Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Making dumplings may be just a simple act, but it conveys a kind of thoughtfulness, and shows that he is willing to temporarily put aside the pressure and take care of the subtle emotions of his family.

He turned to get the kettle. The sound of the faucet echoed in the kitchen. Li Xiangqian slowly poured in the water, but he was once again invaded by a vague worry. Tangyuan can indeed bring some warmth, but can it solve all the problems at home? He knew that this family had accumulated too many difficulties, and a bowl of tangyuan alone could obviously not change anything. But he thought, if he could continue this warmth, perhaps the gap between him and his wife would be less, and the burden of life might be lighter.

"How much do you plan to make? Should we eat by ourselves tonight?" Lin Na's voice broke Li Xiangqian's thoughts. She had already started preparing the seasonings, and the tip of the knife gently ran across the ingredients.

"I'll make a small pot for our family of three. Anyway... not many people come here recently." Li Xiangqian replied, and suddenly he felt an indescribable sense of emptiness in his heart, as if even these simple things could not cover up the powerlessness deep in his heart. He lowered his head and looked at the unopened glutinous rice balls on the table. His fingers gently ran over the printed words on the bag, but he didn't realize that he was unconsciously thinking about the outside world, thinking about those days with no way back, and thinking about the strange faces outside the house.

"Well, there are fewer people recently." Lin Na responded softly. There was no special emotional fluctuation in her tone. It was just a plain statement, but it made Li Xiangqian feel a little depressed. Yes, something is missing recently. Not only the long-lost laughter at home, but also the communication between friends and neighbors outside seems to be less. Those familiar faces in the courtyard are now a little strange, as if everything has been quietly changed by the pressure of time and reality.

He carefully placed the dumplings in the boiling water, watching them slowly float and expand. His mind drifted with them, and in this simple scene, he somehow fell into deep memories and self-blame. Each dumpling was like a small gap in his heart that was filled, as if such a simple thing could comfort him for a moment.

However, Li Xiangqian knew that this comfort was only temporary and could not eliminate the pain in his heart. Just like the glutinous rice balls floating out of the water, gradually becoming round and plump, but hidden behind them were still those life problems that could not be easily solved.

"Why aren't you talking?" Lin Na suddenly asked, her voice a little anxious, as if she noticed that Li Xiangqian had fallen silent again.

"Nothing, just thinking about something." Li Xiangqian pursed his lips unconsciously and turned to look at his wife. His eyes were still complicated, and an indescribable emotion flashed across his eyes. His wife seemed to notice the fatigue in his eyes, but she didn't say anything, just silently continued to cut the vegetables in her hands.

Li Xiangqian looked at the gradually steaming glutinous rice balls, as if this little food had become his only hope at the moment. He didn't say anything more, but began to serve the glutinous rice balls and gently put them into the bowl. The faint aroma drifted in the kitchen, and the air was filled with the mixed smell of rice flour and sweetness. At that moment, Li Xiangqian's mood calmed down a little, as if the warmth and softness of the entire kitchen began to soothe his inner anxiety.

He picked up the bowl of glutinous rice balls, walked to the table, carefully placed it in front of his wife, and smiled softly, "Try it, how does it taste?"

Lin Na raised her head, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and then she nodded slightly, "It tastes good." She lowered her head and gently picked up a glutinous rice ball and put it into her mouth. She didn't seem to say anything more, just ate it silently.

Watching his wife eating the glutinous rice balls he made, Li Xiangqian suddenly realized that perhaps life really doesn't need too many complicated things. Sometimes, simple companionship and subtle care can really restore the original warmth of this family. And he may have lacked such a little patience and sincerity, which made everything so unbearable.

Li Xiangqian raised the bowl of glutinous rice balls and fixed his eyes on his wife's hair, which was hanging down slightly. Her hair hung softly beside her ears, and was occasionally blown by the wind. A wisp of subtle fragrance drifted away, carrying the mixed smell of rice soup and sugar in the kitchen. Li Xiangqian's eyes softened a little, but a certain uneasiness in his heart could not be shaken off no matter what.

He picked up a glutinous rice dumpling and gently put it into his mouth. The steam escaped from his mouth. The soft glutinous rice skin and the sweetness of the candy core seemed to instantly bring him back to the past, back to the simple and pure time when he didn't care too much. But he knew that those days were gone. Life was no longer easy, and even this simple dinner seemed unable to bring everything back to the starting point.

Lin Na did not respond immediately, but just lowered her head and continued eating. The corners of her mouth occasionally curved slightly, as if she was reluctantly expressing some recognition of Li Xiangqian's small efforts. But her eyes were still calm, even a little distant, and that empty feeling made Li Xiangqian even more silent. It was not that she didn't care about him, but too much time and emotions had been suppressed by reality and there was no place to release them. Her silence was a silent defense, the only way she could maintain herself when facing the pressure accumulated over the years.

Li Xiangqian knew that he had never really understood his wife's heart. In the early days of their acquaintance, he just thought Lin Na was a gentle and sensible woman. As time went by, he gradually got used to her silence and forbearance, but never really entered her world. Every time he was busy with work, busy dealing with trivial matters at home, busy looking for solutions to problems, and ignored his wife's emotional needs, his wife's heart had already gradually cooled in those silent years.

He looked at the glutinous rice balls in the bowl as if he didn't see them, but couldn't help thinking in his heart whether he always looked ahead without thinking behind. He worked hard outside, constantly worked hard for the family, and tried his best to maintain the stability of this small family, but he forgot that he was not the only one who needed to pay. His wife also had her needs. She also needed to be understood and cared for, and sometimes even needed to face the pressure of life without being forced.

He lowered his head, his eyes slowly becoming heavy. Yes, he often took care of everything in front of him - bills, work, household chores, but never took into account his wife's true feelings. Her silence may not just be a manifestation of dissatisfaction with life, but a silent cry for help. She didn't want to say more, because she knew that every time she opened her mouth, it might bring more disputes, and such disputes would only increase her inner fatigue and disappointment in the end.