Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"But I can't really ignore her needs." He whispered to himself, struggling in his heart. Although he tried to keep a certain distance between himself and her emotions, there were always some things that made it difficult for him to do so. He didn't want to deepen her loneliness, nor did he want to make her feel more helpless because of his hesitation.

He picked up the teacup again and took a sip. The warm tea slid down his throat, making him feel comfortable. Just as he was immersed in this warm feeling, there was another knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Li Xiangqian frowned slightly, with a little alert in his heart. He gently put down the teacup, walked to the door, opened it, and found that it was Qin Huairu standing outside the door, with a slightly tired face, but with a hint of expectation.

"Huai Ru, why are you here again?" Li Xiangqian was a little surprised, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He didn't know how to face her, but at this moment, his mood was somehow calmer.

"I... I was just thinking that I might need someone to chat with." Qin Huairu's voice was soft, but hesitant. Her eyes wandered uneasily over Li Xiangqian's face, as if she was expecting his reaction.

Li Xiangqian's heart tightened, and he understood what she wanted. Although he was still a little hesitant, he finally gave in when he saw the expectation flashing in her eyes. "Come in, I just made some tea."

Qin Huairu's eyes immediately flashed with light when she heard this, and a slight smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. She walked into the house, and Li Xiangqian closed the door. The atmosphere in the house seemed to become warm again. The two sat at the table, and Li Xiangqian poured her a cup of tea. In silence, the air was filled with the fragrance of tea and a subtle tacit understanding.

"Thank you." Qin Huairu said softly, taking the teacup, with a look of gratitude in his eyes.

Li Xiangqian didn't know how to respond, he just nodded slightly, but he felt a vague warmth in his heart. He looked at Qin Huairu in front of him, thinking that she was really someone worth talking to. Although there were still many unresolved problems between them, at this moment, the distance between them seemed to have shortened a bit.

"What happened with Lao Liu just now made me a little nervous." Qin Huairu's voice interrupted Li Xiangqian's thoughts, and her eyes flashed with concern, "Are you okay?"

Li Xiangqian was stunned for a moment, then realized that she was concerned about him, and felt warm in his heart. "I'm fine, just a little tired. I didn't expect Lao Liu to come to see me." He smiled slightly, trying to make his tone more relaxed.

Qin Huairu nodded, seemingly not intending to continue asking questions. Instead, she picked up the teacup and took a sip, her face showing a somewhat relaxed expression. "This tea is good, very fragrant."

"I made it myself." Li Xiangqian responded proudly, secretly relieved. At least she seemed to have calmed down and was no longer as nervous as before.

"I didn't drink tea much before, it was my mother who liked to drink it." Qin Huairu's eyes gradually softened, with some memories, "She said that drinking tea can calm the mind."

Li Xiangqian was deeply touched by this sentence, and he couldn't help but have more respect for Qin Huairu's mother. The hardships and trivialities of life have made many people gradually lose their passion for life, while some people are always seeking inner peace.

"I think you can try drinking more." Li Xiangqian said with a smile, "Sometimes, drinking tea can really make people calm down and think about life."

Qin Huairu looked at him with a serious look in her eyes, "You are right. I have been thinking about some things recently, but I can't figure it out."

"What's the matter?" Li Xiangqian's heart moved, and he was full of curiosity about her thoughts.

"I'm wondering how I should face my current life." She said softly, with a hint of depression in her voice, "Sometimes I feel like I'm in an endless vortex and I can't get out of it."

Li Xiangqian's heart tightened, knowing how she felt. "Huai Ru, life is always full of challenges, and we are all trying to adapt. Maybe, give yourself some time and slowly find your former self." He encouraged her carefully, trying to make his voice sound gentle but firm.

Although life in the courtyard is simple, it has its own charm. Every morning, just after dawn, Li Xiangqian always walks to the yard and stares at the only old locust tree in the yard. The branches and leaves of the locust tree sway gently with the morning breeze, and the shadow of the tree is reflected on the wall, as if this ancient courtyard is also breathing silently. This tree is very old. Li Xiangqian once climbed up to pick locust flowers when he was a child, but now it has become extremely old, and it seems that even the wind makes it a little difficult to blow. Li Xiangqian often looks at this locust tree and falls into deep thought. He feels that his life is like this tree, aging silently and without any waves.

However, although the days were peaceful, there was always an idea in his mind. This idea was not big, but for Li Xiangqian, it became the only bright spot in his life - he wanted to grow some onions. Li Xiangqian didn't know why, maybe it was because when he was a child, his mother often served a bowl of onion scrambled eggs on the table with a strong aroma, which left a deep impression on him. Every time he smelled the aroma of fried onions, he felt as if he had returned to his childhood, back to the warm time with his mother. So the idea of ​​growing onions sprouted in his heart.

The courtyard of the Siheyuan is not big. The old locust tree occupies a corner, and the rest of the space is used by neighbors to store sundries or dry clothes. There is little space left in the courtyard that can be used to grow things. Li Xiangqian has thought about how to make room for it many times. He even considered cutting down the old locust tree, but every time he had this idea, he always felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. He looked at the old tree, as if it was like a silent old man, guarding the past of the Siheyuan. If he really cut down the tree, it seemed that he would cut off the only connection with the past.

He didn't tell anyone about his intention to grow onions, but just thought about it quietly in his heart. He once secretly went to the market to inquire about the method of growing onions, and found that it was not difficult. Onions are not delicate plants. As long as there is sunlight and water, they can grow well. But the problem is that there is really no place in the yard. He quietly walked around the yard several times, observing carefully, hoping to find a piece of vacant land. However, he returned disappointed every time.

As time went by, Li Xiangqian's life remained dull, but the desire to grow onions became stronger and stronger, as if all his little hopes in life were pinned on this uncultivated land. He began to consider whether he could persuade the neighbors to move some of the debris piled in the yard. The neighbors in the courtyard had different personalities, some were easy to talk to, while others were more difficult to deal with. Li Xiangqian knew that if this matter was not handled properly, it would likely cause unnecessary conflicts.