He Yuyang: The tough eldest brother of the courtyard house

The wind at the beginning of the twelfth lunar month felt like it was carrying ice shards, cutting painfully into the skin. The water vats in the courtyard were frozen solid, requiring a pickaxe to break them open to get water. Long, crystal-clear icicles hung from the eaves, beautiful to look at, but also exuding a biting chill.

Liu Yan sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), sewing shoe soles. Sunlight streamed through the newly papered window, casting a soft glow on her face. She looked up, breathed into the window, and watched the white vapor slowly dissipate. She couldn't help but touch her cheek—lately, her face felt moisturized, unlike the dry, flaky skin of previous winters. Even the fine lines around her eyes seemed to have faded a bit.

"Mom, have some water." He Yuyang walked in carrying a bowl of warm water, with wisps of steam rising from the rim, the temperature just right.

For the past two weeks, he has secretly added a small half cup of spiritual spring water to the water he pours for his mother every day. The effects of the spiritual spring water are subtle and gradual. At first, Liu Yan coughed less at night, then she was able to sleep through the night, and now, not only is her complexion much rosier, but she also speaks with more confidence and doesn't get tired as easily as before when she does chores.

Liu Yan took the bowl, took a big gulp, and felt the warm water slide down her throat, making her feel comforted. She smiled at He Yuyang, "Why does this water taste so sweet? It's softer than the well water."

"Maybe it's because Mom is feeling comfortable that everything tastes sweet." He Yuyang helped move the sewing basket on the kang table to the side, and said casually, "Third Uncle said that drinking more water is good for you, it can reduce internal heat. Mom, look at you now, your cough is almost gone, and you have much more energy than before."

Liu Yan put down her bowl and touched her chest. Indeed, her cough, which used to be a constant companion every winter, hadn't flared up much lately. She attributed it to the relatively warm weather or her husband's constant efforts to get her medicine, and didn't think anything of it. She simply smiled and nodded, "Yes, it's all thanks to your thoughtful father. Last time he even went to the pharmacy to buy me loquat syrup, saying it would soothe my throat."

"Dad loves Mom the most," He Yuyang replied smoothly, a smile in his eyes. He knew that his mother cherished his father's kindness the most, and using his father as a pretext would be the least likely to arouse suspicion.

Just then, He Yuzhu ran in from outside, holding up an ice shard. His little face was red from the cold, and beads of sweat hung on the tip of his nose. "Mom! Brother! Look at the ice shard I picked up, doesn't it look like crystal!"

"Throw it away quickly, your hands are all red from the cold." Liu Yan scolded, getting up to get a towel to wipe her youngest son's hands. "Be careful not to let them get cold, or you'll get a stomachache again."

Looking at the glistening ice crystal in her younger brother's hand, He Yuyang suddenly remembered the spiritual spring in her spatial dimension. That spring maintained a constant temperature year-round; no matter how cold it was outside, the water always carried a warm glow, bubbling and nourishing every plant and tree within. The vegetables in her spatial dimension grew lush and green, so tender they seemed to burst with juice, the most eye-catching color in this cold winter.

These days, he would always take advantage of the time he went to the market to buy groceries for his mother to secretly take some greens from his spatial storage and mix them with the vegetables he bought to bring home. The greens in his spatial storage were nourished by the spiritual spring water, and they tasted exceptionally sweet. Liu Yan would always praise how fresh the vegetables were, but she never doubted their origin—after all, there weren't many greens available in winter, and they all looked wilted. The ones He Yuyang mixed in were just slightly more vibrant than the ordinary ones and were not particularly noticeable.

"Mom, shall we stir-fry cabbage for lunch today?" He Yuyang suggested. "I went to the market with my third aunt yesterday and saw some fresh cabbage. It looked quite tender, so I bought one."

As he spoke, he took a cabbage from the vegetable basket in the corner. The outer leaves of the cabbage were slightly wilted and yellowish, indicating that it was genuinely bought from the market, while the heart inside was something he had taken from his spatial storage that morning; the leaves were emerald green and plump, exuding a fresh and vibrant energy.

"Sure, I'll cut some more glass noodles and stew a pot of it to warm you up," Liu Yan replied with a smile, picking up a cabbage and starting to peel off the outer leaves. When she saw the tender heart inside, she was stunned. "How come this cabbage heart is so good? It looks like a spring vegetable."

"Maybe they've stored it well," He Yuyang said casually while helping to tend the fire. "My third aunt said that eating more vegetables is good for your health, especially for you, Mom. You should eat more fresh vegetables to get more vitamins."

