Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"Sister Huairu, are you home?" Li Xiangqian called softly.

"Who is it?" Qin Huairu's voice came from the yard, with a hint of impatience.

"It's me, Li Xiangqian." Li Xiangqian tried his best to make his tone sound gentler.

After a while, Qin Huairu came out, with his hands on his hips, and a somewhat cold expression, "What's the matter, Li Xiangqian?"

"It's like this. I just got some really good seeds, and I thought if you're interested, you could take them and try planting them." Li Xiangqian handed over the small bag in his hand, secretly hoping that she would accept it.

Qin Huairu glanced at the bag of seeds, frowned, and said in a cold tone: "I don't need these things, you can keep them for yourself."

Li Xiangqian was a little embarrassed, but still managed a smile. "This variety is quite special. It's easy to grow and bears fruit quickly. You can try it."

Qin Huairu curled her lips and said, "Farming is too troublesome. You young people just like to mess around. I don't have the patience. Let's just forget it."

Li Xiangqian felt a little disappointed. He thought Qin Huairu would at least be willing to give it a try, but he didn't expect her to refuse so directly. He subconsciously wanted to persuade her a few more times, but when he saw Qin Huairu had already turned around and was about to go back to the house, he swallowed the words that came to his lips. He knew that saying more might not help, so he could only nod, "Okay, Sister Huairu, if you change your mind in the future, tell me at any time, I have other seeds."

Qin Huairu waved her hand without even turning her head, "Alright, alright, go and do your thing."

Li Xiangqian stood there, holding the bag of seeds in his hand, feeling a little heavy in his heart. He thought that this time he could make Qin Huairu a little interested in farming, but her attitude made him feel powerless. Perhaps he really shouldn't force others to accept what he likes. Everyone has their own way of life and rhythm. Despite this, Li Xiangqian still felt a little unwilling. He didn't want to give up easily. Maybe one day, Qin Huairu would realize the fun of farming and come to him on her own initiative.

Returning to his vegetable patch, Li Xiangqian put the seeds back into the toolbox and prepared to continue his work. However, Qin Huairu's cold attitude lingered in his mind. Why was she so resistant? Was it because she thought it was troublesome? Or did she simply not believe that farming could bring any benefits? Li Xiangqian sat by the vegetable patch, trying to understand Qin Huairu's thoughts, but in the end he did not come to any conclusion.

That night, he tossed and turned, and Qin Huairu's rejecting look during the day kept appearing in his mind. He thought that maybe he could try another method. Maybe he didn't need to give her the seeds directly, but let her see the results first, let her see with her own eyes how those vegetables turned from seeds into delicious food, maybe this would arouse her interest. Li Xiangqian took care of his vegetable patch more diligently. He selected the varieties that bore fruit the earliest and managed each seedling carefully. He decided to wait until these vegetables were ripe, pick some of the best ones by hand, and give them to Qin Huairu to taste, so that she would know that farming was not only an interesting thing, but also brought practical benefits.

As the days passed, Li Xiangqian's vegetable patch gradually became green, and the seeds began to sprout and bloom. New hope gradually ignited in his heart, looking forward to the moment in the near future. Li Xiangqian was watering the vegetables in the yard when he suddenly heard Qin Huairu's voice coming from not far away. She was chatting with a few neighbors, and there was a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice: "Alas, my land is still barren. I always see them planting and planting, and I don't have the time to toss."

"Huai Ru, it's a good idea to try growing something. You're just sitting around doing nothing anyway," advised the neighbor Aunt Zhang.

"Oh, I just don't have patience. I don't think your food is that delicious." Qin Huairu waved his hand.

Li Xiangqian's heart sank when he heard this. He knew that if Qin Huairu continued to think this way, she would never be willing to try. However, he did not go over and say anything immediately, but secretly decided to change her mind with practical actions.

Finally, Li Xiangqian's efforts paid off. A few weeks later, his vegetable patch bore abundant fruits. The vegetables he had carefully taken care of, eggplants, cucumbers, and tomatoes, were plump and tender, which made him feel happy. Li Xiangqian carefully picked a few of the most beautiful tomatoes and cucumbers, washed them, and put them in a basket. He decided to try again to see if Qin Huairu would change her mind because of these fresh vegetables.

This time, Li Xiangqian deliberately chose an evening. The afterglow of the setting sun in the courtyard was shining on everyone's face. He walked to Qin Huairu's door and knocked.

"Who is it?" Qin Huairu's voice was still cold. It's me, Li Xiangqian. "Li Xiangqian tried his best to make his tone sound more relaxed.

Qin Huairu opened the door and saw the basket in Li Xiangqian's hand. He frowned slightly and asked, "What's the matter?"

"These are the vegetables I just picked, please try them. They are all grown by ourselves, without any pesticides, and they are very fresh." Li Xiangqian handed over the basket with a smile, but he felt a little nervous.

Qin Huairu looked at the bright red tomatoes and emerald green cucumbers, and a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes. She wanted to refuse again, but seeing that the vegetables were indeed attractive, coupled with Li Xiangqian's enthusiasm, she was embarrassed to say it out loud.

"Then... I'll accept it, but don't expect me to grow these." Qin Huairu took the basket, his tone still with a hint of caution.

Li Xiangqian looks at the vegetable fields he has carefully cultivated, and his heart is filled with a sense of accomplishment. Every green leaf, every flower, and every fruit is earned with his sweat and patience. This piece of land has become a part of his life, carrying his hopes and future. Although the days in the courtyard are peaceful and orderly, Li Xiangqian always has an idea in his mind - he wants more land and wants to farm on a larger scale.

This idea was not an impulse, but was formed slowly as he looked at the limited land in the courtyard again and again. He knew that he had reached the limit in this small vegetable patch. If he wanted to grow more kinds of vegetables and explore more farming techniques, he had to have more space. But this idea was not easy to realize. The courtyard was not big, and each household was allocated a limited plot of land. If he wanted to open up more land, he would have to negotiate with his neighbors, but how easy was that?

One night, the crops planted in the vast fields kept appearing in his mind. He thought how nice it would be if he could have a real farm.