Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"What exactly do you want to say?" Li Xiangqian's face was tense and his voice was low. He began to lose patience.

Xu Damao shrugged lightly, showing an indifferent expression: "What? I just think that you can maintain your current calmness, which is really admirable. Everyone says that you are very patient, and even I find it difficult to find any flaws in you. However, it seems that there is something wrong with your mentality now. Come to me, are you a little...scared?"

"Afraid?" Li Xiangqian snorted, his anger surging again, but he still did not lose his mind. "What do you think I'm afraid of?"

"What are you afraid of?" Xu Damao smiled, his eyes as sharp as a knife. "You are afraid of losing your courtyard, afraid that these people will eventually drive you to a dead end, afraid that in the end all your rights will be ruthlessly deprived, and you won't even be able to keep the most basic peace."

Li Xiangqian's brows knitted unconsciously, his fingers trembled slightly, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. Every word of Xu Damao seemed to hit the deepest fear in his heart.

"You think too highly of me." Li Xiangqian finally responded coldly, with a hint of self-mockery in his tone, "I am just an ordinary person. How can I hold this position? You keep talking about 'Siheyuan', but in fact I know that you are not talking about Siheyuan at all, but about everything my parents left me."

Xu Damao laughed even more deeply after hearing this, but there was a kind of ridicule in his tone that was hard to ignore: "It seems that you really misunderstood me. I didn't say I would take your things." He paused, as if pondering the next words, and then continued: "It's just that, Li Xiangqian, you should also understand that you are standing here now, showing your calmness all the time, and people don't think you are that courageous. You just created a beautiful illusion for yourself, wanting others to see your calm side. But in fact, you can control less and less things."

Li Xiangqian stood there, and suddenly felt that every movement in the air was poking at his pain points. He knew that Xu Damao was not just saying these words, he was hinting that the fight in the courtyard had gradually gone beyond his control.

"What do you think I can control?" Li Xiangqian's voice suddenly lowered a few notches. "If I could really control everything, would the situation today still be so chaotic?"

Xu Damao's smile did not disappear, instead, it was filled with a sense of seeing through everything: "It is precisely because you cannot control it that you are so anxious. Everyone is waiting for you to make a mistake, waiting for you to be forced into a state of helplessness. When that time comes, Li Xiangqian, all your calmness will become your weakness."

Li Xiangqian's heart suddenly shook. Xu Damao's words were like a heavy hammer hitting his chest, making him a little breathless. Every word Xu Damao said accurately captured his inner turmoil. The pressure from all sides really made him feel that he had no way to escape.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. The sun was shining outside, and the yard was still quiet. Only the conversation between the two broke the tranquility. At this time, Li Xiangqian had realized that he was standing at a crossroads. Every choice before him meant a different future.

"Xu Damao." Li Xiangqian finally spoke, his tone slow and calm, "You are right, everyone is waiting for me to make a mistake. But you forget that some people, who seem to be high and mighty on the surface, actually already have a way to retreat."

When Xu Damao heard this, the smile in his eyes froze instantly. He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to figure out what unusual meaning was hidden in Li Xiangqian's tone. Then, he shrugged slightly and said with a smile: "Okay, Li Xiangqian, I am looking forward to your final choice."

Li Xiangqian did not answer, but his eyes gradually became firm, as if he had made a decision. He knew that the days ahead were destined to be no longer peaceful.

Li Xiangqian stood there, his face still indifferent, but a cold light flashed in his eyes. Xu Damao's smile was no longer a friendly and teasing smile to him, but a kind of oppression, like an invisible hand pulling every nerve in his body. Li Xiangqian knew that Xu Damao was a man of deep intentions and would not easily reveal his true intentions. However, Xu Damao's words revealed a corner of the complex situation in the courtyard. Li Xiangqian knew that the current choice was far beyond his ability to decide alone.

Xu Damao tilted his head slightly, waiting for Li Xiangqian's answer. He knew that this situation was no longer simple for Li Xiangqian. Li Xiangqian wanted to control the situation with calmness and rationality, but in the delicate relationship of this courtyard, he gradually felt unprecedented confusion.

"Xu Damao," Li Xiangqian said in a steady tone and calm eyes, "You are right, everyone is waiting for me to make a mistake. But you also overlooked one point, everyone is waiting not only for my mistakes, but also for how I deal with them. Do you think I will let myself fall into the trap you set?"

Xu Damao raised his eyebrows slightly, as if he was a little surprised that Li Xiangqian could remain so calm. "Oh? Then how do you plan to deal with it? According to your current thinking, you should have reacted long ago, but you chose to remain silent. Do you think that as long as you keep quiet, the problem will naturally disappear?"

Li Xiangqian's mouth curled up into an imperceptible smile, and he said lightly: "Being quiet may not make the problem go away, but it will allow me to see more details clearly. And you obviously didn't come here to give me psychological counseling. I don't plan to talk to you about the philosophy of life."

Xu Damao's smile still remained, but the sharpness in his eyes became more obvious. Li Xiangqian looked back at him fearlessly, secretly wondering what Xu Damao's trump card was. This man could skillfully weave a web with words, trapping people around him, and he could always find the right time to retreat calmly. Li Xiangqian knew that in order to gain the upper hand in this game, he had to know the meaning behind every word better than anyone else.

"You are quite clever." Xu Damao laughed sarcastically, tapping the railing beside him with his fingers, as if pondering every word of Li Xiangqian. "But you should understand that I am not here to discuss philosophy with you today. I am just reminding you that the situation in the Siheyuan is no longer under your control."

After listening to this, Li Xiangqian's eyes flashed with deep thought, as if he was digesting Xu Damao's words. Indeed, the situation in the courtyard was far more complicated than he had imagined. The interests of all people were intertwined. If he wanted to control any part of it,