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

Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, Chen Yu had already left the courtyard with a worn-out canvas bag on his back.

The bag contained a wood-chopping knife, several coarse steamed buns, a military water bottle, and the cloth shoes that Matchmaker Liu had brought yesterday—he was going to the Western Hills to gather medicinal herbs today. In this era, the mountains and forests surrounding Beijing still maintained a relatively pristine state, rich in medicinal resources.

"System, check-in for today."

Walking through the quiet alley in the early morning, Chen Yu silently recited to himself.

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Received: 3 jin of grain coupons, 1 industrial voucher, 2 yuan in cash, and a minor upgrade to basic herbal medicine identification skills]

A warm current flowed into his mind, and the herbal knowledge he had gained through rudimentary alchemy became clearer and more profound. Now, even if he only saw a part of a herb's branches and leaves, he could quickly identify its species, medicinal properties, and key points for harvesting.

"That's timely." Chen Yu nodded in satisfaction.

Leaving the city through Deshengmen and walking northwest for about an hour, the outline of the Western Hills gradually became clear. The autumn mountains were ablaze with color, a tapestry of red, yellow, and green, a truly magnificent sight. But Chen Yu had no time to appreciate it. He followed a path trodden by herb gatherers up the mountain, his senses fully engaged, searching for valuable herbs.

His enhanced vision after the marrow cleansing allowed him to spot plants hidden in bushes from more than ten meters away; his keen sense of smell enabled him to distinguish the subtle scents emitted by different plants—an extra ability brought about by the nourishment of spiritual energy.

"Honeysuckle has heat-clearing and detoxifying properties and can be used to make basic detoxifying powder." Chen Yu squatted down and carefully dug out a clump of vines with small yellow and white flowers with a machete, putting them into his bag with the roots and soil still attached.

He continued walking for another half mile and found several plants with serrated leaves in a shady crevice in the rocks.

"Panax notoginseng! A great medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis." Chen Yu's eyes lit up. This stuff isn't cheap on the market, and wild Panax notoginseng that's been around for a long time is even rarer. He carefully dug out the three largest plants, leaving the two smaller ones to continue growing—this is the rule of herb gatherers, never to completely destroy them.

The deeper he went into the mountains, the denser the vegetation became. Based on the preferred growing environments of the herbs, Chen Yu specifically sought out damp, shady, or sunny locations. By the end of the morning, his canvas bag was already half full: besides honeysuckle and Panax notoginseng, there were more than ten kinds of common herbs such as Scutellaria baicalensis, Bupleurum chinense, and Angelica sinensis, and he even unexpectedly found a small patch of wild ginseng—although it was only a dozen years old, it was a rare find in this day and age.

At noon, Chen Yu found a flat rock by the stream to sit and rest. The stream water was crystal clear. He scooped up some water to wash his face, then took out a steamed bun from his pocket and ate his lunch with the stream water.

The steamed buns were hard, and the stream water was cold, but Chen Yu ate them with relish. After cultivating, his physical fitness far surpassed that of ordinary people, so this trek was nothing. More importantly, he discovered that the concentration of spiritual energy deep in the Western Mountains was much higher than in the city. Although it was still thin, he could clearly feel the comfort of spiritual energy entering his body with each breath.

"I can come here often in the future," Chen Yu thought to himself. "Not only will it be better for gathering herbs, but it will also be more effective for cultivation."

After lunch, he decided to explore a little further. According to his knowledge of herbal medicine identification, some rare medicinal herbs often grow in remote, secluded valleys.

After walking another three or four miles, the terrain gradually became steeper. There were no obvious paths to be seen here, and the only way to move forward was by climbing. Chen Yu used both his hands and feet, grabbing onto rock crevices and tree roots to climb upwards. His improved coordination and strength after the marrow cleansing made it feel like walking on flat ground.

Suddenly, his nose twitched as he smelled a strange, pleasant fragrance.

