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

September 23rd, the Autumn Equinox.

"Autumn Equinox, day and night are equal." From this day onward, the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer. In the small courtyard in front of the gate, most of the pomegranate tree's leaves have fallen, revealing bare branches. The roses in the corner are still blooming, but only a few scattered blossoms, their petals delicate and unable to withstand the wind.

The osmanthus trees in the courtyard are in bloom. It's not the small clump that Ding Qiunan planted, but the old osmanthus tree in the corner of the wall. No one knows who planted it or when. The trunk is as thick as a bowl, and it blooms with golden flowers every autumn, filling the entire alley with fragrance.

Nian'an stood under the osmanthus tree, tilted her head back, and inhaled deeply: "Dad, it smells so good!"

"It smells like osmanthus." Chen Yu walked over, picked a small branch, and handed it to Nian An. "Smell it."

Nian'an took it, brought it to his nose, took a deep breath, and sneezed, which made him laugh.

"Auntie, what can osmanthus flowers be used for?" he asked as he ran to the door of the east wing.

Ding Qiunan was sorting through medicinal herbs when she heard this and came out: "Osmanthus flowers can be used to make tea, osmanthus cakes, and osmanthus wine."

"Nian'an wants to eat osmanthus cake!"

"Okay, Auntie will make it for you later."

Ding Qiunan picked some osmanthus flowers from the tree, washed them clean with water, and laid them out to dry in a bamboo tray. Nian'an squatted beside her watching, occasionally reaching out to touch them.

"Auntie, the osmanthus flowers are so small."

"Little Cai Xiang".

Nian'an nodded and asked, "Auntie, why are osmanthus flowers yellow?"

"Because autumn has arrived."

"Then why are other flowers red, pink, or white?"

Ding Qiunan thought for a moment: "Because every flower has its own color, just like everyone has their own favorite clothes."

Nian'an nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Qin Huairu came out of the house, carrying several thick clothes, which she hung out to dry in the sun. Lin Demao was chopping firewood in the yard, stacking the chopped wood neatly in the corner.

"Brother Lin, that's enough, stop chopping," Qin Huairu said.

"Chop more, it'll be cold in winter." Lin Demao didn't even look up and continued chopping.

Lin Zhiyuan returned from the pharmacy carrying a bag of medicinal herbs: "Master, these herbs are newly arrived. Please check their quality."

Ding Qiunan took it, opened it, looked at it, smelled it, and nodded: "Not bad, better than the last batch."

"Then I'll put it in the medicine cabinet."

"Go."

Nian'an followed Lin Zhiyuan to the pharmacy, stood behind the counter, and watched him carefully put the medicinal herbs away, one by one.

"Brother Zhiyuan, Nian'an will help you."

Lin Zhiyuan smiled and handed him a few light packets: "Put them on that shelf over there."

Nian'an took it, stood on tiptoe, and tried to reach it, but couldn't, and jumped up in frustration. Lin Zhiyuan quickly took it, put it away, and handed him a few more packets, telling him to lower his guard a bit.

"Nian'an is really capable," Lin Zhiyuan praised him.

Nian'an was extremely pleased with himself.

At noon, Qin Huairu made osmanthus cake. She mixed glutinous rice flour, rice flour, sugar, and water until smooth, sprinkled osmanthus flowers on top, and steamed it. Soon, the aroma filled the courtyard.

Nian'an leaned over the stove, staring longingly at the steamer: "Mommy, is it ready yet?"

"Soon."

"Nian'an can't wait any longer."

"Even if we can't wait, we have to wait."

After a while, the steamer was lifted, and steaming hot osmanthus cakes were revealed, white and tender, decorated with golden osmanthus flowers, looking absolutely beautiful.

Qin Huairu cut a small piece, blew on it to cool it, and handed it to Nian'an. Nian'an took it, took a bite, and found it soft, sweet, and chewy. Her eyes narrowed into slits: "Delicious!"

"Eat more if you like it." Qin Huairu cut another piece.

Nian'an ate two pieces and wanted more, but Qin Huairu wouldn't give her any: "We'll be eating later, don't eat too much."

Nian'an had no choice but to give up.

In the afternoon, He Yuzhu came to visit, carrying a basket of persimmons, which were bright red and looked like little lanterns.

"Chen Yu, I brought you some persimmons! They're from the trees back home, and they're really sweet!"

"Brother Zhu, you've spent money again." Chen Yu accepted the money.

"It's no trouble at all, it's not like we bought it." He Yuzhu sat down and saw the osmanthus flowers drying in the yard. "Oh, you're making osmanthus cake?"

"I made it, Brother Zhu, have a taste." Qin Huairu brought out a plate.

He Yuzhu took a piece, took a bite, and nodded repeatedly: "Delicious! Huai Ru's cooking skills are getting better and better."

Nian'an also took a piece and ate it in small bites, reluctant to finish it all at once.

"Nian'an, do you want some persimmons?" He Yuzhu teased him.

Nian'an looked at the osmanthus cake in her hand, then at the bright red persimmons, and hesitated for a moment: "Eat the osmanthus cake first, then the persimmons."

He Yuzhu laughed: "This kid, who taught him to be so good at planning?"

In the evening, Chen Yu carried Nian'an as they strolled through the alley. The alley was covered in fallen leaves in autumn, which rustled underfoot. Nian'an picked up a leaf, then another, holding one in each hand high in the air.

"Dad, Nian'an has two leaves!"

"Hmm, two pieces."

"One piece for Mom, and one piece for Aunt."

"And what about Dad?"

Nian'an thought for a moment, then picked up another piece: "This is for Dad."

Chen Yu smiled: "Thank you, Nian'an."

Back home, Nian'an gave one leaf to each of Qin Huairu and Ding Qiunan. Qin Huairu took hers and smiled, "Nian'an is such a good boy." Ding Qiunan also took one and patted his head.

In the evening, after dinner, the family sat in the courtyard to enjoy the cool air. The moon was full again, its light and cool glow illuminating the fallen leaves scattered throughout the yard.

Nian'an lay on Chen Yu's lap and fell asleep in no time.

Qin Huairu carried him into the house.

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

"Qiu Nan, when will the branch open?" Chen Yu asked.

"Early next month," Ding Qiunan said, "the renovations are almost finished, and we can open once we get some more medicinal herbs."

"I'll go help then."

"Okay." Ding Qiunan smiled.

After a moment of silence, Ding Qiunan suddenly asked, "Brother Chen, do you think our family will keep growing bigger in the future?"

Chen Yu laughed: "It's getting bigger and bigger."

"Yes," Ding Qiunan said, looking at the moon in the sky, "it's getting bigger and bigger, and more and more lively."

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

In the east wing, Lin Zhiyuan was still reading under the lamp. Lin Demao was already asleep, snoring softly.

Lin Zhiyuan closed the book, blew out the lamp, and lay down.

Thinking about the branch store his master mentioned, and how he would soon be able to stand on his own, he felt a warm glow inside.

"Father, your son is about to make something of himself," he said softly.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water.

The fragrance of osmanthus still lingers in the courtyard.

A new day is about to begin.