Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

Liu Xiangyang didn't say anything, got up and walked towards the bathroom.

He pushed open the bathroom door. It was dark inside. Soon, Leqi followed him in, pulled the light cord, and a dim yellow light spread out, illuminating the pool with blue bricks. There were wooden ladles, soap pods, and clean towels on the edge of the pool.

Leqi tested the water in the pool. It had been warmed by the sun in the afternoon and was a little cool. She picked up the thermos and slowly added hot water, then added some firewood to the bottom of the bath.

Le Yao came in, closed the door behind her, and bolted it. She walked to Liu Xiangyang's side and naturally helped him unbutton his coat.

"My clothes are all covered in dust," she said softly, her fingers deftly unbuttoning each button as she took off her coat and then unbuttoned her shirt underneath.

Liu Xiangyang stood still, letting her do as she pleased. Le Qi mixed the water, stirred it with her hand, tested the temperature, and then came over to help him take off his shirt.

Under the light, the man's young body had strong and smooth lines, his skin was a wheat color from years of labor and training, his shoulders were broad and his waist was narrow, and the outline of his muscles was not exaggerated, but contained a calm sense of power.

Le Yao looked at him, leaned in and kissed him, then squatted down to help him undo his belt.

He took off his pants, folded them neatly, and placed them on a stool to the side. Leqi wrung out a hot towel and came over to wipe his face and neck gently and carefully.

"Let's get in the pool, don't catch a cold," Leqi said.

Liu Xiangyang stepped into the bath. The warm water washed over his calves, waist, and abdomen, reaching his chest. He leaned against the wall and let out a comfortable sigh.

Leqi and Leyao exchanged a glance and began to take off their clothes. Their floral pajamas slipped off, revealing two young and beautiful bodies. Leqi had a slender and well-proportioned figure with fair skin, while Leyao was more voluptuous with a breathtakingly undulating figure. The two of them entered the bathtub one on the left and one on the right.

The water rippled, making the space feel a bit crowded, and people inevitably rubbed against each other.

Le Yao leaned in first, hugging Liu Xiangyang from behind. Her soft body pressed against his back, her hands circled around his armpits, gently stroking his chest. She rested her chin on his shoulder, her breath tickling his ear.

Leqi squatted in the water in front of him, her long hair casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, revealing her smooth neck and shoulders. She scooped up a ladle of water and slowly poured it over his shoulders, then picked up a soap pod, rubbed it in her palm to create foam, and began to wash him.

Her hands were steady, starting with the shoulders and arms, then moving to the chest and abdomen, carefully scrubbing every area. The foam dissolved on the skin, creating a soft, sizzling sound.

Liu Xiangyang closed his eyes, feeling the warm water and the caress of four small hands. His fatigue seemed to be carried away little by little by the water.

Le Yao's hands gradually became restless, circling his chest and slowly sliding down. She whispered in his ear, her voice soft and warm, "Brother... you're leaving tomorrow."

Leqi's washing movements slowed down. She raised her eyes and glanced at Liu Xiangyang. Her eyes were clear, yet they carried a deep-seated attachment. She didn't speak, but lowered her head and continued her work, but her focus began to concentrate.

The sound of water became ambiguous and rhythmic.

Liu Xiangyang's breathing became slightly heavier. He reached out and put one arm around Le Qi's waist in front of him, while using the other hand to grab Le Yao's arm behind him.

Le Yao's kisses became more intense and urgent, her body pressing tightly against his as she writhed.

The bathroom temperature rose, steam filled the air, and the light from the electric lamp shimmered in the steam as a hazy yellow. The sounds were faint and suppressed, mixed with the splashing of water and increasingly heavy breathing.

After an unknown amount of time, Liu Xiangyang let out a low groan and suddenly tightened his arms around Le Qi's waist.

Leqi was pulled forward, her shoulders shrugged slightly, and she coughed softly twice.

Le Yao came up behind him, hugged her sister, and kissed her.

The ripples gradually subsided.

The three of them hugged quietly in the pool for a while, with only their breathing echoing in the small space.

After a while, Leqi straightened up first, wiped herself with the back of her hand, then scooped up some water and rinsed herself and Liu Xiangyang. Leyao also let go of her hand, took the wooden ladle, and helped rinse.

No one spoke, but the unspoken understanding between them was evident in their actions.

