He Yuyang: The tough eldest brother of the courtyard house

In the early autumn of 1968, the old locust tree in the military compound in Baoding shed a carpet of golden leaves. He Yuyang squatted in front of the cellar in the corner of the yard, carefully counting the supplies he had just transferred from the spiritual spring space—half a carcass of pork, firmly salted; dozens of kilograms of flour packed in coarse cloth bags; and a basket of vegetables covered in morning dew and damp soil. He quickly arranged the items, covered them tightly with straw, and piled some dry firewood at the cellar entrance for concealment. Only then did he dust off his hands and straighten up, a thin layer of sweat beading on his forehead.

"Went to the cellar again?" Xu Xiuli slowly walked out of the house, carrying a basin of freshly washed clothes that exuded a faint fragrance. Sunlight bathed her, as if draping her in a golden veil. When she saw the fine beads of sweat on her husband's forehead, her heart tightened. She quickly stepped forward, handed him the rough but clean cloth, and asked with concern, "The weather is getting cooler, why are you still sweating so much?"

He Yuyang smiled as he took the cloth and gently wiped the sweat from his cheeks and forehead. Then, his deep, warm eyes, like the gentlest spring breeze, softly caressed the beautiful woman before him. He reached out and carefully grasped his wife's slender wrist, feeling the faint pulse throbbing beneath her skin. For some reason, his wife's wrist seemed even more delicate than usual today, yet it possessed a reassuring, healthy pink hue.

"It's a bit stuffy in the cellar, but it's okay," He Yuyang replied softly, his attention shifting to his wife's slightly protruding belly. There, their love's fruit was growing, a new life about to enter the world was thriving. Looking at his wife's increasingly fuller figure, a deep tenderness involuntarily welled up in his eyes, and he softly asked, "How are you feeling today? Is anything bothering you?"

"It's fine, it's just that I keep getting up at night." Xu Xiuli touched her belly, her face showing a hint of reproach. "It's all your fault. You insisted that this baby was a girl, making me hope for it every day, and I can't sleep well."

He Yuyang laughed and put his arm around her shoulder: "I had a feeling about this. Jian Guo, Yuan Chao, and Shou Ye, those three rascals are so mischievous they could lift the roof off. If we add a sweet little girl to the mix, our house will be a bit more peaceful."

That's true. The eldest son, He Jianguo, is twelve years old this year and is already the class monitor of the military children's school. He takes after his father, being calm and sensible. However, he is meticulous in managing his two younger brothers, often scolding Yuanchao until he pouts. The second son, He Yuanchao, is ten years old and has inherited Xu Xiuli's intelligence and wit, but he loves to play with weapons and always chases after the military guards asking, "How do you practice martial arts?" The third son, He Shouye, is eight years old and is a clever little devil. He is very good at coaxing people. Every time he gets into trouble, he can always use a few sweet words to make Liu Yan smile.

These past eight years have been like the old locust tree in the courtyard—it looks unchanged, but its rings are etched with the marks of time and hardship. After the severe drought of 1960, there were several years of shortages. Thanks to the produce from his spiritual spring space, He Yuyang not only ensured his own family's food and clothing but also quietly helped many people. Every few months, he would change into ordinary farmer's clothes, pack the grain and meat from his space into "supply and marketing cooperative surplus goods," and sell them to people in the surrounding county markets at the lowest prices, sometimes even giving them away for free.

"I went to a market in Shijiazhuang a while ago and met an old lady whose grandson was crying from hunger," He Yuyang said softly. "I gave her half a bag of cornmeal at cost price, and she insisted on kowtowing to me, which made my heart ache."

Xu Xiuli sighed, "Things have been a little better these past few years than before, but ordinary families are still struggling. You always push the price down so low; it's not easy to save money."

"Enough money is enough." He Yuyang smiled. "I used the money I earned to buy three small courtyard houses in Beijing, and they're all registered in my three sons' names. That way, they'll have a place to stay when they go to Beijing in the future."

Xu Xiuli knew he was reliable, so she didn't ask any more questions. She only reminded him, "Next time you disguise yourself, remember to make your eyebrows thicker. Last time you went to Baoding County, Aunt Wang, who sells meat, said, 'That young man selling grain looks kind, but his eyebrows are too light. He doesn't look like a farmer.'"

As the couple were talking, a commotion erupted from inside the house, mixed with He Shouye's screams. He Yuyang rushed inside and saw He Shouye being pinned down on the kang by He Jianguo, his little face still smeared with ink. He Yuanchao was holding up a piece of paper covered in doodles, laughing so hard he couldn't straighten up. "What's going on?" He Yuyang asked in a low voice.

"Dad! Shouye has smudged my homework!" He Jianguo let go of his hand, pointed at the crooked little figure on the paper, and was so angry that his face turned red.

He Shouye climbed off the kang (a heated brick bed), rubbing his arms and muttering, "Who told you not to tell me a story? I'll draw a big tiger to scare you!"

