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

December 7th marks the Great Snow solar term.

It started snowing the night before, and by morning the yard was covered with a thick layer of snow. Chen Yu pushed open the door, and a blast of cold air hit him. Everything in front of him was white. The pomegranate tree looked like an old man with white hair, the walls were piled with snow, and even the handle of the water pump was frozen.

"What heavy snow." He exhaled white breath and picked up a broom to start sweeping the snow.

Inside, Nian'an pressed her face against the window, her nose almost flattened, and looked out. "Daddy, snow! Lots of snow!"

"I'll take you to play in the snow later." Chen Yu didn't turn his head and continued sweeping.

Qin Huairu was cooking porridge on the stove, the steam rising and the aroma filling the room. She poked her head out and said, "Nian'an, put on your cotton-padded coat first, don't get cold."

Nian'an had already dressed himself—but in a mess, with the buttons fastened wrong and his pants on backwards. Qin Huairu was both amused and exasperated, and straightened them for him.

"Mommy, I want to go out and play in the snow!"

"After we finish eating."

Nian'an had no choice but to wait, her eyes fixed on the window, watching Chen Yu clear a path.

After finishing his meal, Nian'an rushed out the door. He stepped into the snow, which sank up to his calves. He paused for a moment, then chuckled and stomped his foot hard, sending snow flying everywhere.

"Daddy, the snow is so soft!"

Chen Yu watched him play with a smile, then scooped up a handful of snow, made a snowball, and threw it at the courtyard wall. With a snap, the snowball scattered, splashing up a cloud of white mist.

Nian'an tried to make snowballs like him, her little hands turning red from the cold, but she refused to go back inside.

"Nian'an, are your hands cold?" Qin Huairu came out holding a pair of small gloves.

"It's not cold!" Nian'an shook her head, but her hands were clearly frozen like carrots.

Qin Huairu put gloves on him, and he ran off to build a snowman. Chen Yu rolled a big snowball for his body and a smaller one for his head. Nian An found two pebbles for eyes, a twig for a nose, and took off his own little hat to put on the snowman's head.

"Snowman, you can wear my hat!" Nian'an said earnestly.

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

As they were playing, the courtyard gate was pushed open. Ding Qiunan, wrapped in a thick scarf, came in carrying a medicine box, her clothes covered in snow.

"Auntie!" Nian'an dropped the snowman and rushed over. "Auntie, look! Nian'an made a snowman!"

Ding Qiunan squatted down, looked at the crooked snowman, and laughed, "It's really beautiful. Nian'an is really amazing."

Nian'an was extremely pleased with herself. She pulled her to see the snowman and then pulled her into the house.

"Come inside and warm up." Qin Huairu took the medicine box and brushed the snow off her. "With so much snow, why did you come in?"

"I have a few patients scheduled for follow-up appointments today, I have to go." Ding Qiunan sat down, rubbing her frozen hands.

Nian'an climbed onto her lap and covered her hands with her little hands: "Auntie is cold, Nian'an will warm you up."

Ding Qiunan felt a warmth in her heart and leaned down to kiss him on the cheek.

"Qiu Nan, have you eaten?" Qin Huairu brought over a bowl of hot porridge. "Have some to warm yourself up first."

Ding Qiunan took the drink and slowly drank it. Nian'an lay on her lap, looking up at her with her little face.

"Auntie, is the snow heavy near your clinic?"

"Wow, the snow in the alley is almost knee-deep."

"So how did you get here?"

"We came here by walking, step by step."

Nian'an thought for a moment and said seriously, "Next time, Nian'an will pick up Auntie."

Ding Qiunan smiled: "Okay, Nian'an will pick up her aunt next time."

After finishing her porridge, Ding Qiunan was about to go to the clinic. Nian'an took her hand and insisted on seeing her off.

Chen Yu picked him up, and the three of them walked together towards Donghuashi Hutong. The snow was still falling, swirling and scattering, quickly turning their hair white.

"Dad, why is snow white?" Nian'an asked.

"Because snow is made from water, and water turns white when it freezes."

