Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"What are you doing here?" Li Xiangqian finally spoke, his tone was neither salty nor bland, and as cool as ice.

Zhou Shuhan didn't seem to be affected by the coldness in Li Xiangqian's words. He smiled even more happily, sat down casually at the table, his eyes flashing with an unpredictable light.

"Brother Li, don't be so cold. I came here specially to talk to you about something." He paused, and his tone suddenly turned low, "Have you heard about the recent events in the hospital?"

Li Xiangqian did not answer directly, but looked at him indifferently. He knew in his heart that the "matter" Zhou Shuhan mentioned was nothing more than the dispute over room allocation.

"Qin Huairu has already come to me about these things." Li Xiangqian finally said, his voice low and somewhat silent, "She said I was 'stubborn', she said everyone was 'unwilling to compromise'. Are you coming here today to persuade me to compromise as well?"

Zhou Shuhan's smile suddenly faded, and his eyes became deep and complicated. Li Xiangqian could see that this man's mind was much more complicated than he showed. Zhou Shuhan was not a simple person. Although his words were humorous, he was more cunning and calculating in his bones.

"I'm not going to persuade you to compromise." Zhou Shuhan's voice became low, "However, some things still need to be prepared in advance. Who do you think will suffer in the end if the stalemate continues?"

Li Xiangqian chuckled, feeling a little irritated. These words didn't sound threatening, but Zhou Shuhan's eyes made him doubt unconsciously. Perhaps Li Xiangqian himself didn't fully realize that he was no longer the calm and composed man today. He was now pushed to the edge of no return by an invisible force.

"What do you think is the best outcome?" Li Xiangqian couldn't help but ask, staring at Zhou Shuhan, trying to find out something from this man's eyes.

"The best outcome? Of course, each party gets what it wants." Zhou Shuhan smiled, stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gray sky outside. "Actually, Brother Li, you don't have to worry too much about these little things. The fights in the yard never happened overnight, and everyone knows it. No one wants to make things too ugly, but there are always some people who can never understand what 'compromise' means."

Li Xiangqian looked at Zhou Shuhan, his heart moved slightly, and he realized that there seemed to be some deeper meaning behind these words.

"You mean..." Li Xiangqian paused for a moment, "Some people just don't want to give in."

Zhou Shuhan turned around and smiled. The meaningful light in his eyes made Li Xiangqian's heart sink.

"Yes." He paused, as if to deliberately emphasize the importance of his words, "Some things cannot be solved by one person's force. After all, the courtyard is not your territory alone, and everyone has their own position. Do you understand, Brother Li? In the end, no one wants to lose in this matter."

A gloomy light flashed in Li Xiangqian's eyes. Zhou Shuhan's words were like a needle that pierced his most sensitive part. The fight in the courtyard was no longer just a question of room allocation, but more of a fight for power and status, and everyone played their own role in this undercurrent game.

"What do you want me to do?" Li Xiangqian asked, his tone calm, but the storm in his heart was growing more violent.

Zhou Shuhan smiled slightly and patted Li Xiangqian's shoulder gently, not seeming to be in a hurry to give an answer. However, his eyes were deeply locked on Li Xiangqian, making him feel an inescapable pressure.

"You will understand, Brother Li." He whispered, with a tone that seemed to see through everything, "Time will give you the answer."

Li Xiangqian walked out of the room with hurried steps, but his mood did not become relaxed. Zhou Shuhan's words echoed in his mind, like some kind of untouched warning, with a faint invisible threat. Qin Huairu, Zhou Shuhan, these people seemed to keep a certain distance from him, but in fact, they had filled every inch of this courtyard with their calculations and schemes. Everyone was exerting pressure in their own unique way, forcing Li Xiangqian to make a choice, and these choices were not as easy as he imagined.

The sound of a car outside the yard broke Li Xiangqian's thoughts. As the car door closed, a familiar figure walked into the yard. The man didn't look tall, and his back was slightly hunched, but his steps were steady and powerful. He was wearing a dark suit, dragging a suitcase behind him, and holding a cigarette in his mouth. His steps as he walked into the yard revealed an innate unconventional style.

"Xu Damao?" Li Xiangqian called out his name subconsciously, his brows slightly frowned, but a hint of sarcastic smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Xu Damao is one of the few people in the courtyard who really makes Li Xiangqian feel difficult. On the surface, he is a humorous man with a little bit of street flavor. Everyone says that he is eloquent and always gives people a kind feeling in life, like a "nice guy" who is not too serious. But Li Xiangqian understands that this man is just a wolf in sheep's clothing. His gentle appearance hides the greed and ambition deep in his heart that cannot be concealed.

"Boss Li, you are dressed very brightly today. It seems you are in a good mood." Xu Damao walked closer with a smile on his face, a gleam of admiration in his eyes. He put out the cigarette butt on the ground, smiling, with a relaxed teasing tone in his voice.

Li Xiangqian frowned, his eyes turned cold: "Xu Damao, what are you doing here?"

Xu Damao didn't seem to care. He smiled, patted his suitcase, and spread his hands. "There are some things that we need to talk about face to face. There has been a lot of noise in the courtyard these days. How can I stay out of it? I heard that Boss Li has been very busy recently. He has encountered uninvited "guests" one after another. This is embarrassing for us old neighbors."

Li Xiangqian did not respond to Xu Damao's ridicule. His eyes darkened slightly and he continued to ask, "What are you going to do? Are you trying to persuade me to compromise?"

"Compromise?" Xu Damao was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Haha, Boss Li, do you think I'm the kind of person who would advise you to compromise? However, I think you should listen to what I say, maybe it will help you avoid some detours."

Li Xiangqian's eyes suddenly became sharp. He did not respond immediately, but looked at Xu Damao quietly, as if waiting for what kind of turn his words would bring.

"Listen to me first." Xu Damao didn't seem to be in a hurry to directly state his purpose. He bent down to put down the suitcase, took out a letter from it, and gently placed it on the table. "This is what I brought to you today. It's not a threat, just a reminder."