Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

Surrounded by the women, Liu Xiangyang sat down at the table. Xue Bingbing had already served him a full bowl of rice, packed tightly.

As soon as he picked up his chopsticks, Le Yao placed a piece of braised pork into his bowl.

"Brother, have some of this, I made it!"

Not to be outdone, Zuo Qingqing picked up a piece of scrambled eggs with her chopsticks: "Brother, try this. I chopped these for Sister Xiaoqin!"

Jiang Xiaowen picked up the plate of meat and placed it in front of him, saying, "Brother, eat more. You've lost weight."

He Xiaoqin gently pushed a bowl of soup towards him: "Brother Xiangyang, have some soup to warm your stomach first..."

Liu Xiangyang looked at the mountain of food piled up in his bowl and smiled.

"Are you feeding pigs?"

Le Yao retorted confidently, "What's wrong with feeding you? We eat well every day at home, while you certainly don't eat well in Harbin."

Liu Xiangyang chuckled, picked up the piece of braised pork, put it in his mouth, and chewed it: "Hmm, Yao Yao's cooking skills have improved."

Le Yao's eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a big smile: "When you come back next time, write to me in advance and I'll cook you something delicious."

He picked up another piece with his chopsticks, saying as he ate, "Home-cooked meals are still the best. The cafeteria in Harbin can't compare to this."

Zuo Qingqing leaned over the table, propping her chin up as she watched him eat, her eyes sparkling: "Then eat more, finish all of this."

Liu Xiangyang lowered his head and ate his rice in big mouthfuls. Everyone at the table just watched him, no one touched their chopsticks, they all stared at him as he ate. Xue Bingbing sat down next to him, not saying a word, just watching him.

Liu Xiangyang ate half a bowl, then looked up at them and asked, "Why aren't you eating?"

Roland spoke slowly, "We've all eaten, now we're just watching you eat."

Liu Xiangyang smiled and picked up another piece of food with his chopsticks: "Then I won't be polite."

He finished his rice in a flash, and Le Yao immediately reached out, "Brother, let me get you another bowl!"

Liu Xiangyang waved his hand: "That's enough, that's enough, I'm full from eating vegetables." Le Yao ignored him, grabbed the bowl, and filled it up again, packing it even more tightly than before.

Liu Xiangyang looked at the bowl of rice and smiled helplessly. "Okay, I'll eat it all." After finishing the second bowl of rice, he leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. "That felt good."

Le Yao was satisfied, and then she began to clear the dishes.

Zuo Qingqing leaned closer: "Brother, when are you leaving?"

Liu Xiangyang raised an eyebrow and said, "Let's leave on Monday morning. We need to make sure you're all well-fed before we go."

Zuo Qingqing called out "Brother," then blushed and remained silent.

Xue Bingbing stood up: "Alright, stop lounging around, it's time to get to work." As soon as she spoke, the women started to move, some clearing away the dishes, others changing their clothes.

Before leaving, Le Yao ran over and kissed him on the cheek. "Brother, wait for me tonight."

Liu Xiangyang pulled her aside and teased her for a while before letting her go, saying, "Brother will love you tonight." Le Yao blushed and ran away.

Zuo Qingqing also leaned over and kissed him. Jiang Xiaowen shouted in a loud voice, "See you tonight, Xiangyang!" He Xiaoqin said softly, "I'm leaving, Xiangyang." Luo Lan gave him a flirtatious wink. Le Qi was the last to leave, standing at the door and glancing back at him.

After everyone left, Liu Xiangyang stood up and walked outside.

The sun was blazing, turning the ground white as he walked along the village road toward the clinic. Along the way, he met several villagers who greeted him warmly.

The clinic was still the same old building, the door ajar. He had just reached the door when it was pushed open, and Zhang Weiguo's wife came out carrying a bowl. When she saw Liu Xiangyang, her eyes lit up.

"Inspector Liu is back?"

Liu Xiangyang nodded: "Sister-in-law, is my master here?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" She warmly stepped aside, "Dr. Han just finished eating and was talking about you. Come in, come in!"

Liu Xiangyang smiled and agreed, then walked inside. As soon as he pushed open the door, a strong smell of medicine hit him.

But beneath the medicinal scent, there was another smell—an indescribable, rotten odor that the medicinal scent could no longer mask.

