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

On the morning of April 19th, the renovation of Xu Damao's old house was completed. Foreman Lao Zhou, with pride on his face, presented the acceptance form to Chen Yu for signature: "Master Chen, please inspect it. The walls have been painted three times with whitewash, the roof has been replaced with new tiles, and the doors and windows have all been re-oiled with tung oil. I guarantee it won't leak for five years!"

Chen Yu carefully inspected the place inside and out. The two main rooms together were about forty square meters, with snow-white walls and spotless blue brick floors. The east room was used as a bedroom, and the west room served as a living room and study, separated by a wooden lattice curtain. The originally cramped kitchen had been expanded by half, and the newly built stove was tiled with white ceramic tiles, making it look clean and bright.

What pleased Chen Yu the most was that the workers had also built a small shed in the southwest corner of the yard, which could be used to store coal briquettes and other miscellaneous items.

"Old Zhou, you've worked hard." Chen Yu signed the acceptance form and handed over an extra five yuan, "This money is for the brothers to buy some drinks."

"I can't accept this..." Old Zhou declined verbally, but took the bag anyway. "If Master Chen needs any work in the future, just let me know!"

The move officially began at 9:00 AM.

Although it was called a move, they didn't actually have much stuff. Chen Yu and Qin Huairu already lived in government-owned housing, and all the furniture belonged to the government. The only things they could take were their personal belongings: a few quilts, clothes, pots and pans, and two suitcases that Chen Yu had brought back from Hong Kong.

But the custom in the courtyard house is that moving should be a lively affair. Early in the morning, He Yuzhu gathered several young and strong neighbors: "Give us a hand! Xiao Chen is moving to a new house; this is a great occasion for our courtyard!"

Uncles Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui also arrived. Yi Zhonghai, hands behind his back, stood in the yard directing, "Be careful, don't bump into the doorframe! Put that vat in the kitchen! Tie the quilt securely with rope, don't let it come undone!"

Zhang Xiulan led several women to help Qin Huairu pack her valuables. Little Chen An, wrapped up tightly, lay in his cradle being watched by Yan Bugui's wife.

"Huai Ru, I sewed two extra layers of this sheet for you. You can't catch a cold during your postpartum period." Zhang Xiulan put a thick cotton quilt into the box.

"Thank you, Aunt Zhang." Although Qin Huairu was still in her postpartum period, Chen Yu's blood-nourishing pills had a remarkable effect, and her complexion had recovered significantly. At this moment, she had a smile on her face and her eyes were full of anticipation for her new home.

Chen Yu carried a large wooden box from the middle courtyard towards his new home. The box contained his parents' belongings and some important items. As he passed the Jia family's gate, Jia Zhangshi was sitting on the threshold, eating melon seeds. Seeing Chen Yu, she said sarcastically, "Oh, moving to a new house? How grand, two large main rooms..."

Chen Yu ignored her and walked straight past.

But Jia Zhangshi persisted: "Some people are just lucky. They've only been in this place for a few months, and they've already got jobs, wives, children, and now even a house. Unlike our family, several generations crammed into these two dilapidated rooms..."

The voice wasn't quiet; everyone in the courtyard who was helping with the move heard it. He Yuzhu frowned: "Aunt Jia, what are you saying? Xiao Chen's house was allocated by the neighborhood committee according to policy. He's a martyr's orphan and a technician at the steel mill. What's wrong with allocating him two rooms?"

"That's right," Yan Bugui chimed in. "Sister-in-law, if you have any objections, you can go to the neighborhood office to complain. There's no point in making sarcastic remarks here."

Speechless after being rebuked, Jia Zhangshi snorted, turned around and went into the house, slamming the door shut.

Chen Yu shook his head and continued moving.

There wasn't much stuff, and it was all moved in less than two hours. In the new house, Qin Huairu was directing the arrangement of the furniture. The bed was placed in the east room near the window so it would get sunlight during the day; the wardrobe was against the wall, and the desk was placed in the west room, with Chen Yu's books and notebooks neatly arranged on it.

