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

December 12th, the coldest day since the beginning of winter.

Inside the small courtyard in front of the gate, however, the air was filled with warmth. In the kitchen, Zhang Xiulan and He Yuzhu's wife were busy preparing, with chicken soup simmering in a pot and steaming flower cakes piled high in a steamer, their aroma filling the entire alley.

Today marks the 100th day since Nian'an's birth. According to tradition, a "100th day celebration" is held, where relatives and friends come to eat, drink, and pray for the child's well-being.

Inside the main room, Nian'an, dressed in a bright red cotton-padded jacket and wearing a tiger-head hat, was held in Qin Huairu's arms. He opened his big, dark eyes and looked curiously at everyone in the room, showing no shyness whatsoever.

"Nian'an, call him Uncle!" He Yuzhu came over and made a face.

Nian'an stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly giggled and waved her little hands as if in response.

"Wow, this child is smart!" He Yuzhu beamed from ear to ear. "He's sure to amount to something!"

Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses, took out a red envelope, and stuffed it into Nian'an's arms: "Nian'an, this is from your third uncle. Buy candy when you grow up."

Nian'an grabbed the red envelope and stuffed it into her mouth. Qin Huairu quickly snatched it away, and everyone laughed.

Zhang Xiulan brought in a bowl of chicken soup: "Huai Ru, drink it while it's hot to nourish your body. Nian An, let me hold you."

Qin Huairu took the bowl, and Zhang Xiulan held Nian'an, spinning her around the room. Nian'an was amused and laughed, her little face turning red.

Ding Qiunan stood to the side, looking at Nian An with eyes full of tenderness. She reached out and gently touched Nian An's small hand. Nian An grasped her fingers tightly, refusing to let go.

"Nian'an likes Aunt Qiunan," Qin Huairu said with a smile.

Ding Qiunan blushed slightly, but her eyes were full of joy.

Chen Yu came in from outside, carrying a large bundle. Everyone looked over and asked curiously, "Little Chen, what's this?"

"A gift for Nian'an." Chen Yu opened the bundle, inside was a set of exquisite wooden trinkets—a small wooden horse, a small wooden sword, a small wooden figure, and a lifelike little tiger, all carved from fine sandalwood and polished smooth and round.

"Wow, this craftsmanship!" He Yuzhu picked up the little wooden horse and examined it from all angles. "Chen Yu, when did you learn carpentry?"

"Just something I came up with on the spot," Chen Yu laughed. Actually, he carved it using spiritual power in his small world, which took quite a bit of effort.

Nian'an's eyes lit up when he saw the little toys, and he reached out to grab them. Chen Yu handed him the little tiger, which he immediately put in his mouth.

"This child puts everything in his mouth." Qin Huairu said, both amused and exasperated.

"It's nothing, just grinding my teeth," Chen Yu laughed.

Just as things were getting lively, there was a knock on the courtyard gate. He Yuzhu went to open the door, and there stood a middle-aged woman, dressed simply, carrying a basket in her hand.

"Excuse me, is Miss Ding Qiunan here?"

Ding Qiunan was taken aback, then walked over: "That's me. And you are...?"

"Young lady, I've finally found you!" The middle-aged woman excitedly grabbed her hand. "I'm from Donghuashi Hutong. My son is sick, and no matter how much medicine he takes, he's not getting better. I heard you're a healer, so I came here specifically to ask you for help!"

Ding Qiunan was stunned and looked at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu nodded: "Go ahead, I'll go with you."

The two followed the middle-aged woman out the door. After walking through two alleys, they arrived at a dilapidated bungalow. The sound of a child crying came from inside, one cry after another, a heartbreaking sound.

Upon entering the room, they found a three- or four-year-old boy lying on the bed, his face flushed red, crying weakly. An old man nearby was pacing anxiously, and upon seeing them, he rushed over to greet them.

"Doctor, please save my grandson!"

Ding Qiunan went over and took the child's pulse first. She closed her eyes and carefully felt the pulse according to the method Chen Yu had taught her—it was floating and rapid, indicating wind-heat syndrome. She then looked at the child's tongue coating, which was thin and yellow.

"This is a wind-heat type of common cold. How many days has the fever lasted?"

"It's been three days," the old man said. "I took fever-reducing medicine, but the fever keeps coming down and then coming back up."

Ding Qiunan nodded, took out a small porcelain bottle from her cloth bag, poured out a few pills the size of mung beans, dissolved them in water, and fed them to the child.

She made the pills herself using a simplified alchemy method taught by Chen Yu. Although they were not as good as real pills, they were effective for common ailments.

After feeding the child the medicine, she wrote out another prescription and handed it to the old man: "Go and get three doses of medicine, one dose a day, decocted in water. Give the child plenty of water, and don't bundle him up too much."

The old man took the prescription and nodded repeatedly.

Ding Qiunan gave a few more instructions before leaving with Chen Yu.

As they walked out of the alley, Chen Yu looked at her with admiration in his eyes: "Qiu Nan, you've graduated."

Ding Qiunan was taken aback, then her eyes reddened: "Brother Chen, I..."

"Don't cry," Chen Yu said with a smile. "This is a good thing. You can see a doctor on your own now."

Ding Qiunan wiped away her tears, but her face was full of smiles.

When we returned to the courtyard, the banquet was already set. Everyone sat together, eating and drinking merrily.

Ding Qiunan sat down next to Chen Yu and said softly, "Brother Chen, thank you."

Chen Yu patted her on the shoulder: "It's all thanks to your own hard work."

Nian'an fell asleep in Qin Huairu's arms, her little mouth slightly open, making even breathing sounds.

Chen Yu looked at his wife and children, then at Ding Qiunan beside him, and then at everyone in the room, and a feeling of boundless satisfaction welled up in his heart.

This is everything he wants to protect.

Winter may be cold, but people's hearts are warm.

Life may be ordinary, but happiness is real.

Snowflakes began to fall outside the window.

Inside the house, laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air.

The new year is just around the corner.

And their story continues.