Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian waved his hand: "Stop talking, let the child eat first and don't let him go hungry." His tone was calm, but his heart was filled with complex emotions - relief and guilt. He knew that no one knew how long he could help.

In the following nights, Li Xiangqian continued his night walks. He tried to go further, even climbing over a hill and coming to a wasteland he had never set foot on before. The plant species here were richer, but it also meant more unknown risks. He collected them carefully, trying to pick out those that looked edible, and always reminded himself in his heart: "Don't be impatient, don't make mistakes, if you bring back something poisonous, it will harm everyone."

As time went by, the people in the yard gradually discovered the secret of Li Xiangqian's nighttime actions. They were touched and a little ashamed: "Xiangqian has been so worried about us. We can't just do nothing." So, several young and strong men began to join his actions spontaneously. They followed Li Xiangqian to explore farther places, but every time they set out, he would repeatedly remind them: "Don't be anxious, pay attention to safety, and don't rush to eat anything suspicious you find. Bring it back to the yard for me to try first."

The night was as dark as ink. The wind blew through the wooden door of the courtyard, making a slight "creaking" sound, as if adding a touch of tension to the quiet night. Li Xiangqian once again went out in the dark, and his ragged coat was blown against his thin shoulders by the wind. He lowered his head and walked hurriedly, blending into the darkness like a shadow. He didn't know that behind him, He Yuzhu quietly followed him.

He Yuzhu was originally awakened by the crying of a child in the yard. He sat on the kang wearing a thin coat, staring out the window with a dazed look. There was nothing special outside the window, only the cold moonlight shining on the courtyard wall, covering the dilapidated courtyard with a layer of desolate atmosphere. He was irritable, thinking that there was no end to this life, and he was also a little afraid and confused about the future.

"Xiang Qian is out again?" He suddenly heard light footsteps, and his heart tightened. A shadow flashed by the window, and he immediately guessed it was Li Xiang Qian. "Where is he going to stay up late at night?" He frowned, and the more he thought about it, the more worried he became. He simply put on his coat and quietly followed him out.

As always, Li Xiangqian avoided the crowded roads and chose to walk in the remote alleys. His hoe and rag bag swayed slightly in the dark, making a slight knocking sound. He Yuzhu followed closely behind, his footsteps were very light, but his eyes were complicated - both worried and curious. He couldn't guess what Li Xiangqian was going to do, and he didn't understand why Li Xiangqian kept it a secret from everyone.

"Has he found some place? It's impossible for him to return empty-handed every time?" He Yuzhu had doubts in his mind, staring at Li Xiangqian's back, and became more determined to find out the truth.

The two walked one after the other through the alley, across a patch of wasteland, and finally arrived near the vegetable garden. Li Xiangqian slowed down his pace, looked around, and after confirming that no one was following him, he turned around and walked towards the wasteland next to the vegetable garden. He was very careful and even bent down deliberately, as if he was afraid of disturbing something.

"What is he doing here?" He Yuzhu was hiding behind a low wall not far away, sticking half of his head out to observe. He saw Li Xiangqian squatting down and carefully turning the soil with a hoe, digging out something piece by piece. He Yuzhu's eyes widened, vaguely seeing that those things seemed to be tubers buried in the soil.

"So these are what he dug!" He Yuzhu was shocked, and at the same time, he felt an indescribable feeling. He knew that this kind of tuber was not common, and the chance of finding it was very low, not to mention at night. How big a risk did Li Xiangqian take? Thinking of the little root soup he had recently been given, he felt bitter, "So he dug all these by himself."

Li Xiangqian moved quickly, he skillfully cleared the dirt and put the collected things into the bag. When he lowered his head to sort out the bag, he suddenly heard a slight noise not far away, like someone stepping on dead branches. He raised his head suddenly, looked around vigilantly, held the hoe tightly, and stood up: "Who's there?"

He Yuzhu's heart tightened, and he held his breath and hid behind the wall, not daring to move. He cursed himself for being careless, stepping on a dead branch and exposing his tracks. But he was also a little embarrassed, thinking that his behavior of peeping at his friend was not fair and square. He gritted his teeth and decided not to make any more noise, waiting for Li Xiangqian to relax.

Li Xiangqian observed for a while and found nothing unusual. He said to himself in a low voice: "The grass moved and the wind blew, and I scared myself." He shook his head and continued to dig with his head down, but he was more cautious in his heart.

He Yuzhu waited until Li Xiangqian turned and left before quietly walking out from behind the low wall. He watched Li Xiangqian's back disappear on the path, feeling mixed emotions. He did not continue to follow him, but stayed where he was, squatted down and fiddled with the overturned soil. He searched for a while and indeed found a tuber that was buried very deep. The surface of the tuber was muddy, but it exuded a faint fishy and sweet smell.

"He actually did all these things by himself and never told us." He Yuzhu murmured in a low voice, feeling both admiration and a little self-blame. "All along, we thought Xiang Qian just had more ideas than us, but who would have thought that he would take all these things on himself."

He Yuzhu's eyes were complicated. The pale and skinny faces in the courtyard and the painful cries of the children due to hunger appeared in his mind. He gritted his teeth and made up his mind: "We can't let him go on like this alone. We have to help."

The next morning, He Yuzhu pretended to approach Li Xiangqian unintentionally and handed him a short cigarette: "Xiangqian, I often see you going out at night recently. What are you busy with?"

Li Xiangqian took the cigarette but did not light it. Instead, he frowned and said calmly, "Nothing much, just looking at the vegetable garden. It's cool at night."

He Yuzhu glanced at him and smiled meaningfully: "Do you think I know nothing? I saw you digging something in the wasteland last night, right?"

Li Xiangqian paused, a trace of surprise appeared on his face, and then he whispered, "Don't spread it. It's just some useless stuff, I'm afraid everyone will be disappointed if I tell you."

"Are you afraid of disappointment or worry?" He Yuzhu sighed, his eyes revealing a complex feeling, "Xiang Qian, can you handle such a big thing alone?"

Li Xiangqian pursed his lips and said nothing. He knew He Yuzhu had good intentions, but he was still a little hesitant. He didn't want to involve the people in the hospital, and he didn't want to put them at risk because of his exploration.