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

At 3:20 p.m. on July 6, train K15 slowly pulled into Guangzhou Station.

Looking out the train window, Chen Yu saw that the platform was packed with people, even more crowded and noisy than Beijing Station. Passengers in short-sleeved shirts, straw hats, carrying loads on shoulder poles, or carrying bamboo baskets... all sorts of attire merged into a torrent. A complex aroma, a mixture of sweat, tobacco, and tropical fruit, filled the air.

"Wow, so many people!" He Yuzhu exclaimed, peering out the window with wide eyes. "This is way more crowded than Beijing Railway Station!"

After the train came to a stop, the two of them got off with their luggage. As soon as they stepped onto the platform, a wave of heat hit them – in July, the temperature in Guangzhou was at least ten degrees higher than in Beijing, and the humidity was also high. After only a few steps, Chen Yu felt that the back of his shirt was soaked with sweat.

"It's like a steamer." He Yuzhu wiped his sweat. "Chen Yu, shall we go to my cousin's place first? He said he'll pick us up at the exit."

"Okay." Chen Yu nodded, his spiritual sense quietly spreading out. Guangzhou Station was much larger than Beijing Station, and the crowds were far more chaotic. He searched for He Yuzhu's cousin in the crowd, while warily scanning his surroundings—could Scarface be nearby?

Outside the station exit, a young man in his twenties was holding up a signboard with the three words "He Yuzhu" scrawled on it in a crooked hand. The young man was tall and thin, wearing a white undershirt and blue cloth pants, with dark skin, and had the typical appearance of a southerner.

"Cousin!" He Yuzhu waved.

"Cousin!" The young man ran over excitedly, "We've finally arrived! Was the journey smooth?"

"It's alright, there was just a little trouble in the car that caused a delay," He Yuzhu introduced. "This is my neighbor Chen Yu, he came to Guangzhou with me on business. Chen Yu, this is my cousin He Jianjun."

"Hello, Brother Chen!" He Jianjun shook hands warmly. "Come on, let's go to my place first, have some water and rest."

He Jianjun's restaurant was located on an old street in Yuexiu District. The three of them took a bus there, and Chen Yu carefully observed the street scenes of Guangzhou along the way. Guangzhou in the 1960s already had a distinct southern charm: the streets were lined with arcade buildings, and shops on the ground floor sold herbal tea, fabrics, daily necessities, and more... The signs were mostly in traditional Chinese characters, and occasionally you could see English. The pedestrians on the street were dressed more brightly than in Beijing; the girls wore floral dresses, and some young men wore floral shirts, which was rarely seen in the north.

"Guangzhou is open and sophisticated," He Jianjun explained when he saw Chen Yu looking closely. "It's close to Hong Kong, so a lot of things came from there."

The bus stopped at a bus stop called "Wende Road". The three of them got off and turned into a narrow alley. The alley was narrow, paved with bluestone slabs, and lined with two-story old houses with peeling paint that revealed the blue bricks underneath. The air was filled with the aroma of food, the smell of Chinese medicine, and a faint salty, fishy smell—the smell of the Pearl River.

"We've arrived." He Jianjun stopped in front of a storefront.

The restaurant wasn't large; a wooden plaque hung above the entrance, inscribed with the four characters "He Ji's Little Restaurant." The storefront was about three meters wide, and inside were six small square tables, three of which were already occupied. A young woman in her early twenties was clearing the tables; seeing them enter, she looked up and smiled, "The boss's back?"

"Yes, Fang, this is my cousin and his friend," He Jianjun introduced. "Cousin, this is Fang, who helps out at the shop. She's from my hometown."

"Brother Jianjun, please have a seat. I'll go pour some tea." Afang quickly wiped a table clean.

Chen Yu looked around the restaurant. Although it wasn't big, it was clean and tidy. There were portraits of Chairman Mao and the slogan "Serve the People" on the walls, as well as several menus: poached chicken, steamed fish, braised pork with preserved vegetables... The prices were much cheaper than in Beijing.

"Cousin, Brother Chen, have some herbal tea to cool down." He Jianjun brought over two bowls of dark brown liquid.

Chen Yu took a sip; it was bittersweet, with a refreshing aroma of mint and herbs. "What kind of tea is this?"

"Guangdong herbal tea, it's good for cooling down," He Jianjun said with a smile. "It's hot and humid here, and it's easy to get a sore throat if you don't drink herbal tea. By the way, Brother Chen, what brings you to Guangzhou this time...?"

"I'm meeting a friend to discuss some things." Chen Yu put down his bowl. "Jianjun, how many years have you been in Guangzhou?"

"It's been four years." He Jianjun sat down. "I started out working on construction sites, then saved up some money and took over this little shop. Business is alright, I can earn seventy or eighty yuan a month. It's just that I can't manage it all by myself, so I wanted my cousin to come and help."