"What are vitamins?" Liu Yan asked curiously, having never heard of the term before.

"It's... it's the good stuff in the vegetables, eating it can keep you healthy," He Yuyang explained vaguely, not wanting to tell his mother that it was a nutritional term from later generations.

Liu Yan was amused by him: "You silly child, where did you learn these new words from? Okay, Mom will eat more and try to get better soon so I can help your dad with some of the burden."

The cabbage and glass noodle stew for lunch tasted especially sweet because of the bok choy from the space. He Yuzhu held the bowl, drinking every last drop of the broth, muttering, "Today's food is so delicious, even better than the stew from Aunt Jia's last time!"

Liu Yan also ate quite a bit. Seeing her two sons eating so heartily, she felt a warm glow in her heart. She felt that although life was hard, there was hope in every aspect.

In the afternoon, Liu Yan went to the courtyard to hang up the washed clothes. She had just hung the last cotton-padded coat on the line when she saw Yi Zhonghai walking over from the middle courtyard, carrying a copper tobacco pouch. It looked like he was going to the tobacco stall at the entrance of the alley to buy tobacco.

"Uncle Yi," Liu Yan greeted him with a smile.

Yi Zhonghai stopped and looked at Liu Yan's face for a moment, a gentle smile appearing on his face: "Liu Yan, it's been a while since I've seen you properly. How come you look so good? You're glowing, and you look even more energetic than a young girl."

While the words were a compliment, they also carried a hint of inquiry. Yi Zhonghai was a well-known "old fox" in the courtyard; no matter how small the disturbance, it wouldn't escape his notice. Liu Yan used to be sickly, but now she suddenly looked radiant, which inevitably made him ponder more.

Liu Yan was a little embarrassed by the compliment. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and said with a smile, "Uncle Yi, you're joking. I'm busy at home every day, I don't look well. Maybe it's just because the sun is shining today."

"It's not about the sun." Yi Zhonghai shook his pipe, his gaze becoming more inquisitive. "I see you're genuinely healthier; you're walking with a spring in your step. What's up? Did He Daqing buy you some good tonics?"

His question seemed casual, but he was actually probing into the He family's current situation. After all, there were already some rumors in the courtyard about He Daqing regaining favor at the restaurant. If Liu Yan's improved health was due to the family's improved circumstances, then it meant that He Daqing had indeed made money.

Just as Liu Yan was about to say, "I just drank a little too much hot water," He Yuyang's voice suddenly came from the side: "Uncle Yi, my mother's condition is all because my father loves her and saves money to buy her eggs to nourish her."

He Yuyang, holding a rag, was wiping the stone table in the yard when he seemed to overhear their conversation and casually chimed in. With a childlike earnestness, he continued, "My dad said my mom isn't well, so the family's money should be prioritized for her medicine and eggs. It's okay if Zhuzi and I eat less. A few days ago, I overheard dad telling mom that when he gets his wages this month, he'll buy her another old hen to make soup."

These words not only logically explained why Liu Yan's complexion had improved, but also subtly elevated He Daqing's image—that of a loving husband and family man. More importantly, they implied that all the family's money had been spent on Liu Yan's health, leaving nothing extra, and that he should give up any other ideas.

Yi Zhonghai's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal, and he nodded with a smile: "He Daqing really knows how to take care of people. It's only right, it's only right. Women work hard all their lives, they need to be well nourished."

He secretly wondered to himself: Buy eggs? Make chicken soup? He Daqing's wages are barely enough to support his family, where would he get the money to buy these things? Could it be that this child is deliberately telling me this?

But he didn't press the matter further. After all, what He Yuyang said made sense, and he was just a kid. If he were to delve deeper, it would make him, as the elder, seem petty.

"I'll go buy some tobacco first, you guys carry on." Yi Zhonghai waved his hand, turned and walked out, but his steps were faster than when he came, obviously because he hadn't found out the information he wanted and was somewhat disappointed.

Watching Yi Zhonghai's figure disappear into the alleyway, Liu Yan turned to He Yuyang and asked with some confusion, "Yangyang, when did your dad say he was going to buy an old hen? How come I didn't know?"

"I guessed it." He Yuyang leaned closer to her mother and whispered, "Dad loves you so much, he definitely wants to give you something to eat. Besides, you know what Uncle Yi is like, he wants to know about everything that happens in the neighborhood. If I say that, he won't wonder if we have any extra money."

Liu Yan then realized that her son was helping the family cover up their shortcomings. She patted He Yuyang's head, feeling both gratified and wistful: "This child, how can he be so thoughtful?"

