Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

He had been particularly sensitive to the sounds around him recently, and he was already familiar with the movements in the courtyard. Even when the cats in the yard stepped on the bricks, he could distinguish their slight footsteps.

However, this time the sound was very soft, as if someone deliberately slowed down their pace to avoid being discovered. Li Xiangqian frowned, feeling somewhat puzzled. At this time, apart from Qin Huairu just now, there shouldn't be anyone else looking for him, right? Could it be that she is back again?

He hesitated for a moment and walked towards the door, his uneasiness gradually deepening. He knew that Qin Huairu could be impulsive sometimes, but it seemed a little unreasonable that she turned back to look for him not long after she left.

When he opened the door, his fingers tightened unconsciously, and various possible scenarios emerged in his mind. However, the person standing outside the door was not Qin Huairu as he expected, but another familiar figure - his neighbor Lao Liu.

Old Liu was wearing an old cotton-padded jacket, standing in the rain with his neck hunched, with a somewhat anxious look on his face. When he saw Li Xiangqian opening the door, he immediately stepped forward and said anxiously, "Xiangqian, I'm sorry to bother you so late, but I really have no choice."

Li Xiangqian was stunned. His mind had not yet completely recovered from the dizziness. He barely managed to sort out his thoughts and asked, "Lao Liu, what's wrong? What happened?"

Old Liu sighed, looking a little embarrassed, "My wife suddenly became very ill and just fainted at home. I really can't take care of her by myself, so I want you to help me take her to see a doctor."

Li Xiangqian frowned slightly, and suddenly understood something. Lao Liu's wife has always been in poor health, and everyone in the yard knows this. However, the recent weather is damp and cold, which is indeed easy for elderly people to get sick. Although he was very dizzy, he couldn't take care of himself. Lao Liu's wife's condition was obviously much more serious than his.

"Okay, let's go. I'll go with you and take a look." He agreed quickly without hesitation, then put on his coat and followed Lao Liu out the door.

Walking in the yard, the rain was still drizzling, and the cold penetrated through the clothes and penetrated into the bone marrow. Li Xiangqian quickened his pace. Although he was not feeling well, he could not care about it at the moment. He knew in his heart that if someone in the yard got sick, especially an elderly person like Lao Liu, he could not delay.

Lao Liu's house was not far away. When the two walked into the house quickly, the lights in the house were dim and the air was filled with the smell of medicine. Lao Liu's wife was lying on the bed, her face was pale, her forehead was covered with cold sweat, and she looked very weak.

"Old Liu, what's going on?" Li Xiangqian asked anxiously as he walked to the bedside.

Old Liu looked flustered and explained with shaking hands: "She was fine just now, but suddenly she fainted. I called her but she didn't respond. I was so scared that I rushed to find you."

Li Xiangqian's heart tightened. Although he knew nothing about medicine, it was clear that Lao Liu's wife was in a bad condition. He said no more and reached out to help Lao Liu's wife sit up. "Let's take her to the hospital first. We can't wait any longer."

Li Xiangqian walked out of Lao Liu's house and returned to his own courtyard, still thinking about what had just happened. The rain had gradually stopped, and the air was filled with the fresh smell of soil. Although the emergency situation just now had kept him on edge, he could now feel a little relaxed and a little tired. He was somewhat eager for a quiet time, wanting to sit down and have a cup of tea, sort out his thoughts, and relax from the tension he had just felt at Lao Liu's house.

"Let's make some tea first." He whispered to himself, trying to pull himself out of his previous nervous state. He slowly walked to the kitchen and prepared to brew a pot of tea. The heat and aroma of the tea always brought him a sense of comfort, as if he could find a sense of security in this simple daily life.

He opened the cupboard, took out a can of tea, sniffed it gently, and the rich aroma of tea made him feel relaxed and happy. Li Xiangqian couldn't help but think of his mother. In the past, in this kitchen, she always liked to share some bits of life with him while making tea. At that time, his life seemed simple and happy, without all these chaotic worries in his heart. But as time went by, responsibilities and trivial matters drowned him like a torrent, making him almost forget those simple joys.

"What am I busy with now?" Li Xiangqian said to himself, feeling helpless. He was getting more and more confused about his life, even a little overwhelmed. Recently, he was always dealing with small matters between neighbors, but gradually lost his original goal. What did he want? Hard work, a stable life, or simple happiness?

As he was thinking, the water in the kettle began to boil, and the crisp sound interrupted his meditation. He subconsciously picked up the kettle and quickly poured in the tea leaves. The steaming aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen. Li Xiangqian closed his eyes slightly, letting the tea fragrance surround him, and the troubles in his heart seemed to slowly dissipate with this fragrance.

"Maybe I should try to relax a little bit." He thought silently. There are always too many pressures and burdens in life. Maybe he can try not to care so much and live a simpler life. As long as he does his best and pays attention to the people he cares about, maybe that's enough.

Li Xiangqian sat at the table, quietly savoring the freshly brewed tea, and his heart gradually calmed down. He noticed that the bunch of grapes was still on the table, and suddenly felt that the purple-red fruits looked particularly bright in this quiet atmosphere. Thinking of the conversation with Qin Huairu just now, he couldn't help but feel a complicated feeling in his heart.

"She really needs someone to accompany her." Li Xiangqian said softly, with an irrepressible feeling of pity in his heart. He couldn't help but think of her clear eyes, full of hope and helplessness. Qin Huairu was a lonely existence in this courtyard, and he seemed to have become her support, no matter how fragile this support was.

"What support should I give her?" Li Xiangqian sighed, realizing that he cared deeply about her. He was somewhat conflicted. On the one hand, he wanted to help her, but on the other hand, he was afraid that he would be involved in a more complicated relationship. Was it out of sympathy or did he want to give real care? He always had no answer in his heart.

"Maybe, I can invite her to have tea together." This thought flashed through his mind, and Li Xiangqian shook his head slightly, realizing that he might be thinking too much. He was already very busy, and Qin Huairu also had her own life, so there was no need to bother her too much.