My wife and I are both time travelers.

Chapter 2 First Intimate Contact

Inside the bridal chamber, red candles were lit, and in the dim candlelight, Zhou Jiye and Lin Zhaodi sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), with the former being "interrogated" by the latter.

In a daze, Zhou Jiye was quickly exposed by Lin Zhaodi. When he came to his senses, he tried to ask Lin Zhaodi the same question in return. However, Lin Zhaodi's answer was much simpler than his. In the end, he only knew that Lin Zhaodi's original name was Lin Ying and that she had arrived three years earlier than him. He knew nothing else. When he asked her for more details, Lin Ying changed the subject.

Do you have a system?

"System? There isn't one!"

"Really?"

Lin Ying looked him up and down, somewhat disbelieving.

"real!"

Zhou Jiye swore he really didn't have one; he wanted the system too! Ever since he learned he'd transmigrated, Zhou Jiye had called for the "System Brother" several times, but to no avail. Besides, if he had the System Brother, would he be so easily manipulated by Lin Ying? Zhou Jiye was quite helpless!
Hearing that there was no system, Lin Ying continued to ask, "If there's no system, then what about space? Do you have a personal space?"

Zhou Jiye patted himself down: "There are two pockets on my clothes, want some?"

"Screw you!"

Lin Ying was even more disappointed.

"What? Do you have a system? Or a spatial dimension?" Zhou Jiye couldn't help but ask back.

His response was two large mothballs.

"If I had this thing, would I be in such a miserable state?" Lin Ying said irritably. "I've been here for so long longer than you. If I had a system and a spatial ability, would I be in a situation where you can take advantage of me?"

“This needs to be discussed. What do you mean I’m taking advantage?” Zhou Jiye was displeased upon hearing this. Lin Ying had forced him to marry her and even used his secrets to blackmail him. How could that be taking advantage? In fact, it was Zhou Jiye who was being taken advantage of.

Moreover, if it weren't for Zhou Jiye's arrival, Lin Ying would have had to marry Zheng the Cripple. In a sense, Zhou Jiye was Lin Ying's savior. Lin Ying not only didn't thank him, but also acted like Pigsy, saying he took advantage of her? What kind of logic is that?
"How can it not count? Let me ask you, you've been a corporate slave for so many years, you have no house, no savings, you're a bachelor and don't even have a girlfriend. And now you've got a beautiful young virgin as your wife. Before, could you have had such a good thing? Isn't this taking advantage of me?"

Zhou Jiye retorted, "The past is the past, and the present is the present. Don't forget that my family are village officials. Do you think I, a second-generation village official, am afraid of not having a wife? Besides, a beautiful woman? Where is she? Where is she? I haven't seen her."

As he spoke, Zhou Jiye deliberately looked around, as if Lin Ying in front of him was just a decoration, which infuriated Lin Ying.

"You bastard!"

Lin Ying and the fiery little wildcat instantly pounced on Zhou Jiye, baring their teeth and claws.

Caught off guard, Zhou Jiye quickly dodged, only to be scratched hard on the arm by Lin Ying.

"You are crazy!"

"I'll kill you, you scumbag!"

"A good man doesn't fight with a woman. If she comes at me again, I'll fight back."

"You try it? I'm not one to be trifled with!"

"Ouch!"

Having lost the initiative and with Zhou Jiye hesitant to use his full strength, the two were evenly matched for a moment as they dodged and weaved. Lin Ying was truly fierce; it was unclear whether she had some training or not. With a scissor kick, she managed to trap Zhou Jiye's waist, and Zhou Jiye was unable to break free. The two wrestled and struggled on the kang (heated brick bed).

After several rounds, both of them were panting heavily, and the commotion inside the house was quite loud.

"Hey! Something's happening! Something's happening!"

"Goodness, Zhou Laosan has really gone all out this time. Can Zhao Di's petite frame handle it?"

"What do you know! Since ancient times, there have only been oxen that died from exhaustion, not land that was over-plowned. Otherwise, how could babies be born without all that fuss?"

Just as the two were wrestling and rolling around on the kang (a heated brick bed) inside the room, the excited voices of several people talking outside the door could be heard.