He Yuzhu asked, "You said in your letter that it was sixty yuan a month, including room and board?"

"Yes." He Jianjun nodded. "The place to stay is upstairs. I rented two rooms, one for myself and one empty. As for food, needless to say, how could we, who run a restaurant, go hungry? Cousin, if you come, we brothers will work together and make the restaurant bigger."

He Yuzhu was clearly tempted, but still said, "Let me think about it some more."

Chen Yu didn't interrupt. This was He Yuzhu's own choice, and he couldn't say anything more.

After resting for a while, Chen Yu said, "Jianjun, do you know where 'Xuanhutang' is?"

"Xuanhutang? I know it, it's in Liwan District, a long-established clinic," He Jianjun said. "Brother Chen, are you going to see a doctor?"

"No, I'm going to see someone." Chen Yu glanced at his watch; it was almost five o'clock. "I'm coming now."

"Then I'll take you there." He Jianjun stood up. "There are many alleys over there, it's hard to find."

Chen Yu didn't refuse. It was his first time in Guangzhou, and he definitely needed a guide.

He Ji Restaurant wasn't far from Xuanhu Hall, just a twenty-minute walk away. Along the way, they passed a market, bustling with activity at dusk. Vendors selling vegetables, fish, chickens, and ducks called out their wares in a lively cacophony. Chen Yu noticed some vendors selling things he'd never seen before: snake-like creatures coiled in cages, whole civets, pangolins…

"Those are ingredients for the Dragon Tiger Fight," He Jianjun explained when he saw Chen Yu staring at them. "People in Guangzhou love to eat wild game, and these are all legal and licensed."

Chen Yu nodded, but in his heart he thought, "Decades later, these will all be protected animals." The difference between eras lies in these details.

Xuanhu Hall is located in a quieter alley. It is a two-story old house made of blue bricks, with a simple and unadorned facade. A plaque that reads "Xuanhu Jishi" (meaning "Hanging a gourd to save the world") hangs on the black lacquered door, and the couplet on both sides reads: "May all people in the world be free from illness, what does it matter if the medicine on the shelf gathers dust?" There is also a copper gourd placed at the entrance, polished to a shine.

"This is it," He Jianjun said. "Brother Chen, shall I wait for you outside?"

"No need, you go back first, I can manage on my own."

After He Jianjun left, Chen Yu straightened his clothes and knocked on the door.

A moment later, the door opened, and a young apprentice, about fifteen or sixteen years old, poked his head out: "Sir, are you here for a medical consultation or to get medicine?"

"I contacted a friend recommended by Dr. Li Jimin, whose surname is Huang."

The young apprentice's eyes lit up: "Is this Mr. Chen from Beijing? Dr. Huang gave instructions, please come in, please come in."

Chen Yu followed the young apprentice into the clinic. It was much larger inside than outside; the front hall served as the consultation room, with a row of medicine cabinets against the wall, emitting a strong aroma of Chinese herbs. Several patients were waiting for their appointments, and the doctor on duty was a middle-aged man in his forties.

"Mr. Chen, please come this way. Dr. Huang is in the backyard."

Passing through a moon gate, he arrived at the backyard. Here lay a hidden paradise: a small courtyard with several clumps of green bamboo, an ancient well, and tea sets laid out on a stone table. An elderly man of about sixty was brewing medicine; seeing Chen Yu enter, he stood up.

The old man was thin, wearing a gray polyester shirt and gold-rimmed glasses. His hair was gray but neatly combed, and his eyes were gentle and wise.

"Are you Comrade Chen Yu? I am Huang Wenyuan." The old man extended his hand. "Jimin mentioned you in his letter, saying you are a young talent. Meeting you today, I can see that you are indeed extraordinary."

"You flatter me, Dr. Huang." Chen Yu shook hands and felt the other's palm was warm and dry, with calluses on the base of the thumb and forefinger—the result of long-term handling of medicine.

"Sit down." Huang Wenyuan gestured to the stone bench. "Aming, brew a pot of Tieguanyin tea."

The young apprentice responded and left. Huang Wenyuan sat down opposite Chen Yu and carefully examined him: "Jimin said you created a method of observation that has a lot of the flavor of traditional Chinese medicine's diagnostic method of looking?"

"These are just some superficial insights, and I dare not compare them with the essence of traditional Chinese medicine," Chen Yu said modestly.

"No need to be so modest." Huang Wenyuan waved his hand. "I have practiced medicine in Hong Kong for forty years and have seen many great Western doctors as well as masters of traditional Chinese medicine. Truly superb medical skills all rely on the four diagnostic methods of 'observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation,' with 'observation' being the most important. It is very rare that you can apply this method to material testing and make connections between different areas."

