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

After the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the festive atmosphere gradually faded. The firecracker debris in the alleyways was swept clean, and the Spring Festival couplets on each household were still there, but they weren't as bright as before. Adults started planning their return to work, while children were still playing wildly, making the most of the last few days of their holiday.

Ding Qiunan's plan to open a pharmacy was put on the agenda. Chen Yu helped her with 500 yuan and asked He Yuzhu to find a suitable storefront at the entrance of the alley—it used to be a general store, but the owner had quit, so it was now vacant. The storefront wasn't big, but the location was good, with a lot of people coming and going, much better than her current small clinic.

"Qiu Nan, is this place alright?" Chen Yu took her to see the apartment.

Ding Qiunan looked around inside and out, her eyes filled with joy: "Great! Excellent! Brother Chen, this place is even better than I expected!"

"Then it's settled," Chen Yu said. "We'll find someone to tidy it up, paint the walls, and build a medicine cabinet, and then we can open for business."

Ding Qiunan nodded, her eyes reddening again.

"Don't cry," Chen Yu said with a smile. "What's there to cry about? It's a good thing."

"I didn't cry," Ding Qiunan wiped her eyes. "I'm just... too happy."

Nian'an was also there, holding Ding Qiunan's hand and looking up at her with her little face: "Auntie, don't cry, Nian'an will give Auntie candy."

He took a piece of candy out of his pocket; it was given to him by Qin Huairu that morning, and he hadn't been able to bear eating it.

Ding Qiunan took the candy, squatted down, and kissed him on the cheek: "Nian'an, be good, Auntie won't cry."

Nian'an smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

In the days that followed, Ding Qiunan was busy renovating the new pharmacy. Chen Yu helped her design the medicine cabinets, He Yuzhu helped her find a carpenter, Yan Bugui helped her write the signboard, and Zhang Xiulan helped her clean. Qin Huairu was in charge of cooking for everyone, delivering hot meals to them every noon, which they all enjoyed.

Nian'an followed along, running around the empty room, occasionally offering small help—which was really just causing trouble. But no one found him annoying; on the contrary, everyone felt that with him around, the work wasn't tiring.

"Nian'an, help your aunt move that stool over here," Ding Qiunan instructed him.

Nian'an picked up the small stool, staggered over, and placed it at Ding Qiunan's feet: "Auntie, the stool is here!"

"Thank you, Nian'an."

Nian'an then ran to help He Yuzhu pass nails and help Yan Bugui move stools. He was busy and sweating profusely, but he enjoyed it immensely.

"This child will definitely be a hardworking person in the future," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"He takes after his father." Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses. "Chen Yu is a hardworking person."

Chen Yu was painting the wall when he heard them praising him. He smiled but didn't say anything.

Two weeks later, the pharmacy was finally cleaned up. White walls and blue bricks, clean and bright. The medicine cabinets were new, with rows of small drawers labeled with the names of the medicines, written neatly by Chen Yu with a brush. The countertops were also new, painted a dark brown, exuding a rustic charm.

Ding Qiunan stood behind the counter, watching all of this, feeling as if she were in a dream.

"Qiu Nan, has the opening date been set?" Qin Huairu asked.

"It's settled, the second day of the second lunar month, the day the dragon raises its head," Ding Qiunan said. "That's an auspicious day."

"Okay, we'll all come and support you then."

On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon looked up.

Early in the morning, the entrance of the pharmacy was already crowded with people. He Yuzhu was busy setting off firecrackers, Yan Bugui was helping to greet customers, and Zhang Xiulan was helping to serve tea and water. Chen Yu was holding Nian'an, standing in the crowd, looking at the new signboard—"Qiu Nan Pharmacy," written by Yan Bugui, with vigorous strokes and a touch of scholarly air.

"Auntie, Nian'an sees the sign!" Nian'an pointed to the large characters on it, "Qiu Nan Pharmacy, Nian'an recognizes the character 'Qiu'!"

Ding Qiunan smiled, walked over, and kissed him on the cheek: "Nian'an is so smart."

At the auspicious hour, firecrackers went off. Ding Qiunan personally unveiled the red cloth on the signboard, and everyone applauded and cheered.

The pharmacy has officially opened.

The first customer to enter was an elderly man who had been coughing for several days. He happened to be passing by and decided to come in for a check-up.

Ding Qiunan took his pulse, wrote a prescription, took some medicine from the medicine cabinet, wrapped it up, and handed it to him.

"Sir, three doses of medicine, one dose per day, decocted in water. Avoid spicy and greasy foods."

