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

May 21st, Lesser Fullness (Xiaoman).

The wheat was filling out, and the seedlings in the vegetable patch had grown taller. Nian'an squatted by the vegetable patch, holding a small water ladle, watering the seedlings spoonful by spoonful, muttering, "Drink up, drink up, grow quickly."

Lin Zhiyuan has been in the courtyard for half a month and is gradually getting used to life there. Every morning, he gets up early to help Ding Qiunan clean the pharmacy and organize the medicinal herbs, and then he learns medicine from her. He has a good foundation, can read, and has a good memory. After half a month, he can already recognize more than a hundred kinds of medicinal herbs.

"Zhiyuan, where did you get to today?" Ding Qiunan sat in the pharmacy, holding a copy of "The Properties of Medicinal Herbs".

"You've reached the 'plaster cast'." Lin Zhiyuan stood in front of her, somewhat nervous.

Recite it to me.

Lin Zhiyuan took a deep breath and began to recite: "Gypsum is extremely cold, it can purge stomach fire, and if rashes persist, it can be used to treat excessive heat..."

He didn't recite it very fluently, and sometimes he would get stuck, but each time he got stuck, Ding Qiunan would give him a word as a hint, and he could continue. After he finished reciting the "plaster" section, Ding Qiunan nodded: "Not bad, keep going, tomorrow we'll recite 'cold water stone'."

"Yes, Master."

Nian'an ran in from the yard, holding up a rose in her hand: "Auntie, this is for you!"

Ding Qiunan took the flowers, placed them in the vase on the table, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Nian'an."

"Auntie, Nian'an wants to memorize it too." Nian'an leaned over the table, looking up at her with her little face.

Ding Qiunan smiled: "You're still young, no rush."

"Nian'an isn't a little kid anymore!" Nian'an puffed out her little chest. "Nian'an is three and a half years old!"

Lin Zhiyuan laughed from the side, "Three and a half years old is still young, I'm sixteen."

Nian'an retorted, "Then you carry one!"

Lin Zhiyuan glanced at Ding Qiunan, who nodded. He then recited aloud: "Ephedra has a pungent taste and relieves exterior symptoms by inducing sweating. It treats fever, headache, and wind-cold."

Nian'an didn't understand, but she thought it was amazing and clapped her hands, saying, "Brother Zhiyuan is so amazing!"

Lin Zhiyuan scratched his head sheepishly.

At noon, Qin Huairu brought lunch. Today she made braised noodles, with the braising sauce made of daylily, wood ear fungus, eggs, and sliced ​​meat. The aroma filled the pharmacy.

"Qiu Nan, Zhi Yuan, dinner's ready."

"Here it is!" Lin Zhiyuan quickly took the lunchbox and placed it on the table.

Nian'an sat down as well, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating the noodles in her bowl, her mouth full of braised meat.

"Nian'an, eat slowly, don't choke." Qin Huairu wiped his mouth.

"Mom, Nian'an wants to eat meat."

"Isn't there meat in the bowl?"

Nian'an rummaged through the bowl, found a piece of meat, stuffed it into her mouth, and chewed it with satisfaction.

After dinner, Lin Zhiyuan insisted on washing the dishes. Nian'an followed, standing by the sink, her little hands dipping into the water to help rinse the dishes, splashing water all over herself.

"Nian'an, your clothes are wet." Qin Huairu quickly pulled him over.

Nian'an looked down at her wet clothes and chuckled, "Nian'an is helping Brother Zhiyuan with his work."

Lin Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Thank you, Nian'an."

In the afternoon, Ding Qiunan taught Lin Zhiyuan to identify the properties of medicinal herbs. She placed several herbs on the table, had him smell, taste, and look at them, and then described their effects.

"This is Coptis chinensis, which tastes bitter and is cold in nature. It can clear heat and dry dampness."

Lin Zhiyuan picked up the Coptis chinensis, broke off a small piece and put it in his mouth, his brows furrowing from the bitterness.

Nian'an also chimed in, "Nian'an wants to try some too!"

Ding Qiunan quickly stopped her, saying, "Nian'an can't eat this; it's too bitter."

