Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

The sun was high in the sky, its rays turning the dirt road white as he returned home.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and Le Yao's chattering voice could be heard from the kitchen even across the yard: "Sis! Did you put too much salt in? It's so salty!"

"You tasted it before it was even cooked; no wonder it's so salty."

"Hehe, let me adjust the flavor for you."

Liu Xiangyang pushed open the door and entered. Le Yao immediately dropped the spatula she was holding and ran over, looking up at him: "Brother! Why are you back so late today? We're all starving!"

Liu Xiangyang reached out and ruffled her hair. "I just went to talk to Uncle Zhang and the others about something, so I was delayed for a while."

Le Yao didn't press him for details, but instead cheerfully pulled him to wash his hands, chattering on about the gossip she'd heard that day—whose cow had given birth, who had argued with someone on their private plot, and who praised Sister Roland for being the fairest in recording work points.

Leqi was busy at the stove, her profile outlined softly by the oil lamp. Hearing the noise, she turned around and glanced at him, saying, "You're back. Hurry up and wash up, we're going to eat." After saying that, she scooped the stir-fried dishes from the pot onto plates.

Liu Xiangyang washed his face and dried his hands in the basin of water that Le Yao brought him, then walked to the stove.

Leqi handed him the plate: "Take it to the table."

Liu Xiangyang took the plate, brought it to his nose, and smelled it, saying, "My Qiqi's cooking skills are getting better and better. Look at this dish, it smells amazing."

Leqi smiled and turned to continue cooking the next dish.

Just then, Roland walked in and overheard Liu Xiangyang's words. He interjected, "In our family, you're the best at flattery. You've flattered us all to the point of us getting on your bed."

Liu Xiangyang replied, "I wasn't flattering you; on the contrary, you were flattering me, even in my office..."

"Don't say it!" Roland heard his words and quickly ran over to cover his mouth to stop him from continuing.

Seeing his smug expression, she quickly raised her hands in surrender, "Okay, okay, I was just flattering you, alright? You're such a jerk."

"Lanlan, you're wronging me. Ask your other sisters, who doesn't envy your unique..."

"Eat your meat." Roland pinched a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, silencing him from saying anything more.

Dinner was served, and the women returned one after another.

After the meal, everyone cleaned up the dishes and went to take a nap, otherwise they wouldn't have any energy in the afternoon.

Liu Xiangyang lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) pondering who should replace Dr. Han in his position, noting that Wang Lixin seemed to want his son to take the role.

That's good too. When the time comes, I won't have to consider him when writing down the positions of the patrol officers. I can just let Uncle Zhang decide. It's a way of repaying him for taking care of me.

The next morning, amidst Le Qi and Le Yao's coughing, Liu Xiangyang poured two glasses of water and said awkwardly with a smile, "Qi Qi and Yao Yao, I'm sorry, I just choked and made you cough. Have some water to calm down."

Le Yao wiped away the tears that had welled up from choking, and snorted, "Brother, I think you're doing this on purpose. When have you ever actually gone astray?"

"Hmph, I think you're just being biased. You not only sided with her, but you also gave her all the credit. I think my sister is already full and doesn't need to eat breakfast."

"Yaoyao, you're just being sarcastic. Xiangyang, next time I'll give it all to her and let her die a gluttonous death," Leqi said quickly after taking a sip of water to calm herself down.

After everyone finished breakfast, the work bell rang, and the sun finally rose.

Everyone walked together to the village office, waiting to be assigned a day's work.

After Wang Lixin arranged the work for each group, Liu Xiangyang was pulled into the village office by Zhang Tiejun.

"Xiangyang, this is the list we've agreed on. Take a look." Zhang Tiejun handed him a slip of paper.

Looking at the names on the slip of paper, Liu Xiangyang saw two or three people from each of the three surnames in the village. Wang Lixin's son, Wang Aimin, was prominently listed. What surprised him most was that Li Kaixuan's name was also on it.

He pointed to Li Kaixuan's name and asked, "Who wrote down his name? Is he cured?"

"Hey, Lao Li reported this himself." Zhang Tiejun glanced at the door and lowered his voice, saying, "I heard he wants Xiaoyu to divorce Kaixuan and find him another wife."