Hearing the commotion outside, the two men wrestling on the kang (a heated brick bed) were instantly stunned. They hadn't expected that there would be eavesdroppers. Recalling their conversation, they felt a chill of fear. Luckily, they had spoken softly so that no one outside could hear them, otherwise the consequences would have been unpredictable.

"Get out of here, get out of here! What are you all doing eavesdropping in the middle of the night? Get out of here!"

Zhou Furong's reprimand rang out, followed by a burst of laughter and the sound of footsteps leaving. After a while, Zhou Furong coughed and said in a low voice outside the door, "Don't overdo it. We still have to go to work tomorrow." After saying this, Zhou Furong seemed quite satisfied and left with his hands behind his back.

"Let me down!"

"Let me up!"

After a moment of surprise, the two realized they were entangled together and spoke in unison. Only then did they discover that their limbs were intertwined. After an awkward silence, they untied themselves.

The two, panting heavily, sat side by side on the kang (a heated brick bed), staring at each other.

With a sudden burst of laughter, the two disheveled individuals chuckled simultaneously. This fight had actually brought these two former adversaries closer, as if their previous actions had shattered any barriers between them. To be honest, they had no prior animosity or grudge, and being fellow time travelers, they were naturally more compatible. "You've been here a while, why don't you tell me about this era?" Zhou Jiye asked. Although he had been here for three days, he had been extremely cautious, afraid of arousing suspicion. Moreover, as a time traveler from the future, Zhou Jiye knew very little about the era of forty years ago. Even with remnants of his original body's memories, he only retained superficial recollections.

“Alright, since you need to know anyway, I’ll explain in detail.” Lin Ying smoothed her long hair behind her ear and immediately began to tell Zhou Jiye about the situation of this era.

From Lin Ying, Zhou Jiye learned a lot of information, which gradually gave him a clearer understanding of the current situation. They talked for a long time, and as the night deepened outside and the candles in the room burned out, the two continued to communicate quietly on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"You've been here for three years. Since you know so much, how come you're still in such a sorry state?" Wang Jifa couldn't help but ask.

"Do you think I wanted this?" Lin Ying rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not as lucky as you. You can find out what the Lin family is like by asking around. There are seven children in the family, and they don't know where their next meal is coming from. It's a miracle they've even survived. To tell you the truth, I haven't had a full meal since I came here, except for today. Otherwise, why would I be so thin? If it were before, even with your big and burly appearance, you might not be a match for me."

"Don't tell me you're a martial arts expert?"

Lin Ying smiled, not delving deeper into the topic, and continued, "In a place like this, with these conditions and this kind of family, I'm not a god. It's already quite an achievement that I've made it this far. If I had a system or a spatial ability, things would definitely be different, but the problem is, I don't have one, right? By the way, you really don't have a system or a spatial ability?"

As she spoke, Lin Ying blinked and stared at Zhou Jiye, who had big eyes, looking him up and down. Zhou Jiye, who was both amused and exasperated, could only swear once again that he really had nothing. He had neither a unified system nor a spatial ability. If he did, would he be able to be manipulated by this little girl, Lin Ying?
"It's okay if you don't have it. I don't have it either, so it's normal for you not to have it either." Lin Ying finally said something sensible, but the disappointment in her expression was obvious.

Although she escaped being married off to Zheng the Cripple thanks to Zhou Jiye, Lin Ying didn't want to stay here forever. Compared to Zhou Jiye, Lin Ying, who had been there much longer, understood this era better. As she said, if she had the means, she would have left this godforsaken place long ago.

But now that she's married to Zhou Jiye, things are completely different. In the Lin family, Lin Ying was just the second daughter, Lin Zhaodi, with endless chores and hardships every day, and even a full meal was a luxury. Now that she's a daughter-in-law in the Zhou family, the difference in their circumstances is like heaven and earth.

Besides, the Zhou family is no ordinary family. After all, both Zhou Furong and Zhou Jiye's older brothers are cadres. Their family conditions are much better than the Lin family's. Moreover, Zhou Jiye is also a "fellow villager" from the future, just like her. It's much better to have two people to discuss things with than one, especially since Lin Ying, as a woman, always has various inconveniences.

