Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

When Xu Damao turned around and prepared to leave, Li Xiangqian called him: "Damo, wait a moment."

Xu Damao turned around and looked at Li Xiangqian in confusion: "What's wrong? Is there anything else?"

Li Xiangqian took a deep breath, and a series of thoughts flashed through his mind. He hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "The situation in your field has really become more and more complicated during this period. Have you ever considered that the appearance of these snakes may not be accidental?"

Xu Damao seemed a little stunned by Li Xiangqian's words: "What do you mean? Isn't the snake incident a natural reaction?"

Li Xiangqian did not respond immediately, but lowered his head to think. "Maybe..." He spoke slowly, "But I always feel that...some things are not that simple. Don't you think these snakes appear more and more frequently, or even have some purpose?"

Xu Damao was slightly stunned, but quickly waved his hand: "You think too much, snakes are not mysterious things. In fact, there are many unexplainable reasons for things in nature. Maybe it's the weather change, or the ground is wet, so the snakes come out."

Li Xiangqian was still a little upset after hearing what Xu Damao said, but he also knew that Xu Damao didn't believe in such supernatural explanations. So he could only nod and say, "Well, you're right. Maybe I'm thinking too much."

Li Xiangqian was busy at home. He stood in front of the kitchen counter, staring at the bottled water in the cabinet. The neatly arranged bottles looked insignificant, but in his eyes, they seemed like an insurmountable barrier. He had prepared enough purified water, and the number of bottles even made him feel a little depressed. Every time he walked past these bottles, he always had an indescribable feeling - uneasiness, anxiety, and even a hint of uncontrollable fear.

The water was originally prepared for daily life. However, with the appearance of the snake, his plan changed subtly. Li Xiangqian kept thinking about the words of the old Chinese doctor: "To cure the root cause, you have to look at yourself." These words made him think deeply. The appearance of the snake was probably not just a coincidence, but a deeper symbol. Li Xiangqian began to think that relying solely on herbs and traditional methods might not really solve the problem. He began to believe that his inner anxiety and fear might be the root cause of all this.

He glanced at the pure water and made a new decision. Water, perhaps, can cleanse everything. He didn't know where this idea came from. Maybe it was because he stayed in the pharmacy for too long, or maybe it was a thought that flashed through his mind when he was talking to himself in countless lonely nights. In any case, he felt that this was the only way. Snakes, after all, are living things, and water can soak everything. He decided to purify everything through water, even his own heart.

Li Xiangqian began his preparations. He carefully took down the water bottles one by one, took them to the yard, and placed them in the sun. The sun in the village was always so bright, and the air was filled with the smell of soil. He placed the bottles of pure water in an orderly manner, almost as if he was performing some kind of ritual. Every time his fingers touched the bottle, the cold touch made him shudder slightly. For him, the existence of the water bottle was not only a tool to dispel his desire, but also a symbol, representing the purity and tranquility he hoped to obtain.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment. Li Xiangqian stood in the yard, looking at the water bottles, and a vague thought gradually emerged in his mind. Perhaps, pure water can not only clean the traces of the snake, but also cleanse his heart. However, he has never had such an impulse. On weekdays, he always analyzes everything rationally and faces all problems with a calm heart. However, now he seems to no longer be the rational Li Xiangqian. He feels that he is being pulled by a force, and that force comes from deep in his heart.

Just as Li Xiangqian was in a daze in the yard, He Yuzhu suddenly came out of the house with a puzzled look on her face. "Xiangqian, what are you doing? Are you going to irrigate the fields with so many water bottles?" She looked at the bottles with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

Li Xiangqian was stunned for a moment, his thoughts suddenly interrupted and he was a little overwhelmed. He looked down at the water bottle in his hand, then looked up at He Yuzhu, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly: "Well, nothing, just thinking of preparing some water, nothing special."

He Yuzhu frowned, obviously not believing Li Xiangqian's words. She saw a trace of uneasiness on his face, and then asked softly: "Xiangqian, are you worried about something? You have been staring at these water bottles lately. Are you troubled by something?"

Li Xiangqian suddenly felt a complex emotion. He had no way of telling He Yuzhu about his inner fear, and he didn't want her to see his inner fragility. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down: "Nothing, I just have some things to deal with recently, and I feel a little confused."

He Yuzhu heard something wrong in Li Xiangqian's words. She took a few steps closer, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes: "I know you've been upset recently. I understand the snake issue and the issues in the field. But don't keep it in your heart. If you encounter any problems, let's work together to find a solution. Don't bear this alone."

Li Xiangqian was stunned, and suddenly a warm feeling came over him. He originally thought that he could bear it all by himself, but he didn't expect that He Yuzhu would be so considerate and always stand by him. Her concern and kindness, like a warm sunshine, shone into Li Xiangqian's heart, making him relax a little. But even so, he still couldn't tell her his real fear. The snake, that silent threat, the unspeakable fear, still hovered in his heart and lingered.

Li Xiangqian smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I'm fine, I just have some things to sort out, don't worry."

He Yuzhu didn't seem to completely believe what Li Xiangqian said. She was silent for a while, but finally nodded: "If you have any difficulties, remember to tell me, don't carry it alone."

"Well, thank you." Li Xiangqian's voice was a little choked, but he managed to hold it in. He Yuzhu's words caused a wave of fluctuations in his heart, as if making him more clearly aware that he was not completely alone.

But this did not change his uneasiness. He looked down at the water bottles again and made up his mind. No matter what, he had to solve the problem in front of him. The snake was not only a threat, but also a potential danger that he did not want to face. He had decided to rely on the water to purify everything. At least in his heart, such a ritual could make him feel a little comforted.