Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

Liu Xiangyang had just stepped out of his house, intending to visit Dr. Han, and before he even turned onto the path leading to the clinic, he heard someone calling him from behind.

"Xiangyang! Wait!"

He turned around and saw Zhang Tiejun, the village party secretary, walking briskly from the brigade headquarters, holding a brown paper envelope in his hand.

"Uncle Zhang." Liu Xiangyang stopped and waited for Zhang Tiejun to approach.

"I was just about to go to your house to find you," Zhang Tiejun said, catching his breath as he approached and waving the envelope. "We just received a notice from the commune that another batch of educated youth has been assigned to our area. They'll be arriving in Bingcheng by train the day after tomorrow afternoon. The commune specifically requested that you and I go together to pick them up."

Liu Xiangyang took the envelope, pulled out a thin sheet of paper, glanced at it, and saw that it was a notice stamped by the commune's revolutionary committee, containing the number of people to be received, arrival time, and other routine information.

"Same as always, bring them back, arrange accommodations, hold a welcome party, and tell them about the village." Zhang Tiejun took out his pipe, packing tobacco as he spoke. "You're young, you'll be able to connect with them. We'll leave early the day after tomorrow, arrive in Bingcheng by noon, have lunch, and then head to the station. The timing will be perfect."

Liu Xiangyang stuffed the notice back into the envelope, his mind racing. Go to Bingcheng… But he remained outwardly calm and handed the envelope back to Zhang Tiejun: “Okay, Uncle Zhang, I understand.”

Zhang Tiejun nodded, lit a cigarette, took a puff, and casually said, "Sigh, I wonder how many people from our village will be assigned this time... We'll talk about the details when we pick them up."

"Uncle Zhang," he said as if he had suddenly remembered something, "I'd like to go to Bingcheng earlier than planned to pick up the people."

"Hmm?" Zhang Tiejun looked up at him, somewhat puzzled.

"I was thinking of going ahead to see if I could get a feel for this group of new educated youth, and maybe even select a few first," Liu Xiangyang said sincerely, with a good reason. "I can also visit my Uncle Lu while I'm there. I just packed some things, so I'll bring some for him too."

He brought up Lu Dajun and gave the reason that it was an official matter. Zhang Tiejun didn't think much of it and just instructed, "Going early is fine. It would be even better if you could find out about the situation of the new educated youth first. So, where will you stay if you leave tomorrow afternoon? I'll write you a letter of introduction."

"No need to trouble Uncle Zhang, I can just stay at our unit's guesthouse." Liu Xiangyang politely declined the letter of introduction; he was quite comfortable staying in Harbin.

"Alright, make your own arrangements. We'll meet at the train station square at noon the day after tomorrow. Don't be late." After giving his instructions, Zhang Tiejun, with his pipe in his mouth and hands behind his back, headed back to the brigade headquarters.

Liu Xiangyang watched his figure disappear behind the earthen wall, then turned around and changed direction, heading straight for the village primary school.

It was during class time, and the faint sound of Xue Bingbing leading the children in reading the text could be heard from inside, clear and steady.

Liu Xiangyang didn't go in to disturb them. He leaned against the earthen wall outside the classroom, took out a cigarette, lit it, and waited quietly. The sun made him feel lazy, and faint shouts came from the fields in the distance.

The bell for the end of get out of class was a piece of metal that was struck manually. After a few clanging sounds, the classroom door opened, and a group of teenagers rushed out, shouting with joy. Xue Bingbing was the last to come out, carrying her textbook and chalk box. She immediately spotted Liu Xiangyang by the wall.

She paused for a moment, then gave a few instructions to a slightly older girl beside her, told the students to move around freely, and walked over to Liu Xiangyang.

"What brings you here? Is there something you need?" She approached and asked in a low voice, her gaze sweeping over his empty hands.

"Nothing much, Uncle Zhang just called me." Liu Xiangyang said succinctly, putting out his cigarette. "The commune notified us that new educated youth will be arriving in Bingcheng the day after tomorrow, and they specifically asked me to go with him to pick them up."

