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

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, before dawn, Qin Huairu got up.

According to tradition, the bride returns to her parents' home on the second day of the Lunar New Year. Although the Jia family's home is not considered a "family" in the traditional sense, Jia Zhangshi is still her mother-in-law and Jia Dongxu is her brother-in-law, so the proper etiquette must still be observed.

Chen Yu also got up and helped pack the prepared New Year's gifts—two bottles of wine, a package of pastries, a piece of cured meat, and a few side dishes made by Qin Huairu herself. The gifts were few, but presentable.

Nian'an was woken up by the noise, rubbing her eyes as she got up: "Mommy, where are we going?"

"Let's go to Grandma's." Qin Huairu helped him get dressed. "Nian'an, remember to greet everyone when we get there, okay?"

"Who are you calling?"

"Call her Grandma, call her Uncle."

Nian'an nodded and asked, "Does Grandma have any candy?"

Qin Huairu smiled: "Yes, Grandma saved some candy for Nian'an."

Nian'an was overjoyed. She put on her little cotton shoes, ran to the yard, and shouted towards the east wing, "Auntie! Nian'an is going to Grandma's house!"

Ding Qiunan was already up and combing her hair. Hearing the voice, she poked her head out and said, "Nian'an, be good and don't be naughty when you go."

"Nian'an isn't naughty!" Nian'an said earnestly. "Nian'an is a good girl!"

Ding Qiunan walked over with a smile, took out a few pieces of candy from her pocket, and stuffed them into his pocket: "Eat these on the way, don't eat them all at once."

Nian'an nodded, patted his pocket, and looked pleased with himself.

A family of three went out. Firecracker debris was scattered everywhere in the alley, and a faint smell of gunpowder lingered in the air. Several children ran around in the alley, holding small firecrackers in their hands, throwing one every now and then with a "pop."

Nian'an looked on with envy, but dared not ask for it. She simply held Chen Yu's hand and whispered, "Dad, when Nian'an grows up, I'll set off firecrackers too."

"Okay, when you grow up, Dad will teach you."

The Jia family lived in another alley, not far away, about a fifteen-minute walk. The courtyard wasn't large, and it was even older than Chen Yu's small courtyard, but it was fairly clean. The Spring Festival couplets on the door were newly pasted, bright red, adding a touch of festive cheer to the old courtyard.

Qin Huairu knocked on the door.

Jia Dongxu opened the door. He was startled at first, then smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, Chen Yu, you're here? Come in!"

He looked down and saw Nian'an, then squatted down: "Nian'an, call him uncle."

Nian'an was a little shy, so she hid behind Qin Huairu, peeked out her little head, and whispered, "Hello, Uncle."

Jia Dongxu chuckled, took a red envelope out of his pocket, and handed it to him: "Here, Nian'an, take this."

Nian'an took it, then looked back at Qin Huairu. Qin Huairu nodded, and he accepted it, whispering, "Thank you, Uncle."

Inside the house, Jia Zhangshi was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed). She was much thinner than last year, and the flesh on her face had sagged, but she was in good spirits. She was wearing a clean blue cotton-padded jacket, and her hair was neatly combed.

Seeing Qin Huairu enter, she seemed a little flustered, rubbing her hands on her knees, and said softly, "You're here?"

Qin Huairu nodded and placed the New Year's gift on the table: "Mom, I brought you something."

Looking at those things, Jia Zhangshi's eyes reddened slightly. She remembered how Qin Huairu had treated her before, yet Qin Huairu still cared for her; it made her feel uneasy.

"You're here, why did you bring anything..." Her voice was a little hoarse.

Nian'an peeked out from behind Qin Huairu, curiously looking at the unfamiliar old woman. When Jia Zhangshi saw him, her eyes lit up, and a smile spread across her face: "Is this Nian'an?"

"Nian'an, call her Grandma." Qin Huairu pushed Nian'an forward.

Nian'an hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Hello, Grandma."

Jia Zhangshi almost burst into tears. She quickly took out a red envelope from the kang cabinet and stuffed it into his hand: "Good boy, Grandma is giving you New Year's money."

Nian'an took it, and this time without looking at Qin Huairu, simply said, "Thank you, Grandma."

