Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"What's going on?" Li Xiangqian's voice was not loud, but it was steady. He walked forward and glanced between the two of them.

Liu Guangfu looked back and saw that it was Li Xiangqian, and the arrogance on his face immediately subsided. He knew that although Li Xiangqian didn't like to meddle in other people's business, he still had some prestige in the courtyard.

"It's none of your business, Li Xiangqian." Liu Guangfu said stiffly, "This is our factory's business, don't interfere."

Li Xiangqian smiled, his tone still calm: "We have to be reasonable about things in the factory, right? What's the matter? You're blocking people with a stick, and you don't allow others to speak?"

He Yuzhu was grateful to see someone standing up for him. He quickly said, "Brother Li, listen to me. When the factory distributed steamed buns today, I took the ones distributed per person. I didn't take more than that. He is deliberately looking for trouble!"

"Looking for trouble?" Liu Guangfu snorted coldly, "He Yuzhu, stop pretending to be innocent here! Last time you stole eggs from the cafeteria, I haven't settled the score with you yet!"

"You're talking nonsense!" He Yuzhu was so angry that his face turned red. "It was you who took the eggs last time and framed me! How dare you bring up something that everyone knows?"

Li Xiangqian had already figured it out when he heard this. He looked at Liu Guangfu with a fierce look in his eyes: "Liu Guangfu, since you said he stole the steamed buns, then show us the evidence. If you don't have any evidence, don't make a fuss here!"

Liu Guangfu felt a little timid when being stared at by Li Xiangqian, but he said stubbornly: "Evidence? The evidence is what I saw! It's up to you whether you believe it or not, but he has to leave this steamed bun for me today!"

Li Xiangqian sneered: "What kind of evidence is this? Can you arbitrarily accuse someone based on your words? If the world is really so reasonable, who would dare to go out?"

The atmosphere in the alley suddenly became tense. Liu Guangfu's hand holding the stick was shaking slightly. He obviously didn't expect Li Xiangqian to be so tough.

He Yuzhu was a little nervous when he saw this. Although he was grateful to Li Xiangqian for speaking up for him, he was afraid that if things got out of hand, it would be a bad ending. He whispered, "Brother Li, why don't we just forget about it? I'll take the bad luck and give him the steamed buns."

Li Xiangqian shook his head, his voice low but firm: "No. This is not about steamed buns, this is a question of reason. If you give in today, he will cause trouble for you again tomorrow."

As soon as these words came out, He Yuzhu's eyes flashed with emotion. He knew that Li Xiangqian was trying to support him, but he also knew that people like Liu Guangfu would not give up easily.

"Liu Guangfu," Li stepped forward, his tone full of unquestionable majesty, "I advise you to put away your tricks. We all live in the same yard, and we will see each other every day. Why do you have to make things unpleasant?"

Liu Guangfu opened his mouth but nothing came out. He knew he was in the wrong and that continuing the argument would only make him more embarrassed. He glared at He Yuzhu fiercely, saying "You are so cruel!" and left in disgrace.

The alley returned to silence, and He Yuzhu breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Li Xiangqian, his face full of gratitude: "Brother Li, today is really thanks to you. Otherwise, I don't know how this would end."

Li Xiangqian waved his hand and said calmly, "No need to thank me. No one would tolerate such a thing. But you have to be more careful in the future and don't let anyone catch you."

He Yuzhu nodded, full of admiration for Li Xiangqian. He knew that this seemingly gentle neighbor was actually a responsible person.

When Li Xiangqian returned to the courtyard, he was still feeling a little heavy. He put the basket on the kitchen counter and looked up at the clock on the wall. It was already evening. There was an indescribable depression in the room, as if the air had become stagnant. His wife Zhang Guifang was sitting on the edge of the kang, mending an old piece of clothing with her head down. The needle and thread flew up and down in her hands, making a slight friction sound.

"Are you back?" Zhang Guifang said in a light tone without even raising her head.

"Yeah." Li Xiangqian responded softly, feeling a little uneasy. He knew that the calmer Zhang Guifang's tone was, the more unpleasant her next words would be.

Sure enough, Zhang Guifang stopped what she was doing, looked up at him, and her eyes were filled with dissatisfaction: "You are meddling in other people's business again today, right?"

Li Xiangqian was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "He Yuzhu in the courtyard was bullied, and I happened to run into him, so I said a few fair words."

Zhang Guifang put down her needlework and sighed, "You are such a person that you can't sit still! Our family is already living a tight life, and you are always trying to stand up for others. If you offend someone, how can our family live a good life?"

"I didn't think too much about it," Li Xiangqian said in a low voice, "I just couldn't stand Liu Guangfu bullying others."

"Can't stand it?" Zhang Guifang's voice suddenly rose. "You are indeed a man of integrity! But have you ever thought about what we would do if someone really wanted to take advantage of our family? Do you think someone like Liu Guangfu would give up easily?"

Li Xiangqian was choked by the conversation and was speechless. It's not that he hadn't considered these issues, but under the circumstances at the time, he simply couldn't stand by and watch. This was his personality. When he saw something unfair, he couldn't help but intervene.

"Guifang, I..." He wanted to explain, but found that he didn't know where to start.

Zhang Guifang looked at him with some disappointment in her eyes: "Xiang Qian, I know you are a good person, but we have to take care of our own family first. You always think about helping others, but who can help us?"

This sentence was like a needle that pierced Li Xiangqian's heart. He lowered his head and stood there silently, without even the strength to refute. He knew that Zhang Guifang's words were not without reason, but he just couldn't change himself.

The room was quiet, with only the ticking of the clock. Zhang Guifang sighed, got up and walked to the kitchen, taking out the things in the basket and putting them away. As she worked, she muttered, "Mind your own business in the future. Our life is already difficult enough."

Li Xiangqian sat on the edge of the kang, feeling like a heavy stone was pressing down on his heart. He looked at Zhang Guifang's busy back, and a wave of guilt welled up in his heart. He knew that his wife was worried about the family, but he always made her angry. He wanted to say something, but he felt he had no way to start.

"Guifang, I..." He finally spoke, his voice so low that it was almost inaudible, "I will be careful next time."

Zhang Guifang stopped what she was doing and looked back at him without much expression on her face. "You decide for yourself. I don't want to say more. Anyway, you have a stubborn temper and no one can say anything to you."