Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

He thought to himself, what should I do? Without water, the vegetables in the garden will be in trouble. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little anxious. Life in the courtyard was already difficult, and now the water problem is even worse. He decided to get water quickly, otherwise these vegetables that he had worked so hard to grow would probably wither due to lack of water.

Just as he was about to go out, his neighbor Xiao Wang walked in and said, "Xiang Qian, what's wrong? You look so sad."

Li Xiangqian sighed, "The water in the water tank is almost gone. I have to go get some water. Otherwise, these vegetable seedlings will die of thirst."

Xiao Wang also frowned after hearing this, "That won't do. It's so hot now, and if there's a lack of water, these vegetables won't survive. I'll go with you, and let's get some more water."

Li nodded and said, "Thank you, Xiao Wang, let's go quickly."

The two of them took the buckets and hurried to the public tap at the entrance of the alley. On the way, Li Xiangqian kept thinking about how to solve the water problem. He knew that relying on fetching water every day was not a long-term solution, and he had to think of a more reliable method.

When they arrived at the public tap, they found that several neighbors were already queuing up to get water. When they saw Li Xiangqian and Xiao Wang, they all greeted them warmly, "Xiao Li, you are here to get water too. You must be very busy in the vegetable garden recently."

Li Xiangqian smiled bitterly and nodded, "Yes, that's right, there is not enough water."

An elderly neighbor patted him on the shoulder and said, "Young man, you're doing a good job. But you have to think of a long-term solution. Relying on fetching water every day is not a solution."

Li Xiangqian was a little anxious. "I was thinking about that too. Do you have any good suggestions?"

The older neighbor pondered for a while and said, "How about you consider digging a well? Our yard has a good terrain, and we should be able to dig out water."

Li Xiangqian's eyes lit up when he heard this. "Digging a well? That's a good idea. But it will take a lot of effort."

Xiao Wang also nodded and said, "Yes, digging a well is not a trivial matter, but in the long run, it is indeed a good idea."

Li Xiangqian weighed the pros and cons and decided to give it a try. "Okay, I've decided. I'll start digging a well when I get back. Thank you for giving me such good advice."

After fetching water, Li Xiangqian and Xiao Wang returned to the courtyard. They poured the water into the water tank and began to discuss how to dig a well. Xiao Wang suggested asking a few experienced neighbors for help. If everyone worked together, it would be faster.

The next morning, Li Xiangqian began to visit every household and consult experienced neighbors. Soon, he found several neighbors who were willing to help. They were all old residents who had lived in the hutong for decades and were very familiar with the situation of the land.

One fine morning, several neighbors came to Li Xiangqian's courtyard with tools. They selected a low-lying area and started digging. Li Xiangqian also worked with them. Although sweat kept flowing down his forehead, his heart was full of hope and enthusiasm.

The process of digging a well was not easy. The soil layer was very thick, and everyone took a lot of effort to dig to a certain depth. Whenever Li Xiangqian felt tired, he would think of the thriving vegetables and the stored potatoes. These were the fruits of his hard work and the motivation for him to continue working hard.

A few days later, the well was finally dug, and clear groundwater gushed out from the bottom of the well. Seeing the bucket full, Li Xiangqian finally felt relieved. His neighbors were also happy for him, "Little Li, now you don't have to worry about running out of water."

Li Xiangqian said excitedly: "Thank you all for your help. Without you, I could not have done it alone."

Xiao Wang patted his shoulder and said, "Go forward. Now our vegetable garden is safe. Don't work too hard. Take a rest."

Li Xiangqian smiled and said, "Don't worry, I feel more at ease with this well."

At night, Li Xiangqian lay in bed, thinking about his experiences over the past few days, feeling a lot of emotions in his heart. He knew that although he chose to return to the courtyard and chose a seemingly simple but challenging life, these challenges did not defeat him, but made him stronger and more resilient.

He closed his eyes, and the thriving vegetables in the vegetable garden and the starry sky reflected in the well water emerged in his mind. He knew that he would encounter more difficulties and challenges in the days to come, but he was no longer afraid, because he knew that as long as he worked hard, he would always find a solution.

A few days after Li Xiangqian successfully dug the well, just when he was beginning to breathe a sigh of relief, the water tank in the yard was empty again. This time the situation was more urgent because it would take a few days for the well water to be completely clear. He thought of his neighbor He Yuzhu, who was a warm-hearted person and everyone would always go to him for help when they had difficulties.

Li Xiangqian stood in front of the water tank, feeling a little hesitant. He didn't like to trouble others, but there was really no other way at the moment. He thought for a while and decided to shamelessly ask He Yuzhu to borrow some water. He picked up two empty buckets, took a deep breath, and walked out of the courtyard.

He Yuzhu's home was in the courtyard next door. Li Xiangqian knocked on the door, secretly praying that Yuzhu would not find it troublesome. The door opened quickly, and He Yuzhu greeted him warmly, "Xiangqian, come in and sit down. What brings you here?"

Li Xiangqian scratched his head a little embarrassedly. "Brother Yuzhu, I have something I want to ask you for help. The well has not been completely drained recently, and the water in the water tank is also empty. I was wondering if I could borrow some water."

He Yuzhu smiled cheerfully and said, "What's so difficult about this? It's normal for brothers to help each other. Wait a minute, I'll get you some water."

After saying that, He Yuzhu turned and went into the house, and soon came out with a large bucket of water. "Here, use this bucket of water first, and tell me if it's not enough."

Li Xiangqian took the bucket and was filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Brother Yuzhu. Now I don't have to worry about the seedlings drying up."

He Yuzhu waved his hand, "Why are you being polite? We are all neighbors, and it is only natural for us to help each other. When can we use the well water over there?"

"I guess we have to wait a few more days as the water is not clear enough yet," Li Xiangqian replied.

He Yuzhu nodded, "You don't have to be polite during that time. Just come and get some water if you need it."

After returning home, Li Xiangqian poured the water into the water tank and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that he had such a friend among his neighbors, and his heart was filled with gratitude. He continued to be busy in the vegetable garden, watering and fertilizing the seedlings, and watching them thrive in the sun, he felt extremely satisfied.

A few days later, the well water finally became completely clear, and Li Xiangqian could not wait to use it. He stood by the well, watching the clear water flow, and felt a sense of accomplishment. His efforts during this period were not in vain, and he finally solved the water problem.