Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

This remark immediately touched Li Xiangqian's heart. He was silent for a long time, recalling his recent attitude and his wife's stubborn eyes. He always felt that he was right, but when he thought about it, did he really understand her thoughts from her perspective? He always criticized her for being too soft-hearted, but was she soft-hearted because she had her own reasons?

"But what if her logic is really wrong?" Li Xiangqian asked in a low voice, with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

"What is right and what is wrong?" Uncle Li shook his head and said softly, "Some things depend on the results, and some things depend on the intentions. She is your wife, and she cares about you and this family, not others. Think more about her intentions, and then decide whether she is right or not." His words were plain, but like a key, they opened a door in Li Xiangqian's heart.

Li Xiangqian stared at the teacup blankly, and many images flashed through his mind. He thought of his wife Li Damei working hard for the family every day, how she sometimes secretly took out her own private money to buy snacks for the neighbor's children, and how she got up in the middle of the night in winter to add more clothes and quilts for the family. She was indeed soft-hearted, but wasn't that soft-heartedness another manifestation of her kindness?

At this moment, the anger and dissatisfaction in Li Xiangqian's heart seemed to dissipate a little, replaced by a deep sense of guilt. He finally realized that he might have been too harsh and lacked understanding and tolerance for his wife's behavior. He held his forehead with his hand, feeling tired, but also a sense of relief.

Uncle Li looked at Li Xiangqian's expression, smiled, and said nothing more. He stood up slowly and patted Li Xiangqian on the shoulder, "Don't be too nervous, Xiao Li, life is made by living, not by fighting. Take it slow, learn to be gentle, and things will go more smoothly."

When Li Xiangqian returned home, the sky had already begun to darken. He stood at the gate of the courtyard and silently looked at the quiet courtyard. The courtyard wall was high, and the green creepers had grown all over the corners. The several old locust trees in the courtyard had gradually lost their tender green between the branches and leaves, reflecting the sunset glow that was about to set, revealing a faint warmth.

However, Li Xiangqian's heart was in a mess. Just now, the conversation between him and Uncle Li in the teahouse seemed to have given him some insights, but when he returned home and saw the piles of daily chores and his wife's worried eyes, the irritability in his heart surged up again. All these quiet scenes in front of him seemed unable to calm his anxious mood. His eyes unconsciously swept to the corner of the kitchen, the pile of food bags that were rising day by day - rice bags, flour bags, and a few bags of sweet potatoes that Damei brought back from the countryside - all of this suddenly made him feel an inexplicable burden.

He has been very anxious recently, and the pressure has been increasing, especially because of that incident. A few months ago, he and his wife Li Damei discussed saving money, but now, he still feels that the money every month is not enough. Although both of them try to save as much as possible and spend every penny carefully, there are always new expenses in life. Especially the children's tuition and the medical expenses of his elderly mother at home, which are overwhelming him.

When thinking about this, Li Xiangqian's heart began to tense up involuntarily. He knew that if he continued to live like this, he would be crushed sooner or later. He once thought that maybe he was too demanding and always pinned everything on saving money, but once he started to calculate every expense, he could no longer ignore the contradiction. Li Damei always advised him not to be so anxious and that he would be able to get through the difficulties one day, but he knew in his heart that if he continued to live like this, it would really become more difficult.

He walked into the kitchen, closed the door gently, and felt suffocated. Even the simplest meal in life seemed to be covered by the heavy economic pressure. He subconsciously picked up a bag of rice, looked at the thick packaging, and Li Damei's face appeared in front of him. She was so gentle, always trying to make everyone in the family live well. But every time she mentioned saving, she seemed so unconfident, always feeling reluctant to throw away those food and items, and felt that she should cherish every minute and every second of her efforts. But he knew that his heart was getting more and more anxious, and he wanted to save more money more and more to prepare for those unforeseen changes in life.

"Li Damei, if our family continues like this, I'm afraid..." Li Xiangqian suddenly talked to himself in his heart. The corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily, and there was a trace of anxiety in his eyes that could not be ignored.

He shook his head violently, trying to calm himself down. Perhaps because he was too depressed, or perhaps because he was uneasy about the future, Li Xiangqian felt that he had suddenly become less gentle than before. Whenever he faced those high expenses, he would unconsciously become anxious, nervous, and even a little eager for quick success. The Li Xiangqian who was always gentle to others gradually became more impatient, with less warmth in his eyes and more ruthlessness.

"I have to find a way to save as much money as possible. I have to think of another way." He muttered to himself, a flash of determination in his mind.

At this time, Li Damei's voice came from outside the kitchen door, "Xiang Qian, you're back? Dinner is ready. Go wash your hands first. Today we have your favorite fish."

Hearing his wife's familiar voice, Li Xiangqian's heart suddenly surged with warmth. Li Damei stood at the door with a gentle smile on her face, and that smile seemed to temporarily soothe all his troubles.

"Okay, I understand." Li Xiangqian agreed softly, his eyes sweeping over the meal that Li Damei had already started preparing, but the uneasiness in his heart did not ease at all.

"Li Damei..." Li Xiangqian suddenly spoke, his voice a little low.

Li Damei was slightly stunned, turned around and looked at him, with some worry in her eyes, "What's wrong, Xiang Qian, are you in a bad mood?"

Li Xiangqian smiled bitterly and shook his head, "It's okay, I'm just a little confused."

Li Damei walked up to him and gently held his hand, "If there is anything that is not going well, tell me, don't keep it to yourself."

Li Xiangqian lowered his head and looked into his wife's warm eyes. He suddenly felt guilty. He wanted to speak, but stopped talking. He didn't want Li Damei to worry about these trivial matters, nor did he want her to worry about him. However, the pressure in his heart was like a mountain, growing bigger and bigger, and he could hardly breathe.

"I've been a little anxious lately, Li Damei. I feel like there's never enough money at home. You know, we have to be frugal every month, and there are still a lot of things to deal with outside. I really want to find a way to save more money, but..." He paused, a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes, "What can I do to prevent more pressure on my family?"