Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian sighed softly, walked forward, and asked in a low voice: "Meizi, why didn't you discuss it with me before you distributed the grain?"

Li Mei stopped what she was doing and turned to look at her husband. There was no panic in her eyes, nor any special emotions, just a calm and indifferent look. "You know, the families in the neighboring villages are in a bad situation recently. Winter is coming, and there is not much food at home. I thought, we don't need this, so we can share some and spend the winter together."

Li Xiangqian's mood became heavier. He saw the indifferent look in his wife's eyes, and he felt more and more angry and powerless. He thought of the food that he had saved with great effort, and the countless sweat and efforts behind each bag of food at home - these foods were originally prepared for the family and for the winter, but in his wife's eyes, they seemed to be something that could be distributed casually. She didn't seem to realize that the food that had been sent out might become the survival of their family at some point in the future.

"Meizi, our family's situation has just improved a little this year. How can we give away the grain? You don't know how cold this winter will be." Li Xiangqian's tone was a little anxious. He found it increasingly difficult to understand his wife's decision.

Li Mei was stunned for a moment, as if she didn't expect her husband to react like this. She gently put down the spatula in her hand and walked to Li Xiangqian, her eyes soft but also with a hint of helplessness. "You know, we haven't had an easy time these years, and I can't bear to see others in trouble. Now that life is a little better, I want to help if I can, and give if I can." Her voice was soft, with a hint of helplessness, "I know you are sad, but don't forget that we have been through this before, help if you can, and things will always get better."

Li Xiangqian couldn't help but feel a complex emotion when he heard his wife's words. Li Mei was a kind person. She always thought of others and liked to do things quietly to change the fate of others. She never asked for anything and never made anyone feel embarrassed. This kindness was what Li Xiangqian admired the most. But today, when she made this decision, Li Xiangqian felt an indescribable disappointment. He couldn't understand why his wife gave away the food that should have been prepared for her family without considering the difficulties that the family might face.

He took a deep breath and his tone became more moderate: "Meizi, we can't forget what we have in our hands. After all, food is our guarantee for the winter. We have not had an easy life in the past few years. Although it is a little better now, we can't easily take such a big risk. You know yourself that if the weather is bad, the harvest next year may not be guaranteed. We can't just care about others and ignore our own lives."

A trace of guilt flashed in Li Mei's eyes. She was silent for a moment, lowered her head, and said softly: "I know, but... seeing others in such a difficult situation, I really can't get over it."

Li Xiangqian looked at his wife's slightly regretful expression, and the anger in his heart gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of powerlessness and deep loss. He knew that Li Mei had no ill intentions, and that she did this out of selflessness. But she overlooked the fact that they were not fearless, nor were they people who could give unconditionally and generously. The cruelty of life is often revealed in the most unexpected moments.

Li Xiangqian walked outside, stood in the yard, and stared at the pile of grain that was still scattered on the ground. He felt an indescribable pain in his heart, as if the pile of grain had become a part of his heart, and was slowly disintegrating and losing its meaning as time passed. He couldn't help but think that if the grain had not been distributed earlier, if it was still piled up in the warehouse intact, then they might have been safer during the winter. But now, everything has happened, the past cannot be undone, and all that is left is endless emptiness and anxiety.

He stood there for a long time without moving. There was a complex emotion in his heart, he didn't know whether it was anger, disappointment, or deep helplessness. Time seemed to freeze at this moment, he seemed to no longer care about food, and even had an urge to give up.

However, Li Xiangqian knew that such emotions could not last long. He turned and walked into the house, and saw Li Mei still busy in the kitchen. He looked at her deeply, and finally just sighed softly.

"Meizi, I know you mean well, but we have to think carefully and not help others blindly. If we want to help, there has to be a limit." Li Xiangqian's voice was soft, but with a hint of anxiety that could not be concealed.

Li Mei raised her head, looked into her husband's eyes, and responded in a low voice: "I understand, I will be careful, move forward."

Li Xiangqian walked into the house, his heart still surging, his mind full of conversations with his wife Li Mei, conflicts with He Yuzhu, and food scattered in the yard. His heart was heavy, and his steps became heavy involuntarily. His eyes inadvertently swept across the room, and finally stopped at the desk in the corner of the room, where Li Mei often put down a book in her free time, read quietly, and told him stories from the book from time to time. Next to the desk, the red chair that had just been cleaned still had his daughter Lin Xi's sketchbook on it. Li Xiangqian's eyes paused slightly, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.

He remembered very clearly that Lin Xi liked to draw since she was a child. In those paintings, there were heaven and earth, animals and plants, which were always full of her fantasy and innocence about the world. Unlike Li Mei, his daughter was more lively and outgoing, and she was always full of enthusiasm and drive when doing things. But in recent days, Li Xiangqian felt more and more that his daughter's changes made him feel strange, especially recently, his relationship with her began to become a little distant.

In the past, Lin Xi always liked to run to him, telling him interesting things at school, or directly dragging him outside to bask in the sun and show him her new paintings. But now, his daughter has become more silent, and she speaks less. There is less innocence in her eyes, and more unknown worries. Li Xiangqian has never seriously thought about the reason for his daughter's inner changes. Today, the dispute with Li Mei seemed to touch a secret place in his heart, and it also made him reflect on his attitude towards his daughter.

"Sissi..." he called softly.