Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Old Zhou narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly. Although he didn't fully understand Li Xiangqian's thoughts, he didn't say much. Li Xiangqian turned around and walked towards Xu Damao with firm steps.

At that moment, the air seemed to freeze. The noise in the courtyard seemed to fade away, and all eyes unconsciously turned to the distance between Li Xiangqian and Xu Damao. Xu Damao saw Li Xiangqian walking towards him, and his expression was a little stunned, but he quickly regained his composure and put on that familiar smile on his face, "Hey, Li Xiangqian, are you free to come and sit down today? Why, it's not business, right?" His tone of voice was still full of that condescending taste, as if Li Xiangqian was still just a low-key little person.

Li Xiangqian stood still and looked up at Xu Damao. Xu Damao's smile seemed to have no power to shake him. Li Xiangqian's eyes were calm, but his tone was eerily calm: "Xu Damao, I came to you not to drink or talk about business. There is something I must make you understand."

Xu Damao narrowed his eyes, his smile never fading, "Oh? Understand what?"

Li Xiangqian did not answer immediately, but slowly looked around the residents of the courtyard. Eyes from all directions were staring at them, and everyone in the courtyard was curiously waiting for the next change. He knew that if he missed such an opportunity, he would never find it again. He slowly said: "I know that you have been doing some shady things recently, including stealing and having dealings with some illegal people. Do you know yourself, Xu Damao, that the so-called business is just a cover to deceive people."

Xu Damao's smile froze instantly, and a barely perceptible panic flashed across his eyes, which was then replaced by a deep anger. "What nonsense are you talking about? What I told you is completely fabricated. Don't use these nonsense things to discredit me!"

Li Xiangqian was not frightened by Xu Damao's reaction, but his mind became clearer. He continued, "Do you think you can hide from everyone with those means? Xu Damao, your means have long been seen through by everyone. I am not here to argue with you today. Today, I came to you to ask you to do one thing - apologize to me."

"Apologize?" Xu Damao repeated in disbelief, his tone full of disdain, "Why do you want me to apologize? You are just a nobody with no background, how dare you threaten me?"

Li Xiangqian stood straight, his eyes didn't waver at all: "You think you are omnipotent and no one dares to touch you, right? Today you are not facing me, but everyone in the courtyard. If you can't face what you have done, give me an explanation today, give everyone an explanation."

Xu Damao's face suddenly turned ugly, and anger was boiling in his eyes, but he did not flare up immediately. Instead, he took a deep breath and suppressed his anger. He looked at the neighbors around him. Their eyes were not full of admiration and respect as in the past, but instead were filled with a hint of suspicion and alienation. At this moment, Xu Damao suddenly realized that this struggle was no longer a game for him alone, but a matter for everyone in the courtyard.

The atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly became tense, with whispers from neighbors rising and falling. Li Xiangqian's eyes flashed with a sneer, and he knew that this was exactly the effect he wanted. Xu Damao could no longer act recklessly as before.

"You want me to apologize?" Xu Damao's lips moved slightly, and he murmured in a low voice, "I won't apologize to you."

Li Xiangqian's eyes became more determined: "Then you should be prepared to bear the consequences."

Xu Damao's expression changed, and he seemed a little irritated, but he forced himself to suppress his anger, gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, if you really think you can make me apologize, then come and try." He turned around and wanted to leave.

Li Xiangqian did not give up, but stretched out his hand to stop him, and said calmly: "Do you think you can get away with it if you leave now? The neighbors in the courtyard are watching you, how long can you escape? Do you really think they will continue to tolerate your behavior?"

Xu Damao stopped immediately and shot his angry eyes at Li Xiangqian like arrows. But at this moment, several neighbors around him also stood up, and the atmosphere began to become extremely solemn.

"Li Xiangqian is right, Xu Damao, when will you realize that you are wrong?" Aunt Zhang suddenly stood up, her tone no longer as cold as before, but mixed with anger and dissatisfaction.

"If you continue like this, everyone will look down on you," said another neighbor.

Xu Damao's face became even uglier, almost completely distorted. Finally, he took a deep breath, lowered his head, and said in a low voice: "Okay, I apologize, I admit I was wrong." He gritted his teeth and said this, as if he was suffering great humiliation.

Li Xiangqian's heart moved slightly, and he felt a complicated emotion when he saw Xu Damao lowering his head. Things were finally on the track he wanted, but he knew that behind all this, there was a deeper shadow waiting for him to uncover.

Xu Damao lowered his head, his lips trembling slightly, as if the words "I apologize" were squeezed out of his mouth, full of repression and anger. But Li Xiangqian did not have a smug expression, he just stood there motionless, watching this scene quietly, his heart was not filled with joy, but with a complex mixture of emotions. For Xu Damao, his former hatred and anger seemed to fade away at this moment, replaced by an indescribable sense of relief.

The neighbors around had gradually dispersed, leaving behind a silence, with only the wind blowing through the leaves in the yard, making a rustling sound. The atmosphere in the courtyard became quiet and solemn, and everyone was waiting for Li Xiangqian's response. After all, Xu Damao's apology was something that deserved everyone's attention. Li Xiangqian was silent for a moment, and finally spoke.

"You know what, Xu Damao," he said calmly, even with a hint of indifference, "I don't really want to see you apologize. It's not because you shouldn't apologize, but because what you've been doing is not just an offense to me, but a disrespect to the entire courtyard and everyone. You've only come to this point today because of your pride."

Xu Damao didn't look up. His body was slightly stiff, and he was obviously still digesting Li Xiangqian's words. After a few seconds of silence, he whispered, "I understand."

Li Xiangqian did not continue to put pressure on him. Instead, he took a deep breath and whispered, "I don't intend to let you live in shame forever. You have admitted your mistakes, and at least in front of me, your stupidity has been fully exposed. Now, the most important thing is that you understand that you need to change your behavior, not for others, but for yourself."