Following the scent, Chen Yu found a peculiar plant on a rocky platform in the middle of a cliff. It was about a foot tall, with a pale purple stem, emerald green leaves, and three pale golden flowers at the top. The fragrance was coming from the flowers.

"This is... Purple Gold Grass?" Chen Yu searched his mind for knowledge of alchemy, and his eyes gradually brightened.

Purple Gold Grass, a type of low-grade spiritual herb, contains a faint spiritual energy and is one of the main ingredients for refining "Qi Nourishing Pills." Qi Nourishing Pills can assist in cultivation, accelerate the absorption of spiritual energy, and are of great benefit to cultivators in the Qi Refining stage.

"I never imagined that spiritual herbs could grow in this world," Chen Yu thought with delight. He carefully observed the surrounding environment and found that the platform was sheltered from the wind and faced the sun, with a small amount of humus accumulated in the crevices of the rocks, which was indeed suitable for the growth of spiritual herbs.

He carefully dug up the Purple Gold Grass by the roots, with a clump of soil still attached to the base. This spiritual herb has strict environmental requirements and must be transplanted while preserving its original soil. Chen Yu thought for a moment and then sent it directly into his small world, planting it next to the spiritual spring—where the spiritual energy was most concentrated, so it should be able to survive.

After finding the Purple Gold Grass, Chen Yu searched again, but unfortunately found no other spiritual herbs. He did, however, find a few ordinary herbs of decent quality, including a palm-sized piece of wild Poria cocos.

As the sun began to set, Chen Yu started his descent. The canvas bag he carried weighed over twenty kilograms, but it felt light and easy to him.

On his way back to the city, he made a special detour to the pharmacy. He sold most of the common herbs, keeping only the best quality ones and the wild ginseng. The pharmacy owner, an elderly gentleman wearing reading glasses, stared wide-eyed at the herbs Chen Yu had taken out.

"Young man, these medicinal herbs are of good quality! Especially this wild ginseng; although it's relatively young, it's in excellent condition, with intact rootlets." After careful examination, the old shopkeeper gave a price: "These will cost you thirty-five yuan in total, with the wild ginseng charged separately at twelve yuan. How about that?"

Chen Yu knew the price was fair and nodded. With forty-seven yuan in hand, plus what he had earned from checking in earlier, he now had over a hundred yuan in savings.

"Shopkeeper, do you buy pills here?" Chen Yu asked tentatively.

The old shopkeeper adjusted his glasses: "Essence? You mean Chinese herbal pills? That depends on the formula and its effects. We have a resident doctor who can check if the formula is correct."

Chen Yu smiled and said, "I'll show it to you when it's ready."

It was nearly dusk when Chen Yu left the pharmacy. Instead of returning directly to the courtyard house, he found a quiet alleyway and entered the small world.

In the small world, the Purple Gold Grass had already been planted beside the spiritual spring and looked to be in good condition, its leaves appearing even greener in the weak spiritual energy environment. Chen Yu watered it with some spiritual spring water and then checked the few Qingxin Grasses that had been growing naturally before—they had grown about an inch taller and were thriving.

"Let's try making Qingxin Powder first."

Following his knowledge of alchemy, Chen Yu cleared a flat area in a corner of the small world. Alchemy requires a furnace and fire, which he currently lacks, so he can only use an alternative method—the traditional method of alchemy.

He brought in a small earthenware pot and a few pieces of charcoal from outside; this served as a makeshift "alchemy furnace" and "fire source." He washed the three herbs of the Heart-Cleansing Herb, mashed them into a paste with a stone, and placed them in the pot. He lit the charcoal and slowly simmered the mixture, controlling the heat.

This was a delicate task. Too much heat would burn the medicinal properties, while too little heat wouldn't extract the essence. Chen Yu was completely focused, occasionally stirring the paste with a twig and observing the changes in its color and smell.

