Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

At this time, Uncle Wang came over and saw Li Xiangqian sweating profusely, and asked, "Xiangqian, what are you doing?"

Li Xiangqian raised his head, smiled and said, "Uncle Wang, I was just thinking of cleaning out this big water tank and using it to cook rice. This way everyone can have a bite of hot food."

Uncle Wang nodded, showing an approving look: "Good idea! You are a resourceful kid. But you can't handle it alone, so let me help you. This way, we can start earlier."

With the help of Uncle Wang, the cleaning work was completed quickly. Then, they found a large iron pot, placed the water tank on top of the iron pot, and raised it with bricks to ensure even heat during cooking. After a busy morning, the large water tank was finally ready for use. Looking at the cleaned water tank and the large iron pot that had been set up, Li Xiangqian and Uncle Wang smiled at each other, feeling at ease.

The next step was to collect food. Li Xiangqian knocked on doors in the yard and explained the situation to the neighbors. Many people expressed their willingness to contribute. Some brought the remaining rice at home, some brought flour, and some brought sweet potatoes and potatoes. Although the amount was not large, it accumulated over time, and gradually, the small kitchen in Li Xiangqian's home was filled with all kinds of food and ingredients.

During the busy work, Li Xiangqian met Old Zhang. Old Zhang's family was in a difficult situation, but he never complained to others. Li Xiangqian walked over and asked, "Uncle Zhang, do you want to take out some of the food you bought this time? Let's cook it together so that everyone can eat it."

Old Zhang hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering. He knew Li Xiangqian's good intentions, but he was still a little embarrassed. He whispered, "Xiangqian, my family doesn't have much food, how about I help you cook? I'm too old to do other heavy work, but I can still do this little thing."

Li Xiangqian was touched when he heard this. He smiled and said, "Uncle Zhang, it's great that you can help me like this. Cooking is a big job, and it takes someone to take care of it. Then we'll leave this to you, and we'll be at ease!"

Old Zhang nodded, a smile on his face. He understood that Li Xiangqian was giving him face and not letting him feel burdened. This child is sensible and considerate, and he really has a good heart.

That evening, wisps of smoke rose from the courtyard of the quadrangle. Steam rose from the large water tank, and the air was filled with the aroma of rice and vegetables. The adults brought small stools, and the children gathered around the large water tank excitedly, looking at the steaming food, with long-lost smiles on their faces. Everyone sat together, chatting lively, and laughter echoed in every corner of the courtyard.

Li Xiangqian stood aside, watching all this, feeling extremely satisfied. This was exactly what he wanted to see. Although they could not solve all the problems, at least at this moment, everyone was no longer alone and no longer hungry. This simple warmth made him feel that all his efforts were worth it.

Mrs. Wang walked up to Li Xiangqian, patted him on the shoulder, and said gratefully, "Xiangqian, if you hadn't come up with this idea, we wouldn't know how to survive this winter. You are really a great benefactor to our courtyard."

Li Xiangqian shook his head and said modestly, "Sister Wang, please don't say that. We are a family in Siheyuan, and we have to take care of each other. As long as we work together, our lives will definitely get better and better."

Li Xiangqian looked at the scene of the rising smoke from the kitchen in the courtyard, and although he felt a little satisfied, he was still worried. He knew that although these rice and grains could temporarily alleviate everyone's hunger problem, they were limited after all. As the weather got colder, everyone's demand for food would be greater. Thinking of this, he decided to find a way to increase the source of food for everyone.

One evening, Li Xiangqian passed by a small market on his way home. In a corner, he saw an old fisherman sitting on the ground with a wooden barrel in front of him, which contained some small fish. The fish were not big and looked very fresh, with silver scales glittering in the afterglow of the setting sun. Li Xiangqian's heart moved, and he remembered that when he was a child, his mother used to cook porridge with small fish in the cold winter. The delicious taste was still unforgettable.

"These small fish are cheap. It would be great if I could buy some and cook porridge for everyone." He thought to himself and walked over.

The old fisherman looked up and smiled when he saw someone coming over, "Young man, these fish are freshly caught. They are cheap and fresh. Do you want to buy some?"

Li Xiangqian squatted down, looked at the small fish in the bucket, and asked, "How much are these fish for, uncle?"

The old fisherman wiped the water stains on his hands and replied, "I'll sell it to you cheaply, three cents a pound."

Hearing this price, Li Xiangqian thought it was acceptable, so he said readily: "Then weigh out 20 kilograms for me, and I'll take it back to cook porridge."

The old fisherman smiled and nodded, fished out the small fish from the bucket, weighed them neatly, put them in a large cloth bag and handed it to Li Xiangqian. Li Xiangqian took the bag and felt it was a bit heavy, but his heart was full of joy. He could imagine how happy everyone would be when they drank this delicious fish porridge.

When he returned to the courtyard, it was already getting dark. Li Xiangqian walked straight to Uncle Wang's house, put the bag on the table, and said with a smile: "Uncle Wang, I bought some small fish at the market today, and I thought of using them to cook porridge, which will be a good way for everyone to replenish their bodies."

When Uncle Wang saw the small fish, his eyes lit up and he smiled approvingly: "Xiang Qian, your idea is good! Fish porridge in winter is both warming and nutritious. These fish are enough for the people in our yard to eat for several meals."

Li Xiangqian nodded and continued, "Yes, I think we can use these small fish to cook porridge tomorrow so that everyone can have a taste. What do you think?"

Uncle Wang patted Li Xiangqian on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Okay, I'll get up early tomorrow morning to help you prepare. You always have a good idea!"

The next morning, the people in the courtyard smelled a fragrant fishy smell coming from the direction of the large water tank. Everyone was attracted by the fragrance and walked out of the house and gathered towards the water tank. Old Zhang sat by the water tank early in the morning, stirring it with a large wooden spoon. The thick fish porridge rolled in the pot, emitting bursts of white steam and a fragrant aroma.

Aunt Li came over smelling the aroma and asked curiously, "Uncle Zhang, what delicious food are you cooking today? Why does it smell so good?"

Old Zhang replied with a smile: "Aunt Li, I bought some small fish today. Let's have fish porridge together! The porridge made from fish is not only delicious but also nutritious. It is just right for our winter mornings."