Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

He Xiaoqin nodded vigorously, "Sister Bingbing, I'll listen to you!" Luo Lan also said gently, "Sister Bingbing, we trust you to handle things." Zuo Qingqing said, "I have no objection, I'll listen to Sister Bingbing too."

"We don't listen to me, we all listen to Master Liu." Xue Bingbing gestured towards Liu Xiangyang with her chin.

Watching Xue Bingbing arrange things in a clear, logical, and reasonable manner, Liu Xiangyang felt a surge of satisfaction and a strange sense of peace. He had indeed made the right choice in hiring this "housekeeper"; she possessed the qualities of a strong, capable wife.

"We don't live frugally. If we want to buy something or eat something, we'll buy it, but we can't waste food. Okay, now that we've finished talking about business," Liu Xiangyang clapped his hands, breaking the slightly overly formal atmosphere.

His face lit up with a smile again. "I brought you some good stuff from Harbin today."

He turned around and took out three boxes and a large package from the luggage he had brought back. He handed the three boxes to Roland, He Xiaoqin, and Zuo Qingqing.

"I was originally going to give it to you all separately, but I'll give it to you now. I'm the fairest person, and you'll have what Bingbing has too."

The three of them took the box, opened it, and were all delighted.

They were so jealous when they saw Xue Bingbing wearing a watch, but now that they have one too, they all have happy smiles on their faces.

"Alright, I'll say one last thing, it's very important, it concerns whether we can get back to the city."

"You can divide up these food and supplies later." He pushed the package to Xue Bingbing, then patted the stack of books. "These are the real good stuff."

He first took out the three sets of high school humanities textbooks: "Bingbing, Xiaoqin, Luolan, Qingqing, starting tomorrow, you all have to read and study them whenever you have time. Ask me if you don't know any words, and figure out the knowledge you don't understand together. Qiqi and Yaoyao have good grades, so let them teach you."

As for "Barefoot Doctor's Handbook", "Militia Military Training Handbook", "Friends of Dual-Use Military and Civilian Talents" and "Troubleshooting Common Agricultural Machinery Faults", he put them away himself.

"Ugh, high school students don't even have classes anymore, what's the point of us studying? I get dizzy just looking at books," Zuo Qingqing muttered, flipping through her books.

Liu Xiangyang slapped her: "There's no room for discussion on this. If you don't obey, you'll be punished according to family rules. The same goes for you, understand?"

"We will follow the instructions of the head of the family." Xue Bingbing covered her mouth and laughed, taking the lead. Luo Lan and He Xiaoqin also laughed.

Zuo Qingqing blushed and rubbed the spot where she had been hit: "Okay, I'll be good, you hit me too hard, it's almost swollen."

"This is crucial to whether we can go back to the city together next year. There's no room for discussion. If I don't teach you a lesson, you won't remember," Liu Xiangyang said seriously. "From now on, our family not only needs to be well-fed and clothed, but also needs to live with confidence and hope. That depends on whether you can study these books well."

Liu Xiangyang's words, "It concerns whether we can go back to the city together next year," were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in everyone's hearts. The atmosphere in the room became solemn, and everyone subconsciously sat up straight.

Returning to the city was the heaviest and most distant dream hanging in the hearts of every educated youth.

Xue Bingbing's smile faded. She was one of the first people to follow Liu Xiangyang and knew him best; she was not someone who spoke carelessly.

She reached out and gently stroked the cover of the stack of high school textbooks, as if touching an invisible key that led to the future.

"Since Xiangyang has said so, this is the most important and serious matter for our family right now." She raised her eyes, her clear gaze sweeping over Luo Lan, He Xiaoqin, and Zuo Qingqing. "Starting tomorrow, everyone must study hard and immerse themselves in the ocean of knowledge."

"Yes, we all have to start studying tomorrow, because there won't be much time to study during the busy farming season."

"Xiangyang, there's one more thing that needs your decision. How should we all take turns serving you?" Xue Bingbing asked seriously.

The room fell silent the moment Xue Bingbing asked that question.

Several pairs of eyes, clear, gentle, lively, and curious, all fell on Liu Xiangyang's face, filled with shyness, expectation, and dependence.

This is indeed a "family matter," but it is also the key to maintaining harmony and avoiding discord in this large family.

Liu Xiangyang's gaze slowly swept over them. After a moment of contemplation, his expression was not frivolous, but rather carried the seriousness of a family head arranging important matters.

"Schedule..." He pondered for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). "Bingbing's consideration is correct. Since we're going to live together for a long time, we need to have some rules to avoid chaos and to prevent anyone from feeling that things are unfair."

He paused for a moment, then spoke clearly and logically: "Qiqi and Yaoyao will be back from their holiday in a couple of days. With the four of you, there are six of you now. I think we should split you into three groups of two, so you can keep each other company and look out for one another."

He first looked at Xue Bingbing and Luo Lan: "Bingbing, you are the head housekeeper of our family, so you'll be on the same team as Luo Lan."

Liu Xiangyang turned his gaze to Zuo Qingqing and He Xiaoqin: "Qingqing is lively and outgoing, while Xiaoqin is well-behaved. You two are about the same age, so you can be in the same class and complement each other perfectly."

Zuo Qingqing subconsciously puffed out her chest, her lively spirit returning: "Don't worry! I definitely won't bully Xiaoqin!" He Xiaoqin lowered her head shyly and softly hummed in agreement.

"As for Qiqi and Yaoyao, when they come back, I'll tell them that Bingbing and Qiqi need to take good care of the household, and I'll just be a hands-off manager." Liu Xiangyang made arrangements for the last two as well.

"Yes, I will cooperate well with Qiqi," Xue Bingbing replied firmly.

Zuo Qingqing blinked and raised her hand: "Then... what if I get my period during my shift? Will I still switch shifts?" This was a very practical question, and as soon as she asked it, all the women perked up their ears, and even Xue Bingbing looked up at Liu Xiangyang.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiangyang's lips curled into a meaningful, slightly mischievous smile. His gaze swept between Zuo Qingqing and the equally curious He Xiaoqin: "Well... I naturally have a 'way' for that. You'll find out when the time comes." He deliberately kept them in suspense.

Xue Bingbing's face flushed instantly, and she immediately understood what he meant by "method". She recalled her only previous attempt, the unfamiliar touch and the unbearable slight pain, and the scene where Liu Xiangyang gave up because he felt sorry for her. She couldn't help but gently pinch Liu Xiangyang's thigh under the table.

He cursed inwardly: "This bastard, how dare he suggest such a method!" But deep down, a strange ripple stirred within him.

"Alright." Liu Xiangyang clapped his hands, making the final decision. "It's settled then. Bingbing, you can arrange the specific rotation order. Just let me know when it's done. In short, there's one principle: in our family, we don't fight, we don't snatch, and we certainly don't hide things or cause trouble. Let's talk things out openly."