Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian understood everyone's concerns. This water tank was indeed a bulky object. Not only did it take up space, but it also took time to fill it with water. He pondered for a moment and felt that he needed to make his thoughts clearer.

"As you can see, the water level in the well is dropping. If we run into another long drought, we might be in big trouble. We might as well prepare for a rainy day and fill the water tank in advance so that we can respond to emergencies if something happens," he explained word by word in a firm tone.

Old Wang pondered for a while and nodded: "Xiang Qian, you are right. It is rare for someone as young as you to think so far ahead. Then we will listen to you and fill up the water tank first."

Hearing what Old Wang said, Mrs. Zhang no longer hesitated. She put down her needlework, rolled up her sleeves and said, "Well, let's get started. It's better for everyone to work together than to wait until something goes wrong before getting anxious."

Li Xiangqian breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing everyone's support, his confidence became stronger. He took a few neighbors who were willing to help and started filling the water tank. They took turns to draw water from the well and then poured it into the water tank bucket by bucket. Although this process was time-consuming and laborious, everyone's face was filled with a long-lost hope.

"Xiang Qian, do you think this water tank is big enough?" A young neighbor, Xiao Li, wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked worriedly.

Li Xiangqian looked at the gradually rising water level in the water tank and was thinking. He knew that although the capacity of this water tank was large, it might still not be enough if there was a serious water shortage. He pondered for a while and said, "Fill it up first and then see what happens. If necessary, we can find other water storage containers. The more water we can store, the better."

Xiao Li nodded, and without further questioning, he continued to work on the irrigation. Li Xiangqian felt warm at heart as he watched everyone busying themselves. Although the residents of the courtyard had a hard life, their unity and perseverance gave him strength. He felt that as long as everyone worked together, they would be able to get through this.

As night fell, the water tank was finally filled. The clear water surface shimmered in the moonlight, like a peaceful lake. Li Xiangqian stood beside the water tank, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He knew that this was not just a tank of water, but also a sense of security, a relief from his anxiety about the future.

"Everyone has worked hard. Let's go back and rest today." Li Xiangqian said to everyone. Seeing that everyone had a tired smile, he felt a lot more relaxed.

"Xiang Qian, you must take good care of this water tank and don't let anything go wrong with it." Old Wang patted Li Xiang Qian's shoulder and said earnestly.

Li Xiangqian nodded and answered solemnly: "Old Wang, don't worry, I will take good care of this water tank. It is very important to our courtyard."

Everyone went back to the house to rest, but Li Xiangqian did not go back immediately. He stood beside the water tank, looking at the calm water, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. He thought about the future of the courtyard and the unresolved problems, and his heart was still full of pressure. But he knew that as long as there was a little hope, he could not stop.

Li Xiangqian silently vowed in his heart that he must find more ways for the Siheyuan to survive, and he would never back down no matter how difficult it was. This water tank was just the beginning, and he would continue to find more ways to help the people in the Siheyuan survive this difficult period.

Li Xiangqian's thoughts always return to the residents of the courtyard, especially the elderly and children. Their faces, some weathered, some young and innocent, seem to silently tell of their inner desires and hardships. Although everyone has been working hard to grow vegetables and store water, Li Xiangqian knows that these alone are not enough to fill their stomachs. They need more nutrition, some food that can make their bodies stronger.

These days, Li Xiangqian has been thinking about how to make everyone eat better. Occasionally, he remembered the days when his father often took him to the countryside to catch fish when he was a child. Although those plump little fish were small in size, they tasted delicious when cooked into soup and could provide a lot of nutrition for the body. Once this idea came to his mind, it lingered in his mind. He decided to try and see if he could find some small fish and bring them back to the courtyard to supplement everyone's nutrition.

On a slightly cool morning, Li Xiangqian got up early, took a large bucket, and set out alone. He remembered that there was a small river outside the city. Although it had been abandoned for a long time, he might still be able to find some fish. Along the way, Li Xiangqian was nervous and excited. He knew that if he could find enough small fish, it would not only improve everyone's diet, but also bring some spiritual comfort.

After walking for about an hour, Li Xiangqian finally reached the river. The water was so clear that you could see the bottom, and occasionally you could see a few small fish swimming on the surface. Li Xiangqian was excited and immediately squatted down to observe the situation in the river carefully. He found that although the river was not deep, there were indeed many small fish swimming at the bottom of the river. It seemed that this trip was not in vain.

Li Xiangqian carefully scooped up a handful of water, feeling the coolness and the vitality of the water. Then, he began to catch fish with his bare hands. Although the process was not easy, many times when he was about to hold the small fish in his hands, they slipped away nimbly, but he did not give up, but became more focused.

As time went by, a lot of small fish gradually accumulated in Li Xiangqian's bucket. Although each fish was small, the number was considerable. He looked at these fish with a sense of relief and satisfaction. Thinking that these small fish could be cooked into soup and everyone could have a nutritious meal, Li Xiangqian felt that all his efforts were worth it.

Just as he was about to catch more fish, he heard footsteps. Li Xiangqian turned his head alertly and saw a thin man with a pale face. He looked to be in his forties, wearing shabby clothes and staggering, obviously suffering from hunger.

"Brother, are you catching fish here?" The man's voice was a little hoarse, and there was a hint of envy in his eyes.

Li Xiangqian nodded and responded with a smile: "Yes, there are still some small fish here, and we can catch a lot of them."

The man stared at the small fish in Li Xiangqian's bucket, a trace of desire flashed in his eyes, but then he lowered his head and muttered to himself: "Alas, I also wanted to try my luck, but I haven't done this kind of work for so many years, my hands are rusty, and I can't catch anything."

Li Xiangqian's heart moved, and he felt sad when he saw the pitiful appearance of the man. He knew that facing such a predicament, anyone could become helpless.