An hour later, a layer of light green paste remained at the bottom of the earthenware jar, emitting a cool fragrance. Chen Yu carefully scraped out the paste and rolled it into six pills the size of mung beans.

[Successfully Refined: Mind-Clearing Powder (Inferior Quality)]

[Benefits: Calms the mind and soothes the nerves, relieves mild anxiety and insomnia]

[Quality: Inferior (crude refining process, only 30% of the medicinal efficacy remains)]

The system notification made Chen Yu smile wryly. Sure enough, without a proper alchemy furnace and fire, only this inferior product could be produced. However, something was better than nothing; this 30% efficacy of the Qingxin Powder was sufficient for ordinary people.

He put the Qingxin powder into a small porcelain bottle and left his little world.

By the time I returned to the courtyard house, it was completely dark. Lights were on in every household, and the air was filled with the aroma of food.

As Chen Yu entered the front yard, he heard Jia Zhangshi's cursing voice coming from the Jia family: "...None of them have good intentions! They can't stand to see our family doing well!"

"Mom, please say less." Jia Dongxu's voice was filled with helplessness.

"Why should I say less? I tripped and fell at the door today, someone must have spilled oil! They're trying to kill this old woman!"

Chen Yu shook his head; this old hag was truly delusional. Just as he was about to go back into the house, he saw Xu Damao sneaking over from the backyard.

"Chen Yu, Chen Yu!" Xu Damao called out to him in a low voice.

"Brother Da Mao, what's up?"

Xu Damao looked around and pulled Chen Yu into the shadows by the wall: "Brother, I heard you went into the mountains today?"

"Yes, I'll go gather some herbs to supplement our household income."

"Gathering herbs sounds great!" Xu Damao's eyes lit up. "Let me tell you, I know a boss who specializes in collecting high-quality medicinal herbs, and his prices are 20% higher than those in pharmacies! If you have any good stuff, I can help you get in touch?"

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "I only picked some common herbs, which I have already sold to the pharmacy."

"What a pity, what a pity." Xu Damao rubbed his hands together. "Remember to call me next time you have something good! By the way..." He leaned closer, "Do you know anything about medicine? Could you prescribe some... that kind of medicine?"

"Which medicine?"

"It's...for men." Xu Damao winked. "You know, an aphrodisiac. I know a lot of bosses who need it. If you can supply it, I guarantee you'll make a fortune!"

Chen Yu almost burst out laughing. This Xu Damao really is full of crooked ideas.

"Brother Da Mao, I'm a legitimate herb gatherer, I'm not qualified to handle that kind of stuff," Chen Yu said seriously. "Besides, that kind of herb can be deadly if not handled properly, I advise you not to touch it either."

Xu Damao said sheepishly, "I just said it offhand, just said it offhand."

After seeing Xu Damao off, Chen Yu finally returned to his room. He lit a kerosene lamp, illuminating the simple room with a dim yellow light. He carefully put away the wild ginseng and several precious herbs he had gathered that day, and hid the money from selling the medicine in a hidden compartment in the wall—a concealed place left by the original owner's parents that he had discovered a few days ago.

Dinner consisted of cornbread and pickled vegetables, but Chen Yu ate it with relish. Cultivation consumed physical strength, and his appetite was now much greater than before.

After finishing his meal, he took out the bottle of cheap Qingxin Powder, poured out one pill, and swallowed it. The pill melted instantly in his mouth, transforming into a cool current that rushed straight to his mind. Instantly, most of the day's fatigue dissipated, and his mind became exceptionally clear and peaceful.

"Although the quality is poor, it is indeed effective." Chen Yu sat cross-legged and began his cultivation for the night.

With the aid of the Mind-Clearing Powder, he quickly entered a state of complete absorption in the world. The sounds of the outside world gradually faded away, leaving only the wisp of spiritual energy within his body flowing slowly along his meridians, growing stronger with each cycle.

Late at night, Chen Yu suddenly heard a very faint noise outside the window—like the sound of a cat walking across the roof, but with a much more regular rhythm.

