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

Chapter 180 New Year's Eve - Reunion

The thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Lunar New Year's Eve.

Before dawn, the lights were already on in the small courtyard in front of the gate. Qin Huairu was the first to get up, busy preparing ingredients for the New Year's Eve dinner on the stove. The chicken had been stewed yesterday, the fish had been freshly killed this morning, and the minced meat had been chopped; they were just waiting to make dumplings.

Nian'an was awakened by the aroma. Rubbing her eyes, she got up, went barefoot, and ran to the kitchen door: "Mom, what delicious food are you making?"

"Nian'an, go back and put on your shoes!" Qin Huairu quickly put down what she was doing, picked him up, and said, "The ground is cold, what if you get cold?"

Nian'an hugged her neck, her eyes fixed on the steamer on the stove: "Mommy, what's that?"

"Eight-treasure rice, Nian'an's favorite food."

Nian'an's eyes lit up, and she reached out to grab it.

"It's not cooked yet, we can eat it later." Qin Huairu put him back on the bed, dressed him in a cotton-padded jacket and trousers, and put on his little cotton shoes. "Go find your father, he's putting up couplets."

Nian'an ran outside, and Chen Yu was climbing a ladder to paste the couplets on the front door. Nian'an looked up and read, "Spring... Spring what fills the universe?"

"Spring returns to the earth, the scenery is beautiful." Chen Yu read it to him with a smile, "Blessings fill the world, and joyous events abound."

"So much good news!" Nian'an remembered, clapping her hands happily. "Nian'an has good news too!"

"What good news does Nian'an have?" Chen Yu got down and picked him up.

"Nian'an is another year older!" Nian'an counted on her fingers, "Three years old! No, four years old! No, that's not right either..."

Chen Yu smiled: "Four years old by the traditional Chinese age reckoning, three and a half years old by actual age."

Nian'an was completely confused, so she gave up trying and pointed at the couplet: "Dad, what's the pronunciation of this character?"

"The character '福' (fú) means good fortune."

"Why is it pasted upside down?"

"Good fortune has arrived!"

Nian'an suddenly realized, "Oh! Good news! Daddy's so smart!"

Chen Yu was both amused and exasperated: "This wasn't invented by my father; it was passed down from our ancestors."

Just then, He Yuzhu's voice came from outside the door: "Chen Yu! Huai Ru! Happy New Year!"

The door was pushed open, and He Yuzhu and his family came in carrying large and small bags. His wife was carrying a basin filled with steaming stewed meat; his son was carrying two bottles of liquor, Beijing Erguotou.

"Brother Zhu, sister-in-law, come inside and warm up!" Qin Huairu greeted them.

"Nian'an, wish your uncle a Happy New Year!" He Yuzhu teased him.

Nian'an, acting like a little adult, bowed and said, "Happy New Year, Uncle! May you enjoy good health, Uncle!"

He Yuzhu was overjoyed and pulled a red envelope from his pocket, handing it to him: "Here, this is your New Year's money!"

Nian'an accepted the gift and bowed to He Yuzhu's wife, saying, "Happy New Year, Auntie!"

He Yuzhu's wife also took out a red envelope.

Nian'an received two red envelopes of New Year's money and ran happily to Chen Yu to show off: "Dad, Nian'an has money now!"

Chen Yu smiled and patted his head.

Yan Bugui and his family also arrived. Yan Bugui carried two bags of pastries, while his wife carried a basket containing homemade rice cakes and jujube buns.

"Uncle, Aunt, please come in!" Chen Yu greeted them.

Nian'an ran over and bowed, saying, "Happy New Year, Third Uncle! Happy New Year, Third Aunt!"

Yan Bugui and his wife also took out red envelopes, and Nian An accepted two more.

Zhang Xiulan also came, carrying chicken, duck, fish, and meat, as well as a jar of her own homemade rice wine.

"Happy New Year, Aunt Zhang!" Nian'an bowed again.

Zhang Xiulan smiled so hard her eyes narrowed into slits as she took out a red envelope and stuffed it into his hand.

Nian'an, clutching a stack of red envelopes, ran to Qin Huairu: "Mom, please keep these safe for me!"

Qin Huairu took it and said with a smile, "Okay, Mom will save it for you to use when you get married in the future."

Nian'an didn't understand what it meant to get married, but seeing the adults laughing, he also grinned foolishly.

Ding Qiunan was the last to arrive, carrying a medicine box and a large bundle.

"Auntie!" Nian'an rushed over, "Happy New Year, Auntie!"

Ding Qiunan put down her things, picked him up, and took out a newly made schoolbag from her bundle, which was embroidered with cute little tigers.

