Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian looked at them and sighed in his heart that these young people were really quick at work and much more efficient than he could do alone. "I'm dying of the smell of this dish. You've put a lot of effort into it today!" Another young man said with a smile while washing his face. He waved his hand and said, "These are all home-cooked dishes. Don't despise them. After everyone has eaten their fill, there will be a lot of work to do in the afternoon."

"How can I complain? It's so hot today. It's a real treat to eat the cold dishes you made!" Zhang Ergou said, patting the shoulder of the young man next to him, signaling him to finish washing up quickly so they could start eating.

Li Xiangqian felt warm in his heart as he listened to their jokes. Although they were just hired helpers, at this moment, everyone gathered together like a family, which gave him a long-lost sense of satisfaction. He knew that this simple friendship was the most precious in the hearts of rural people.

After a while, all the dishes were served, and Li Xiangqian asked everyone to sit down. Several people sat around a small table, and Li Xiangqian served everyone a full bowl of porridge. Everyone joked with each other, with happy smiles on their faces. Looking at this scene, Li Xiangqian felt more relaxed than ever before.

"Come on, don't be polite, eat first, and then take a break after eating." Li Xiangqian greeted everyone with a smile. He also picked up the bowl, picked up a cucumber with chopsticks, and put it in his mouth. The refreshing taste instantly dispelled his day's fatigue. "This cucumber is so crisp and delicious!" A young man chewed the cucumber in big mouthfuls and exclaimed.

Li Xiangqian smiled and nodded, but he was thinking about the next work. He knew that the afternoon sun would still be very hot, but with the nourishment of this meal, everyone would definitely be able to do a lot of work. Li Xiangqian felt a surge of confidence in his heart. He believed that as long as he continued like this, the day of harvest would not be far away.

Several people ate and talked, and Li Xiangqian felt relieved as he listened to their laughter. The loneliness and pressure in the past seemed to be released at this moment, replaced by a feeling of unity and hope.

After the meal, everyone was very satisfied and leaned back in their chairs to catch their breath. Li Xiangqian stood up and began to clean up the dishes. Several young men hurriedly stood up to help, but were stopped by Li Xiangqian: "You go take a rest, I will clean up, we will need your help in the afternoon."

Zhang Ergou smiled and nodded: "Then we will listen to Brother Xiang Qian and take a break. We will get enough energy and work again in the afternoon!"

Everyone dispersed and found a shady place to lie down and rest. After Li Xiangqian cleaned up the dishes, he also took a cup of tea and sat in the yard quietly looking at the fields in the distance. The afternoon sun was still scorching, but he felt a peace in his heart that he had never felt before. He understood that this was not only because he had helpers, but also because at this moment, he felt that he was no longer fighting alone.

A breeze blew, bringing a hint of coolness, and Li Xiangqian closed his eyes, feeling the tranquility of the moment. He knew that with the help of these companions, he was full of confidence in the future.

The afternoon sun was still scorching, and he held a cup of herbal tea in his hand, but he had no desire to drink it. The tea in the cup rippled gently with his hand trembling slightly, and the sunlight shone through the wall of the cup, casting mottled shadows. His eyes fell on the empty ground, and his mood was like the shaking tea, fluctuating.

He looked at the fields in the distance, and all kinds of thoughts emerged in his mind. The laughter and joy he had just had with everyone was still ringing in his ears, and the long-lost warmth made him feel comforted. However, with it came an uncontrollable anxiety.

He knew that hiring someone to help was a helpless move, but because of this, he couldn't help feeling a little frustrated. He had always regarded this piece of land as his own responsibility, and he took care of every step from farming to harvesting. But now, facing the increasingly heavy work and increasing fatigue, his ability was limited.

"Is it really that I am no longer capable?" This thought lingered in his mind. Li Xiangqian has been a strong-willed person since he was young. The fact that his parents died early forced him to shoulder the burden of life at an early age. He has always believed that as long as he works hard enough and is tenacious enough, he can overcome all difficulties. However, now he has to rely on others to complete the work that once belonged to him alone, which makes him feel a little uncomfortable.

"Maybe I really need to change..." Li Xiangqian muttered to himself, his voice so low that he could hardly hear it. He felt a deep sense of powerlessness, which was not like facing physical fatigue, but confusion about the future. The current situation has already made it clear that he can no longer bear all the responsibilities alone like before, especially when this land is facing unknown challenges.

"But what can I do if I don't change?" Another part of him asked himself. Continuing to be stubborn would only make the situation worse. These young people in front of him gave him some help, but how long could they help? If it really came to the end, would he still be able to support himself? Li Xiangqian suddenly felt heavy. He began to realize that he was no longer the omnipotent young man. The years of hardship made him mature, but also made him tired. There are always times when people are unable to do what they want. He began to understand that perhaps accepting help is not a shameful thing.

Just when he was lost in thought, Zhang Ergou came over and broke his train of thought. "Brother Xiangqian, why are you sitting here in a daze? Everyone has almost rested, why don't we work for a while longer?" Seeing Zhang Ergou's smiling face, he nodded. "Okay, I'll be there right away." He put down the teacup in his hand, stood up, patted the dust off his body, and tried to shake off those complicated emotions.

Zhang Ergou looked at Li Xiangqian's expression and obviously noticed that he was not in the right mood. He asked with concern: "Brother Xiangqian, are you okay? You seem a little worried."

Li Xiangqian shook his head and said calmly, "It's nothing, I'm just a little tired. Thinking about so much work, I feel a little annoyed. Patting Li Xiangqian on the shoulder, he encouraged him, "Brother, there are so many of us working together, don't carry it all by yourself. If there is anything, we can find a solution together. No matter how much work there is in the fields, we can finish it. We are not afraid."

Li Xiangqian felt warm in his heart when he heard what Zhang Ergou said. He knew that Zhang Ergou was right, he couldn't take all the responsibilities on himself, if everyone was willing to help, he should rely on them more.

"Well, you're right." Li Xiangqian nodded, and his heart seemed to be relieved. He looked at Zhang Ergou gratefully, and the anxiety in his heart seemed to be relieved a little.