After washing up, Liu Xiangyang stepped out of the bath first. Le Qi immediately picked up a dry towel, wrapped it around him, and carefully dried the water droplets off his body. Le Yao also came out of the bath, dried herself off, and then brought him some clean everyday clothes to put on.

After getting dressed and blowing out the oil lamp, the three of them groped their way back to the bedroom in the dark.

The kang (heated brick bed) has been laid out, and the bedding is soft and fluffy.

When they lay down, Leqi slept inside, Leyao outside, and Liu Xiangyang in the middle. The two of them were close to him as before, with Leqi's back against his chest and Leyao curled up facing him.

The bed was warm and cozy, filled with the fresh scent of a recent shower and their faint body fragrance.

Le Yao whispered in the darkness, "Brother, come back soon."

"Mmm," Liu Xiangyang responded, pulling his arms closer to both of them.

Leqi didn't say anything, but just snuggled gently against him, finding a more comfortable position.

Soon, even breathing sounds could be heard.

Liu Xiangyang woke up just as dawn was breaking.

Beside him, Leqi and Leyao had fallen asleep again, their breathing even. Both of them had tear stains at the corners of their eyes. Leyao had one arm draped over his chest, while Leqi was curled up in his arm. He gently moved Leyao's hand away and pulled the arm that Leqi had been using as a pillow out of his head, his movements very light.

The two girls murmured in their sleep. Le Yao turned over, while Le Qi subconsciously shrank further into the still-warm blankets.

Liu Xiangyang got up, put on his clothes, and went into the yard.

The air of early summer morning was cool. He took a deep breath, faced the gradually whitening sky in the east, got into a fighting stance, and performed a set of guiding techniques. His breath flowed smoothly and evenly in his body than usual. When he finished, his whole body was slightly warm, and he was so energetic that he felt as if he could overturn a bull with his bare hands.

He frowned; this feeling was a little too good.

The lights were already on in the main room, and the soft clatter of pots and pans could be heard. Liu Xiangyang went in and saw He Xiaoqin kneading dough by the stove, Jiang Xiaowen chopping pickled vegetables, Zuo Qingqing squatting in front of the stove adding firewood, and Luo Lan wiping the table with a rag.

"Xiangyang, you're awake?" Zuo Qingqing looked up, her face smudged with ash, and grinned. "Bingbing said she's steaming buns today, with meat filling!"

"Okay, then you should eat a few more buns to grow taller." Liu Xiangyang responded and walked to the water vat to scoop water to wash his face.

Zuo Qingqing looked down at herself and muttered, "It still needs to grow."

He Xiaoqin and Jiang Xiaowen, busy with their work, both turned and smiled at him. Luo Lan, having finished wiping the table, came over and took the empty basin from his hands: "Is the water cold? Shall I boil some hot water?"

"No need, just cool water to wake me up." Liu Xiangyang dried his face and neck with a towel.

Xue Bingbing came out of the inner room with a comb in her hand. Her hair was not completely tied up yet. She looked at the progress by the stove and said to He Xiaoqin, "Xiaoqin, put the dough in the steamer when it's almost risen. Xiaowen, mix some sesame oil into the pickled vegetable shreds."

"Okay, Bingbing-jie," the two replied.

Xue Bingbing walked over to Liu Xiangyang and asked in a low voice, "Last night... Qiqi and Yaoyao didn't bother you, did they?"

"No." Liu Xiangyang hung up the towel. "I slept quite well."

Xue Bingbing glanced at him, didn't ask any more questions, and turned to help He Xiaoqin knead the dough.

Breakfast was ready quickly. A steamer of plump pork and cabbage buns, a dish of mustard greens drizzled with sesame oil, and a bowl of golden millet porridge.

Leqi and Leyao also got up, washed up, and sat down. Leyao reached for a steamed bun, took a big bite, and mumbled, "It's so delicious! Xiaoqin's cooking skills are getting better and better."

Leqi first put one on Liu Xiangyang's plate, then one on Xue Bingbing's plate, before taking one for herself.

"Brother, are you going to the brigade headquarters again today?" Leqi asked.

"I need to go out and check things out this morning, and talk to Uncle Zhang about my plans to go into the mountains," Liu Xiangyang said, taking a sip of water. "I don't have much to do this afternoon."

"How much of that notebook have you read?" Xue Bingbing asked, her voice low.

"That's about it," Liu Xiangyang said. "I've memorized the patterns, habits, and harvesting methods."