Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian shook his head: "It's okay, I'll do it, you look after the children."

Wang Chunfang nodded, grateful for her husband's efforts. She knew that the family was under a lot of pressure during this period, but they couldn't stop, especially Xiang Qian, who went out early and came back late every day to earn more money for the family.

Li Xiangqian slaughtered the chicken, plucked the feathers, and cut the chicken into small pieces. He cleaned the pot, poured clean water into it, put in the cut chicken pieces, added a few slices of ginger and a few drops of soy sauce, and slowly stewed it. The whole kitchen was filled with the aroma of chicken, which made people salivate.

Wang Chunfang rolled out the noodles, making them wide and thin, and neatly stacked them on the chopping board. She worked attentively, thinking that this bowl of noodles was like pie in the sky for the children.

Li Xiangqian felt a little comforted when he saw the children eating with gusto. Although the family's difficulties had not been resolved, at least they could have a hearty meal today. He was busy in the kitchen quietly, with a smile on his face.

After dinner, Li Xiangqian and Wang Chunfang cleaned up the dishes together. Wang Chunfang suddenly said to her husband, "Xiangqian, you don't have to go out so early tomorrow. Let me go to the grain store to queue up, and you can rest at home for a day."

Li Xiangqian shook his head: "No, Chunfang, you take care of the children and the family matters, I will go."

Wang Chunfang hesitated to speak, and finally nodded, with sincere admiration for her husband's persistence and sense of responsibility. They are an ordinary couple, and every detail of their lives silently bears witness to their strength and struggle.

The next morning, Li Xiangqian rode his bicycle to the grain store again. He thought to himself that he would take more grain home today. Although the task was arduous, he was determined to do his best.

When they arrived at the grain store, it was still crowded with people, all waiting anxiously. Li Xiangqian distributed grain with a little uneasiness. Whenever he saw people with more difficult family conditions, he couldn't help but feel a little helpless and sympathetic.

"Brother Li, can you give us a little more? The elderly at home are sick and need more food." A middle-aged woman pulled Li Xiangqian's sleeve and said earnestly.

Li Xiangqian shook his head, feeling sad. "I'm sorry, that's the rule. I can't do anything about it."

The middle-aged woman sighed and left silently. Li Xiangqian looked at her back and felt powerless. He knew that he could only do so much, but the plight of these families was so real and helpless.

After get off work, Li Xiangqian went to the market. He thought, since we have chicken at home today, he should buy some steamed buns or something else to make the family's meals more abundant. There were people coming and going in the market, and Li Xiangqian walked around the stalls and finally came to a small stall selling steamed buns.

"Boss, how much are these buns?" Li Xiangqian asked.

The stall owner was a middle-aged man. When he saw Li Xiangqian, he smiled and said, "These buns are fresh out of the oven and are very delicious. They are five yuan each."

Li Xiangqian frowned, calculating the money he had. "Boss, can you make it cheaper? I want to buy ten."

The stall owner hesitated for a moment, then finally said with a smile: "Okay, I'll give you 10 for 9 yuan, as a discount for old customers."

Li Xiangqian breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement: "Okay, give me ten."

The stall owner quickly packed the buns and handed them to Li Xiangqian. Li Xiangqian took the buns and felt a little relieved. He thought about how happy the children would be when they saw the buns after returning home. Although these buns were only part of a meal, they could at least give them an unusual breakfast today.

When they got home, the children jumped for joy when they saw the buns in Li Xiangqian's hand. They gathered around their father, chatting about their school life today while chewing the delicious buns with smiles on their faces.

Wang Chunfang was also deeply moved by her husband's thoughts. She knew that these seemingly simple actions were a great effort for Li Xiangqian. She silently praised him in her heart. This husband who silently devoted himself to the family was the greatest man in her heart.

As night fell, the family gathered around the table to eat dinner. The table was filled with simple but warm dishes, and Li Xiangqian's eyes were full of satisfaction and joy. He watched his family eat with relish, and secretly made up his mind that no matter how big the difficulties were, he would do his best to face and solve them.

After Li Xiangqian came back from the market, his family started a new day. He knew that the small amount of food he ate every day could not solve the family's food problem. Therefore, he decided to use the open space in his courtyard to start planting some crops that could increase the family's income and food source.

Li Xiangqian first found a suitable place in the yard and used a shovel and hoe to tidy up the land. The land was overgrown with weeds before, but now it has become soft and fertile after his careful treatment. He spread the sweet potato seeds he bought from the market on the land one by one, then carefully covered them with soil and finally patted them down gently.

"Dad, what are you doing?" The eldest son Xiao Ming ran over curiously, staring at Li Xiangqian's actions with his big eyes.

Li Xiangqian smiled and put the shovel aside: "I'm planting sweet potatoes. I hope they will grow a lot. Then we can eat more sweet potatoes."

Xiao Ming blinked and looked carefully at the seeds on the ground: "How long will it take for them to grow?"

Li Xiangqian patiently explained: "It will probably take a few months. Sweet potatoes grow slowly, but Dad will come to take care of them often so that they can thrive."

Xiao Ming nodded, his eyes full of curiosity and anticipation. He knew that although these sweet potatoes could not be eaten immediately, they would definitely bring more benefits to the family when they grew up.

Li Xiangqian looked at Xiao Ming's serious expression and felt an inexplicable satisfaction in his heart. Farming is not only to solve the current problems, but also to prepare a more stable life foundation for the family's future.

In the following days, Li Xiangqian would take some time every day to visit the sweet potatoes in the yard. He observed their growth, sometimes watered and fertilized them, and sometimes weeded and removed insects. This attitude of viewing the land as life made him full of hope and confidence in life.

In addition to his busy work, Li Xiangqian also thinks about how to use the resources at home more effectively. He thinks that in addition to growing sweet potatoes, he might raise some poultry, such as chickens or ducks, which can not only increase the family's food source, but also sell some in the market to earn some pocket money.