Siheyuan: Tathagata's Palm suppresses the entire courtyard!

"I think this is great. It's more joyful when we share together." Xu Mingjie gradually calmed down and realized that communication between each other is actually very important.

At this moment, the courtyard seemed to be filled with a new atmosphere, and the laughter of the neighbors intertwined, making Xu Mingjie feel a long-lost sense of belonging. He decided not to dwell on the past, but to try to meet every possibility in the future.

"I hope we can get together more often in the future." Xu Mingjie looked at the second uncle and said with a smile, hoping to establish deeper friendships in this courtyard.

"Well, let's take a look." The second uncle's mouth corners slightly raised, and he seemed to be silently accepting this suggestion in his heart.

The second uncle is a senior figure in the courtyard. He is over 70 years old and has the wisdom of years hidden in his wrinkled face. He always likes to manage everything in the courtyard in his own way, from the flowers and plants in the yard to the affairs of the neighbors. Xu Mingjie has been dissatisfied with this kind of authority since he was a child, but because of the second uncle's status in the community, he has never really rebelled.

Recently, a small incident happened in the courtyard. The old locust tree in the courtyard was about to die of old age, and the second uncle decided to cut it down. Xu Mingjie knew that the locust tree was a hundred years old and was part of their courtyard. He had an inexplicable sense of dependence on the locust tree and felt that it was part of his childhood memory. So when the second uncle mentioned cutting down the locust tree, Xu Mingjie couldn't help but speak out in opposition.

"Uncle, this locust tree is very important. It is part of our courtyard." Xu Mingjie tried to persuade Uncle in a gentle tone.

The second uncle looked up, a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes, "Xu Mingjie, you don't understand. This tree is old and will soon die. If we don't cut it down, what if the falling branches injure someone?"

"I know, but this tree is more than just a problem for us. It carries so many memories." Xu Mingjie insisted on his point of view.

"Memory?" The second uncle smiled coldly, "Memory can't be eaten. People should always look forward and not always be nostalgic for the past."

Xu Mingjie felt a surge of impotent anger. He knew that arguing with the second uncle would be useless because the second uncle always centered himself and decided everything. So Xu Mingjie decided to take action. He began to contact some gardeners secretly and planned to move the locust tree to the other side of the yard instead of cutting it down.

Xu Mingjie's plan went smoothly. The gardeners quietly dug out the roots of the locust tree in the dead of night and carefully transplanted it to the other side of the yard. Xu Mingjie and the gardeners did their best to ensure that the locust tree could adapt to its new environment.

At the same time, the second uncle was unaware of this plan. He continued to manage the courtyard at his own pace, often a little impatient with Xu Mingjie's behavior, but never really paid attention to his every move.

That day, the second uncle finally discovered that the locust tree had not been cut down. He was so angry that his face turned blue, and he went straight to Xu Mingjie.

"Xu Mingjie, what are you doing? Didn't I say I was going to cut down this tree? Why are you still here?"

Xu Mingjie stood on the other side of the yard, looking at Second Uncle calmly, his heart filled with anxiety and a hint of satisfaction. "Second Uncle, I just think that this tree can stay for a while longer. It has special meaning to us, and I want it to continue to exist."

The second uncle glared at him, as if his anger had made him lose his mind. "You are such a stubborn young man. Do you think the significance of this tree is more important than human safety?"

Xu Mingjie did not answer immediately, he just lowered his head and looked at the branches and leaves of the locust tree. He knew that he had violated the authority of the second uncle, and it would not be easy to change this situation.

In the following days, the atmosphere in the courtyard became a little tense. The second uncle's attitude towards Xu Mingjie became even colder, while Xu Mingjie silently guarded the locust tree in his heart. He knew that this contest with the second uncle might have just begun.

Xu Mingjie knew that the dispute with the second uncle might not be settled soon. He realized that instead of wasting time in the confrontation, it would be better to find a breakthrough in other ways. He decided to improve their relationship in some less noticeable way. That day, he saw a big watermelon in the market and immediately had an idea. He bought the watermelon and brought it back to the courtyard.

In the courtyard of the quadrangle, Xu Mingjie always moved very lightly. The second uncle was very sensitive to any noise, especially Xu Mingjie's actions that were not in line with his opinion. The watermelon seemed very heavy in Xu Mingjie's arms, and he imagined the surprised expression of the second uncle when he ate the watermelon.

"Uncle, is your dinner okay today?" Xu Mingjie said as he placed the watermelon on a wooden table in the yard, using a deliberately friendly tone.

The second uncle was tending to the flowerbed and looked up when he heard the sound. A trace of vigilance appeared on his face, but he still replied calmly: "It's okay. But why did you suddenly send me a watermelon today? Are you trying to pretend to be a good person in front of me?"

Xu Mingjie smiled slightly, trying to make his tone sound natural: "It's nothing special, I just happened to see that the watermelon is quite big, so I thought of bringing something cool for everyone. You can try it."

The second uncle stared at the watermelon for a few seconds, but the vigilance in his eyes did not completely disappear. His fingers gently stroked the soil on the ground, as if he was thinking about Xu Mingjie's motives. Xu Mingjie knew that the second uncle was very defensive, and this little trick might not be enough to really change his attitude, but he still hoped that this kindness could break some of the deadlock.

"I won't eat it." The second uncle said coldly, with a hint of determination in his tone, "This kind of thing is bad for your health if you eat too much."

Xu Mingjie did not show his disappointment. He kept smiling, but in his heart he was thinking about how to convince the second uncle. He decided to try another way: "Then you can help me cut it open to see if it is good. Or, give it to other neighbors. Everyone should like it."

The second uncle's expression eased a little, and he finally stood up and walked towards the wooden table. Xu Mingjie breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that this small victory was not yet complete, but at least it was a step forward. The second uncle picked up the knife and cut the watermelon neatly. The ruddy flesh and crystal clear watermelon juice looked particularly tempting in the sun.

"Hmph, you'd better not think of leaving it at that." The second uncle said, although his tone was still a little unfriendly, but he had already started to cut the watermelon with a knife. Xu Mingjie noticed that the second uncle's hands became a little relaxed while cutting the watermelon, as if at this moment, his mood also became a little softer.