Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

"Yes, I heard they're showing 'Spring Seedlings' at the cinema, it's really good." Zhao Xiaoman blinked. "Want to go together?"

Liu Xiangyang took the notebook out and put it in his bag.

"My relative told me that I must go to her house during the holidays so she can improve my meals. The cafeteria can fill you up, but the taste is really hard to describe."

Zhao Xiaoman paused, her smile fading slightly. "Going back to your relatives' house? You have relatives in Harbin?"

"Yes, I do, very close relatives."

"Okay then, how about next week?" She leaned closer. "Next week is fine, right?"

Liu Xiangyang looked her up and down.

Zhao Xiaoman changed into a light green jacket today, and her hair was still clipped with that little red hair clip. Her eyes were bright and sparkling, with a hint of expectation and a "I'm not done with you if you don't agree" attitude.

Liu Xiangyang suddenly laughed.

"You really want to take me to the movies?"

Zhao Xiaoman blushed slightly, but instead of flinching, she straightened her chest.

"What, it's not working?"

"Okay." Liu Xiangyang slung his bag over his shoulder. "Next week, I'll treat you then."

Zhao Xiaoman's eyes lit up immediately: "Really?"

"real."

"It's a deal then!" Zhao Xiaoman held out her hand. "Pinky promise."

Liu Xiangyang stared at her outstretched little finger, paused for a moment, and then smiled.

"How old are you to still be making pinky promises?"

"To pull or not?"

Liu Xiangyang reached out and tugged at her hand.

Zhao Xiaoman was satisfied, withdrew her hand, and smiled so wide her teeth were showing.

Wang Dazhu peeked over from the side and asked, "What are you two whispering about?"

Zhao Xiaoman glanced at him: "None of your business."

Wang Dazhu choked for a moment and looked at Liu Xiangyang.

Liu Xiangyang patted him on the shoulder: "Come on, let's go eat."

The three people walked outside.

There were quite a few people in the corridor; some were heading towards the cafeteria, while others were walking out.

Liu Xiangyang took a few steps and was about to say goodbye when Zhao Xiaoman tugged at his sleeve.

He looked down at her, and Zhao Xiaoman leaned closer, lowering her voice:

"Liu Xiangyang! How old is your relative? Is it a boy or a girl?" Zhao Xiaoman blinked, her face full of anticipation.

Liu Xiangyang didn't answer, but instead asked her, "Are you checking my household registration? Guess for yourself."

Zhao Xiaoman pouted: "I'm not going to guess. Anyway, you have to treat me to a movie next week."

"I can't forget it."

Zhao Xiaoman was satisfied. She loosened his sleeve and walked forward with light steps.

She took two steps, then turned back and waved to him:

"Spend quality time with your relatives tomorrow, see you next week!"

Liu Xiangyang smiled as he watched her skipping away.

Wang Dazhu muttered from the side, "When did you two become so close?"

Liu Xiangyang glanced at him: "Even eating can't shut you up."

"I haven't eaten yet!"

"Then hurry up and go, I'm leaving." After saying that, Liu Xiangyang parted ways with Wang Dazhu and walked towards the hospital's bicycle shed.

When I got to the bicycle shed, I ran into Sun Famiao, who was also there to pick up his bike.

"Hello Dr. Sun, are you going home after get off work?" Liu Xiangyang quickly stepped forward to greet him.

Sun Famiao turned around, saw it was him, and nodded.

How's this week going?

Liu Xiangyang thought for a moment and said, "It was quite fulfilling. I learned a lot from you."

"Nonsense, what are you doing here if you're not going to learn anything?" Sun Famiao chuckled, propped up the bicycle, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and offered one to Liu Xiangyang.

Liu Xiangyang quickly took it and lit a match for Sun Famiao.

Sun Famiao took a sip and slowly exhaled.

"How long did your master, Han Jishi, teach you?"

"I've only been learning from my master for less than half a year."

"To be able to teach you to this extent in less than half a year," Sun Famiao looked at him, "he's really put in a lot of effort."

Sun Famiao took another puff of his cigarette and suddenly laughed.

"When I lecture, some people are completely confused, and others take notes but forget them as soon as they're done. You're different."

He pointed at Liu Xiangyang with the hand holding the cigarette, "You were alive when you listened; your eyes moved."

Liu Xiangyang was stunned for a moment.

Sun Famiao continued, "I'll explain the acupoints once and you'll remember them; I'll explain the prescriptions once and you'll understand them. This isn't something you can do just by memorizing. Do you know what this is called?"

Liu Xiangyang shook his head.

"It's called spirituality." Sun Famiao crushed his cigarette butt on the sole of his shoe. "Some people study it their whole lives and still can't learn it."

He threw his cigarette butt into the nearby trash can and clapped his hands.

"Study hard. Don't embarrass me."

After saying that, he got on his bicycle, pedaled twice, and rode away.

Liu Xiangyang watched his figure disappear into the crowd, then took his bicycle and rode out of the hospital.

It was almost dark when Liu Xiangyang rode his bike into the alley.

The gate to Chen Jie's courtyard was ajar, and warm yellow light shone from inside.

He parked the car, pushed open the door, and went inside. A delicious aroma of food wafted out.

In the kitchen, Chen Jie was standing in front of the stove with her back to him, the food in the pot sizzling.

Hearing the noise, she turned around and her eyes lit up.

"You're back?"

Liu Xiangyang put down his bag, walked over, and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

Chen Jie was still holding a spatula when he hugged her, and then she softened and leaned against him.

"I've been waiting for you for so long," she said softly.

Liu Xiangyang leaned close to her neck and took a deep breath of her scent.

"What are you doing? You smell so good, I want to do it."

Chen Jie simply leaned back a little more, letting him hold her even tighter.

The food in the pot was almost burnt when she gently nudged him, saying, "Stop fooling around, the food's almost ready."

Liu Xiangyang didn't let go; instead, he pulled her even tighter, feeling her soft body.

Chen Jie had no choice but to let him hang it up while she stirred the vegetables in the pan with one hand.

"Alright, alright, that's the last dish," she said, scooping the food into a plate and turning off the heat. "Can we eat now?"

Liu Xiangyang then released his grip.

Chen Jie turned around, but before she could speak, he covered her mouth with his hand.

She paused for a moment, then wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss, which carried a week's worth of longing.

The two kissed their way from the kitchen doorway to the main room, and Liu Xiangyang's hands wandered into her clothes.

Chen Jie gently pressed his hand down, panting as she said:

"No...eat first."

Liu Xiangyang looked at her, his eyes a little red.

Chen Jie's heart softened under his gaze, so she tiptoed and kissed him on the corner of the mouth, as if coaxing a child:

"There's plenty of time. Let's eat first, then we'll have the energy!"

Liu Xiangyang let out a long breath to steady his breathing, then smiled and said, "Okay, I'll do as you say. We'll get started after we eat."

Chen Jie rolled her eyes at him, but a smile remained on her face.

The table was laden with food: braised pork belly, sweet and sour pork ribs, scrambled eggs, cucumber salad, and a steaming bowl of chicken soup.

Looking at the table full of food, Liu Xiangyang laughed and said, "What are you doing? Are you feeding pigs?"

Chen Jie ladled a bowl of soup for him and placed it beside him: "I know exactly what the food in the company cafeteria is like."

"Besides, you'll need to exert yourself a lot later, so we need to give you some nourishment."

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