Just then, the tea arrived. Huang Wenyuan personally poured the tea with elegant movements: "Comrade Chen, is there anything else you wish to see in Guangzhou besides me?"

"My main purpose is to visit you and exchange ideas," Chen Yu said, taking the teacup. "Also, I want to learn about the situation in Guangzhou and Hong Kong. I have a research area that might be related to Hong Kong's medical conditions."

"Oh? Tell me about it."

Chen Yu carefully considered his words: "When I was researching observation methods, I discovered that human vision has great potential. With systematic training, one can see many details that ordinary people overlook. I was thinking that if this training method were applied to medicine, it might improve doctors' diagnostic skills. However, it requires advanced case data and imaging equipment to verify and refine it. I've heard that Hong Kong has good medical conditions, so I'd like to learn more about it."

Huang Wenyuan's eyes lit up: "This is a great idea! Hong Kong does have advantages. The Queen Mary Hospital where I work has a full set of X-ray machines, microscopes, and advanced equipment imported from the UK. The medical records are also complete, with many rare diseases documented."

He paused for a moment, then said, "But Comrade Chen, it might not be easy for you to go to Hong Kong. The procedures for mainlanders to go to Hong Kong are very complicated these days."

"I know, that's why I'm asking for your advice first," Chen Yu said. "We don't necessarily have to go right away. We can do some preliminary preparations first, such as exchanging information and collaborating remotely."

Huang Wenyuan nodded: "That's the safest approach. I have some friends in the Hong Kong medical community who can help you make connections. However..." He lowered his voice, "Comrade Chen, tell me honestly, do you want to go to Hong Kong solely for medical research?"

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged: "Dr. Huang, why do you ask that?"

"I've lived in Hong Kong for decades and have met too many people from the mainland," Huang Wenyuan said slowly. "Some came for academics, some for a living, and some for... other reasons. You don't seem like a pure scholar to me."

Chen Yu paused for a moment, then decided to be partially honest: "Dr. Huang has insight. I'm not just doing this for medical research. You know the situation in mainland China right now. I want to see a bigger world and explore more possibilities. Medical research is one entry point, but not the whole story."

Huang Wenyuan smiled: "Honesty. I like honest people. How about this, I'll introduce you to a few people."

He pulled a small notebook from his pocket, tore off a page, and wrote down three names and addresses: "This is Professor Zhang from the University of Hong Kong, who studies physiology; this is the editor of Ta Kung Pao, who has a wide network of connections; this is a businessman who frequently travels between the mainland and Hong Kong. If you have the opportunity to go to Hong Kong, you can look for them."

Chen Yu solemnly accepted the gift: "Thank you, Dr. Huang."

"No need to thank me, Jimin's friends are my friends." Huang Wenyuan glanced at the sky. "It's almost six o'clock, how about we grab a quick bite? I know a restaurant nearby that makes pretty good claypot rice."

"Then I'll have to trouble you."

The two left the Xuanhu Hall and went to a small shop nearby. The shop wasn't big, but it was doing brisk business. Huang Wenyuan was clearly a regular customer; the owner personally greeted him, "Dr. Huang, the usual spot?"

"Yes, two servings of claypot rice with preserved meat, plus a vegetable dish."

After sitting down, Huang Wenyuan said, "This shop has been open for thirty years. I used to come here often when I was young. Back then, Guangzhou and Hong Kong hadn't closed their borders yet, and I often traveled between the two places."

"Is Dr. Huang from Guangzhou?"

"My ancestral home is Foshan, but I was born in Hong Kong. Later, I returned to Guangzhou to study medicine and then practiced medicine in Hong Kong," Huang Wenyuan recalled. "My whole life has been going back and forth between these two cities. Now that I'm older, I've returned to Guangzhou to retire, but I still have a clinic in Hong Kong, so I go there for a few days every month."

What do you think of Hong Kong?

"Prosperous, but also restless." Huang Wenyuan thought for a moment, "Hong Kong in the 1960s was taking off. There were many factories, many businesses, and many opportunities. But the competition was fierce, and the pressure of life was great. Unlike Guangzhou, which was poorer but more comfortable."

Chen Yu listened attentively. This firsthand information was very important to him.

The claypot rice arrived, steaming hot, with the enticing aroma of Chinese sausage and cured pork. Chen Yu took a bite; the rice grains were distinct, and the crispy rice crust was truly delicious.

During the meal, Huang Wenyuan talked a lot about the situation in Hong Kong: property prices have started to rise, but they are not yet outrageous; the stock market is just starting out, with both high risks and high opportunities; public security is generally good, but triad forces also exist; medical standards are among the best in Asia, but the costs are exorbitant…

"If you really want to develop your career in Hong Kong, I suggest you learn Cantonese first," Huang Wenyuan said. "Hong Kong people speak Cantonese, and English is also widely used, but Mandarin is not very common. If you don't speak Cantonese, you'll find it very difficult to get by."

