Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Just as he was about to close the door, a voice came from outside the courtyard. It was a low but somewhat urgent voice: "Uncle, selling chestnuts!" Li Xiangqian was stunned, and the scene in front of him seemed to have a strange sense of stagnation. He subconsciously turned around and pushed open the door. Standing in front of him was a thin old man, holding a large basket in his hand. The basket was steaming hot, and the aroma of chestnuts was blowing in his face.

"Selling chestnuts?" Li Xiangqian asked back in a low voice.

The old man looked at him, and seemed to be amused by his words, with a gentle smile on his face. That smile seemed particularly warm in the cold winter wind. He stood not far away and whispered, "Yes, fellow. The chestnuts here are freshly roasted and very fragrant."

Li Xiangqian was suddenly stunned. At this time, there were almost no people on the street, and the atmosphere of the entire courtyard was particularly quiet due to the cold. This voice, and the wisps of chestnut aroma, made him think of many past events. When he was young, he had walked on this street. The small stalls on the street sold steaming hot food, and every bite could taste the warmth of the world. But now, the vendors in the alley have almost disappeared, replaced by some closed shops and the busy sounds of the market. Over time, such scenes have never appeared in his life again.

He stood there, looking at the old man in front of him steadily. The old man's skin was wrinkled, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to be full of traces of time. He was wearing a faded cloth jacket, holding the basket tightly in his hands, as if he didn't want to miss any buyer. His eyes were not anxious, but rather gentle and patient, as if he had already gotten used to the cold and loneliness.

Li Xiangqian's lips curled up slightly to smile, and he suddenly felt a little reluctant, as if something in his heart was gently touched. He walked over and asked, "How much is this chestnut per pound?"

The old man lowered his head, as if thinking about something, then slowly raised his head, a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes: "These chestnuts... one pound is five yuan."

Li Xiangqian nodded, and suddenly felt a sense of invisible loneliness. Five dollars was nothing to him, but the old man selling chestnuts didn't seem to care about the price. He looked at the chestnuts in the basket, and suddenly his heart was shaken. Then, he looked at the old man's face again, and found that the smile on his face had an indescribable warmth, as if the loneliness of the whole world was lit up at this moment.

He lowered his head and took out his wallet, took out ten yuan and handed it over: "Give me two kilograms."

The old man took the money, turned around and skillfully fiddled with the chestnuts with his hands, then gently peeled off the shells and said, "Chestnuts are not good just by roasting them. It depends on the heat and the temperature. Look at these chestnuts, they are roasted just right, the shells are slightly cracked, and the inside is very fragrant."

Li Xiangqian took the two kilograms of steaming chestnuts, and his mouth was filled with fragrance again. Just as he was about to say something, he saw the old man took out a few more chestnuts from the basket and handed them to him: "Uncle, your hands are cold, eat something hot to warm yourself up."

Li Xiangqian was stunned for a moment, then smiled and took the chestnuts. "Thank you."

When he turned to leave, the old man suddenly called him: "Uncle, do you live here?"

Li Xiangqian stopped and turned to look at the old man, with an inexplicable impulse in his heart. He shook his head and raised the corners of his mouth slightly: "Yes, I live here. What about you?"

The old man smiled, and didn't seem to have prepared much of an answer: "I move around all year round, often changing places. But I'm here for the time being."

Li Xiangqian nodded, lowered his head and continued to eat the hot chestnuts. Although he didn't say anything, he felt an inexplicable emotion rising in his heart. The feeling was not unfamiliar, but it also made him feel a little at a loss. Life is always like this. In the most ordinary moments, some small things can make people feel some warmth and peace of mind.

Li Xiangqian had already peeled a few chestnuts in his hand. The slightly burnt shells on the outside had a faint fragrance, and the flesh was white, tender and soft. He took a bite, and the heat and sweetness immediately filled his mouth. However, he had a strange feeling in his heart.

The feeling was not obvious, but it was like a thin needle that quietly pierced his heart. The chestnuts were fragrant, indeed, but for some reason, his appetite suddenly became a little heavy, as if there was something wrong hidden behind the fragrance. His eyes unconsciously fell on the old man, who was bending over and carefully handing him the chestnuts in his hand, with a warm smile on his face, as if he had long been accustomed to this kind of transaction, and his eyes were gentle without a trace of urgency.

Li Xiangqian couldn't help but frown, and felt a slight sense of alertness in his heart. He didn't take that feeling to heart immediately. After all, he had reasons to trust the old man selling chestnuts, especially on such a winter afternoon. Such a simple transaction should have been warm and ordinary. However, some small details made him want to think more.

He raised his head, and his eyes followed the old man's back as he disappeared into the end of his sight. The air was filled with the aroma of chestnuts, and accompanied by the chill of the cold wind, Li Xiangqian felt a heavy feeling in his heart. This subtle feeling of uneasiness was not without source. His mind went back to that moment - when he saw the old man handing him chestnuts, the action at that moment seemed particularly stiff, and there was even a hint of unnatural hesitation. And that look - for some reason, he caught an indescribable sense of strangeness from those eyes.

"Is it too nervous?" Li Xiangqian laughed at himself. What was he thinking? Could an old man selling chestnuts have any evil thoughts? However, this uneasiness continued to spread in his heart like ripples.

He stuffed the last chestnut into his mouth, trying to put this inexplicable emotion behind him. However, the warm chestnut aroma in his mouth gradually became stronger, and what followed was a more confusing feeling for him. The taste of the chestnut seemed to become sweeter, and the sweetness almost overwhelmed all his thoughts. At the same time, he suddenly felt a slight dizziness, and his head felt heavy, as if the chestnuts just now were not as ordinary as they seemed.

He couldn't help but frown, standing in the middle of the yard, reaching out to hold onto the stone table in the yard, trying to stabilize his body a little. His breathing became rapid, and his heartbeat seemed to slow down a few beats. The abnormality of his body made him more alert. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.