Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

"Xiaoqin, come here, I'll put it on for you."

He Xiaoqin stood up, blushing, and walked to Liu Xiangyang's side. Liu Xiangyang took her hand and made her sit down beside him.

"Wearing this ring means we'll never be apart." He looked into her eyes. "Xiaoqin, will you?"

He Xiaoqin's tears welled up instantly. She nodded frantically, her words slurred, "I...I'm willing, Brother Xiangyang, I'm willing..."

Liu Xiangyang smiled, took a ring from his palm, and slipped it onto her finger. He Xiaoqin looked down at it, tears falling onto the back of her hand, but she smiled like a flower.

Zuo Qingqing watched longingly from the side, her lips pouting so much they could hang an oil bottle.

"Brother, I know I was wrong..." she mumbled, tugging at Liu Xiangyang's sleeve and shaking it. "I promise I'll study harder from now on. Could you... could you give me one too?"

Jiang Xiaowen also came over, her eyes glued to the rings, unable to look away: "Brother Xiangyang, I was wrong too. I promise I'll read every day from now on, ask questions when I don't understand, and never be lazy again!"

Liu Xiangyang looked at them and said, "Can you really do it? Then wait until I come back next time."

-

After the meal, everyone helped clean up the dishes, and the table was spotless.

Le Yao leaned back in her chair, patted her stomach, and suddenly remembered something. Her eyes lit up, and she asked with a grin, "Brother, how are we going to sleep tonight?"

The room fell silent for a moment, and everyone's faces flushed slightly, but no one looked away, and their eyes all turned to Liu Xiangyang.

Xue Bingbing curled her lips slightly and slowly said, "It all depends on how the head of the family arranges it."

Liu Xiangyang glanced around and laughed, "I've just been back for two days, so let's split into two shifts." He pointed to Xue Bingbing, Le Qi, and Le Yao, then looked at He Xiaoqin, "Tonight it'll be Bingbing, Qiqi, Yao Yao, and Xiaoqin. Tomorrow night it'll be Luo Lan, Xiaowen, and... that other person."

Zuo Qingqing paused for a moment, counted on her fingers, and pouted, "Brother, you forgot about me!"

Jiang Xiaowen laughed from the side: "Silly, you, me, and Sister Luo Lan make three, so you weren't left out."

Zuo Qingqing then realized what was happening, chuckled twice, and leaned closer, saying, "Then you'll have to make it up to us tomorrow night."

Roland casually chimed in, "Let Xiaoqin enjoy herself today, after all, she won a big prize."

He Xiaoqin blushed, lowered her head and smiled, her fingers still unable to resist touching the ring on her hand.

Le Yao jumped up and pulled Le Qi, "Sis, let's go boil some water! We're with Xiao Qin tonight!"

Leqi stood up with a smile and walked out with her.

Xue Bingbing also stood up and began clearing the table of dishes. Zuo Qingqing and Jiang Xiaowen rushed to help, while Luo Lan leisurely arranged the chairs beside her.

Liu Xiangyang leaned back in his chair, watching them busy themselves, a smile playing on his lips.

-

The stove fire was burning brightly. Several buckets of hot water were carried into the house and poured into a large wooden tub. Steam rose up, making people's eyes sting.

Le Yao was the first to crawl in, letting out a comfortable sigh. Le Qi followed, and Xue Bingbing was the last to go in. He Xiaoqin blushed as Le Yao pulled her in.

It was a bit cramped with five people crammed into one bucket, but nobody minded.

Le Yao leaned against Liu Xiangyang's chest, looking up at him: "Brother, are you leaving the day after tomorrow morning?"

Liu Xiangyang nodded: "Yes, we need to leave early, or we'll be late."

Le Yao said "Oh" and hugged him tighter.

He Xiaoqin was still a little reserved, so Leqi reached out and pulled her over to lean on him.

Xue Bingbing leaned against the tub, her eyes closed, her face flushed from the steam.

The water rippled gently, and occasionally laughter drifted out.

-

When I came out of the shower, it was already late at night.

