The Time of Old Things in Qingxiang

Freelance writer Lin Zhixia moved into an old bungalow with a small courtyard at No. 12 Qingxiang, Jiangnan, and accidentally discovered an old wooden box hidden in the corner of the yard. The box contains the thread-bound "Compendium of Materia Medica", a silver longevity lock, and a stack of old letters from twenty years ago. The lines are full of tender concern for "A Ming". From the landlord, she learned that the owner of the wooden box was a couple who once lived here. Later, the man died of illness and the woman left for the south and never returned. Lin Zhixia explored the past through old things, boiled loquat leaf water according to the recipes in the "Compendium of Materia Medica", and gave herbal tea to her enthusiastic neighbors - Grandma Zhang who sent corn, Grandpa Wang who taught her how to grow loquats, and Sister Liu of the grocery store who gave her plenty of snacks. In the slow time of Qingxiang, the old stories hidden in the old wooden boxes and the subtle warmth between neighbors gradually healed Lin Zhixia's confusion. In her daily life of taking care of the courtyard and writing diaries, she found the stability and happiness of life, and became the guardian of the old times and the new in Qingxiang.