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

At six o'clock in the morning, Chen Yu had already completed two hours of cultivation in the small world.

Although the effect of the Spirit Gathering Array was weak, after a night of accumulation, the concentration of spiritual energy within the small world had reached 1.5 times that of the outside world. Chen Yu sat cross-legged beside the spiritual spring, the wisp of spiritual energy within his body flowing slowly along the energy circulation route of the "Tai Xuan True Scripture" like a small stream, growing stronger with each cycle.

"Today is an important day." Chen Yu opened his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing in them.

He exited the miniature world and returned to his real room. He took out his most presentable blue overalls from the simple wooden cabinet and carefully smoothed out the wrinkles. His physique, after the marrow cleansing, was well-proportioned and upright; even the ordinary overalls looked extraordinary on him.

"System, check-in for today."

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Received: 3 feet of cloth coupons, half a catty of sugar coupons, 3 yuan in cash, and 1 basic sewing skill experience pack]

Sewing skills? Chen Yu chuckled. But it's always good to have more skills, so he immediately used the skill pack and instantly mastered various basic sewing techniques such as cutting, sewing, and repairing.

"Maybe I'll need it someday." Chen Yu straightened his collar and looked at himself in the broken mirror.

The young man in the mirror had a handsome face, clear yet profound eyes, and smooth, delicate skin after the marrow cleansing. Although not strikingly handsome, he possessed a unique scholarly air and composure, making him quite conspicuous among the crowds of the 1960s.

He thought for a moment, then took out the "Seagull" brand camera he had received yesterday from his system space. This was a rare item in 1962; generally only the propaganda department or reporters could afford it. Chen Yu checked the film loading, put the camera into its black leather case, and slung it over his shoulder.

I'm meeting Qin Huairu at Shichahai today. If the atmosphere is right, it would be nice to take a picture as a souvenir.

At 7:30, Chen Yu left the courtyard house.

Sunday morning in Beijing was more leisurely than usual. At the entrance of the alley, several old men squatted against the wall, smoking and chatting; women carried their vegetable baskets back from the market, discussing today's vegetable prices as they walked; children played hopscotch in the open space, their laughter ringing out.

Chen Yu walked north along Nanluoguxiang, crossed Gulou East Street, and then west to Shichahai.

Shichahai Lake in autumn has a unique charm. The lake surface glistens, the willows along the shore are turning golden, and several small boats are moored at the dock. Elderly people practice Tai Chi in the morning, and young couples stroll along the lakeside—although this era is conservative, there are still quite a few young people going on dates on Sundays.

As agreed, Chen Yu arrived at a large willow tree on the west side of Yinding Bridge. He was early; Liu the matchmaker and Qin Huairu and her daughter had not yet arrived.

He found a stone bench and sat down, seemingly admiring the lake view, but actually secretly observing his surroundings. Nourished by the spiritual energy, his five senses became sharp; he could clearly hear the idle chatter of two old women twenty meters away and distinguish the differences in the sound of the water ripples at different locations on the lake.

"This ability is actually quite useful," Chen Yu thought to himself.

At approximately 8:15, Liu the matchmaker appeared in the distance. She was accompanied by two people—a middle-aged woman in her forties, dressed simply but neatly; and a young girl with two long, black braids, wearing a floral top and dark blue trousers, with a slender figure.

Chen Yu stood up and his gaze fell on the young woman.

Qin Huairu.

She was even more lifelike in person than in the photos. She was about eighteen or nineteen years old, with fair skin, an oval face, and large, bright almond-shaped eyes with slightly upturned corners, giving her a naturally charming look. She was about 1.65 meters tall, which was considered tall for a girl from the north, and her figure was already well-developed with shapely curves.

She walked with her head slightly lowered, appearing somewhat shy, but when she occasionally looked up to survey her surroundings, her eyes revealed curiosity and longing—a yearning for city life.

"Little Chen! Have you been waiting long?" Matchmaker Liu waved and greeted him from afar.

