Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian's heart moved slightly, as if these simple joys were what he once yearned for. But for some reason, now they always seemed so far away. If there were no such problems and troubles, he would probably be able to enjoy the little happiness in life as easily as Jia Dongxu.

"Orange..." Li Xiangqian whispered, his eyes a little dazed, "But, given our family's situation, we can't afford those things. The expenses for the children alone are tight enough."

Jia Dongxu stopped and looked at Li Xiangqian, the smile on his face suddenly disappeared. He seemed to sense Li Xiangqian's heaviness, and his eyes softened a little: "What happened to you these days? Even if life is a little stressful, it shouldn't be like this, right?"

Li Xiangqian's mood suddenly became more complicated. He knew that Jia Dongxu didn't want to embarrass him, but he hadn't expressed his inner feelings for a long time. So, he was silent for a while, and finally spoke: "Recently...some things are really giving me a headache. The monthly expenses at home are exceeding the budget, and the bills come one after another, as if they are suffocating me."

Jia Dongxu was stunned for a moment, as if he was a little surprised. Then, he patted Li Xiangqian's shoulder calmly and said, "You are taking it too seriously. The problem can be solved. It's not a big deal. Don't always think about carrying it on your own. Haven't you ever thought about asking me for help?"

Li Xiangqian looked up at Jia Dongxu, and suddenly a warm current surged in his heart. Yes, Jia Dongxu has always been by his side. As a friend, he does not lack trust. In fact, in many cases, Li Xiangqian knows better than anyone that Jia Dongxu actually has a lot of kindness and concern in his heart.

"But I know that I have to figure out a way to solve the money problem myself." Li Xiangqian sighed and shook his head, "Besides, I can't always rely on others. Maybe I have to start with myself, save money, and see if I can find some additional sources of income."

Jia Dongxu nodded: "That's right. Look at me, although I'm not rich now, I can always find some feasible ways to do business. Anyway, you are a smart person, you can always find a way to solve the problem."

Li Xiangqian gave a bitter smile, but he didn't feel relieved in his heart: "Smart man? I think he's more like a stupid guy. After all, there are still too many problems, and it's not easy to solve them one by one."

They continued to walk forward. Jia Dongxu seemed to sense the heaviness in Li Xiangqian's heart and spoke less and less, but he still walked firmly and stayed with Li Xiangqian. The two did not say anything more, but the feeling of depression in Li Xiangqian's heart gradually faded a little. The wind outside was refreshing, the sun was warm, and the road under his feet did not seem so difficult to walk.

Li Xiangqian's white hair, like spider silk quietly seeping out from his temples, gently climbed up his hairline. Every morning when he looked in the mirror, he could see them. They were clearly a few thin white hairs, but they appeared glaringly among his black hair like uninvited guests. The appearance of these white hairs did not bring the elegance or calmness of years like some people, but rather seemed like some kind of sign - the pressure of life finally engraved on his body without his knowledge, silently.

Li Xiangqian didn't like the gray hair. He always felt that these seemingly insignificant changes represented endless troubles and pressures in his life. He brushed the gray hair gently, sighed, and a trace of worry emerged in his heart: What do these gray hairs represent? Is it the ruthlessness of time, or the external manifestation of inner anxiety?

He didn't want to tell Li Mei, nor did he want his daughter to see his changes. Although Li Mei always gently reminded him to take care of his health, Li Xiangqian didn't dare to let her see the growing fatigue on his face. After all, the family's financial problems had never been well solved, and coupled with the pressure of daily life, Li Xiangqian's mood became increasingly heavy. He once tried to find something relaxing for himself, but no matter what, he couldn't get around those bills and those seemingly insurmountable problems in his mind.

"Are you too tired recently?" Li Mei asked suddenly when she looked at him in the morning. She saw Li Xiangqian holding a mirror, staring at his white hair with a frown.

Li Xiangqian was stunned for a moment, then looked up at his wife. Her eyes were full of concern, as if she could see his inner anxiety and uneasiness at a glance. Li Xiangqian was silent for a moment, then gently put the mirror down: "Nothing, just a few white hairs, a little older."

Li Mei didn't say much after hearing this. She just sighed and reached out to touch Li Xiangqian's hair: "You work so hard, you should pay attention to rest."

Li Xiangqian smiled, his lips somewhat weakly: "Rest? What's the use of resting? The problem won't solve itself."

"Then find a way to solve it. Don't keep it to yourself." Li Mei's voice was low and seemed a little tired, but it was more of a consolation. "You seem to be worried these days. It's rare that you have free time. Spend time with the children and relax. Maybe you can find some new ideas."

Li Xiangqian nodded slightly. He knew that what Li Mei said made sense, but he still couldn't calm down. Whenever he faced the pressure of daily life, he always felt trapped in his heart, as if he was surrounded by a huge net and couldn't get out no matter how hard he struggled. His eyes subconsciously fell on his white hair again, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart - he seemed to suddenly realize that he had been living between the two words "struggle" and "persistence" over the years, as if he had never really stopped.

After leaving the room, Li Xiangqian stood in the yard with a somewhat empty look in his eyes. He knew that life would not slow down because of his fatigue. The responsibilities of the family and the future of his children weighed heavily on his shoulders, almost making him breathless. Even if he was unwilling, he had to remind himself again and again to continue to bear the responsibility.

Moreover, Li Xiangqian is not someone who easily gives in to life. No matter how unwilling and powerless he is, he can still grit his teeth and persevere. No matter how gray his hair is or how exhausted his body is, he will eventually continue on this path.

Today, Li Xiangqian had some special plans. He planned to talk to Jia Dongxu. Although he had tried his best to keep the trivialities of life to himself recently, the uneasiness in his heart could not be dissipated. Perhaps, finding a friend to talk to would help him relieve his anxiety. Jia Dongxu was always a person who could listen, and Li Xiangqian also knew that Jia Dongxu might be able to give some different suggestions for his problems, or at least let him look at the current predicament from another perspective.