Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Yang Xue came over and stood beside him, looking at the fish soup in the pot, and said softly: "What's wrong with you today? You look a little absent-minded. Is it because of the land?"

Li Xiangqian paused, and instead of answering immediately, he sighed deeply. "I don't know what's wrong with me. Everything seems normal, but every time I touch that land, I feel... something is wrong. Xu Damao said that there was a sacrifice there, and many people say that there are ancient things buried there. You know I've never been the kind of person who believes easily, but now, I seem a little confused."

Yang Xue looked at him silently, her eyes softening. She knew that Li Xiangqian was thoughtful and rational. When faced with difficulties, he always chose to think and analyze. But now, this rationality seemed to have lost its effect, and his heart was full of conflict and anxiety.

"Go forward," Yang Xue gently held his hand and looked at him through the light outside the window, "Have you thought it through? Can some things really be solved? Do you think there is something mysterious hidden in that land?"

Li Xiangqian lowered his eyes and gently slid the spoon in his hand across the pot, breaking the silence in the air. "I don't know. But sometimes, the truth may not be something we can bear." He whispered, with a bit of helplessness in his tone, "But I can't stop now. I have gone too far. If I stop, I may never understand it."

Yang Xue was silent for a while, as if thinking about how to answer. Their eyes met, as if they had reached a tacit understanding at this moment. Yang Xue sighed softly, pulled out a chair and sat down: "I know you won't stop easily. Since you have decided, I can only support you behind you. But remember, no matter where you go, I will be by your side."

Li Xiangqian looked at his wife, and the deep gratitude and silent support made him feel warm. He nodded gently: "Thank you, Xue. You always stand by me."

The aroma of the fish soup became stronger and stronger, and the fish in the pot had become delicate and tender. Li Xiangqian felt a long-lost sense of comfort. He picked up the bowl, scooped a spoonful of soup, and handed it to Yang Xue. "Come, try it, today's soup is your favorite."

Yang Xue took the bowl, smiled and lowered her head to take a sip. "Yeah, it's really delicious." Her smile was as warm as a spring breeze, taking away some of the tension and anxiety in Li Xiangqian's heart.

Li Xiangqian held the bowl in front of him, but his mind was not entirely on the fish soup in his hand. His wife's smile was still warm, but the image of that piece of land appeared in his mind from time to time, and he seemed to still hear Xu Damao's words in his ears: "That place is not simple." Li Xiangqian knew that Xu Damao's warning was not groundless, and every word he said stirred up waves in his heart.

At this moment, in the silence between him and Yang Xue, a kitten jumped onto the table and unceremoniously nudged the plate he placed on the table with its claws. The cat's movements were light and agile, and its black and white fur shone under the light, like an inadvertent little creature, breaking the silence in Li Xiangqian's heart.

"Oh, dear, don't move." Yang Xue chuckled and reached out to grab the cat's paw. But the cat was not afraid, squinting its eyes and even rubbed its head against her wrist, as if seeking more attention.

Li Xiangqian looked at this scene, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. Ever since they moved into this yard, the cat has been like a member of the family, as lively as a naughty child. Every time he sees it, he can always feel a long-lost peace. Perhaps the cat's purity and carefreeness are exactly what he lacks, and it can bring him a little simplicity and peace in this complicated life.

He gently put the bowl aside and reached out to touch the cat's back. The cat rubbed his palm gently and made a "meow" sound, as if asking for more attention. Li Xiangqian looked down at its eyes. The dark pupils flickered under the light, as if they could see through everything. At that moment, he actually felt like he was being stared at silently.

"Do you also know that there is something wrong with that place?" Li Xiangqian thought silently. He had too many questions in his mind, about the land, about Xu Damao, and even about the secret that had been buried for many years. All kinds of puzzled emotions tightly wrapped around him like a shadow.

"Xiang Qian," Yang Xue looked at Li Xiang Qian's expression and said softly, "Are you still thinking about that piece of land?"

Li Xiangqian suddenly came back to his senses and looked at his wife with a dazed look. "Well, I can't get over it, Xue." He whispered, "Do you know that feeling? You clearly want to let it go, but it keeps haunting you. No matter what you do, it's in your heart and you can't get rid of it."

Yang Xue sighed, gently stroked the cat's back with her fingers, and her eyes softened. "I understand that you have a strong urge in your heart to find the answer. But sometimes, can the answer really bring us peace? What we need may not only be the answer, but also the courage to make us feel at ease."

Li Xiangqian's heart trembled slightly. These words touched the most vulnerable part of his heart. He remembered his childhood when he ran in the fields without distraction. When faced with difficulties and the unknown, he always faced them with firm courage. But now, the older he gets, the more he feels the pressure of life. The fear of the unknown and the confusion about the future seem to be swallowing him up.

"Yeah," he sighed softly and rubbed his brow, "I don't know how to go on. Sometimes, I'm really afraid that I'm in too deep and can't extricate myself."

The cat yawned beside him and stretched, breaking the silence in the air. Yang Xue looked at Li Xiangqian tenderly, with no blame in her eyes, only silent understanding. She knew that Li Xiangqian did not want to let go, but he could not forget what had happened and could not let go of his pursuit of the truth. No matter how difficult it was, he never stopped on this road.

Li Xiangqian raised his head and his eyes met his wife's. It seemed that they could see the helplessness and confusion hidden deep in each other's eyes. After a while, he whispered, "Maybe I should go talk to Xu Damao to see if he knows more. But I always feel that things seem to be more complicated than I thought."

Yang Xue nodded gently, "Go ahead, I'll wait for you at home, remember to be careful."

Li looked at her and was touched. "Thank you, Xue," he whispered.