Chen Yu went up to her: "Aunt Liu, I just arrived too. And these two are..."

"This is Aunt Qin, and this is Huai Ru," Liu the matchmaker introduced enthusiastically. "Auntie, this is Chen Yu, the orphan of a martyr I told you about. He lives in Nanluoguxiang now."

Qin's mother looked Chen Yu up and down, her eyes first scrutinizing him, then revealing a hint of satisfaction. Chen Yu's appearance and demeanor were indeed outstanding, far exceeding her expectations.

"Hello, Comrade Chen Yu," Qin Huairu said softly, her voice clear and melodious, with a hint of her local accent.

"Hello, Comrade Qin." Chen Yu nodded politely. "Aunt Liu, Aunt Qin, shall we find a place to sit down?"

"Yes, yes, there's a bench over there!" Matchmaker Liu was very good at handling things and led the group to a bench by the lake.

Chen Yu asked the two elders to sit down, while he stood to the side. This detail made Qin's mother nod secretly in approval—he knew how to be polite.

"Xiao Chen, I heard from Aunt Liu that your parents were martyrs?" Qin's mother began, starting her routine "checking household registration."

Chen Yu was well-prepared and explained his status as a "martyr's orphan," his current temporary residence in the courtyard house, and the job that the neighborhood committee was arranging for him. He spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, but clearly and logically, without exaggerating or belittling himself.

Qin Huairu sat quietly beside her mother, occasionally stealing glances at Chen Yu. She hadn't held out much hope for this blind date—although she desperately wanted to marry into the city, the city men she'd met before were either too old or had poor conditions. But this Chen Yu was young, handsome, articulate, and... had a very special air about him.

It was a feeling she couldn't quite describe, as if Chen Yu possessed a composure and confidence beyond his years.

"Xiao Chen, don't take offense at my bluntness," Qin's mother said. "Our Huai Ru is one of the best girls in the village, and she has many suitors. Your family situation... you don't even have a stable job yet, this..."

"I understand Aunt Qin's concerns," Chen Yu said frankly. "The neighborhood committee is already handling the job application, and we should have news by next month at the latest. As for our living situation, my parents left us some savings, not much, but enough to settle down. Besides, I'm young, strong, and educated, and I will definitely make sure Huai Ru has a good life in the future."

He spoke "Huai Ru" so naturally that Qin Huai Ru blushed slightly.

Matchmaker Liu chimed in at the opportune moment: "Yes, Auntie, young Chen is really a good catch! He has a good family background, is reliable, and is educated. He might be facing some difficulties right now, but he's sure to be successful in the future!"

Qin's mother's expression softened a bit, and she turned to her daughter, saying, "Huai Ru, why don't you go for a walk by the lake with Xiao Chen and have a chat? Young people should get to know each other better."

This is a common practice in blind dates—giving young people a chance to spend time alone together.

Qin Huairu stood up, and Chen Yu naturally walked half a step to her side, neither too close nor too distant.

The two walked slowly along the lakeside, initially in silence.

"What kind of work does Comrade Qin do in the village?" Chen Yu asked, breaking the silence.

"I worked in the production team and sometimes taught at the village primary school," Qin Huairu said softly. "I graduated from junior high school, which is considered highly educated in the village."

There was a hint of pride in her tone. In the rural areas of the 1960s, graduating from junior high school was indeed considered an intellectual.

"That's great." Chen Yu nodded. "Being educated is very important. I graduated from high school, and I'd like to continue my studies if I have the opportunity in the future."

"You graduated from high school?" Qin Huairu's eyes lit up. In this day and age, graduating from high school is considered a high level of education.

"Yes, my parents valued education a lot when they were alive," Chen Yu said. "Did Qin Tongzhi like reading?"

"I like it! But there are few books in the village, only a few Little Red Books and agricultural manuals." A hint of regret flashed in Qin Huairu's eyes as she said this.

Chen Yu kept it in mind. A love of reading was a good habit, and it also showed that she wasn't the kind of girl who only cared about immediate gains.