In the kitchen, Zhang Xiulan and several women were arranging pots and pans. The newly built stove had already been tested and worked very well.

"Xiao Chen, your kitchen is really nice." Zhang Xiulan wiped her hands. "It's much better than mine. I'll teach Huai Ru a few of my signature dishes later, and I guarantee I'll fatten you up nicely."

Chen Yu thanked him with a smile.

At noon, according to the tradition of the courtyard house, it's customary to invite the neighbors who helped with the move to a meal. Chen Yu had already ordered a hot pot meal at Donglaishun and had it delivered to the courtyard. This was quite a luxury in 1964.

Two square tables were pushed together and placed under the jujube tree in the courtyard. A copper hot pot was bubbling away, piled high with slices of mutton, cabbage, tofu, and vermicelli. He Yuzhu also contributed a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) from his collection.

Everyone who could come from the courtyard showed up: the Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui families, He Yuzhu, Zhang Xiulan and Jia Dongxu (Jia Zhangshi didn't come, citing a sore throat), and a few young neighbors who helped with the move. A dozen or so people sat together, chatting and laughing.

"Come on, let's raise a glass to Xiao Chen first!" Yi Zhonghai raised his glass. "Congratulations to Xiao Chen on moving to his new home, and congratulations on the birth of his son!"

"Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses. Chen Yu drank tea instead of wine—Qin Huairu was still breastfeeding, and he needed to stay sober to take care of the mother and child.

"Little Chen," Yan Bugui said, picking up a piece of mutton with his chopsticks, "your new house is really nicely decorated. I saw it, the windows have new glass, so clear! Unlike my house, the window paper is torn and I don't even have the money to replace it..."

"If you need any, Uncle, I have some glass scraps. I'll send them to you later," Chen Yu said with a smile.

"That's great!" Yan Bugui's eyes lit up.

During the meal, everyone chatted about interesting things that happened in the courtyard, and the atmosphere was harmonious. Even Jia Dongxu, who was usually quiet, drank a few more glasses and became more talkative: "Xiao Chen, I...I'd like to toast you. What happened before was my fault..."

Chen Yu waved his hand: "Brother Dongxu, let's not talk about the past. We'll be neighbors from now on, let's look after each other."

"Yes! We must look out for each other!" He Yuzhu shouted. "Our department needs to unite! Those who trip us up behind our backs and say sarcastic things will get what's coming to them sooner or later!"

These words were pointed, and everyone understood that they were referring to Jia Zhangshi.

After dinner, the neighbors gradually left. Zhang Xiulan stayed behind to help clean up the dishes, while Qin Huairu held little Chen An and coaxed him to sleep inside.

Chen Yu stood in the courtyard of his new home, looking around. This was the first home that truly belonged to him since he came into this world. Although it wasn't big, it was warm and comforting.

"System, check-in for today," he thought to himself.

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Received: 8 jin of national grain coupons, 3 chi of cloth coupons, basic home feng shui knowledge (small), a 1964 Beijing building materials market report, two work permits for disguise, and one spiritual talisman for warding off evil spirits]

Home feng shui knowledge includes some simple layout principles, such as the bed should not face the door and the kitchen should not be in the northwest corner. A building materials market report indicates that cement and timber supplies are tight this year, and prices may rise. One work permit is from a steel rolling mill, and the other is a fictitious "Beijing Municipal Bureau of Light Industry"—both are blank and need to be filled out manually. A talisman for warding off evil spirits, pasted on the roof beam, can dispel ordinary evil spirits and bring peace to the home.

Chen Yu affixed the house-protecting talisman to the center of the main beam of the house. The moment the talisman was affixed, he felt the atmosphere of the entire house become much more peaceful.

