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

On the eighth day of the ninth lunar month in 1962, it is auspicious for weddings, betrothal, and travel, but inauspicious for breaking ground and burial.

At 5:30 AM, Chen Yu finished his final pre-battle training in the small world. He consolidated his mid-stage Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivation to its limit and carefully checked the basic defensive array plate three times. This bronze array plate was about the size of a palm, with intricate Bagua patterns engraved on its surface. When infused with spiritual energy, it could activate a protective shield with a radius of three zhang, enough to cover the entire new house.

"System, check-in for today," Chen Yu thought to himself. Although today wasn't a special check-in day, the daily check-in on the wedding day might bring a surprise.

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Received: 5 catties of wedding candy coupons, 3 feet of red silk coupons, basic cooking skills training (beginner level), and 66 yuan in cash (adapted to an auspicious number)]

A spiritual chef's legacy? Chen Yu was somewhat surprised to use this skill pack. Introductory methods for processing ingredients and cooking spiritual food using spiritual energy flooded his mind. Although he couldn't use them now, they might allow his family to eat healthier food in the future.

66 yuan in cash was a considerable sum in those days, but the system thoughtfully replaced it with six brand-new "Great Unity" bills and six one-yuan bills—symbolizing good fortune.

When we left the small world, it was still dark. The lights were already on in the courtyard of Beixinqiao. He Yuzhu, along with Ma Hua, Xiao Pang, and two temporary helpers, were busy in the kitchen. Four stoves were running at the same time, and the aroma of stewed meat, fried meatballs, and steamed fish mingled together, filling the entire courtyard.

"Is the new son-in-law up?" a middle-aged woman who helps with the kitchen greeted him with a smile. "Go and change into your new clothes, the wedding procession will be setting off soon."

Chen Yu returned to the house, but Qin Huairu was no longer there—according to custom, the bride had to stay at her parents' home the night before, and she was brought over from Qin Family Village today. He opened the wardrobe and took out the brand-new dark blue Zhongshan suit. It was custom-made from the finest wool, with four neat and crisp pockets and gleaming brass buttons. Paired with a white shirt and black leather shoes, he looked smart and respectable.

Just as he finished changing his clothes, the courtyard gate was pushed open. He Yuzhu, dressed in brand-new work clothes with a large red flower pinned to his chest, walked in with a beaming smile: "Groom, are you ready? Our wedding procession is complete!"

Seven or eight people entered the courtyard one after another: Yan Bugui was wearing a half-new gray Zhongshan suit and pushing a brightly polished bicycle; the brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu had also changed into clean clothes; and there were two young coworkers from the steel rolling mill, all of whom He Yuzhu had called to make a scene.

"The auspicious time is Chen Shi (8:00 AM), but it's only Mao Shi (7:00 AM) now. Let's grab something to eat first," He Yuzhu called out. "MCA, bring up the prepared breakfast!"

The group ate a simple meal of steaming hot buns, millet porridge, and pickled vegetables. Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses and pulled a red paper packet from his pocket: "Little Chen, Uncle San doesn't have anything good, but please keep this five yuan as a token of good fortune."

"Third Uncle, how could I possibly accept this..."

"You must accept this!" Yan Bugui shoved the red envelope into Chen Yu's pocket without further ado. "Your marriage is a joyous occasion, a joyous occasion for our entire compound!"

The others also took out the red envelopes they had prepared. Although they weren't much, only a dollar or two, or three or five dollars, they were considered a generous gift in those days. Chen Yu thanked them one by one, feeling a warm current flowing through his heart.

At precisely the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the wedding procession set off on time. Five bicycles lined up in a row, each with a red ribbon tied to its handlebars—these were borrowed by He Yuzhu from the factory's union. Chen Yu rode in front, with He Yuzhu close behind. The group marched out of Beixin Bridge in a grand procession, attracting the attention of the early-rising neighbors on their way to work.

"Whose wedding is this? Quite a spectacle!"

"That young Chen who recently moved to Beixinqiao, the technician at the steel rolling mill!"

"The groom looks very dashing!"

Bathed in the autumn morning light, the convoy left the city and rode along the dirt road towards Qinjiacun. The thirty-mile journey took an hour and a half, and they arrived at Qinjiacun at nearly 10:00 AM.

The Qin family courtyard was already packed with people. Mr. and Mrs. Qin, dressed in new clothes, stood at the gate, their faces beaming with joy. Their two older brothers, Qin Dazhu and Qin Erzhu, bustled about, greeting the guests. Villagers of all ages had formed several layers deep to watch the spectacle, with children weaving through the crowd, eager to grab some wedding candy.

