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

June 22nd, the summer solstice.

The longest day of the year. It gets hot early; the ground feels like it's on fire as soon as the sun rises. In the front courtyard, pomegranate blossoms are in full bloom, their vibrant red flowers contrasting beautifully with the lush green leaves. The roses in the corner are also in full bloom, their pink, white, and red petals filling the courtyard with their fragrance.

Nian'an, wearing a tank top and shorts, ran around barefoot in the yard. He ran to the edge of the vegetable garden, squatted down to look at the green beans—the bean vines had already climbed the trellis and were blooming with small purple flowers.

"Dad, the green beans are flowering!" he called out as he turned around.

Chen Yu sat under the pomegranate tree, holding a book in his hand. Hearing this, he looked up and said, "Yes, we'll be able to eat green beans in a few days."

"Nian'an wants to eat stewed green beans with pork!"

"Okay, when the green beans grow bigger, Mom will make them for you."

Nian'an nodded in satisfaction, then ran to the base of the wall to look at the herbs Ding Qiunan had planted. The honeysuckle was in bloom, yellow and white, with a faint fragrance; the mint was also growing vigorously, a lush green patch.

"Auntie, the honeysuckle is blooming!" Nian'an ran to the door of the east wing and shouted.

Ding Qiunan was arranging medicinal herbs inside when she heard this. She came out, squatted down in front of the honeysuckle, picked a few blossoms, and handed them to Nian'an: "Smell this, doesn't it smell good?"

Nian'an brought the sniff to her nose, sneezed slightly, and made Ding Qiunan laugh.

"Auntie, what can honeysuckle be used for?"

"It can be steeped in water and drunk; it clears heat and detoxifies. It's best to drink it in the summer."

"Nian'an wants to drink!"

"Okay, Auntie will make it for you in a bit."

Lin Zhiyuan had already gone to the pharmacy to clean and organize the medicinal herbs. He now gets up early every day to open the pharmacy, then cleans it inside and out, waiting for Ding Qiunan to arrive.

When Ding Qiunan arrived at the pharmacy, there was already a patient waiting. It was an elderly man who had been suffering from leg pain for several years. He had heard that Ding Qiunan was skilled at treating rheumatism, so he came all the way from Haidian.

Ding Qiunan took his pulse, examined his tongue coating, asked about his symptoms, wrote a prescription, and asked Lin Zhiyuan to get the medicine.

"Sir, take seven doses of this prescription first, then come back for a check-up. Remember to keep warm and avoid catching a cold."

The old man took the medicine, thanked him profusely, and left.

Nian'an followed, leaning over the table and watching Lin Zhiyuan prepare the medicine. Lin Zhiyuan was now very skilled at preparing medicine; he could glance at the prescription, turn around, find the corresponding herbs in the medicine cabinet, weigh them, and package them all in one smooth motion.

"Brother Zhiyuan is really amazing," Nian'an praised him.

Lin Zhiyuan smiled sheepishly: "I'm still far from good enough. Master is the real expert."

Ding Qiunan was writing medical records when she heard this and looked up: "You're making rapid progress. In a few months, you'll be able to see patients independently."

Lin Zhiyuan's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Really, but I can only treat minor ailments; for complex cases, I'll have to handle them."

"That's enough!" Lin Zhiyuan said, his face flushed with excitement.

At noon, Qin Huairu brought lunch. Today she made cold noodles. The noodles were cooked, rinsed in cold water, and served with cucumber strips, bean sprouts, sesame paste, and topped with minced garlic and vinegar. It was refreshing and appetizing.

Nian'an ate half a bowl and then two pieces of watermelon, her little belly was round and chubby.

"Mom, the watermelon is so sweet!"

"Eat more if it's sweet."

"Nian'an still wants to eat."

"I can't eat anymore, or my stomach will hurt."

Nian'an had no choice but to give up and leaned over the table, watching Lin Zhiyuan eat noodles. Lin Zhiyuan ate quickly, slurping and slurping, and finished a large bowl in no time.

"Brother Zhiyuan, you eat so fast."

"I'm hungry," Lin Zhiyuan said with a smile.

In the afternoon, there were fewer patients. Ding Qiunan taught Lin Zhiyuan to recognize prescriptions. She wrote down several commonly used prescriptions on paper and had him memorize them, and also explain the function of each herb.

"This prescription is the 'Four Gentlemen Decoction,' which contains ginseng, atractylodes macrocephala, poria cocos, and licorice, and is used to replenish qi."

Lin Zhiyuan took notes carefully.

Nian'an also came over, looking at the characters. She didn't recognize them, but she repeated, "Four Gentlemen Soup..."

Ding Qiunan smiled: "Nian'an wants to learn too?"

"think!"

"Okay, then Auntie will teach you to read."

She took a piece of paper from the drawer, wrote the character "人" (person) on it, and taught Nian'an to read it. Nian'an read it a few times and remembered it. Then she learned "大" (big), "小" (small), "多" (many), and "少" (few). She studied diligently, and although she couldn't remember many, her attitude was correct.

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

"What characters did you learn?"

Nian'an counted on her fingers: "People, big, small, many, few... and... and..."

I can't remember. I scratch my head and chuckle.

Chen Yu smiled and said, "Not bad, let's continue learning tomorrow."

The family returned to their courtyard. He Yuzhu came to visit, carrying a bag of apricots, saying they were from trees in his hometown and were sweet and sour.

"Chen Yu, try it, it tastes better than what you buy outside."

Chen Yu took one, took a bite, and it was indeed sweet.

Nian'an also took one, took a bite, and frowned at the sourness: "Uncle, this is so sour!"

"It's sour, it's good, it whets the appetite," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

In the evening, Qin Huairu cooked several dishes, and the whole family, including He Yuzhu, sat together. Nian'an ate half a steamed bun and several pieces of apricot, her little mouth unable to stop eating.

"Nian'an, don't eat so many apricots, or your stomach will hurt," Qin Huairu said.

"I'm not eating anymore." Nian'an handed the remaining half to Chen Yu. "Dad, you can have it."

Chen Yu took it and ate it.

After finishing their meal, He Yuzhu took his leave. The family sat in the courtyard enjoying the cool air. The cicadas chirped merrily, one after another.

Nian'an lay on Chen Yu's lap, listening to the cicadas chirping, and asked, "Daddy, why are the cicadas chirping?"

"Because it's hot."

"So, if it meows, it won't be hot anymore?"

"I don't know, maybe."

Nian'an thought for a moment, then asked, "What do cicadas eat?"

"Drinking dew."

"Is it full after drinking?"

"It should be possible."

Nian'an nodded and asked no more questions.

It was late at night, and Qin Huairu carried Nian'an into the house. Chen Yu and Ding Qiunan were still sitting in the courtyard.

"Qiu Nan, what did the landlord say about the expansion of the pharmacy?" Chen Yu asked.

"I agree, and the rent isn't expensive," Ding Qiunan said. "We can move in next month."

"That's good. If you need any help, just let me know."

"Um."

After a moment of silence, Ding Qiunan suddenly asked, "Brother Chen, do you think Zhiyuan will become a good doctor in the future?"

"Yes," Chen Yu said. "He's willing to learn and has a good heart; he'll definitely amount to something in the future."

Ding Qiunan nodded and smiled.

As night deepened, the two went back to their respective rooms.

In the east wing, Lin Zhiyuan was still reading under the lamp. He closed the book, blew out the lamp, and lay down.

Outside the window, the cicadas were still chirping, but he had gotten used to it and fell asleep while listening.

In his dream, he became a real doctor, treating many patients, and everyone praised him.

He smiled, a very sweet smile.