Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"Nothing, I just checked on the seedlings in the field, worried that the cold wind would damage them." Li Xiangqian scratched his head and tried to make his tone sound more relaxed, but he was thinking about how to change the subject in his mind.

The old man didn't seem to completely believe his explanation, but he didn't ask any more questions. He just shook his head and said, "Young man, it's good to be attentive, but you also have to take care of your body. It's very cold this late at night. Go back to bed early and don't tire yourself out."

"I'll remember that, Uncle, thank you for your concern." Li Xiangqian nodded quickly, feeling relieved. He had finally avoided further questioning, but he also knew that a careful person like Uncle might have made some assumptions about his night trip.

The two walked side by side for a while. The road was silent except for the sound of their footsteps on the soil. The old man seemed to have something to say, but he hesitated several times and finally just sighed softly: "Go forward, the life in the village has not been easy in the past few years. It's not easy for any of us, but you can't work too hard."

Hearing this, Li Xiangqian felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. He lowered his head and tried to make his voice sound calm: "I know, uncle. I just want to do something to try not to waste the seedlings in the field."

After hearing this, the old man nodded, but didn't say anything. The moonlight reflected on his face, making him look particularly old, like an old tree that had experienced countless wind and frost. Li Xiangqian secretly swore in his heart that he would never let these crops go to waste, and he would not let down people like the old man who still had hope for the future.

When they reached a fork in the road, an old man stopped and patted Li Xiangqian on the shoulder: "Okay, don't think too much, go back and have a rest. You still have to work tomorrow."

"Well, good, you should go to bed early too." Li Xiangqian nodded and watched the old man turn around and leave, his figure gradually disappearing at the end of the alley. He stood there, stunned for a long time, and then continued to walk home.

Back at the courtyard, he gently pushed open the door, trying not to make any noise so as not to wake up the family. He walked into the house, sat at the small table, lit the lamp, poured a glass of cold water and drank it all. The experience of the night made him a little tired, but the words of the old man still echoed in his mind.

"Don't work too hard..." He muttered to himself, but quickly shook his head. "How can I not work too hard? If I don't work too hard, how can I survive?"

He lay in bed, looking at the dim light, his heart in turmoil. He was not a person who liked to show his stress on his face, but these days, every busy day and every night of thinking had already taken root in his heart.

"I can't be seen or discovered again." He made up his mind and began to think about the next plan. Tomorrow, he not only had to deal with the work in the fields, but also had to find a way to ensure the secrecy of the night operation. Otherwise, not only He Yuzhu and the eldest uncle, but the whole village would start to pay attention to him.

In the dead of night, an oil lamp flickered in the room, reflecting Li Xiangqian's pale face. He lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep. The scene in the field and the sudden appearance of He Yuzhu kept appearing in front of his eyes. The words of the old man also echoed in his ears, and every word was like the sound of a bell in the middle of the night, making him unable to calm down.

"Too much effort?" He grappled, staring at the dim roof. "If I don't work hard, how can I live? The seedlings in the field can save lives. No one knows how much pressure I am under."

Countless images flashed through his mind. They were the details of the time since he started to secretly cultivate the land. From secretly turning the soil with a hoe on his back late at night, to planting the crops bit by bit in the wind and rain, to the moment when he first saw the green seedlings break through the soil, he was almost full of hope. He remembered that he squatted in the field for a whole half day, looking at those small leaves, and he felt that everything had hope in his heart.

But all these hopes were hidden in the darkness, and could not be known by others. He carried these secrets alone, just like walking on a long road with no one to ask questions, not daring to look back, and not knowing what was ahead.

He turned over and thought about tonight again. He Yuzhu's appearance made him nervous. Although he was a chatterbox, he was not a brainless person. If he really noticed something, Li Xiangqian's plan might be ruined. In fact, not only his own efforts would be ruined, but the crops that he had placed his hopes on might also become the subject of others' gossip, doubts, or even the target of competition.

"We can't let them find out." Li Xiangqian clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms. He knew that if he wanted to continue, he had to be more careful and more secretive. He couldn't have another accident like today.

As he thought about it, he thought of the old man again. Although the old man didn't say anything, his eyes were clearly filled with suspicion and concern. Li Xiangqian knew that the old man had noticed the slightest disturbance in the past few days. Although this man was usually kind, he had a sharp eye. Once he noticed something, he would keep an eye on it even if he didn't point it out.

"We have to think of a way to deal with the old man." Li Xiangqian sat up, frowning. But the question is, how can we make him completely relieved and stop paying attention to me? The old man is a person who can't sit still. He usually has to intervene in the affairs of the village. Even if he has good intentions, it is inevitable that people will be annoyed.

Li Xiangqian rubbed his forehead and tried to calm himself down. He began to replay the details of these days in his mind, trying to find any loopholes and areas for improvement. He recalled every corner of the field and every inch of soil under his feet. He repeatedly pondered his nighttime actions, thinking about how to avoid others and cover his whereabouts more thoroughly.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind. "Maybe we can go around the small road in the east of the village. There are few people walking there, it's far from the village, and the sound is not easy to be heard." He muttered to himself, thinking that this method might be feasible. But then he shook his head again, "But if we take a long detour, what if we encounter a more unexpected situation? The terrain is complicated and it's easy for people to notice."

He scratched his head irritably, his heart felt like being pricked by countless needles. Even lying in bed, he felt his whole body tense, as if the air had become oppressive.

"No, if I go on like this, I will be discovered sooner or later." He felt a little panicked, as if everything was like a net that was slowly tightening, and he could only struggle constantly to barely catch his breath.