Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

After registering at the hospital and getting checked, the doctor said that He Daer's old illness was triggered by overwork and he needed to rest for a while. Li Xiangqian breathed a sigh of relief, his tense nerves finally relaxed a little, but he was still silently calculating in his heart: the money earned from the construction site was only enough for daily expenses, and it was not enough for the He family to live a good life. Grandpa He was old, He Daer was weak, and Aunt He worked all day and had a chronic illness. Li Xiangqian thought to himself that if he could find a way to supplement the family income without wasting effort, maybe the He family could have a little more ease.

One night, Li Xiangqian was tossing and turning in bed, thinking for a long time, and suddenly an idea flashed in his mind: "How about trying to grow something?" He remembered that there was an open space behind the courtyard, which was almost unattended and overgrown with weeds, which was a waste of space. If this open space could be used to grow some vegetables, it would not only save money on vegetables, but also maybe sell some to make some money to supplement the family income. Aunt He's legs and feet were not good, but she could still do some light work. Although Xiaomei He was young, she could help take care of the vegetable garden.

The next morning, Li Xiangqian quietly ran to the market and bought some cucumber seeds. Looking at the small seeds in his hand, he felt a glimmer of hope. Cucumbers are not only easy to grow, but also can be harvested quickly. If the planting goes well, it may really help the He family overcome the current difficulties. Li Xiangqian held the seeds tightly and swore in his heart: "No matter how difficult it is, I will definitely make the He family's life better this time."

He took advantage of the night to pull out all the weeds on the vacant land, then squatted on the ground, carefully loosened the soil, and sprinkled the cucumber seeds he bought. He thought to himself that the cucumber had a short growth cycle and would bear fruit in a few months. If the cucumbers were planted well, the whole field of cucumbers would be enough for the He family to eat for a while, and they could even be sold for some money.

While he was busy, he suddenly heard light footsteps behind him. Li Xiangqian turned around and saw He Xiaomei holding an oil lamp and walking towards him on tiptoe.

"Brother Li, are you still busy so late?" He Xiaomei approached cautiously and asked curiously when she saw him sowing seeds on the ground.

Li Xiangqian smiled and waved her over, "Little sister, I'm growing cucumbers. You'll be able to eat the cucumbers you grow in a few days."

"Really? Can I help too?" There was excitement in He Xiaomei's eyes, and she seemed to be eager to see the green cucumber field.

"Of course!" Li Xiangqian patted her head gently. "When the cucumber seedlings grow, you can help me water them and weed them, okay? These jobs are not hard, you can definitely do them."

He Xiaomei nodded vigorously, with a bit of pride and confidence in her eyes, "Brother Li, I will definitely take good care of the cucumber seedlings!"

Li Xiangqian looked at her serious and determined look, and his heart was filled with warmth. He knew that He Xiaomei had always been eager to do something within her ability to share the burden of the family. This sensible little girl, even though she was young, had already shown rare tenacity and diligence. He suddenly felt that this cucumber field seemed to be more than just a way to help the family, but also a small light in the lives of the He family, allowing them to rekindle their hope for life.

A few days later, when He Xiaomei came home from school, she immediately ran to the backyard and saw rows of small sprouts sprouting from the ground. She was filled with joy. She carefully squatted down and reached out to touch the tender cucumber seedlings with a happy smile on her face. Aunt He also came over and looked at the new greenery. She sighed: "Xiang Qian, you are such a thoughtful person. You actually thought of planting cucumbers here. If the harvest is good, our family will be able to live a little better."

Li Xiangqian smiled and said with some confidence: "Auntie, don't worry, this cucumber field will bring you good days soon. When the time comes, we can pick some and sell some at the market. We can keep the ones we can't sell for ourselves, saving a lot of money on vegetables."

When Aunt He heard what he said, tears welled up in her eyes. She patted Li Xiangqian on the shoulder and said with emotion: "Little Li, I'm afraid we will never be able to repay you for what we owe you in this lifetime."

Li Xiangqian quickly waved his hands and said seriously: "Auntie, don't say that. We are neighbors, so we should help each other. As long as you live a peaceful life, this is the greatest reward for me."

As the days passed, He Xiaomei would go to the cucumber field every day after school, watering and weeding the cucumber seedlings, taking good care of those little lives. Under the careful care of her and Li Xiangqian, the cucumber seedlings slowly grew taller, with more lush branches and leaves, and a green patch, becoming a beautiful scenery in the courtyard. When the neighbors saw it, they praised it, saying, "This field is well taken care of, and the cucumbers are growing so well. Xiangqian is really thoughtful!"

Every time he heard these words, Li Xiangqian just smiled slightly, but his heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment. The cucumber vines gradually climbed up the racks and produced small fruits. Looking at these fresh cucumbers hanging on the vines, Li Xiangqian felt an indescribable joy in his heart. He thought silently that these cucumbers were not only a symbol of the He family's improved life, but also his expectation for a better life in the future.

That evening, Li Xiangqian was picking cucumbers when he suddenly heard He Daer's voice behind him: "Xiangqian, our whole family has seen what you have done. Really, apart from you, I can't think of anyone else who would care so much about us."

Li Xiangqian turned around and looked at He Daer. ​​He knew the self-esteem and distress in the boy's heart. Facing the heavy pressure of life, He Daer always felt unwilling and struggled, but every time the words came to his lips, he had no way to speak, and could only bury all the distress in his heart. Li Xiangqian could see what he was thinking, so he smiled and patted his shoulder and said, "Dar, don't think too much. This cucumber field is the result of the hard work of all of us. When the time comes, we can take it to the market to sell it, so that your family can have more income and live a more affluent life."

He Daer was silent for a while, then whispered, "Xiang Qian, I've always wanted to take on the responsibility of taking care of the family, but my body..." He clenched his fists, his voice filled with a kind of powerless resentment, "Every time I think about how I can't help the family and how I've implicated Aunt and Little Sister, I feel bad..."