Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian got up early and went out. When he passed by the grocery store, the owner, Uncle Wang, greeted him warmly: "Xiangqian, what are you going to do today?" Li Xiangqian smiled and replied: "Uncle Wang, I am going to cultivate the backyard and plant some potatoes today."

"That's a good idea. Now is the perfect time to plant potatoes. We will definitely have a good harvest in the fall." Uncle Wang nodded, his face full of approval.

Back at the courtyard, Li Xiangqian began to dig. His hoe hit the hard soil again and again, and his clothes were soaked with sweat. The neighbors saw it and gathered around to join in the fun. Xu Damao was the first to speak up: "Xiangqian, this is really a big project."

Li Xiangqian wiped his sweat and said with a smile: "This is also for everyone's benefit. When there are more potatoes, every household in our courtyard can get some."

Qin Huairu came over with a basin of laundry water and stopped to watch the fun: "Brother Xiangqian, there are certain methods to plant potatoes. Why don't you come to my house for lunch and I'll tell you the tricks of planting potatoes."

"Okay, then I won't be polite." Li Xiangqian agreed readily. He knew that Qin Huairu had some experience in planting.

After lunch, Qin Huairu explained to Li Xiangqian in detail how to select seeds, how to apply fertilizers, and how to manage pests and diseases. Li Xiangqian listened carefully and nodded from time to time. He knew that these experiences were valuable. In the next few days, he followed Qin Huairu's instructions, carefully buried potato seeds in the ground, applied organic fertilizers, and poured appropriate amounts of water.

As the days passed, Li Xiangqian would go to the potato field every morning and evening, weeding and fertilizing, and was very busy. Seeing his seriousness, other neighbors in the courtyard were gradually infected. Yi Zhonghai took out the wooden sticks he had saved at home to help Li Xiangqian build a simple fence to prevent children from stepping on it by mistake; Liu Haizhong brought a few pots of old vinegar from home, saying that it could prevent pests.

A month later, the potato seedlings finally sprouted green leaves, and the whole yard was filled with hope. The deaf old lady sat at the door, squinting her eyes at the greenery, smiling from ear to ear: "Xiang Qian is a great kid."

One day, Li Xiangqian was working in the potato field when he heard a commotion. He looked up and saw Banggen running around in the yard, followed by a few chickens. Banggen was so anxious that he kept shouting, "Uncle Li, help me catch these chickens!"

Li Xiangqian put down his hoe, ran over to help, and finally drove the chickens back into the cage. Banggeng panted and said, "Uncle Li, my mother said that if the potato harvest is good, she can exchange a few chickens with you."

Li Xiangqian smiled and said, "Okay, your family can also try the potatoes I grow."

As time went by, Li Xiangqian's potato field became more and more lush, and the green leaves sparkled in the sun, foreshadowing the joy of a good harvest. In the autumn of this year, the neighbors in the courtyard finally welcomed the harvest. Li Xiangqian dug out plump potatoes and shared them with everyone with a smile on his face.

Yi Zhonghai patted Li Xiangqian on the shoulder and said, "Xiangqian, you are the planting expert of our courtyard." Li Xiangqian smiled modestly and said, "It's the result of our joint efforts."

The good harvest of potatoes not only filled everyone's food supply, but also made the people in the courtyard more united. They found joy and satisfaction in their common labor, and everyone lived a fulfilling and meaningful life in this small courtyard. Every corner of the courtyard was filled with laughter, and the relationship between neighbors became more harmonious.

After the potato harvest, Li Xiangqian began to think about how to store these precious foods. He knew that he couldn't eat all the potatoes, and some of them needed to be stored for emergency use. Sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, he fell into deep thought. The weather gradually cooled down, and there was a little chill in the morning air, which made him more determined to store potatoes.

One evening, Li Xiangqian finished working in the potato field and returned home to find his wife preparing dinner. He felt satisfied as he watched the potatoes and beef stew in the pot. However, he also realized that if the potatoes were not properly stored, they would soon go bad. He secretly made up his mind to find a suitable way to preserve the potatoes.

During the meal, he mentioned this idea to his wife: "We have a good harvest this time. I was wondering if we can find a place to store the potatoes so that we can eat fresh potatoes in the winter."

The wife nodded: "Yes, if we can eat potatoes grown by ourselves in winter, we will feel at ease. I heard that there is an old man in the neighboring village who knows how to store potatoes. Should we go and ask him for advice?"

Li Xiangqian thought it was a good idea and decided to visit the old man early the next morning. At night, he lay in bed and thought of various ways to store potatoes. Although he did not have much experience, he believed that as long as he was willing to learn, he would always find the best way.

The next day, Li Xiangqian got up early, took some newly harvested potatoes and headed for the neighboring village. Along the way, he thought that if he could learn a good way to store potatoes, not only his family would benefit, but also the neighbors in the entire courtyard.

When he arrived at the neighboring village, he found the old man. The old man was a simple farmer. Seeing that Li Xiangqian was so sincere in seeking advice, he enthusiastically taught him some tips on storing potatoes: "When storing potatoes, the most important thing is to keep them dry and cool. You can spread a layer of dry straw in the cellar, then put the potatoes on it, and then cover them with another layer of straw. This will prevent the potatoes from getting moldy and spoiling."

Li Xiangqian listened and wrote down these key points, and his mind suddenly became clear. He thanked the old man and returned to the courtyard excitedly with the new knowledge he had learned.

After returning home, Li Xiangqian immediately started preparing to store the potatoes. He dug a cellar in the corner of the yard, covered it with straw, carefully put the potatoes in layer by layer, and then covered them with a layer of straw. He was very serious throughout the process, fearing that any step would be done wrong and affect the preservation of the potatoes.

Seeing him busy, neighbors came to help. Liu Haizhong helped him carry potatoes, and Yi Zhonghai suggested putting a simple wooden cover at the entrance of the cellar to prevent rainwater from seeping in. Everyone worked together and finally stored all the potatoes properly.

After finishing all these, Li Xiangqian stood by the cellar, looking at the cellar full of potatoes, and felt relieved. He knew that this was not only for his family, but also for the future of the entire courtyard. He seemed to see everyone sitting around the stove in the cold winter, eating the potatoes they planted, with satisfied smiles on their faces.