Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"I heard that Li Xiangqian spent a lot of money this time, buying new seeds and installing water pumps. I'm afraid he's going to go bankrupt this time." Qin Huairu said with a bit of gloating while spinning dry her clothes.

A woman nearby nodded and said in a low voice, "That's right. I heard that he was cheated by He Yuzhu before, and this time he went to Liu Haizhong to buy fertilizer and other things. It was really troublesome. Even if the seedlings in the field are saved, I'm afraid he can't earn back the money he spent."

Qin Huairu smiled with a bit of disdain in her eyes: "He always wants to achieve success overnight, but it's impossible. His drive was worthy of envy before, but now it seems that he is too ambitious and is more likely to be cheated."

These words were accidentally heard by Li Ergou who was passing by. He ran to the field to find Li Xiangqian with an angry face and hurriedly repeated what Qin Huairu had just said: "Brother Xiangqian, Qin Huairu is such a vicious woman! She said in the yard that you will definitely lose everything this time, and she also said that you are too ambitious!"

Li Xiangqian frowned when he heard this. He had known for a long time that Qin Huairu always liked to gossip, but this time he said it so bluntly, which made him very unhappy. Although he didn't say anything, the fire in his heart was burning fiercely. He was already overwhelmed by life, and he had to face these rumors. The anxiety and dissatisfaction in his heart suddenly surged up in his heart.

He was silent for a moment, and whispered to Li Ergou, "It's okay, it's her business what she says. I'm too lazy to argue with her." But even though he said this, he couldn't help but feel angry.

Li Ergou could see that Li Xiangqian didn't really care, so he asked tentatively, "How about we go talk to her and ask her to stop gossiping? After all, this is a critical moment for you, and you can't let these gossips affect your mood."

Li Xiangqian shook his head and sighed: "There is nothing to say to people like her. She just likes to see others get into trouble and take advantage of them. But she doesn't know that every decision I make is for survival and for this piece of land."

Although his words were full of patience and helplessness, Li Xiangqian actually had a burning anger in his heart. He knew too well that all his hard work and risks were invisible to outsiders, who only saw the superficial disturbances and then made a quick conclusion.

That night, Li Xiangqian couldn't let go of the gossip. He tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. He thought again and again, and decided that he couldn't let Qin Huairu continue to mess around like this. The next morning, he decided to take the initiative to talk to Qin Huairu. He knew that he couldn't always be passive and tolerant, otherwise he would be crushed by these rumors one day.

Walking into Qin Huairu's house, Li Xiangqian saw her busy in the kitchen. She looked up and saw Li Xiangqian coming in, with a hint of discomfort on her face, obviously not expecting him to come to her house on his own initiative.

"Brother Xiang Qian, how come you have time to come here today?" Qin Huairu smiled, with a hint of tentativeness in his tone.

Li Xiangqian looked at her calmly and said directly, "I heard that you recently said in the yard that I lost everything and that I was too ambitious. Qin Huairu, aren't you going too far?"

Qin Huairu's smile froze on her face, her eyes flickered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. She put down her work, put her hands on her hips, and said casually, "Hey, I just said it casually, we were just chatting, there's nothing else to it."

Li Xiangqian stared at her, his voice steady but revealing an attitude that could not be questioned: "Just saying it casually? Qin Huairu, do you know how others will look at me after hearing those words? I have encountered troubles recently, but I didn't steal or rob. I earned money by farming with my own ability. If your words were to spread, who would believe me and who would be willing to deal with me?"

Qin Huairu was a little flustered and quickly waved her hands: "Brother Xiang Qian, don't misunderstand me, I don't mean that. I know you have been working diligently over the years, and I also know that you are a capable person. It's just that this little turmoil recently, everyone is just concerned about you."

Li Xiangqian sneered, his eyes sharp: "Care? If you really care, you should help me with ideas instead of gossiping behind my back. Those words you said not only made me feel unhappy, but also may affect other people's views of me. In the future, if you really have something to say, we can say it openly. I am not afraid of discussion, but I don't want to hear you say bad things about me behind my back again."

Qin Huairu looked a little embarrassed when she heard this. She lowered her head, adjusted her apron, and smiled unnaturally: "You see, I'm a fast-talking person. Okay, okay, I'll say less in the future. Don't take it to heart."

Li Xiangqian did not pursue the matter further and nodded: "I hope you remember what I said today. I'm facing enough difficulties now and don't want to hear any more false rumors." Although his tone was calm, his words were full of warnings.

Qin Huairu knew that he was in the wrong, so he stopped talking and just nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, I won't say anything more in the future, don't worry."

When Li Xiangqian left Qin Huairu's house, he was relieved, but not completely calm. He understood that although he had warned her, people like Qin Huairu would not change their character easily. She was quick-witted and loved to gossip. Even if she agreed this time, she might say something gossipy again.

Back in the yard, Li Xiangqian looked at the seedlings that had gradually recovered, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings. He felt a little comforted by his persistence, but at the same time he felt deeply exhausted. He knew that the road ahead was still long, and he had to continue fighting without any slackness.

Although Li Xiangqian warned Qin Huairu, his inner distress did not ease much. Rumors were just a small stone weighing on his shoulders. What really kept him awake at night was the land in front of him and the continuous troubles. Although the water source problem in the land was solved and the seedlings were getting better, he knew that it was far from time to relax.

Li Xiangqian would walk around the field several times every night to check the growth of the seedlings and see if there were any diseases or new problems. He was used to thinking alone, pacing silently on the dark ridges, as if this piece of land was not only the fruit of his labor, but also the entire support of his life. His mind kept echoing the setbacks and challenges of the past few days, and the burden that made him breathless became heavier and heavier. The failure some time ago, He Yuzhu's deception, the invasion of rumors, and the harsh demands of this land on him, each of them made him exhausted.