Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

Gu Xiaoyu bit her lower lip to suppress the sound in her throat. Her whole body trembled slightly under his control, but she still obediently opened herself up.

Liu Xiangyang's patience reached its peak at this moment, but it was also completely exhausted. He was no longer satisfied with touching through clothing and light kisses.

He picked her up, stood up, and walked a few steps to the simple wooden bed. He gently put her down, and the bed creaked.

He stood by the bed, looking down at her. Gu Xiaoyu lay there, her clothes half-undone, her eyes hazy with anticipation.

Liu Xiangyang unbuckled his belt and trousers slowly and deliberately, exuding a calm yet oppressive aura. As he climbed on top of the bed, the bed groaned once more.

His body was heavy and hot, completely enveloping her. Gu Xiaoyu could clearly feel the tension in every muscle and the power that was about to be unleashed.

"The pain will pass quickly," he whispered in her ear.

Gu Xiaoyu closed her eyes, nodded, and gripped the rough bed sheet beneath her tightly.

"I'll take anything you give me!"

Liu Xiangyang was not in a hurry, but instead approached the situation with a tentative and reassuring attitude.

Until her body was no longer so stiff.

"Ugh—!" Gu Xiaoyu burst into tears instantly.

Liu Xiangyang simply bent down, kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes, and held her tightly. "Relax," he whispered in her ear, "follow me."

His kiss landed again, this time on her lips, gentle and lingering, diverting her attention.

Seeing that she had adapted, Liu Xiangyang began to make his pronouncements with an irresistible will.

He observed the subtle changes in her face, listened to her cries, adjusted himself, and led her to a place she had never set foot in before.

The glow of the oil lamp cast two shadows on the rough wall.

After an unknown amount of time, the rain gradually subsided.

He rolled over and lay down next to her.

The room fell silent, save for the two of them still breathing heavily.

After a while, Liu Xiangyang reached out and pulled her into his arms. Gu Xiaoyu obediently snuggled against him, burying her face in his sweaty shoulder, not daring to move.

Liu Xiangyang's hand gently stroked her smooth, sweaty back, as if to soothe her, or perhaps to mark his ownership.

"From now on, you're mine."

"Mmm." Gu Xiaoyu nodded in his arms, her voice muffled, with a nasal tone from crying, yet unusually clear and firm.

The hectic rush to plant crops that left everyone exhausted was finally over, and the team gave the members three days off to catch their breath and tidy up their homes.

The village suddenly became lively. The men were repairing plows, harrows and hoes with clanging and banging, or working diligently in their small plots of land. The women were even busier, taking apart and washing cotton clothes and quilts that had been piled up all winter and spring and then sweated through the summer, and rummaging through scraps of cloth to make autumn clothes.

On the sunniest day, several ropes were already strung up in Liu Xiangyang's yard.

Under Xue Bingbing's direction, all the bedding and pillows from several rooms were brought out. The cotton wadding was exposed to the sun, and when it was patted, it raised a fine mist of dust, carrying a mixed smell of sunshine and old cotton.

"This quilt needs to be redone; you've all loosened the stitches," Xue Bingbing said with a smile as she unfolded an old quilt.

Everyone else objected. Le Qi and Le Yao exchanged a glance and grabbed Xue Bingbing's hands and feet: "Come here quickly, don't let Bingbing slander us. We went back to Haicheng back then, and you were the only one at home with Xiangyang. You're the one who kicked this quilt loose."

The others quickly gathered around, scratching Xue Bingbing's armpits and lower back to tickle her.

"Hahahaha, I~ I surrender, I admit I kicked it and broke it, please let me go." Xue Bingbing was so ticklish that her whole body went limp against them.

At this moment, Liu Xiangyang heard the commotion and came out from the inner room. Seeing this scene, he smiled and said, "I can testify that it was Bingbing who kicked it and broke it. Her leg was really throbbing back then~ tsk tsk."

After a few more playful squabbles, they finally let go of Xue Bingbing. Her face flushed, she straightened her clothes and said, "Alright, this blanket that everyone kicked in is ruined~"

She quickly changed her mind as soon as she saw them about to surround her again: "Okay, okay, I kicked the blanket and ruined it. Qiqi and Yaoyao, you can wash it and mend it for me."

Leqi nodded and, together with Leyao, picked out the parts that needed major repairs and moved them aside.

Zuo Qingqing was strong and was in charge of fetching water. She carried buckets of well water up and poured them into a large wooden basin. Luo Lan, Xiao Qin, and Jiang Xiaowen rolled up their sleeves and began to wash the thick quilts and sheets. They rubbed soap on them and created rich lather. The air was filled with the fresh scent of soap.

By mid-afternoon, everything that needed washing had been washed and everything that needed drying had been dried. The yard was filled with sheets, blankets, and clothes of all colors, like colorful flags fluttering in the wind.

Xue Bingbing and the others started cutting the fabric again. He Xiaoqin helped by threading the needle and handing over the thread. Jiang Xiaowen followed Luo Lan to learn how to hem. Le Qi and Le Yao drew lines and cut, working together seamlessly. Zuo Qingqing was sent to bring back the fluffy cotton wadding to prepare for refilling.

After watching for a while, Liu Xiangyang went out and headed straight for Gu Xiaoyu's small house.

Gu Xiaoyu had just finished washing and hanging up her meager belongings—a thin quilt and two sets of old clothes—when she saw Liu Xiangyang arrive. Gu Xiaoyu's face was still flushed from the exertion, and her fingers were a little white from being soaked in water. She wiped her hands somewhat awkwardly and said, "Brother Xiangyang."

"Hmm." Liu Xiangyang put down the wood and glanced at the creaking old wooden bed in the room. The bed legs were a bit crooked and there were several obvious dents in the middle of the bed board.

That was because of the disturbance that night. The bed board made a cracking sound and almost collapsed. Gu Xiaoyu felt a tremor in his heart and his whole body shook. He felt a savage sense of conquest pierce through his head.

"This bed is no good, let me reinforce it for you." Liu Xiangyang said, squatting down and starting to work with the wood and tools.

Gu Xiaoyu's face flushed instantly, and she stammered, unsure of what to say, so she hurriedly went to pour him some water.

Liu Xiangyang worked quickly and efficiently. Using the tools and wood he brought, he added sturdy support legs to the old bed and replaced the broken bed board in the middle.

Throughout the entire process, Gu Xiaoyu watched from the side, handing him a nail, supporting the wood, and watching his focused profile and strong arm movements. Her heart swelled with a bittersweet feeling.

The bed was ready. Liu Xiangyang tested it and found it was very sturdy and wouldn't budge. He clapped his hands and took some things out of the cloth bag.