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

Chapter 177 Winter Sunshine - Everyday Life

November 7th, the Beginning of Winter.

The weather in Beijing turns cold very quickly; yesterday I could still wear a padded jacket, but today I have to put on a down jacket. In the courtyard near the front gate, the pomegranate tree leaves have fallen to the ground, and the bare branches sway slightly in the wind. The roses in the corner have also withered, with only a few dry leaves hanging on, exuding a sense of desolation.

But the room was warm and cozy. The stove was burning brightly, and the tin chimney stretched out of the window, emitting wisps of smoke. A thick quilt was laid on the kang (a heated brick bed), and Nian'an, wearing a newly made cotton-padded jacket and trousers, rolled around on the kang like a little ball.

"Mommy, Nian Anre!" He tugged at his collar, his little face flushed.

Qin Huairu was sewing shoe soles, not even looking up: "Take off a layer if you're hot, don't get heat rash."

Nian'an couldn't unbutton her clothes and cried out anxiously, "Dad, help me!"

Chen Yu put down his book and helped him take off his outer jacket, leaving him in only a thin cotton-padded coat. Nian An immediately felt comfortable and started doing somersaults on the kang again.

"This child is never still," Qin Huairu said with a smile.

"Boys are boys, it's good for them to be a little mischievous." Chen Yu looked at his son with eyes full of doting affection.

Just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open. Ding Qiunan came in carrying a basket, wearing a worn-out cotton-padded coat, her face red from the cold.

"Auntie!" Nian'an's eyes lit up, and she climbed off the kang (a heated brick bed) to rush outside.

"Don't run, put on your shoes!" Qin Huairu shouted.

Nian'an had already run barefoot to the door and hugged Ding Qiunan's leg tightly: "Auntie, Nian'an missed you!"

Ding Qiunan picked him up and kissed him on the cheek: "Auntie missed An too. Come, see what Auntie brought you?"

The basket was opened, revealing a pair of bright red tiger-head shoes embroidered with two lifelike little tigers.

"Wow!" Nian'an's eyes lit up, and she grabbed one and put it on her foot.

"You're wearing them inside out." Ding Qiunan smiled and helped him change them, and they fit perfectly.

Nian'an, wearing her new shoes, walked back and forth on the kang (a heated brick bed), looking down at her feet, feeling incredibly proud.

Qin Huairu took the basket, which contained several packets of medicinal herbs: "Qiu Nan, you're so busy every day, why are you doing this?"

"I'm not in a hurry." Ding Qiunan sat down. "I'm happy to make shoes for Nian'an."

Chen Yu looked at her and suddenly asked, "Qiu Nan, how's the clinic doing lately?"

"It's great." Ding Qiunan smiled. "We have more than a dozen patients every day now. It's busy, but fulfilling."

"Have you encountered any difficulties?"

"The difficulties..." Ding Qiunan thought for a moment, "We're a bit short on medicinal herbs, and some are hard to find. But we can manage."

Chen Yu nodded: "I'll try to think of a solution for you later."

"Thank you, Brother Chen."

Nian'an, wearing her new shoes, circled around the kang (heated brick bed) a few times, then suddenly stopped, looked at Ding Qiunan, and asked earnestly, "Auntie, are you cold?"

Ding Qiunan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled: "Auntie isn't cold."

Nian'an crawled over and touched her hand: "Auntie's hands are cold, Nian'an will warm them for you."

He held Ding Qiunan's hands tightly with his two little hands.

Ding Qiunan's eyes reddened slightly, and she said softly, "Nian'an is such a good girl."

Qin Huairu watched this scene, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She looked at Chen Yu, who was also watching, his eyes filled with complex feelings.

At noon, Qin Huairu cooked, with Ding Qiunan helping. Nian'an played in the yard, with Chen Yu keeping her company.

"Dad, why doesn't Auntie live with us?" Nian'an suddenly asked.

Chen Yu was taken aback: "Auntie has her own home."

"Is it cold at your aunt's house?"

