Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian's heart sank. Sure enough, he came. He suppressed his inner anxiety and smiled, "Brother Zhou, you see, I am not an ignorant person. Since you mentioned it, I will definitely not make it difficult for you. But I am really short of money recently. Can you give me some time and wait until the harvest in my field is good, and then I will thank you properly?"

Old Zhou glanced at him with a sneer on his face: "Hey, Xiang Qian, don't get me wrong. I'm not asking you for a lot of money. I just want to say that we are all neighbors and we should help each other. Do you understand what I mean?"

Li Xiangqian nodded, knowing that this was a trap set by Lao Zhou. He knew that even if he wanted to quit, he was already too deep in the trap to get out easily. He could only grit his teeth and hold on, hoping to hold on until the day of harvest.

After leaving Lao Zhou's well, Li Xiangqian returned home with a heavy heart. He sat on the ground, looking at the land that was gradually recovering, his heart full of helplessness and anxiety. Qin Huairu's warning came to his mind again. He knew that people like Lao Zhou would not let him go easily, but he had no other choice now. The only thing he could do was to be as cautious as possible to avoid falling into a deeper trap.

Li Xiangqian's life seemed to be stuck in an endless quagmire. These people and things in the courtyard unconsciously entangled him like vines, making him sink deeper and deeper. The water source problem was just the tip of the iceberg of his troubles. More difficulties were quietly gathering, making his burden heavier.

On this day, Li Xiangqian squatted in the corner of the yard, looking at the potato seedlings growing in the field in a trance. Once upon a time, he was full of hope for these crops, thinking that as long as these potatoes grew well, he could rely on them to get through the most difficult times. But now, these green seedlings seem to be a kind of irony in his eyes, reminding him of all the hardships and anxiety he has experienced during this period.

The harvest from the fields was his only hope, but this hope itself was like a bubble floating in the wind, which could burst at any time. He knew that potatoes could not grow without water, and although Lao Zhou's well water temporarily alleviated the urgent need, the cost was getting higher and higher. Even now, every time Li Xiangqian thought of Lao Zhou's scrutinizing eyes and meaningful words, he felt like a stone was pressing on his heart, making him breathless.

"Brother Xiang Qian, are you worried about the things on the farm?" A slightly childish voice suddenly came from behind him, interrupting his thoughts.

Li Xiangqian looked back and saw that it was Xiao Wang from the yard, a clever boy who often ran around and asked questions. Seeing him running over, Li Xiangqian forced a smile and said, "It's nothing, kid, don't worry about it, go back and play."

Xiao Wang did not leave, but squatted down and looked at Li Xiangqian curiously: "Brother Xiangqian, don't hide it from me, I know you are worried about the water in the fields recently. I heard from my father that it is getting harder and harder to get water from Uncle Zhou's well. Did he ask you to pay more money again?"

Li Xiangqian frowned slightly, not wanting to let the people in the courtyard know too much about his troubles, so he responded vaguely: "What nonsense is your father talking about? I arranged all this myself, don't worry about these adults' affairs."

Xiao Wang tilted his head and blinked, "But I heard that Uncle Zhou's well doesn't have much water. He will definitely be unhappy if you take too much. Do you think this road won't last long?"

Li Xiangqian didn't expect that Xiao Wang, who was so young, could tell what was on his mind. The suppressed emotions in his heart burst out instantly, and he couldn't help but sighed: "Hey, you're right, Xiao Wang, Uncle Zhou's water will have problems sooner or later. I really have no other choice now, I can only hold on."

Seeing his helpless look, Xiao Wang seemed to be a little worried about him. He pursed his lips and said, "Have you thought of any other way? How about trying my dad? Although he doesn't have much experience, he is one of us after all. Maybe he can help you."

Li Xiangqian smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Your father only has enough water for his own use, how can he take care of others. Forget it, kid, don't worry about it, I'll think of a solution myself."

Seeing that he could not persuade him, Xiao Wang could only leave in dismay. Li Xiangqian looked at his small figure, feeling bitter. People around him might think that he was only facing a water problem, but in fact, water was only a superficial problem, and the deeper dilemma made him unable to solve it.

Recently, he heard some rumors that many people in the yard began to talk about his good potato planting, especially that guy Xu Damao, who often ran around, making some sarcastic remarks in his mouth unconsciously.

"Hey, Xiangqian, your potatoes are growing well! After a few months, when they are harvested, I'm afraid that everyone in the hospital will benefit from you, right?" Xu Damao stood at the edge of his field that day and spoke with sarcasm, which made Li Xiangqian feel unhappy, but he could only forcefully maintain a smiling face to deal with it.

"That's impossible. We don't know if we can harvest it yet. It's still early." Li Xiangqian responded as if he was relaxed, but he knew very well in his heart that his words sounded like compliments, but Xu Damao had always had bad intentions, and there was a hint of sourness in his words.

Sure enough, a few days later, Xu Damao found an opportunity to bring up the matter again: "Xiang Qian, don't just focus on planting your land. I see people in the yard are watching you. You've planted the land so well, I'm afraid someone will be jealous when the harvest comes."

Li Xiangqian was shocked to hear this. Although he didn't like to think too much about these dark things, the courtyard was indeed a small society where everyone lived together and had mixed thoughts. Xu Damao's words seemed to be a reminder to him, but in fact they were more like provocations. But in any case, this made Li Xiangqian start to think about a more realistic problem - can he keep his potatoes when the harvest comes?

He has always kept a low profile and didn't want to be too conspicuous. But now his potatoes are growing well, and these movements can't be hidden in the yard. What if someone really comes to cause trouble during the harvest, or even tamper with it at night, what should he do?

"Xiang Qian, you have to be careful." Xu Damao said these words seemingly casually, patted Li Xiangqian on the shoulder, and walked away, leaving Li Xiangqian standing alone at the edge of the field with mixed feelings.

Li Xiangqian looked at the green potato seedlings and felt a little uneasy. He knew that the people in the courtyard were complicated. The trivial things in daily life were enough to make people feel resentful, not to mention the potato field where he had placed all his hopes. The harvest was coming, and all the troubles seemed to be approaching step by step.