According to custom, Chen Yu had to pass three "hurdles": the first hurdle was that the Qin family's wives would block his door and ask for red envelopes; the second hurdle was that the younger generation of the Qin family would block his way and ask for wedding candy; the third hurdle was that he had to answer a series of questions at the door of Qin Huairu's boudoir.

"The new son-in-law is here!" someone shouted, and the courtyard immediately erupted in excitement.

For the first hurdle, Chen Yu was well-prepared. He pulled out a stack of small red envelopes from his pocket, each containing two cents—a generous gift in the rural areas of that era. The women happily snatched the envelopes and made way for him.

At the second challenge, a group of teenagers surrounded him. Chen Yu grabbed a handful of wedding candies and scattered them, and the children laughed and scrambled for them.

In the third round, Qin Huairu's bedroom door was tightly shut, and the voices of her female companions came from inside: "Groom, our bride isn't so easy to marry! First, tell us, why do you like our Huairu?"

Chen Yu cleared his throat and said loudly, "Huai Ru is kind, hardworking, and cultured; she's the best girl I've ever met!"

"Sweet words are useless! Who will do the housework from now on?"

"I'll do it! I'll cook the meals, I'll wash the clothes, I'll sweep the floor!"

The courtyard erupted in laughter.

Who manages the wages?

"Leave everything to my daughter-in-law!"

"Whose surname should the child take?"

"The first one took the Qin family name, the second one took the Chen family name!"

These words stunned even Qin's parents. Although such matters weren't valued in this era, Chen Yu's statement greatly enhanced the Qin family's reputation.

The door to the boudoir finally opened. Qin Huairu sat upright on the kang (a heated brick bed), dressed in a red wedding gown—a traditional style hand-sewn by her mother, made of red silk and embroidered with exquisite peonies and mandarin ducks. A red veil covered her head, but Chen Yu could imagine the blushing face beneath it.

"The bride is leaving!" the matchmaker shouted.

According to custom, the bride is carried out of the house by her brother. Qin Dazhu squatted down, and Qin Huairu lay on her brother's back, being steadily carried out of her bridal chamber. As they crossed the threshold, Qin's mother suddenly wiped away tears—the feeling of marrying off her daughter was a mixture of joy and reluctance.

When the wedding procession returned, it had grown even larger. Fifteen relatives from the Qin family had come, along with villagers who had come to watch the spectacle, making a total of more than thirty people. Chen Yu had hired three donkey carts in advance to carry the women and their dowry—although the dowry wasn't much—just a few quilts and two trunks—it was the best the Qin family could offer.

It was noon when we returned to Beixinqiao. The courtyard was brightly lit and decorated, and all six tables were full of people. Director Wang from the street office, Section Chief Li from the steel rolling mill, Mr. and Mrs. Liu Yuhua, Uncle Yi Zhonghai from the courtyard, Aunt Liu (Liu Haizhong is in prison), Uncle Yan Bugui, He Yuzhu, Zhang Xiulan with a stick... almost everyone who was supposed to come was there.

"Newcomer has arrived!" With this shout, all eyes turned to the courtyard gate.

Chen Yu held the red silk ribbon at one end, while Qin Huairu, whose head was covered with a red veil, stood at the other. The two slowly walked into the courtyard and stood in front of the makeshift wedding hall.

Director Wang stepped forward as the officiant, holding the marriage certificate in his hand—which he had just received from the neighborhood office yesterday, stamped with a large red official seal.

"Comrade Chen Yu, Comrade Qin Huairu, today, witnessed by your relatives and friends, you are officially married." Director Wang's voice was loud and clear. "From this day forward, you must respect and love each other, help each other, make progress together, and strive to build a new socialist family!"

After a simple yet solemn ceremony, Chen Yu lifted Qin Huairu's red veil. Under the lights, the bride's makeup was exquisite, her eyes shy and beautiful, making her impossible to look away from.

"Give me a kiss! Give me a kiss!" He Yuzhu led the chant.

Amidst the good-natured laughter of the crowd, Chen Yu gently kissed Qin Huairu on the forehead. Qin Huairu's face flushed red, but her eyes were filled with happiness.

The banquet officially began. He Yuzhu certainly did not disappoint; each of the eight main dishes was exquisite: the braised pork was glistening and tender, the four-happiness meatballs were fragrant, and the steamed fish was incredibly fresh and tender... Each dish drew praise from the crowd.

Chen Yu led Qin Huairu to toast each table. When they reached the head table, Section Chief Li raised his glass and said, "Little Chen, Huairu, I wish you a long and happy life together! Little Chen, don't worry about your studies in Shanghai. If you have any difficulties at home, the factory will take care of you."

