Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

He looked around and suddenly felt that the field looked a little eerie in the night, as if it was hiding something unknown. He frowned and said in a slightly softer tone: "Move forward, no matter what it is, can't we face it together? I'm here, don't be afraid."

Li Xiangqian sighed, knowing that He Yuzhu would not leave easily no matter what. The taboo in his heart still lingered, but he also understood that it was meaningless to continue arguing. So he nodded gently, praying in his heart that he could survive this disaster tonight. He carefully cast the light of the flashlight forward, his eyes alert and nervous, but in his heart he couldn't help but silently pray that the snake would not appear again.

Time passed by, the night wind gradually increased, and the grass rustled. Li Xiangqian and He Yuzhu stood in the middle of the field, silent to each other, and the tense atmosphere enveloped them. Li Xiangqian's eyes were always fixed on every inch of the ground, afraid of missing any clues.

Suddenly, Li Xiangqian saw a subtle movement in the bushes. His nerves immediately tensed up and he whispered, "Be careful! Something seems to be moving over there."

He Yuzhu heard the sound and quickly tightened his flashlight, his eyes sharp and determined. He projected a beam of light into the bushes, and the slightly swaying shadow came into view clearly. The two of them took a step back at the same time, staring at the darkness, their alertness reaching the extreme.

"What the hell is that?" He Yuzhu muttered in a low voice, with a hint of doubt and uneasiness in his eyes. Li Xiangqian shook his head slightly, his eyes never leaving the swaying grass, and whispered to He Yuzhu: "Don't get close, I'll go take a look."

He Yuzhu impatiently grabbed Li Xiangqian and whispered, "Xiangqian! Why are you going alone? Let's go together. It's better to be careful!"

Li Xiangqian was nervous, but he also understood He Yuzhu's worries, so he nodded, and the two of them held their breath and slowly approached the swaying grass. Just as they were getting closer, a low "hissing" sound suddenly came from the grass, and the sound carried a cold breath, echoing in the night like a warning.

"This sound... is wrong." Li Xiangqian was confused and felt the chill on his back getting stronger. He could no longer suppress his fear and whispered, "Yuzhu, I think... maybe we shouldn't disturb it."

Li Xiangqian felt more and more depressed, and his mind was in a mess. He looked at He Yuzhu's determined eyes and felt powerless. Although he knew that doing so would only increase the tension between them, he still couldn't get rid of his fear of snakes. The black snake not only appeared in his yard, but also made him feel an invisible threat again and again. This threat seemed to be constantly eroding his sense of control over his life. In order to completely solve all this, he began to make a decision - he wanted to buy some rat poison.

Rat poison was an extreme and direct solution for him. He had considered other milder solutions, but whenever he thought of the silent existence of the snake in the dark, the fear that approached his heart made him breathless. In any case, he wanted to give himself a way out, or in other words, a way that could really make him feel at ease.

There are many stories about snakes in the village. Some say they are the guardians of the earth veins, while others believe they are carriers of Yin energy. Li Xiangqian chose rat poison because he wanted to have a quiet space on this land. He no longer wanted to be kidnapped by this uncontrollable fear. Maybe rat poison is not the most perfect solution, but at least it can give him a temporary sense of psychological security.

He gave He Yuzhu a brief explanation, saying that he was going to the village to buy some things. He Yuzhu naturally didn't think much about it, but just smiled and patted him on the back and said, "Go ahead, don't forget to be careful on the road, don't get bit by a snake!"

Although the tone was joking, Li Xiangqian could see a subtle worry in He Yuzhu's eyes, as if he himself realized that this problem was not simple. But Li Xiangqian had no desire to share with He Yuzhu. Facing this matter, he felt that he had to solve it alone.

Li Xiangqian walked alone through the village, feeling a little heavy in his heart, but also a little anxious. The closer he got to the entrance of the village, the more complicated his mood became, as if everything would be revealed by this small decision. He did not greet the people he knew as usual, nor did he notice the lively scenes of the people on the roadside. His eyes always stayed on the door of the medicine shop in front of him.

This medicine shop is one of the few shops in the village. There is a shabby sign hanging at the door. The light in the shop is dim, and the air is filled with the smell of herbs and medicine. Li Xiangqian pushed open the door, and the crisp sound of the doorbell made him nervous. He couldn't help but be stunned and his steps stopped. The old Chinese doctor in the medicine shop was sitting behind the counter, looking a little drowsy. When he saw Li Xiangqian coming in, he looked up, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and then he lowered his head to flip through a tattered medical book.

"What do you need?" The old Chinese doctor's voice was calm, even familiar. Li Xiangqian suddenly felt like an intruder, and the atmosphere made him feel a little uncomfortable.

"I...I want to buy some rat poison." Li Xiangqian said with a stutter. His inner entanglement and uneasiness made his tone particularly low.

The old Chinese doctor raised his head and raised his eyebrows slightly, seeming a little surprised by Li Xiangqian's request. "Rat poison? What do you want to do?" He did not take out the rat poison directly, but asked casually.

Li Xiangqian felt nervous and his mouth was dry, but he still said calmly, "It's not to deal with rats, and the medicine may not be rat poison. I just want to buy some insect repellent."

"Anti-worm?" The old doctor repeated, his eyes revealing a hint of complexity, as if he noticed the ambiguity in Li Xiangqian's words. After a while, the old doctor smiled and said, "Young man, the most important thing about anti-worm medicine is to choose the right method of use. But since you want to drive away the snake, why not use this herbal medicine?"

Li Xiangqian was stunned, and then he remembered the rumors in the village. Some people said that herbs can drive away snakes, and he also knew that some drug stores did sell herbs and other snake-repelling items. He subconsciously wanted to refuse, but he was struggling in his heart. The old Chinese doctor handed him a bag of herbs. Li Xiangqian glanced at it. The simple label on the package seemed to have no special markings, and the smell of the herbs was also very ordinary.