Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

Liu Xiangyang bought another basket, put the things in the basket, found a secluded and deserted place, and put in pots, pans, and various seasonings.

I added another pound and a half of white sugar, divided it into three portions, and gave them to the three big bosses on the way back. The whole basket was almost full.

He took out the steamed buns and roast duck he had stored in his spatial storage. After eating his fill, he returned to the supply and marketing cooperative and saw Xue Bingbing, Le Qi, and Le Yao waiting for him.

"Liu Xiangyang, over here."

"Wow, you bought all your family's belongings!"

"These are all things we'll need in the future; you've bought quite a few."

The four exchanged a smile; it seemed they all shared the same thought.

Leqi: "Liu Xiangyang, have you eaten? We just ate some dry food. I have a steamed bun here."

Liu Xiangyang had already eaten, but seeing Le Qi's expectant expression, he said, "Comrade Le Qi is so kind to me. I forgot to bring any dry rations."

Xue Bingbing: "I also saved you a steamed bun, and I have some pickled vegetable shreds here. Liu Xiangyang, eat up, don't go hungry."

Liu Xiangyang took the steamed buns from the two of them and began to wolf them down. He ate too fast and choked.

Xue Bingbing took off her water bottle and handed it to Liu Xiangyang.

Leqi silently took her hand off the kettle.

Le Yao glanced at Xue Bingbing and her sister, then at Liu Xiangyang, and thought to herself with resentment, "Why didn't I think to bring an extra steamed bun!"

Liu Xiangyang tilted his head back and swallowed the last bite of steamed bun in his mouth, feeling as if his stomach had been stretched out.

Xue Bingbing and Le Qi simultaneously patted Liu Xiangyang's back. They glanced at each other, blushed, and lowered their heads, but their hands continued to pat Liu Xiangyang's back.

Le Yao muttered complaints to herself that she was a step too slow again.

Le Yao: "Liu Xiangyang, how are we going to build our house?"

"What kind of house are you planning to build? What are your ideas?"

"We only need to build two rooms, one large one for the bedroom and living room, and one small one for the kitchen."

"The kitchen stove is connected to the fire wall, which makes heating the kang (a traditional heated bed) easy and keeps it warm. You don't have to worry about cooking fumes drifting into the room, and it can also separate the bedroom."

"The room is big enough for the two of us sisters, and it's easy to clean."

Xue Bingbing: "Me too. My room could be even smaller, so the three of us could share a kitchen, which would be warmer and save on firewood."

Xue Bingbing, Le Qi, and Le Yao are all from Jiangnan and have similar lifestyles. In addition, they have been traveling together by train for three or four days, so their relationship has heated up rapidly. Last night, they decided to cook together.

They originally wanted to invite Liu Xiangyang to share a kitchen with the other two, but considering the potential controversy, they gave up on that idea.

Finally, Liu Xiangyang decided to build two rooms, and Xue Bingbing, Le Qi, and Le Yao would build two rooms and a kitchen in the middle.

After the four finished discussing, they headed to the meeting point, where Old Wang was resting under a tree.

"You guys bought quite a lot of things. Sit down and rest for a bit. We'll set off once everyone's here."

"We just arrived and didn't bring a lot of things, so we have to buy them, otherwise how will we survive?"

"But my wallet is empty now, and I don't know how I'll get by from here on out."

"Who are you trying to fool? I was at the village office last night too." Old Wang glanced at Liu Xiangyang, then closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

The four of them rested under the tree. One by one, everyone arrived. Once everyone was on the car, Old Wang drove the car towards Dongsheng Village.

When the new educated youth saw that Liu Xiangyang and his three companions had bought two pots, they didn't say anything, but it piqued the curiosity of the older women.

I kept asking Liu Xiangyang and the others why they bought two pots and so much other stuff, wondering if they were going to use them later.

Le Yao then recounted what had happened the previous night, and also mentioned their plans to build their own house.

Liu Xiangyang didn't stop Le Yao from telling anyone, since everyone would find out in a few days anyway.

"Liu Zhiqing, would you like me to introduce you to a young girl? She's got big breasts and a big butt, good for childbearing, and she's also a great worker."

One of the older women seized the opportunity and made her move. Other older women were not to be outdone, each boasting about how easy it was to raise a daughter and how capable she was at work, leaving Liu Xiangyang and the others dumbfounded.

Liu Xiangyang was almost overwhelmed and could only shut up. Seeing that Liu Xiangyang was not responding, she turned her attention to Xue Bingbing and the others, saying that her son was very hardworking, which almost made them laugh in exasperation.

The time passed quickly amidst their laughter and conversation. When they returned to Dongsheng Village, everyone was still at work.

After putting their things away, including three packets of white sugar in their bags, Liu Xiangyang and the others went to the courtyard to wait for Xue Bingbing and the others.

Not long after, Leqi, Leyao, and Xue Bingbing also came out, each carrying a shoulder bag, indicating they had prepared something.

Liu Xiangyang: "We haven't finished work yet, so it's not appropriate to go looking for them. Let's pick a place that we're satisfied with first."

"Will you cook for yourselves or eat with them before the house is built?"

"Didn't we agree last night that we could eat together, like the old educated youth, taking turns every day?" Le Yao said.

"I've thought about it, and this isn't good for your reputation. If you really want to eat together, you can wait until the house is built before having a meal together."

"It's best if the three of you stay together until the house is built."

Xue Bingbing nodded and said, "That's something we really didn't think of. Liu Xiangyang, you've come up with a more thoughtful idea."

Since the girl's reputation was at stake, the three of them dared not be careless and could only agree with Liu Xiangyang's opinion.

As they spoke, the group went outside and carefully surveyed their surroundings.

Dongsheng Village is surrounded by mountains to the east, west, and north. A tributary of the Heilongjiang River flows through the valleys on the east and west sides, and the south leads towards the county town.

The educated youth settlement was located at the westernmost part of the village, about 500 to 600 meters from the river, while the nearest villager's house was about 100 meters away.

Liu Xiangyang wanted to build his house behind the educated youth settlement so that the villagers wouldn't be able to see his house directly, as it would be blocked by the settlement.

I'll surround the house with a fence, making it even more secluded. Even if I eat the finest delicacies, no one in the village will know.

The three girls discussed with Liu Xiangyang whether they should build all the houses in a row so they could share two walls and save a lot of money on materials.

Liu Xiangyang considered it for a while but still didn't agree, saying that it would affect their reputation. Not only could they not build them in a row, but they also had to be far apart. When they built the courtyard, they could just put the walls next to each other, which would also prevent gossip.

Just then, the work bell rang, and the four of them, carrying their belongings, headed towards the village office.

Upon arriving at the village office, they saw Zhang Tiejun holding a metal lock, preparing to lock the door. When Zhang Tiejun saw the four of them, he said, "Let's go to my house to talk."

We arrived at Zhang Tiejun's house again. Zhang Tiejun's wife was cooking, and a little girl of about ten years old was tending the fire.

Two young boys, shirtless, were whipping a pack mule in the yard.

Zhang Tiejun welcomed the four into the courtyard and poured them bowls of water, saying, "I figured you were coming to see me today. Did you buy everything you needed in town?"

Liu Xiangyang and the others took out the prepared items from their bags and placed them on the table.

Zhang Tiejun's expression changed, and he said sternly, "Are you trying to make me make a mistake?"