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

July's heat fades, September brings the distribution of clothing.

Summer in Beijing is as hot as a giant steamer, but the courtyard in front of the gate is quite cool. Pomegranate trees spread out a canopy of green shade, roses climb all over the walls, and the water from the hand pump is cool and sweet, ready to drink right away.

Nian'an is one year and three months old. She can already run and jump, and can say quite a few words. Every day at the crack of dawn, she gets up and runs around the yard barefoot, chasing butterflies, catching ants, and playing in the water, keeping herself very busy and happy.

"Nian'an, don't run so fast, you'll fall!" Qin Huairu chased after him, picked him up when she caught up, and kissed him on the cheek.

Nian'an giggled and struggled to get down.

Chen Yu sat under the shade of a tree, holding a copy of the Tao Te Ching in his hands, occasionally glancing up at his wife and children with a satisfied smile on his face.

"Daddy, hug me!" Nian'an ran over and opened her arms.

Chen Yu put down his book, picked him up, and sat him on his lap: "Nian'an, what did you learn today?"

"Learn...learn..." Nian'an tilted her head and thought for a moment, "Learn from ants!"

"Ants?" Chen Yu laughed. "What's wrong with ants?"

"Ants moving house!" Nian'an gestured, "So many of them, walking in rows, carrying things!"

Qin Huairu walked over and said with a smile, "I was watching the ants in the corner for half an hour just now, and I couldn't drag you away."

Chen Yu nodded: "Good observation skills. Nian'an, do you know why ants move house?"

Nian An shook her head.

"Because it's going to rain." Chen Yu pointed to the sky. "Look, there are dark clouds in the sky, it's going to rain. The ants can sense it, so they move their homes to higher ground to prevent the rain from flooding them."

Nian'an nodded as if she understood, then suddenly pointed to the sky: "Rain! Rain!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than large raindrops began to fall.

Chen Yu quickly carried Nian'an into the house, with Qin Huairu following behind. As soon as they entered, the rain began to pour down.

Nian'an pressed her face against the window, watching the rain outside, her eyes sparkling: "It's raining! It's raining!"

"Nian'an is really amazing, she can even forecast the weather now," Qin Huairu said with a smile.

Nian'an proudly raised her little head.

The rain stopped after half an hour. When the sun came out, the yard was fresh and clean. The pomegranate tree was washed green, and water droplets clung to the rose petals, sparkling and translucent.

"Mom, let's go out and play!" Nian'an grabbed Qin Huairu's hand and tried to run outside.

"There's water on the ground, it'll get your shoes wet," Qin Huairu said.

"I'm not afraid! I'm not afraid!" Nian'an shook her head vigorously.

Chen Yu laughed: "Let him go, kids just love playing in the water."

Qin Huairu had no choice but to change him into sandals and let him go out. As soon as Nian'an stepped out, he stepped into a small puddle, splashing water everywhere, and he giggled with delight.

"Nian'an, don't step in the water!" Qin Huairu shouted.

Nian'an glanced back at her, stomped on her foot again, and then ran away quickly, laughing as she ran.

"Who taught this child to be so mischievous?" Qin Huairu said helplessly.

"I learned it from you," Chen Yu said with a smile. "I did that when I was a kid too."

Qin Huairu rolled her eyes at him: "How dare you say that?"

Just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open. Ding Qiunan came in carrying a basket, saw Nian'an splashing in the puddle, and laughed: "Nian'an, playing in the water?"

"Auntie!" Nian'an ran over, her wet little hands grabbing Ding Qiunan's pants. "Auntie, hug me!"

Ding Qiunan picked him up, her pants getting soaked, but she didn't care. She kissed Nian'an on the cheek and asked, "Nian'an, did you miss your aunt?"

"Yes!" Nian'an shouted.

"Where do you think?"

Nian'an patted her chest: "I think so!"

Ding Qiunan smiled so hard her eyes curved into crescent moons.

The three of them went inside and sat down. Ding Qiunan opened the basket, which contained several packets of medicinal herbs and two small garments.

"This is for Nian'an. It's getting hot, so it'll be more comfortable for her to wear something thinner." She handed the little garment to Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu took it, felt it; the fabric was soft, and the stitching was fine. "Qiu Nan, you're so busy every day, why do you still make these things?"

