Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian smiled slightly, walked up to her, and whispered, "Xiao'e, I have something to ask you."

Lou Xiao'e raised her eyebrows slightly. She didn't seem to be frightened by Li Xiangqian's words. Instead, she was a little curious. "What's the matter? You look very worried. Are you in trouble?"

Li Xiangqian stood in front of her, was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "Xu Damao said something to me today, and I don't quite understand what he meant." His tone was flat, but with a bit of suppressed emotion.

After hearing this, Lou Xiao'e put down the key in her hand, and her eyes became deep. She looked at Li Xiangqian quietly for a moment, and a glimmer of enlightenment seemed to flash in her eyes. She said softly: "Xu Damao, that guy's mind is really unpredictable. He seems calm, but every word and behavior hides unknown deep meanings."

Li Xiangqian frowned slightly, his uneasiness growing stronger, "Are you saying that he has some plans in the courtyard that I haven't noticed?"

Lou Xiao'e did not answer immediately, but stood up and walked to Li Xiangqian's side. She did not use any fancy words, but said calmly: "In the courtyard, not only Xu Damao, but everyone has their own chess game. What you see now may only be part of it, and the real situation is often much more complicated than you think."

Her words made Li Xiangqian feel heavy-hearted. The courtyard was like a huge net, and everyone was a thread in it. He was the one trying to break free. But no matter what, every move he made would affect the changes around him.

"Then what should I do?" Li Xiangqian asked, with a hint of helplessness and anxiety in his tone. No one can easily navigate this network, especially an outsider like him.

Lou Xiao'e glanced at him with an indescribable deep meaning in her eyes, "You might as well calm down and observe for a while. Remember, not all things require you to intervene immediately. Sometimes, patience is more important than action." She paused and added, "Especially for a character like Xu Damao, the more you get in touch with him, the more dangerous it is. You must understand that you will never be a mere pawn in this courtyard."

Li Xiangqian's heart moved. Lou Xiao'e's words deeply touched him. Xu Damao was indeed an extremely elusive chess piece. His every move and word was full of hints and mysteries. If Li Xiangqian wanted to make a difference in this chess game, he might really need more patience and wisdom, instead of rushing to take action.

"I understand." Li Xiangqian said. Although he was still a little nervous, he gradually began to realize that he could no longer be as eager for quick success as he was in the past, especially in this courtyard that seemed peaceful but was actually turbulent.

Lou Xiao'e nodded slightly, with a hint of approval in her eyes. "I'm glad you understand. Remember, no matter what, stay alert, don't put yourself out of it, and don't blindly trust anyone."

Li Xiangqian looked at her gratefully, "Thank you, Xiao'e. I will keep your words in mind."

The two looked at each other and were silent for a while. Lou Xiao'e looked at Li Xiangqian's eyes, as if she saw the uneasiness and determination in his eyes. Perhaps she had already realized that he had just begun to walk into this complicated situation, and what he could rely on, besides his own wisdom, were those trustworthy friends and allies.

"Okay, since you've decided to wait and see, don't hesitate any longer." Lou Xiao'e waved her hand gently, signaling Li Xiangqian to leave. "Some things are not something you can rush to answer. When the time comes, there will naturally be an answer."

Li Xiangqian nodded, and his mind gradually became clearer. He smiled at Lou Xiaoe and walked out of the yard. His steps were slow but steady. On this piece of land in the courtyard, Li Xiangqian knew that the road ahead was still full of variables, and he could only wait for the right time to find the best way out for himself.

Li Xiangqian came out of Lou Xiao'e's yard, and his heart gradually calmed down. The inexplicable tension slowly receded, and he was no longer in a hurry to make a decision, but chose to take a step back and wait and see. Although Lou Xiao'e's words were brief, they made him feel clear-headed. He knew that he was destined not to spend every day in this seemingly peaceful courtyard, and he needed to be cautious with every step. And Lou Xiao'e, who had been watching silently, had obviously seen through all this.

Walking onto the stone road outside the courtyard, Li Xiangqian began to think about what she had just said. "When the time comes, there will be an answer." He pondered in his heart. Lou Xiao'e has always been a person who seems to be neither impatient nor impatient. Her way of dealing with things makes Li Xiangqian somewhat admired, but also makes him doubtful. The situation in the courtyard will not wait for anyone. Whether he has enough patience is another question.

After walking a few steps, Li Xiangqian suddenly stopped and decided to talk to Lou Xiaoe again. He needed some clearer guidance, after all, he was not good at dealing with such complicated interpersonal relationships.

He returned to Lou Xiao'e's yard and knocked on the door. Lou Xiao'e heard the knock on the door, looked up, and saw that it was Li Xiangqian. She didn't show any surprise on her face, but just smiled faintly, "Why, what's the matter?"

Li Xiangqian smiled slightly and walked in, still in that calm tone, "Xiao'e, I want to discuss something with you again."

Lou Xiao'e motioned him to sit down, still on the bamboo chair. She was not in a hurry to ask him what the specific matter was, but waited for Li Xiangqian to speak. Li Xiangqian sat down gently, and was silent for a moment before saying, "I know there may be more things behind Xu Damao, and I don't plan to confront him now. But if he really has some unknown plot in the courtyard, how can I guard against it?"

Lou Xiao'e smiled slightly, with a hint of complex emotions in her eyes. "Xu Damao has always been the kind of person who can accurately capture people's hearts under the banner of casualness. If you go to him to argue today, you may not get any substantial answers. To put it bluntly, Xu Damao wants you to take the initiative to tangle with him, and the more you take the bait, the deeper you will fall into."

Li Xiangqian thought for a moment, "Then what should I do?"

Lou Xiao'e seemed to think for a moment, her eyes slightly deep, "What you need to do is to let Xu Damao know that you are not so easily manipulated. If he thinks that you can see through things as well as he does, he will not easily stir up trouble again."

Li Xiangqian nodded. "That means I don't need to take the initiative to provoke a conflict. I just need to quietly let him know that I'm not as easy to deal with as he thinks?"