Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

After returning home, Li Xiangqian placed the peppers on the kitchen counter and began to process the pork and onions. He had good knife skills and his cutting movements were neat and tidy. He cut the pork belly into thin slices in a few strokes and peeled the onions and cut them into small pieces. Then, he picked the red peppers, washed them and cut them into sections. Looking at the fresh ingredients on the table, Li Xiangqian calmed down a little. Focusing on the ingredients in front of him, he temporarily forgot about those messy thoughts.

When the oil pan began to emit steam, Li Xiangqian put the pork belly in. With a sizzling sound, the aroma of the oil immediately spread. When the meat slices were fried until slightly yellow, he added onions and peppers. As the heat gradually increased, the fragrance of onions mixed with the spiciness of peppers hit the nose, filling the whole kitchen with a rich aroma.

"This is the taste." Li Xiangqian felt somewhat satisfied and picked up the spatula to stir the food gently. This feeling made him relax a lot, as if all his troubles could be dissipated with the hot steam from the pot.

However, at this moment, there was a knock on the door. Li Xiangqian's heart tightened, and he couldn't help but have a bad premonition: "Who would come at this time?" He put down the spatula, wiped his hands, and walked quickly to the door.

When he opened the door, he saw Qin Huairu standing outside. She was wearing a clean light-colored shirt, her hair was neatly combed, she was holding a bowl of something in her hand, and she had a smile on her face, but that smile seemed to have a more deliberate meaning than before.

"Xiang Qian, there's a nice smell coming out of your house again. I can smell it from inside the house." Qin Huairu spoke, her tone seemed to be a bit teasing, "I didn't come here to eat for free this time. I just brought you something. I made some light vegetarian dishes myself, fearing that you would get irritated from eating meat all day."

When Li Xiangqian saw her, he immediately became alert. Although she didn't directly ask to come into the house like before, he could feel that her attitude was still not simple. Looking at the dishes in her hands, Li Xiangqian couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, thinking: "She is looking for an excuse again. Didn't we agree not to interact too much?"

He stood at the door, silent for a moment, and then said calmly: "Thank you, but I just finished cooking here, so I may not be able to eat too much. You should keep this dish for yourself."

Qin Huairu's smile froze for a moment, but soon returned to normal. She said softly, "It's okay. I don't have many dishes. You can just treat it as a small snack and try it."

Li Xiangqian didn't know how to refuse. He didn't want to have too much contact with Qin Huairu, but he felt that if he always refused, it would be unkind. After a moment of silence, he finally took the bowl from her hand and whispered, "Thank you, I'll try it."

Qin Huairu smiled, said nothing more, and turned away. Li Xiangqian stood at the door, looking at her back, and felt more and more that something was wrong. Every time Qin Huairu approached him, it seemed that there was some purpose, and he was getting more and more trapped in this invisible entanglement.

Back in the kitchen, Li Xiangqian looked at the bowl of vegetarian food in his hand and couldn't help feeling a little annoyed. He didn't know how to get out of this situation, and he felt like he was being dragged into the trap set by Qin Huairu. He didn't want his life to become complicated, but Qin Huairu's relentless pressure made it impossible for him to escape from this situation.

Li Xiangqian stood in the kitchen for a long time, facing the bowl of vegetarian food Qin Huairu brought him. The pork belly and onions in the pot were already out of the pot, but the aroma could no longer arouse his appetite. Looking at the bowl of vegetarian food, he felt heavier in his heart.

"I can't let this go on." Li Xiangqian thought silently. He knew that this frequent contact had become delicate. Although it was not irreversible, if it continued like this, it would definitely attract the attention of other people in the yard. If the neighbors noticed something and even spread rumors, the consequences would be even more difficult to deal with.

He has known since childhood that gossips about family matters are the most hurtful in a courtyard. Who is close to whom, and what happened to someone's family, will become the topic of conversation in the courtyard after dinner. Li Xiangqian never likes to be talked about by others. He is introverted and doesn't like to be noticed. Now, Qin Huairu's approach puts him on the edge of danger. If he takes a wrong step, he may be targeted by everyone in the courtyard.

"This matter cannot be publicized." He knew in his heart that this was not only for himself, but also for Qin Huairu. If there were any ambiguous rumors between them, it would be a bigger blow to her reputation. A widow is already easy to become the focus of everyone's attention, and if she is linked to a relationship with a man, such rumors are enough to ruin her entire life.

"But why doesn't she know the importance of this?" Li Xiangqian was puzzled. Qin Huairu was a smart woman and should know the rules of the courtyard. Her actions were too enthusiastic, even a little persistent, which made Li Xiangqian feel more and more uneasy.

He couldn't help but recall the details from before: Qin Huairu frequently brought him food, approached him under various pretexts, and even intentionally or unintentionally let others see their interactions. These actions might seem well-intentioned to her, or even an attempt to get closer, but in Li Xiangqian's eyes, they looked more and more like a trap.

"What is she after?" Li Xiangqian was confused. He didn't believe Qin Huairu would approach him for no reason. She was a smart person and it was impossible for her to have no purpose. He tried to recall their conversation and tried to find clues from it.

"Maybe she wants to rely on me? Or does she think I can help her?" Li Xiangqian speculated repeatedly in his mind. Although he himself did not have a prominent background, he was a down-to-earth person in the courtyard and lived a stable life. For a single woman, it seemed reasonable to find a reliable man to rely on.

"But I don't need these..." He frowned even more. He liked to live independently and was used to living alone. He never thought about taking on the burden of other people's lives. Qin Huairu's approach would only make him feel troubled and even disrupt his originally stable life rhythm.

While he was thinking, he heard faint footsteps outside. Li Xiangqian's ears moved, his heart tightened, and he immediately put down the bowl in his hand, walked to the window, and looked out through the crack.

Sure enough, several old ladies next door were standing in the corner of the courtyard, seeming to be discussing something quietly, occasionally glancing at Li Xiangqian's door. Li Xiangqian's heart shuddered, he knew that every move in the courtyard could not escape the eyes of these people. They have always been the "messengers" in the courtyard. If they noticed Qin Huairu's frequent visits, the seeds of rumors would soon sprout.