Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

One day, Li Xiangqian was walking in the alley, looking at the unused vacant land in the courtyard, and an idea came to his mind: Why not plant something on this land? This idea took root in his mind and became stronger and stronger. He decided to take action.

He first found the old neighbors in the courtyard and talked to them about his ideas one by one. At first, everyone was a little hesitant about Li Xiangqian's proposal, thinking that this was all land in the city, how could it be cultivated? Besides, people's lives are better now, who would grow vegetables by themselves? Li Xiangqian disagreed. He patiently explained to everyone that farming not only allows everyone to eat fresh vegetables, but also increases interaction between neighbors and brings them closer together. He also mentioned that most children nowadays do not understand the fun of farming, and planting by hand can make them cherish food more.

After Li Xiangqian's repeated persuasion, several families were finally persuaded and were willing to give it a try. Li Xiangqian was very excited and immediately started to prepare. He looked up information online, bought seeds and fertilizers suitable for planting in the northern climate, and went to the suburbs to consult an old farmer and learned a lot of farming techniques.

Early the next morning, Li Xiangqian brought tools and seeds to the open space of the courtyard. He first turned over the soil in the courtyard. Although the land had not been used for many years, the soil quality was still good. He enthusiastically dug ditches, carefully scattered the seeds one by one into the soil, and then gently covered it with soil. His movements were meticulous and serious, as if he was not just planting vegetables, but also sowing a new way of life.

Li Xiangqian's farming activities quickly attracted the attention of the neighbors. At first, only a few old neighbors watched from the sidelines, but gradually, everyone began to take the initiative to participate. Uncle Wang is a retired old worker who usually has no hobbies. When he saw Li Xiangqian planting vegetables, he came over to help. Li Xiangqian patiently taught him how to plant, how to water, and how to fertilize. Uncle Wang learned quickly and became Li Xiangqian's right-hand man in a few days.

As time went by, more neighbors joined in, and everyone used the open space in front of their homes. The courtyard suddenly became full of vitality. In the summer, Li Xiangqian's vegetable garden was full of green vegetables, including cucumbers, eggplants, beans, tomatoes, and some coriander and onions. Every morning or evening, everyone would gather in the yard, hoeing the land, watering the plants, and laughing and talking.

Li Xiangqian also organized a group to take turns to manage the vegetables. The group consisted of several young people in the courtyard, some of whom were college students and some who had just started working. Although they were busy with work, they were all happy to help in their spare time. These young people were not familiar with growing vegetables, but under the leadership of Li Xiangqian, they learned quickly and gradually fell in love with this lifestyle close to nature.

When the harvest season came, the courtyard was busy. Li Xiangqian and the neighbors picked the ripe vegetables one by one and distributed them to every household. Everyone tasted the vegetables they had grown with their own hands and felt that they were particularly sweet. Some families even planted more and sold them at the nearby market, making a little money.

However, growing vegetables brings more than just material gains. More importantly, this piece of land has brought neighbors closer together. In the past, everyone lived their own lives behind closed doors, and occasionally met each other and just nodded and greeted each other. Now, they often get together to chat and drink tea, and the atmosphere in the courtyard has become more harmonious and warm than ever before.

Li Xiangqian looked at the vibrant land and felt a sense of accomplishment. He knew that this was not only his success, but also the result of everyone's joint efforts. Although farming was just a simple activity, the significance it brought was far beyond his imagination.

However, Li Xiangqian's farming journey was not smooth sailing. One rare morning, Li Xiangqian was busy in the yard when he suddenly felt a few raindrops falling on his shoulders. Looking up, he saw that the sky was covered with dark clouds and a storm seemed to be coming at any time. He quickly gathered the neighbors and quickly packed up the tools in the yard and protected the plants that were easily damaged. The storm came violently and quickly. Li Xiangqian and his neighbors stood under the eaves and watched the rain wash over the land they had worked so hard to cultivate.

In the early morning after the rain, the courtyard seemed particularly quiet. The ground was full of mud, and some plants were blown here and there by the strong wind. Li Xiangqian was a little worried, but he quickly regained his composure and decided to lead everyone to repair the damaged vegetable fields. He visited every household and asked everyone to work together to renovate the damaged areas. Although the loss was not small, Li Xiangqian did not lose heart. Instead, he became more determined to continue farming.

In the following days, Li Xiangqian took care of the vegetable field more diligently. He not only led everyone to strengthen the management of the fields, but also learned how to cope with weather changes, and invited several experienced farmers from the suburbs to learn advanced farming techniques from them. These farmers gave Li Xiangqian a lot of practical suggestions, such as how to apply fertilizers reasonably, how to prevent pests and diseases, and how to maximize the use of land in a limited space. The vegetable fields in the courtyard have regained their vitality and are even growing better than before. Li Xiangqian looked at the brand new land with pride and gratitude in his heart. He knew that this land was no longer just his, it belonged to everyone in the entire courtyard, and it was the result of everyone's joint efforts.

As the farming activities progressed, Li Xiangqian gradually realized that this small vegetable plot in the courtyard had become a link connecting the community. The interactions between neighbors became more and more frequent, and everyone began to care more about each other's lives and help each other. During the harvest season, everyone would share the extra vegetables with families in need, and even organized a small community market to get more people involved.

Li Xiangqian's farming activities have also attracted attention from the outside world. More and more people have heard the story of the Siheyuan and have come to visit and learn. Some media have even reported on this small community, praising them for not only improving the quality of life, but also regaining the long-lost neighborly friendship in the modern city.

In the face of all this attention, Li Xiangqian did not get complacent. He knew that this was just the beginning and he still had a lot to do. For example, he hoped to build a small vegetable garden classroom in the yard so that more children and young people could come here to learn about farming.