Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

Liu Xiangyang led Li Jianjun outside the courtyard, where the voices of the women were barely audible. "Accountant Li, what do you want? We can talk here."

Li Jianjun took out his cigarette case, pulled out a cigarette, and handed it to Liu Xiangyang. Liu Xiangyang hesitated for a moment, then took it, but didn't take the matches that Li Jianjun then offered.

Li Jianjun lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke before speaking: "Xiangyang, it's like this. Yesterday at the village chief's house, when I mentioned having a written agreement, I really didn't mean anything by it! It's just that I've been an accountant for so long that I can't keep my mouth shut, and it just slipped out. Please don't take it to heart; I absolutely didn't mean to distrust you!"

He spoke somewhat hastily, his face showing obvious frustration. If, because of his words, Liu Xiangyang didn't leave the work to the village, he would be resented by the villagers for the rest of his life.

After listening, Liu Xiangyang twirled the unlit cigarette between his fingers, his face expressionless. After a while, he slowly took out a match from his pocket, struck it with a "hiss," lit it, took a drag, and slowly exhaled a smoke ring.

"Accountant Li, you're too kind." His voice was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger. "It's such a small matter, I didn't even think about it. I feel bad making you come all this way again."

"Tomorrow is the New Year, and you're known throughout the village for your excellent calligraphy. People line up to have you write couplets for them, even outside the village. You should hurry back and get back to your work. I have several couplets waiting for me to write here," he gestured back to the courtyard.

The meaning is clear: it's over, there's no need to bring it up again, and you shouldn't linger here.

Li Jianjun felt a little relieved and nodded repeatedly, "Oh, oh! That's good, that's good! You're busy, you're busy! I'll go back now!" He smiled and exchanged a few more polite words before turning to leave.

After walking a dozen steps, reaching the corner where Liu Xiangyang couldn't see him, Li Jianjun's smile instantly vanished.

He stopped, raised his hand, and slapped himself lightly across the face, making a soft "smack" sound.

"Serves you right for being so quick-tongued!" he muttered to himself, shook his head, then put his hands in his pockets and hurried home against the cold wind.

He was thinking to himself that he had to make sure he got the job he was looking for after the New Year, so that he wouldn't find any fault with him.

Liu Xiangyang turned around and went back to the courtyard, putting this little incident behind him.

In the courtyard, the women were chattering and pointing around the newly written couplets and cut-out paper-cuts, gesturing and pointing out which ones would look best when pasted.

Watching this scene, he thought to himself, "I'll wait another year. When I return to the capital, I'll find a big courtyard house, tidy it up nicely, and raise Xue Bingbing, Le Qi, Le Yao, Chen Jie, Luo Lan, and other beauties together. That kind of life..."

Liu Xiangyang clicked his tongue, banishing the image from his mind, clapped his hands, and walked over with a smile: "Who's coming with me to put up the couplets and paper-cuts on the front door?"

"We still have so much red paper. Why don't we make some lanterns and hang them on the doors? That would make it even more festive," Xue Bingbing suggested, looking at the remaining red paper after the couplets had been pasted up in all three courtyards.

"It sounds good, but who knows how to make it?" Jiang Xiaowen asked.

He Xiaoqin raised her hand: "I, I can do it. I learned how to make lanterns from my mom."

"That's great, Xiaoqin! Quickly teach us how to make lanterns. There's still plenty of time. Once we're done, we can hang them up tonight."

He Xiaoqin immediately became the commander-in-chief. She asked Liu Xiangyang to get some sorghum stalks and split them into thin strips.

He then led Xue Bingbing and Jiang Xiaowen to mix paste and cut red paper.

Roland was skillful and was in charge of cutting out five-pointed stars and the character "福" (fortune) from the remaining gold paper.

"The frame must be tied evenly, otherwise the paper will be crooked when pasted on." He Xiaoqin demonstrated as she deftly tied the bamboo strips together.

Xue Bingbing carefully brushed on the paste, and Jiang Xiaowen gently covered it with red paper and smoothed it out.

In no time, several round lantern frames were dressed in red, and sparkly "Fu" (good fortune) characters cut out by Roland were pasted on, instantly adding a festive touch. Finally, under He Xiaoqin's direction, Liu Xiangyang fixed the wooden base for holding the candles to the bottom and attached hemp rope handles.

A red lantern was made, and everyone clapped happily. He Xiaoqin's face turned red with excitement; this was the most she had ever spoken since she came to the countryside.

An afternoon passed by in a lively and bustling atmosphere, filled with writing, drawing, scribbling, climbing, laughing, and chatting.

All three courtyards were adorned with bright red lanterns, vibrant red couplets pasted on the door frames, and paper-cut window decorations on the bright windows. A large "福" (good fortune) character was pasted upside down on the lintel.

The originally gray and yellow farmhouse courtyard was instantly filled with a strong festive atmosphere by these bright red accents.

Just then, Jiang Xiaowen came over and said, "Brother Liu, tomorrow is the 30th. We'd like to take a shower. Can we borrow your bathroom for a bit? It's only in the afternoon, so it won't bother you."

"What delay? Even if you don't shower, we still have to. So come in the afternoon, and you can start preparing the New Year's Eve dinner right after you've showered. Let me make it clear, I'm a hands-off manager, the New Year's Eve dinner is all up to you."

"With so many of us, one person can make one dish, and we won't get tired, right?" Roland chimed in.

"That's right, just wait and see what delicious food you get tomorrow. Xiaoqin is an amazing cook," Jiang Xiaowen said proudly. "Qingqing, right?"

"Yes, every time it's Xiaoqin's turn to cook, I feel like there's not enough to eat."

After chatting for a while, everyone prepared to go back and make breakfast.

"Then we'll head back now, Brother Liu, and come back tomorrow."

"Just remember not to tell anyone about the bathroom, otherwise everyone will want to borrow it, and it's hard to say whether they'll lend it or not," Xue Bingbing added.

They all quickly assured each other, "We don't want to have to queue up to take a shower in the future, so we'll keep it a secret."

After they left, Xue Bingbing stood at the doorway, looking at her newly decorated home, a satisfied and serene smile on her face.

Liu Xiangyang walked to her side and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Finally, everything's all sorted out," Xue Bingbing said softly, leaning against him.

"Hmm," Liu Xiangyang said, looking at the couplet on the door with its crooked handwriting, "it's just that the characters are a bit ugly."

"You're smart enough to sit here for a while and listen to the radio. I'll go cook," she said, and then prepared to go to the kitchen to get busy.

Liu Xiangyang pulled her aside and said, "You've had a long day, and you'll be tired again tonight. Just heat something up and eat something; there's a big meal tomorrow."

"I should have left Roland here too. After you kept him up all night, how is he going to get up tomorrow?"

It was another stormy, snowy night. The wind howled, sending snowflakes flying up and down.

"Bingbing, the heated kang bed is much more sturdy. If it were a wooden bed, you would have shaken it to pieces long ago."