Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

"I will." He finally said this, his voice clear and firm, as if he had made up his mind.

Qin Huairu's eyes showed a sense of peace. She nodded gently. Although she didn't say anything else, Li Xiangqian could see that she seemed to have let go of some of the burden in her heart. At that moment, she was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

The two stood side by side under the locust tree. The surroundings were still quiet, but the sounds of their breathing intertwined and blended into this peaceful time.

Li Xiangqian leaned on the recliner, squinting his eyes slightly. The sunlight shone through the half-worn bamboo curtains, casting spots of light on the ground. He stretched his body, and his joints made a slight creaking sound, like a slow song played by time. He was wearing an old gray-blue cotton jacket, the cotton wool was a little loose, but it was warm enough. The rattan chair under him had been worn smooth, and the back of the chair fit his shoulder blades. A sense of comfort accumulated over the years slowly floated into his heart.

The courtyard of the quadrangle is not big. A path paved with bluestone slabs winds from the main house to the backyard. There are several pots of green flowers and plants on both sides. Several jasmine plants swaying slightly in the wind exude a faint fragrance. In the corner, a colorful cat is curled up lazily at the foot of the wall, its tail flicking and its ears trembling in the wind, as if it is having a warm dream. The most conspicuous thing in the yard is the old locust tree, with mottled bark and gnarled roots sticking out from the ground, like an old beast lying silently, with branches growing horizontally, casting mottled shadows, and the sunlight passing through the gaps between the leaves, drawing swaying fragments on the ground.

Li Xiangqian's eyes followed the flow of sunlight and finally landed on a stone table opposite. There was a teapot on the table, with steam rising and turning into a light mist in the air. He raised his hand to pick up the teacup and took a sip. The bitter tea soup spread on the tip of his tongue, followed by a sweet aftertaste. The weather was not cold, and the breeze blew, bringing the unique moisture and freshness of early spring. He squinted his eyes and looked at the clouds slowly drifting in the sky in the distance, feeling a sense of peace in his heart.

There are several strings of wind chimes hanging under the eaves of the old courtyard. Occasionally, they are blown by the breeze, making crisp jingling sounds, interweaving with the rustling of leaves into a quiet afternoon tune. In the distance, there are occasionally a few clear bird calls that penetrate the wind, as if someone is telling a distant story. Li Xiangqian's eyes fell on the lazy cat, and he couldn't help but curl his lips. This cat is an old resident of the courtyard. He can't remember when it came, but its appearance has not changed much. It is still calm and self-assured, leisurely enjoying the warmth of the sun.

The sun moved slowly, and the light passing through the courtyard wall gradually became soft, as if weaving a layer of golden gauze in the courtyard. Li Xiangqian stretched out his arms slightly, as if to embrace the warm sunlight. His eyes slowly wandered in the yard and fell on the blue brick wall. At the base of the wall, several old flower pots were growing a few unknown green plants, and the leaves were shining softly in the sun. In the shadows of the corners, some scattered moss was attached to the cracks of the bricks, as if telling the precipitation of time.

The courtyard door was half-closed, and the sound of people talking in the streets could be heard faintly, mixed with the crisp sound of bicycle bells and the laughter of children chasing each other. These sounds gathered together to form a warm and familiar background sound, which made people feel indescribably at ease. Li Xiangqian exhaled lightly, as if all his troubles were gone with this breath. He looked at the teacup in his hand and gently rotated it. The edge of the cup reflected the halo of sunlight. For a moment, he felt that the years were quiet and good, and the days were like this cup of tea, light and long.

The shadows of the trees in the yard slowly moved, and the sunlight shone through the branches and leaves onto his body, bringing a warm and tingling feeling. He slowly closed his eyes, feeling the tranquility, with only the sound of wind chimes and the murmur of leaves in his ears. His thoughts drifted far away, into some vague memories, the days of playing in the yard, lying under the locust tree to watch ants moving when he was a child, and having all kinds of wild dreams on this chair when he was a teenager. After he became an adult, this place became a harbor for his soul.

The light and shadows in the yard interweave, the mottled sunlight casts layers of shadows on the stone floor, and the breeze blows the wind chimes, making a distant tinkling sound. The cat in the corner gently stretches, squinting its eyes and turning over, continuing to immerse in the warmth of the sun. Li Xiangqian's mouth corners slightly raised, with a faint smile, as if the troubles in this world have nothing to do with him, just need to bask in the sun quietly, feel the flow of light and shadow, time seems to stop at this moment, peaceful and beautiful.

Li Xiangqian stared at the slowly falling leaf, following it as it swirled in the air until it finally landed in the cracks of the bluestone slab. The veins of the leaf were clearly visible, and the withered yellow edges were slightly curled, as if it had experienced the baptism of a long time. When it was blown down by the wind, it did not struggle at all, but just gently and obediently fell down.

He suddenly had an inexplicable feeling in his heart, as if some lingering past event had emerged from the cracks in his memory, but it was too vague to grasp. He looked down at his palms, and the lines on his palms were crisscrossed, like the annual rings of an old tree, each of which was engraved with the traces of time. He curled his fingers slightly, exhaled a long breath, and stretched them out again, letting the sunlight shine through his fingers onto his palms, warm and with an indescribable comfort.

"Uncle Li, are you basking in the sun again?"

The courtyard door was pushed open a crack, and a thin young man poked his head in, grinning. He was wearing a dark gray jacket, the cuffs were a little gray, his hair was a little messy due to the wind, and there was a hint of casualness between his eyebrows, but his eyes were bright.

Li Xiangqian glanced at him, his lips curled slightly: "What else can I do if I don't bask in the sun?"

The young man smiled and walked in, with a cool breeze behind him. He casually pulled a stool and sat down, picked up the teapot on the table and shook it. Seeing that there was still half a pot of tea, he poured a cup without hesitation and drank it all in one breath, smacking his lips and said, "This tea is still the best, Uncle Li. It's better than the one in my tea shop."

"Stop flattering me." Li Xiangqian raised his hand and tapped the table lightly. "If you really think it's good, why don't you go out on your own? Aren't you tired of running around all day?"

The young man put down his teacup, leaned back, put his hands behind his head, and looked at the old locust tree. He muttered, "The outside world is boring. It's not like this yard. It's peaceful and stable. Drinking a cup of tea and basking in the sun makes me feel comfortable."