Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

He knew that this matter was not simple. Recently, the movements around his home seemed to be a little different. In particular, the neighbors who lived close to him often appeared outside the yard unintentionally, and there was always a kind of greed that was difficult to conceal in their eyes. And this greed, Li Xiangqian had already noticed.

He walked to the gate of the yard, looked back, and the uneasiness in his heart rose again. In the past few days, he began to check the fields frequently. The grains that he had hidden before had become "hot cakes" in everyone's eyes. He began to understand that he was just using a thin cover to cover a secret that was enough to cause a storm.

"What are you thinking about?" Qin Huairu's voice suddenly came from behind.

Li Xiangqian turned his head suddenly, with a hint of alertness in his eyes. Qin Huairu stood at the gate of the yard, and the expression on his face was no longer the calmness before, but with a touch of complicated emotions. Li Xiangqian couldn't help but frowned. This kind of emotion was not common, and Qin Huairu's attitude at this moment did not seem to be out of concern, but more of an unclear obscurity.

"Are you still worried about these things?" Li Xiangqian looked directly into Qin Huairu's eyes, his tone without any disguise, "How can I feel at ease if these things are not resolved?"

Qin Huairu lowered her head, seemed a little hesitant, and her eyes became wandering. She stood there silently, silent, as if thinking about something.

Li Xiangqian felt an unknown pressure. He knew that Qin Huairu's silence was not simply because she had nothing to say, but because of some hidden emotions. She must have something in her heart that she hadn't said, or even an unspeakable secret. Li Xiangqian's brows knitted unconsciously, and he couldn't help but start to doubt whether she was really on his side.

"Qin Huairu," Li Xiangqian said softly, his tone becoming softer, "Do you know something?"

She immediately looked up at him, her eyes flickering, as if she wanted to say something, but then she closed her mouth. At that moment, Li Xiangqian could almost hear her inner struggle, the conflicting emotions of wanting to reveal but not daring to admit it. He felt a little uneasy in his heart, and this uneasiness became stronger in her silence.

"If you know anything, you'd better tell me." Li Xiangqian's voice was low and firm, "Otherwise we may both regret it."

Qin Huairu was silent for a moment, and finally sighed softly: "I know you will ask this." Her voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, with a trace of fatigue that could not be concealed, "You don't really want to know, Li Xiangqian."

Li Xiangqian was stunned, and felt a chill in his heart. Her words were filled with a deep sense of helplessness, and also a sense of regret that she could not continue. Li Xiangqian did not speak, but just stared at her quietly, with indescribable complex emotions in his heart. The meaning of Qin Huairu's words seemed not as simple as he could understand, and his current situation could not be solved by relying solely on her.

"I know those people have set their sights on our food." Qin Huairu finally spoke, his tone even lower than before, "and... they are not just targeting your family."

"Who else are they targeting?" Li Xiangqian's voice turned cold, his brows knitted, and his heart began to beat faster. The hidden fear and anxiety surged into his heart again, and he vaguely felt that the situation was heading for a worse direction.

Qin Huairu looked around and became more alert. She whispered, "It's not just you and my family. Old Zhang's family and the Wang family next door are all their targets. Haven't you noticed their actions these days? They have been secretly asking about our food reserves." Her voice gradually became suppressed. "I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would worry. But... I'm afraid I can't hide anymore."

Li Xiangqian clenched his fists, and a sharp cold light flashed in his eyes. His heartbeat seemed to be torn in two by this sentence, and the severe pain made it almost impossible for him to breathe. He did not speak again, but just walked aside silently. The pressure in his heart was getting bigger and bigger, and the pressure was like a mountain pressing on his shoulders, making him almost unable to breathe.

"What are you going to do?" Qin Huairu finally spoke, with a hint of helplessness and silence in his voice.

Li Xiangqian turned around and looked at her without any hesitation. He didn't say anything, just nodded, and had already made a decision in his heart. He knew that every step forward was full of unknowns and risks, but he had no way out.

"They want our food," Li Xiangqian said in a low voice, "Let them know that we are not someone to be trifled with."

This courtyard was once a prosperous settlement. Men worked in factories, women took care of housework at home, and children played in the yard. But now, due to years of poor harvests and a sharp decline in food supply, everyone's life is getting harder and harder. Li Xiangqian is a careful person. He has watched the changes in the courtyard over the years and has indescribable feelings in his heart.

He scooped up a small spoonful of porridge and drank it slowly. All he tasted was water that was almost tasteless. But this little porridge was his hope for the day, so he couldn't drink more. He covered the remaining porridge, put it on the stove, got up and went out. He knew that just waiting would not work. If the famine continued, the whole yard would not be able to survive for much longer.

Li Xiangqian walked to the center of the yard and happened to see Lao Yang squatting on the ground cutting a branch. It was a dry branch that had long been dry. Lao Yang carefully cut the branch into fine pieces and put it into a small cloth bag. He gave Li Xiangqian a bitter smile and said, "This is the last bit of firewood ash from last night. Can you exchange it for something? Let's try your luck."

Li Xiangqian sighed and patted Lao Yang on the shoulder: "You take a rest first, I'll go out for a walk today and see if there is any other way." Lao Yang waved his hand, his eyes showing hope and a little doubt. He had long been accustomed to disappointment. Over the years, most of what he hoped for was in vain.

Li Xiangqian said nothing more and turned to leave the yard. He walked through the streets, where people were all skinny, some leaning against the wall, some squatting in the corners gnawing on tree roots. The street stalls were no longer as busy as they used to be, with only a few small piles covered with rags left, and the stall owners no longer had the energy to hawk their wares.

After walking for a long time, he came to the edge of a field. This field used to be the most fertile field nearby, but now, only the dry soil was left. There were a few wild vegetables growing sparsely in the field, but they had long been pulled out. Li Xiangqian squatted down and turned the soil, trying to find the roots that were missed. His fingers touched a hard object, and when he pushed the soil aside, he saw that it was a wild vegetable root buried deep. He dug it out carefully, and a sense of comfort rose in his heart.