"No rush," Ding Qiunan said with a smile. "I'm happy to make clothes for Nian'an."

Nian'an climbed onto her lap and pointed to the herbs in the basket: "Auntie, what's this?"

"These are medicinal herbs." Ding Qiunan took out a bag, opened it, and inside were dried chrysanthemums. "Nian'an, smell them, don't they smell good?"

Nian'an leaned over and smelled it, then sneezed, making everyone laugh.

"Nian'an, shall I teach you to identify medicinal herbs?" Ding Qiunan said.

"Great!" Nian'an clapped her hands.

Ding Qiunan took out several common medicinal herbs—chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, dried tangerine peel, and licorice—and taught him to recognize them one by one. Nian'an studied very diligently. Although he couldn't remember the names, he picked up each one to smell and touch it.

"This child might really become a doctor in the future," Qin Huairu said.

"Being a doctor is good." Chen Yu nodded. "It heals the sick, saves lives, and accumulates good deeds."

Nian'an couldn't understand what the adults were saying; he was only focused on fiddling with the medicinal herbs. He placed chrysanthemums on dried tangerine peel, then stuffed honeysuckle into licorice root, muttering, "To cook food, for Mom, for Dad, for Aunt..."

"Nian'an is such a good boy." Ding Qiunan picked him up and kissed him on the cheek.

In the evening, Ding Qiunan said goodbye and left. Nian An chased after her to the door, holding her hand and refusing to let go.

"Auntie, don't go, Nian'an, be good."

Ding Qiunan squatted down and said softly, "Nian'an, be good. Auntie will come again tomorrow and bring you something delicious."

"What's delicious?"

"Candied hawthorn".

Nian'an's eyes lit up, and she finally let go of his hand: "Auntie keeps her word!"

"Keep your word."

Ding Qiunan left, and Nian An stood at the door, watching her figure disappear at the end of the alley before turning back.

"Nian'an, do you like your aunt that much?" Chen Yu asked.

Nian'an nodded: "Hello, Auntie. You make delicious food for Nian'an, teach Nian'an to recognize things, and hug Nian'an."

Chen Yu picked him up and kissed him on the cheek: "How about Daddy?"

Nian'an thought for a moment, then said earnestly, "Dad, Mom, Aunt—they're all good!"

Qin Huairu smiled: "This child is fair and impartial."

Night fell, and the stars came out. Chen Yu held Nian'an in his arms as they watched the stars in the yard.

"Dad, what's that?" Nian'an pointed to the sky.

"That's the Big Dipper," Chen Yu said. "It looks like a big spoon."

Nian'an stared at it for a long time: "It doesn't look like a spoon, it looks like...like...like Dad's pipe!"

Chen Yu laughed: "Yes, it looks like a pipe."

"What's that?" Nian'an asked again.

That's Vega.

"What is the Weaver Girl?"

"The Weaver Girl is a fairy who can weave cloth, and she weaves very beautiful cloth."

Nian'an thought for a moment: "Is it prettier than what Mom knitted?"

Chen Yu was speechless for a moment.

Qin Huairu laughed from the side, "Nian'an, Mom doesn't know how to weave."

Nian'an tilted her head: "Then what can Mommy do?"

"Mom can cook, do laundry, and play with Nian'an."

Nian'an nodded and said earnestly, "Mom is good, Dad is good, Aunt is good, everyone is good!"

Chen Yu and Qin Huairu exchanged a glance and both smiled.

It was late at night, and Nian'an had fallen asleep in Chen Yu's arms. Her little mouth was slightly open, and a smile lingered on her face; she was probably having a sweet dream.

Chen Yu carried him into the room, gently placed him on the small bed, and covered him with a blanket.

The two returned to the courtyard and sat under the pomegranate tree.

"This child changes every day," Qin Huairu said softly.

"Yeah," Chen Yu nodded. "Once he can run, he'll be even more mischievous."

"Being a little mischievous is fine, as long as you're healthy."

Chen Yu took her hand: "Huai Ru, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

Thank you for giving me a home.

Qin Huairu leaned on his shoulder without saying a word.

Under the moonlight, their shadows clung tightly together.

In the courtyard, pomegranate flowers bloom quietly, their fragrance wafting gently.

It was another ordinary night, another happy home.