Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Back in the house, Li Xiangqian searched in the corner of the cabinet and found the painting tools he used to use in an old wooden box. It was a box of yellowed drawing paper and a few paintbrushes with mottled colors. Li Xiangqian gently touched these painting tools, and a feeling of nostalgia surged in his heart. These things had accompanied him through so many leisure hours, and now they are still here, but he has long forgotten their existence.

He picked up a paintbrush, walked to the window, opened it, and let the sunlight in. The scenery outside the window was the same as usual, but in his eyes it seemed particularly vivid. Li Xiangqian picked up the paintbrush and gently drew a few lines on the drawing paper. Although his technique was a little unfamiliar, the long-lost feeling slowly returned. Every stroke seemed to awaken his deep love for life.

In this way, Li Xiangqian painted quietly, and time passed by unknowingly. He was completely immersed in his own little world, as if he had forgotten everything in the outside world, and only the scene gradually taking shape on the drawing paper appeared before his eyes.

When he finally stopped writing and looked at the painting he had just finished, he felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. This feeling seemed to take him back to his carefree youth. The scene in the painting was the field in his mind, simple but full of vitality and hope. Li Xiangqian looked at the painting and felt an unprecedented sense of ease and joy.

"It turns out that I also need such moments." Li Xiangqian said to himself silently. He knew that such moments might be short, but they were an indispensable part of his life. It was these little joys that allowed him to find a balance in the busyness and pressure. Li Xiangqian put away his painting tools, walked out of the house, stood in the yard, and looked at the sunset in the sky. He felt particularly calm. He knew that he still had to face many challenges, but he had found a new strength, a strength that came from his heart. This strength came from his love for life and his attention to his real needs.

"I should pay more attention to myself and the things that make me happy." Li Xiangqian told himself firmly. He knew that life is not only for others, but also for oneself. Only by taking good care of yourself can you take better care of your family and better cope with everything in life.

Although the courtyard house is a bit old, Li Xiangqian has always been hardworking and keeps the yard in good order. The vegetable garden in the yard is always full of vitality and full of various vegetables. Every spring plowing season, Li Xiangqian will cultivate a piece of land next to the yard. Although this piece of land is not large, it is the foundation of Li Xiangqian's life. Relying on it, Li Xiangqian can eat vegetables he grows all year round.

Spring is here, the weather is getting warmer, and everything is coming back to life. Li Xiangqian looked at the weed-covered field next to the yard and thought about this year's farming plan. He decided to expand the scale of planting and plant more grain crops this year. In recent years, with the development of the city, the surrounding land has been gradually expropriated, and Li Xiangqian only has this small piece of land left. He wants to make good use of this piece of land, not only for himself, but also to provide more fresh vegetables and grains for the market.

Li Xiangqian walked to the cowshed and looked at his beloved old cow. This cow had been with him for many years and was one of the legacies left by his parents. Although it was old, the cow was still strong. Li Xiangqian patted the cow on the back and said, "Old buddy, we have to work hard together this year." The cow seemed to understand what he meant, and it exhaled a puff of hot air from its nose and shook its tail.

Early the next morning, Li Xiangqian began to prepare for spring ploughing. He first cleared the weeds in the field, then harnessed the ox to the plow. This was a traditional wooden plow, old but sturdy and durable. Li Xiangqian grabbed the plow handle, and with a low roar from the ox, the plowing began.

The land was not large, but the soil had become extremely hard because it had not been deeply plowed for many years. Li Xiangqian held the plow handle tightly while constantly cheering the ox. The ox struggled to pull the plow head in front, and the tip of the plow pierced deeply into the soil, making a "crunching" sound. Li Xiangqian felt the resistance in his hands, his muscles tensed, and sweat quickly soaked his clothes.

The sun gradually rose higher, and the whole courtyard was bathed in golden sunlight. Li Xiangqian looked down at the newly turned soil under his feet. The dark soil was turned up, revealing its fertility. This filled Li Xiangqian's heart with a sense of accomplishment. He knew that this piece of land would grow a good harvest of crops, bringing him hope.

However, as time went by, Li Xiangqian gradually felt tired. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the sky in the distance. The spring breeze blew gently, making him feel a little relaxed. The cow was also panting, obviously a little tired. Li Xiangqian touched the cow's head with heartache, untied the plow on the cow, and let it rest aside.

Li Xiangqian took out a kettle from the house, drank a few sips of water, and then poured some for the cow. The cow lowered its head to lick the water, and Li Xiangqian watched quietly, thinking about how to make more efficient use of this land. Nowadays, mechanized farming has become popular. Li Xiangqian knows that he is still too dependent on traditional methods, but he is unwilling to give up this old cow that has been with him for many years.

After a short rest, Li Xiangqian put on the plow again and continued to plow the land. Although he was exhausted, he did not retreat at all. He knew that this piece of land was his lifeblood. As long as it could produce food, he would have hope to continue living.

After a day of hard work, the whole field was finally plowed. Li Xiangqian stood at the edge of the field, looking at the neat furrows, feeling satisfied. The cows stood quietly beside him, seeming to appreciate the fruits of their labor. As the sun set, the sky was stained with a layer of golden red, reflecting on Li Xiangqian and his cows, giving their figures a golden edge.

Although the work of tilling the land is completed, Li Xiangqian knows that this is just the beginning. Next, he has to fertilize, sow seeds, and irrigate until the harvest season arrives. Li Xiangqian has invested too much effort and sweat in this land, and the growth of each crop is of great concern to him.

However, as the city expanded, Li Xiangqian gradually felt an invisible pressure. The nearby land had been bought by developers and high-rise buildings had been built. His courtyard and the land seemed to be relics of the past, standing alone on the edge of the city. Developers had also come to him, persuading him to move out and offering him generous conditions, but Li Xiangqian remained unmoved. He knew that once he left this land, he would lose the foundation of his life.