Xue Bingbing nodded. Receiving educated youth was a common occurrence and not unexpected.

"I've already told Uncle Zhang, I'll head over there first," Liu Xiangyang continued, lowering his voice even further. "I'll go to the county town first and bring some of the meat we hunted back for Uncle Lu."

Xue Bingbing looked up at him: "Should we go see Uncle Lu? Should we bring anything with us?"

"No need to bring anything special, just bring some meat you've prepared yourself," Liu Xiangyang said. "This is just between the two of us. Just tell Qiqi tonight, and don't mention it to anyone else. Just tell everyone that I'm going to handle the paperwork and see Uncle Lu in advance."

"I understand," Xue Bingbing replied readily, then asked, "When are you planning to leave? I'll pack some things for you to take on the road."

"I'll leave this afternoon. Just pack a few things; I'll have everything I need when I get to Harbin," Liu Xiangyang said, glancing at the sky. "I'll go visit Grandpa Han and tell him I'm leaving. You take care of things at home. As for the new educated youth coming, let everyone know at dinner tonight so they're all prepared."

"Okay, don't worry about going." Xue Bingbing paused, then added, "When you see Sister Chen, please give her your regards. If she has time... we'd love for her to come visit us sometime."

This was a tactful and considerate statement that both expressed acceptance and handed over the initiative entirely to Chen Jie and Liu Xiangyang.

"I'll pass on the message." Liu Xiangyang nodded, glanced at her again, and said, "I'm leaving."

"Take care on the way." Xue Bingbing watched him turn and leave. Only when his figure disappeared around the corner of the path leading to the clinic did she take a deep breath, gather up the many thoughts that had been swirling in her mind, and return to her usual gentle and calm demeanor before turning and walking back to the classroom.

The bell for the next class is about to ring.

This time, Liu Xiangyang was not delayed and quickly arrived at the clinic at the east end of the village. The mud-brick house was quiet, and the door was half open.

He knocked on the door, and Dr. Han's clear voice, though weak, came from inside: "Come in."

Pushing open the door, a faint scent of herbs filled the room. Han Li was sitting at an old table by the window, flipping through a yellowed thread-bound book in the light from the window. Notes were also spread out beside him. He was wearing a faded but clean Zhongshan suit, his hair was neatly combed, and his face was a little pale, but he seemed to be in good spirits. He looked up when he heard the noise.

"Master," Liu Xiangyang called out, placing his satchel on the bench beside him. "I brought you something."

Dr. Han put down his book, glanced at his bag, and then looked at Liu Xiangyang's face: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Please sit down." He spoke in a calm tone and pointed to the chair opposite him.

Liu Xiangyang sat down and stated his purpose directly: "The commune has assigned me a task to go to Bingcheng to pick up the newly arrived educated youth. I have to leave this afternoon, so I came to let you know that I won't be able to come and pay my respects to you for the next two days."

"Yes, business comes first." Dr. Han nodded, a look of reminiscence on his face. "Ice City... it's a good place, but it's crowded and complicated. When you're out there, be careful with your words and actions, and take good care of yourself."

"I've got it, Master," Liu Xiangyang replied.

Dr. Han hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he only said, "When you're dealing with people, just follow the rules. If you have some free time... you can also keep an eye on the prices at the medicinal herb shops in the city. If you find any good quality old ginseng or astragalus, and the price is right, you might as well bring some back. My stock here is not quite enough."

"Okay, I'll go take a look then." Liu Xiangyang understood what his master meant and nodded in acknowledgment.

The two chatted for a while about village gossip and the recent weather. Dr. Han asked Liu Xiangyang if he had any questions about his training. The atmosphere was as ordinary as any routine meeting between master and disciple.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Liu Xiangyang saw that Han Li looked tired, so he got up to say goodbye: "Master, please rest. I will come back to see you in a couple of days."

"Go ahead." Dr. Han waved his hand and picked up the book on the table again.

Liu Xiangyang took out the malted milk powder and white sugar and placed them in a conspicuous place on the table. He then went to the small kitchen to put the eggs away before leaving the clinic.