Courtyard Check-in: Starting with a Small World of Cultivation

June 27th, 6:30 AM.

The sky was overcast, as if it were about to rain. Chen Yu stood at the entrance of the courtyard house, watching Zhang Xiulan tie the red scarf around Bang Geng's neck. The child was going to school today, while they were going to court.

"Bang Geng, go straight home after school, don't play on the way." Zhang Xiulan squatted down and straightened her son's collar. "If... if someone talks to you, ignore them, run and find your teacher."

Banggeng nodded, his eyes showing a maturity beyond his years: "Mom, I know. Uncle Chen said someone will protect me."

Chen Yu patted Bang Geng's head: "Go on, do well on your exam."

Watching Banggeng disappear into the alleyway with his schoolbag on his back, Chen Yu turned to look at Zhang Xiulan. Today she was wearing a faded blue cotton shirt, her hair was neatly combed, but her tightly clenched hands and pale face betrayed her inner tension.

"Aunt Zhang, are you ready?"

"Hmm." Zhang Xiulan took a deep breath. "Xiaoyu, tell me... to be honest, do you really think those people won't retaliate?"

"The police have already set up a cordon," Chen Yu said in a low voice. "Yesterday I went to the police station and heard that the three people at No. 47 Gulou East Street were apprehended last night. Threatening witnesses is a serious crime."

Zhang Xiulan's eyes lit up: "You caught them?"

"Hmm." Chen Yu didn't elaborate on the details. In fact, the fake man number three had been secretly monitoring that courtyard all night, and personally witnessed the police storming in to arrest people in the early hours of the morning. But he couldn't say any of that.

At seven o'clock, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, He Yuzhu, and several other people from the courtyard came out. The court summoned not only Chen Yu and Zhang Xiulan, but also Yi Zhonghai, the eldest brother of the courtyard, and Liu Haizhong, the former second eldest brother (although he was dismissed from his post), who were both required to appear in court to testify. He Yuzhu went voluntarily, saying he wanted to "watch the show."

The group walked silently toward the bus stop. Rain began to fall, a light drizzle wetting the cobblestone path.

The district court is located on Gulou West Street, in a gray three-story building. A crowd had already gathered at the entrance. There were reporters, onlookers, and several people dressed in Zhongshan suits with serious expressions—Chen Yu glanced at them and recognized two of them as district officials.

"So many people..." Zhang Xiulan nervously gripped the hem of her clothes.

"Don't be afraid, follow me," Chen Yu said in a low voice.

At 8:30, the bailiffs began letting people in. The courtroom, located on the first floor, could accommodate over a hundred people, and was already more than half full. The front row was occupied by the defendant's family members—Jia Zhangshi, Lou Xiao'e, and the Third Aunt, among others; the middle row was the witness stand; and the back row was for the general public.

Chen Yu sat in the third row of the witness stand, next to Zhang Xiulan. He looked around and saw several familiar faces: Director Li from the steel rolling mill, Director Wang from the street office, Chief Zhao from the police station... It seemed that this case had indeed attracted attention from all sides.

At exactly nine o'clock, the gavel struck.

"Everyone stand up!"

The presiding judge, judges, and court clerk took their seats. The presiding judge was an elderly judge in his fifties, with a stern face and sharp eyes.

"Court is now in session. Bring the defendant."

The side door opened, and bailiffs escorted Jia Dongxu, Yan Bugui, Xu Damao, and four others inside. All eight were dressed in prison uniforms and handcuffed. Jia Dongxu had his head down and his steps were unsteady; Yan Bugui's face was ashen, and his eyes darted around behind his glasses; Xu Damao, on the other hand, held his head high, seemingly trying to maintain a semblance of dignity.

A commotion broke out in the gallery. Jia Zhangshi covered her mouth and began to cry, but was stopped by the bailiffs.

The prosecutor began reading the indictment. Chen Yu listened carefully, and the outline of the case gradually became clear: Yan Bugui, as the principal offender, used his position as a primary school teacher to contact antique dealers, and recruited Jia Dongxu, Xu Damao, and others to resell 37 antiques over nearly five years, involving more than 5,000 yuan—an astronomical figure in the 1960s.

"Defendant Yan Bugui, do you have any objection to the above charges?" the presiding judge asked.

Yan Bugui raised his head, his voice hoarse: "I...I confess. But some things weren't done by me alone; Jia Dongxu, Xu Damao, and the others were also involved..."

