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Chen Bali | Notes on Renovating the Courtyard

May 13, 2026. It's 3:30 in the middle of the night. I'm squatting on the toilet without actually using it, just sitting there, scrolling through Jason's article on Moments about his trip to Chiang Mai with Xiao Jing and Xiao Li. I read it with great interest, put out my cigarette, and thought, I want to write something too. Recently, I rented a two-bedroom courtyard in the woods below the Three Pagodas. I'm so excited that I stay up very late every night, my mind full of renovation plans. Living in a standalone courtyard has always been my dream, but with limited funds, I have to do everything myself. A couple of days ago, I laid the wooden flooring, and these past two days I've been leveling the ground, weeding, and clearing new land in the yard. Without experience, I swing a hammer here and use a hoe there, so it's not efficient, but there's some progress each day. Before finishing work, I always sit on the stone slab in the yard, zoning out and admiring my achievements.