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

At 3 a.m. on April 14, Chen Yu was awakened by a series of urgent groans.

He sat up abruptly. Qin Huairu was curled up beside him, her hands gripping the sheets tightly, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating her face, revealing that she was enduring immense pain.

"Huai Ru? What's wrong?" Chen Yu immediately helped her up.

"It hurts... my stomach hurts..." Qin Huairu gritted her teeth, her voice trembling, "It feels... it feels like I'm going into labor..."

She's going into labor! A day earlier than her due date!

Chen Yu's heart tightened, but he quickly calmed down: "Don't be afraid, I'm here. Lie down first, I'll go get someone."

He quickly got up, first helping Qin Huairu lie down flat, then taking out a calming pill and a rejuvenating powder from his bosom—actually, from his small world. The calming pill could relieve pain and keep him conscious, while the rejuvenating powder could replenish his strength.

"Hold it under your tongue and let it dissolve slowly," he instructed softly.

Qin Huairu did as instructed, and after a moment, the pain on her face eased somewhat.

Chen Yu pushed open the door, strode to the courtyard, and knocked loudly on Zhang Xiulan's window: "Aunt Zhang! Huai Ru is about to give birth!"

The lights immediately turned on inside, and less than a minute later, Zhang Xiulan rushed out, still dressed: "Is she going into labor? I'll go get the midwife! Quickly, boil some water! Boil several pots!"

The commotion in the yard woke the others. He Yuzhu also came out of the house: "Xiao Chen, do you need any help?"

"Brother Zhu, could you please borrow a handcart? We might need to get him to the hospital..."

"I'll go right now!"

Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui also came out. Yi Zhonghai, being an older man, quickly calmed down: "Old Yan, go and inform Director Wang of the street office. Zhuzi, after you borrow the cart, park it at the gate of the courtyard. Xiao Chen, you go back inside and keep Huairu company."

In an instant, the entire courtyard came alive.

When Chen Yu returned to the room, Qin Huairu's complexion had improved somewhat, but the contractions were still ongoing. He held her hand and slowly channeled his spiritual energy into her body to protect her heart and the fetus.

"Chen Yu...I'm a little scared..." Qin Huairu's voice was very soft.

"Don't worry, I'm here." Chen Yu wiped the sweat from her forehead. "The midwife will be here soon, and Director Wang will be here too. We've made all the preparations, everything will go smoothly."

Despite saying that, Chen Yu was also a little nervous. Medical conditions were limited in this era; childbirth was truly a life-or-death ordeal. Although he had prepared elixirs and had spiritual energy to assist him, but...

"System, check-in for today," he silently repeated to himself. Any help now was invaluable.

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Received: 10 jin of national grain coupons, 2 jin of brown sugar coupons, a small basic midwifery knowledge and experience kit, 1 emergency medical kit, 2 sticks of calming incense, and 1 spiritual pregnancy-stabilizing talisman]

Midwifery knowledge flooded her mind, including precautions for each stage of labor and how to handle emergencies. The emergency medical kit contained sterile gauze, scissors, and hemostatic agents. A pregnancy-stabilizing amulet, imbued with spiritual energy, was placed on the pregnant woman to stabilize the baby's position and relieve pain.

Chen Yu immediately placed the pregnancy-stabilizing talisman on Qin Huairu's lower abdomen and lit the calming incense. The elegant fragrance filled the air, and Qin Huairu's breathing became noticeably more stable.

At four in the morning, the midwife arrived. She was an elderly woman in her sixties, surnamed Liu, who was very famous in the Nanluoguxiang area and had delivered hundreds of babies. She carried a cloth bag containing scissors, cotton thread, wood ash, and other birthing supplies.

Grandma Liu checked Qin Huairu's condition and nodded: "The cervix is ​​dilated, and the baby is in the correct position. Comrade Chen Yu, you can go outside and wait. Aunt Zhang and I will stay here."