"I'm learning," Chen Yu said truthfully. Before coming here, he found some materials in Beijing to learn Cantonese. Although he's not very fluent yet, he can basically understand it.

After dinner, it was already dark. Huang Wenyuan escorted Chen Yu to the alley entrance: "Comrade Chen, how many days will you be staying in Guangzhou?"

"About three or four days."

"Alright, come to the clinic tomorrow, and I'll show you some things." Huang Wenyuan smiled mysteriously. "Jimin said you're interested in ancient books. I have a few medical books here that you might like."

"I'll definitely come."

When Chen Yu returned to He's Restaurant, it was already past eight o'clock in the evening. There were still two tables of customers in the restaurant, and He Yuzhu was wearing an apron and helping to serve dishes, her movements were surprisingly professional.

"Chen Yu's back?" He Yuzhu put down the plate when he saw him. "How was it? Did you see him?"

"I saw it, everything went smoothly." Chen Yu glanced around the shop. "You're already on duty?"

"I've got nothing better to do anyway, so I thought I'd lend a hand." He Yuzhu wiped his hands. "Jianjun told me to try it out for a couple of days and see how it goes. Honestly, this job is easier than working at the steel rolling mill, and it pays better."

Chen Yu smiled and said, "Whatever you think is suitable is fine."

He Jianjun came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of food: "Brother Chen, have you eaten? I saved some food for you."

"I've eaten, thank you," Chen Yu said. "Jianjun, can I take a shower upstairs? I'm all sweaty."

"Yes, there is a shower room on the second floor. It uses well water, so it's cool."

Chen Yu carried his luggage upstairs. There were two rooms on the second floor. He Jianjun lived in the inner room, and the outer room was empty. It had been cleaned up, with a wooden bed, a table, and a chair. It was simple but clean.

The shower room was at the end of the corridor; it really was just a well, and you used buckets to draw water for showering. The well water was very cool, and showering it on your body instantly relieved the summer heat.

After showering and returning to his room, Chen Yu closed the door but didn't rest immediately. He sat cross-legged on the bed, his spiritual sense quietly probing out.

Guangzhou's nights are completely different from Beijing's. Beijing is quiet after nightfall, but Guangzhou remains lively—the sounds of Cantonese opera drift from afar, while nearby there are the clatter of mahjong tiles, voices, and children crying. The air is filled with the fragrance of jasmine and night-blooming jasmine, as well as the moisture brought by the Pearl River.

As his spiritual sense swept across the nearby streets, Chen Yu "saw" crowds of people eating late-night snacks at the night market, vendors carrying sweet soups on shoulder poles, and elderly people playing chess under the streetlights... The vitality of this city was even more vigorous and outward than that of Beijing.

Suddenly, his spiritual sense detected something unusual—in a dark alley about two hundred meters away, two people were talking in hushed tones. One of them, from behind, looked remarkably like Scarface!

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he focused his spiritual sense on the area. The alley was dark, but under his spiritual eye technique, the faces of the two men were clearly visible: it was indeed Scarface! The other man was in his thirties, wearing blue overalls, and carrying a cloth bag.

"...Did you bring the things?" Scarface asked.

"I brought them." The man in overalls opened the cloth bag, inside were several black stones. "They were transported from southern Yunnan. We almost got stopped on the way."

Scarface picked up a stone, weighed it in his hand, and examined it against the light streaming in from the alleyway. "Good quality. How much?"

"The old price, one dollar and fifty cents."

"Too expensive, thirty."

"Brother, this was obtained at great risk..."

After haggling for a while, the two finally settled on thirty-five yuan a stone. The scarred man counted out the money, and the man in overalls wrapped up the stone and handed it over.

"When do you need it next time?" the man in overalls asked.

"Next month, still here." Scarface put away the stones. "Get more; I need them urgently."

The man in overalls nodded and hurried away. The scarred man stood there for a moment, then turned and disappeared into the depths of the alley.

Chen Yu withdrew his spiritual sense, his brows furrowed. Black stones? Transported from Yunnan? Could it be... ore? Cultivation materials?

Scarface is collecting these things; it seems he's indeed preparing for something. And he said he "urgently needs them"—could it be related to the ancient hermitage in southern Yunnan?

Chen Yu decided to follow him tomorrow. But he couldn't act rashly; Scarface was very wary and quite strong.

He lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, but did not fall asleep.

My first day in Guangzhou was packed with information. Opportunities in Hong Kong, Scarface's whereabouts, Huang Wenyuan's assistance... every thread required careful planning.

But most importantly, it's his own path.

In this rapidly changing era, in this place about to take off, how will he forge his own path?

Outside the window, Guangzhou's nightlife continues.

Chen Yu already had a preliminary plan in mind.