"You're lying!" Xu Damao suddenly shouted. "He tricked me! He said those things were family heirlooms and asked me to help find buyers. I didn't know they were antiques!"

"Silence!" the bailiff shouted.

Next came the examination of evidence. One by one, photographs and physical artifacts were presented to the court: blue-and-white porcelain vases, ancient paintings, jade objects, copper coins… each item had a serial number and a certificate of authenticity. The prosecutor explained in detail the age, value, and process of how each artifact was stolen and sold.

Exclamations of surprise frequently came from the audience. Most of these cultural relics came from ancient tombs and old houses around Beijing, some of which were even protected by the government in the early days of the People's Republic of China.

"This is an outrageous crime! This is the destruction of national cultural relics!" someone in the audience muttered.

Chen Yu watched in silence. Among these artifacts, there were several he had seen that night at the land temple—the very same ones Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong had traded. It seemed that these items had still been seized after that failed transaction.

At 10:30, the summoning of witnesses began.

The first witness was the old owner of the antique shop. He testified that Yan Bugui had brought items to sell many times, each time claiming they were "family heirlooms." However, the items were varied and clearly not something that could be found in one shop.

The second witness was the landlord of No. 47 Gulou East Street. He confirmed that the courtyard had been rented by Yan Bugui for a long time and that people often came and went late at night.

The third witness is Zhang Xiulan.

"Witness Zhang Xiulan, please state what you know," the presiding judge said.

Zhang Xiulan stood up, her hands trembling slightly. Chen Yu whispered beside her, "Don't be nervous, tell the truth."

"I...I am Jia Dongxu's wife," Zhang Xiulan began, her voice trembling slightly. "About two years ago, I noticed that Dongxu sometimes came home very late at night with money in his pocket. When I asked him about it, he said it was from doing business with Teacher Yan..."

"What kind of business do you do?"

"He wouldn't say at first, but then one time he got drunk and said he could make money by reselling old items." Zhang Xiulan's voice gradually calmed down. "I advised him not to do it, saying it was illegal. He said it was fine, Teacher Yan had connections, and the police wouldn't be able to find out."

Why didn't you report it back then?

Zhang Xiulan was silent for a moment: "I...I'm scared. Dongxu said that if I dare to tell anyone, he'll divorce me. I have a child..."

A murmur rippled through the audience. Madam Jia Zhang gritted her teeth in her seat, but dared not utter a sound.

"Go on."

"Last autumn, Dongxu brought home a blue and white porcelain bowl, saying it was from the Ming Dynasty imperial kiln and could sell for two hundred yuan," Zhang Xiulan recalled. "I was terrified and told him to return it immediately. He wouldn't listen, saying that a price had already been agreed upon. That night, Teacher Yan and a man wearing glasses came to our house, took the bowl away, and gave Dongxu one hundred and fifty yuan."

The prosecutor held up a photograph: "Is this the bowl?"

Zhang Xiulan looked at it carefully and nodded: "Yes, this is it."

"Your Honor, this is evidence number 017, a Ming Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain bowl with a lotus scroll design, which has been identified as a national third-grade cultural relic." The prosecutor finished speaking and looked at Zhang Xiulan. "Witness, did Jia Dongxu sell anything else?"

"There's... there's also a bronze incense burner, a jade pendant, and a few ancient coins," Zhang Xiulan recounted, and with each item she mentioned, Jia Dongxu's head drooped a little lower.

After Zhang Xiulan finished testifying, it was Chen Yu's turn.

"Witness Chen Yu, please state what you know." The presiding judge looked at the documents in his hand. "Are you Jia Dongxu's neighbor?"

"Yes, I live in the courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, and Jia Dongxu lives across from me." Chen Yu stood up, his voice steady.

Do you usually have a lot of contact with Jia Dongxu?

"Not often. I work during the day and come home at night. We usually just greet each other when we meet," Chen Yu said honestly. "But there was one time last year when I did see something unusual."

"What's going on?"

"One night last October, around 10 p.m., I heard arguing coming from the Jia family home," Chen Yu recalled. "I saw from the window that Jia Dongxu was talking to someone in the yard, and they were very agitated. I later saw that person in the yard; it was Teacher Yan Bugui."

"What are they arguing about?"

"I couldn't hear the specifics, but I heard words like 'money,' 'profit sharing,' and 'risk,'" Chen Yu said. "At the time, I didn't think much of it and assumed it was a neighborhood dispute. Now that I think about it, it was probably about dividing up the stolen money."

