Li Yuan—now truly Li Qingshan in all aspects of daily life—woke up to a knock on the door. The sun had just risen, and he was sitting in the backyard enjoying the morning tea he had brewed with water from the well.
"Qingshan xiong? Li Qingshan xiong?"
It was a middle-aged woman's voice, friendly but a little hesitant. Li Yuan got up and walked to the front door, opening it to find a woman with a woven bamboo basket full of vegetables in her hand.
"Good morning," the woman smiled, bowing politely. "I'm Lin Sao. I live in the house next door." She pointed to the simple wooden house on the right. "My husband said we have a new neighbor."
"Ah, good morning, Lin sao." Li Yuan bowed deeply. "I'm Li Qingshan. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I just got back from the morning market," Lin Sao lifted her basket. "The fresh vegetables today were very good. Would you like me to bring you some? For our new neighbor."
Li Yuan felt warmth from the simple, kind gesture. "Ah, no need to trouble yourself, Lin Sao..."
"It's no trouble at all! Besides, this water spinach is a bit much. My family won't be able to finish it all."
Lin Sao took out a bunch of fresh water spinach from her basket and handed it to Li Yuan. "Later, if you need salt or spices, don't hesitate to come over. We're neighbors, we have to help each other."
"Thank you very much, Lin Sao. That's very kind of you."
"You're welcome. Oh, in the afternoon, the neighbors on this alley usually gather at Mr. Chen's yard to chat and drink tea. Mr. Chen is the one with the big house at the end of the alley. If you'd like, please join us."
After Lin Sao left, Li Yuan stood at the doorway holding the fresh water spinach. There was something touching about the simple interaction. Not because of spiritual resonance or the effect of understanding, but because of pure human kindness.
That afternoon, as Li Yuan was cleaning the backyard, he heard the sound of a hammer from the house on the left. Curious, he peeked through the low bamboo fence separating the two yards.
A man in his fifties was repairing a wooden bench with a broken leg. His movements were skilled like an experienced carpenter, but he seemed to be struggling a bit to hold the wood while hammering.
"Need help, Chen xiong?" Li Yuan asked from behind the fence.
The man turned and smiled. "Ah, the new neighbor! I'm Chen Wei, the carpenter on this alley. Not the Chen Daming who owns this house, but we happen to share the same family name."
"Li Qingshan." Li Yuan bowed. "It looks like Chen xiong needs someone to hold the wood."
"If you don't mind, that would be a great help."
Li Yuan lightly jumped over the low fence—an effect of his active Understanding of Body—and helped hold the bench while Chen Wei hammered the new leg in place.
"Are you still an active carpenter?" Li Yuan asked, observing Chen Wei's skill.
"I'm old, but my hands can still work. Now I only make small furniture for neighbors who need it." Chen Wei finished the last nail. "There, it's strong again. Thank you, Qingshan xiong."
"You're welcome. It's a very good bench."
"This is actually for Lin Sao. The bench in front of her house was rotted by termites. Instead of her buying a new expensive one, it's better if I make her one."
Li Yuan smiled. A small community that helped each other. "Chen xiong often makes furniture for neighbors?"
"Once in a while. If something is broken or needed. Besides, there's a lot of old wood in the back shed. Might as well put it to use." Chen Wei dusted off his hands to clean the sawdust. "What about you, Qingshan xiong? What's your skill?"
"I don't have a permanent job yet. I just arrived in Hexin yesterday."
"Oh, if you want, I can ask some merchants. Maybe someone needs help carrying things or something else."
"That would be a great help."
Chen Wei looked at him for a moment. "Qingshan xiong... you have a very calm demeanor. Like a scholar who has read many books."
Li Yuan smiled faintly. If only Chen Wei knew how many "books of life" he had read. "Maybe it's because I've been wandering for quite a while before deciding to settle down."
"Ah, that makes sense. Wanderers are usually wiser than people who only stay in one place."
In the afternoon, as Lin Sao promised, Li Yuan walked to the end of the alley toward Chen Daming's house. In the spacious front yard, about six or seven people of various ages were gathered, sitting on bamboo mats and wooden benches, drinking tea from clay cups.
"Qingshan xiong!" Lin Sao waved her hand. "Over here, over here!"
Li Yuan joined the small circle. Besides Lin Sao and the Chen Wei he already knew, there was also Chen Daming the landlord, an old grandmother named Zhou Popo, a young couple with a small baby in their arms, and a young man who seemed shy.
"This is our new neighbor, Li Qingshan," Lin Sao introduced. "Qingshan xiong, this is Chen Daming whom you met yesterday, Zhou Popo who is the most senior on this alley, the young couple Zhao Feng with his wife Liu Mei and their little baby, and Wang Xiao who is learning to be a shoemaker."
Everyone nodded respectfully and welcomed Li Yuan with a sincere smile. There was no suspicion or overly deep questions. Just simple acceptance for a new member of their small community.
"Jasmine tea," Chen Daming offered, pouring tea from a clay pot into an empty cup. "Lin Sao's concoction. She's the most skilled at brewing tea on this alley."
"Ah, Chen Daming is overdoing it with the praise." Lin Sao laughed, but she looked pleased with the compliment.
The conversation flowed naturally—about the weather this season, the price of rice at the market, the little baby who was starting to crawl, shoe orders for Wang Xiao, and plans to work together to fix the potholes on the alley road after the rain.
Li Yuan mostly listened, occasionally offering light comments or questions that showed he was paying attention. He was learning the rhythm of this small alley's life, who did what, who had what difficulties, who had good news.
"Qingshan xiong, once you're settled, you should join our monthly contribution," Zhou Popo invited. "Every family on this alley contributes. The money is collected to help each other if someone needs capital for their business or unexpected expenses."
"Of course, Popo. Thank you for inviting me."
"Good!" Chen Daming clapped his hands. "Now we have eight families. Our collective work will be even stronger."
As the sun began to set and the lanterns were lit, people slowly said their goodbyes to prepare for dinner. Li Yuan got up to take his leave, his heart warm with a feeling that was unfamiliar but pleasant.
The feeling of belonging.
The feeling of being part of something bigger than himself, but on a human and real scale.
"See you tomorrow afternoon," Lin Sao waved. "Don't forget, if you want to cook that water spinach, use garlic and chili. It'll be very delicious."
"Thank you for the tip, Lin Sao."
Li Yuan walked back to his small house, feeling something he had never felt in his three hundred and ten years of life: he was Li Qingshan from Harmony Alley, house number seven, Hexin Town.
He had an address. He had neighbors who knew him by name. He had plans to join the monthly contribution.
Small things that made someone feel human.
Simple things that made life feel meaningful.