"Then why is water transparent and ice white?"

Chen Yu was stumped by the question. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Because there are tiny air bubbles in the ice, when sunlight shines in, it turns white."

Nian'an nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Upon arriving at the clinic, Ding Qiunan took the medicine kit and said to Nian'an, "Nian'an, be good, come back with Daddy, don't get cold."

"Auntie, come over for dinner tonight!" Nian'an said.

"Okay, Auntie will come tonight."

After watching Ding Qiunan enter the clinic, Chen Yu carried Nian'an back home.

In the afternoon, the snow stopped. The sun came out and shone brightly on the snow, so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes.

Nian'an ran out to play in the snow again, and this time Chen Yu helped him build an even bigger snowman, taller than Nian'an. Nian'an found two tree branches to use as arms and wrapped his red scarf around the snowman.

"What's the snowman called?" Nian'an asked.

Chen Yu thought for a moment and said, "Let's call him Da Mao."

"Da Mao!" Nian An shouted to the snowman, "Hello, Da Mao!"

The snowman, of course, didn't answer, but Nian'an didn't care and sang while circling around the snowman.

In the evening, He Yuzhu and Yan Bugui came to visit. He Yuzhu brought half a sheep, saying that his brother-in-law had brought it from Inner Mongolia and that everyone should have a taste.

"With such heavy snow, you still made the trip?" Chen Yu took the sheep.

"Hey, I'm just lazing around at home anyway." He Yuzhu sat down and watched Nian'an playing with the snowman in the yard. "That kid's tough, he's not afraid of the cold."

"Kids are hot-tempered." Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses. "Chen Yu, your Nian'an will definitely amount to something in the future."

Chen Yu smiled and invited them inside to sit down.

Qin Huairu started stewing mutton, and the aroma filled the courtyard. Nian'an smelled the fragrance, ran into the house, and peered over the stove.

"Mom, when can we eat?"

"It'll be here soon, Nian'an, don't worry."

Ding Qiunan also came, bringing a bag of medicinal herbs, saying she would make soup for Nian'an to nourish her body.

Everyone sat around the kang (a heated brick bed), which was warm and cozy. Outside it was freezing cold, but inside it was as warm as spring.

The stewed mutton was ready, and a large bowl was brought out, steaming hot and fragrant. Nian'an sat on Chen Yu's lap, a few pieces of mutton in a small bowl, which he ate with gusto, his mouth dripping with oil.

"Delicious!" he exclaimed.

Everyone laughed.

After dinner, everyone sat around chatting. He Yuzhu started talking about the interesting things happening in the alley—Old Li's family at the east end had a healthy baby boy, Old Wang's daughter at the west end had been accepted into teachers' college, and Old Zhao's son at the south end had sent a letter home from the army…

As Nian'an listened, she nestled in Chen Yu's arms and fell asleep. Her little mouth was slightly open, and a smile lingered on her face.

"This child, he sleeps as soon as he's full," Qin Huairu said softly.

Chen Yu carried him to the small bed and covered him with a blanket.

As night deepened, the guests took their leave. Ding Qiunan was also leaving, and Chen Yu escorted her to the alley entrance.

"Qiu Nan, be careful on the road."

"Okay, Brother Chen, you can go back now."

Chen Yu watched her disappear into the night before turning back.

Back inside, Qin Huairu had already made the bed.

"Qiu Nan went back?"

"Um."

Qin Huairu was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Chen Yu, do you think Qiu Nan is troubled by something?"

Chen Yu knew what she was referring to, but didn't want to say it aloud, only saying, "She's a strong-willed person, she'll handle it herself."

Qin Huairu nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

The two lay down, listening to the howling wind outside the window.

"Chen Yu," Qin Huairu suddenly said, "we're really lucky."

"Um?"

"It's so good to have Nian'an, you, Qiu Nan, Brother Zhu and the others..."

Chen Yu held her hand and said softly, "Yes, that's wonderful."

Inside the house, the stove was burning brightly, making it warm and cozy.

Outside the window, heavy snow blocked the door, and a biting wind howled.

But their hearts are warm.