Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Xiao Ming nodded and sat down to accompany Li Xiangqian. "I have an idea that may help. We can go to the old farmers in the village to ask for advice. They may have a better solution to these pests."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Li Xiangqian's eyes, and he felt a little relieved. "That's a good idea. The old farmers in the village are experienced and may be able to provide some useful suggestions." He stood up and patted Xiao Ming on the shoulder, "Let's go and find them."

The two left the courtyard and walked on the path. The autumn wind blew, bringing a hint of coolness. Li Xiangqian's thoughts were still not completely calm, but Xiao Ming's company made him feel a little comforted. Xiao Ming was always able to influence the people around him with his positive attitude, which gradually gave Li Xiangqian more hope.

When they arrived at the old farmer's house, it was getting dark. The old farmer was an elderly man with a weathered face but full of wisdom. The old farmer was sitting on a wooden chair in the yard, next to a small flower bed full of flowers. He saw Li Xiangqian and Xiao Ming and smiled and invited them into the house.

"Li Xiangqian, how come you have time to come to see me? The wind is very chilly tonight, you must keep warm." The old farmer's tone was gentle, with concern in his eyes.

Li Xiangqian sat down and described the problem he encountered in detail, and told the old farmer what he had found in the courtyard. The old farmer listened carefully, nodding from time to time to show his understanding. His eyes became deep and thoughtful, as if he was thinking about a complex problem.

"These pests are sometimes caused by an imbalance of plant nutrients or certain factors in the environment," the old farmer said slowly. "You need to find the root cause of the pests' reproduction, and you may need to adjust the plant's growth conditions."

Li Xiangqian felt more relaxed and listened carefully, fearing he would miss any useful suggestions. Xiao Ming also listened carefully and occasionally asked some questions, trying to understand the old farmer's views in depth.

"I have some special insect repellent here," the old farmer finally said, "I have used it before. You may want to try it. But don't forget to adjust your cultivation methods. Maybe you can better prevent these pests."

Li Xiangqian quickly expressed his gratitude and took the prescription from the old farmer. A strong sense of hope surged in his heart. Although the problem still existed, at least he felt that he was moving towards solving it.

The situation of potatoes in Li Xiangqian's courtyard, especially in his vegetable garden, has become a huge concern for him. Potatoes are a crop that he particularly values, because they are not only an important food, but also a symbol of his years of hard work. Now, signs of insect pests have begun to appear on the leaves of the potatoes, and the potato fields of the entire plot look shriveled, which makes him feel frustrated.

Li Xiangqian got up early in the morning and came to the potato field with worries in his heart. He bent down to check the condition of each potato plant. The spots and insect marks on the leaves made him feel pain. He gently stroked the damaged leaves with his fingers and felt a sense of powerlessness.

"Xiao Ming, come and help me." Li Xiangqian's voice was a little tired. He called his nephew, hoping to get some advice or help, although he knew that Xiao Ming didn't know as much about agriculture as he did.

Xiao Ming rushed over and was surprised when he saw the condition of the potatoes. "Uncle Li, what happened to these potatoes? Why are they like this?"

"Yeah, I don't know what happened. I checked again yesterday and found that the pests are still spreading." Li Xiangqian sighed, "Now the entire potato field is almost eroded."

Xiao Ming squatted down and carefully examined several potatoes. "I remember hearing about some methods before, maybe we can try them. However, you said that these insects have affected the entire potato field. Shouldn't we deal with the most seriously affected parts first?"

Li nodded. "Yes, I've been thinking about this, too. But the parts that are disposed of are a big loss for me. We need to find a way to effectively control pests, otherwise the losses will get bigger and bigger."

Xiao Ming looked at the potato field thoughtfully. "We can try the prescription given by the old farmer, or change the cultivation method. You see, these potatoes are now severely infested by insects. If we don't solve the problem, it may get worse."

Li Xiangqian took a deep breath and felt frustrated. "Yes, I was thinking of this idea too. However, there will still be a lot of waste if we dispose of the badly damaged potatoes. I have to find a way to reduce this loss."

The two discussed and started to act. Li Xiangqian decided to deal with the potatoes that were already severely damaged first. He found a small shovel and began to carefully dig out the damaged potatoes. His movements became slow and cautious, as if each potato carried his years of hard work and hope.

"Uncle Li, do you need help?" Xiao Ming saw Li Xiangqian's serious expression and offered to help.

"Thank you, Xiao Ming." Li Xiangqian looked at him gratefully. "Please put these potatoes aside for me. I need to treat the soil and see if it can be restored."

Xiao Ming nodded and began to help seriously. As they worked, they exchanged ideas and discussed how to make adjustments based on the old farmer's suggestions. Li Xiangqian's mood gradually eased during the work. Although he was tired, he felt that he was doing something practical to try to save hope for the land.

After they had cleared the badly damaged potatoes, Li Xiangqian plowed the soil again and treated it with the medicine given by the old farmer. Although he was still full of uneasiness, he knew that this was a necessary step. He hoped that the new treatment method could effectively control the spread of pests, and he was also considering the next cultivation plan.

"Xiao Ming, you've worked hard." Li Xiangqian patted Xiao Ming on the shoulder. "Next, we need to observe the changes in these potatoes more carefully to see how effective the new method is."

"I will, Uncle Li," Xiao Ming responded, a look of concern in his eyes. "Our current approach is more targeted than before. I hope these measures will be effective."

Li nodded, and although he was still a little uneasy, he felt that his efforts were gradually producing results. He knew that in the face of this problem, he had to remain patient and persistent, because this was not only for the potatoes, but also for his own beliefs and hopes.