According to custom, men are not allowed in the delivery room. But Chen Yu was worried: "Grandma Liu, I'll be right outside the door. Please call me anytime if you need anything."

He retreated outside, but his spiritual awareness remained over the entire room. He would rush back in immediately should anything happen.

In the courtyard, He Yuzhu had already borrowed a handcart and parked it at the gate. Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui paced around in the courtyard, and several neighbors came out one after another, discussing in hushed tones.

"Xiao Chen, don't worry too much." Yi Zhonghai walked over. "Grandma Liu is very experienced, and Huai Ru is in good health. Everything will go smoothly."

Chen Yu nodded, but his fist remained clenched.

Time ticked by. From inside came Qin Huairu's suppressed moans, intermittent and intermittent. Each moan tightened Chen Yu's heart.

At 5:30 a.m., the sky began to lighten. Director Wang from the neighborhood office rushed over, bringing with him a doctor from the clinic—a woman in her thirties surnamed Zhao.

"How is it?" Director Wang asked.

"She's still giving birth; Grandma Liu is inside," Chen Yu replied briefly.

Dr. Zhao went into the room to check on the situation and came out saying, "The situation is normal, but the fetus is a bit large, so it might be a little difficult. I brought oxytocin with me, which can be used if needed."

Chen Yu's heart sank even further.

At six o'clock, the sky was bright. The groans inside the house grew more frequent and more painful. Chen Yu could "see" through his spiritual sense that Qin Huairu was exhausted, but the baby had not yet come out.

Can't wait any longer.

He pushed open the door and went inside. Grandma Liu was sweating profusely, pressing on Qin Huairu's belly: "Push! Push harder!"

"Comrade Chen Yu, what brings you in here!" Granny Liu exclaimed anxiously.

"I have a way." Chen Yu walked to the bedside, took Qin Huairu's hand, and slowly channeled a stream of pure spiritual energy into her body.

This was no ordinary spiritual energy, but rather the vital energy he had condensed by activating the "Tai Xuan True Scripture," whose nourishing effect on the body far surpassed that of ordinary energy. Qin Huairu's originally pale face immediately flushed, and her eyes regained their luster.

"Huai Ru, listen to me, take a deep breath and exert force slowly." Chen Yu's voice was steady and powerful.

Qin Huairu looked at him, nodded, and adjusted her breathing according to his instructions.

At the same time, Chen Yu secretly took out a Rejuvenation Powder, crushed it, mixed it into brown sugar water, and fed it to Qin Huairu. The pill entered her stomach, transforming into a warm current that flowed through her limbs and bones.

"It's coming out! The head's out!" Grandma Liu exclaimed excitedly. "Push harder!"

"Ah—" Qin Huairu used her last bit of strength.

"Wow--!"

A clear and loud cry broke the morning's tranquility!

"It's born! It's born! It's a big, healthy boy!" Grandma Liu carefully picked up the baby, cut the umbilical cord, and washed him with warm water.

Looking at the tiny, red-faced baby crying loudly, Chen Yu's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. He grasped Qin Huairu's hand: "Huairu, can you hear me? Our son..."

Qin Huairu smiled weakly, her eyes filled with tears.

Outside, everyone who heard the crying breathed a sigh of relief. He Yuzhu was the first to shout, "It's born! It's born!"

Director Wang smiled and said, "Great! Our hospital has gained another member!"

Grandma Liu wrapped the cleaned baby in a cotton cloth and handed him to Chen Yu: "Seven pounds and eight ounces, mother and child are safe. This child has a loud cry; he'll amount to something!"

Chen Yu carefully took his son. The little guy had stopped crying and was looking at him curiously with his big, dark eyes. Although he had just been born, you could see that his eyebrows and eyes resembled Qin Huairu's, while his nose and mouth resembled his own.

"Comrade Chen Yu, let's give the child a name," Zhang Xiulan said from the side.

Chen Yu thought for a moment and said, "His name is... Chen An. An as in peace. I hope he will live a peaceful and safe life."

