru, and seeing how generous and proper Chen Xue Ru acted, how she admired him but did not pester him, and how considerate and thoughtful she was in every way (for example, knowing that he lived alone with two children, she would "casually" bring him some food or daily necessities from time to time), He Damin's long-frozen heart lake couldn't help but be stirred by a very faint ripple, one that even he himself had never deeply explored.

He remained taciturn, his expression indifferent, but whenever Chen Xueru visited, he would tacitly allow her to stay for dinner, occasionally answering one or two of her questions. To the others in the courtyard, this exceptionally handsome and enigmatic second son of the He family, and the beautiful and capable silk shop owner, were becoming increasingly intriguing. Even He Yuzhu had quietly asked Yushui, "Yushui, what do you think of Aunt Xueru...?"

Yu Shui hugged the new rag doll Chen Xueru had given her and nodded vigorously, "I love it! Aunt Xueru is the best!"

Days passed by in this calm and slightly rippling rhythm. The leisurely pace of life, the planning for the future, the nurturing of his family, and the quietly growing sentiments of everyday life intertwined to create He Damin's first relatively peaceful winter after returning to the city.