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

Before they knew it, it was the end of the month, and this was Chen Yu's first full moon since he transmigrated to this world.

At dawn, he sat cross-legged beside the spiritual spring in the small world. After completing his cultivation for the day, he silently recited in his heart: "System, monthly sign-in."

Compared to daily and weekly sign-ins, monthly sign-ins offer much more generous rewards. According to the system description, monthly sign-ins guarantee cultivation-related items, with a quality of at least beginner level.

[Ding! Monthly sign-in successful]

【获得：炼丹炉（初级）×1、地火符（十次）×3、止血生肌散配方×1、1963年款上海牌手錶一只（已适配本时代）、伪人×2】

Chen Yu's eyes lit up. The rewards for this monthly sign-in were quite useful!

First was the alchemy furnace—a small bronze cauldron about the size of a palm, with three legs and two handles, its surface engraved with simple cloud patterns. Although it was only a basic alchemy furnace, it was far superior to the earthenware jars they had used before. According to the system instructions, this furnace could better lock in the medicinal properties, improving the success rate and quality of the pills.

Ten Earth Fire Talismans, each capable of igniting a continuous earth fire for an hour with a stable and controllable temperature, are exactly what's needed for alchemy. Previously, using charcoal fire for alchemy made it difficult to precisely control the temperature, which was the main reason for the low quality of the Heart-Clearing Powder.

The formula for the hemostatic and tissue-regenerating powder was a highly practical medicine. In an era with limited medical resources, a medicine that could quickly stop bleeding and promote wound healing was extremely valuable, whether for personal use or for sale.

Needless to say, the Shanghai brand watch was one of the "three essential items" of that era, a symbol of status and power. Although it's a 1963 model, the system has been adapted, so it looks like the latest model.

The addition of the two new imposters brought Chen Yu's available manpower to three. With a thought, two dark figures appeared, transforming into two ordinary young men.

"Pseudo-human number two and pseudo-human number three, obey your master's orders."

"You will temporarily assist Number One in gathering intelligence and establishing safe houses," Chen Yu instructed. "Also, start keeping an eye out for old houses and antique markets around Beijing. If there are any truly good items, you can make an appropriate purchase."

"Yes."

Exiting the small world, Chen Yu put the watch on his left wrist. The silver case, black leather strap, and simple, elegant dial made it a true luxury item, especially in an era when most workers still used alarm clocks to tell time.

He deliberately pulled his sleeves down, not intending to show off in the yard for the time being—it wasn't the right time to be high-profile.

Today is Sunday, and the steel mill is closed. Chen Yu went out early and first went to the pharmacy to buy several main ingredients according to the prescription of the hemostatic and tissue-regenerating powder: Panax notoginseng, Bletilla striata, dragon's blood, borneol, etc. These medicinal materials are not rare, but the good quality ones are expensive, costing him more than twenty yuan.

After completing his shopping, he arrived at Shichahai as agreed—to meet Qin Huairu again today.

The Shichahai Lake was teeming with tourists in autumn. Chen Yu waited by the Yinding Bridge for about fifteen minutes before he saw Qin Huairu and her daughter, along with the matchmaker Liu.

It had been over a month since I last saw Qin Huairu, and she seemed to have changed a bit. Today she was wearing a light blue floral top, black trousers, her two long braids were neatly combed, and she had a light layer of powder on her face—in this era, this was already quite an elaborate outfit.

"Little Chen! Have you been waiting long?" Matchmaker Liu greeted him with a smile from afar.

"Aunt Liu, Aunt Qin, Huai Ru, hello." Chen Yu went up to greet them, his gaze falling on Qin Huai Ru, noticing that she looked exceptionally beautiful today.

Qin Huairu blushed and lowered her head slightly: "Hello, Comrade Chen Yu."

Qin's mother looked Chen Yu up and down, nodding with satisfaction: "Little Chen, you look better and better. Aunt Liu said you're doing well at the factory, and there's been progress on your promotion?"

"It's almost done. Director Li has already spoken with the personnel department, and the procedures should be completed next month," Chen Yu said.

"That's good! That's good!" Qin's mother's smile widened. "Come on, let's find a place to sit down and have a good chat."

The four of them found a tea stall by the lake and sat down. Liu, the matchmaker, was very tactful and pulled Qin's mother aside, saying she needed to buy something, leaving the two young people some alone time.

