Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian was relieved when he saw this, knowing that he had made the right move. It seemed that Aunt Zhang was not so resistant, at least the deliciousness of onions and pork belly had planted a little expectation in her heart. He felt that this opportunity was just right and could not be missed, so he quickly continued, "Yes, Aunt Zhang, when I plant the onions, everyone in our yard can taste them together. Then I will buy some good pork belly and make a big plate for you, and we can eat together!"

Aunt Zhang agreed repeatedly after hearing this, and her eyes seemed to be a little relaxed. She smacked her lips a few times, and her tone finally softened: "Hey, Xiao Li, our cabinet has been there for many years, but since you are willing to do so, I can see if I can move it. Well, it will take some time to move it. Why don't you wait until the weather is better, and I will ask my nephew to help me move it, what do you say?"

Li Xiangqian was overjoyed, but on the surface he remained calm and nodded repeatedly: "Oh, of course, Aunt Zhang, if this matter is troublesome for you, I will definitely help you. I can move it anytime you say!"

Seeing how polite he was, Aunt Zhang felt much better. She waved her hand and said, "Okay, okay, wait until the weather gets warmer. I'll call my nephew to move this broken cabinet away so that no one will complain every day."

At this moment, the heavy stone in Li Xiangqian's heart finally fell to the ground. He knew that this matter finally had a clue, and he felt relieved and smiled involuntarily. After saying hello to Aunt Zhang, he returned to his room, sat on the bed in a good mood, and thought about the next plan.

He began to think seriously about how to grow onions well, after all, this was something he had been looking forward to for a long time. He repeatedly recalled the planting methods he had looked up in his mind, thinking that he would have to turn the ground over and loosen the soil first, and then sow the seeds when the sun was the best, to ensure that each onion could get enough sunlight.

But just planting onions is not enough. Li Xiangqian is also thinking about how to make the pork belly more fragrant. He has not forgotten what he just said to Aunt Zhang - he must make the pork belly fried with onions very well to make it worth the effort. When he was a child, his mother's pork belly fried with onions was one of the most precious delicacies in the family. The fat and lean pork belly was slowly fried in the pan until golden brown, and the fat oozed out. Then the chopped onions were added. The aroma of onions immediately filled the whole kitchen, accompanied by the salty and fragrant smell of the pork belly, which was simply irresistible.

Li Xiangqian imagined that scene, as if he had returned to the days when his mother was still alive. He was still a child at that time, and his mother was always busy in the simple kitchen, occasionally giving him a piece of freshly fried meat and reminding him to be careful not to burn his mouth. He looked eagerly at the food in the pot, waiting for his mother to finish cooking so that he could eat his fill in one go.

These memories made Li Xiangqian's mouth curl up slightly, and his heart felt warm. He secretly vowed that when the onions were planted, he would make a dish of fried pork belly and onions that was more fragrant than in his memory, not only to eat it himself, but also to share it with the neighbors in the yard. Aunt Zhang agreed to move the cabinet, and things went smoothly. He felt that he should give something back, after all, neighbors still rely on getting along with each other in harmony.

In the following days, Li Xiangqian began to prepare. He went to the market on the weekend and bought some onion seeds and tools needed for planting. He carefully selected the best seeds and read several pamphlets on planting, fearing that he would fail in his first attempt to plant onions. He also asked the old farmers who sold vegetables in the market for some tips, trying to master every detail better.

Li Xiangqian has always been down-to-earth. He is not someone who easily thinks about things. The focus of his life is like his pair of shiny leather shoes, firmly on the ground. But recently, something has made him feel a little uneasy. This uneasiness does not come from the factory work or the trouble of onion planting, but from a person - Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu lived at the other end of the courtyard. On weekdays, the two of them got along well and greeted each other a few times, but they didn't have a deep friendship. Li Xiangqian remembered that Qin Huairu had always been a smart and capable woman. She was not particularly beautiful, but there was always a sharp light in her eyes that could not be ignored. She was not very old, about the same age as Li Xiangqian. Her family did not have a particularly prominent background, and she lived on her own efforts. Her husband died unexpectedly a few years ago, leaving her and several children. She usually relied on odd jobs outside to make a living and worked hard alone in the courtyard. Although life was hard, she never asked anyone for help, which made Li Xiangqian respect her a little.

But in recent days, Li Xiangqian began to notice that Qin Huairu seemed to appear around him frequently. Whether he was loosening the soil in the yard to plant onions or getting up in the morning to clean the yard, she would always come over from time to time, and sometimes even find an excuse to talk to him. At first, Li Xiangqian thought it was a coincidence. After all, the courtyard was so small that it was normal to run into each other occasionally. But after so many times, he couldn't help but have doubts in his heart.

That day, Li Xiangqian was busy in the yard, preparing to plant onion seeds in the soil. While he was concentrating on turning the soil and thinking about how lush the onions would grow in the future, Qin Huairu suddenly appeared in his sight. She leaned against the wall, her eyes scanning the hoe in his hand, with a faint smile on her face.

"Master Li, what are you busy planting recently?" Qin Huairu's voice was filled with a hint of familiar sarcasm.

Li Xiangqian raised his head and was somewhat surprised to see her standing there. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled: "Nothing, just planting some onions, thinking of eating them myself in the future."

Qin Huairu looked at him, nodded slightly, took a few steps forward, and said in a relaxed tone: "Onions? Good stuff, they smell good when stir-fried. You have a good idea, you can grow them yourself and eat them yourself, which saves money and is healthy."

Li Xiangqian smiled awkwardly, not quite understanding why she was so interested all of a sudden. After all, the neighbors in the yard didn't usually ask about each other's lives. He muttered to himself that Qin Huairu seemed to have talked a little too much today. Normally, she wasn't the kind of person who liked to chat.

Qin Huairu stared at the freshly turned land and continued, "Onions are easy to grow, but you have to remember to water them, otherwise they will easily wither." There was a hint of concern in her words, as if she was really giving Li Xiangqian some advice on how to plant onions.

Li Xiangqian felt strange inside, but nodded on the surface: "Yes, I know, I remember about watering the plants."