"Didn't the doctor say he's no longer capable? Wouldn't it be a disaster for him to remarry?" Liu Xiangyang asked in a low voice.

"I don't know. From what Old Li said, he found a folk remedy, and it seems that Kaixuan is cured. I don't know if it's true or not."

"Show the list to Dr. Han first. If he agrees, we'll finalize the selections this afternoon," Zhang Tiejun said, taking a drag of his cigarette and pointing to the slip of paper.

"Okay, Uncle Zhang, let me show the list to my master first." Liu Xiangyang folded the paper and put it in his pocket.

"Uncle Zhang, have you discussed it with Captain Wang?" He pointed to himself and asked.

"Yeah, you probably heard it yesterday too. Old Wang is so eager to have a grandson, he couldn't wait, so he just let me have him."

"Let me give you a heads-up, it should be around the end of next year at the earliest."

"Really? Did your family manage to get you a job quota?" Zhang Tiejun was so surprised when he heard Liu Xiangyang's words that he stood up.

"Yeah, more or less, that's what my family said in their letter." Liu Xiangyang made up an excuse to get by.

Seeing Zhang Tiejun pacing around, Liu Xiangyang called out, "Uncle, I'll go to the clinic first. I'll come back later. Remember to keep it a secret."

"Okay, go ahead, go ahead, I know." Liu Xiangyang left the village office and went straight to the clinic.

The room was dimly lit. Dr. Han was still half-leaning against the headboard in the same position, his eyelids drooping, and he didn't open them even when he heard the noise.

"Master." Liu Xiangyang sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), took the list out of his pocket, unfolded it, and read it to him:

"Zhang Weidong, the eldest son of Uncle Zhang's cousin."

"Wang Aimin, the eldest son of Wang Lixin."

"Li Kaixuan, the only son of Li Fugui."

After reading it aloud, he placed the list next to Dr. Han.

Dr. Han didn't move.

After a long time, he opened his eyes, his cloudy eyes slowly turning to the paper, and then to Liu Xiangyang.

"I can't watch it," he said.

The voice was very soft, as if it were scraped from deep in the throat.

"I can recognize the words on the paper," Dr. Han paused, "but I can't tell who's who, which is suitable and which isn't."

Liu Xiangyang remained silent.

Dr. Han pushed the list toward him.

"Take this to Zhang Tiejun," he said. "Just tell him I'm old and blind, and I can't make the decision. Let him find the whole village to make it."

Liu Xiangyang looked at the paper that had been pushed back at him, but didn't take it immediately.

"Master, this is your post, this is your skill..."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Dr. Han's expression turned serious. "Xiangyang, this is a job the country gave me to make a living. Don't talk nonsense, or the walls may have ears."

"Besides skill, you're my only apprentice..."

He looked at Liu Xiangyang but didn't continue.

Liu Xiangyang folded the list and put it in his pocket.

"I'll go tell Uncle Zhang."

Dr. Han didn't respond, closed her eyes, and her breathing became shallow and slow again.

When Liu Xiangyang returned to the village office, Zhang Tiejun was preparing to lock the door and leave work.

"How's it going? Has Dr. Han made a decision?" Zhang Tiejun saw him and took the keys back.

Liu Xiangyang shook his head: "My master said he's too old, his eyesight is failing, and he can't make a decision."

Zhang Tiejun was stunned; the tobacco pipe was hanging in mid-air.

"Then this..."

"He let the village decide," Liu Xiangyang said. "He let everyone decide together."

Zhang Tiejun was silent for a few seconds, then tapped his pipe on the edge of the table, sending sparks falling.

"...Alright then." He said in a low voice, "If he decides, some people will object; if everyone in the village decides together, no one can say anything."

He stood up, walked to the door, and looked at the setting sun outside.

"Then let's do this," Zhang Tiejun turned around, "after everyone gets off work tonight, let's have a meeting at the village office entrance, and everyone can vote together."

Liu Xiangyang nodded.

"I'll go tell Lixin," Zhang Tiejun said, turning to leave. He took a couple of steps, then stopped, glancing back at Liu Xiangyang. "You should also tell your master to at least come over."

"He's in charge of the clinic, so he has to," Zhang Tiejun said. "Even if he doesn't say anything, just sitting there makes it seem more legitimate."