It took three whole rows to fit everyone in.

The photographer stood in front, holding the camera, and shouted, "Everyone look at the camera! Smile! One, two, three!"

With a click, this group photo was later published in the city newspaper, with the headline: "Leaders from city, county, town, and village warmly visit the parents of Nobel Prize winner Yang Ping."

After taking the photo, Vice Mayor Li held Yang Deming’s hand and sat down on the bamboo chair in the courtyard.

"Mr. Yang, your son, Yang Ping, has made a great contribution to the country, which is the pride of all our city residents. If you have any difficulties, just let us know. Any requests, just ask. We will do our best to solve them."

Yang Deming thought for a moment and said, "Thank you, Mayor Li, for your concern. There are no difficulties, really. The country’s development is so good now, and the people are living well, everything is fine, except..."

He paused and looked at Vice Mayor Li.

Vice Mayor Li quickly asked, "Mr. Yang, go ahead, no problem."

Yang Deming said, "It’s just the elderly in the village who still find it inconvenient to see a doctor. I still have these old bones that can keep going for a few more years. But once I can’t run around anymore, what about them? Please, Mayor Li, help us..."

Vice Mayor Li listened attentively, nodded, and turned to Director Zhao of the Health Bureau behind him, saying, "You need to look into this issue. The village medical team needs to be built up and given importance. Especially for the elderly in remote areas, they need to be able to access and afford medical care."

Director Zhao hurriedly nodded, "Yes, yes, yes, we will definitely research and come up with a plan as soon as possible."

Liu Huifang on the side served tea to the guests, brewed from tea leaves picked from their mountain. She carried the tea tray and handed out cups one by one, saying, "Have some tea, sun-dried from our own home."

Director Zhang from the County Government Office took a cup, sipped it, and his eyes lit up, "Auntie, this tea is so good! Fragrant and sweet, better than store-bought tea."

Liu Huifang smiled and said, "If you like it, drink more. No pesticides, no fertilizers, naturally green."

Director Zhang said, "Auntie, you have a really good mindset; with so many leaders visiting, you’re not nervous at all."

Liu Huifang laughed, "What’s there to be nervous about? They’re all guests. When guests come, it’s only right to serve tea and entertain."

Over there, Yang Deming continued chatting with Vice Mayor Li.

Vice Mayor Li asked, "Mr. Yang, how many years have you been a village doctor?"

Yang Deming said, "Forty years."

Vice Mayor Li exclaimed, "Forty years! What’s your age this year?"

Yang Deming said, "Seventy."

Vice Mayor Li sighed, "Forty years like a day, rooted in the grassroots, serving the community, Mr. Yang, you are the true unsung hero."

Yang Deming waved his hand, "Not a hero, just someone in the profession. When people in the village have headaches or fevers, someone has to take a look."

Vice Mayor Li nodded and asked, "You must have put a lot of effort into nurturing Professor Yang?"

Yang Deming thought for a moment and smiled lightly.

"He, ah, he was introverted as a child, not fond of talking, just liked reading. We didn’t have time to mind him, just let him be. Later, he got into university. Actually, we didn’t really nurture him; it was the country that did."

At this moment, there was another commotion outside, another vehicle arrived.

It was a van with the words "Provincial TV Station" printed on its body. The doors opened, and reporters with cameras, and a host with a microphone, stepped out.

County Magistrate Zhou quickly welcomed them, "Ah, the provincial reporters are here too! Welcome, welcome!"

The host smiled and said, "County Magistrate Zhou, we’re here specifically to interview Professor Yang’s parents. Can you arrange this for us?"

County Magistrate Zhou nodded repeatedly, "Of course, of course, this way please."

Thus, Yang Deming and Liu Huifang were again pulled into the courtyard for an interview with the Provincial TV Station.

The host handed the microphone to Yang Deming, "Mr. Yang, may I ask how you feel about your son winning the Nobel Prize?"

Yang Deming thought for a moment and said, "Feeling... just happy. If he’s happy, I’m happy."

The host asked, "What do you think led to Yang Ping’s success?"

Yang Deming said, "This... I don’t know either, mainly the country’s nurturing."

The host pressed further, "Do you have any expectations for him?"

Yang Deming said, "Expectations... to eat well and not stay up late..."

The host paused for a moment, then laughed.

She turned the microphone to Liu Huifang, "Auntie, how about you? Is there anything you want to say to your son?"

Liu Huifang thought and said, "Tell him not to overwork and take care of his health."

After the interview ended, Vice Mayor Li proposed to take a walk around the village.