In the afternoon, Chen Yu went to Liulichang. He needed to buy some things to decorate his new home: a painting, a few vases, and some daily necessities.

In 1964, Liulichang wasn't as bustling as it is today, but it still had many old shops. Chen Yu found a landscape painting he liked in a shop called "Rongbaozhai"—not an ancient painting, but a work by a modern artist, but the brushwork was good and the artistic conception was profound. The price wasn't expensive either, only five yuan.

"Comrade, you have a good eye." The shop owner, an elderly gentleman wearing glasses, said, "This is an early work by Mr. Li Keran. Although he is not well-known, his skills are solid. Hanging it in your home will add elegance."

Chen Yu bought the painting and then picked out two blue-and-white porcelain vases. While paying, he noticed a pile of old books in the corner of the shop and casually asked, "Boss, are those books for sale?"

"These are all secondhand books I've collected. Feel free to browse."

Chen Yu walked over and looked through them. Most were textbooks and novels from the Republican era, along with some thread-bound books. Suddenly, his hand stopped.

Beneath a pile of old books lay a blue-covered, thread-bound book. The cover was torn, but three words were faintly visible: "Mysterious...True..."

A thought struck him, and he carefully pulled out the book. The full title on the cover was "Miscellaneous Records of Xuanzhen," and the pages were yellowed, indicating that it was quite old.

"Boss, how much is this book?"

"Oh, that one..." The shopkeeper glanced at it. "One dollar. It's just a notebook, nothing special."

Chen Yu paid for the book and carefully put it away. He had a vague feeling that this book might be related to Xuanzhenzi.

It was already evening when they returned to the courtyard house. Qin Huairu was cooking in the kitchen, while little Chen'an slept soundly in his cradle. It was the first time she had cooked in the new house, so she made a few simple dishes: scrambled eggs, cabbage stew with vermicelli, and leftover mutton soup from lunch.

"You're back?" Qin Huairu asked with a smile, wearing an apron. "Wash your hands and come eat right away."

"Okay." Chen Yu took out the painting and vase he had bought. "Look at this, where would be a good place to hang it?"

After discussing it, the two decided to hang the landscape painting on the main wall of the living room, and place one vase on the bedroom windowsill and the other on the coffee table in the living room.

During the meal, Qin Huairu said, "Zhou Xiaomei came this afternoon."

"What's she doing here?"

"She sent two pieces of fabric, saying they were for making clothes for the children." Qin Huairu paused. "She also asked about you lately, and I told her you were doing well."

Chen Yu nodded. Zhou Xiaomei was already married, but she still came to give a gift, which meant she genuinely wished him well.

"Oh, right," Qin Huairu remembered something, "Director Wang came this afternoon too. He said the neighborhood committee is selecting 'Five-Good Families' and wants our family to sign up. I told him we'd discuss it when you get back."

"A model family?"

"It means being patriotic and loving society, abiding by laws and regulations, working diligently, being united and helping each other, and maintaining cleanliness," Qin Huairu explained. "Those who are recognized receive rewards and can be listed on the honor roll."

"Then let's report it," Chen Yu said. "This is a good thing."

At night, after Qin Huairu and Xiao Chen'an had fallen asleep, Chen Yu took out the book "Xuanzhen Miscellany" and carefully read it under the lamp.

The book wasn't thick, about fifty pages, and was handwritten in small regular script with a brush. The content was varied, including travelogues, essays, and some seemingly casual scribbles. But the more Chen Yu read, the more alarmed he became—the book mentioned several place names: Zhongnan Mountain, Qingcheng Mountain, Longhu Mountain... all legendary Taoist mountains. Moreover, the handwriting was seven or eight parts similar to the handwriting on the notebook he had obtained from Xuanzhenzi's cave!

