Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"Where did all these vegetables go?" Li Xiangqian asked himself. He couldn't help but recall the expressions of the people in the yard recently. It seemed that everyone looked more tired than before, and there was a hint of anxiety in their words. In particular, several neighbors with many children in their families always avoided his gaze recently. Sometimes when he met them, they just exchanged a few words and hurried away. Although Li Xiangqian didn't say it out loud, he felt in his heart that someone might have secretly moved these vegetables.

In the afternoon, Li Xiangqian decided to visit the old Zhoutou next door. The situation of the old Zhoutou family was not good. He lived with his daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. After his son passed away a few years ago, the old Zhoutou family became even more difficult. Li Xiangqian brought some corn cakes he made himself. These cakes were made of a little bit of old corn and wild grass ground into powder. Although they didn't taste good, it was better than going hungry.

"Old Zhou, have you eaten?" Li Xiangqian came in and greeted him, handing him a pancake. Old Zhou took the pancake and a grateful smile appeared on his face.

"Hey, I ate it, I ate it." Old Zhou took a bite of the biscuit, then frowned slightly, but still swallowed it with gritted teeth.

"Xiang Qian, how is the vegetable garden these days?" Old Zhou asked, but his eyes were evasive.

Li Xiangqian's heart moved. He knew that Old Zhoutou usually didn't care much about these things. Today he suddenly mentioned it, obviously he had something to say. He smiled casually, sat next to Old Zhoutou, and took out a cigarette from his pocket and handed it to him.

"Old Zhou, the vegetable garden is okay, but I see some of the vegetables have been badly bitten. I don't know if it's because of insects or some other reason. You need to pay more attention to it." As he said this, he deliberately observed Old Zhou's reaction.

Sure enough, Old Zhou's hand trembled, and the cigarette ash scattered all over the floor. He looked up at Li Xiangqian, with a hint of guilt and hesitation in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he sighed and put out the cigarette.

"Xiang Qian, you are a good person. I know you care a lot about everyone. But, alas, this is the way the world is, there is nothing we can do." Old Zhou said in a low voice, his voice revealing helplessness and pain.

Li Xiangqian felt nervous, and felt that there was something behind Old Zhou's words. He put down the cigarette in his hand, moved closer, and asked softly: "Old Zhou, if you have anything to say, just tell me. We are all family, there is nothing we can't overcome."

Old Zhou seemed to have made up his mind. He slowly raised his head and looked at Li Xiangqian, his eyes moist. His voice became even deeper: "Xiangqian, these days, many families in the yard have secretly taken some vegetables from the vegetable garden. Everyone is too embarrassed to ask for help, for fear of losing face and also afraid that you will be angry, but there is really no way. You said, if you don't take it, the children will cry because of hunger, but if you take it, you will feel bad."

Hearing this, Li Xiangqian felt mixed emotions. He hadn't expected things to develop to this point. He knew that everyone was having a hard time, but he hadn't expected someone to steal vegetables. Although he understood Old Zhou's difficulties, the disappointment in his heart still made him feel suffocated.

Li Xiangqian took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He looked at Old Zhoutou, his eyes showing no blame, but heavy understanding. "Old Zhoutou, I understand your difficulties, but if this goes on, everyone will be more uncomfortable. There are not many things in the vegetable garden to begin with. If you continue to toss and turn like this, I'm afraid even the children won't be able to bear it."

After hearing this, Old Zhou's face turned even uglier. He lowered his head, holding the extinguished cigarette tightly in his fingers, and his voice was almost choked with sobs: "Xiang Qian, I know it's wrong to do this. But... but we can't just watch the children starve to death..."

Li Xiangqian patted Old Zhoutou on the shoulder, his heart full of mixed emotions. He could see that Old Zhoutou had tried his best to control his emotions, but he could not easily blame him for his predicament. He understood that this was not just a problem for Old Zhoutou's family, the residents of the entire courtyard were probably experiencing the same torment.

After returning home, Li Xiangqian sat on the bed, looking out the window at the night, unable to fall asleep for a long time. The guilty and helpless look of Old Zhou kept appearing in his mind. Thinking of the neighbors who were also struggling in the yard, his mood became heavier and heavier. He knew that he could not continue to maintain the vegetable garden by himself, and if he continued like this, everyone would face greater difficulties.

The next morning, Li Xiangqian decided to hold a general meeting in the courtyard. Although he had not yet fully figured out how to solve this problem, he knew that he had to get everyone to face up to this dilemma and find a solution that everyone could accept. In the open space of the courtyard, residents gathered one after another, with a hint of curiosity and uneasiness in their expressions.

"Everyone, I called you here today to discuss something with you." Li Xiangqian spoke, his voice echoing in the yard. Some people in the crowd lowered their heads, while others stared at him nervously. Obviously, everyone knew in their hearts that today's gathering would not be easy.

He glanced at the faces around him and continued, "We've had some problems with the vegetable garden in our yard recently. Everyone knows that times are hard and no one is well off, but if this continues, none of us will be able to hold on."

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd began to murmur. Some people looked embarrassed, while others did not dare to look him in the eye. Li Xiangqian took a deep breath and continued, "I know that some people secretly go to the vegetable garden to get some vegetables because they really have nothing to eat at home. We are all neighbors and have watched our children grow up. I understand everyone's difficulties. But if everyone does this, our vegetable garden will be completely gone."

A middle-aged woman stood up, her voice choking: "Xiang Qian, we didn't mean it, it's just that the children at home are starving..."

Another person also stood up: "Yes, Xiang Qian, you know, we really have no other choice."

Li Xiangqian nodded and signaled everyone to be quiet. "I understand how you feel and how difficult it is for everyone. So I suggest that we distribute the food in the garden more fairly. Each household can take what they need. Let's work together to ensure that everyone can have food, but they can't just take whatever they want."

The crowd was silent as they pondered Li Xiangqian's proposal. Although no one objected, some people were still hesitant. Li Xiangqian looked at them and knew that words alone could not completely solve the problem. In the end, he decided to take the lead himself and start from his own home, taking out the extra food at home and sharing it with everyone.