So, a large group of people surged out of the courtyard, walking towards the village along the freshly tarred road.

Yang Deming initially didn’t want to go, but County Magistrate Zhou said, "Mr. Yang, you are the main character, you must accompany us."

He had to follow.

Along the way, Vice Mayor Li nodded frequently, "This road is well-built! These osmanthus trees are well-planted! This village has potential for development!"

County Magistrate Zhou chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes, we plan to develop Yang Family Village into ’Academician Village,’ develop rural tourism, and drive villagers to prosperity. This part of the mountain can be turned into a tea base."

Vice Mayor Li said, "Great! This is a good plan! It needs to be implemented promptly!"

Old Wu, the village party secretary, followed behind, listening with delight.

In the following days, Yang Family Village was as lively as a market.

Every day, strangers entered the village, some in cars, some by bus, all with the same destination: Yang Ping’s home.

In front of the white walls and black tiles of the southern courtyard, there were people taking pictures every day. Some posed with scissors at the black wooden door, leaned against the courtyard walls to take selfies, or even peeked through the door cracks, wanting to see what the parents of the Nobel Prize winner were doing at home.

At first, Liu Huifang found it uncomfortable, but later realized these people were just taking pictures, and gradually got used to it.

Sometimes she would be picking vegetables in the courtyard, and people were taking pictures at the door. She would look up and smile at them before resuming her picking.

Sometimes she would be hanging clothes, and people at the door would shout, "Auntie! Look this way!" She would turn around for them to take a picture, then continue hanging her clothes.

One time, a young girl stood at the door, timidly asking, "Auntie, can I come inside and take a look? Just for a moment."

Liu Huifang saw she looked friendly and beckoned her, "Come on in."

The girl was so excited she almost jumped up and cautiously walked into the courtyard, looking around constantly and exclaiming, "So beautiful! This is the legendary courtyard! Auntie, you’re so fortunate!"

Liu Huifang smiled and said, "Fortunate, fortunate. Have a seat, would you like a cup of tea?"

The girl waved her hand, "No, no, I just wanted to look. After looking, I’ll leave."

She took over a dozen photos, satisfied, before leaving. As she left, she bowed to Liu Huifang, "Thank you, Auntie!"

Yang Deming didn’t care much. He continued to ride his tricycle motorbike daily, going out to see patients. When a crowd blocked the door, he would honk, and people automatically made way for him. He rode through with a rumble, not looking back.

Once, a tourist from out of town stopped him and asked, "Old man, are you Professor Yang’s father?"

Yang Deming nodded.

The tourist’s eyes lit up, "Can I take a picture with you?"

Yang Deming said, "Sure."

The tourist handed his phone to a companion, stood beside Yang Deming, and took a picture with a click. After taking the photo, he asked, "Old man, how do you feel about your son winning the Nobel Prize?"

Yang Deming thought and said, "Feeling... pretty good. If he’s happy, I’m happy."

The tourist asked again, "Is there anything you want to say to him?"

Yang Deming said, "I do, tell him to eat well and not stay up late."

After saying this, he rode his motorbike away with a rumble.

The tourist stood dumbfounded, unable to snap out of it for quite a while.

One day, he even saw people setting up stalls at his doorstep, selling bottled water, ice cream, and grilled sausages. The stall owner was from the same village and greeted Yang Deming warmly as he came out, "Doctor Yang! Want a grilled sausage? On me!"

Yang Deming waved his hand, "No need, no need, you do your thing."

The elderly couple is wide-hearted and hospitable. They welcome everyone and do not insist on anyone staying.

Later, the villagers also benefited from this. Some opened family inns, some sold local specialties, and some set up small stalls at the village entrance selling water and snacks. With more tourists, business improved, and everyone’s pockets grew fuller.

One day, Old Wu, the village party secretary, came to find Yang Deming, saying, "Brother Dehou, our village is now famous, all thanks to Yang Ping. You see, Boss Huang and Boss Cheng not only helped build schools, and repair roads and bridges, but they also plan to invest in a tea base on a piece of land, inviting professors from the agricultural institute to investigate. They say there’s one variety very suitable here. The two bosses said they’ll invest and all the profits will belong to the village. Ah, we’re so grateful to Yang Ping, always keeping the villagers in mind. The village discussed a bit and wants to set up a big sign at the village entrance, saying ’Hometown of Nobel Prize winner Yang Ping,’ what do you think?"

Yang Deming thought about it, "If it’s good for the village, set it up!"