He held his breath and quietly moved to the window, peering out through the hole in the paper covering.

Under the moonlight, a dark figure was crouching on the roof of the Jia family's house, seemingly eavesdropping on the conversation inside. The figure was slender and agile, definitely not an ordinary thief.

Chen Yu held his breath and watched the dark figure for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before it slid off the roof like a raccoon and disappeared into the night.

"Interesting." Chen Yu returned to bed, pondering.

This courtyard house is indeed extraordinary. Who is that shadowy figure? Why is he spying on the Jia family? What secrets does the Jia family hold that warrant such late-night investigation?

A series of questions swirled in Chen Yu's mind. He suddenly realized that the world he had transmigrated to might be more than just a simple "Love in the Courtyard" story.

The next morning, Chen Yu was awakened by the sound of arguing in the courtyard.

"I saw it! It was your family's dog that stole it!" This was the voice of Uncle Yan Bugui, unusually excited.

"You're slandering me! Our Banggeng is a good boy, how could he steal anything?" Jia Zhangshi's shrill voice immediately retorted.

Chen Yu pushed open the door and went out, only to see a crowd already gathered in the courtyard. Yan Bugui held a fountain pen in his hand, his hand trembling with anger. In front of him, Jia Zhangshi stood with her hands on her hips, with a seven or eight-year-old boy hiding behind her—her grandson, Banggeng.

Banggeng lowered his head, nervously twisting the hem of his clothes with both hands, his eyes darting away.

"I saw him come out of my room with my own eyes, holding this pen in his hand!" Yan Bugui said angrily. "This is a souvenir I received as an outstanding teacher, it's gold-plated! It's worth five yuan!"

"You say so? Who knows if you lost it yourself and are blaming our child?" Madam Jia began to argue unreasonably.

Uncle Yi Zhonghai and Uncle Liu Haizhong both arrived. Yi Zhonghai frowned: "Old Yan, did you see that clearly? Is it really a great joke?"

"Absolutely true! If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning!"

Banggeng suddenly burst into tears: "I didn't steal it... I just thought it looked nice and wanted to play with it..."

This is tantamount to an admission.

Madam Jia's face changed, and she slapped Bang Geng on the back: "You brat! Who told you to take other people's things? Give them back to Third Uncle right now!"

Banggeng handed over the pen while crying. Yan Bugui took it, examined it carefully, and found that the nib was bent from the fall.

"This...this is all broken!" Yan Bugui trembled with heartache.

Jia Dongxu finally came out of the house, still sleepy-eyed: "What happened?" After understanding the situation, he quickly apologized: "Uncle, I'm so sorry, my child is young and doesn't understand. We'll pay for the broken pen, we'll pay for it!"

Upon hearing that she had to pay compensation, Jia Zhangshi exploded again: "Compensation for what? It's just a broken pen..."

"Mom!" Jia Dongxu interrupted her, pulling three yuan from his pocket. "Uncle, this is all I have right now. I'll give you the rest when I pay you my salary next month, okay?"

Yan Bugui looked at the bent pen nib, then at the three yuan, and sighed deeply: "Forget it, as long as the child is well-educated. I don't want the money, but this matter needs to be taught a lesson."

The commotion was barely contained. The onlookers dispersed, and discussions arose.

Chen Yu watched coldly. Bang Geng was so young and already stealing; the Jia family's upbringing was definitely problematic. However, this wasn't his business.

Before returning to his house, he noticed Xu Damao standing at his door, looking in the direction of the Jia family's house, with a gloating smile on his lips.

At breakfast, Matchmaker Liu came again, her face beaming: "Little Chen, great news! The Qin family has given their reply; Huai Ru is very satisfied with you! Her parents also said that once you have a stable job, the marriage can be discussed!"

Chen Yu smiled and thanked him, but he was thinking about something else.

