Siheyuan: Mastery started in the 50s

They agreed to meet in the teahouse of the courtyard so that they could have an in-depth conversation in a quiet environment. Wang Qiang hung up the phone, feeling a little relieved.

He knew that this meeting would be a critical moment for him. No matter what the outcome, he hoped to have a clear conscience. Every brick and tile in the Siheyuan was an irreplaceable part of his heart. He was willing to give everything for it, but he also hoped to find the best solution to balance this tradition with his future dreams.

The night before Wang Qiang was going to meet Jia Zhang, he accidentally found a box of laundry detergent in the corner of the study. It was the Qinhuairu brand laundry detergent that his mother bought a few years ago. The bottle still had the old label of that year. Although it has been a long time, every time Wang Qiang sees it, it always brings back some childhood memories. His mother used to say that the fragrance of this laundry detergent can best remove dirt and bring a sense of freshness, as if it can wash away all troubles.

Facing the upcoming meeting, Wang Qiang's inner anxiety surged again. He reached for the bottle of laundry detergent, as if hoping to calm his anxiety with such a familiar smell. He decided to use this bottle of laundry detergent to wash away the dust that had accumulated in the courtyard for a long time, perhaps this would give him some psychological comfort and clarity.

The next morning, Wang Qiang returned to the courtyard with the bottle of detergent. The air was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus. He took a deep breath, put the detergent aside, and began to tidy up the yard. He took the clothes and fabrics to the outside yard and washed them one by one. While washing, he thought about the content of the upcoming meeting with Jia Zhang, and his heart inevitably felt a little heavy.

While he was busy, Uncle Li, the old servant of the courtyard, came over. Uncle Li was a loyal and honest man. He had worked here for decades and knew every corner of the courtyard well. He looked at Wang Qiang with concern in his eyes.

"Xiao Wang, what are you doing?" Uncle Li asked, "Today is the day you are meeting Jia Zhang, why are you still busy with these things?"

Wang Qiang raised his head and smiled slightly: "Nothing, I just feel that the courtyard seems to need a little cleaning these days. Since we are going to welcome new changes, we might as well tidy it up."

Uncle Li nodded. Although he didn't fully understand Wang Qiang's thoughts, he could sense Wang Qiang's complicated emotions. "Young people always think too much. How about I help you? It will be faster this way."

Wang Qiang looked at him gratefully and said, "Thank you, Uncle Li, but I want to do it myself this time."

Uncle Li nodded silently, then stepped aside and continued to take care of other work. Wang Qiang continued to work, the detergent in his hand gradually dissolved in the water, producing light foam. His thoughts involuntarily returned to the negotiation with Jia Zhang.

Wang Qiang kept thinking about Jia Zhang's detailed plans and business plans. He knew that Jia Zhang's business vision was undoubtedly accurate, but he could not ignore the unique position of Siheyuan in his heart. Siheyuan was not just a piece of land for Wang Qiang, but also an indescribable emotional sustenance. Faced with Jia Zhang's business plan, he had to think seriously about how to accept modern changes while preserving traditions.

At this time, Wang Qiang's cell phone rang. It was a text message from Jia Zhang, reminding him to confirm the specific time and place of the meeting. He looked at the message on his phone and felt an inexplicable tension in his heart. He knew that this would be a serious conversation and he had to be fully prepared.

Finally, all the clothes and fabrics were washed. Wang Qiang packed up everything and stood in the yard, looking at the brand new environment. He felt a sense of security in his heart. He put the bottle of detergent back to its original place and patted it gently, as if to comfort the deep feelings in his heart.

As it was approaching noon, Wang Qiang put on a nice suit and stood in front of the mirror to adjust himself. He looked at himself in the mirror and his deep feelings for the Siheyuan emerged again. He knew that he had to turn these feelings into practical actions to face the challenges raised by Jia Zhang.

Outside the courtyard, Jia Zhang arrived on time. When Wang Qiang walked out of the courtyard to greet Jia Zhang, he was still nervous and determined. They walked into the tea room, exchanged some pleasantries in a low voice, and then sat down to officially start this important meeting.

Jia Zhang's attitude was still friendly. He put a new plan on the table and explained every detail of the project. Wang Qiang listened carefully and flipped through every page of the plan from time to time, trying to find a point of resonance with his heart.

"Mr. Wang," Jia Zhang paused and looked at Wang Qiang gently, "I know this proposal is a big decision for you, and you may have many concerns. Please raise them and we can discuss and resolve them one by one."

Wang Qiang looked up and met Jia Zhang's eyes. He took a deep breath and spoke slowly: "Mr. Jia, I have read your proposal very carefully. Your proposal is indeed very forward-looking, but I still have some concerns and hope to discuss it with you in depth."

Jia Zhang nodded and motioned Wang Qiang to continue. He knew that in the face of emotional ties like Wang Qiang's, he had to communicate patiently and carefully to find a solution that both parties could accept.

Wang Qiang sorted out his thoughts and said, "Siheyuan is not only my home, it also has a deep history and emotions. I hope to preserve its traditional style while developing it. Can you consider adding some elements that combine with Siheyuan in the project, which can reflect modernization while retaining some traditional features?"

Jia Zhang's eyes flashed with thought, and he nodded, as if thinking about Wang Qiang's suggestion. "This is a good suggestion. We can add some traditional elements to the plan, such as retaining the layout of the courtyard, or setting up some cultural display areas."

Wang Qiang was relieved to see that Jia Zhang was willing to listen to his opinions. He knew that although the problem was still complicated, through such discussions, a balance might be found to allow the traditional and modern development of the Siheyuan to complement each other.

After Wang Qiang finished his meeting with Jia Zhang, he still had mixed feelings. He felt an indescribable fatigue, which was not only physical fatigue, but also a psychological burden. In order to relieve this distress, he decided to look for Xu Damao, an old friend who was a typical city dweller, had a high alcohol tolerance, and was good at singing and dancing. He was a good helper for him to relieve his troubles.