Yan Bugui suddenly looked up: "You're talking nonsense! We were talking about school that night!"

"Defendant Yan Bugui, you are not allowed to speak without permission!" The presiding judge banged the gavel.

Chen Yu continued, "In addition, in March of this year, I saw Xu Damao frequently going to Teacher Yan's house at night, always carrying a bag. One time, I went out to use the restroom at night and saw Xu Damao coming out of Teacher Yan's house, his bag bulging."

Xu Damao's face changed drastically: "You're slandering me! I was... I was just borrowing books!"

"Do I need to go at 10 p.m. to borrow books?" the prosecutor asked rhetorically.

Xu Damao was speechless.

After Chen Yu finished testifying, there were several other witnesses: Yi Zhonghai testified that strangers frequently came and went in the courthouse; He Yuzhu testified that Xu Damao suddenly became extravagant and often ate out during that period; Liu Haizhong... Liu Haizhong stammered during his testimony, clearly trying to distance himself from the situation.

The court adjourned for one hour at noon. Chen Yu and Zhang Xiulan ate a simple meal in the court cafeteria. Zhang Xiulan barely touched her chopsticks, only drinking water constantly.

"I told you... I told you everything..." she murmured, "Will Dongxu hate me for the rest of his life?"

"Aunt Zhang, you did the right thing," Chen Yu said earnestly. "Cultural relics are the wealth of the nation and a testament to history. Selling cultural relics is destroying the cultural roots of our nation."

Zhang Xiulan nodded, but her eyes still showed pain.

The court session resumed at 1 p.m., proceeding to the court debate phase.

The prosecutor delivered a passionate speech, condemning the defendants' crime of damaging cultural relics and demanding severe punishment. The defense attorney, however, pleaded for leniency, arguing that they were first-time offenders, had shown remorse, and requested a lighter sentence.

Yan Bugui's defense lawyer emphasized: "My client is a primary school teacher who has dedicated many years to educating and nurturing numerous students. This crime was a moment of folly, and we request the court to consider his past contributions and grant him leniency."

The prosecutor immediately retorted: "Being a teacher is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. On the contrary, as educators, we should be even more aware of and abide by the law! Yan Bugui used his position as a teacher to gain trust and recruit others to commit crimes, which is even more egregious!"

The debate lasted for two hours. At 3 p.m., the final statements were presented.

Jia Dongxu was the first to speak. He turned around, looked at Jia Zhangshi and Zhang Xiulan in the family section, and suddenly knelt down.

"Mom, Xiulan... I'm so sorry." His voice choked with emotion. "I was blinded by greed, thinking about making quick money to give my family a better life... I was wrong, I was so wrong..."

Jia Zhangshi burst into tears, and Zhang Xiulan also covered her face and wept.

"Your Honor, I plead guilty and I am willing to accept punishment." Jia Dongxu kowtowed. "I only beg... I only beg that my family not be implicated."

Xu Damao's statement was an attempt to shirk responsibility: "I was deceived by Yan Bugui! He said those things were legitimate, so I believed him... I am guilty, I plead guilty, but I am not the principal offender!"

During his final statement, Yan Bugui slumped in his chair: "I...I have nothing more to say. I plead guilty and accept the verdict."

The court adjourned at 3:30 p.m. for deliberation.

The wait for the verdict felt exceptionally long. The courtroom was silent except for the occasional cough and the rustling of papers. Outside, the rain intensified, pattering against the glass.

At 4:00 sharp, the bailiffs entered: "Everyone, stand up!"

The judge and others returned to their seats. Everyone held their breath.

"The verdict is now being announced." The presiding judge put on his glasses and began reading the verdict.

"...The defendant, Yan Bugui, was convicted of speculation and profiteering, and of damaging cultural relics. He was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment, deprived of his political rights for three years, and all his personal property was confiscated..."

Yan Bugui's legs went weak, and he was supported by the bailiffs.

"...Defendant Xu Damao was convicted of speculation and profiteering and sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with his illegal gains confiscated..."

Xu Damao's face turned deathly pale.

"...Defendant Jia Dongxu, convicted of speculation and profiteering, is sentenced to four years imprisonment in view of his status as an accomplice, his good attitude in admitting guilt, and his remorse..."

Four years! One year less than the five years we had planned! Zhang Xiulan covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.

The other five accomplices were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to six years.

"If you disagree with this judgment, you may appeal within ten days from the second day after receiving the judgment..." The presiding judge struck the gavel, "Court adjourned!"