Qin Huairu sat on the bench, her hands resting on her knees, looking somewhat reserved. Chen Yu took a small cloth bag from his pocket and handed it to her: "Huairu, this is for you."

"What is it?" Qin Huairu asked curiously as she took it.

Upon opening it, I found a Hero brand fountain pen inside, with a black body and a gold-plated clip that gleamed in the sunlight.

"Oh! This is too expensive!" Qin Huairu quickly declined. A Hero fountain pen costs seven or eight yuan, which is equivalent to ten days' wages for an ordinary worker.

"Take it," Chen Yu said gently. "I heard you like reading, and having a good pen makes it easier to take notes. Besides..." He paused, "I bought this for our first formal meeting, and I've been wanting to give it to you ever since."

These words warmed Qin Huairu's heart. She no longer refused, carefully holding the pen, a blush spreading across her face: "Thank you..."

"And this too." Chen Yu handed over a small porcelain bottle. "It's a calming powder I made myself, good for soothing the mind. If you can't sleep well at night, you can put one under your tongue."

Qin Huairu accepted the porcelain bottle, her eyes filled with emotion. In this era of scarcity, the thought of sending medicine and showing concern was more precious than anything else.

"Comrade Chen Yu..." she said softly, "My parents said that as long as your official employment is settled, they have no objection to our marriage."

Chen Yu felt a warmth in his heart: "Don't worry, the official appointment is a sure thing. Once the formalities are completed, I'll formally propose marriage to you."

Qin Huairu looked up at him, her eyes shining: "I...I believe you."

The two strolled slowly along the lake, chatting about their lives. Qin Huairu talked about recent events in the village: the production team's autumn harvest, the village primary school's lack of teachers, and her second brother's upcoming wedding, for which the family was raising money... Chen Yu, on the other hand, talked about his experiences at the steel rolling mill, but avoided the complicated interpersonal relationships.

"Oh, right," Chen Yu remembered something, "you like reading, I have a few books here, I'll bring them to you next time we meet."

"Really?" Qin Huairu's eyes lit up. "What kinds of books are included?"

"I have 'Red Crag,' 'Song of Youth,' and a few books on agricultural technology," Chen Yu said. "If you want to see others, I can try to find them."

"That's enough! It's good enough to have books to read!" Qin Huairu said happily. In this era of limited cultural life, books are precious spiritual nourishment.

Reaching a secluded spot, Chen Yu stopped and looked at Qin Huairu earnestly: "Huairu, there's something I need to make clear to you."

"What?" Qin Huairu asked nervously when she saw his serious expression.

"My current situation is indeed just average. I live in government housing and my salary isn't high," Chen Yu admitted frankly. "But I promise you, within three years, I will definitely let you live in your own house and enjoy a life ten times better than you have now."

This isn't just empty talk. With the system and the small world at his disposal, three years is enough time for him to accumulate sufficient capital. Once the spring breeze of reform and opening up arrives, he will be able to ride the wave of success.

Qin Huairu stared at him blankly, her eyes gradually welling up with tears. She had met many suitors, some boasting about their family's wealth, others making empty promises, but Chen Yu was the first one who was both honest and confident.

"I don't want great wealth or status," she said softly. "As long as he's honest, hardworking, and treats me well, I'm willing to endure a hard life."

"The hard times won't last long," Chen Yu smiled. "I promise."

In the distance, Matchmaker Liu and Qin's mother returned, and seeing the two getting along well, they both showed gratified smiles.

At noon, Chen Yu treated the three to a meal at a nearby restaurant—a plate of braised pork, a sweet and sour fish, two vegetable dishes, and four bowls of rice, which cost a little over five yuan, a rather lavish meal for that era.

Seeing Chen Yu pay so generously, the last trace of worry in Qin's mother's eyes disappeared. It was her good fortune that her daughter had found such a reliable partner.

As they parted, Qin Huairu quietly slipped a small cloth bag into Chen Yu's hand, her face as red as an apple: "I...I made these insoles. You'll feel more comfortable wearing them after all your work."

Chen Yu took the bag, which contained two pairs of handmade insoles with fine stitches and simple embroidered patterns.

"Thank you, I'll use it carefully."

Watching Qin Huairu and her daughter leave, Chen Yu felt a surge of warmth in his heart. In this unfamiliar era, he finally had someone to care about.

