Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

He walked into the courtyard, looked at the earthen wall that was more than two meters high, and with almost no running start, he pushed off with his feet and his body rose up with extraordinary lightness. He placed his palm on the top of the wall and silently flipped over, landing in the neighboring courtyard.

He was naked, and the night breeze brushed against his burning skin, bringing a chill, but it only fueled his restlessness. He pushed open the door to Xue Bingbing and Luo Lan's room.

Xue Bingbing, a light sleeper, woke up immediately. By the moonlight streaming through the window, she saw a naked figure burst in. She nearly screamed in fright, but upon recognizing Liu Xiangyang, she clutched her chest and whispered, both shocked and angry, "Xiangyang! You...you're crazy? How did you climb over the wall? And why aren't you dressed...?"

Roland was also startled awake and sat up groggily.

Liu Xiangyang didn't say anything, but went straight onto the kang (a heated brick bed), still steaming with heat.

Xue Bingbing initially wanted to say something to him, but she was quickly softened by his unusually passionate and urgent actions and his unusual silence. She vaguely sensed that something was wrong with him, so she stopped talking.

As dawn approached, the surging excitement and restlessness within Liu Xiangyang gradually subsided, like the receding tide.

He let out a long breath, and the pounding of his heart finally calmed down.

A deep sense of satisfaction, a feeling of complete control, replaced it, accompanied by profound exhaustion.

The moonlight streamed quietly in through the window, and only the steady, long breaths remained in the room.

Liu Xiangyang closed his eyes, feeling the new power surging through his body, which he had become familiar with and tamed, and the clear map in his spiritual world that had doubled in size.

All the sense of unreality and restlessness settles down in this moment of tenderness and tranquility.

He tightened his arms, holding on more securely, and finally let himself drift into a peaceful sleep.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the sound of light footsteps and hushed voices could be heard outside the courtyard.

"Squeak—" The courtyard gate was gently pushed open, and He Xiaoqin, Jiang Xiaowen, and Zuo Qingqing, carrying small baskets, tiptoed in and began to cook.

Zuo Qingqing, the most lively of them all, peeked into the inner room, muttering under her breath, "Huh? Is Brother Xiangyang up so early?"

He Xiaoqin also peeked over and saw that Leqi and Leyao were fast asleep on the kang in the inner room, their cheeks rosy. There was no sign of Liu Xiangyang in the room.

Jiang Xiaowen whispered, "Perhaps... they got up early?"

"Why are you up so early?" Zuo Qingqing scratched her head. The three of them were exchanging puzzled glances when they heard a noise coming from the courtyard gate.

Liu Xiangyang walked out of the woodshed door leading to Xue Bingbing's courtyard. He was dressed neatly, but his hair was still damp, as if he had just wiped his face with cold water.

He looked refreshed, his eyes seemed brighter than usual, and his steps were steady and powerful.

"Brother!" Zuo Qingqing was the first to notice, her eyes lighting up as she rushed over. "You're up so early? We thought..."

He Xiaoqin and Jiang Xiaowen quickly went over. He Xiaoqin asked softly, "Brother Xiangyang, are you alright?" Jiang Xiaowen looked at his face.

"It's nothing, I woke up early and went to check on Bingbing." Liu Xiangyang's tone was calm, with a refreshing smile on his face. He reached out and ruffled the hair of Zuo Qingqing, who was closest to him. "Is it your turn to cook today?"

"You messed up my braided hair again after I just finished!" Zuo Qingqing wrinkled her nose, but then grabbed his arm and shook it. "We'll make it right away, brother, what do you want to eat?"

"Just make something simple," Liu Xiangyang said, looking at He Xiaoqin and Jiang Xiaowen, "Did you sleep well last night?"

Both of them nodded. He Xiaoqin blushed slightly, while Jiang Xiaowen said happily, "She slept very well, except that Qingqing kicked off the covers last night."

"Oh dear, the blanket just fell off by itself, I didn't kick it off."

After a brief moment of intimacy and greetings, the three women quickly disappeared into the kitchen to get to work.

Liu Xiangyang didn't sit idle either; he picked up a broom and swept the yard inside and outside.

Breakfast was quickly prepared: golden-brown flatbread made from a mixture of wheat and vegetables, a large plate of scrambled eggs with scallions, a dish of pickled cucumbers, and a pot of thick millet porridge, the aroma filling the courtyard.

He Xiaoqin went to Xue Bingbing's courtyard to wake up Xue Bingbing and Luo Lan, while Zuo Qingqing and Jiang Xiaowen shook Le Qi and Le Yao, who were sleeping soundly in the inner room, awake.

"Hmm... Is it dawn?" Le Yao rubbed her eyes, still half asleep, while Le Qi quickly woke up. Seeing Liu Xiangyang already sitting at the table, she smiled and called out sweetly.

"elder brother."

Liu Xiangyang touched her rosy cheeks. "You've worked hard. Get up, it's time to eat. You have to go to work later."

The family sat together for a meal. There wasn't much talking at the table, but the atmosphere was warm and cozy.

Liu Xiangyang ate with great relish. He could feel that after last night's deep sleep and enhancement, his body's need for energy seemed to be even stronger.

After finishing their meal, the women quickly and efficiently cleared away the dishes and left the courtyard together, heading to their respective posts.

After watching them leave, Liu Xiangyang leisurely locked the courtyard gate and walked towards the home of Zhang Tiejun, the village party secretary.

Zhang Tiejun had just squatted by the door, puffing on his pipe, when he saw Liu Xiangyang approaching. He patted his pants and stood up: "Xiangyang, so early? Something up?"

"Uncle Zhang," Liu Xiangyang approached and lowered his voice, "I have something to tell you. My master, Dr. Han, is not doing well and it's probably within the next few days."

"With him gone, the clinic will be vacant. You need to keep that in mind and see if there's a suitable and reliable person who can fill the position. At least they need to know some herbs and be a reliable person."

Zhang Tiejun stopped smoking, his expression turned serious, and he squinted at Liu Xiangyang, instantly understanding what Liu Xiangyang meant.

"Hmm...this is a big deal." Zhang Tiejun pondered, tapping his pipe. "He needs to know herbs, and the person needs to be reliable. Do you have someone in mind?"

Liu Xiangyang looked at Zhang Weiguo, who was eating his rice, and said, "My brother is pretty good. He only has a junior high school diploma, but he's smart. He picked it up quickly with just a little guidance from my master."

"Him? No, he's still a young boy. He's not calm enough to do this kind of medical work. Let's wait a bit longer," Zhang Tiejun said, shaking his head in refusal.

Liu Xiangyang understood what he meant. "Then how about we send Captain Wang's son?" Liu Xiangyang suggested another candidate.

Zhang Tiejun thought for a moment and said, "Hmm, that kid from Lixin's family is alright, but we should ask him what he thinks. I bet he's waiting for your position."

"Uncle Zhang, why don't you discuss it with Captain Wang? I'll mention it to my master and have him make the selection?"

"Okay, I'll mention it to Lao Wang later, and ask him to select a few more people from the village so that Dr. Han can make the selections," Zhang Tiejun replied after thinking for a moment.

"Okay, Uncle Zhang, I understand. I'll go see my master first."

"Go."

Liu Xiangyang left Zhang Tiejun's house and headed towards the clinic.