Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Xu Damao was obviously touched by Li Xiangqian's words. He was silent for a moment, with a thoughtful gleam in his eyes. But soon, he waved his hand again, as if he wanted to break the topic impatiently: "Okay, okay, I understand that you don't want to cooperate, but things have come to this point. I'm afraid that just worrying between you and me won't solve any problems." His tone was slightly sarcastic, but also mixed with an unspoken helplessness.

Li Xiangqian suddenly felt a little disappointed. Xu Damao was not as easy to persuade as he thought. No matter how he persuaded him, Xu Damao still could not let go of those considerations of interests. Even though he spoke politely, in fact, he had already decided to continue dealing with Jia Dongxu. Li Xiangqian felt that his words seemed to have no effect at all, which made him feel deeply lonely.

"Since you said so, I have nothing more to say." Li Xiangqian's voice finally turned cold, and his tone was also full of unquestionable determination. "But remember one thing, Xu Damao, if something happens in the end, don't blame me for not reminding you."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left without looking at Xu Damao's expression. At that moment, Li Xiangqian's heart suddenly felt empty. He knew that he was not completely powerless. At least he could remind Xu Damao, at least he could stick to his position. Despite this, he still felt an inescapable sense of loss, as if someone had taken away something important from the depths of his heart.

Li Xiangqian walked out of the yard with heavy steps, but the annoyance in his heart did not get relieved at all. The air gradually became quiet, and the scenery around him seemed to be quietly observing his every move. His mind was in a mess. Xu Damao's words, his wife Li Damei's expression, and the pile of food scattered on the ground seemed to have become some kind of inescapable shackles that trapped him tightly.

He walked to the corner of the street, feeling more depressed. At this moment, a not very clear voice caught his attention. Looking back, he saw an old man in a worn-out cotton-padded jacket staggering on the street. The man had sparse eyebrows and a few stubbles at the corners of his mouth. His steps were slow and heavy, but there was a strange gleam in his eyes. Li Xiangqian's heart moved, and he suddenly remembered this man, so he walked towards him.

This man is an old man on the street. Everyone calls him "Uncle Li". He is very old and his mouth is not very good, but he seems to have some other strange abilities. Others always think he is a little weird, but Li Xiangqian has some friendship with him. The two have met in the alleys many times and exchanged a few words. When he saw him this time, Li Xiangqian couldn't help but feel an urge to find someone to vent his dissatisfaction.

"Uncle Li, how come you are free to come out today?" Li Xiangqian walked over as if he was relaxed, with a smile on his face, but he was thinking secretly in his heart.

Uncle Li raised his head, his eyes a little dazed, but when he saw Li Xiangqian, a vague smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, "Oh, it's you, Xiao Li. Didn't you go to the market today?"

Li Xiangqian nodded, and was a little stunned. Uncle Li's mind seemed not so clear, and his words were not coherent, but he always had a special temperament, that kind of ethereal feeling that seemed to be out of touch with the world, sometimes giving people an illusion that he might know something that others could not understand.

"Market? Where is there a market?" Li Xiangqian smiled bitterly. "But something happened today, and I feel a little uncomfortable. I want to find a place to relax."

Uncle Li's eyes lit up slightly, and he stared straight at Li Xiangqian, as if he could see through some fluctuations in his heart. "Well, you have something on your mind, right? Then you should go out for a walk to crowded places, see what's going on, and maybe you won't feel so bored." He spoke in a hoarse and low voice, as if revealing a special sense of mystery.

Li Xiangqian was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "It seems that Uncle Li's idea is not bad." He felt relieved and followed Uncle Li.

The two walked at a moderate pace. Uncle Li's steps were still a little unsteady, but his eyes were always staring around, as if he was looking for something. Li Xiangqian couldn't help but be curious and asked, "Uncle Li, are you looking for something new again?"

Uncle Li's eyes flickered, and a meaningful smile appeared on his face. "New things? Not really, I just want to see who's doing what. We're old and don't have much to do, so we can see more." He paused, a sly look flashed in his eyes, "But you have to learn, not just to watch others do things, but sometimes you have to do something yourself, so you don't get too bored."

Li Xiangqian's heart moved, and he suddenly felt that there was something behind Uncle Li's words, as if he was reminding him of something. He turned his head to look at Uncle Li, and found that there was an indescribable shrewdness and sophistication in the old man's eyes, which made him alert.

"Get started?" Li Xiangqian smiled. "Uncle Li, I've been busy enough all day. How can I have the mood to do anything else?"

Uncle Li did not answer directly, but turned around and slowly walked towards a corner of the street, "Look, there is a stall over there selling some small things. I'll go and take a look. Are you interested?" He suddenly stopped, looked back at Li Xiangqian, and smiled even more mysteriously.

Li Xiangqian hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help feeling a little bored and irritated. He nodded, "Okay, let's go for a walk."

So, the two of them walked to the stall, which was filled with all kinds of trinkets and odds and ends. It looked like an ordinary stall. Uncle Li stopped in front of a corner full of toys, but his eyes seemed to be looking at an alley next to the stall. There was nothing special there, just a few people playing cards and chatting.

Suddenly, Uncle Li smiled and said softly, "Look, something seems to be happening in that alley."

Li Xiangqian was startled by the sudden words and subconsciously looked towards the alley. Sure enough, in the shadows at the alley, several people were talking quietly, and it seemed that they were having some secret discussion. Li Xiangqian's heart moved and he couldn't help but walk towards the alley, but Uncle Li gently pulled his sleeve, "Don't worry, don't worry, you're walking too fast." He whispered.

"Over there..." Li Xiangqian turned to look at Uncle Li with some confusion.

Uncle Li narrowed his eyes, a sly smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "This is not something you should know. You have to learn to wait, wait for the right time."

Li Xiangqian was even more confused by what Uncle Li said, but he also felt vaguely that his mood today might require this kind of "waiting". He couldn't help but slow down his pace, stood at the entrance of the alley, and quietly observed the actions of those people.