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

April 5th, Qingming Festival.

Before dawn, Chen Yu got up. Today he was taking Nian'an to visit his parents' graves—the original owner's parents, who were also his parents. Although they had never met, he had taken over their bodies, and he couldn't neglect his filial duties.

Qin Huairu also got up, boiled a few eggs on the stove, and made a few pancakes. She wrapped them in oil paper and stuffed them into Chen Yu's satchel.

"Eat on the way, don't go hungry."

"Um."

Nian'an was woken up, rubbing her eyes, and asked groggily, "Daddy, where are we going?"

"Go and visit my grandparents' graves."

Nian'an didn't understand what visiting graves meant, but when she heard that she was going out, she was happy. She dressed herself, washed her face, and skipped and jumped as she followed Chen Yu out the door.

Ding Qiunan also got up and stood at the door of the east wing, looking at them: "Brother Chen, be careful on the road."

"Okay, you stay home and keep an eye on Huairu."

"it is good."

The father and son went out. In April in Beijing, the wind was still cool, but the sun was already warming up. The trees in the alley were all green, tender and fresh, as if they had just been painted.

Nian'an, holding Chen Yu's hand, skipped along, asking, "Daddy, where are Grandpa and Grandma?"

"Outside the city."

"Is it far?"

"It's a bit far, Nian'an got tired walking, so Dad carried her."

Nian'an nodded, took a few steps, and then asked, "Dad, what do Grandpa and Grandma look like?"

Chen Yu thought for a moment: "My father has never seen it either."

Nian'an was stunned: "Then how did Dad know they were Grandpa and Grandma?"

Chen Yu smiled: "Because they are Dad's parents, they are Grandpa and Grandma."

Nian'an nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Once outside the city, wheat fields stretched out on both sides of the road, a lush green expanse that seemed to extend as far as the eye could see. It was the first time Nian'an had ever seen such a vast field, and her eyes widened in amazement.

"Dad, the land is so big!"

"This is a wheat field. When the wheat grows up, it can be ground into flour to make steamed buns and noodles."

Nian'an suddenly realized, "So steamed buns grow from the ground!"

Chen Yu smiled and didn't correct him.

After walking for about an hour, we arrived at the cemetery. On a small earthen slope, there were a few scattered tombstones, some of which were quite old and the inscriptions were blurred.

Chen Yu found the grave of the original owner's parents. It was not big, just a mound of earth with a blue stone tablet in front of it, which read "Tomb of Chen Gong, whose given name is XX".

He squatted down, took out incense, candles, and paper money from his bag, and then placed a few apples and some pastries on the ground. Nian'an stood aside, watching quietly, unusually calm and still.

"Nian'an, kowtow to your grandparents."

Nian'an followed Chen Yu's example, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed three times earnestly.

"Grandpa and Grandma, Nian'an has come to see you," he whispered. "Nian'an, be a good boy/girl, listen to Mom and Dad, and don't be naughty..."

As Chen Yu listened, his nose tingled with emotion.

After burning the paper money, the father and son sat in front of the grave to rest for a while. Nian'an leaned against Chen Yu and whispered, "Dad, where are Grandpa and Grandma?"

"In heaven."

Nian'an looked up at the sky; it was blue with a few white clouds drifting by. He waved and said, "Goodbye, Grandpa and Grandma. I'll come see you again next time."

Chen Yu patted his head, a feeling he couldn't quite describe welling up inside him.

On the way back, Nian'an couldn't walk anymore, so Chen Yu carried him on his back. Nian'an nestled on his back, his little face pressed against his neck, and soon fell asleep.

Chen Yu carried him on his back, walking slowly, his mind filled with many thoughts.

The original owner's parents would be overjoyed to know they had a grandson.

It was almost noon when they arrived home. Qin Huairu was waiting at the door. Seeing them, she greeted them, "You're back? Is Nian'an asleep?"

"Hmm, I'm tired from walking." Chen Yu put Nian'an on the small bed and covered her with a blanket.

Qin Huairu brought him hot water and wiped his face: "Are you tired? Dinner is ready, let's eat first."

Chen Yu nodded, washed his hands, and sat down at the table. Ding Qiunan was also there; several dishes and a bowl of hot soup were laid out on the table.

"Qiu Nan, is the pharmacy closed today?" Chen Yu asked.

"It's open. Come back for lunch, then go again this afternoon." Ding Qiunan served him a bowl of soup. "Brother Chen, have some soup."

"Thanks."

After finishing his meal, Nian'an woke up, looking much better, and ran around in the yard. Chen Yu sat under the pomegranate tree, watching him, feeling very at ease.

"Dad, Nian'an wants to fly a kite!" Nian'an ran over and took his hand.

"Okay, Dad will make it for you."

Chen Yu found some bamboo strips and an old newspaper, and boiled a bowl of paste, then started making kites. Nian An squatted beside him watching, occasionally handing him something, busy and happy.

"Dad, how high can a kite fly?"

"It's very tall, taller than a house."

"Taller than a tree?"

"Taller than a tree."

"Higher than the clouds?"

"Not as high as Yun Gao, but not low either."

Nian An nodded in satisfaction.

The kite was finished; it was a very simple tile kite with two long tails. Chen Yu took Nian'an to the open space at the entrance of the alley to fly it.

The wind was just right, and the kite quickly took flight, soaring higher and higher, farther and farther. Nian'an looked up, her mouth agape.

"Dad, the kite flew away!"

"Yes, it flew away."

"Nian'an also wants to fly!"

"When you grow up, Dad will take you on an airplane."

How high can an airplane fly?

"Higher than the clouds."

Nian'an's eyes lit up.

In the evening, Ding Qiunan returned from the pharmacy. Nian'an ran over and grabbed her hand: "Auntie, Daddy made a kite, and Nian'an flew it so high!"

Ding Qiunan squatted down and said with a smile, "Nian'an is really amazing."

"Auntie, Nian'an will be released for you tomorrow too!"

"Okay, Auntie will take care of Nian'an tomorrow."

After dinner, the family sat in the yard. The moon rose, round and bright. Nian'an lay on Chen Yu's lap, listening to the adults talk, and soon fell asleep.

Qin Huairu carried him into the house and put him on the small bed.

When I returned, Ding Qiunan was still sitting in the courtyard, holding a book in her hand, but not reading it, staring blankly at the moon.

"Qiu Nan, what are you thinking about?" Qin Huairu sat down next to her.

"I wasn't thinking about anything," Ding Qiunan shook her head. "I just feel... it's really good like this."

Qin Huairu grasped her hand: "Yes, that's wonderful."

Chen Yu sat to the side, watching them, and felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction welling up inside him.

As night deepened, the three of them went back to their respective rooms.

In the east wing, Ding Qiunan lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Above the bed was a painting by Nian An, depicting a family of four, holding hands.

She reached out and gently touched the person in the painting.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water.

The courtyard was quiet.

Tomorrow will be another new day.