Liu Xiangyang lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), surrounded by four women. Le Yao was huddled to his left, Le Qi to his right, He Xiaoqin next to Le Qi, and Xue Bingbing on the outermost side.

The lights were off, and the room was pitch black. Moonlight streamed in through the window and fell onto the floor.

No one spoke, only the soft sound of breathing.

After a while, Le Yao's muffled voice rang out: "Brother, when are you coming back next time?"

Liu Xiangyang thought for a moment and said, "We'll see. I'll come back to see you when I have time."

Le Yao hummed in agreement and hugged him even tighter.

Liu Xiangyang reached out and gently patted her back.

The moonlight outside the window fell quietly on the people on the kang (a heated brick bed).

-

The next morning, sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains.

Liu Xiangyang opened his eyes. Several people around him were still asleep. Le Yao was lying on his chest, Le Qi was lying on her side next to him, He Xiaoqin was curled up next to Le Qi, and Xue Bingbing was on the outermost side, her breathing shallow.

After a while, Xue Bingbing woke up first. She opened her eyes, met his gaze, and slowly curled up the corners of her mouth.

Just then, footsteps and hushed voices came from the courtyard.

"Keep your voice down, don't wake them up..." It was Roland's voice.

Zuo Qingqing's loud voice couldn't be suppressed: "Oh, I know, I just gently pushed the door open..."

Jiang Xiaowen muttered to herself, "Let's cook breakfast early so they can eat when they wake up."

Then came the sound of the kitchen door being pushed open, and the soft clattering of pots and pans.

The noise woke everyone in the room. Le Yao opened her eyes groggily, mumbled something, and snuggled closer to Liu Xiangyang. Le Qi also woke up, rubbed her eyes, and He Xiaoqin opened her eyes, met Liu Xiangyang's gaze, and blushed slightly.

Liu Xiangyang smiled and reached out to pull her close.

"woke up?"

He Xiaoqin nodded, but before she could speak, Liu Xiangyang leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. She blushed again, but instead of dodging, she snuggled closer to him.

Le Yao, who was standing nearby, pouted and said, "Brother, you're being unfair! I want a kiss too!"

Liu Xiangyang smiled and kissed her back, which satisfied Le Yao, who smiled with her eyes narrowed.

From the kitchen outside, Zuo Qingqing's voice rang out again: "Sister Luo Lan, is the fire burning brightly?"

Roland's helpless voice: "Keep your voice down, they're still sleeping..."

Jiang Xiaowen giggled: "Qingqing, can't you keep your voice down?"

"I was just afraid the fire would go out!"

Liu Xiangyang listened to the commotion outside and smiled.

"Alright, get up, or they'll burst in."

Le Yao lingered, saying, "Let me lie here a little longer..."

Liu Xiangyang pinched her cheek, sat up and put on his clothes. He Xiaoqin also sat up and was about to get her clothes when Liu Xiangyang pulled her back and kissed her on the cheek again.

He Xiaoqin's face was flushed, but she couldn't hide her happiness.

Liu Xiangyang then let go of her, put on his clothes, and walked out.

In the kitchen, Luo Lan was tending the fire, Zuo Qingqing was chopping vegetables, and Jiang Xiaowen was pouring water into the pot. The three of them were busy at work, and when they saw Liu Xiangyang come in, they all looked up at him.

Zuo Qingqing's eyes lit up: "Brother, you're awake? Breakfast will be ready soon!"

Liu Xiangyang walked over and pinched her cheek: "You're here so early?"

Zuo Qingqing giggled, "We have to behave well, otherwise we won't get a ring next time."

Jiang Xiaowen chimed in from the side, "That's right, that's right. Sister Luo Lan said this is called making amends for past mistakes."

Roland rolled his eyes: "When did I say that?"

Jiang Xiaowen retorted confidently, "You said it last night!"

When he returned after washing up, everyone in the room had gotten up. Le Yao was still lazily leaning against the kang (a heated brick bed) when Le Qi pulled her up. Xue Bingbing had already tidied up and was helping to set the table.

After finishing their meal, the women cleared away the dishes, changed their clothes, and went to work.