Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

When Li Xiangqian heard these words, he felt a sharp pain in his heart, and the anger in his heart almost burst out. He tried hard to suppress the impulse in his heart, his fists were clenched so tightly that they turned white, and his nails dug deeply into his palms. However, he knew that if he lost control at this moment, things would only get worse.

"Uncle Yi, Mrs. Jia Zhang, if you don't believe me, you can go ask Old Zhang from the security department. He just helped me watch the melon field for a while yesterday. I didn't do anything. You can't convict me based on a few empty words!" Li Xiangqian tried to convince them with reason, but the anger in his eyes was no longer concealable.

Yi Zhonghai frowned slightly and seemed a little hesitant, but soon he said coldly: "Well, let's wait and see. If we find out that there is something wrong with you, don't blame us for being ruthless." He said this and turned away with everyone.

Li Xiangqian stood there, watching their backs go away, his heart full of anger and helplessness. He just wanted to protect the watermelons he had worked so hard to grow, but he was misunderstood and even maliciously slandered by his neighbors. The watermelon field in front of him was still quiet, but at this moment he felt deeply isolated and exhausted.

As the sun gradually rose higher, Li Xiangqian stood in the melon field, with nowhere to vent his grief and anger. He knew that the days ahead would not be easy. The threats from the gangsters were still there, and the hostility from the neighbors in the yard left him with no way to defend himself. Watermelon became his last hope this summer. He could no longer be passive, and he had to find a way, not only for himself, but also for his family.

Li Xiangqian stood by the melon field. The sun had gradually risen. The sunlight shone on his face, but it could not dispel the haze in his heart. Yi Zhonghai's cold words and Jia Zhang's accusations echoed in his mind. These words pierced his heart like needles, and the pain was unbearable. He had done nothing, but was maliciously slandered by these so-called "neighbors" in the courtyard. Anger and resentment surged in his chest, almost making him breathless.

Li Xiangqian clenched his fists, his fingertips sunk into his palms again, and the deep indentations reminded him of the difficulty of this struggle. He had no way out. Whether it was the threats from the gangsters or the false accusations in the courtyard, he had to deal with them one by one. Life at home was getting more and more urgent. After the corn was lost, watermelons were the only thing they could rely on, and now everyone was eyeing the watermelon field in his hands.

"I can't continue to be so passive." He gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

Last night, the watermelons were stolen by mice, which made him realize that the danger to this melon field did not only come from people. Whether it was the gangsters, the seemingly friendly neighbors in the courtyard, or even the silent mice, they were all eroding his hard work. He knew that these threats would not disappear easily. If he continued to be soft-hearted and waited for others to help him, he would only lose more.

Li Xiangqian recalled the brief conversation he had with Lao Zhang yesterday. Although the security department helped to guard the place, the time was limited and Lao Zhang could not be there all the time. He had to find a way to solve these threats and protect the fruits of his labor. Thinking of this, a bold idea suddenly popped up in his mind - use chili powder.

When he was a child, rats often came to steal food and fruits when his family was growing vegetables. At that time, Li Xiangqian's father taught him a folk remedy: sprinkle chili powder near the crops, and once the rats smell the pungent smell, they will not dare to approach. Although this method is only a temporary solution, it can at least effectively delay the attack for a period of time and force the rats to retreat.

A complete plan gradually formed in Li Xiangqian's mind. He decided to use chili powder to deal with the rats first, and then find a way to deal with the hooligans and neighbors' false accusations. He couldn't just sit there and wait for these people to continue to rob him. He had to take the initiative and teach them a lesson.

"The chili powder must be prepared quickly." He thought to himself and immediately turned and walked towards the market.

He knew that there were some small stalls selling spices at the market today, and he might be able to find enough chili powder. Although he didn't have much contact with these vendors on weekdays, he had to spend some money to buy enough this time. After all, the area of ​​the melon field was not small, and the chili powder needed was enough to cover a circle.

The market was as lively as ever, with people bustling around the stalls and hawking their wares. Li Xiangqian was walking through the crowd, calculating how much chili powder he needed to buy. Finally, he stopped in front of a seasoning stall. The stall owner was a middle-aged man in his fifties, dressed simply but with a shrewd look in his eyes.

"Boss, do you have chili powder? I need a lot." Li Xiangqian asked directly, with a hint of urgency in his tone.

The stall owner looked up at him and then smiled: "Chili powder, yes, I have it, but how much do you want?"

"At least ten kilograms." Li Xiangqian thought about it. This melon field is not small, and a layer of melons needs to be sprinkled on every corner. Ten kilograms should be enough.

When the stall owner heard this, his eyes lit up slightly: "Wow, ten kilograms is not a small amount. What big event is going on at home? Why do you need so much at once?"

"Don't ask so many questions, just weigh ten kilograms for me." Li Xiangqian didn't want to explain more, he just took out the money and put it on the stall.

Seeing his firm attitude, the stall owner did not ask any more questions. He quickly weighed enough chili powder for him and put it in several large paper bags and handed it to him. Li Xiangqian took the chili powder and held it in his hand. He felt the heavy weight in the bag and felt relieved. This powder might be the first step for him to deal with those troubles. He could no longer count on others to help him. He had to do it himself.

When Li Xiangqian returned to the melon field, he was sweating profusely. The sun was getting hotter and hotter, but his mood gradually calmed down. He knew that what he was going to do next would not be easy, but this was the first step he had to take. He could no longer let the rats eat his melons, nor could he wait for the gangsters and neighbors to continue to force him.

He carefully opened a bag, pinched some chili powder in his palm, and sprinkled it on the edge of the melon field. The chili powder turned slightly red in the sun, like the anger in his heart, gradually spreading. As he sprinkled the powder, he gritted his teeth secretly: these hooligans, rats, and even the neighbors in the courtyard, don't think of taking anything from him again. He is no longer the Li Xiangqian who allows others to bully him. This melon field is his, and it is also his property that he has protected with blood and sweat.

After spreading the chili powder, Li Xiangqian wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked up at the melon field surrounded by chili powder, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that these measures could only temporarily alleviate the crisis at hand, but those people would never give up easily. He had to be more careful and stay alert at all times.