Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Xu Damao smiled and patted their shoulders: "Okay, it's settled then. Come to me in a couple of days and I'll see what I can prepare for you."

Li Xiangqian and He Yuzhu thanked him, and when they left Xu Damao's house, they both felt relieved. On the way back to the courtyard, He Yuzhu patted Li Xiangqian on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Xiangqian, you are really capable. If we can successfully get food this time, our life in the courtyard will be much better."

Li Xiangqian also smiled, but he was still thinking about his next plan. He knew that the food he got from Xu Damao was far from enough, and more methods were needed to truly improve everyone's lives. Walking on the street, he looked at the people coming and going, thinking to himself: No matter how difficult it is, he will not give up. He will find more ways to help the neighbors in the courtyard get through this difficult winter.

A few days later, as agreed, Li Xiangqian and He Yuzhu came to Xu Damao's residence again. Xu Damao had already prepared a bag of grains and a few small fishes. When he saw the two people coming, he handed them to them. Li Xiangqian took the bag, feeling delighted, and thanked him repeatedly. He Yuzhu also patted Xu Damao on the shoulder to express his gratitude. The three of them smiled at each other, and understood each other tacitly.

Li Xiangqian and He Yuzhu, who had received the food, trotted back to the courtyard. When the neighbors in the courtyard saw them getting the food back, they all gathered around them, their faces full of anticipation and joy. Li Xiangqian smiled and said to everyone, "Today we have fish and grain porridge to drink again. Everyone, hurry up and prepare your bowls and chopsticks. We'll have dinner soon!"

The children cheered and ran home to get the bowls. The adults also came to the water tank to help. The courtyard was once again filled with laughter. Li Xiangqian looked at all this and felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. He knew that this was just the beginning. As long as everyone worked together, they would be able to overcome the difficulties and live a better life.

When Li Xiangqian woke up early in the morning, it was not yet completely bright. The courtyard was quiet, and only a few roosters could be heard in the distance. He stretched himself and thought about what he was going to do today. In recent days, he has begun to plan how to expand the food source in the courtyard. Although the small fish and grains he got from Xu Damao yesterday allowed everyone to have a full meal, it was just a drop in the bucket and was far from enough to sustain the situation for a long time. Today, he planned to talk to Yi Zhonghai, hoping to get some help from him.

Yi Zhonghai is a somewhat dignified figure in the courtyard. Although he is a little older, he is still strong and decisive. He usually has a high status in the courtyard because of his good craftsmanship and some food stored at home. Li Xiangqian has always felt that if he can get Yi Zhonghai's support, the life of the courtyard will be much better. With this idea in mind, Li Xiangqian decided to talk to Yi Zhonghai.

When Li Xiangqian arrived at the door of Yi Zhonghai's house, he found that the door was ajar and there seemed to be no movement in the house. He knocked on the door gently and called out, "Uncle Yi, are you home?"

No one responded. Li Xiangqian knocked on the door again with more force, but still no response. He hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open and walked in. The room was dark, with only a ray of light coming in from the gap beside the window. He stood at the door and saw Yi Zhonghai sitting at the table with his back to the door, seemingly busy with something.

"Uncle Yi, I'm Li Xiangqian. I have something to discuss with you." Li Xiangqian spoke tentatively.

Yi Zhonghai did not turn around immediately, but stopped what he was doing and said in a cold voice: "Xiang Qian, what do you want from me so early in the morning?"

Li Xiangqian took a few steps forward, trying to see what Yi Zhonghai was doing, but the light was too dim and he could only see some blurry shadows on the table. He scratched his head and said bluntly: "Uncle Yi, the food in the yard is tight recently, and everyone is having a hard time. I was thinking, can you help think of a way to distribute some food to everyone to deal with the emergency?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Xiangqian suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. Before he could react to what happened, his eyes went dark and he fell heavily to the ground. He only remembered hearing a low sigh before he fell into a coma.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Xiangqian slowly woke up. He opened his eyes and found himself lying on the ground, dizzy and with a buzzing in his ears. The surroundings gradually became clear, and he recognized that this was Yi Zhonghai's house. He touched the back of his head with his fingers and could still feel the swelling and pain.

He tried to stand up, but found that his hands and feet were a little weak, and it was difficult for him to even stand up. Just as he was trying to stand up by holding on to the wall, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw that it was Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai looked grim and complicated at Li Xiangqian, seeming a little regretful and helpless. He slowly said, "Xiangqian, I know you are doing this for the good of the people in the courtyard, but there are some things you shouldn't interfere with."

Li Xiangqian endured the headache and asked in confusion: "Uncle Yi, what are you doing? I just want to help everyone get through the difficulties, why can't I intervene?"

Yi Zhonghai sighed, walked to the table, touched a wooden box on the table, his eyes a little dazed: "Why do you think I knocked you out? It's not because I don't want to help everyone, but there are some things you don't know and shouldn't know."

Li Xiangqian felt uneasy. He slowly stood up and took a few steps closer to Yi Zhonghai, trying to read his eyes. "Master Yi, what are you talking about? Is there something else going on?"

Yi Zhonghai raised his head and looked directly at Li Xiangqian, with a trace of sadness in his eyes: "The food problem in Siheyuan is not as simple as a lack of food. Someone in our courtyard has done something behind the scenes. It's not that I don't want to help, but I can't tell you. I can only tell you to mind your own business and stop asking questions."

Li Xiangqian was completely confused. He frowned and his doubts deepened. He didn't understand what Yi Zhonghai said at all. But he was sure of one thing, that is, the food problem in the courtyard was far more complicated than he thought. He knew that he couldn't just give up. Since he had been involved, he couldn't just watch everyone suffer.

"Uncle Yi, no matter what you mean, I have to ask clearly." Li Xiangqian's eyes were firm. "The people in the courtyard are suffering, I can't just sit there and watch. If someone really did something, I must find out, so that everyone can live a good life."

Yi Zhonghai looked at the determination in Li Xiangqian's eyes, was silent for a while, shook his head, and said slowly: "Xiangqian, you are a good person. I understand your intentions.