Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

Liu Xiangyang came to the courtyard, picked up his boxing routine which he hadn't practiced in a long time, and practiced it once. He stopped after breaking out in a light sweat. His muscles and bones were relaxed, and a layer of fine beads of sweat glistened slightly in the morning light. Just as he let out a long breath, he saw Xue Bingbing leading Le Qi and Le Yao out of the house.

Leqi was already holding a glass of perfectly cooled warm water. She quickly walked a few steps and handed it to him: "Brother, have some water first, and cool down your sweat." Her voice was clear and crisp, and her eyes held the usual calmness and concern.

Liu Xiangyang took the glass, drank it all in one gulp, handed the empty glass back to her, and then, holding her hand, laughed, "My darling Qiqi still cares about me the most."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Le Yao let out a drawn-out "humph," took Xue Bingbing's arm, and turned her face toward Liu Xiangyang, pouting slightly: "Bingbing, listen to this! We're not cooking today, let his 'baby' cook for him! Let's see what he does then!"

Xue Bingbing, with Le Yao holding her arm, wore a gentle yet knowing smile. Her gaze swept over Liu Xiangyang and then landed on Le Qi, who was holding an empty cup and whose ears were slightly red. Only then did she slowly speak, her tone full of teasing.

"Yaoyao is right, Qiqi, did you hear that? Xiangyang calls me 'baby' so sweetly, it makes us all jealous. This morning, it was 'baby' who should have prepared the meal. We just had to wait to eat what was served." As she spoke, she gently patted Leyao's hand, her eyes brimming with undisguised joy.

Leqi's cheeks flushed even more from the back-and-forth banter between the two, but she didn't seem annoyed. She just glanced quickly at Liu Xiangyang and saw him looking at her with a smile, his eyes full of teasing and encouragement.

She pursed her lips, revealing a resolute spirit within her. She placed the cup on the windowsill beside her and said in a soft but clear voice, "I'll do it. Brother, what would you like to eat? Order anything, I'll make it for you."

Upon hearing this, Le Yao immediately burst out laughing, shaking Xue Bingbing's arm: "Sister Bingbing, look, someone's already protecting her!"

Xue Bingbing smiled and nodded to Le Qi: "Okay, then our Qi Qi will have to work hard this morning. Xiang Yang, you can just wait to enjoy your 'baby's' blessings."

"Then I can't let you bully my precious Qiqi." He replied with a smile, took the handkerchief Xue Bingbing handed him, shook it at her, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Yaoyao, now that my precious Bingbing has betrayed us, are you prepared to fight alone, or do you have other plans?"

Le Yao's eyes darted around, she let go of Xue Bingbing's arm, hopped over to Liu Xiangyang, grabbed one of his arms and shook it gently, her voice sweet and soft: "Hmph, then I'll betray you too, brother, you be the judge, you were the one who showed favoritism first, only calling my sister 'baby'! What about me? What about Sister Bingbing? Aren't we 'baby' too?" She tilted her head up, her eyes gleaming with cunning, clearly using her coquettishness to push this morning's joke to an even more lively level.

Liu Xiangyang let Le Yao swing her arm, feeling the girl's sweet and innocent affection, and the comfort he felt after his morning exercise turned into a softer warmth.

He reached out his other hand and ruffled Le Yao's hair, then looked up at Xue Bingbing, his tone filled with indulgence and undisguised intimacy: "They're all my darlings, all my darlings. Qi Qi is my darling, Yao Yao is my darling, Bingbing..." He paused, his gaze meeting Xue Bingbing's gentle, smiling eyes, "and of course, she's my precious darling too."

At this moment, Xue Bingbing glanced at her watch and said, "We need to hurry up and cook, or we'll be late for work. Xiangyang, what were you up to last night? Aren't the four of them awake yet?"

"I'll go wake them up and see what kind of mess they've made of," Le Yao said as she ran into the inner room.

"Lan-jie, Xiaoqin, Xiaowen, Qingqing, the sun's already high in the sky, get up!" Le Yao's shout came from the inner room, mixed with the girls' mumbled murmurs, giggles, and complaints that they clearly hadn't had enough sleep, as they were suddenly awakened.

"Sister Lan! Xiao Qin! The sun's already high in the sky! If you don't get up soon, Brother Xiangyang will be here!"

"Hey Yao Yao, don't pull my blanket..."

"Let me sleep for another five minutes..."

"Qingqing, you're pressing down on my hair!"

Soft, sleepy, and affectionate sounds of playful bickering drifted through the curtain.

Hearing the sounds inside, Liu Xiangyang shook his head and smiled, then said to Xue Bingbing, "They're probably really tired. Let them take another five minutes to rest. Keep breakfast simple; there'll be time."

Xue Bingbing glanced at him disapprovingly, her tone gentle yet firm: "Rules are rules, and once they're up, they're up. Besides," she gestured towards the kitchen, "Qiqi has already prepared the dough, just waiting to cook it. If they don't get up, who will clean the table and dishes? We can't let Qiqi do all the work alone."

Just then, Leqi came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of kneaded dough, her hands still covered in flour. She said to Xue Bingbing, "Sister Bingbing, the water is boiling, and the minced meat sauce is simmering by the stove. The noodles can be cooked anytime."

"Did you hear that?" Xue Bingbing looked at Liu Xiangyang, her meaning clear—the reason this family was so well-organized was because everyone had their own responsibilities. She then raised her voice slightly and said calmly towards the inner room, "Everyone, hurry up, we still have to work later."

The laughter and chatter in the inner room immediately subsided, replaced by the slightly hurried rustling of clothes being put on and the low murmurs of urging each other on.

Knowing that Xue Bingbing was good at managing things, Liu Xiangyang said no more. He went to the well, filled a bucket with cool water, and carefully washed his face and neck. The cool well water completely dispelled the last trace of restlessness. He then used the handkerchief that Xue Bingbing had just given him to wipe his face.

At this moment, Le Yao emerged from the inner room first, her hair a little disheveled, a mischievous smile on her face. She leaned close to Liu Xiangyang's ear and whispered, "Brother, it's so funny how Sister Xiaoqin stays in bed, clinging to her pillow and refusing to let go. Sister Lan really knows how to handle this..."

Before she could finish speaking, Roland had already lifted the curtain and come out. His hair was neatly combed and his clothes were appropriate, but there were faint dark circles under his eyes.

She nodded to Xue Bingbing and Liu Xiangyang, then went to the kitchen, took the basin from Le Qi, and began to skillfully pinch off pieces of dough.

He Xiaoqin, Jiang Xiaowen, and Zuo Qingqing also came out one after another, their cheeks still flushed from just waking up. Their eyes were a little evasive, and they were too embarrassed to look at Liu Xiangyang, but they all quickly got to work—tidying up the table in the main room, setting out the bowls and chopsticks, and getting the pickled vegetable dishes.

The tranquility of the courtyard was replaced by orderly busyness. The water in the pot boiled again, and the steam mixed with the salty aroma of fried sauce filled the air.

Liu Xiangyang sat at the table, watching the scene unfold before him. Xue Bingbing was whispering something to Le Qi, who nodded. Le Yao helped set the table, sneaking a small piece of pickled vegetable. Luo Lan focused intently on cooking noodles in the boiling water. He Xiaoqin carefully wiped the water stains off the table. Jiang Xiaowen and Zuo Qingqing carried bowls over one after the other…

"The noodles are here!" Le Yao's cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts. A large bowl of steaming hot, flavorful hand-pulled noodles was placed in front of him, topped with a golden poached egg and sprinkled with finely chopped scallions.

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