As they chatted, the atmosphere gradually relaxed. Qin Huairu discovered that Chen Yu knew a lot about things, from historical anecdotes of Beijing to agricultural production knowledge, and he could talk about them all. Moreover, he spoke humorously, often making her cover her mouth and chuckle.

Reaching a spot by a lake with a wide view, Chen Yu stopped. "The scenery here is quite nice, Comrade Qin. Shall I take a picture of you?"

"Taking photos?" Qin Huairu looked at the camera on Chen Yu's shoulder in surprise. "You know how to take pictures?"

"I know a little." Chen Yu took out his Seagull camera. "Just to keep as a souvenir."

Qin Huairu was a little shy, but her eyes were full of anticipation. She tidied her hair and clothes, stood under the willow tree, with the shimmering lake behind her.

Chen Yu adjusted the focus and pressed the shutter. With a "click," the moment was captured.

"I'll bring it to you once it's washed," Chen Yu said.

"Thank you..." Qin Huairu blushed. "Comrade Chen Yu, what...what do you think of me?"

She mustered her courage to ask the question, but dared not look Chen Yu in the eye.

Chen Yu looked at her earnestly: "You are excellent, beautiful, hardworking, and educated. If Comrade Qin doesn't mind my current modest circumstances, I'd like to date you."

Qin Huairu's heart raced. She looked up at Chen Yu; the young man's eyes were sincere and warm, without the arrogance of city dwellers or the awkwardness of country boys.

"I...I don't mind either," she said softly. "As long as people are ambitious and hardworking, things will always get better."

The two exchanged a smile, a tacit understanding flowing in the air.

Back at the bench, Matchmaker Liu could tell from the expressions of the two that the deal was almost done. After asking her daughter's opinion, Qin's mother nodded in agreement.

"Then it's settled for now!" Matchmaker Liu beamed. "Xiao Chen, Huai Ru, you young people should get to know each other better. Once Xiao Chen has a job, we'll discuss the next steps!"

As Chen Yu was leaving Shichahai, he handed two packets of pastries to Qin's mother, saying, "Auntie, this is a small token of my appreciation. Please take it back and try it."

Qin's mother declined at first, but then accepted the gift. She was even more pleased with Chen Yu—he was sensible and knew how to behave.

After seeing off the Qin family mother and daughter and Matchmaker Liu, Chen Yu didn't go straight back to the courtyard house. He wandered around the city, bought some daily necessities with the vouchers he obtained from the system check-in, and then went to Xinhua Bookstore to buy a few books—some popular works of the time, such as "Red Crag" and "Song of Youth," as well as books on agricultural technology and basic science.

When I returned to the courtyard in the afternoon, another drama was unfolding there.

A crowd had gathered at the Intermediate People's Court, and Jia Zhangshi's shrill voice could be heard from afar: "Xu Damao! You despicable bastard! Dumping garbage in front of my house, what are you up to?!"

Xu Damao looked completely innocent: "Aunt Jia, you're wronging me! I was perfectly fine when I left this morning, who knows who did it?"

"It's you! There's no one else but you!" Jia Dongxu chimed in from the side.

He Yuzhu leaned against his doorframe, watching the commotion with an enamel mug in his hand, occasionally taking a sip of water, a gloating expression on his face.

An elderly man named Yi Zhonghai frowned and said, "Alright, alright, we're all neighbors, why are you arguing over such a small thing? Xu Damao, just clean it up yourself, okay?"

"Why should I clean it up? It's not like I dumped it!" Xu Damao protested.

Chen Yu watched coldly, about to return to his room, when Jia Zhangshi turned her attention to him: "Oh, Chen Yu's back? He went out so early this morning, all dressed up, where did he go?"

Everyone in the courtyard turned to look.

Chen Yu said calmly, "I went to see a friend."

"Friends? You still have friends in Beijing?" Jia Zhangshi asked sarcastically. "Are you doing something shady?"

Chen Yu's eyes turned cold. This old hag really can't stand to see others doing well.