He Yuyang picked up the workbook and saw that the arithmetic problems were all scribbled over. He shook his head helplessly: "Jianguo, your younger brother is being unreasonable, so please be lenient with him. Shouye, go apologize to your older brother and wipe the ink clean."

He Shouye pouted and walked slowly to He Jianguo, saying, "Brother, I'm sorry." He Jianguo snorted and turned his face away, but the corners of his mouth secretly curled up.

Xu Xiuli brought in water, and looking at her three sons making a ruckus, her eyes were full of smiles: "Alright, alright, Jianguo, go do your homework, Yuanchao, go practice your boxing, and Shouye, come with me to the kitchen to help me pick vegetables."

Once the room was quiet, He Yuyang remembered something and took out a small cloth bag from his pocket. Inside was a piece of white jade pendant carved with a small daylily flower. "It's for my daughter," he said, scratching his head sheepishly. "I found it in Liulichang when I went to Beijing for a meeting last time. They said it was Hetian jade, but I don't know much about it. I just bought it because it looked nice."

Xu Xiuli picked up the jade pendant; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, and the daylily pattern was delicately carved. She held it to her nose and smelled it, smiling as she said, "It even has a hint of pine scent; it must be newly carved. But I like it. I'll make sure my daughter wears it when she grows up; I guarantee she'll look beautiful."

Days passed peacefully, and Xu Xiuli's belly grew bigger day by day. He Yuyang became increasingly careful, making her a cup of warm milk with spiritual spring water every morning and a bowl of millet porridge mixed with spiritual spring water before bed every night. He had also prepared the baby's blankets and clothes three months in advance, using fine cotton fabric produced in the space, as soft as clouds, which Xu Xiuli sewed with fine needles and dense thread, the stitches filled with embroidery.

That evening, Xu Xiuli was sewing lace trim on a baby's clothes when she suddenly cried out, "Ouch!" and clutched her stomach. He Yuyang, who was teaching He Yuanchao horse stance in the yard, heard the commotion and rushed in: "What's wrong? Are you going into labor?"

"It seems... my stomach feels a little heavy." Xu Xiuli's face turned pale, and her breathing became rapid.

He Yuyang's heart tightened, but he forced himself to calm down—he had already contacted Dr. Zhang at the military hospital, telling him that his wife's due date was in the next few days. "Don't panic, I'll go call a car." He turned and ran out, then turned back to tell his three sons, "Watch the house, Dad's taking Mom to the hospital, I'll be right back."

The jeep sped through the night. He Yuyang held Xu Xiuli's hand tightly, feeling it tremble slightly. "Don't be afraid, I'm here," he comforted her softly. "Dr. Zhang said you're in good health, everything will definitely go smoothly."

Xu Xiuli nodded, biting her lip without speaking, cold sweat already beading on her forehead. She knew that childbirth was a life-or-death ordeal for women these days, especially in times of scarcity when resources were scarce. Many families lost both mother and child due to lack of medical care and medicine. If He Yuyang hadn't used the spiritual spring water to strengthen her body, she too would have been terrified.

When they arrived at the hospital, Dr. Zhang was already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing them, she quickly came forward and said, "Hurry into the delivery room, your cervix is ​​already dilated to two centimeters."

He Yuyang wanted to follow them in, but the nurse stopped him outside. The moment the delivery room door closed, his heart leaped into his throat. He paced back and forth in the corridor, his ear pressed tightly against the door, afraid of missing any sound from inside. He Jianguo arrived with his two younger brothers. The three boys stood obediently in the corner, not daring to breathe.

After an unknown amount of time, a clear cry suddenly rang out from the delivery room. It wasn't as loud as the cries of Jian Guo and the others when they were young, but it was like the first song of a nightingale, crisp and clear, instantly striking their hearts. He Yuyang stopped abruptly, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.

A little while later, Dr. Zhang came out of the room, smiling, and said, "Congratulations! It's a baby girl, weighing six pounds and two ounces. Mother and baby are both safe and sound!"

When He Yuyang rushed into the delivery room, Xu Xiuli was leaning against the headboard, her face still a little pale, but her eyes were shining. She was holding a bright red little one in her arms, wrapped in the fine cotton swaddle he had prepared. "Look at her, how tiny she is," Xu Xiuli said weakly, but with a smile in her voice.

He Yuyang leaned closer and saw the little one with her eyes closed, her little mouth still smacking, her little fists clenched tightly, and her fingernails pink. He carefully reached out a finger and touched her cheek, which was as soft as a marshmallow. "So sweet..." he choked up, unable to say anything else.

"Have you decided on a name yet?" Xu Xiuli asked softly.

Looking at her daughter's little face, He Yuyang recalled the daylily jade pendant and said softly, "Let's name her Xiaoxuan, He Xiaoxuan. Xiao means dawn, and Xuan means daylily. I hope she grows up happily like the morning flower."

