Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian didn't say anything more, but simply turned around and walked into the house, pretending to see him off. "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm used to handling it myself. If I really need it, I'll come back to you."

Xu Damao stood there, the smile on his face finally froze for a moment. He shrugged, a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes, but then he returned to normal, waved his hand and said, "Okay, since you said so, I won't force you. But, move forward, opportunities don't wait."

After saying this, he turned around and strode out of the courtyard, with a hint of displeasure in his steps.

Li Xiangqian stood in the middle of the yard, watching Xu Damao leave, with mixed feelings in his heart. He knew that rejecting Xu Damao would also mean that he would face more difficulties alone. Although he had long been accustomed to carrying all the burdens by himself, the current situation was more complicated than ever before, and if he was not careful, he might lose everything.

Standing in the empty yard, Li Xiangqian's thoughts became heavier. He knew in his heart that Xu Damao's warning was not completely unreasonable. Liu Haizhong's side was indeed much more complicated, and this person was extremely cunning. It was not easy to gain benefits from him.

However, it is precisely because of the complexity of Liu Haizhong that Li Xiangqian is even more reluctant to cooperate with speculators like Xu Damao. He would rather take the risk alone than give Xu Damao any chance. Moreover, the problem of water sources involves his future livelihood. Once it falls into the hands of others, the consequences will be disastrous.

Thinking of this, Li Xiangqian became more resolute in his decision. He looked up at the rising sun, took a deep breath, suppressed the complicated emotions in his heart, and prepared to go out to find Liu Haizhong. There must be a result today, whether it is good or bad, he has to face it.

"I can't wait any longer." Li Xiangqian said to himself silently, then quickly walked out of the courtyard and headed towards the town.

Li Xiangqian walked on the street, his mind still reverberating with the conversation he had just had with Xu Damao. Although he rejected Xu Damao's proposal, the words he said before he left still lingered in his mind, like a small hook that would occasionally hook him and make him feel heavy-hearted. The matter over at Liu Haizhong weighed on his mind, and there was no clear way out. He sighed, feeling irritated.

"Forget it, I won't think about it for now." Li Xiangqian whispered to himself, shook his head, and forced himself to get out of the tangle. Anyway, there was no way to find Liu Haizhong directly this morning, so he should deal with the current matter first. His stomach had already started to growl. He was upset last night and didn't eat anything well. He couldn't eat on an empty stomach today.

Walking to the corner, he saw a stall selling eggs. The stall owner was a middle-aged woman, fiddling with the eggs in the basket, with the sun shining on her shoulders. Li Xiangqian stood aside, silently watching for a few seconds, and decided to buy some back, at least he could have some fried eggs to fill his stomach.

He squatted down and picked a few eggs, shaking them gently. Each egg was plump and smooth. He thought to himself that this was finally a reliable thing. Compared with those complicated interpersonal relationships and troublesome things, buying a few eggs and cooking at home made him feel a little peaceful.

"Weigh half a pound for me." Li Xiangqian raised his head and said to the stall owner.

The woman skillfully picked out a few of the best eggs from the basket, weighed them and handed them to him with a friendly smile on her face. "Would you like to buy something else? I have some fresh vegetables here."

Li Xiangqian shook his head, thinking that he would just make a simple scrambled egg today, no need to make it too complicated. After paying, he turned around and walked back with the eggs in his hand. The eggs in his hand bumped against each other gently, making a subtle sound, and this feeling actually made him feel a little warm for a moment.

When he returned to the courtyard, the yard was still quiet, with only a few sparrows chirping on the treetops. Li Xiangqian pushed open the door and walked into the dim kitchen, feeling tired again. Although things were weighing on his shoulders one after another, he still knew that he had to eat something first to regain some strength, otherwise he would not be able to hold on until the evening.

He stood by the stove for a while, staring at the old pot and the mottled wall, and suddenly felt an inexplicable loneliness in his heart. This feeling has always been buried deep in his heart, but in this quiet kitchen, this loneliness seems to be infinitely magnified.

"How long can I last alone?" He smiled bitterly in his heart, but immediately shook the thought off.

He took out the eggs and carefully beat them into a bowl. The yolk rolled in the bowl, and the golden luster made him a little dazed. He waved his chopsticks and began to stir. Listening to the slight sound of the egg liquid, his heart gradually calmed down. Although the cooking process was simple, it was one of the few things he could fully control.

The flames danced at the bottom of the pot. He poured in the oil. The moment the steam rose, it seemed to take away some of his anxiety. He poured the egg liquid into the pot, listening to the sizzling sound and the aroma of the oil, stimulating his taste buds. Watching the eggs quickly become golden and fluffy in the pot, Li Xiangqian felt a little relieved.

He thought, although things outside were a mess, at least he could have a peaceful meal, which was a rare comfort in life. Li Xiangqian put the fried eggs on a plate, simply cut a few slices of chopped green onions and sprinkled them on top, and carried the plate back to the simple dining table.

Sitting at the table, he looked at the plate of steaming scrambled eggs, feeling somewhat satisfied but also a little uneasy. The pressure of life, the troubles in the courtyard, the difficulties in the fields, and the confrontation with Liu Haizhong were all temporarily suppressed in his heart, but he knew that after this meal, all the troubles would come back to him, forcing him to face them.

Li Xiangqian picked up the chopsticks and mechanically picked up a piece of scrambled egg and put it into his mouth. The aroma of the egg spread in his mouth, but he didn't seem to really taste this simple delicacy. His thoughts drifted to Liu Haizhong again - the person who gave him a headache.

Liu Haizhong has always been a shrewd man, as cunning as an old fox, and never suffers losses when it comes to interests. Li Xiangqian recalled his past experiences dealing with him, and he had to be cautious every time, fearing that any word or action of his would fall into his trap. This time, the matter of water sources involved too many interests. Liu Haizhong would obviously not give in easily, and he had to fight for it - he even felt that this negotiation might be the biggest challenge he had faced in recent years.