"Aunt Jia, you need to have evidence before you speak," Chen Yu said calmly. "My parents sacrificed their lives for the revolution, and I am an orphan of a martyr. The neighborhood committee arranged for me to live here. If you have any objections, you can report it to the neighborhood committee or the police station. But it's inappropriate to slander someone without any evidence."

These words were spoken neither humbly nor arrogantly, highlighting both the speaker's advantageous position and effectively silencing any potential criticism.

Jia Zhangshi was speechless for a moment. She dared to bully people like He Yuzhu and Xu Damao, but she still had some reservations about Chen Yu, a "martyr's orphan"—his family background was too good, and making a big fuss would not do her any good.

"Hmph, I was just saying it offhand, why are you so upset?" Jia Zhangshi muttered, pulling her son home.

As the onlookers dispersed, He Yuzhu approached and said, "Little Chen, you're pretty good! You shut that old hag down with just a few words!"

Chen Yu smiled and said, "Brother Zhu, you're joking. I'm just being reasonable."

"It's good to be reasonable!" He Yuzhu patted him on the shoulder. "If that old hag causes you any more trouble, just tell me, and I'll deal with her!"

Chen Yu thanked him and went back inside. As he closed the door, the smile on his face faded.

This courtyard house is full of all sorts of strange and wicked people. Those who are openly bad, like Jia Zhangshi, are relatively easy to deal with. But hypocrites like Yi Zhonghai, and scheming people like Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui are the real trouble.

But it doesn't matter, he has plenty of time to play with them.

In the evening, Chen Yu entered the small world and found that several tender green grasses had sprouted beside the spiritual spring. They were spiritual grasses that grew naturally under the nourishment of spiritual energy. Although they were only the lowest-grade varieties, they were still a good omen.

He used his knowledge of basic alchemy to identify one of the plants as "Heart-Clearing Grass," which has the effect of calming the mind and can be used to refine the most basic Heart-Clearing Powder.

"We'll go into the mountains to gather herbs tomorrow," Chen Yu decided. The Western Hills and Fragrant Hills surround Beijing; they should be able to find some medicinal herbs there.

In the dead of night, the fake man number one came to report: "Master, we've found out the situation in Qin Family Village. Qin Huairu's family has a good reputation in the village, and her two older brothers have already married and moved out. Qin's parents are very supportive of their daughter marrying into the city, but they require their son-in-law to have a formal job and be able to support the family."

"In addition, the argument in the courtyard this afternoon was caused by Xu Damao secretly dumping garbage in front of the Jia family's door. He was holding a grudge because Jia Dongxu had spoken ill of him at the factory a few days ago."

Chen Yu nodded: "Continue to observe. How's the safe house search going?"

"We've found three suitable locations, all outside the city, very secluded," said Pseudo-Man Number One. "Also, there's news from the black market—someone is secretly buying old items, especially jade artifacts and ancient books."

Old objects? Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. In this era, many people still didn't know the value of those things...

"Keep an eye out. If you come across anything truly good, you can buy it," Chen Yu instructed. "But be careful not to attract attention."

"Yes."

After the fake man number one stepped down, Chen Yu began to plan the next move.

The initial arrangements with Qin Huairu are settled, but to truly marry her, the issues of employment and housing still need to be resolved. The neighborhood committee is arranging employment, but housing... perhaps we can find a solution within the small world?

He checked the system's description of the small world: the small world can expand its area as the level increases, but it cannot be directly inhabited by living people for a long time - the current level is too low and the rules are incomplete.

"It seems we'll have to find a solution in the real world," Chen Yu pondered. "But no rush, we'll take it one step at a time."

He sat down cross-legged and began his nightly cultivation. Spiritual energy flowed slowly within his body, growing gradually, but with each passing day, it would eventually undergo a qualitative change.

Outside the window, the courtyard house was completely quiet.

But Chen Yu knew that this tranquility was only superficial. In this courtyard, everyone had their own schemes, and every family had its own secrets.

And he will put on his own spectacular show on this stage.