Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

He knew that he had indeed neglected too much over the years. He had been looking forward, always running for the future, but forgot to look back at the people around him. His wife's eyes gradually became like the silent sky, deep and distant, hiding too many emotions and pasts that he could not touch.

Li Xiangqian sat at the dining table, his fingers gently moving the glutinous rice balls on the edge of the bowl, but his heart was not at peace. His wife's words just now circled in his mind. He knew that he had not done well enough. Perhaps he had not really paid attention to her heart over the years. And how could he expect a bowl of glutinous rice balls to repair the rift between him and her?

However, at this moment, the phone rang suddenly, pulling Li Xiangqian's thoughts back from the heavy thoughts. He picked up the phone and glanced at the display screen. The name displayed on the screen made him stunned for a moment - "Shazhu".

Li Xiangqian put down the glutinous rice balls, pressed the answer button, and said hesitantly: "Hello, Shazhu, what's the matter?"

On the other end of the phone, Sha Zhu's voice was filled with anxiety, "Brother Xiang Qian, are you home? I have something to talk to you about."

Li Xiangqian felt uneasy when he heard his anxious tone. Sha Zhu was one of Li Xiangqian's earliest friends, and they had known each other for many years. Although Sha Zhu was honest and straightforward, he was always easily taken advantage of. Li Xiangqian had helped Sha Zhu many times and felt that he had a sense of responsibility towards him. However, as time went by, the connection between the two gradually became distant.

"I'm at home, what's the urgent matter?" Li Xiangqian couldn't help asking.

"It's nothing serious, let's meet and talk." Sha Zhu's voice was a little low, "I have something going on recently, and I don't know how to deal with it. I want to hear your advice."

"Okay, I'll be right there." Li Xiangqian nodded and hung up the phone.

He put down his phone, and his heart moved slightly, feeling that the matter was not simple. Sha Zhu was a practical person, and he would not ask others for help casually. If he took the initiative to find him, then there must be something wrong.

However, Li Xiangqian felt conflicted. His life had been complicated enough recently, with work pressure and family conflicts making him feel overwhelmed every day. And Sha Zhu, although an old friend, always got into trouble easily. For some reason, Li Xiangqian always felt that Sha Zhu was foolishly looking for trouble for him.

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. Li Xiangqian stood up to open the door and saw Sha Zhu standing outside. He was wearing a coat that looked a little faded, his face was a little gloomy, and his eyes were slightly red and swollen.

"What's wrong with you?" Li Xiangqian asked subconsciously, his eyes concerned, but a trace of doubt rose in his heart. Sha Zhu always had an honest face, not like now when he looked so worried.

After Sha Zhu came in, Li Xiangqian asked him to sit down, made a glass of water, and handed it to him. "Tell me, what's wrong?"

Sha Zhu took the water cup, took a sip, and slowly said: "Brother Xiang Qian, didn't you say you would give me an idea? There is an investment opportunity recently, and I heard it is quite profitable. I want to borrow some money from you, so we can cooperate."

Li Xiangqian frowned slightly when he heard this. Sha Zhu's voice was a little anxious, and there was a light in his eyes that he himself did not fully understand. Li Xiangqian knew that although Sha Zhu was stupid, he was not dumb. He was more perceptive than most people in terms of economics. He just had not grasped too many opportunities, so he placed his hopes on Li Xiangqian.

"Investment? What investment?" Li Xiangqian was a little alert. He knew that Sha Zhu could easily be attracted by some "opportunities" that seemed to have high returns. If he was not careful, he might fall into some unclear situations.

"It was recommended by a friend. He said there is a project that will increase in value quickly. If you invest in it, you will get a very high return in the short term." Sha Zhu explained hurriedly, "I want to borrow some money. Let's do it together. Once the return comes out, we can make a lot of money."

Li Xiangqian's frown deepened as he listened. He knew that this kind of investment was often high-risk and there was a high possibility of fraud. Although Sha Zhu was simple, he often got himself into trouble. Sometimes, Li Xiangqian even felt worried about him. He had helped Sha Zhu several times in the past because of similar things, but each time it ended up in nothing, and he ended up being dragged down and exhausted.

Li Xiangqian was silent for a while, trying to hide his uneasiness. "Shazhu, this matter seems a bit complicated. We have to be cautious when investing and not be impulsive. If you are short of money, we can think of other ways." His tone became calmer, but the contradiction in his heart became greater. He didn't want to see Shazhu get into this kind of trouble again, but he didn't want to reject him directly.

Sha Zhu looked at Li Xiangqian eagerly, with a look of expectation in his eyes that he could hardly conceal. "Brother Xiangqian, I know you are busy, but this opportunity is really not to be missed. Besides, I don't want to do it alone. I know you have experience, and we can definitely make money together."

Li Xiangqian suddenly felt confused. He looked at Sha Zhu's eager eyes and struggled in his heart. In the past, he might have agreed long ago, but today, facing his own financial difficulties and the impending pressure, he really didn't know what to do.

On the one hand, he knew that helping Sha Zhu was his unshirkable responsibility; but on the other hand, he also knew that such a decision might bring him greater trouble and might even drag down his already tense life.

"Silly Zhu, this... I need to think about it again." Li Xiangqian finally said this, his tone still with a hint of hesitation, "It's not that I don't want to help you, but you also know that the current situation is more complicated. I'm afraid that if something goes wrong, we will all suffer."

Sha Zhu's expression was obviously a little disappointed. He lowered his head and was silent for a long time. Finally, he whispered: "I know you are busy, but you just don't want to help me, right?"

Li Xiangqian sighed, looking at Sha Zhu in front of him, with an indescribable feeling of powerlessness in his heart. He understood that although he did not refuse, Sha Zhu had already sensed his hesitation and reluctance. Although he did not want to make Sha Zhu sad, reality forced him to make a choice.

"It's not that I don't want to help you." Li Xiangqian shook his head, "It's just that there are some things that we have to consider carefully and not just act on impulse."

Sha Zhu nodded with a hint of disappointment and unwillingness in his eyes, "I understand, Brother Xiang Qian, forget it, I'll find a way myself." He stood up and prepared to leave.

Li Xiangqian stood at the door, looking at Sha Zhu's back, feeling inexplicably heavy in his heart. He knew that if he didn't give Sha Zhu an answer this time, he might disappoint him. He might even make Sha Zhu feel that he was distancing himself from him.