Matchmaker Liu said with a smile, "Little Chen, your auntie has really put together a great match this time! You two are a perfect couple, a match made in heaven!"

"Thanks to Aunt Liu for her trouble." Chen Yu handed over two yuan. "It's a small token of my appreciation, please accept it."

After some initial refusals, Matchmaker Liu accepted the gift, patting her chest and assuring everyone, "Don't worry, I'll handle everything! Once you're officially hired, we'll formally exchange betrothal gifts!"

It was already afternoon when Chen Yu returned to the courtyard. As soon as he entered the central courtyard, he saw a group of people gathered at the entrance of the Jia family's house.

"What's going on?" he asked He Yuzhu, who was watching the commotion.

"Hey, that old Jia family business." He Yuzhu scoffed. "Bang Geng stole something again, this time it was Liu Guangfu's slingshot in the backyard. He got caught red-handed and came knocking on the door."

In the courtyard, Liu Guangfu—the second son of Uncle Liu Haizhong, a boy of about sixteen or seventeen—was pointing at the stick and cursing, "You little brat! You stole my slingshot and you dare to deny it? I saw you take it with my own eyes!"

Banggeng hid behind Jia Zhangshi and cried, "I didn't steal it... I was just playing around..."

Protecting her grandson, Jia Zhangshi stood with her hands on her hips and yelled at Liu Guangfu, "How old are you? Why are you arguing with a child? Just give the slingshot back, that's all!"

"What? Your slingshot has ruined it!" Liu Guangfu raised his slingshot—the rubber band was broken, and the wooden fork was cracked.

"I'll pay you back if it's broken!" Jia Dongxu came out of the house, his face grim. "Mom, can you please say less? It's wrong for Banggeng to steal!"

"What's wrong with that? The child is young and doesn't understand. What's wrong with him playing around?" Jia Zhangshi continued to argue unreasonably.

At this moment, Uncle Liu Haizhong walked over with his hands behind his back, his face stern: "Sister-in-law, you can't say that. Children who steal need to be disciplined, not protected. If he steals a slingshot today, what will he steal tomorrow? In the old days, stealing would get your hands chopped off!"

That's a harsh remark. Madam Jia's expression changed: "Liu Haizhong, what do you mean? Are you cursing our Banggeng?"

"I'm doing this for your own good!" Liu Haizhong adopted a leader's tone. "If you don't discipline your children, they'll cause big trouble in the future!"

The others in the courtyard were buzzing with discussion. An elderly man named Yi Zhonghai arrived and tried to smooth things over, saying, "Everyone, say less. Dongxu, the child needs proper upbringing. Guangfu, how much was the slingshot? The Jia family will compensate you."

In the end, Jia Dongxu compensated Liu Guangfu with one yuan, and the matter was finally settled. But after this incident, Banggeng's reputation in the courtyard was completely ruined.

Chen Yu observed coldly, shaking his head inwardly at the Jia family's parenting style. A doting mother often spoils her son; with Jia Zhangshi's indulgence, who knows what kind of trouble Bang Geng might cause in the future.

Back inside, he closed the door and entered his little world.

He had a very fruitful day, and he wanted to try using his newly acquired alchemy furnace and Earth Fire Talisman to refine a hemostatic and tissue-regenerating powder.

Take out the small bronze cauldron and put in the medicinal materials one by one according to the recipe: three qian of Panax notoginseng powder, two qian of Bletilla striata powder, one qian of dragon's blood, five fen of borneol... a total of twelve medicinal materials. Some need to be ground into powder, some need to be sliced, and some need to be processed in advance.

Chen Yu possessed basic alchemy knowledge, and handled the process methodically. With his spiritual eye activated, he could clearly see the medicinal properties contained within each herb—the red, invigorating energy of Panax notoginseng, the white, astringent light of Bletilla striata, the cool blue glow of borneol...

With the medicinal herbs prepared, he affixed a Fire Talisman to the bottom of the alchemy furnace and activated it with his mind. The talisman ignited spontaneously without wind, transforming into a stable, orange-yellow flame at just the right temperature.

Following the alchemy steps, he first put the main ingredients, such as Panax notoginseng and Bletilla striata, into the furnace and slowly simmered them, controlling the heat. His spiritual eye technique allowed him to clearly observe the changes of the medicinal materials in the furnace, knowing exactly when to increase the heat and when to simmer them over a low flame.