Jia Zhangshi laughed, but then she started crying again.

Qin Huairu sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), chatting with Jia Zhangshi. Chen Yu and Jia Dongxu were drinking tea in the outer room. Nian'an wandered around the room for a while, but finding nothing interesting, she ran out to find Chen Yu again.

"Dad, Grandma's house doesn't have any toys."

"Grandma's house is where adults live, there are no toys there." Chen Yu picked him up. "Nian'an, be good and talk to Grandma."

Nian'an nodded, then ran back into the house, climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), sat next to Jia Zhangshi, and looked up at her with her little face: "Grandma, are you cold?"

Madam Jia was taken aback, then shook her head: "It's not cold, Grandma has a kang (heated brick bed)."

"Nian'an also sleeps on the kang (heated brick bed), it's warm." Nian'an touched the mattress on the kang with her little hands. "Grandma's mattress is soft, and Nian'an's is soft too."

Jia Zhangshi was amused by him, took his hand and gently stroked it: "Nian'an is so good, just like your mother when she was little."

"Was Mom a good girl when she was little?" Nian'an asked curiously.

"Good boy, your mother has always been a good child." Jia Zhangshi said, glancing at Qin Huairu with a hint of guilt in her eyes.

Qin Huairu didn't speak, but just smiled gently.

At noon, Jia Dongxu busied himself preparing a few dishes. His cooking skills were so-so, but his heart was in it. Nian'an ate half a bowl of rice and two pieces of braised pork, her little belly rounding up again.

After the meal, Qin Huairu helped Jia Zhangshi clear the dishes and set out the side dishes she had brought. Jia Zhangshi took her hand and whispered, "Huairu, before... it was my fault."

Qin Huairu was stunned.

"I was confused back then and did many wrong things," Jia Zhangshi said, tears welling up in her eyes again. "You're a good child, it's all my fault..."

Qin Huairu's eyes also reddened, but she didn't cry. She just held Jia Zhangshi's hand and whispered, "Mom, it's all over now."

Jia Zhangshi nodded and wiped away her tears.

In the afternoon, the family of three said goodbye. Madam Jia saw them to the door, holding Nian'an's hand tightly, saying, "Nian'an, come visit Grandma often."

"Okay." Nian'an nodded. "Grandma will come to see Nian'an too."

Madam Jia smiled, her smile filled with satisfaction.

On the way back, Nian'an was tired and leaned on Chen Yu's shoulder, muttering, "Dad, Grandma cried."

"Grandma misses An."

"Then Nian'an should visit Grandma more often."

Chen Yu patted his head: "Good son."

Qin Huairu walked beside him, remaining silent. Chen Yu freed one hand and took hers. She looked up at him, her eyes slightly moist, but a smile playing on her lips.

"It's alright," she said softly. "It's all in the past."

Chen Yu gripped her hand tightly, without saying a word.

When they got home, Ding Qiunan was hanging clothes to dry in the yard. Seeing them return, she greeted them, "You're back? Nian'an, you must be tired?"

Nian'an was already asleep, her little face was rosy, and there was a little drool at the corner of her mouth.

Ding Qiunan took him, carried him into the room, gently placed him on the crib, and covered him with a blanket.

When she came out, Qin Huairu was sitting in the courtyard, holding the red envelope that Jia Zhangshi had given to Nian'an, staring blankly at it.

"Sister Qin, what's wrong?" Ding Qiunan sat down next to her.

"Qiu Nan," Qin Huairu said softly, "she has really changed."

Ding Qiunan knew who she was talking about and nodded: "People always change when they get old."

"I used to hate her." Qin Huairu looked at the red envelope in her hand. "I hated her for treating me badly, I hated her for bullying me. But now, I can't hate her anymore."

Ding Qiunan grasped her hand: "Sister Qin, you have a kind heart."

Qin Huairu shook her head: "It's not that I'm kind-hearted, it's that... I've let go."

Chen Yu walked over and sat down next to her. He didn't say anything, but simply held her hand.

The three sat in the courtyard, and none of them spoke.

As the sun set, the sky was tinged with a golden-red hue. Nian'an was fast asleep inside, occasionally turning over and mumbling a few words in her sleep.

New year, new start.

Some things are truly in the past.