Turning to the last page, he saw a few lines of small print:

"When I was traveling in Zhongnan Mountain, I met a remarkable man at the foot of Zibai Peak who called himself 'Shouyi'. We discussed the Dao for three days, and I benefited greatly from the conversation. Before parting, Shouyi gave me a jade slip, saying that it contained the secret of the 'Seven Stars'. I examined it and found that it contained ancient runes, which are beyond the understanding of modern people. So I kept it hidden, waiting for a destined person to understand it."

Shouyi! Xuanzhenzi mentioned this person in his notes, saying he was his fellow Daoist!

Chen Yu's heart raced. Continue reading:

"The jade slip is hidden at the top of the temple pagoda... (the writing here is blurred). Those with the right affinity should use the Seven Star Key as a guide on the night of the full moon..."

The words at the end were completely illegible, and the paper was severely damaged.

But the information is enough! Xuanzhenzi did indeed hide something—most likely a jade slip containing the secret of the Seven Star Key—at the top of a temple tower! And the way to open it requires the Seven Star Key, and it must be on the night of a full moon!

Chen Yu closed the book and took a deep breath. The value of this notebook far exceeded his expectations. No wonder the Heavenly Dao Alliance was so obsessed with the Seven Star Key; it seemed they also knew this secret.

"Pseudo-Man Number One," he said through the mental link, "check which ancient temples in and around Beijing have pagodas, especially those with '...temple' in their names."

"Yes, Master."

Chen Yu put the book into his small world. This matter couldn't be rushed; it required careful consideration. The most important thing now was to settle things at home and discuss it further once Jingxu arrived.

The next day, Chen Yu went to the steel rolling mill to return to work after his leave.

In the production department office, Liu Yuhua saw him and said with a smile, "Chen Yu, congratulations! I heard you moved to a new place?"

"Thank you, Sister Liu. It's just a small house, I've tidied it up simply."

"That's great too." Liu Yuhua lowered her voice. "You know, the factory is selecting a group of young cadres to study in the Soviet Union, and our department has two spots. Director Li asked me to ask you if you're interested."

Go to the Soviet Union to study? Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. Although Sino-Soviet relations were tense in the 1960s, technological exchanges had not completely ceased. Being able to learn advanced technology in the Soviet Union would be very helpful for personal development.

"When?"

"Next spring, you'll study for a year. You'll need to know Russian and pass a political background check," Liu Yuhua said. "I think you're a good candidate; we can consider it."

Chen Yu thought for a moment: "I'll think about it some more and discuss it with my family."

"Of course."

At lunchtime in the canteen, Chen Yu encountered Zhou Xiaomei's husband—a young man in his late twenties, wearing a military uniform with the epaulettes of a second lieutenant. He approached him and said, "Are you Comrade Chen Yu? I am Zhou Xiaomei's husband, Yang Jianguo."

"Comrade Yang, hello." Chen Yu shook hands with him.

"Xiaomei often mentions you, saying you're a skilled technician in the factory," Yang Jianguo said with a hearty smile. "I also work in the military industry, so we're practically colleagues. Let's exchange ideas more often in the future."

"must."

They chatted for a few minutes before Yang Jianguo hurriedly left, saying he had a meeting that afternoon. Chen Yu watched his departing figure, a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a feeling of mixed emotions, including regret and sadness) welling up. Zhou Xiaomei had found a good home; that was good.

After getting off work in the afternoon, Chen Yu had just reached the entrance of the courtyard house when he saw a familiar figure standing outside.

Wearing a gray Taoist robe and carrying a green bamboo sword, with a thin face but bright eyes, he was none other than Taoist Jingxu!

"Taoist Master!" Chen Yu stepped forward quickly.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, how have you been?" Jingxu smiled. "I arrived in the capital today and came here according to the address, but I didn't expect you to have moved to a new place."

"Please come in!"

Chen Yu led Jingxu into the courtyard. Several neighbors in the courtyard were curious when they saw the Taoist priest, but they didn't ask any questions—in this era, Taoist priests and monks occasionally appeared.

