Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

Liu Xiangyang first went to see Dr. Han, had breakfast with him, and then returned to his own courtyard. He sat down in the house, took out the pill from his spatial storage, and continued his research.

He stared at the pill for a while, then stopped scraping off the powder. The increase in his mental strength by one meter yesterday gave him confidence, but also made him more cautious—this thing was too potent; he had to proceed slowly.

Just then, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

Liu Xiangyang habitually scanned the area with his mental energy and was stunned for a moment—it was Gu Xiaoyu.

He put the pills back into his spatial storage and stood up to open the door.

The courtyard gate opened, and Gu Xiaoyu stood at the entrance, still wearing her old work jacket. Her hair was a little messy, and fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, indicating that she had rushed over. When she saw Liu Xiangyang, her eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth turned up, but she didn't speak immediately.

Liu Xiangyang stepped aside: "Come in."

Gu Xiaoyu stepped into the courtyard, but her pace slowed down. She stood there, her gaze sweeping from the courtyard wall to the door, from the clothesline to the windowsill, examining every inch. Her eyes sparkled, and the corners of her mouth turned up so wide she couldn't suppress it.

This was her first time entering this courtyard.

Liu Xiangyang stood beside her, looking at her expression, and laughed.

"What are you looking at?"

Gu Xiaoyu turned her head, her face flushed, and whispered, "Let me see...let me see my man's house."

She turned around again as she spoke, continuing to look around. The yard wasn't big, but it was spotless. A few scallions grew in the corner, and two pieces of clothing hung on the clothesline, swaying gently in the breeze. Looking at the clothes, imagining how Liu Xiangyang usually wore them, her heart softened completely.

Liu Xiangyang walked over, took her hand, and led her into the house.

Upon entering the room, you'll find the bedroom, with a large kang (heated brick bed) that takes up half the room. A straw mat is laid on the kang, covered with several quilts and pillows arranged side-by-side. Against the wall stands an old cabinet, on which sits a mirror and a few odds and ends.

Gu Xiaoyu's gaze swept over the large kang (heated brick bed), her face slightly flushed, but the joy in her eyes deepened. Looking at the quilts and pillows, imagining Liu Xiangyang sleeping there that night, an indescribable sense of satisfaction welled up inside her.

She took two more steps inside and peeked into the small kitchen next door. The stove was spotless, and the pots and pans were neatly arranged. Further inside was a small bathroom, the door ajar, and she could vaguely see a large wooden tub inside.

Gu Xiaoyu turned around and looked at Liu Xiangyang, her eyes slightly red, but her face was full of smiles.

"That's nice..." she whispered.

Liu Xiangyang asked her to sit down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and then he sat down next to her as well.

"Why are you here at this hour? Don't you have to work?"

Gu Xiaoyu looked at him, her eyes bright and smiling.

"Li Jianjun just came to see me."

Liu Xiangyang's eyebrows twitched.

Gu Xiaoyu continued, "He asked me to divorce his son. This time, his attitude was particularly good. He said that he had mistreated me in the past, but now he had come to his senses and wanted me to get a divorce and start over. He even said he could give me some money as compensation."

Liu Xiangyang listened without showing any expression.

Gu Xiaoyu looked at him, bit her lip, and asked softly, "Brother Xiangyang, I came here to confirm with you whether or not we're getting a divorce."

Liu Xiangyang looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"Li, didn't I say that yesterday?"

Gu Xiaoyu was stunned for a moment, then her eyes reddened again, but this time it was out of happiness.

"Then...what happens after I get divorced?"

Liu Xiangyang reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"I'll help you figure something out after I finish my training." He looked down at her. "We can take things slowly from now on. Let's get a divorce first."

Gu Xiaoyu stared at him for several seconds, tears welling up in her eyes, but she smiled more happily than anyone else.

She hugged Liu Xiangyang tightly, buried her face in his chest, and cried and laughed at the same time.

"Brother Xiangyang, I'll listen to you..."

