Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"How do you know that their family is really in need?" Li Xiangqian's voice was a little low, and a barely perceptible anger flashed in his eyes.

Li Damei was stunned, as if she had not expected her husband to ask such a question. "I know, I went to her house a few days ago and saw that she really had nothing to eat. Her son also asked to borrow some food." Li Damei's tone was urgent, as if she was trying to justify her behavior.

Li Xiangqian's mood became more complicated. He knew his wife had good intentions, but this matter made him unable to calm down. The scattered grain kept flashing through his mind, and his thoughts were in disarray. He suddenly realized that he might have been too obsessed with the "grain" at home, and ignored the fact that there were many people like Aunt Wang in this society who were really struggling in life.

However, the conflict between reason and emotion made him even more anxious. He instinctively felt that the food at home was to be left for himself and his children to ensure that they could live a stable life. But now that the food was distributed, he seemed to have lost a pillar in his life, as if all his efforts were easily broken.

"Xiang Qian..." Li Damei looked at him with a hint of helplessness in her eyes, "Don't be angry, okay? I really just wanted to help if I could."

Li Xiangqian felt the helplessness in his wife's eyes, and he suddenly softened his heart, but the anger in his heart was still as violent as a volcano. He couldn't let go of the anger immediately, because he knew that the principle and belief in his heart had been deeply shaken.

"Is this how you view these grains?" Li Xiangqian finally couldn't help asking in a low voice, with a hint of regret in his tone.

Li Xiangqian looked at his wife's drooping back, and the anger in his heart was like a raging wave, pushing forward layer by layer, beating against his reason. He tried to take a deep breath, trying to suppress the emotion, but he always felt like he was trapped by an invisible force and couldn't move. He didn't say anything else, but turned and walked to the other side of the yard, trying to give himself some time to calm down.

However, just as he was about to reach the gate, he suddenly heard Li Damei sighing softly from inside the house. The sound was so faint that it barely left any trace in the air. At that moment, Li Xiangqian paused, his heart churning. He suddenly realized that although Li Damei was soft-hearted, there was already a deep rift between her and him. This rift was not something that could be filled by one thing, but rather a deep rift that had gradually been brewed by time and countless unspoken contradictions.

He took a deep breath and tried not to look back at Li Damei's expression, because he knew he couldn't bear any emotion brought by those eyes at the moment. So he turned and left the gate, walking towards the open space outside the yard, which was desolate and the air was chilly.

Xu Damao was standing on the roadside outside the courtyard, standing straight, as if waiting for something. When Li Xiangqian walked over, he raised his head slightly, with no much expression in his eyes, as if he had known that Li Xiangqian would come. "You came to see me?" Xu Damao asked, his tone still calm, even with a hint of imperceptible provocation.

Li Xiangqian stopped and stared at Xu Damao's stern face, with mixed emotions in his heart. He knew that Xu Damao was a down-to-earth person who acted decisively and did not like to drag his feet. But at the same time, Li Xiangqian also knew that Xu Damao was sometimes too persistent and impulsive, not considering the consequences at all.

"Xu Damao, I have something to tell you." Li Xiangqian spoke in a low voice, much slower than usual, as if he was suppressing some emotion, "I hope you don't contact Jia Dongxu again."

Xu Damao raised his eyebrows, obviously not expecting Li Xiangqian to suddenly mention Jia Dongxu. "Why? You also know about his situation?" Xu Damao's tone was a little surprised, but he quickly regained his composure.

Li Xiangqian felt exhausted. He suppressed his irritability and tried not to be affected by his emotions. "I know you have a good relationship. I have heard that you have cooperated with each other several times before, but Jia Dongxu...he is not a good person." Li Xiangqian paused and clenched his teeth, as if he remembered something that made him uneasy.

Xu Damao did not rush to refute, but raised his eyebrows slightly, as if thinking about the meaning of Li Xiangqian's words. He slowly said: "I know he has some problems, but you also know the resources and connections he has. If you want to solve these problems, if you don't deal with him, I'm afraid..." He didn't finish his words, but Li Xiangqian already understood what he meant.

"I know what you said," Li Xiangqian suppressed his irritation and his voice became deeper, "but Jia Dongxu has become more and more unreliable recently. You and I know about his affairs, but he always pretends to be a good person. He looks approachable on the outside, but actually he is involved in a lot of shady means." Li Xiangqian couldn't help but think of some gossip about Jia Dongxu that he accidentally heard a few days ago - about how he took advantage of other people's weaknesses and how he gained benefits through some improper means.

Xu Damao did not refute immediately, but remained silent for a moment, as if digesting Li Xiangqian's words. He knew that Li Xiangqian had always been a principled person, and since he said these words, he must have thought them over carefully. Moreover, Li Xiangqian never accused anyone casually, but today he expressed his dissatisfaction so clearly, which meant that Jia Dongxu's matter really made him feel uneasy.

"I know what you're worried about," Xu Damao finally spoke, with a hint of calm rationality in his tone, "But you also know that without the right partners, many things will be difficult to move forward. Although some of Jia Dongxu's methods are not very bright, to be honest, the resources he has can really help us solve a lot of problems."

Li Xiangqian's eyes flashed with annoyance. He knew that Xu Damao was right. Jia Dongxu did have his own unique resources. External connections and those secret means were what some people secretly cling to. However, what Li Xiangqian could not stand was that he and his wife had seen these problems too clearly, but Xu Damao was still obsessed with his so-called "realism".

"You're right, Xu Damao," Li Xiangqian's voice became even deeper, with a hint of helplessness, "But I really don't want to have anything to do with Jia Dongxu anymore. I've seen his character clearly enough. He can always get closer to you step by step with some seemingly harmless little things, but in fact, he is constantly calculating for his own interests. Have you ever thought about what the result will be if we cooperate with him this time?"