An hour later, the main ingredient was refined into a light red ointment. Chen Yu added auxiliary ingredients such as dragon's blood and continued refining. Another half hour passed, and finally, borneol was added—borneol is volatile when heated, so it must be added last.

The medicinal paste in the furnace gradually solidified, condensing into twelve red pills the size of soybeans under Chen Yu's precise control of the heat. The moment the furnace was opened, a rich medicinal aroma wafted out, several times stronger than that of the Qingxin Powder.

[Successfully Refined: Hemostatic and Muscle-Regenerating Powder (Good)]

[Efficacy: Quickly stops bleeding, promotes wound healing, and prevents infection]

[Quality: Good (Used a proper alchemy furnace and earth fire, retaining 70% of the medicinal efficacy)]

[Additional Effect: Subtle spiritual energy nourishes and accelerates tissue regeneration]

It was a success! And it's of excellent quality!

Chen Yu was overjoyed. This hemostatic and tissue-regenerating powder had extremely high practical value; in this era of limited medical resources, it could save lives in critical moments.

He put the twelve pills into two porcelain bottles and left the small world.

Just as I stepped outside, I heard a knock at the door. When I opened it, I saw He Yuzhu holding a bowl of noodles with soybean paste.

"Xiao Chen, haven't eaten yet? I just made this, have a taste." He Yuzhu handed over the bowl, but his eyes glanced at Chen Yu's left wrist—the sleeve wasn't pulled up properly, revealing a watch.

"Wow! A Shanghai brand!" He Yuzhu's eyes lit up. "When did you buy it? This is a real gem!"

Chen Yu didn't hide anything: "I just bought it today. After I'm officially hired, I need a watch to tell the time."

"Wow! That's a big deal!" He Yuzhu said enviously, touching the watch case. "It must have cost over a hundred yuan, right? You're quite well-off."

"I saved some money and borrowed some more," Chen Yu said, half-jokingly.

He Yuzhu didn't ask any further questions and instead got down to business: "By the way, Director Li asked me to tell you that the formal employment procedures can be completed next Wednesday. Please prepare two one-inch photos and your household registration booklet."

"So fast?" Chen Yu was somewhat surprised.

"That's all because you did a good job!" He Yuzhu laughed. "You saved Old Zhao and you learn quickly. Director Li thinks highly of you. I heard he even wants you to participate in the factory's technical training and train you to be a technician in the future."

This is an unexpected bonus. Technicians have a higher status and higher salary than ordinary workers, making it a very good career path.

"Thanks for telling me all this, Brother Zhu."

"Don't mention it!" He Yuzhu waved his hand. "But I have to warn you, some people in the workshop are jealous, especially those old temporary workers. Once your permanent position is finalized, they might cause trouble, so be careful."

Chen Yu nodded. He understood the saying that the workplace is like a battlefield.

After seeing He Yuzhu off, Chen Yu ate his noodles with soybean paste, planning his next move.

With his official appointment imminent, it was time to start planning the wedding. Once the formalities were completed on Wednesday, he would formally propose to the Qin family. As for the dowry, he had over a hundred yuan in savings, plus his new salary, enough for a respectable wedding.

Housing is a problem. The government housing we live in now can't be occupied long-term; we need to find a way to get our own room. There are vacant rooms in courtyard houses, but they're all government-owned, and it's very difficult for private individuals to get one.

"Maybe I can ask Director Wang," Chen Yu thought to himself. The neighborhood committee can sometimes coordinate some housing resources. Although he has a good family background, he is new to Beijing and there are many people in line.

Just then, there was another noise outside the window. Chen Yu scanned the area with his spiritual sense—it was Xu Damao, sneaking off to the backyard.

What is he doing in the backyard so late?

Chen Yu silently got up, activated his spiritual eye technique, and observed through the window. He saw Xu Damao arrive at Liu Haizhong's window and gently knock three times. The window opened a crack, and the two exchanged a few words in hushed tones. Xu Damao handed over a small cloth bag, which Liu Haizhong took and quickly closed the window.

After the transaction was completed, Xu Damao quickly left.

Chen Yu frowned slightly. What were Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong trading? Considering the conversation he had overheard between Xu Damao and Yan Bugui earlier, it was likely cultural relics and antiques.

