Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

The old lady nodded slightly, and her eyes suddenly became far away, as if she had penetrated the shadows of the trees outside the window and saw herself a long time ago. She was silent for a moment, and then slowly said: "When I was young, I did something similar. At that time, I didn't know how to be patient, and I always felt that I should stand up and make everything clear. But then I found out...some things can't always be fought for with all your strength."

Li Xiangqian was slightly shocked when he heard the old lady's voice. He knew that these words were not spoken to him, but were some secret statements in her heart.

"You mean, 'Some things should be done in moderation'?" Li Xiangqian spoke, with a hint of tentativeness in his tone.

The old lady glanced at him and suddenly smiled softly: "You know that too." There was no trace of mockery in her smile, but rather some relief. "I'm not a coward, nor am I afraid of trouble. I just feel that some people and some things are not worth my efforts."

Li Xiangqian did not speak, but just looked at the old lady quietly. Gradually, he understood what she said. Compared with the boss, the calmness shown by the old lady made her seem even more unfathomable. She was not powerless, but she knew how to choose what she should contribute to and what she should remain silent about.

"So what do you plan to do next?" Li Xiangqian asked again in a low voice.

The old lady's eyes became deeper. She was silent for a while and then slowly said, "If this boss really doesn't know how to cherish, those people will eventually pay the price for their actions."

Li Xiangqian was a little confused and didn't understand what the old lady meant. He stared at her with a hint of inquiry in his eyes: "You mean... you will take revenge on him in some way?"

The old lady looked at Li Xiangqian, and there seemed to be a slight smile in her eyes: "It's not revenge, it's just... you see, time will give the answer." Her tone revealed an invisible confidence, as if she had experienced too much, which made her deal with things more calmly.

Li Xiangqian heard this, but he still had his doubts in his heart. He had a vague feeling that the old lady would not let the boss go so easily.

"How long do you plan to wait?" he couldn't help but ask.

The old lady didn't answer, but squinted her eyes slightly and looked out the window, where the sunlight was shining through the leaves. Her eyes seemed to penetrate time and see things farther away.

Li Xiangqian did not speak again. The room suddenly became quiet, with only the sound of the wind outside the window gently blowing through the fallen leaves in the yard, making a tiny sound. The sound was long and ethereal, as if everything was waiting for a certain moment to come.

He gradually understood that behind the old lady's words, there was a deeper wisdom and power than he had imagined. She was not anxious, nor did she seem angry, as if all the waves would eventually subside with the passage of time. And she stood at the wind's outlet, quietly waiting for the moment that belonged to her.

"I understand." Li Xiangqian said softly. Something in his heart seemed to be changing quietly, as if he had drawn a special power from this old lady.

The old lady did not turn around, but nodded slightly, as if acknowledging his understanding. Then, she turned again and walked towards the sunlight outside the window. Her back was elongated in the light, and she looked particularly calm and unhurried.

Li Xiangqian looked at her quietly, and made a decision in his heart. At this moment, he suddenly understood the old lady's choice. Maybe she didn't need anyone to know her trump card. Time will give the answer, and she herself will stand at the top position at that moment, watching the changing situation with a smile.

Li Xiangqian's thoughts were still sinking in the old lady's words just now. Suddenly, the old lady spoke, breaking the silence. Her voice was still calm, but there seemed to be a little hidden anger in it.

"The boss is cheating." She said lightly, her eyes still on the locust tree outside the window.

Li Xiangqian was stunned, and a question suddenly arose in his mind. He frowned slightly: "Fake? How do you fake it?"

The old lady did not answer immediately. She took a deep breath, as if she was organizing her thoughts. After a moment, she turned around and looked at Li Xiangqian with a complicated look. There was no anger in her eyes, but a kind of deep helplessness, as if she had already expected the answer to the person in front of her.

"What he sold was not real." Although the old lady's tone was calm, Li Xiangqian could hear the firmness in her tone that could not be ignored. "He took my money, but gave me fake goods."

Li Xiangqian's heart was shocked, and he instantly realized that the matter was not simple. His intuition told him that the old lady would not bring up this matter for no reason, and would not downplay such a complicated matter.

"Fake?" Li Xiangqian repeated, with a hint of suspicion in his eyes, "How can you be sure he did it on purpose?"

The old lady raised her eyebrows slightly, with a hint of sneer and a gleam in her eyes: "You say, if I buy something and take it home and find that it is not the thing I paid for, do I need to confirm it again?" There was no emotional fluctuation in her tone, as if she had long been accustomed to this reality of being deceived.

Li Xiangqian suddenly felt uneasy, and he couldn't help but recall some similar things he had experienced. Indeed, sometimes some inconspicuous small vendors would secretly pass off inferior goods as good ones in exchange for more profits. As an experienced old lady, she must have seen through these tricks long ago.

His eyes widened, and he began to feel slightly annoyed: "Did you take it back to him and ask for an explanation?"

The old lady shook her head gently, her expression calm, as if she no longer had the mood to argue. "No, there's no need."

Li Xiangqian was a little puzzled. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't know where to start. The old lady's way of handling the matter made him feel even more unpredictable.

"Why?" Li Xiangqian frowned and asked, "You can obviously confront him directly, why don't you do it?"

There was a hint of deep meaning in the old lady's eyes. She sighed softly and said slowly: "I looked for it and talked to him. But he insisted that it was my fault and said that I took the wrong goods." There was a hint of sarcasm in her voice when she said the last sentence, as if she was mocking the man's shamelessness.

Li Xiangqian seemed to understand, but he couldn't help but ask one more question: "Then why don't you continue to fight?"

The old lady's eyes sank slightly, as if this question had touched some memories of the past. She did not answer immediately, but looked at the old locust tree again. The sunlight shone through the branches and leaves on her face, reflecting the faint sadness between her brows.