"Nian'an, this is your aunt's New Year's gift to you."

Nian'an hugged her schoolbag, looking at it over and over: "It's so pretty! Thank you, Auntie!"

He then took out a red envelope from his pocket and handed it to Ding Qiunan: "Auntie, Nian'an is also giving Auntie New Year's money!"

Ding Qiunan was taken aback, her eyes slightly reddening. She accepted the red envelope and said softly, "Thank you, Nian'an."

Everyone laughed.

At noon, after a simple meal, everyone started preparing the New Year's Eve dinner. He Yuzhu was in charge of cooking, Chen Yu assisted, Qin Huairu and Zhang Xiulan made dumplings, Yan Bugui and his wife set the table, and Ding Qiunan played with Nian'an.

Nian'an took Ding Qiunan's hand and showed her her treasures—a little wooden horse, a little wooden sword, a little tiger, and a medicine gourd—introducing them to her one by one.

"This was made by Dad, this was made by Uncle, and this was a gift from Aunt..."

Ding Qiunan listened attentively, nodding occasionally and praising him a few times.

Nian'an got more and more excited as she talked, and finally pulled her to see the snowman—the snowman had melted, leaving only a puddle of water. Nian'an was a little disappointed: "The snowman is gone."

Ding Qiunan squatted down and said softly, "The snowman will come again next year."

"real?"

"It's true. Every winter, the snowman comes to visit Nian'an."

Nian'an became happy again.

In the evening, the New Year's Eve dinner was laid out on the table. A large table was laden with more than a dozen dishes, including chicken, duck, fish, meat, and both hot and cold dishes. In the center was a large hot pot, bubbling and steaming.

As everyone sat around the table, He Yuzhu raised his glass: "Come on, let's all have a toast! Happy New Year and good health to everyone!"

"Happy New Year!"

Nian'an, holding up a small bowl filled with plain water, also shouted, "Happy New Year!"

Everyone laughed.

After finishing their New Year's Eve dinner, He Yuzhu busied himself setting off firecrackers. A long string of them was laid out in the yard, and once lit, they crackled and popped. Nian'an covered her ears, hiding in Chen Yu's arms, but her eyes were wide open, both scared and curious to watch.

After setting off the firecrackers, everyone went back inside to eat dumplings. The dumplings were filled with pork and cabbage, and a few even had coins inside; whoever found one was considered lucky.

Nian'an tried the first one but couldn't get any; he tried the second one but still couldn't get any; he took a bite of the third one and crunched, biting his tooth.

"Mom, Nian'an lost a tooth!" He covered his mouth, his eyes brimming with tears.

Everyone was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter. Qin Huairu quickly took the coin out of his mouth and said with a smile, "Nian'an, you didn't lose a tooth, you just swallowed a coin! You're lucky!"

Nian'an stared blankly at the coin, then burst into laughter through her tears: "Nian'an is lucky!"

Everyone praised him, which made him even more proud. He held the coin tightly, reluctant to let go.

As night deepened, the guests began to depart. He Yuzhu's family left, Yan Bugui's family left, and Zhang Xiulan also left. Ding Qiunan was about to leave as well, but Nian'an held her hand tightly, refusing to let go.

"Auntie, don't go. Stay here tonight."

Ding Qiunan looked at Chen Yu and Qin Huairu. Qin Huairu smiled and said, "Please stay here. The east wing is all cleaned up, and the quilts are all new."

Ding Qiunan hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Nian'an was overjoyed and pulled Ding Qiunan to see her room, pointing out the bed, the table, and the pomegranate tree visible from the window...

Ding Qiunan listened, her eyes slightly warming.

After settling Nian'an in, Chen Yu and Qin Huairu sat in the courtyard to keep watch over the New Year. The sky was dotted with stars, and the occasional sound of firecrackers could be heard in the distance.

"Another year has passed," Qin Huairu said softly.

"Yes," Chen Yu said, taking her hand. "Time flies."

"Nian'an is over three years old."

"In a few more years, I will be able to teach him cultivation."

Qin Huairu leaned on his shoulder without saying a word.

Inside the room, Nian'an was sleeping soundly, her little mouth slightly open, probably having a sweet dream.

In the east wing, Ding Qiunan lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling with a faint smile on her lips.

This was the warmest New Year she had ever had in all these years.

There is family, there are friends, there is Nian'an, there is...

She gently closed her eyes and silently made a wish in her heart.

May every year be like this, and may we all live in peace and tranquility.

Night had fallen, and the courtyard was enveloped in tranquility.