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

October 20th, Frost's Descent.

Autumn in Beijing comes and goes quickly. Just two days ago, the weather was clear and crisp, but this morning when I woke up, the sky was overcast, the wind was cool, and it had a wintery feel to it.

Nian'an was playing in the water in the yard yesterday and probably caught a chill. She started having a fever in the middle of the night. Her little face was flushed red and her body was burning hot. She was calling for "Mommy" in her sleep.

Qin Huairu didn't sleep all night, holding him and wiping his body with a damp towel. Chen Yu paced anxiously beside her, wanting to call a doctor, but Qin Huairu stopped him.

"Qiu Nan is the doctor. Call her when it's light," Qin Huairu said. "She'll have to get up anyway if we go now, so it's better to let her sleep a little longer."

Chen Yu had no choice but to endure it, sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Nian An's small hand, and repeatedly channeling spiritual energy into him. But his spiritual energy was effective for cultivators, but had limited effect on ordinary people, only providing slight relief.

As soon as it was dawn, Chen Yu rushed out of the house to call Ding Qiunan in Donghuashi Hutong.

Upon hearing that Nian'an was sick, Ding Qiunan didn't even bother to wash her face; she grabbed her medicine box and ran after Chen Yu.

Upon entering the room, they found Nian'an lying on the bed, his fever even higher, his face flushed, and his lips chapped. Ding Qiunan put down her medicine box and took his pulse first.

The pulse is floating and rapid, indicating that wind-cold is binding the exterior, causing stagnation and transforming into heat. Looking at the tongue coating, it is thin and white, a typical case of wind-cold common cold.

"Brother Chen, don't worry, it's just a common cold. I'll prescribe some medicine, drink it and sweat it out, and you'll be fine," Ding Qiunan said.

She took out several herbs from her medicine box, prepared a prescription on the spot, and asked Qin Huairu to decoct it. She then took out a small porcelain bottle, poured out a few pills the size of mung beans, dissolved them in water, and fed them to Nian'an spoonful by spoonful.

Nian'an drank the water in a daze. After a few sips, she opened her eyes, saw Ding Qiunan, and pouted, "Auntie... Nian'an feels unwell..."

Ding Qiunan's eyes reddened, and she said softly, "Nian'an, be good. You'll feel better after you take your medicine. Auntie will stay here with you."

Nian'an nodded and then closed her eyes.

The medicine was ready, and Qin Huairu brought it over. Ding Qiunan took it, blew on it to cool it down, and fed it to Nian'an little by little. Nian'an was very obedient, drinking it sip by sip, and although she frowned from the bitterness, she didn't cry.

After he finished taking the medicine, Ding Qiunan covered him with a blanket and said to Chen Yu, "Brother Chen, let him sleep it off and sweat it out. I'll stay here and watch over him."

Chen Yu nodded, sat down on the edge of the bed, and held Nian An's hand.

Qin Huairu sat on the other side, her eyes red, having not slept all night, her face full of exhaustion.

"Huai Ru, go get some sleep," Chen Yu said.

"I'm not sleepy," Qin Huairu shook her head.

Ding Qiunan said, "Sister Qin, you go and rest. Brother Chen and I will stay here. I'll wake you when Nian'an wakes up."

Qin Huairu hesitated for a moment, then nodded and went to lie down in the next room.

The room fell silent, save for Nian'an's uneven breathing. Chen Yu and Ding Qiunan sat on the edge of the bed, neither of them speaking.

An hour later, Nian'an began to sweat, first on his forehead, then on his body, soaking the blanket. Chen Yu quickly dried him off and changed him into clean clothes.

Nian'an opened her eyes, her gaze much clearer. Seeing Chen Yu, she softly called out, "Dad..."

Chen Yu's nose stung with tears, and she picked him up: "Son, are you feeling better?"

Nian'an nodded: "Thirsty... I'd like some water..."

Ding Qiunan quickly brought over some warm water, and Nian'an gulped down most of it. Then, she leaned against Chen Yu, looked at Ding Qiunan, and whispered, "Thank you, Auntie."

