Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian looked at the bamboo tube in his hand, feeling mixed emotions. He knew that the situation of Old Zhoutou's family was even worse than his, but Old Zhoutou was still willing to give him the last bit of food. This friendship made Li Xiangqian feel sad, and also strengthened his determination to protect this courtyard.

He took the bamboo tube home, poured some coarse rice into the water jar, and then put the bamboo tube aside. He silently swore in his heart that he would do everything he could to keep everyone alive and not let down this trust and support.

As the night deepened, the courtyard gradually became quiet, with only a few insects chirping in the corners. Li Xiangqian lay on his bed, listening to the breeze outside, but he didn't feel sleepy at all. He knew that tomorrow's road would still be full of challenges, but he also knew that he couldn't back down and let down those who depended on him.

When Li Xiangqian was thinking about how to further improve the living conditions in the courtyard, he suddenly remembered a suggestion he had heard before. Someone said that raising fish can not only provide protein, but also make use of limited resources to fill the nutritional gap in many ways. Once this idea emerged, it quickly took root in his mind. He realized that perhaps this was a new way to solve the current dilemma.

He did not hesitate for too long and decided to go to the market to see if he could find small fish suitable for breeding. After some inquiries and inquiries, Li Xiangqian finally found a fish vendor. The vendor made a living with a small wooden barrel filled with lively small fish. Although the species was not top-notch, it was enough for breeding.

Li Xiangqian squatted beside the fish bucket, carefully observing the small fish, secretly calculating the quantity and cost. He knew that although the small fish purchased this time would not have any effect for the time being, as long as they were well raised, they would definitely be able to give back to them in the future. Despite this, he was also a little worried about whether these small fish could adapt to the environment of the courtyard and whether they could grow up smoothly.

"Boss, how much is this fish?" Li Xiangqian asked, trying to appear calm, but there was still a hint of nervousness in his tone.

The vendor looked up at Li Xiangqian, seemed to see his hesitation, and took the initiative to introduce: "Brother, these fish are easy to raise, cold and heat resistant, as long as there is some water and food, they can live well. The price is not expensive, you can buy some."

Li Xiangqian nodded, thinking that these fish might be what he needed. "Pack some for me, not too many, to test the water first." As he said this, he had already started thinking about how to prepare a suitable living environment for these small fish in the courtyard.

The vendor swiftly picked up a handful of small fish, put them in a worn plastic bag and handed it to Li Xiangqian. "Take them back now. If they are good, come back and buy more next time."

Li Xiangqian took the fish, paid for it, and felt a little relieved. He knew that this was just the first step, and there was still a lot to do. He couldn't let these fish go to waste, and he had to find a way to keep them alive in the courtyard.

Back at the courtyard, Li Xiangqian took the fish home. Li Xiu'e saw the plastic bag in his hand and showed a hint of curiosity on her face. "Xiangqian, are you buying these fish to keep them in a water tank?"

Li Xiangqian nodded, put the bag on the table, and gently opened the bag so that Li Xiu'e could also see the lively little fish inside. "Yes, I was thinking, since we are short of food here, why not try raising some fish. When these fish grow up, we can have more protein, and the children can eat something good."

Li Xiu'e looked at the small fish, a trace of worry on her face. "Can these small fish survive? The conditions here are limited. If they can't survive, wouldn't it be a waste of effort?"

Li Xiangqian understood Li Xiu'e's concerns, and he had the same concerns. But he knew that if he didn't try, he would never know the result. "Xiu'e, I'm also taking a gamble. We can't just sit and wait to die these days. Since these fish are not picky about food or environment, let's give it a try. We can't let the children live on porridge every day, right?"

Li Xiu'e was silent for a while, but finally nodded. "Okay, let's give it a try. I hope these fish can bring us good luck."

Li Xiangqian looked at her gratefully, and then began to get busy. He found a small wooden barrel and put the small fish in it temporarily. He also cleared a corner next to the water tank and built a simple pond with bricks, preparing to raise the small fish in it in the future. He also specially found some leaves and weeds and spread them on the bottom of the pond as a hiding place for the fish.

After working for a long time, Li Xiangqian finally built a temporary fish pond. He carefully put the small fish into the pond and watched them swim quickly, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Although these small fish still look very young, their vitality and vitality give Li Xiangqian a glimmer of hope. He imagined the scene of these small fish gradually growing up, and perhaps in a few months, everyone will be able to eat fresh fish meat.

In the following days, Li Xiangqian spent some time every day taking care of the fish. He tried to find some easily available feed, such as rice bran and some vegetable leaves left in the kitchen, and fed them to the fish. He noticed that the fish gradually adapted to the new environment and began to grow slowly. Seeing them gradually become lively and strong, Li Xiangqian's mood gradually improved.

The neighbors in the courtyard soon noticed that Li Xiangqian was raising fish, and they all came to inquire about the situation. When Old Zhou saw the simple pond and the small fish swimming in it, he couldn't help but marvel at it. "Xiangqian, you have a really smart brain! You actually came up with a way to raise fish. Under our conditions, we can come up with something new."

Li Xiangqian smiled and said modestly: "Zhoutou, this is the only solution we have. Let's give it a try. If we can develop it, we can share it together. After all, we all have to make a living."

Old Zhou nodded, a hint of relief in his eyes. "You have a good idea. Life is hard for everyone, and it's better to work together to find a solution than to suffer alone."

Other neighbors also nodded and expressed their willingness to help take care of the fish. Li Xiangqian felt warm in his heart, thinking that although this courtyard was small, it was full of human touch. Although everyone's life was not easy, as long as they worked together, they could always find a way out.

As time went by, the fish gradually grew up, and the atmosphere in the courtyard became more harmonious. Li Xiangqian felt very satisfied every time he saw the fish swimming happily in the pond. Although it would take some time before he could actually eat fish, this sense of anticipation and hope supported him and the entire courtyard to keep moving forward in the face of adversity.