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

August 23rd, the Beginning of Autumn.

"The heat lingers even after the Autumnal Equinox, like an autumn tiger." Although the Autumnal Equinox has passed, it's still hot during the day, but the mornings and evenings are already cool. In the small courtyard in front of the gate, the pomegranate tree leaves are starting to turn yellow, and the roses in the corner are still blooming, but not as vigorously as in summer. The eggplants and green beans in the vegetable garden have been harvested for the last time, and Qin Huairu says it's time to plant radishes and cabbages.

Nian'an is four years old—five years old by the traditional Chinese age reckoning. According to the old saying, "boys are born at two, five, or eight," which is an auspicious age. He has grown taller and speaks more fluently, constantly asking people "why."

"Dad, why is the sky blue?" he asked Chen Yu, looking up at him.

"Because sunlight shines on the atmosphere, blue light is scattered very much, so the sky is blue."

Nian'an nodded as if she understood, then asked, "Why are the clouds white?"

"Because clouds are made up of tiny water droplets, when sunlight shines on them, all colors are reflected, and when they come together, they appear white."

"Then why are the clouds black at night?"

"Because there's no sun at night, the clouds don't reflect light, so it's dark."

Nian'an thought for a moment, then asked, "Then why...?"

Chen Yu interrupted him with a laugh: "Nian'an, why do you have so many 'whys'?"

Nian'an scratched her head: "Nian'an wants to know."

Chen Yu picked him up and kissed him on the cheek: "Okay, it's good to know. When you go to school, your teacher will teach you more."

"Nian'an wants to go to school!"

"Soon, I'll send you to school next year."

Nian'an clapped her hands happily.

At the pharmacy, Lin Zhiyuan was already able to treat most common illnesses independently. Ding Qiunan let him do it himself, watching from the side and occasionally offering a few pointers. Lin Demao helped brew the medicine and clean, keeping the pharmacy spotless.

"Master, is it alright if I prescribe cough-relieving powder for the patient who was coughing today?" Lin Zhiyuan asked.

Ding Qiunan thought for a moment: "The cough-relieving powder is fine, but the patient has a cough due to wind-heat, so it would be best to add some mulberry leaves and chrysanthemum."

Lin Zhiyuan quickly wrote it down.

"Zhiyuan, you've made great progress," Ding Qiunan said. "In another six months, the pharmacy will be yours to manage."

Lin Zhiyuan was taken aback: "Master, are you leaving?"

"I'm not leaving," Ding Qiunan said with a smile. "I want to open another branch. You stay here and I'll go over there."

Lin Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief: "Master scared me."

Nian'an ran in from outside, holding a morning glory she had picked at the alley entrance: "Auntie, this is for you!"

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

"Auntie, Nian'an also wants to open a pharmacy."

"Okay, when you grow up, your aunt will help you open it."

"Pinky promise."

"Pinky promise."

At noon, Qin Huairu brought lunch. Today she made braised noodles, the braising sauce was made with daylily, wood ear fungus, eggs, and sliced ​​meat, the aroma filling the pharmacy. Lin Demao also came, and the family sat down together to eat.

"Brother Lin, are the crops in the fields almost ready for harvest?" Chen Yu asked.

"Soon, in another half month," Lin Demao said. "I'm thinking of going back in a few days to finish harvesting the crops before coming back."

"Father, I'll go back with you," Lin Zhiyuan said.

"What are you going back for? Study medicine properly." Lin Demao glared at him. "I can manage on my own."

"Brother Lin, let Zhiyuan go back with you," Ding Qiunan said. "He hasn't been back for a while. Let him go back and visit, and help out while he's at it. I can manage the pharmacy by myself."

Lin Demao hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, just a few days, don't let it interfere with your medical studies."

"No, Dad," Lin Zhiyuan said happily.

When Nian'an heard that Lin Zhiyuan was leaving, she grabbed his hand and asked, "Brother Zhiyuan, when are you coming back?"

"I'll be back in a few days."

"Nian'an will miss you."

Lin Zhiyuan smiled and patted his head: "Brother will miss An too."

In the afternoon, Chen Yu went to see Lin Demao and his son off at the train station. Nian An went along too, chattering incessantly the whole way.

"Brother Zhiyuan, bring Nian'an something delicious when you come back."

"Okay, what should I bring?"

"Bring...bring the big peaches from Tongzhou!"

"Okay, I'll bring it for you."

The train station arrived, and Lin Demao and his son entered. Nian'an stood at the entrance, waving her little hand: "Goodbye, Brother Zhiyuan! Goodbye, Uncle Lin!"

"Goodbye!" Lin Zhiyuan called back.

On the way back, Nian'an leaned against Chen Yu, looking somewhat sullen.

"Dad, when is Zhiyuan coming back?"

"I'll be back in a few days."

Nian'an misses him.

Chen Yu patted his head: "You'll see him in a few days."

In the evening, He Yuzhu came to visit and, seeing that Lin Demao and his son were not there, asked, "Where is Brother Lin?"

"Back in Tongzhou to harvest the crops," Chen Yu said.

"Oh, then I'll be back in a few days." He Yuzhu sat down and took out a handful of peanuts from his pocket. "Nian'an, have some peanuts."

Nian'an took it, peeled one, put it in her mouth, and chewed it with a crunching sound.

"Uncle, where did the peanuts come from?"

"The crops grown back home have yielded a good harvest this year."

Nian'an wants to eat boiled peanuts.

"Then have your mom cook it; it'll taste better."

Qin Huairu came out of the house and took the peanuts: "Okay, I'll cook them tonight."

In the evening, Qin Huairu cooked a pot of peanuts with salt, star anise, and cinnamon until they were soft and tender. The family sat in the yard to eat, and Nian'an's hands were covered in juice from peeling them.

"Mom, boiled peanuts are delicious."

"Eat more if it's delicious."

Nian'an ate a small bowl and drank half a bowl of mung bean porridge, and her little belly became round again.

After dinner, it got dark. The moon rose, though a small part of it was missing, but it was still bright.

Nian'an lay on Chen Yu's lap, listening to the adults talking, and soon fell asleep.

Qin Huairu carried him into the house.

Chen Yu and Ding Qiunan were still sitting in the courtyard.

"Qiu Nan, have you thought it through about opening a branch?" Chen Yu asked.

"I've made up my mind," Ding Qiunan said. "I've already found a location near Qianmen Street, where there's a lot of foot traffic. It's just that the rent is a bit expensive."

"Do you have enough money?"

"That's enough, I've saved up some over the years."

"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 be able to take over my job 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, Ding Qiunan sat at the table, holding a painting Nian An had drawn that day—a painting of a pharmacy, complete with a counter, medicine cabinets, and several small figures. She gently pasted the painting on the headboard, next to the one she had seen earlier.

She smiled as she looked at the paintings covering the wall.

Outside the window, the moon was waning, but it was still very bright.

The courtyard was quiet.