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

On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, the festive atmosphere of the New Year had not yet dissipated.

At the entrance of Donghuashi Hutong, a small storefront was surrounded by people. A new signboard hung on the door, covered with a red cloth, swaying slightly in the early spring chill.

Ding Qiunan stood at the door, wearing a brand-new floral cotton-padded jacket today, her hair neatly combed, her face showing a nervous yet expectant expression. Beside her, Chen Yu held Nian'an, Qin Huairu stood on the other side, and He Yuzhu, Yan Bugui, Zhang Xiulan and a group of others were there to support her.

"Qiu Nan, don't be nervous," Chen Yu said with a smile. "You can do it."

Ding Qiunan took a deep breath and nodded.

At exactly nine o'clock in the morning, the auspicious time had arrived. Chen Yu reached out and peeled off the red cloth covering the signboard—

The four large characters "Qiu Nan Clinic" gleamed in gold and were handwritten by Yan Bugui, their powerful strokes exuding a scholarly air.

The crowd applauded, and firecrackers crackled and popped. Amidst the billowing smoke, Ding Qiunan's eyes welled up with tears.

From this day forward, she is a real doctor.

The clinic was small, just one room, but it was clean and tidy. There was a consultation table against the wall, with a pulse pillow and writing implements on it; on the other side was a medicine cabinet, with each small drawer labeled with the name of a medicine, which Chen Yu had helped her with; in the corner was a small bed for patients to rest on.

"Aunt Qiu Nan, great!" Nian An clapped her little hands in Chen Yu's arms and said in a childish voice.

Ding Qiunan walked over and kissed him on the cheek: "Nian'an, you're such a good boy."

The guests gradually left, and the clinic slowly quieted down. Ding Qiunan sat at the consultation table, looking at her own little room, and a flood of emotions welled up inside her.

A year ago, she was a homeless orphan, begging for food at a breakfast stall. A year later, she has her own clinic and can support herself with her skills.

"What are you thinking about?" Chen Yu walked in and sat down next to her.

"I'm thinking..." Ding Qiunan said softly, "If it weren't for Brother Chen, I don't know where I would be right now."

Chen Yu smiled: "It's all your own hard work. I just pointed out a path; you have to walk it yourself."

Ding Qiunan looked at him, her eyes slightly red, but she didn't say anything more. She was grateful, but she would keep it in her heart.

Just then, a woman in her fifties walked in through the door, clutching her stomach and looking sallow.

"Doctor, can you treat my illness?"

Ding Qiunan quickly stood up: "Yes! Auntie, please sit down, let me take a look at you."

This was her first patient.

Ding Qiunan took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and began to follow Chen Yu's method of observation, listening, questioning, and palpation.

The old lady had been suffering from stomach pain for several days, unable to eat or sleep properly. Ding Qiunan took her pulse, examined her tongue, and asked a few questions about her diet and daily life, and then she had a good idea of ​​what was going on.

"Auntie, you have a cold stomach, and the greasy food you ate during the New Year has upset your stomach." She wrote out a prescription, "These three doses of medicine, one dose a day, decocted in water. Eat light meals these days, avoid raw, cold, and greasy foods."

The older woman took the prescription, looking at her with some skepticism: "Young lady, you're so young, can you really do this?"

Ding Qiunan smiled slightly, took a few herbs from the medicine cabinet, brewed a small bowl on the spot, and handed it to the old lady: "Try this first, it's good for the stomach, you should feel better after drinking it."

The old woman took it, hesitated for a moment, and then drank it.

A moment later, her eyes lit up: "Wow! That feels so much better!"

"That's just for temporary pain relief," Ding Qiunan said with a smile. "To cure it completely, you still need to take the medicine according to the prescription."

The old woman nodded repeatedly, thanked him profusely, and left.

Ding Qiunan saw her to the door, then turned to look at Chen Yu, her eyes filled with excitement.

"Brother Chen, I did it!"

Chen Yu smiled and nodded: "Yes, you did it."

The first patient, the first prescription, the first successful case.

This is the first step in her medical career, and also the most important one.

Since then, the reputation of "Qiu Nan Clinic" has gradually spread.

At first, only neighbors from the nearby area came to see her, but gradually word spread to more distant places. Ding Qiunan was a skilled doctor with a kind heart; when she encountered poor people, she not only didn't charge consultation fees but also paid for their medicine herself. Over time, everyone knew that there was a female doctor in Donghuashi Hutong, with a compassionate heart and miraculous healing skills.

The clinic's business was booming, and Ding Qiunan was getting busier and busier. But every evening, without fail, she would come to the front courtyard to see Nian'an and learn medicine from Chen Yu.

"Brother Chen, I've encountered a difficult case today..."

"Brother Chen, how should I adjust this recipe...?"

"Brother Chen, Nian'an learned to call me 'Auntie' today!"

Chen Yu watched her grow up day by day, and his heart was filled with joy.

This child has finally gained a foothold.

One evening in March.

Ding Qiunan came to the courtyard as usual, but this time her expression was a little off, as if she had something on her mind.

"Qiu Nan, what's wrong?" Qin Huairu asked.

Ding Qiunan hesitated for a moment, then took out a cloth bag from her bosom, opened it, and inside was a stack of money and grain coupons.

"Sister Qin, Brother Chen, this is what I've saved up over the past two months," she said softly. "It's not much, but I want... I want to repay you."

Chen Yu and Qin Huairu exchanged a glance, both stunned.

"Qiu Nan, what are you doing?" Qin Huairu said, "We don't want your money."

"But……"

"No buts." Chen Yu interrupted her. "Doing a good job and running the clinic well is the best way to repay us."

Ding Qiunan's eyes reddened, but this time she didn't cry; she just nodded solemnly.

"I definitely will."

Nian'an ran out of the house and hugged Ding Qiunan's leg: "Auntie, hug me!"

Ding Qiunan picked him up and kissed him on the cheek.

Nian'an giggled and reached out to touch her face with her little hand.

As the sun sets, the courtyard is filled with a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Chen Yu watched this scene and felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

This is the life he wants to protect.

Ordinary, warm, and full of hope.

And that once homeless orphan girl has now become someone others can rely on.

Everything is just right.