Liu Xiangyang patted her back and smiled, "Mm."

Gu Xiaoyu snuggled against him, then suddenly remembered something and looked up.

"Should I go back and divorce him now?"

Liu Xiangyang thought for a moment.

"The sooner the better. Go find Village Chief Zhang first and ask him to help you make the decision. It's not appropriate for me to get involved right now."

Gu Xiaoyu nodded vigorously.

Liu Xiangyang took out some money and tickets from his pocket and stuffed them into her hand. He then took out something he had bought from Wan Wu from the cabinet and handed it to her.

Gu Xiaoyu looked down and froze.

"This...so many?"

Liu Xiangyang smiled.

"Divorce is no small matter. The money is for your safety. Don't make yourself suffer while I'm away."

"The other things were bought especially for you, but don't be too flashy. Use them after the formalities are completed. If anyone asks about the others, you can say it's compensation from the Li family."

Gu Xiaoyu looked at the few bills, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

She didn't know what to say, so she just hugged him tighter.

Liu Xiangyang held her and kissed her for a while, then let go of her: "Go, go find Uncle Zhang and have him accompany you to handle this matter."

Gu Xiaoyu looked at him with teary eyes: "Brother, I'll go first then. I'll wait for you to come back here."

It was early Monday morning, before dawn, when Liu Xiangyang woke up.

The room was dimly lit, and three people lay sprawled on the kang (a heated brick bed). On the left, Jiang Xiaowen slept soundly, her breathing even; on the right, Zuo Qingqing was curled up in a ball, a slight smile playing on her lips, lost in thought. Roland lay on top of him, her face buried in his chest, her breathing shallow.

Liu Xiangyang didn't move; he just lay there for a while.

Roland suddenly woke up, raised his head, and looked at him groggily.

"What time is it?"

Liu Xiangyang glanced out the window.

"Time to get up."

Roland was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and slowly got up. As soon as he sat up, he frowned and his legs felt a little weak.

She didn't say anything, and got off the kang (a heated brick bed) naked. She looked down at herself, then at him, reached for a towel, squatted down by the kang, and carefully cleaned him.

Liu Xiangyang looked down at her, his breathing becoming a little heavy again.

Roland looked at him and laughed, "One night isn't enough, is it?"

"It's never enough to be with you all," he said, stroking her face.

Roland ignored him, continuing with his work, and said softly, "Don't move, or it will be too late."

After cleaning him up, she stood up again, picked up his shirt from the head of the bed, shook it, and helped him put it on, buttoning it up one button at a time.

Then came the pants. She squatted down, had him lift his foot, and pulled on the pant legs, slowly pulling them up and fastening the waistband.

She worked naked the whole time, her movements were very natural, and she didn't seem shy at all, as if she had done it countless times before.

Liu Xiangyang looked at her and couldn't help but smile.

Roland looked up and glared at him: "What are you laughing at?"

Liu Xiangyang shook his head and reached out to touch her face.

Roland blushed slightly, but didn't flinch. He stood up, took Roland's coat from the side, and draped it over Roland's shoulders.

"Drive carefully."

Liu Xiangyang nodded and picked up the cloth bag he had prepared the night before from the kang (heated brick bed). Inside were the food that Xue Bingbing and the others had packed the night before—pancakes, pickled vegetables, and a few pieces of braised pork.

He walked to the door and glanced back.

Roland stood by the kang (a heated brick bed), watching him. Jiang Xiaowen and Zuo Qingqing were still asleep, unaware of anything.

Liu Xiangyang nodded to her and went out the door.

The courtyard was quiet, and the sky was just beginning to lighten. He hung his cloth bag on the handlebars and pushed his bicycle out of the courtyard gate.

He rode out of the alley and glanced back.

The gate to his own courtyard was still ajar, and Roland did not follow them out.

He pedaled twice, and the bicycle sped forward, leaving the village and onto the main road.

The sun slowly rose, its warmth gently caressing my skin.