"Chen An, a good name," Qin Huairu repeated softly.

Next came the aftermath. Grandma Liu dealt with the placenta, Zhang Xiulan washed and changed Qin Huairu's clothes, and Dr. Zhao checked on the health of both mother and baby. By the time everything was finished, it was already 7:30 in the morning.

The neighbors in the courtyard brought gifts one after another—He Yuzhu brought a basket of eggs, Yi Zhonghai brought two jin of brown sugar, and Yan Bugui brought an old edition of the "Three Character Classic," saying it was for his child's early education. Even Jia Dongxu had Zhang Xiulan bring five eggs.

"Xiao Chen, this is a tradition in our courtyard," Yi Zhonghai said. "The addition of a new member to the family is a joyous occasion. When the baby is a month old, we'll have a small banquet to celebrate."

Chen Yu thanked them one by one.

At ten o'clock in the morning, Qin Huairu fell asleep, and little Chen An was also sleeping soundly beside his mother. Chen Yu sat by the bed, looking at the mother and son, and a feeling he had never felt before welled up in his heart—it was a feeling of responsibility, but also happiness.

He gently touched his son's little hand, and the little guy grasped his fingers in his sleep.

Just then, the voice of Pseudo-Man Number One sounded in my mind: "Master, the number of people monitoring us has increased. There are now three groups of six people outside the courtyard, all of them martial arts practitioners. Also, at nine o'clock this morning, a letter from Guangzhou has been delivered to Director Wang of the Street Office. It was sent by Daoist Jingxu."

Jingxu sent a letter. Chen Yu's heart tightened, and he whispered to Qin Huairu, "I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back soon."

He went to the neighborhood office, and as expected, Director Wang handed him the letter. The letter was very brief:

"Fellow Daoist Chen: The poison has been neutralized, and your injuries are 70% healed. You will be heading north soon, arriving in the capital around the end of the month. Also, there are rumors in Guangzhou that the matter of the Seven Star Key has spread, and the martial arts world is in turmoil. Fellow Daoist, please be careful in the capital. Jingxu."

As expected, news of the Seven Star Key had spread. Chen Yu burned the letter, his heart heavy.

Back in the courtyard, he first went to see Xu Damao's house. He had already hired several workers yesterday, and they were starting renovations today. The workers were painting the walls and repairing the roof.

"Master Chen, what do you think of this wall?" Foreman Zhou asked.

"That's good." Chen Yu nodded. "Old Zhou, could you please speed things up a bit? My wife just gave birth, and I'd like to move in as soon as possible."

"Don't worry! It'll be ready for occupancy in five days at most!"

As Chen Yu left the construction site, he encountered Jia Zhangshi. The old woman was standing at her own door, staring at Xu Damao's house with a complicated expression.

"Aunt Jia," Chen Yu greeted her.

"Oh, Xiao Chen," Jia Zhangshi said sarcastically, "I heard you're moving into Xu Damao's house? That's two main rooms, how luxurious!"

"I didn't expect it to be assigned by the neighborhood committee."

"Yes, she's lucky," Jia Zhangshi said, pursing her lips. "Unlike our family, three generations crammed into two rooms..."

Chen Yu ignored her and turned to leave, but Jia Zhangshi called out to him again: "Little Chen, I heard your son was born? Seven pounds and eight ounces?"

"Yes."

"Tsk tsk, what a chubby little boy." A hint of jealousy flashed in Jia Zhangshi's eyes. "Our Banggeng only weighed six pounds at birth. But you know, children can't be too fat, they're hard to raise..."

These words were already quite malicious. Chen Yu's eyes turned cold: "Aunt Jia, you should be more mindful of your words. My son is perfectly fine; you don't need to worry about him."

Startled by his gaze, Jia Zhangshi muttered something and went back to her room.

When Chen Yu returned to his room, Qin Huairu was already awake and breastfeeding their son, Chen An. Sunlight streamed in through the window, bathing the mother and child in a warm and loving scene.