Ding Qiunan smiled, a smile that contained both relief and heartache.

"Nian'an is such a good girl, it's good that you're all better now."

By noon, Nian'an's fever had completely subsided, and she was in much better spirits, clamoring for food. Qin Huairu cooked millet porridge until it was very soft, and Nian'an ate a small bowl, her face regaining its color.

Upon hearing the news, He Yuzhu and Yan Bugui both came to visit. He Yuzhu brought a bag of eggs, while Yan Bugui carried two bags of pastries.

"Nian'an, are you feeling better?" He Yuzhu squatted down by the bed and asked softly.

Nian'an nodded and said in her childish voice, "Uncle, Nian'an is all better now, the fever has gone down."

"That's good, that's good." He Yuzhu breathed a sigh of relief. "That child scared his uncle to death."

Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses: "Kids get sick all the time. They'll get better with rest."

Zhang Xiulan also arrived, carrying an old hen, insisting that Qin Huairu stew it for Nian'an to nourish her body.

By evening, Nian'an was fully recovered and able to run a few steps in the yard again. Chen Yu held him and sat under the pomegranate tree.

"Dad," Nian'an suddenly asked, "Where's Auntie?"

"Auntie went back to the clinic," Chen Yu said. "I'll come see you again tomorrow."

Nian'an nodded, and after a while, asked again, "Dad, isn't Auntie amazing?"

"How is it so impressive?"

"Auntie knows how to treat illnesses. Nian'an got better after drinking Auntie's medicine," Nian'an said earnestly. "When Nian'an grows up, she wants to be like Auntie and know how to treat illnesses."

Chen Yu smiled: "Okay, when Nian'an grows up, Dad will teach you."

Nian'an clapped her hands happily.

Qin Huairu brought out a bowl of chicken soup and fed it to Nian'an. Nian'an drank a few sips, then suddenly pointed at the bowl: "Mommy, drink."

Qin Huairu smiled and took a sip.

Nian'an then pointed at Chen Yu: "Dad, drink."

Chen Yu also took a sip.

Nian'an looked at the remaining soup in the bowl and nodded with satisfaction: "Nian'an drinks, Dad drinks, Mom drinks, everyone drinks."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

As night fell, Nian'an, tired from playing, fell asleep in Chen Yu's arms. Her little face was still a little pale, but her breathing was steady, and she slept peacefully.

Chen Yu 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.

"You scared me to death," Qin Huairu said softly, her eyes reddening again.

Chen Yu held her hand: "It's alright. Nian'an is healthy and will recover quickly."

"Thanks to Qiu Nan," Qin Huairu said. "If it weren't for her, I..."

"Yes," Chen Yu nodded, "Qiu Nan is becoming more and more promising."

After a moment of silence, Qin Huairu suddenly asked, "Chen Yu, do you think Qiu Nan will get married in the future?"

Chen Yu was taken aback, thought for a moment, and shook his head: "I don't know. She said she didn't want to get married and wanted to focus on studying medicine."

"Then she..." Qin Huairu hesitated for a moment, "...does she have feelings for you?"

Chen Yu remained silent. He had considered this question before. Ding Qiunan's dependence and gratitude towards him far exceeded the scope of an ordinary master-disciple relationship. But she had never said anything, so he could only pretend not to know.

"Huai Ru," he whispered, "you're the only one in my heart."

Qin Huairu nodded and said nothing more.

She believed him.

But in her heart, she also felt sorry for Ding Qiunan.

That girl has suffered so much.

Night deepened, and the moon rose. The cool moonlight spilled into the courtyard, and the shadow of the pomegranate tree swayed on the ground.

Chen Yu held Qin Huairu's hand, and neither of them spoke.

Inside the room, Nian'an was sleeping soundly, occasionally turning over and muttering a few words in her sleep.

It was another ordinary night, another warm home.

And tomorrow, the sun will rise as usual.