"I need to find a way to get out of here; I've had enough of this awful place."

"where to?"

"How about going to Shanghai?" This is what Lin Ying said to Zhou Jiye.

"Shanghai?" Zhou Jiye asked, "Why not Beijing or Shenzhen?"

"Are you stupid!" Lin Ying said irritably, "Is it so easy to get by in Beijing, the capital? You could hit several officials with a brick on the street. What's the point of going there if you don't know anyone? As for Shenzhen, it's not a special economic zone yet. In our current situation, going to Shanghai is the most suitable option. Besides, I'm originally from Shanghai."

"You're from Shanghai?" Zhou Jiye suddenly realized, and understood why Lin Ying wanted to go to Shanghai.

Going to Shanghai is also a good option. Although Zhou Jiye is not from Shanghai, he has been living there since graduating from university and is familiar with the city. Going there would indeed be a good choice.

Moreover, Zhou Jiye also has plans to leave. Although his status in the Zhou family is not as high as Lin Ying's in the Lin family, and the whole family dotes on him like a precious treasure, the problem is that Zhou Jiye has already changed his soul. It's okay for a short time, but what if he is exposed in the long run?
Besides, Zhou Jiye wouldn't be used to staying in the rural areas of Northwest China! What future could a farmer have? Even decades from now, no one would want to stay in the countryside as a farmer! Apart from the elderly and left-behind children, all the young people have left the countryside; who wouldn't want to try their luck in a big city?
"By the way, why didn't you go ahead first since you arrived so early?" Zhou Jiye asked subconsciously, but immediately knew he had said the wrong thing again, and as expected, he was met with a glare from Lin Ying.

"I have neither money nor a letter of introduction. How am I supposed to go? Walk thousands of miles? Besides, I'm a woman. I might get kidnapped on the way. Do you think I'm stupid? If I had your conditions, I would have left long ago."

"Hehe, now you know how awesome your husband is, right? Come on, call me 'husband' and let me hear it. As long as you satisfy me, I'll take you to Shanghai." Zhou Jiye finally turned the tables and grinned smugly. So what if you're a little vixen? You still have to save her from this predicament by yourself. Besides, without him, Zhou Jiye, Lin Ying wouldn't be able to leave the village even if she wanted to.

"My lord..."

Zhou Jiye, a seasoned single man, was stunned. He had expected Lin Ying to react like a wildcat whose tail had been stepped on, just like before. But to his surprise, she called him "husband" in a sweet, coquettish voice, her big eyes sparkling with affection.

"Hehe, why did your face suddenly turn red?"

“Refreshed!”

"Why is it yellow again?"

"It's antifreeze wax!"

"Hahaha!"

Lin Ying laughed until her stomach hurt, and Zhou Jiye chuckled along.

After the two joked around for a while, Lin Ying said to Zhou Jiye seriously, "I have a suggestion, why don't you listen to it?"

"Okay!"

"We're from the same hometown, so it's fate that we met. We can't be sure if there's a third person from our hometown in this world besides us. Do you agree with that?"

Zhou Jiye thought for a moment and nodded, acknowledging that Lin Ying was right.

Lin Ying continued, "Since that's the case, we're in the same boat, and we're legally married now. That's the foundation of our bond. We need to discuss how to proceed from here. It's better for me and better for you. What do you think?"

"no problem!"

Zhou Jiye nodded in agreement. He took Lin Ying's words to heart. Since he was already here, he might as well make the best of it. He couldn't go back anyway, and he would have to live in this era eventually. He was feeling a bit uneasy on his own, but now that he had Lin Ying, things were different. Two people were always better than one. Moreover, Zhou Jiye felt that Lin Ying was not as simple as she seemed. Her way of speaking and thinking was not something that ordinary girls could have. Before he came here, he was just an ordinary office worker who hadn't made it after so many years. He might as well listen to Lin Ying's thoughts.

And so, the two chatted all night on their "wedding night." They didn't know how much time had passed, but they were so tired that they fell into a deep sleep. When they opened their eyes again, the sun was high in the sky.

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(End of this chapter)