"He Xiaoxuan..." Xu Xiuli murmured softly, kissing her daughter's forehead. "A good name."

When news of Xiaoxuan's birth reached Beijing, the first person to react was He Yushui. She was now a middle school teacher, married to another teacher, and living a stable life. Upon receiving the telegram from He Yuyang, she knitted a pink sweater for her little niece overnight, with fine stitches and an embroidered little rabbit.

The letter read: "Brother, I was preparing for class when I received the telegram. I jumped up immediately, and my colleagues all laughed at me. Mother is in good health. She still goes to the park to practice Tai Chi every morning. When she heard that Xiaoxuan was born, she insisted that I pass on a message to her, saying that when you have time to bring the child back to Beijing, she wants to make tiger-head shoes for Xiaoxuan herself. Second brother and sister-in-law are also doing well. Their son Jianye is already seven years old and says he wants to be good friends with Xiaoxuan."

He Yuyang read the letter to Xu Xiuli, whose eyes reddened as she listened: "Mother is really something, at her age, she's still making tiger-head shoes."

"If Mom is willing, then let her do it," He Yuyang said with a smile. "When Xiaoxuan turns one month old, we'll go back to Beijing and let her see her granddaughter."

Xiaoxuan was an easy child to take care of, unlike her three older brothers who cried and fussed when they were little. She would eat her fill and then sleep, and when she woke up, she would open her bright, dark eyes and look around. She would smile no matter who held her. When He Jianguo came home from school, the first thing he did was to go see his sister and gently touch her little hand with his finger. He Yuanchao placed his most treasured wooden toy gun next to his sister's cradle and said, "I will protect my sister from now on." He Shouye was the most clever; he would take a rattle drum and rock it next to the cradle, making Xiaoxuan giggle.

That day, He Yuyang was changing Xiaoxuan's diaper when he suddenly heard He Jianguo shouting from the yard, "Dad! Second Uncle sent something!"

He carried Xiaoxuan outside, where he saw He Jianguo holding a large package with He Yuzhu's handwriting written on it in a flamboyant style. Upon opening it, he found two jin of brown sugar, a packet of milk powder, and a small cotton-padded jacket made by Qin Huairu, with neat stitches and a fluffy edge.

"My second uncle said in his letter that he asked someone to get the milk powder from Shanghai so that my aunt could have some to help her recover," He Jianguo read the letter. "He also said that when we go back to Beijing for the New Year, he will buy Xiaoxuan candied hawthorns."

Xu Xiuli picked up the little cotton-padded jacket, touched the fluffy fabric, and said with a smile, "Your brother and sister-in-law are always so thoughtful."

Looking at the contents of the package, He Yuyang felt a warm glow in his heart. Although he and He Yuzhu had lived far apart over the years, their brotherly bond hadn't faded at all. He Yuzhu, now the canteen manager at the steel mill, had some advantages and always found ways to send them things; Qin Huairu, gentle by nature, managed the household impeccably and was especially filial to Liu Yan, treating her even better than her own daughter.

At night, after lulling the three boys to sleep, He Yuyang sat by the cradle, gazing at Xiaoxuan's sleeping face. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a silvery glow on her cheeks. Xu Xiuli leaned on his shoulder and whispered, "Who do you think Xiaoxuan will look like when she grows up?"

"Just like you, definitely like you." He Yuyang squeezed her hand. "Gentle, kind, and thoughtful."

"I wish she were like you, responsible and capable," Xu Xiuli smiled. "In this world, girls also need to be capable to avoid being bullied."

He Yuyang didn't speak, but he made up his mind to raise Xiaoxuan into a girl who was both gentle and resilient. He would teach her to read and write, to distinguish right from wrong, and to never forget the kindness and courage in her heart no matter what difficulties she encountered.

The production from the spiritual spring space continued, with a steady stream of grains, meat, and vegetables every day. This was not only enough for their own consumption but also allowed them to quietly help those in need. He Yuyang knew he would keep this secret for the rest of his life, just as he would protect this home and the children's innocent smiles.

The old locust tree outside the window rustled, like humming an ancient ballad. He Yuyang looked down at Xiaoxuan; she smacked her lips, turned over, and rested her little arm on her face. He gently placed her arm back down, a sense of peace settling over him.

From 1955 to 1968, those years were like a river, with its turbulent rapids and calm shallows. He and Xu Xiuli walked through it hand in hand, raising their three sons, and now welcoming their beloved little daughter. The road ahead is long, and there may be storms, but as long as the family is together, holding onto this stability and the warmth in their hearts, there is no obstacle they cannot overcome.

He recalled the name he had given Xiaoxuan: "Xiao" means dawn, and "Xuan" means daylily. Dawn always dispels darkness, and daylilies always bring warmth, just like his little daughter, born in early autumn, who embodies hope itself.

He Yuyang leaned down and gently kissed Xiaoxuan's forehead. Goodnight, my little Xiaoxuan. Goodnight, this peaceful day.