Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"Master Li, good morning." Qin Huairu still had that smiling expression on her face and spoke in a cheerful tone, but the tiredness in her eyes was obvious.

"Aunt Qin, you're here so early too?" Li Xiangqian was a little embarrassed. Although he was greeting her, he was thinking about how to get away as quickly as possible.

"Yeah, I haven't been sleeping well recently, so I woke up early in the morning and thought about going to the market to buy some vegetables." As she spoke, she raised the basket in her hand, as if explaining why she was here so early.

Li Xiangqian didn't want to talk any more, so he said casually: "Me too, I'm just going to buy some chili peppers. The dishes at home always feel a little less flavorful without chili peppers."

Qin Huairu showed a hint of interest when he heard this: "Oh, Master Li likes spicy food? You usually look very plain, but I didn't expect you have such a strong taste."

Li Xiangqian felt a little strange when he heard this, but he just laughed dryly: "Yeah, I'm used to it. It always feels bland without chili peppers." He thought secretly in his heart and quickly found an excuse to leave to avoid talking any further.

Qin Huairu didn't ask any more questions, but just nodded: "Then you should go quickly, the vegetables in the morning market are fresh, I'm going there to take a look, maybe I can run into them later."

Li Xiangqian felt nervous when he heard this, and he didn't want to meet her in the market anymore. He nodded quickly, turned around and strode towards the market, praying that he would buy peppers and come back soon so that he wouldn't meet her again.

The air in the market was filled with the smell of fresh vegetables and meat. The vendors began to shout and hawk their wares early in the morning. The vegetables were neatly arranged and looked juicy green. Li Xiangqian walked straight to a stall selling chili peppers and carefully selected them. The peppers looked bright red and plump, and seemed to have a strong spicy taste, which made him feel satisfied. He picked up a handful of peppers, squeezed them with his hands, and asked the stall owner about the price.

"Boss, how much is this pepper per pound?" Li Xiangqian said in a calm tone, trying to appear casual, but he was still anxious to buy it and take it back.

The stall owner looked up at him and replied with a smile, "Fresh goods, just arrived this morning, 3.5 yuan per pound, not expensive."

Li Xiangqian nodded, thinking the price was reasonable, so he quickly weighed two kilograms and paid. He was carrying a bag of chili peppers and was about to turn around to go back when he suddenly heard a familiar greeting.

"Hey, Master Li, you finished buying it so quickly?" The voice was not loud, but it was so familiar that Li Xiangqian's heart was shocked.

He turned around and saw Qin Huairu standing in front of a nearby stall picking cucumbers, with a smile on her face and a hint of curiosity in her eyes. She seemed to have just seen Li Xiangqian and took the initiative to greet him before she finished picking the vegetables.

Li Xiangqian felt a little helpless. He didn't expect to meet her again so soon. He had to bite the bullet and smiled: "Well, I just bought it. Are you here too?"

Qin Huairu smiled and said, "Yes, in our courtyard, you are the only one who is so particular about cooking that you even come out to buy chili peppers."

Li Xiangqian didn't know how to respond for a moment, so he just nodded reluctantly. He wondered in his heart, why did Qin Huairu target him when he just bought some peppers to cook. They didn't live too close to each other, but she always ran into him, which made him feel uncomfortable.

Qin Huairu didn't seem to notice his embarrassment, and continued to say lightly: "You are really a careful person. There are not many people in this courtyard who cook as fastidiously as you do. You don't talk much usually, but I didn't expect you to be so particular about life."

Li Xiangqian felt more and more uneasy when he heard this. He knew that Qin Huairu was just gossiping, but he felt that she was trying to find out something. He suppressed his doubts and replied with a smile, "I don't have any hobbies, so cooking is a little fun. You've almost finished choosing, so I'll go back first. I have to go home and cook."

Qin Huairu nodded and said nothing more, but her eyes still had a probing look. Li Xiangqian carried the bag of peppers and hurriedly turned around to leave the market. He felt like there was a stone pressing on his heart, and he felt heavier as he walked.

Along the way, he walked and wondered what Qin Huairu's intention was in approaching him these times. She was always distant and ambiguous in her words, but she never said it out loud, making it hard for people to figure out her true thoughts. Li Xiangqian knew very well that her life was not easy. As a widow, she lived in this courtyard with her children and often had to deal with all kinds of rumors from the neighbors. She might want to find someone to rely on, or even test whether he was the one she could rely on.

But Li Xiangqian didn't want to get involved in these complicated relationships. He always felt that life was troublesome enough and it was best to live a simple life. Although a woman like Qin Huairu was strong and independent, she had too many complicated stories behind her. Once you get involved with her, it would be difficult to get out of it.

Thinking of this, Li Xiangqian became more determined. He just wanted to live a simple life, grow some vegetables, cook some side dishes, occasionally make pork belly with onions, and add some peppers to enhance the flavor. This kind of life is enough. As for other emotional entanglements, he really didn't want to touch them.

After returning home, Li Xiangqian put down the bag in his hand, looked at the bag of bright red peppers, and finally felt a little relieved. Today, he finally bought everything he needed to buy, so he could cook with peace of mind. He skillfully picked up the kitchen knife and cut a few slices of pork belly, ready to stir-fry with the newly bought peppers. This is his favorite dish, simple but full of flavor, especially the spicy taste that rushed into his mouth, which instantly made him feel that the whole world was refreshed.

Li Xiangqian looked at the slowly golden pork belly slices and bright red peppers in the pot, but his heart was still not completely calm. The spatula in his hand tapped the edge of the pot lightly, making a rhythmic sound, but his thoughts had already drifted away.

He knew that Qin Huairu's affairs must not be publicized. People in the courtyard were very tight-lipped. Once there was any disturbance, even just a rumor, it would be enough to make everyone's eyes turn to him. He had always been law-abiding and tried not to cause trouble. Even when interacting with others, he always kept a moderate distance. But recently, Qin Huairu had been approaching him frequently, which had attracted the attention of many people. Although they had not had much contact, the eyes of the neighbors were venomous, and the slightest clue would be magnified infinitely.

He thought that Qin Huairu was not a bad person. She had a hard life, raising a child alone. There were constant rumors in the courtyard, and she had to face it head-on. But Li Xiangqian knew that