Nian'an didn't believe it, so she secretly broke off a small piece and put it in her mouth. It was so bitter that tears came out, and she cried out and spat it out.

"My aunt lied! It's so painful!"

Everyone laughed. Ding Qiunan poured him water to rinse his mouth, and Nian Anlian drank several mouthfuls before he recovered.

"Nian'an, do you want to try some?" Lin Zhiyuan teased him.

Nian'an shook her head: "I won't try it, Aunt's medicine is too bitter."

In the evening, Chen Yu came to pick up Nian'an. Nian'an ran over and threw herself into his arms: "Daddy, Nian'an took bitter medicine today!"

"What kind of bitter medicine?"

"Coptis chinensis! It's so bitter!" Nian'an wrinkled her little face. "It's even more bitter than bitter melon!"

Chen Yu laughed: "Who told you to eat it?"

"Nian'an ate it herself." Nian'an lowered her head. "Nian'an won't steal food anymore."

Chen Yu patted his head: "It's good that you know you were wrong."

The family returned to their courtyard. Qin Huairu was busy in the kitchen, Ding Qiunan was helping, and Chen Yu was playing with Nian'an in the yard.

"Dad, Zhiyuan is so amazing! He can carry so many things on his back."

"Then study hard, you'll be great when you grow up."

"Nian'an should learn from her aunt and also from her father."

"Okay, Dad will teach you."

Nian'an nodded happily.

Dinner was ready, and the family sat down together. Qin Huairu had prepared several dishes, including scrambled eggs, braised eggplant, cucumber salad, and a bowl of minced meat and tofu. Nian'an ate heartily, and Lin Zhiyuan also ate with gusto—he was at a stage of rapid growth and had a large appetite.

"Zhiyuan, eat more." Qin Huairu put some food on his plate.

"Thank you, Aunt Qin."

"Don't be shy, make yourself at home."

Lin Zhiyuan nodded, his eyes reddening again.

After finishing their meal, Lin Zhiyuan returned to the pharmacy. Nian'an played in the yard for a while, then got sleepy and was carried inside by Qin Huairu.

Chen Yu sat under the pomegranate tree, watching the sunset. Ding Qiunan walked over and sat down next to him.

"Brother Chen, what do you think of Zhiyuan?"

"He's good, honest, and willing to learn," Chen Yu said. "His foundation is also good; he'll be able to learn it."

"That's what I think too," Ding Qiunan said. "Once he can handle things on his own, the pharmacy can stay open for a few more hours."

Take your time, there's no rush.

After a moment of silence, Ding Qiunan suddenly said, "Brother Chen, I'd like... to let Zhiyuan move into the courtyard."

Chen Yu was taken aback: "Doesn't he live behind the pharmacy?"

"That place is too small, hot in summer and cold in winter," Ding Qiunan said. "There is an empty room in the east wing. Let him stay there, and it will be convenient for teaching him."

Chen Yu thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll pack it up later."

Ding Qiunan smiled and said, "Thank you, Brother Chen."

"No need to thank me, we're all family."

The words "family" warmed Ding Qiunan's heart.

The next day, Chen Yu and Qin Huairu cleaned up the empty room in the east wing. The room was small but clean, with a kang (heated brick bed) and a table, and a pomegranate tree outside the window.

When Lin Zhiyuan moved in, he was stunned when he saw the room.

"Uncle Chen, Aunt Qin, this...this is for me to stay in?"

"Yes, you'll live here from now on," Qin Huairu said. "It's close to the pharmacy, which will also make it convenient for your master to teach you."

Lin Zhiyuan's eyes reddened, and he tried his best to hold back his tears.

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

"Don't cry." Chen Yu patted his shoulder. "Be a man, study medicine hard, and make something of yourself in the future. That's the best way to thank us."

Lin Zhiyuan nodded vigorously.

Nian'an ran in and grabbed Lin Zhiyuan's hand: "Brother Zhiyuan, you'll be living next door to me from now on! I'll come play with you tonight!"

Lin Zhiyuan smiled, squatted down, and said seriously, "Okay, Nian'an will come to play with her brother tonight."

From then on, there was one more person in the courtyard.

Life became even more lively.