Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Aunt He took the green cucumber and smiled: "Xiao Li, this cucumber is really tender. Look at its luster. It's really lovely! I'll make a cold salad for you tomorrow. Let me taste the vegetables you planted with your own hands. It must taste special."

Li Xiangqian smiled and nodded, feeling satisfied. That night, he sat in the courtyard, listening to Aunt He humming a tune, and felt that this courtyard was full of the warmth and happiness of home. He secretly decided in his heart that no matter how difficult and hard it was in the future, he would do his best to help the He family and make this courtyard full of vitality forever.

The next morning, Aunt He really made a cucumber salad. She cut the crisp cucumber into thin slices and mixed it with some seasoning. The fresh taste made people drool. Uncle He ate a few bites and nodded repeatedly with satisfaction. He even praised it rarely: "Xiao Li, this cucumber is really good, much better than the ones in the market."

Li Xiangqian smiled and replied, "Uncle, I'm glad you like it. Let's grow more in the future. If we can't finish it, we can give it to the neighbors so that everyone can taste the freshness together."

In such days, the cucumber field gradually became a unique landscape of the courtyard. Whenever neighbors passed by the courtyard, they would stop to look at the green cucumber vines, and from time to time they would chat with Li Xiangqian and praise his planting skills. The atmosphere in the courtyard also became more lively because of the vegetable field. Whenever neighbors came to visit, Li Xiangqian would always greet them warmly, and even take the initiative to pick a few fresh cucumbers and share them with everyone to taste.

"Wow, Xiao Li, you grow cucumbers really well! You are a natural at it!" Neighbors praised him one after another, and some even asked for advice on vegetable growing techniques. Li Xiangqian shared his ideas without reservation, talking about how to water the vegetables and how to build a rack, with satisfaction and pride on his face.

Li Xiangqian was a patient person who didn't like to show his discomfort easily. He knew that Mr. and Mrs. He were old, and if he let them know that he was not feeling well, they would definitely worry about him, and it might even affect their mood. He didn't want to add burden to the He family because of him. So, he endured it and tried to stay like usual, still busy every day, running the business for the He family, taking care of the yard, and taking care of the newly grown cucumber field.

But the pain did not disappear slowly as he thought. On the contrary, one morning, he felt a cramp in his stomach, so painful that he could hardly stand. He held on to the door frame and took several deep breaths before the pain was slightly relieved. He looked up at the yard and saw Uncle He sitting on a bamboo chair, squinting his eyes and basking in the sun, while Aunt He was gently fanning him. The two looked leisurely and contented, with peaceful smiles on their faces. Li Xiangqian couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that he couldn't let them know, so he quietly hid back in the room, sat down slowly, and gently pressed his abdomen with his hands.

He was a little anxious and worried about his physical condition. He rarely got sick in the past. He was always strong and healthy, and he was not afraid of hard work even in the fields. But now the sudden pain made him feel unexpectedly weak. He thought of the elderly people in the village who became seriously ill because of stomachache, and he was a little scared. But then he thought that he was young and should not be so fragile. It might just be indigestion, and he would be fine after a few more days of rest.

In order to prevent the He family from noticing his discomfort, he had to pretend to be relaxed and do his work as usual every day, even forcing himself to help despite the stomachache. Sometimes he couldn't help but persuade himself: "Maybe it will be better in a few days, when the seeds have completely sprouted and the cucumber seedlings have grown a little, I can take a break." He kept comforting himself, trying to dispel the uneasiness in his heart with hope.

Aunt He occasionally saw that his face was a little pale, and she had some doubts in her heart, but whenever she asked, Li Xiangqian always smiled and said it was okay. Over time, Aunt He didn't think much about it, but just reminded him to eat on time and have a good rest. But as soon as Aunt He left, his smile gradually disappeared, replaced by a struggle and fatigue. He thought about going to see a doctor more than once, but thinking of the distance to the town, plus the consultation fee and medicine money, he hesitated. Now that the He family's life has just improved, he doesn't want to increase expenses because of himself.

One morning, when Li Xiangqian was about to water the cucumber field, the pain came again. His stomach was cramping and he almost fell down. Aunt He happened to come out of the house and saw that his face was blue and sweaty. She hurriedly walked up to him and asked in panic: "Xiao Li, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so bad?"

Li Xiangqian forced a smile and replied reluctantly, "Auntie, it's okay. Maybe I ate something cold yesterday and my stomach feels a little uncomfortable. It will be fine after a while." He said it calmly, trying not to worry Aunt He, but Aunt He could see his reluctance at a glance.

Aunt He was worried and insisted that he go to the doctor in town, and even prepared to pack her bags and go with him. Li Xiangqian waved his hand and said with a wry smile: "Aunt, please don't bother. I just have a minor illness, it's not worth the trip. The consultation fee in town is not cheap, it would be a waste for me to go, I just need to rest for a while."

Aunt He refused and advised with a frown: "Xiao Li, you are young and should not be careless. Your body is your treasure and you can't just force it. Spending some money is nothing, but what if the illness gets worse?" Her tone was full of concern and even a bit of blame.

Li Xiangqian was secretly moved when he saw that he could not persuade her. He knew that Aunt He really cared about him, so he nodded and promised her that he would rest a little longer and stop being stubborn.

But he still had hope in his heart that maybe he could make it. After all, he was young and had no problems. Maybe it was just due to fatigue. He tried to reduce his work as much as possible, started to eat on time, and rested as much as possible, hoping to take care of his body. However, after a few days, the pain not only did not ease, but began to intensify, especially at night, the pain in his abdomen was like a knife cutting, making him toss and turn in bed. He lay in bed, frowning, his heart full of pain and anxiety, and he even began to doubt whether he really had a serious illness.

One night, the pain came again like a tide. He clenched his fists, cold sweat dripped from his forehead, and pursed his lips tightly, fearing that the sound he made would disturb Mr. and Mrs. He next door. He endured it, gritted his teeth, and struggled secretly in his heart, thinking about whether he should compromise and see a doctor. However, reason told him that if he was really seriously ill, the He family’s money would not be enough to cover the medical expenses, and it might even make their lives fall back into difficulties. He didn’t want the He family to pay such a price for him.