Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

He Xiaoqin handed over a small cloth bag in a soft voice: "Brother, this is some pickled vegetables I made myself. Take it with you; you can eat it with steamed buns when you get to Harbin..."

Liu Xiangyang took it and casually pinched her cheek.

He Xiaoqin blushed and lowered her head to hide behind Jiang Xiaowen.

Leqi walked over, holding a small cloth bag, and stuffed it into Liu Xiangyang's arms.

"What?" Liu Xiangyang looked down.

Leqi looked up at him, her eyes slightly red: "Insoles, the thick kind, they're more comfortable to wear."

Liu Xiangyang looked at her, brushed the hair that was falling across her forehead behind her ear, and casually touched her earlobe.

Leqi blushed at his words and turned to leave, but Liu Xiangyang grabbed her arm.

He lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

"Wait for me to come back."

Leqi gave a soft "Mmm".

Xue Bingbing tied up the last bundle, clapped her hands, and walked over.

"Everything's ready." She looked at Liu Xiangyang. "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

Liu Xiangyang looked around; all seven women were staring at him.

"Family matters," he said, "are managed by Bingbing."

Xue Bingbing nodded.

"Qiqi will assist her."

Leqi nodded as well.

"If there's anything that can't be resolved," Liu Xiangyang paused, "go find Uncle Zhang, don't try to tough it out on your own."

Roland chimed in from the side, "I understand, don't worry."

Liu Xiangyang took out a wad of cash from his pocket and stuffed it into Xue Bingbing's hand.

Xue Bingbing looked down and froze.

"There's still quite a bit left from what we received last time."

Liu Xiangyang said, "That was given to you last time. This is for your emergency use."

He paused for a moment: "Your monthly allowance will be paid as usual. Spend it if you need to, don't be stingy, but don't show off either."

Xue Bingbing clutched the stack of money, her fingers tightening slightly.

"You... three hundred is too much."

Liu Xiangyang glanced at her.

"Don't worry about anything, just in case there's an emergency, don't be caught off guard."

Xue Bingbing opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.

Liu Xiangyang reached out and pulled her closer to him.

"I'm leaving. You're in charge at home, so don't make yourself suffer."

Xue Bingbing opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.

Xue Bingbing buried her face in his chest and mumbled an "Mmm".

Le Yao whispered to herself, "Brother, when are you coming back...?"

Liu Xiangyang released Xue Bingbing and reached out to ruffle Le Yao's hair.

I'll come back to see you when I have time.

"That will take so long..."

"How would I know? Anyway, I'll come back to see you whenever I have free time, okay? I'm still thinking about your big steamed buns."

Le Yao blushed and pinched him without saying a word.

Liu Xiangyang lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

"Write letters, twice a week."

Le Yao smiled and gave a soft "Mmm".

The sun rose higher.

Liu Xiangyang pushed his bicycle to the gate of the courtyard and looked back.

Seven women stood in the courtyard, all looking at him.

Xue Bingbing stood at the front, still clutching the stack of money in her hand.

Le Yao and Zuo Qingqing squeezed on either side of her, their eyes red-rimmed.

Jiang Xiaowen waved vigorously, while He Xiaoqin whispered beside her, "Be careful on the road."

Leqi stood at the back of the crowd, watching him quietly. Roland leaned against the door frame, the corners of his mouth turned up, but his eyes were a little red.

Liu Xiangyang looked at them and smiled.

"It's not like I'm not coming back, don't be so down. I'll come back whenever I have time."

Liu Xiangyang went to the village office to say hello to Zhang Tiejun, and then rode his bicycle out of the village.

After riding for more than a mile, he turned into a small grove of trees. Just as he was about to get off his bike and switch to a motorcycle, he caught a glimpse of a figure waving at him from the corner of his eye.

Upon closer inspection, it was Gu Xiaoyu.

Liu Xiangyang braced himself with his foot and stopped the car.

Gu Xiaoyu jogged over, clutching a cloth bag in her hand. When she reached him, her face was slightly flushed, she was panting, and her eyes were sparkling as she looked at him.

"You... what are you doing here?" Liu Xiangyang looked around.

Gu Xiaoyu shoved the cloth bag into his hand and said in a low voice, "I knew you were leaving today, so I've been waiting here. I made you a pair of shoes; take them with you."

Liu Xiangyang bent down and opened the cloth bag. Inside was a pair of black cloth shoes with fine stitches and tightly sewn soles.

He looked up at her.

Gu Xiaoyu felt uncomfortable under his gaze, lowered her eyes, and her ears turned red: "I don't know if they'll fit... You should try them on."

Before trying on the shoes, Liu Xiangyang reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Gu Xiaoyu let out a soft "Ah," her body stiffened for a moment, then went limp, burying her face in his chest, feeling muffled.

Liu Xiangyang lowered his head, cupped her face, and touched her forehead.

Gu Xiaoyu closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, letting him kiss her.

He touched her forehead, eyes, nose, and finally her lips, until she could barely breathe before Liu Xiangyang stopped.

After the kiss, Liu Xiangyang took out ten yuan and a few grain coupons from his pocket and stuffed them into her hand.

Gu Xiaoyu was stunned. She looked down at the money, then looked up at him, her eyes a little red: "I don't want it..."

"Take it." Liu Xiangyang didn't let her finish speaking. "Be good, you'll get it every month from now on."

Gu Xiaoyu clutched the few sheets of paper, her fingers tightening slightly, her lips pursed, and she remained silent.

Liu Xiangyang touched the corner of her mouth again.

"Go back now, and don't let anyone see you. I'll come see you again when I return."

Gu Xiaoyu nodded, carefully tucked the money into her pocket, gave him a deep look, turned and ran off into the woods.

After watching her figure disappear, Liu Xiangyang put away his bicycle, released his motorcycle, and set off.

The motorcycle traveled along, stopping and starting, going for a while and riding for a while, as the sun slowly slid from overhead to the west.

As they approached the border of Harbin, Liu Xiangyang turned into a small grove of trees by the roadside, stored his motorcycle in his storage space, and pushed out his old-fashioned bicycle, riding leisurely towards the city.

He parked his car in front of the railway police station, leaned against the wall, and lit a cigarette.

The bell rang, and people started coming out one after another.

Chen Jie walked out carrying a briefcase, wearing a navy blue uniform, her hair neatly tied up, and her face showing the fatigue of getting off work.

She looked up and saw Liu Xiangyang, and paused in her tracks.

She recovered quickly, exchanged a few words with her colleague, and then walked over.

She wore a polite smile and spoke in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the person next to her to hear: "Xiangyang, you're here. How's everything at home?"

Liu Xiangyang stubbed out his cigarette and smiled, "Things are fine at home. I just got some mountain produce, and since I'm in Harbin, I asked me to bring it over for you."

A few colleagues glanced at it, nodded, and went their separate ways.

After everyone had gone, Chen Jie lowered her voice, and a barely suppressed smile finally appeared in the corners of her eyes and brows:

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

Liu Xiangyang looked at her.

"I just wanted to surprise you, why would I?"

Chen Jie gently pushed him, her voice soft: "You rascal, let's go home."

She hung her briefcase on the handlebars and pushed the bike forward.

Liu Xiangyang followed beside her, the two bicycles one after the other, turning into the alley.

Dusk slowly descended.

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Wishing all readers a prosperous Year of the Horse, with wealth and good fortune, and may all singles find their perfect match, while those already in relationships enjoy a happy and loving family life filled with children and grandchildren.