"What did Jia Zhangshi say just now?" Qin Huairu asked. Although she was weak, her hearing was very good.

"It's nothing, they're just jealous that we got allocated apartments."

"Don't take it to heart," Qin Huairu said softly. "Aunt Zhang said that Jia Zhangshi just can't stand seeing others do well. Let's just live our lives and ignore her."

Chen Yu nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed: "Huai Ru, I want to discuss something with you."

"you say."

"When we move into our new home, I think... I'll move my parents' memorial tablets there too."

Qin Huairu held his hand: "It's only right. Those are your parents, and also the child's grandparents. When the baby is a month old, we'll take the child to the Martyrs' Cemetery to pay our respects and tell them we have a grandson."

Chen Yu felt a warmth in his heart. This was the family he had always wanted.

In the afternoon, Chen Yu went to the steel rolling mill to request half a month of paternity leave. Liu Yuhua was very understanding and even asked the technical department to pool together ten yuan so he could buy some nutritional supplements for Qin Huairu.

"Chen Yu, congratulations on becoming a father!" Liu Yuhua said with a smile. "We'll go visit the baby when he/she is a month old."

"Thank you, Sister Liu."

After returning from the steel mill, Chen Yu made a special detour to the department store. He used his coupons to buy milk powder, malted milk powder, and a few feet of soft cotton fabric—to make clothes for little Chen An.

It was already evening when I returned to the courtyard house. The aroma of food filled the air, and every household was preparing dinner.

He Yuzhu brought over a bowl of chicken soup: "Xiao Chen, make sure Huai Ru has some nourishing soup. I stewed it all afternoon, skimmed off all the oil, so it won't be greasy."

"Brother Zhu, I can't accept this..."

"Why are you being so polite with me? Take it!"

Chen Yu accepted the chicken soup, feeling deeply moved. Although the courtyard house had people like Jia Zhangshi, it was mostly filled with good neighbors like He Yuzhu, Yi Zhonghai, and Zhang Xiulan.

At night, after Qin Huairu fell asleep, Chen Yu entered the small world. He gathered some medicinal herbs, preparing to refine a batch of "Blood Nourishing Pills" suitable for postpartum women and "Primordial Essence Powder" for infants.

Yangxue Dan (Nourishing Blood Pill) uses angelica and donkey-hide gelatin as its main ingredients to nourish blood and qi; Peiyuan San (Nourishing Essence Powder) is made from mild herbs and can enhance an infant's constitution and prevent disease.

The alchemy process went smoothly. Two hours later, he obtained twelve Blood Nourishing Pills and a small bottle of Vitality-Boosting Powder.

It was already past midnight when they exited the small world. Little Chen An was awake and crying softly. Chen Yu quickly picked him up and gently rocked him.

"I'll do it." Qin Huairu also woke up.

"You rest, I'll take care of him," Chen Yu insisted. "I'll carry him for a walk in the yard, you can continue sleeping."

He carried his son into the courtyard. The April night was still a bit chilly, but the little guy was bundled up tightly. The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the blue brick ground.

Chen Yu held his son and slowly strolled around the yard. The little guy stopped crying and looked at the moon with his eyes open.

"An'er, look, that's the moon," Chen Yu said softly. "From now on, Daddy will teach you to recognize stars, teach you to read, teach you martial arts... As long as you grow up safely, Daddy will teach you everything."

Little Chen An seemed to understand, and grinned with his toothless mouth.

At that moment, Chen Yu felt that all the running around, all the dangers, and all the scheming had been worth it.

For the sake of this family, he must become stronger and protect them.

The courtyard was quiet at night, but Chen Yu knew that this tranquility would not last forever.

Jingxu is coming; news of the Seven Star Key has spread; the threat from the Heavenly Alliance remains; and the surveillance by the National Security Bureau continues...

But at least for this moment, as he held his son and looked at the moon, he felt a surge of strength within him.

New life brings new hope, but also new responsibilities.

Chen Yu was already prepared.