Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

The town is still as lively as I remember it. There are all kinds of small vendors on both sides of the street, some selling fruits, some selling vegetables, and of course, some selling meat. Li Xiangqian found an old shop that he often visited when he was a child. The owner is still the familiar middle-aged man, but the years have added a few more wrinkles on his face. Long time no see! He greeted enthusiastically, "It's been so long since we last met. What do you want to buy today?" "Yes, I haven't been here for a long time. I want to buy some fresh meat today. Can you recommend some good ones?"

The boss smiled brightly, and quickly took out a few pieces of bright red pork from behind the counter, carefully selected a few pieces and handed them to Li Xiangqian. "These are the pork that just arrived this morning, very fresh. Brother Li, what do you want to cook today? I have some good ribs and pork belly here."

Li Xiangqian looked at the meat on the stall, thought for a moment and said, "Let's get some pork belly and braise it, and some spare ribs and I'll make spare rib soup."

The boss weighed the meat quickly, packed it up and handed it to Li Xiangqian. "Brother Li, your cooking skills are well-known, you will definitely make a delicious meal today!"

Li Xiangqian took the meat with a smile, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. The simplicity and plainness here made him feel particularly comfortable, as if everything had returned to his carefree childhood. He thanked him, paid the money, and walked back with the fresh meat.

Back at the old house, Li Xiangqian walked into the kitchen and began to prepare lunch for the day. He hadn't cooked for a long time. He was usually busy with the affairs of the courtyard and usually ate simple meals. This time he planned to make a good meal of braised pork to nourish himself and also as a reward for his hard work during this period.

He first cut the pork belly into even cubes, blanched it in boiling water to remove the blood, and then rinsed it with cold water. Then, he heated the pan, poured in a little oil, added sugar, and slowly fried the sugar color. When the sugar color turned golden, he quickly poured the pork belly into the pan, stir-fried until the meat cubes were evenly coated with sugar color, and then added light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and cooking wine and stir-fried for a few times.

As the heat was controlled, the aroma gradually spread in the kitchen. Li Xiangqian smelled the familiar aroma and felt satisfied. He poured in an appropriate amount of hot water, covered the pot, lowered the heat and simmered it slowly. At this time, he turned around to prepare the pork rib soup.

He blanched the ribs in boiling water, put them in a casserole, added a few slices of ginger and a few red dates, and then added water to stew. The soup in the casserole slowly boiled, exuding a rich aroma. While Li Xiangqian was busy, he felt a long-lost tranquility. He understood that the triviality and simplicity of life are the truest happiness.

Soon, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of meat. Li Xiangqian put the braised pork in a bowl and sprinkled a few slices of chopped green onions on it, making it look delicious. The pork rib soup was also cooked to the right temperature, with clear soup, tender meat, and an alluring aroma.

Li Xiangqian brought the prepared meal to the yard, sat at the stone table under the old tree, and slowly enjoyed it. The sun shone through the leaves onto the table, and the quietness and warmth around him made him feel particularly comfortable. He felt a long-lost satisfaction, and this simple but hearty meal made him feel a rare relaxation.

After dinner, Li Xiangqian packed up the remaining meat and put it in the refrigerator, thinking that he could cook another meal tomorrow. He felt that cooking for himself was not only a way to fill his stomach, but also a way to enjoy life. Here, he was away from the hustle and bustle of the courtyard and found the simple happiness.

In the afternoon, Li Xiangqian lay on a bamboo chair in the yard, closed his eyes, and felt the cool breeze. His body relaxed and his mind became light. These days of life made him understand that only when a person relaxes can he truly experience the beauty of life. Although there are endless responsibilities and obligations in reality, occasional relaxation can help people regain their inner peace and strength.

"This is really good." Li Xiangqian thought to himself, with a rare smile on his face. He decided that he would continue to enjoy this time in the next few days and put all his worries behind him. When he was completely relaxed and recovered, he would return to the courtyard and continue to take on his responsibilities.

Li Xiangqian took a short nap on a bamboo chair. When he woke up, he found that the sun was setting. There was a breeze and the surroundings were so quiet that only the rustling of bamboo leaves could be heard. He slowly got up and felt comfortable and relaxed. This feeling made him realize that he had been busy with work for many years and neglected to take care of his body.

"It seems that it's time to give myself some more nutrition." Li Xiangqian thought silently in his heart. Usually he is busy in the courtyard, and he usually makes do with what he can eat. He always feels that he is still strong and does not need to be too particular. But this time, after relaxing in the old house for a few days, he found that his body did inadvertently send some signals, telling him that he should pay more attention to his health. In the next few days, he will consciously add some nutrition to himself, not just simply eat something to fill his stomach. He knows that there are many fresh ingredients in the market near the old house that can meet his nutritional needs. Li Xiangqian changed his shoes and prepared to go to the market to see if he could find some good things to replenish his body. He felt that his physical strength had declined recently, perhaps because his nutrition was not enough, and it was just right to replenish it.

The market was bustling with people, and the small stalls were filled with fresh vegetables, fruits and meat. Li Xiangqian walked slowly, his eyes wandering around the stalls, thinking about what to buy. "Let's have some fresh eggs, just laid this morning." A familiar voice came from an old man selling eggs at the market. Li Xiangqian remembered that when he was a child, he often came with his mother to buy her eggs. At that time, the egg yolks were shiny and oily, and the taste was delicious.

Li Xiangqian walked over with a smile, "Okay, pick some fresh eggs for me."

The old man skillfully picked out a few eggs of uniform size and shiny shells from the basket and handed them to Li Xiangqian. "These are eggs that were laid this morning. They are guaranteed to be fresh."

Li Xiangqian took the eggs and felt a little warm in his heart. These simple ingredients carried his childhood memories. After buying the eggs, he continued to walk around the market, thinking about buying some vegetables and meat. "Come and take a look at this fresh pork liver, it's a good thing for replenishing blood." A meat vendor greeted him enthusiastically. Li Xiangqian's heart moved. Pork liver is indeed a good ingredient for replenishing the body, especially for people like him who work hard for a long time, it is a suitable tonic.