Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

He didn't understand why he was dragged into this situation at this time. The old man selling chestnuts seemed to have found a way to make it impossible for him to escape. However, the scene in front of him gave him a glimmer of clarity. He lowered his head and looked at the people who were peeling corn, and suddenly understood something.

This group of people, like other residents of the courtyard, are struggling in the same predicament. They did not stop working, but continued to peel corn silently, as if the pressure of life had already made them numb. Every kernel of corn seemed to symbolize their unspeakable bitterness and helplessness.

Li Xiangqian couldn't help but recall the past when he was young. In the courtyards at that time, everyone would help each other. Even if the family was living in a tight situation, they could always get some food from other families. In those days, although they were poor, they could always feel a sense of warmth. But now, everything has changed. Food has become a luxury. Everyone is struggling for the little food left, and they don't even dare to ask for help easily.

He could not help but feel confused, and suddenly realized that he had been in this heavy predicament for a long time, but he had no choice. His eyes were still on those people breaking corn, and the scene in front of him seemed to have become a symbol, reminding him of his loneliness and helplessness in this winter.

"Look at these people." The old man didn't seem to be in a hurry to break the silence. Instead, he looked at Li Xiangqian more quietly. "They are also doing what they can. Anyone can do it to survive. What about you, Li Xiangqian? Don't you want to do something?"

Li Xiangqian's thoughts were pulled back by the old man's words. He came to his senses and looked at the people picking corn. Suddenly, a strange emotion surged in his heart - a sense of powerlessness about his predicament, a deep sense of self-blame and guilt in the face of survival pressure.

He suddenly felt that he was just another powerless bystander standing here. His hands were empty, and his mind was still without an answer. He didn't know how to face every choice in front of him. The food problem was a difficult problem that everyone was thinking about, but he himself had never been able to really start to solve it.

The old man seemed to notice Li Xiangqian's hesitation. He smiled slightly and his tone became softer: "Everyone is fighting for their own survival, isn't it? You can do what you can like them. Have you ever thought about doing something here?"

Li Xiangqian was stunned. He did not answer the old man, but cast his eyes on the people who were picking corn. Those figures seemed to silently tell him that there was no time to delay in life. Time was ruthless, food was limited, and the pressure of survival was always approaching everyone. He knew that he was no longer the person who could rely on everything.

"I..." He suddenly wanted to say something, but the words were stuck in his throat, as if there was a force pushing him towards an inevitable choice.

A gust of wind blew in from the alley, carrying a few dry leaves fluttering past and scattering on the ground. Li Xiangqian's eyes were still fixed on the people who were peeling corn, and his heart was filled with unspeakable silence.

Li Xiangqian stood at the entrance of the narrow alley, looking at the people picking corn, and the heavy feeling in his heart became stronger and stronger. The old man's words were like a thin thread, silently pulling at his thoughts. Everyone was fighting for their own survival, and this direct and plain truth was like a heavy hammer, hitting his heart.

He felt an anxiety that he couldn't get rid of, and even felt a little overwhelmed. He was now in a desperate situation - not only was he short of material resources, but he was also spiritually empty and powerless. The residents of the courtyards had long been accustomed to hard times. They either trapped themselves in a small space, guarding limited resources, or walked out of the courtyards to look for food to barely survive. Li Xiangqian was trapped in this hopeless cycle, and it was difficult for him to find a way out.

Suddenly, a vague idea emerged in his mind - farming. This idea quietly took root in his heart, like a weak light, illuminating his gradually darkening mind.

"If I can grow something myself, maybe I won't have to rely on outsiders anymore," he thought silently.

Farming? Although this idea seems simple, it deeply touched Li Xiangqian's heart. Since everyone in the courtyard had run out of food reserves, everyone had focused on survival. Farming was once a very common behavior, but now it has become a luxury, and no one even discusses it anymore. If you want to farm, you first need land, seeds, and tools. All these prerequisites seem to be far beyond Li Xiangqian's ability.

He suddenly looked up at the wall of the courtyard, where weeds grew everywhere. The once green land had long been destroyed by the cold wind, leaving only a few thin weeds. A few years ago, every household in the courtyard would grow some vegetables in their backyards. When the seasons changed, everyone would exchange some of their own food, so food and clothing were not a problem. However, now the courtyard has almost become a ruin, and even the most basic soil is deteriorating.

"Farming? How is that possible?" Li Xiangqian laughed at himself in a low voice, his eyes dim.

He clenched his fists and felt powerless. However, the thought that came from deep in his heart made him unable to give up. If farming can change everything, then give it a try. But his reason told him that this was just an empty wish, a dream that could never be realized. However, his emotions and reason were like two opposing forces, making him more and more entangled.

"No matter what, I have to give it a try." Li Xiangqian made a decision in his heart. Farming, a once ordinary idea, seems to be the only ray of hope in the face of today's difficulties.

He did not look at the old man again, but turned and walked deeper into the yard. Although the courtyard was old, there was still a piece of vacant land. Although it was overgrown with weeds, it was still land and might still be useful. He lowered his head and thought, and walked towards the land involuntarily.

The soil in the courtyard was not fertile. The land had not been cultivated for a long time and was somewhat loosened by the wind. Li Xiangqian stood in front of the open space and suddenly felt a little confused. If he wanted to farm, he first needed tools and seeds, which were not things he could easily obtain. Even if he wanted to farm, he could not meet these basic conditions.

He took a deep breath, and the plan in his mind became more specific. First, he had to find a hoe or a shovel, which he might be able to find from the nearby waste pile.