Siheyuan: Buyers get rich from hunting

After finishing his meal, Liu Pingan, in a slow, almost ritualistic motion, slowly lay down on the kang, which had been worn by the years but was still warm. His eyes, as if they had lost focus, stared at the mottled ceiling, where every crack and every piece of peeling paint seemed to be silently telling stories of the past. His mind, like the sea surface blown up by the strong wind, was turbulent, and he kept thinking about the urgent and heavy goals in the near future.

The first thing that came to his mind like a huge rock was the debt that weighed on his heart like an invisible mountain and kept him awake at night. To him, this debt was like an insurmountable gap between his dream and reality. Whenever it was late at night, it turned into countless cold hands, tightly strangling his throat, making him feel unprecedented heaviness and suffocation. He deeply understood that if this mountain could not be removed as soon as possible, his life would always be shrouded in this haze, and he would not be able to straighten his back, let alone embrace hope and courage to welcome and open a new chapter of his life that truly belonged to him.

However, reality was like a cold, ruthless, and extremely sharp blade, silently piercing his heart, and every beat was accompanied by severe pain. As the footsteps of winter approached step by step like a silent messenger, Liu Ping'an's inner anxiety and uneasiness grew like weeds, almost swallowing him up. The firewood reserves at home, like dry food gnawed by time, became less and less, far from enough to resist the coming, cold and ruthless winter. He seemed to have foreseen that on that cold winter day, the whole family could only huddle in the corner, shivering, and using each other's body temperature to resist the biting cold.

What worries him even more is that the cotton-padded jackets of his brother, sister-in-law and nephews have become worn out and full of holes and patches due to the erosion of time and excessive use, just like flags pierced by bullets on the battlefield, and can no longer provide them with a trace of warmth. These cotton-padded jackets are like cracks in their lives, reminding Liu Pingan all the time what kind of difficulties and sufferings his family is facing. These problems, like towering peaks, weigh heavily on his heart, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. Every time he tries to break free, it seems like he is fighting a silent battle with fate.

As the night deepened, everything was silent, and the whole world was immersed in tranquility. Only the faint moonlight, like a kind old man, gently sprinkled into the house through the cracks in the window, bringing a rare warmth to this cold night. Liu Ping'an lay quietly on the kang, feeling heavy as if he was pressed by a huge stone, but his thoughts were surging like the tide. He knew that his family was facing unprecedented economic pressure and he had to find a practical way to make money as soon as possible to improve his tight living conditions.

After careful consideration, Liu Ping'an seemed to have found his way out of the fog. He realized that he could no longer procrastinate like this and had to take immediate action to create a future for his family with his own hands. He could not help but recall the scene of chopping wood in the mountains with his father when he was a child. Although they worked hard at that time, every time they returned home with a full harvest, the heartfelt satisfaction and joy still made him feel extremely warm and nostalgic. Now, he decided to pick up this tradition again and earn some extra income by chopping and selling firewood, which can not only alleviate the current difficulties, but also lay a solid foundation for future life.

In addition to solving the urgent need for winter heating, Liu Pingan also considered the warmth needs of his family. He knew that those shabby cotton-padded jackets could no longer meet their needs to withstand the cold winter. Therefore, he secretly made a plan: when he had some extra money, he would go to the town to buy soft and warm fabrics and sew new cotton-padded jackets for his family. Although his needlework skills may not be comparable to those of his clever sister-in-law, he firmly believed that using his own hands to give his family warmth and care was more precious than any exquisite craftsmanship. At the same time, doing so would save a lot of expenses and use limited funds in more urgent and needed places.

Liu Ping'an knows very well that although the road ahead is full of unknowns and challenges, as long as he holds on to hope and moves forward courageously, he will be able to lead his family out of difficulties and usher in a future full of hope and brightness.

As he thought about it, Liu Ping'an's eyelids began to become heavier, as if they were pressed by two invisible boulders. Slowly, slowly, they finally closed completely and he fell into a deep sleep. He was really too tired. He had worked hard all day, from sunrise to sunset. His clothes were soaked with sweat and his hands were covered with thick calluses. In addition, the endless thoughts were like millions of bees buzzing in his mind, disturbing him and making him restless. He was exhausted and didn't even want to move a finger.

However, just as he was about to fall asleep and play chess with Zhou Gong, an idea like the brightest star in the night sky and a sudden lightning in summer suddenly broke through his chaotic thoughts: "Perhaps, I can make full use of the natural resources in our village that are as rich as treasures, and try to develop some side businesses that can make money and make life more enjoyable!" This idea was like a bright light, suddenly lit up in the darkness, illuminating his thoughts and dispelling fatigue and confusion. He seemed to see the dawn of hope, and immediately thought of many practical solutions, such as using bamboo in the mountains to weave exquisite and beautiful baskets, or making various bamboo utensils that are both practical and full of local flavor; for example, using the herbs in the village to boil various herbal ointments with significant therapeutic effects, which are hot-selling products in the nearby market and can be sold at a considerable price.

These handicrafts and herbal ointments can not only increase his family income and improve the current tight living conditions, but also add more color and fun to the daily life at home and make his family members smile more. Liu Ping'an's heart is full of expectations and longings, as if he has seen the baskets he woven by himself being praised by the villagers, and the herbal ointments he made have relieved the villagers' pain. The sense of accomplishment and satisfaction makes him feel that all the hard work is worth it.