"How can I protect Mom and my little brother if I'm not heavy?" He Yuyang looked up, smiling and revealing two little tiger teeth. "When I grow up a bit more, I can earn money to buy Mom lots and lots of eggs so that Mom can stay healthy."

Liu Yan's eyes welled up with tears as she laughed and ruffled his hair: "Okay, Mom will wait."

In the evening, He Daqing returned home from get off work and saw Liu Yan busy at the stove, humming a little tune as she entered the yard. He paused for a moment, then walked over and asked, "Why are you so happy today?"

"How could I not be happy?" Liu Yan turned around and said with a smile, "The cabbage stew I made for lunch, Zhu Zi ate two big bowls, and Yang Yang also said it was delicious. By the way, Grandpa Yi saw me this afternoon and said I looked great."

She repeated He Yuyang's words to He Daqing, and finally exclaimed, "Our Yangyang has really grown up and knows how to think about the family now."

After listening, He Daqing remained silent for a moment, then slapped his thigh heavily: "Good lad! You've got your old man's style! That's how we should be—we don't cause trouble, but we also can't let others scheme against us!"

He went into the inner room, took out an oil paper package from the kang cabinet, opened it, and found several white eggs inside.

"What is this?" Liu Yan asked in surprise.

"It's the restaurant owner's mother's birthday today, and everyone in the kitchen got a few eggs. I couldn't bear to eat them, so I brought them back for you." He Daqing handed the eggs to Liu Yan, his eyes gentle. "Yangyang is right, you need to eat well. I'll cook you some eggs tomorrow."

Looking at the few eggs, and then at her husband's tired yet smiling face, Liu Yan felt a lump in her throat, and tears almost welled up in her eyes. She quickly turned away, wiping her eyes, and said, "It's fine for me and the child to eat, but you need to eat something too. Standing in front of the stove every day must be exhausting."

"I'm strong and healthy, I don't need any supplements." He Daqing waved his hand with a smile, "Only when you're healthy can our family have more hope for the future."

He Yuyang stood at the door, watching his parents smile at each other, and felt a warmth in his heart. The secret of the spiritual spring could not be told, but the benefits it brought were gradually seeping into every corner of this family—his mother's health, his father's thoughtfulness, his younger brother's smiling face, and the sense of security and warmth hidden in their impoverished days.

At night, he entered the space as usual. The spiritual spring water was still bubbling, reflecting the halo above his head and shimmering with fine golden light. The vegetables in the field had grown taller, the herbs in the corner of the wall were also growing well, and even the apple tree he had planted last time had sprouted a few small flower buds.

He walked to the spring, squatted down, and looked at his reflection in the water. It was still the face of an eight-year-old child, but his eyes were much more mature than those of children his age. He knew that the sacred spring was a gift from heaven, and also the source of his confidence in protecting his family, but this confidence had to be hidden in the most secret place, and could not be revealed in the slightest.

Just as my mother's gradually improving health could only be attributed to "eggs" and "medicinal herbs," and just as the occasional improved meals at home could only be explained as "lucky finds" or "a gift from the shopkeeper," in this complex courtyard where people's hearts are intertwined, remaining simple and unassuming is the best way to survive.

As he exited the space, the moonlight streaming through the window was perfect. He Yuyang looked at his parents, fast asleep on the other side of the kang (heated brick bed). His mother's breathing was even and steady, and her usual coughing was gone. He quietly tucked the blanket around his mother, silently vowing in his heart: no matter what the future held, he would protect the secret of the spiritual spring and safeguard this hard-won peace.

The next morning, Liu Yan boiled two eggs and insisted on giving one to He Daqing. He Daqing couldn't refuse, so he took it, but then handed it to He Yuzhu, saying, "Give it to Zhuzi; children need to grow."

He Yuzhu held the egg, looked at his father, then at his mother, and finally put the egg to Liu Yan's mouth: "Mother, eat this, it will be good for your health."

Liu Yan smiled, took a small bite, and stuffed the rest back into her son's hand: "Mother has eaten, Zhuzi, you eat."

Watching this scene, He Yuyang felt a warm feeling filling his heart. He knew that the spiritual spring could nourish the body, but it could not nourish the heart, and the most precious thing in this family was this mutual care and affection.

He went out into the yard, picked up a broom, and began to sweep. The cold wind was still biting, but the sunlight felt warm on his skin. The icicles under the eaves reflected the sunlight in a rainbow of colors, as if foreshadowing that although this winter was cold, it held countless possibilities for warmth.

He will forever protect the secret of the sacred spring. And he will continue to cherish the warmth of this home, little by little, in his own way.