Through last night's observations and today's turmoil, he felt even more strongly that this courtyard house was fraught with danger. To establish himself and develop here, besides his overt job and marriage, he also needed to accelerate his covert preparations.

In the afternoon, he entered the small world again. The Purple Gold Grass had grown another inch taller, and the Heart-Clearing Grass was ready to be harvested again. Chen Yu carefully picked some leaves, preparing to try refining the pill for the second time.

This time he improved the method: first, he used stones to crush the herbs into smaller pieces, then he controlled the heat more precisely when boiling them, and he also tried adding a small amount of spiritual spring water.

Three hours later, the ointment left at the bottom of the earthenware jar was darker in color and had a purer aroma. The six pills that were rolled into them were pale green with a faint sheen on the surface.

[Successfully crafted: Mind-Clearing Powder (Common)]

[Benefits: Calms the mind and soothes the nerves, relieves moderate anxiety and insomnia, and slightly improves mental alertness]

[Quality: Ordinary (Improved refining method, 60% of the medicinal effects retained)]

"Success!" Chen Yu was overjoyed. The quality had improved from inferior to ordinary, the efficacy had doubled, and it also had the added effect of enhancing mental strength.

He took one, and the cooling sensation was much stronger than before. His mind instantly cleared, and even his thinking became more agile. To his even greater surprise, he sensed a faint trace of spiritual energy within the pill—likely the effect of the spiritual spring water.

"If I add the Purple Gold Grass, I might actually be able to refine a Qi-Nourishing Pill." Chen Yu looked at the spiritual herb but didn't act rashly. There was only one Purple Gold Grass; he had to wait until he was more proficient in alchemy before trying.

It was already evening when Chen Yu exited the small world. He divided the ordinary-quality Qingxin Powder into two small bottles, one for himself and the other to test its effects when he had the chance.

After dinner, he was about to continue his cultivation when he suddenly heard someone knocking on the door.

When I opened the door, I saw He Yuzhu holding a bowl with several white flour dumplings in it.

"Xiao Chen, haven't eaten yet? There's a factory dinner today, and I brought some back for you to try," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

Chen Yu was somewhat surprised. Although he and He Yuzhu knew each other, they weren't exactly close. Nevertheless, he accepted the bowl: "Thank you, Brother Zhu, please come in and have a seat?"

"No, no, you eat." He Yuzhu waved his hand, but didn't leave. Leaning against the doorframe, he said, "Xiao Chen, I heard you're looking for medicinal herbs?"

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat: "Does Brother Zhu have connections?"

"I know a few old traditional Chinese medicine doctors who often eat at the factory canteen," He Yuzhu said in a low voice. "If you really have something good, I can ask around for you. Don't worry, I won't take a cut. I just can't stand those pharmacy people who try to lower prices."

Chen Yu thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll thank Brother Zhu in advance. I might actually have some good stuff in a few days."

He Yuzhu's eyes lit up: "Sure! Contact me anytime if you need anything!" He paused, then added, "By the way, about the Jia family... stay away from them. That family, tsk tsk, they're not good people."

After saying this, He Yuzhu hummed a little tune and walked away.

Chen Yu looked at the dumplings in his bowl, then at He Yuzhu's back, lost in thought.

In this courtyard house, everyone has multiple faces. He Yuzhu appears rough and boorish, but is actually meticulous; Xu Damao seems shrewd, but is actually short-sighted; Jia Zhangshi outwardly throws tantrums, but is actually a bully who preys on the weak and fears the strong...

What Chen Yu needs to do is find his place among these faces and forge his own path.

In the stillness of the night, Chen Yu took a Qingxin Pill and entered a deep cultivation state. The spiritual energy within his body had increased threefold compared to its initial state. Although still weak, it had already formed a stable circulation within his meridians.

He had a premonition that it wouldn't be long before he could break through the first level of the "Tai Xuan Zhen Jing" and officially enter the Qi Refining stage.

At that time, this courtyard house and this era will witness a completely different story.