This is a story set amid the bustle of everyday life.
Chen Yan runs a small food therapy clinic on an old city street.
A pot of soup and a table of food seem like nothing more than a way to make a living, yet they gradually become turning points in many people's lives.
Some find their emotions settling here and regain their footing at work;
Some learn how to get along with their children and mend family relationships;
Some come to understand their bodies and themselves anew, and see the world in a fresh light.
The story offers practical knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, health care, and dietary therapy,
as well as accessible methods for tai chi, qigong, and physical training.
It also shares insights drawn from the I Ching, the Classic of Mountains and Seas, archaeology, and antiques appraisal,
along with lessons about career choices, relationships, emotional well-being, and navigating life's decisions.
No cultivation of immortality, no detached fantasy, and no mystification of traditional culture.
All the knowledge comes from real life;
all the growth happens amid the everyday chores of life.
This is a novel,
and also a guide for ordinary people:
a manual for living and a reference for personal growth.
Amid the bustle of everyday life,
first find your own footing,
then go farther down the road.
