Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

At this moment, he suddenly heard a slight sound of footsteps in the yard. He was startled and immediately extinguished the oil lamp, holding his breath and listening attentively. The footsteps were slow and light, as if someone was deliberately moving lightly. Li Xiangqian's nerves were suddenly tense. He felt a stick from the bedside, walked carefully to the window, and looked out through the gap.

In the dim night, he vaguely saw a blurry figure pacing in the yard, his movements were very light, but he seemed to be observing something. His heart suddenly rose to his throat, and his hand holding the stick was sweating. "Is it He Yuzhu? Or the old man?" His mind quickly turned, trying to judge the other party's intentions.

The man seemed not to notice his presence, and after turning around, he quietly walked out of the yard. Li Xiangqian did not relax immediately, but squatted by the window and waited for a long time. After making sure that there was no movement outside, he gently opened the door and walked into the yard to check.

Under the moonlight, he could vaguely see a few shallow footprints on the ground, which were facing the direction of his door. At this moment, Li Xiangqian's heart was completely confused. He was not sure who had come, but it was obvious that this person's purpose was not simple.

"It's over. It seems someone has started to suspect me." He felt a chill in his heart, as if he was pushed to the edge of a cliff. Although the other party had not left any traces, the footsteps that night had become a huge warning. He knew that if he continued like this, his plan might be exposed at any time.

"I have to do something tomorrow." He said to himself, with a look of determination in his eyes. He looked at the horizon, the moonlight sprinkled on the ground, like a thin layer of frost, revealing a chill. He clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and turned back to the house.

Before the dawn light illuminated the courtyard, Li Xiangqian had already quietly stood up. He had not slept all night, and his head was heavy, but the sense of urgency in his heart made him unable to stop. The crops in the field needed attention, and the plan needed to be adjusted. What bothered him most was He Yuzhu's procrastinating attitude.

The footsteps in the yard last night could not be shaken off, like a thorn in his heart. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he could not wait any longer, especially relying on someone like He Yuzhu - that person was good at talking during the day, but when it came to doing things, it was always hard to get confidence.

Li Xiangqian sat on the edge of the bed, staring at a pair of old cloth shoes at his feet, feeling impatient: "If this guy really found out something, why didn't he mention it last night? Or did he not notice it at all? Either way, it's so disappointing." He thought of He Yuzhu's sloppy look and clenched his fists.

"I have to talk to him straight. I can't let him drag it on like this." He gritted his teeth and pushed open the door. The yard was quiet, and the clouds in the sky were still gray. He put on a coat and walked straight to the direction where He Yuzhu lived.

The door of He Yuzhu's room was ajar, and Li Xiangqian pushed it open, and saw the man sleeping soundly wrapped in a quilt, his breathing as heavy as a bellows. The room was in a mess, with a few empty bowls on the table, unwashed clothes piled in the corner, and a faint smell of sourness.

"Hey, get up!" Li Xiangqian said coldly, slamming the door frame hard, and the sound echoed in the house. He Yuzhu was frightened and shivered, turning over and sitting up from the bed, with a confused look on his face.

"What are you doing? Calling for souls so early in the morning!" He Yuzhu complained while rubbing his eyes, his voice unclear.

"Calling the soul?" Li Xiangqian snorted coldly, crossed his arms over his chest, and stared at him straight in the eyes, "Do you think it's time to sleep now?"

"What's wrong?" He Yuzhu finally sobered up a little, scratched his messy hair, looked at Li Xiangqian's expression, and asked tentatively, "Are you crazy?"

"You don't care about what happened last night at all?" Li Xiangqian asked bluntly, his voice low but oppressive, "The footsteps were so obvious, don't you think you should have some reaction?"

He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment, then scratched his head and said with a guilty conscience: "I heard some noise last night, but... I thought it was nothing serious, so I didn't get up to check. Besides, you didn't say anything yourself."

"It's no big deal?" Li Xiangqian's tone was full of sarcasm. "Do you know that if this kind of movement is noticed by someone with ulterior motives, our affairs may be exposed!"

"Oh, don't take it so seriously." He Yuzhu yawned and said slowly, "Aren't you always careful? Who can really see anything?"

Li Xiangqian was so angry that he almost laughed out loud when he heard this. He took a step forward, leaned over and stared at He Yuzhu, gritting his teeth and saying, "Do you think we are playing house? Someone is already targeting us. The footsteps last night were a warning. If we continue like this, we will be caught before the crops grow!"

He Yuzhu was stunned. He had never seen Li Xiangqian so nervous. After a moment of silence, he asked in a low voice, "Are you sure someone is watching you?"

"The footprints are all there, how can I not be sure?" Li Xiangqian said in a cold and hard voice, with sharp eyes, "Don't think this matter can be dragged on. I tell you, either do it seriously or quit as soon as possible. I won't keep any waste."

These words hit He Yuzhu's heart like a heavy hammer. The frivolous look on his face disappeared a little. He scratched his head and said awkwardly, "Okay, okay, don't be angry. I'm serious. Isn't it okay for me to be serious? Tell me, what should we do next?"

Li Xiangqian stood up, took a breath, and the anger on his face subsided a little. He said in a deep voice: "The next plan must be more secretive, and the time of action must be adjusted to avoid places that are easy to be noticed. And you--" He stared at He Yuzhu and said in a heavier tone, "You must do as I say, and you are not allowed to slack off."

"I understand, Lao Li." He Yuzhu grinned and raised his hands in surrender. "Whatever you say is what I will do. I will never hold you back."

"I hope you will do what you say." Li Xiangqian replied coldly, turned and left the room.

After leaving He Yuzhu's residence, Li Xiangqian let out a long breath, feeling that the depression in his chest finally dissipated a little. But he knew in his heart that this was just the beginning. Although He Yuzhu agreed, he was lazy and carefree, and he might get lazy again at any time. In the final analysis, all things still depend on oneself.

The morning sun shines through the eaves of the courtyard house and casts itself on the bluestone slabs. The light and shadows interweave, as if depicting the clues of the night. Li Xiangqian walks back to his room and just sits down.