Liu Xiangyang paused for a moment, then continued walking inside.

The inner room was dimly lit, with the window open but the curtains drawn, blocking out most of the sunlight. A person lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), so thin that he was almost unrecognizable.

"Towards the sun?"

Dr. Han's voice came from the kang (a heated brick bed), soft and hoarse, but with obvious surprise.

Liu Xiangyang walked over quickly and sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed): "Master, I've come back to see you."

Dr. Han lay there, covered by a thin blanket. His body beneath the blanket was so thin that it was almost imperceptible. His face was sunken, his cheekbones were high and prominent, his skin was sallow, and his eye sockets were deep-set. Only his eyes lit up when he saw Liu Xiangyang.

"Quick, come here quickly, let me see..."

Liu Xiangyang moved forward and grasped Dr. Han's outstretched hand.

Those hands were so thin they were just bones, the skin was dry and there wasn't much flesh in them, but they gripped them very tightly.

Dr. Han stared at him for several seconds, then slowly a smile appeared on her lips: "Good, good, you haven't lost weight, and you look good too."

Looking at his face, Liu Xiangyang felt a lump in his throat: "Master, how did you get so thin?"

Dr. Han waved his hand and coughed twice: "I'm old and useless now. Tell me, how's the training going?"

Liu Xiangyang held his hand and told him about the training in detail—how Sun Famiao taught, how the acupuncture class was conducted, and he also mentioned that he had given acupuncture to a Director Qin, but did not mention Director Qin's identity.

As Dr. Han listened, his eyes grew brighter and brighter, and he nodded from time to time.

"Good, good, I know Sun Famiao. He was quite a figure in Harbin back in the day. It's a blessing that you can learn from him."

He coughed a few more times, then, after catching his breath, said, "You just said that the leader's meridians were compressed by shrapnel?"

Liu Xiangyang nodded.

Dr. Han looked at him with a complicated expression: "That location is dangerous. Are you willing to do it? Are you confident? Don't blame me if things don't turn out well."

Liu Xiangyang paused for a second, then said, "Master, don't worry, I'm very confident I can cure him."

Dr. Han stared at him for several seconds, his eyes full of satisfaction. "Good, good, much better than me. Back then, I..." He paused, coughed twice, and after catching his breath, suddenly looked up at Liu Xiangyang.

"By the way, did you take that pill?"

Liu Xiangyang paused for a moment, then shook his head: "I haven't eaten yet, Master."

Dr. Han frowned, a little anxious: "Why aren't you eating? What are you doing leaving it there?"

Liu Xiangyang held his hand and comforted him, "Master, don't worry. I've researched it, and there's nothing wrong with it. It's just that we don't know exactly how effective it will be yet. I want to wait until it's confirmed before I take it. I can't waste the good thing you gave me."

As Dr. Han listened, the anxiety on his face slowly subsided. He leaned back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling, and remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice even softer: "Xiangyang, I only have two obsessions in this life now."

Dr. Han slowly turned her head, her withered hand tightly gripping his wrist: "The first one is that beast Watanabe. My entire family of seventeen died at his hands. I can't avenge this, but you must avenge me when you have the chance."

Liu Xiangyang nodded: "Master, don't worry, I will definitely find him within five years and avenge your family."

Dr. Han was taken aback: "Five years?"

Liu Xiangyang nodded firmly: "Within five years, no matter where he is, whether in Japan or elsewhere, I will definitely find him."

Dr. Han stared at him for several seconds, his eyes slowly reddening. He didn't speak, but squeezed Liu Xiangyang's hand tightly. After a while, he spoke again, his voice a little hoarse: "The second obsession is that pill."

He paused, "This is something passed down from our ancestors. Our family has kept it for generations, and no one has dared to eat it. I just want to know if it really works, and what it is like... Before I die, I want to know."

Liu Xiangyang looked at him and said, "Master, don't worry, I'll study it when I get back and take it as soon as possible. I'll let you know when it works."

Dr. Han closed his eyes, rested for a while, then opened them again: "Go on, don't linger here. Remember to let me know when you've eaten."

Liu Xiangyang stood by the kang (a heated brick bed), looking at Dr. Han's gaunt face, and remained silent for two seconds.

"must."