Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

Chen Jie paused for a moment, then realized: "We can't send it to the people behind him; these people are parasites on the country. Let them all fall from grace. Except for Ding Li, send a copy to the Revolutionary Committee as well."

"Okay," Liu Xiangyang carefully packed the items. "I'll mail them tomorrow after I develop the photos."

His tone was calm, yet chilling: "If this still can't solve the problem with the Qian guy, then I'll have to do it myself."

The next morning, Liu Xiangyang rode his bicycle to take Chen Jie to the factory. The wind was biting cold. Chen Jie sat on the back seat, wrapped her arms around his waist, pressed her face against his broad back, and put her hands into his coat pockets, tracing the strong muscle lines of his abdomen through his sweater.

"Xiangyang," her voice muffled by the fabric, "how much longer can you stay in Ice City?"

"What I told the village chief was that the training notice didn't specify a timeframe, but I estimated it would take about a month." Liu Xiangyang tilted his head slightly and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Really? I thought you were leaving in the next couple of days." Chen Jie tightened her grip on her arm, her voice brimming with undisguised joy. "I'm so happy."

Liu Xiangyang looked around. There weren't many people on the gray, deserted street. He lowered his voice and said with a smile, "Didn't you say last night that you were going to have lots of kids for me? I've only just begun. I haven't had enough of you yet."

"You're going to die! What nonsense are you spouting in broad daylight!" Chen Jie's face flushed red. She looked around guiltily, pinched his waist hard, and whispered, "I'll let you do it for the rest of my life, okay?"

Liu Xiangyang tore off a cotton glove with his teeth, put his hand into his pocket, and accurately grasped her mischievous hand, their fingers intertwined tightly.

Feeling the rough warmth of his palm, Chen Jie pressed her hand against his back and said, "Then let's buy a bicycle? Otherwise, it won't be convenient for you to go anywhere."

"Okay." Liu Xiangyang nodded. "Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, in the safe belonging to the man surnamed Qian, besides the ledgers, there were quite a few receipts. I took a few useful ones, consider them as interest he paid in advance."

"I'll get the photos developed this morning, and then I'll go buy a bicycle this afternoon."

"Give me the ticket, I'll buy it after I get off work early this afternoon," Chen Jie said.

After dropping Chen Jie off near the train station and watching her go into her workplace, he went to find the company where he had bought the camera and the photographer from that trip.

"Comrade, I've come to pick up the photos." Liu Xiangyang handed him the receipt for the photos he had taken with Xue Bingbing and the others.

Photographer: "Oh, it's you. The photos are already developed, here you go."

"Comrade, I'd like to borrow your darkroom to develop a few photos, is that alright?" Liu Xiangyang took the envelope, glanced at the photos, and said, "No problem."

"Sure, but there will be a fee," the photographer said.

"Of course, we won't let the government suffer any losses. We'll give them whatever amount is due," Liu Xiangyang said.

"Black and white photos are 80 cents each, color photos are 3 yuan each. How many do you want to print?" the photographer asked.

Liu Xiangyang was stunned when he heard the price. He had originally wanted to develop the more than one hundred photos he had taken of Xue Bingbing and Chen Jie. Even if he could afford the price, he would still be reported for it.

"This price is really expensive, so I'll just print two color photos then." Liu Xiangyang decided to print the photos of the man surnamed Qian and the woman.

"Comrade, I'm currently stationed in the village, and it takes too much time to go back and forth. Could I buy some of the scrapped materials here so I can develop the photos myself?" Liu Xiangyang handed him his patrolman's badge and letter of introduction, asking quietly.

"Normally, it's not allowed for private individuals, but since you work for a company, I'll sell it to you," the photographer said, looking at the ten jin of grain coupons on the letter of introduction.

Finally, Liu Xiangyang spent more than 20 yuan to buy developing powder, fixing powder, colored impression paper, developing tray, red paper and thermometer.

Liu Xiangyang took the developed photos, grabbed a quick bite outside at noon, and then mailed the account book he had copied the night before to Ding Li and the relevant departments.

Liu Xiangyang went to Qian's old lair again and found that he did nothing strange. He probably hadn't realized that the account book was missing and went home to develop his own photos.

Liu Xiangyang set up a small room in Chen Jie's house as a darkroom. Following the photographer's instructions, he installed and configured all kinds of tools and chemicals, and then developed the film he had taken of his woman.

I saved Xue Bingbing's photos to my social media account and was just about to look at the photos I took of Chen Jie when I heard her voice.

"Xiangyang, the bicycle has been bought for you. Come and see!"

Liu Xiangyang walked out of the darkroom and into the courtyard, where he saw Chen Jie pushing a bicycle, her face red from the cold.

He walked over, propped up the bicycle, took off her gloves, rubbed her hands together, and breathed on them, saying, "You must be freezing. Look at your face, it's all like a monkey's bottom. Come inside and warm up."

"You're the one with the monkey's butt! Look at the car!" Chen Jie said coquettishly.

"What's the car compared to you? Come inside and warm up first." Liu Xiangyang pulled her inside, hugged her, and sat her on the sofa, rubbing her hands and face.

Chen Jie looked at him with a happy expression, showing him how much he cared for her, and let him do as he pleased.

"Why? I've already sent out the evidence. We should have results in the next few days. We still need to be careful these next few days."

"By the way, your photos are ready. Do you want to see them?" Liu Xiangyang wrapped his arms around her waist, his breath hot against her ear, his voice saying, "They're so beautiful."

Chen Jie thought of all the embarrassing positions he had made for her, her nostrils flared slightly, and she blinked her teary eyes: "I don't want to see it, it's so embarrassing, you're the kind of person who would ruin someone like that."

"How is this mistreatment? This is called bedroom fun. Wait for me to bring it to you." Liu Xiangyang pressed her down on the sofa, got up and went into the darkroom, and took out the developed photos.

"Look at this photo. Lift your head up, tilt your head back. You didn't listen, and now your hair is all dirty."

"Look at this picture, you need to press your waist down even further, so that it will accentuate your perky shape."

"This one is pretty good."

"What do you mean 'good'? I was about to suffocate, and I kept filming you, and you still kept doing it. I was about to throw up." Chen Jie pinched Liu Xiangyang hard.

"Why should I apologize? I really couldn't help it back then," Liu Xiangyang said, hugging her and kissing her.

"Xiangyang, I need a favor. Could you please stop calling me 'what do you want'? It feels weird when you call me 'what do you want' now," Chen Jie said in a muffled voice, nestled against his neck.

"You're mine to begin with, so what am I supposed to call you if I don't call you 'Ganmo'?" Liu Xiangyang tightened his grip on his chest.

"Ugh, I'm not talking to you anymore. You can't call me whatever you want when we're out. You're making me sound old," Chen Jie said, twisting her body in protest.

"Alright, but I have one condition. If you agree, I'll agree too," he said with a smile.