Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

That year, famine broke out in the city. The supply of rice and flour was tight, the prices of vegetables and fruits soared, and meat became a luxury. Every morning at dawn, the residents of the Siheyuan would line up to go to the grain store, hoping to grab some food. But more and more people lined up, and the supply in the grain store became less and less, so many people had to return empty-handed. Hunger became a shadow hanging over the Siheyuan, and the faces of the residents became more and more haggard.

Li Xiangqian saw it all and was worried. He knew that if things continued like this, many people in the courtyard would not be able to survive. He himself was also hungry, but he never considered giving up. He was a kind-hearted man who grew up in this courtyard and had deep feelings for everyone here. Li Xiangqian decided that no matter how difficult it was, he would find a way to help everyone survive this famine.

He began to ask around, asking for information from every corner of the city, to see if there was any way to help everyone. One day, he heard on the street corner that a batch of relief food was about to be distributed, but the quantity was limited and the distribution site was far away from the courtyard, so many people might not have the opportunity to get it. When Li Xiangqian heard this, he immediately decided to take a risk.

The next morning, he set out before daybreak. The streets outside were empty and quiet, and he was the only one hurrying on the road. After walking for several miles, he finally arrived at the relief grain distribution point. The line was already very long, but Li Xiangqian joined it without hesitation. He knew that this might be the last hope for many people in the courtyard.

The sun rose and the team was moving slowly. While waiting in line, Li Xiangqian was thinking about how to bring the relief food back to the courtyard. He couldn't bring too much at once, or he would get into trouble if he was discovered. But if he brought too little, he couldn't meet the needs of so many people. Just as he was thinking hard, there was a commotion in front of him.

It turned out that someone tried to cut in line, but was discovered by the people behind him, which led to a dispute. Li Xiangqian's heart tightened. He was most afraid of such a thing. Once there was chaos, the distribution of relief food would probably be suspended, and his efforts today would be in vain. He quickly squeezed to the front of the crowd and persuaded everyone in his calm tone to stay calm. After some efforts, the team finally restored order and the distribution continued.

When it was Li Xiangqian's turn, he was already sweating profusely. The staff handed him a small bag of rice and a few pieces of dry food. Although he was anxious, he still restrained himself and only took these. He knew that these were far from enough, but this was the best choice he could make. He tried his best to hide the food in his clothes, fearing that it would be discovered.

When he returned to the courtyard, it was almost dark. The people in the courtyard had already gone home, and the whole courtyard was immersed in silence. Li Xiangqian quietly distributed the food to those who needed it most. He didn't want everyone to know that he brought it back, because he knew that there was not much food, and if everyone knew about it, it would cause more trouble. Those who received the food were grateful and puzzled, but they didn't ask much, just silently accepted this favor.

In the following days, Li Xiangqian continued to take risks to get more food. His body became weaker and weaker, but his heart became more and more determined. He knew that this was not only for survival, but also for protecting the people he loved deeply in the courtyard.

The famine continued, and Li Xiangqian's figure continued to shuttle around every corner of the city. He was no longer just looking for food for himself and his family, but for the residents of the entire courtyard. His actions gradually attracted the attention of some people, but he always kept a low profile and did not expose himself.

As time went by, the residents of the courtyard found that although people outside were worried about food, they could always receive some food from nowhere in the most difficult times. The food was not much, but it was enough for them to get through the difficult times. People were full of gratitude, but they didn't know who to thank. Li Xiangqian still acted silently and tried his best to help everyone.

Although life in the courtyard was difficult, with Li Xiangqian's efforts, everyone gradually found hope to persevere. Hunger was still a challenge they had to face every day, but they knew that as long as Li Xiangqian was there, they would not starve to death. Whenever night fell, the air above the courtyard would always be filled with the faint aroma of rice, which was the brief peace that Li Xiangqian had gained with his wisdom and courage.

Li Xiangqian's story spread in the courtyard. Although no one knew his name, everyone knew that there was an unsung hero who was silently guarding them. They didn't know when the famine would end or what the future would be like, but they believed that as long as Li Xiangqian was there, they could hold on.

Li Xiangqian did not sleep all night, tossing and turning in bed, thinking over and over again about a problem: in recent days, the food distributed to everyone in the courtyard has become less and less. He tried his best and took risks to find more food, but it still seemed that he could not meet everyone's needs. No matter how hard he tried, the food distributed to each household was always pitifully small.

The darkness before dawn is the deepest. Li Xiangqian stood in the middle of the yard, looking up at the sky, feeling a sense of powerlessness. The night wind blew gently, and the old tree branches and leaves in the courtyard rustled, as if telling the history and hardships of this place. But Li Xiangqian knew that they could not survive for long with just this little food.

"Xiang Qian, where have you been these days?" A weak voice broke the silence. It was Old Wang who lived next door. His face was sallow, and his eyes were filled with fatigue and doubt.

"Old Wang, I... went around the city to see if there was any news." Li Xiangqian smiled slightly, trying his best to make his tone sound lighthearted.

"Is there any good news in the city?" There was a hint of longing in Old Wang's voice, as if he was expecting a miracle.

Li Xiangqian hesitated for a moment, but finally chose to remain silent. He didn't have the heart to tell Old Wang about the severity of the situation outside, fearing that it would make him even more desperate. Seeing Li Xiangqian's silence, Old Wang's eyes dimmed, and he murmured, "It seems... not so good."

Old Wang staggered back to his room, leaving Li Xiangqian standing there, feeling increasingly depressed. Everyone was expecting him to bring about a turnaround, but there was really very little he could do. Recalling yesterday's secret distribution of food, Aunt Li, who lived in the East Courtyard, took the handful of rice with trembling hands, but tears were shining in her eyes. They were tears of gratitude, but also of deep worry about the future.