Upon entering the house, Qin Huairu was soothing the child. Seeing Jingxu, she paused for a moment, but quickly recovered, saying, "Please sit down, Daoist Master. I'll go make some tea."

"Thank you for your help, female benefactor."

Jingxu sat down and looked around the house: "Fellow Daoist Chen's new home is quite nice, the atmosphere is peaceful."

"How is the Taoist priest's injury?"

"I'm 90% recovered and have no more problems." Jingxu took out a letter from his bosom. "This is from Master Cihang, who asked me to deliver it."

Chen Yu took the letter and opened it. The letter was very brief:

"Benefactor Chen: The Guanghan Palace has taken Miss Su Man away; she is safe and sound. The Heavenly Dao Alliance's influence in Hong Kong has been thwarted, and they will not be heading north in the short term. However, the matter of the Seven Star Key has already spread throughout the cultivation world; please be cautious. Cihang."

Sure enough, the news spread. Chen Yu burned the letter and looked at Jingxu: "Daoist Master, I obtained a book in Liulichang. Please take a look."

He handed the "Miscellaneous Records of Xuanzhen" to Jingxu.

Jingxu took the book and carefully perused it. The more he read, the more solemn his expression became. After finishing the last page, he sighed, "So that's how it is... so the Patriarch hid the jade slip at the top of the tower. Fellow Daoist Chen, this book is extremely important!"

"Does the Taoist priest know which temple it is?"

"The handwriting is blurry and illegible." Jingxu shook his head. "But '...top of the pagoda' could refer to 'Miaoying Temple,' 'Tianning Temple,' or 'Fayuan Temple'... There are many ancient temples with pagodas in Beijing, so we need to check them one by one."

"What exactly is inside that jade slip?"

"I don't know," Jingxu said, "but since the patriarch attaches such importance to it, it must be something extraordinary. Moreover, the fact that it requires the Seven Star Key and a full moon to open indicates that there is a restriction."

As the two were talking, Qin Huairu brought in tea. She glanced at Jingxu, then hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but didn't.

"Huai Ru, this is Master Jingxu, my friend," Chen Yu introduced. "Master, this is my wife, Qin Huai Ru."

"Greetings, Benefactor Qin." Jingxu rose and bowed.

"Please sit down, Daoist Master." Qin Huairu put down her teacup, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I heard everything you were saying just now. Although I don't quite understand, it seems... very dangerous, doesn't it?"

Chen Yu and Jing Xu exchanged a glance.

"Huai Ru, about this..."

"You don't need to explain," Qin Huairu interrupted him. "I know you're no ordinary person. I knew that from your ability to concoct those miraculous medicines and your safe return from Hong Kong. I won't ask you anything else; I'll only ask you one question: Was this dangerous?"

Chen Yu was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Dangerous."

"So, will you be able to protect yourself?"

"I can."

"That's good." Qin Huairu looked at him. "The children and I are waiting for you at home. Do whatever you need to do. But you must come back safely."

A warm feeling welled up in Chen Yu's heart, and he took her hand: "I promise you."

Jingxu watched from the side, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes.

That night, Jingxu stayed temporarily in Chen Yu's living room. Chen Yu laid out a makeshift bed for him on the floor; although it was simple, the Taoist priest didn't mind.

Before going to sleep, Jingxu said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, starting tomorrow, I will go to investigate those ancient temples. You should focus on your work and take care of the family. I will let you know when I have any news."

"Thank you for your trouble, Taoist priest."

Chen Yu returned to the bedroom. Qin Huairu was already asleep, and little Chen An was also sleeping soundly. He gently lay down, looking at his wife and child, and silently vowed in his heart: no matter how dangerous the road ahead, he must protect this family.

Outside the window, the courtyard was quiet at night.

But Chen Yu knew that beneath this calm, a new storm was brewing.

The secret of the Seven Star Key, the jade slip from the ancient temple, the undercurrents in the cultivation world...

He was already caught in the middle of it all.