Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

"Let's cook some millet porridge to warm our stomachs. Also, heat up some steamed buns, slice some of the smoked roe deer meat you brought back, and some pickled vegetables," she instructed, her tone returning to its usual gentle and methodical manner.

"Okay, whatever you say." Liu Xiangyang let go of her, watching her walk to the kitchen door to get her toothbrush, her steps still a little weak, his eyes filled with a warm smile.

The millet porridge was thick and sticky, the smoked roe deer meat was thinly sliced, and the pickled vegetable shreds were mixed with a little sesame oil. The two sat facing each other, and Xue Bingbing couldn't help but smile.

Liu Xiangyang looked at her openly and generously, serving her food while secretly planning to make an appearance in the village and commune later to complete the "return from training" process.

He drank the last mouthful of porridge and put down his chopsticks.

"Are you full?" Xue Bingbing asked.

"Hmm, I'm full." Liu Xiangyang looked at her and smiled meaningfully. "However, there are some 'things' that you can never be full of."

Xue Bingbing understood his implied meaning, her face flushed again, but she didn't flinch, only saying softly, "Let's talk about it tonight..."

Liu Xiangyang stood up with a smile and pinched her cheek. "I'm going out for a walk, I'll be back later."

"Okay," Xue Bingbing replied, and began to clear the dishes.

As she watched him push open the courtyard gate, she gently stroked the brand-new Seagull watch on her wrist, and then remembered him saying last night that he was the "first wife." The tricks her grandmother taught her were really effective.

Liu Xiangyang went to Zhang Tiejun's house, told him that he had finished his training, chatted about some things he had seen and heard in Harbin, put down a bottle of wine and said, "Uncle Zhang, I'll head back now. I still need to take a stroll around Leijia Village this afternoon."

When he got home, he saw Xue Bingbing listening to the radio and making a bellyband with the silk he had brought back.

Just then, the courtyard gate was pounded loudly, and there was a commotion outside.

Liu Xiangyang escorted Xue Bingbing back to the neighboring courtyard before unlatching his own door.

A large crowd was packed outside the door, led by Village Chief Lei, whose face was ashen. Behind him, several unfamiliar men were twisting a man and a woman. The woman's hair was disheveled, and she was trembling with her head down, while the man had his neck stiff and his face full of resentment.

"Inspector Liu, you must do me justice!" An elderly woman with gray hair suddenly rushed over, her voice shrill and shrill. "My poor son has only been gone for half a year, and this shameless slut is already pregnant with a bastard's child!"

Liu Xiangyang glanced at the crowd outside and said, "It's crowded and noisy outside, and it's cold. Let's talk in my office across the street." He led the group into the office and asked, "Village Chief Lei, what exactly happened?"

A group of people rushed into the main room of Liu Xiangyang's office. The stove had just been lit, and the room was still chilly.

Village Chief Lei sighed heavily, tapping his pipe against the sole of his shoe. "What a tragedy... This is Zhang Xiumei, Lei Peng's wife from our village. Lei Peng fell and injured himself in the mountains earlier this year and didn't make it. But now..." He glanced at the silent woman with her head down, "Xiumei is pregnant."

"Pregnant?" Liu Xiangyang's gaze swept over Zhang Xiumei's slightly protruding belly.

"It was that beast Lei Dazhuang who did this!" the old woman, Aunt Wang, shrieked. "Lei Jun, don't even think about protecting your nephew! It was this bastard who followed that vile woman and did all this!"

The young man being twisted looked up; it was Lei Dazhuang, the village chief's nephew. His lips moved, but he didn't utter a sound.

Liu Xiangyang waved his hand, signaling for silence. "Aunt Wang, Village Chief Lei, I'll question them separately first."

He first called Zhang Xiumei into the inner office alone: ​​"Zhang Xiumei, is the child in your belly Lei Dazhuang's?"

Zhang Xiumei nodded and said, "Yes, after Lei Peng passed away, my mother-in-law said I was a jinx and beat and scolded me every day. She even kicked me out to live in the old house. It was Dazhuang who took pity on me and helped me a few times. We got together after a while."

Liu Xiangyang told her to go back to the main room, then called Lei Dazhuang in. "Zhang Xiumei has just admitted that the child in her belly is yours. Do you have anything to say?"

"I didn't say I wouldn't acknowledge it. I told Aunt Wang that Xiumei and I would take care of her in her old age and see her off when she died, but she just wouldn't agree," Lei Dazhuang said.

"You're engaging in promiscuous relationships; even being shot wouldn't be an exaggeration. You make it sound so easy."

"You still have the nerve to talk back? If someone gets your daughter-in-law pregnant and then promises to take care of you in your old age and see you off when you die, would you be willing to accept that?" Liu Xiangyang demanded.

Lei Dazhuang lowered his head and dared not speak again.

"Go out first and call Village Chief Lei in," Liu Xiangyang said, glancing at Lei Dazhuang.

After Lei Jun came in, Liu Xiangyang handed him a cigarette: "Village Chief Lei, I just asked both of them, and they both admitted that the child is indeed Lei Dazhuang's. What are your thoughts?"

Lei Jun lit a cigarette: "Inspector Liu, this is really airing our dirty laundry in public. I originally planned to resolve this in the village, but now it's gotten so big, I don't know what to do."

"But Dazhuang is the only son in his family, could you..." Lei Jun looked at Liu Xiangyang with hope in his eyes.

"This situation definitely needs to be considered; we can't ruin two families. I understand."

Liu Xiangyang said, "Then let's go out."

Back in the main room, he looked around at the group and said...

"I understand everything." Liu Xiangyang's voice was not loud, but every word was clear. "Aunt Wang, you have lost your son and you are heartbroken. Everyone understands. Village Chief Lei, your nephew did something foolish. As his uncle, you are also responsible for not disciplining him properly."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "But this is a new society now, we don't practice the old-fashioned methods of vigilante justice! What kind of behavior is this, twisting someone like that?"

Aunt Wang wanted to argue further, but Liu Xiangyang raised his hand to stop her: "What we need to address now is the difficulties faced by the living and the future path of this child."

He looked at Village Chief Lei and Aunt Wang, his tone becoming calmer: "Aunt Wang, I remember your deceased son also had the surname Lei. In terms of lineage, you, Village Chief Lei, and Dazhuang all came from the same ancestor, right? Although you are beyond the fifth degree of kinship, you are still family members of the same surname and clan."

These words were like a basin of warm water, slightly easing the tense atmosphere in the room. Aunt Wang opened her mouth, but no words came out. Village Chief Lei, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief.

"My opinion is this," Liu Xiangyang said, emphasizing each word. "First, Lei Dazhuang's behavior is improper and he must be punished. Before the child is born, he must leave Lei Family Village to visit relatives or find work elsewhere and is not allowed to return. This is his punishment."

Lei Dazhuang suddenly looked up, only to be glared at by Village Chief Lei, and then lowered his head again.

"Secondly," Liu Xiangyang looked at Grandma Wang and said solemnly, "Your son is gone, but his family line cannot be cut off. This child, regardless of gender, will be adopted by your son and become his descendant. The child will be surnamed Lei, call you Grandma, and will take care of you in your old age. He will also be responsible for breaking the pot and carrying the banner for you in the future."