The old man took the medicine, looked at it, and nodded: "Young lady, you look young, but your medical skills are quite good. I've been to several hospitals without success, but your prescription is right for me."

Ding Qiunan smiled and said, "You flatter me, sir. If you're still not feeling well after you finish eating, come back to me."

After the old man left, several more customers came in. Ding Qiunan was so busy she barely had time to breathe, but she always had a smile on her face.

Nian'an stood behind the counter, watching Ding Qiunan busy at work, her little face full of admiration.

"Dad, Auntie is so amazing!"

"Yes, Auntie is amazing."

"When Nian'an grows up, she should be as amazing as her aunt."

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

Nian An nodded seriously.

At noon, the number of guests gradually decreased. Qin Huairu brought in the food, and everyone sat down to eat together.

"Qiu Nan, how's business today?" Qin Huairu asked.

"Not bad," Ding Qiunan said with a smile. "I saw seven or eight patients this morning and prescribed more than a dozen doses of medicine."

"Great, a good start," He Yuzhu said. "It will definitely get better and better in the future."

Ding Qiunan nodded, glanced at Chen Yu, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Brother Chen, thank you."

"Don't thank me," Chen Yu waved his hand. "It's your own ability."

Nian'an sat next to Ding Qiunan, her little mouth stuffed with food, and said indistinctly, "Auntie, Nian'an will open a pharmacy in the future too."

"Okay, Auntie will help you."

"Pinky promise."

"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, the pharmacy closed. Ding Qiunan followed Chen Yu's family back to the small courtyard in front of the gate.

"Qiu Nan, stay here tonight," Qin Huairu said. "Go back tomorrow."

Ding Qiunan hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Nian'an was overjoyed and pulled her to see her new toy—a small rocking horse made by He Yuzhu that could rock back and forth.

"Auntie, please sit down!"

Ding Qiunan sat down, and Nian'an nudged her from behind, saying, "Auntie, rock her!"

Ding Qiunan gently shook her head, and Nian An clapped her hands and laughed.

"Auntie, Nian'an wants to sit too."

Ding Qiunan picked him up, let him sit on her lap, and rocked him together.

Nian'an laughed happily.

Qin Huairu stood at the kitchen doorway, watching this scene with a complex expression in her eyes. She looked at Chen Yu, who was also watching, his expression unreadable.

"Chen Yu," Qin Huairu walked over and said softly, "let Qiu Nan move in."

Chen Yu was taken aback: "Didn't we say before that she didn't want to?"

"Ask her again," Qin Huairu said. "Now that her pharmacy is open, it's close to us, so it's convenient for us to live together. Besides... I'm really worried about her living alone."

Chen Yu was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, I'll ask her."

That night, Nian'an went to sleep. Chen Yu and Qin Huairu sat in the courtyard, with Ding Qiunan sitting beside them.

"Qiu Nan," Chen Yu said, "there's something I want to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"Move in here," Chen Yu said. "The east wing has been empty. If you move in, it'll be close to the pharmacy, and it'll be easier for us to take care of you."

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

"Qiu Nan, we're really worried about you living alone." Qin Huairu held her hand. "Move in with us, let's all live together as a family, it'll be lively and fun."

Ding Qiunan's eyes reddened, and she lowered her head, whispering, "Sister Qin, I..."

"Stop talking," Qin Huairu interrupted her. "It's settled then. I'll help you pack your things tomorrow."

Ding Qiunan raised her head, looked at Qin Huairu, then at Chen Yu, and finally tears fell down her cheeks.

"Thank you... thank you all..."

Chen Yu handed over a handkerchief: "Don't cry, this is a good thing."

Ding Qiunan took it, wiped away her tears, and smiled.

"Yes, that's good news."

The next day, Chen Yu and Qin Huairu helped Ding Qiunan move. She didn't have much stuff—a box, a bundle, and a medicine box were all her belongings.

The east wing was spotless, with a new mattress on the kang (heated brick bed), a new teapot on the table, and paper-cut window decorations on the windows, made by Qin Huairu.

Ding Qiunan stood in the room, watching all of this, and felt an overwhelming warmth welling up in her heart.

Nian'an ran in and grabbed her hand: "Auntie, will you be living here from now on?"

"Yes, Auntie will be living here from now on."

Nian'an clapped her hands happily: "Great! Nian'an can see Auntie every day now!"

Ding Qiunan picked him up and kissed him on the cheek.

"Nian'an, your aunt will be with you every day from now on."

Outside the window, the sun is shining brightly.

Spring is gradually deepening in the courtyard.

A new life has begun.