"It's not cold, my aunt's house has a stove."

Nian'an thought for a moment: "Won't Auntie be scared all by herself?"

Chen Yu fell silent. He squatted down, looked at his son, and said earnestly, "Nian'an, your aunt is an adult, don't be afraid. But we should visit her more often and talk to her, okay?"

Nian'an nodded: "Okay! Nian'an will visit Auntie every day!"

Chen Yu smiled and patted his head.

In the afternoon, Ding Qiunan was about to return to the clinic. Nian'an held her hand tightly, refusing to let go.

"Auntie, don't go, Nian'an will go with you."

Ding Qiunan looked at Chen Yu. Chen Yu nodded: "Go ahead, I'll take you."

Nian'an happily took Ding Qiunan's hand and skipped and hopped all the way to Donghuashi Hutong.

We arrived at Qiu Nan Clinic. The storefront wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy. The signboard hanging at the entrance, with the four characters "Qiu Nan Clinic" written by Yan Bugui, gleamed in the winter sunlight.

There was already someone waiting in the clinic—a young woman holding a baby who was crying terribly.

"Dr. Ding, you're finally back! My little one has a fever again," the young woman said anxiously.

Ding Qiunan quickly took the child, placed her on the examination bed, and began the examination. Nian'an stood obediently to the side, not making a sound, her eyes fixed on Ding Qiunan's every move.

"Don't worry, it's roseola infantum. The rash will clear up on its own," Ding Qiunan wrote out a prescription and gave a few more instructions.

The young woman left, expressing her deepest gratitude.

Nian'an leaned closer and whispered, "Auntie, what's wrong with that baby?"

"I'm sick."

"Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt, it's just a little uncomfortable."

Nian'an thought for a moment and said seriously, "Auntie is really amazing, she can cure diseases."

Ding Qiunan smiled, squatted down, and looked at him: "Nian'an, do you want to learn?"

Nian'an nodded vigorously: "Yes!"

"Then when you grow up, your aunt will teach you."

"Pinky promise."

With their little fingers, one tall and one short, hooked together, Nian'an smiled so hard her eyes curved into crescent moons.

In the evening, Chen Yu came to pick up Nian'an. Nian'an reluctantly said goodbye to Ding Qiunan, took a few steps, then ran back and hugged her leg: "Auntie, come tomorrow!"

"Okay, Auntie will come tomorrow."

On the way back, Nian'an was very excited, chattering about what she had seen and heard at the clinic.

"Daddy, Auntie cured a baby today!"

"Dad, Auntie said she'll teach Nian'an how to treat illnesses in the future!"

"Dad, when Nian'an grows up, she wants to be as amazing as her aunt!"

As Chen Yu listened, an indescribable sense of relief welled up in his heart.

This child has a kind heart.

That night, after Nian'an fell asleep, Chen Yu and Qin Huairu sat in the courtyard.

"That girl Qiu Nan is so pitiful all by herself," Qin Huairu said softly.

Chen Yu nodded.

"How about..." Qin Huairu hesitated for a moment, "...that she move in?"

Chen Yu was taken aback and looked at her.

Qin Huairu continued, "The east and west wing rooms in our courtyard are both empty. Let her live in the east wing room; it's close to us, and we can look after her."

Chen Yu was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Have you thought it through?"

"I've made up my mind." Qin Huairu nodded. "She's not an outsider."

Chen Yu held her hand: "Huai Ru, you're so kind."

Qin Huairu smiled: "It's because you taught me well."

The next day, Chen Yu went to Ding Qiunan and told her about it.

Ding Qiunan was stunned and remained silent for a long time.

"Qiu Nan, what do you think?" Chen Yu asked.

Ding Qiunan's eyes reddened, but this time she didn't cry. She just took a deep breath and whispered, "Brother Chen, thank you. But... I can't go."

Why?

Ding Qiunan lowered her head, her voice even softer: "I...I'm afraid I might..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Chen Yu understood.

After a long silence, he said softly, "Qiu Nan, no matter what, this will always be your home."