Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Zhang Ergou and a few young men came to help when they saw Li Xiangqian busy. They quickly buried the water pipes in the soil to make the water flow more smoothly and prevent excessive loss due to evaporation at high temperatures. While Li Xiangqian was directing, he was also working on the project, thinking silently about how to make this irrigation system more efficient.

When everything was ready, he took a deep breath and opened the water valve. The water began to flow slowly from the pond to the fields. The clear water sparkled in the sun, as if injecting a ray of vitality into the dry earth. The water flows smoothly, and it looks like it will work this time. "Zhang Ergou watched the water flow into the fields, his face full of joy. He finally felt a little comforted. Although the process of digging ponds and laying water pipes was full of hardships, seeing the water flow into the fields, he felt that all the efforts were worth it. This water pipe is not just an ordinary pipe, it carries his hope for the future and his commitment to this land.

"Ergou, we have to keep an eye on it and see if the water pipe needs to be reinforced to ensure the continuous flow of water." Li Xiangqian warned, still not daring to relax completely. He knew that in the days of drought, every drop of water was extremely precious and could not be wasted in the slightest.

Zhang Ergou responded and continued to work with the other young men. Several of them took turns to watch the water flow to ensure that every piece of land could be irrigated evenly. Li Xiangqian was not idle either. He walked to the edge of the field from time to time to observe the changes in the crops, fearing that there would be any omissions. The soil in the field gradually became moist, and the leaves of the crops began to regain some vitality. Li Xiangqian looked at all this, and the anxiety in his heart was finally relieved a little. He knew that the challenge of this drought was not over yet, but at least he had found a feasible way to deal with it. Looking at the water pipe connecting the pond and the field, a complex emotion surged in his heart. He thought of the process of borrowing the water pipe from Xu Damao today. Although he was still a little unhappy, he was more proud of his own handling of the difficulties.

"I have to keep working hard tomorrow." Li Xiangqian said to himself silently. He knew that although the current difficulties had been temporarily resolved, there would be more challenges waiting for him in the days to come. He must always be vigilant and not relax at all. Leaning against the familiar wooden chair, he thought about everything today. Although today's work exhausted him, he felt a sense of solid satisfaction. He had tried his best, and the land also gave him rewards. When Li Xiangqian got up from the bed, he felt sore all over his body. The busyness of these days made him exhausted, but he knew that there were still many things waiting for him to do today. After a simple wash, he found that there was almost nothing in the kitchen to fill his stomach. There was not much rice left in the rice jar, and the vegetables in the vegetable garden had not grown to the point where they could be picked. Breakfast obviously became a problem. Decided to go to town to buy some bread today, which would save time and fill his stomach. He had never been too interested in bread. After all, for him who was used to farm meals, bread always seemed a little thin. But today, he didn't care about so much. He just wanted to eat quickly and then go back to continue working in the fields.

Li Xiangqian rode his old-fashioned bicycle and rode slowly along the path in the village towards the town. The air in the early morning was still a little cool, the crops on the roadside swayed slightly in the morning breeze, and the dewdrops sparkled on the leaves. Although he was a little irritated, at this moment, Li Xiangqian felt a sense of peace. Li Xiangqian went straight to the familiar small grocery store. Although the store was not big, he could always find what he needed. When he opened the door, the owner was a middle-aged man in his forties, and he immediately showed a warm smile: "Hey, Brother Li, why are you here so early today? What do you need?"

Li Xiangqian simply responded: "I'm a little busy today, so I came here to buy some bread to fill my stomach."

The shopkeeper nodded and took out a few bags of bread from behind the counter and placed them on the counter: "These are all fresh. Which one do you want?"

Li Xiangqian picked up two bags at random, looked at the price, took out a few crumpled banknotes and handed them to the shopkeeper: "That's all, that's enough."

The shopkeeper took the money, gave him change, and handed it to Li Xiangqian: "Brother, have you been busy in the fields recently? You don't look well. Don't work too hard. Your health is more important."

Li Xiangqian took the bread and the change and forced a smile, but he felt heavy in his heart. He knew the owner meant well, but he couldn't relax. Now was the most critical time for the field, and any slackness could lead to the waste of the whole season's efforts.

"Thank you for your concern. I will pay attention to it." He turned around and left with the bread. He had to go back today to check the condition of the water pipes to ensure that the crops in the fields would not be threatened by drought again.

On the way back to the village by bike, Li Xiangqian casually tore open a bag of bread and took a bite. The taste of the bread was a bit monotonous, but he didn't care about that anymore. He just wanted to fill his stomach so that he could continue working. Every bite of bread reminded him that the pressure of life forced him to give up those delicate enjoyments and just want to stick to this land.

"Maybe this is what life is like." Li Xiangqian thought silently while chewing bread. Although it tasted like chewing wax, he knew that filling his stomach was the most important thing at the moment. The complicated emotions in his heart surged up again, and he suddenly felt that he had become a little strange. The self who was willing to take the time to enjoy a good meal now seemed to have been completely swallowed up by busyness and pressure.

Returning to the field, Li Xiangqian saw Zhang Ergou and a few other guys already busy at work. They were checking the connections of the water pipes to make sure there were no leaks. Li Xiangqian felt warm in his heart, grateful for their hard work and tacit understanding, which made him no longer feel that he was fighting alone. "What did you have for breakfast? We just cooked some porridge, would you like a bowl?" Zhang Ergou looked up and saw Li Xiangqian, and greeted him with a smile.

Li Xiangqian shook his head and raised the bread bag in his hand: "I bought some bread in town and I've eaten it. You guys eat it. You'll have more energy to work after you're full."

Zhang Ergou nodded and continued to work. Looking at everything in front of him, his heart was filled with mixed emotions. He knew that these young people were his greatest support. He could only temporarily cope with the current predicament by relying on them. He had to walk the long road step by step by himself.

After finishing the bread, Li Xiangqian put the remaining bags aside and prepared to continue checking the situation in the fields. Although he had made a lot of efforts, he still did not dare to take it lightly. Every crop was his hard work, and he could not allow himself to be negligent.