"Thank you, Section Chief Li!"

When they reached the table in the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai said with emotion, "Xiao Chen, I've watched you grow up. From being all alone and helpless when you first arrived to now having a family and a career, it hasn't been easy! Live a good life!"

"Thank you, sir!"

Zhang Xiulan's eyes were red: "Xiao Chen, Huai Ru, you two must be happy. Dong Xu can't come today, so I'll raise a toast on his behalf, wishing you a long and happy marriage!"

"Aunt Zhang, Dongxu will get better."

When they reached the last table, Chen Yu noticed an unfamiliar face—an elderly man in his fifties, wearing glasses and with a refined demeanor, sitting next to Wang Jianjun.

"Xiao Chen, this is Director Sun from our Mechanical Engineering Research Institute," Wang Jianjun introduced. "Director Sun reviewed your proposal and came specifically to meet you."

Director Sun stood up and shook hands with Chen Yu: "Comrade Chen Yu, I've reviewed your waste utilization plan in detail; the idea is very innovative. Especially the design of that simple stamping machine—it's simple, but very practical. Would you be interested in working at our institute?"

Upon hearing this, everyone at the table was stunned. From a steel rolling mill to a machinery research institute—this was a qualitative leap!

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly calmed down: "Thank you for your appreciation, Director Sun, but I'm going to Shanghai for three months of training. I'll consider it after I return. Is that alright with you?"

"Of course!" Director Sun said with a smile. "It's good that the young man is not arrogant or impatient! This is my business card. Contact me anytime after you return from Shanghai."

Chen Yu accepted the business card with both hands and carefully put it away.

After toasting, Chen Yu had just returned to the main table when the telepathic message from "Pseudo-Man No. 1" sounded in his mind: "Master, Huang Wenbin's men have been spotted. Three people are loitering at the alley entrance, one of them is carrying a gun."

Chen Yu felt a chill run down his spine, but remained outwardly calm. He made an excuse to go to the kitchen to add more food, and quietly went to the backyard to activate his spiritual sense.

Sure enough, three figures were lurking at the alley entrance, peering furtively into the courtyard. The one in the lead was a tall, thin man, his hands tucked into his chest—and there were bulging bulges there, definitely shaped like guns.

"Where is Jia Zhangshi?" Chen Yu asked telepathically.

"At the other end of the alley, they were talking to a woman. We overheard that they were waiting for the banquet to be halfway through so they could come in and cause trouble."

"Proceed according to the original plan."

"Yes."

Chen Yu returned to the banquet, continuing his cheerful conversation, but secretly he had already made preparations. The defensive array plate was always in his pocket, ready to be activated at any time. Five dummy figures were already in place; two were monitoring Huang Wenbin's men outside the courtyard, while three were inside, ready to deal with Jia Zhangshi at any moment.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, when the atmosphere was lively, the courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open with a "bang".

Jia Zhangshi rushed in, followed by a woman in her forties—the family member of the patient in the next bed at the hospital that day.

"Chen Yu! You heartless bastard!" Jia Zhangshi wailed as soon as she entered the door. "My Dongxu is dying in the hospital, and you're here feasting! Have you no conscience?"

The entire room fell silent. Everyone looked at Jia Zhangshi, then at Chen Yu.

He Yuzhu was the first to stand up: "Jia Zhangshi! Today is Xiao Chen's big day, what are you doing making such a scene!"

"What?! My son's life is hanging by a thread, and I can't even get an explanation?" Jia Zhangshi plopped down on the ground. "Chen Yu, you have to give me an explanation! You have to pay Dongxu's medical expenses!"

Zhang Xiulan was so angry that she trembled all over. She stood up to speak, but Chen Yu stopped her with a look.

Chen Yu slowly stood up, walked to Jia Zhangshi, and said in a calm but authoritative voice, "Aunt Jia, I've treated Dongxu's injuries and paid for his medical expenses. Today is my wedding day. If you're coming to the celebration, you're welcome. But if you're coming to cause trouble..."

He paused, glancing at the women behind Jia Zhangshi: "And this lady, if I remember correctly, your son was injured in a fight and is sharing a hospital room with Brother Dongxu. What, are you here today to demand an explanation too?"

The woman's face changed, and she stammered, unable to speak.

Chen Yu continued, "Aunt Jia, you know perfectly well why your son was injured. He stole materials from the factory to sell, and when he was caught, he fell and injured himself while trying to escape. The factory has already been more than lenient by not firing him. Are you here to make a scene so that the whole factory knows about this?"