In this courtyard house, everyone truly has a secret.

However, he has no time to worry about those things right now. His immediate priorities are getting a permanent position and getting married.

On his second day at work, Chen Yu could clearly sense the subtle atmosphere in the workshop. Several of the older temporary workers looked at him with jealousy and hostility, but no one dared to say anything to his face—after all, Chen Yu had saved Old Zhao and was well-liked in the workshop.

Director Li called Chen Yu into his office and formally informed him of his official employment status: "The paperwork will be completed next Wednesday, and your salary will be calculated as a regular employee starting next month. In addition, the factory has a fitter's technical training course, which lasts for three months, with classes held two evenings a week. I recommended you for it. Study hard and develop your career in a technical field in the future."

"Thank you for your guidance, Director Li," Chen Yu said sincerely.

"You've proven yourself," Director Li patted him on the shoulder. "Keep up the good work, you'll amount to something in the future."

At lunchtime in the cafeteria, Zhou Xiaomei specifically sought out Chen Yu, her face full of gratitude: "Comrade Chen Yu, thank you so much! My grandma used the Qingxin San you gave her, and it worked wonders! She's been able to sleep five or six hours a night now, something she hasn't done in years!"

"It's good that it works." Chen Yu smiled. "However, this is only an aid; the elderly person still needs regular checkups."

"I know, I've already taken her to the hospital." Zhou Xiaomei took a small cloth bag out of her pocket. "This is something my grandma asked me to give you. It's sesame candy she made herself. Don't be put off by it."

Inside the cloth bag were several pieces of handmade sesame candy, wrapped in oil paper, emitting the aroma of sesame.

"Thank you, I'll accept it." Chen Yu didn't refuse.

Zhou Xiaomei blushed and walked away quickly. Several workers nearby teased, "Chen Yu, you're something else! Even the factory beauty gave you candy!"

Chen Yu smiled but didn't reply. His heart belonged only to Qin Huairu; he had no interest in other girls.

After get off work in the afternoon, Chen Yu went to a photo studio to take a passport photo, and then went to the neighborhood office to find Director Wang to inquire about housing.

After listening to his situation, Director Wang pondered for a moment and said, "Xiao Chen, you're about to be promoted and you're getting married, so you definitely need a house. But housing is scarce in our neighborhood, and there are many people on the waiting list... How about this, I'll keep an eye out for you, and if there's a suitable vacancy, I'll let you know first."

"Thank you, Director Wang." Chen Yu knew this matter couldn't be rushed.

On his way back to the courtyard house, he bought two pounds of apples—to prepare for his formal marriage proposal in Qin Family Village the next day.

The official appointment has been finalized, so the wedding can't be delayed any longer.

That night, Chen Yu entered the small world and refined another batch of hemostatic and tissue-regenerating powder. This time, his technique was more skillful, and he successfully produced fourteen pills, all of good quality.

As he exited the small world, a sudden idea struck him—what if he could grow medicinal herbs there? Would the herbs grown in the land near the spiritual spring, nourished by spiritual energy, be of even higher quality?

He acted immediately. He planted the rhizomes of several medicinal herbs he had deliberately saved during his last herb-gathering trip and watered them with some spiritual spring water. Whether they would survive or not, they would know in a few days.

Night had fallen, and the courtyard was completely silent.

Chen Yu sat cross-legged in meditation, his spiritual energy circulating smoothly within his body. His cultivation at the first level of the Qi Refining stage had been consolidated, and he was steadily progressing towards the second level.

His spiritual senses expanded, perceiving the entire courtyard. The Jia couple were arguing quietly, still about Bang Geng stealing; the sound of an abacus could be heard from Xu Damao's room—he was doing accounts; He Yuzhu was already snoring loudly...

Suddenly, Chen Yu sensed the mysterious black figure reappear. This time, the figure lingered in the central courtyard for a moment, seemingly observing the situation of each household, before quietly departing.

This is the third time. What exactly is this mysterious person looking for?

Chen Yu opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them.

No matter how deep the waters of the courtyard house were, he had to wade through them. Because this place would be the foundation upon which he started in this era.

Tomorrow, he will take an important step in his life—formally proposing marriage.

The moonlight outside the window was like water, reflecting this special era and this extraordinary courtyard house.

But Chen Yu's story has only just begun.