The bailiffs took the defendant away. Jia Zhangshi fainted and was carried away by the bailiffs. Lou Xiao'e slumped in her seat, while the three older women fainted from crying.

Chen Yu helped Zhang Xiulan out of the courtroom. The rain was still falling, and the sky was overcast.

"Four years...four years..." Zhang Xiulan murmured, "Bang Geng was twelve years old when his father was able to get out..."

"Aunt Zhang, look ahead," Chen Yu said. "These four years, take good care of the child and make the most of your life. When Dongxu comes out, everything will start anew."

It was already evening when they returned to the courtyard. The courtyard was deathly silent. The Yan family's gate was tightly shut, and the Xu family's gate was also closed. At the Jia family's gate, Zhang Xiulan helped the dazed Jia Zhangshi into the house, while Banggeng ran out of the house, hugging his mother and crying bitterly.

Yi Zhonghai convened a short meeting with everyone in the compound: "The matter has been decided, and everyone has seen it. Our compound's reputation is ruined by this incident. But life goes on. From now on, everyone should mind their own business and avoid causing any more trouble."

No one spoke. Everyone had their heads down.

When Chen Yu returned home, Qin Huairu had already prepared dinner. Xiao Dang and Huaihua, being sensible, didn't ask too many questions and simply ate quietly. After dinner, Chen Yu entered his little world.

In the herb garden, the herbs had grown taller again. He picked a few leaves, preparing to refine a new batch of pills. But today he wasn't in the mood for refining pills; he simply sat by the spirit spring, quietly contemplating.

The people from the Heavenly Alliance should have already left. What "marks" did they leave behind? We need to find them.

Chen Yu exited the small world and began to carefully examine the room. He activated his spiritual eye technique to the fullest extent, scanning the walls, floor, and furniture inch by inch... Finally, in the crack of the window frame, he discovered something unusual—a white crystal the size of a grain of rice, tightly attached to the crack in the wood, emitting extremely faint spiritual energy fluctuations.

"A recording stone?" Chen Yu recognized the object. It was a common gadget in the cultivation world, capable of recording surrounding images and sounds for months at a time. The Heavenly Dao Alliance left it behind to monitor his every move.

Chen Yu carefully enveloped the recording stone with his spiritual energy and took it out. The stone was slightly warm in his palm, clearly still working. He couldn't destroy it directly, otherwise it would arouse suspicion.

He thought for a moment, then took the recording stone into the small world. Here, the recording stone shouldn't be able to record the outside world. Sure enough, after entering the small world, the recording stone's light dimmed.

Chen Yu found a jade box, placed the recording stone inside, and then affixed three concealment talismans to the outside of the box. This should isolate it from his senses. He would deal with it later when the time was right.

After dealing with the recording stone, Chen Yu began his cultivation for the night. He took a Body Tempering Pill, and its medicinal effects dissolved within his body, strengthening his muscles and bones once again. By midnight, he clearly felt that his physical strength had reached a critical point—the bottleneck of the seventh level of the Qi Refining stage had loosened!

"With two more Body Tempering Pills, I should be able to break through to the eighth level," Chen Yu estimated. This speed was faster than he had expected; the combined effects of the spiritual herbs and pills made his cultivation path much smoother.

It was already 2 a.m. when he finished his cultivation. Chen Yu was wide awake. He took out paper and pen and began to plan his next move.

The turmoil in the courtyard has temporarily subsided, but its impact will last for a long time. The "Observation Project" is progressing smoothly and needs to be continued. In terms of cultivation, the Body Tempering Pill is proving remarkably effective; we must seize the opportunity to break through. Although the Heavenly Dao Alliance has temporarily withdrawn, the existence of the recording stone indicates that they have not completely abandoned their suspicions.

And... the ancient monks' caves in southern Yunnan.

Chen Yu recalled the conversation between the two from the Heavenly Dao Alliance. An ancient cultivator's cave meant there might be cultivation techniques, magical treasures, or inheritances. Although he couldn't go there now, he could gather information beforehand.

He decided to go to the library tomorrow to look up geographical and historical information about southern Yunnan. He also needed to start preparing for leaving Beijing in the future—according to his original plan, he intended to develop his career in Hong Kong when the time was right.

Hong Kong, 1966.

That place, about to take off, is where his future stage lies.

Outside the window, the rain gradually stopped. Moonlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the roof tiles of the courtyard house.

Chen Yu put away his pen and paper and looked out the window.

One night has passed, and a new day is about to begin.

And a new journey awaits in the distance.