Madam Jia's face turned deathly pale. She had kept this a secret all along, not even from Zhang Xiulan.

"You...you're talking nonsense!"

"Whether I'm lying or not, the factory security department has a record," Chen Yu said coldly. "Aunt Jia, I'm giving you two choices: either leave on your own and I'll pretend this never happened; or I'll call the street office and the factory security department and we'll clear things up in public."

Jia Zhangshi opened her mouth, but under the scornful gazes of the crowd, she slunk away. The other woman quickly followed her.

The farce ended there. He Yuzhu shouted, "It's alright, it's alright! Everyone, keep eating! Don't let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch!"

The banquet became lively again, but Chen Yu knew that this was just the beginning.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, the fake man No. 1 transmitted his voice again: "Master, Huang Wenbin's men have made their move. They split into three groups: one went to the new house, one went to the kitchen, and the other stayed at the alley entrance to provide backup."

"Close the net as planned."

"Yes."

Chen Yu excused himself and went to the backyard. Under the cover of his spiritual sense, he could "see" the real-time situation of the entire battlefield:

The man who went to the new house had just climbed over the wall when he was knocked unconscious from behind by the second spies lying in ambush; the man who went to the kitchen was dragged into the woodshed by the third spies who put a sack over his head; the man who was waiting at the alley entrance was the most troublesome. He had a gun, but the fourth spies jumped down from the roof and dislocated his arm in one move, and the gun fell before he could even draw it.

The whole process took less than three minutes and was completely silent.

"Master, all taken care of. We found sleeping pills, ropes, and this note on them," reported Pseudo-Man Number One.

Chen Yu used his mind to "see" the note: "Take advantage of the chaos to kidnap Qin Shi and send her to the Earth God Temple in Xishan. Huang."

The target was indeed Qin Huairu! And the location was the Earth God Temple—only three miles away from the Xiangshan Secret Treasury!

"Interrogate them; I need to know Huang Wenbin's entire plan."

"It's already under review."

Back at the banquet, Chen Yu appeared calm. Qin Huairu asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

"It's alright, it's all taken care of." Chen Yu held her hand. "Don't worry, with me here, no one can hurt you."

The banquet lasted until 3 p.m. before gradually ending. After seeing off the last group of guests, only He Yuzhu and his apprentice, along with a few neighbors who helped clean up, remained in the courtyard.

"Xiao Chen, about what happened with Jia Zhangshi today..." He Yuzhu hesitated before speaking.

"Brother Zhu, I know what I'm doing." Chen Yu patted him on the shoulder. "You've worked hard today. I'll handle the rest. You guys should go back and get some rest too."

After everyone left, the courtyard finally quieted down. The setting sun bathed the courtyard in a golden glow.

Inside the bridal chamber, red candles burned brightly. Qin Huairu had changed out of her wedding dress and was wearing casual clothes, sorting through the monetary gifts and presents she had received. Chen Yu gently embraced her from behind.

"Are you tired?"

"I'm not tired." Qin Huairu leaned against him. "Chen Yu, today is the happiest day of my life."

"I will be this happy every day from now on."

The two nestled together, watching the sunset outside the window.

But Chen Yu knew he couldn't rest tonight. In a few hours, it would be midnight on the Double Ninth Festival, and he had to go to Fragrant Hills.

The person in his arms, the person he swore to protect for life, was in danger.

"Huai Ru, I might have to go out tonight," Chen Yu said softly.

"To the factory?"

"Yeah, I have something urgent to take care of." Chen Yu wasn't telling the truth. "You should get some rest, and make sure the doors and windows are closed. Take this."

He shoved the basic defensive array plate into Qin Huairu's hand: "This is a talisman. If you encounter danger, hold it tightly and think of me."

Although Qin Huairu didn't understand, she trusted her husband: "Then be careful and come back early."

"must."

As night falls, the lights are on.

Chen Yu stood in the courtyard, gazing westward. Fragrant Hills was in that direction, the secret vault was in that direction, and the legacy of the Xuanzhen Daoist was in that direction.

Tonight, he will be keeping a promise that will lead to his death.

It's not for fame or fortune, nor for power.

It's all just to protect this family and this hard-won happiness.

The moon rises high in the sky, and midnight is approaching.

Chen Yu changed into his night clothes and checked all the items, including twenty-five explosive talismans, six earth escape talismans, three invisibility talismans, a peach wood sword, and various pills, before putting them into his specially made belt.

He took one last look at the warm light shining from the window of the new house, then leaped and disappeared into the night.

The Double Ninth Festival has begun.