Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

Chai Zhen and Xiaodong slept until mid-afternoon, when the sun set. They woke up hungry; they had some leftover lunch, so Old Lady Li heated it up for them. Then they went to wander the fields together. Chai Zhen: "Dong, look at the crops at home, they are almost grown. Accompany Grandpa to have a look at each field." Little Dong: "Okay, I want to go and have a look at our fields too. How are the crops growing?" Chai Zhen: "We ordinary people farm. If the crops grow well, we can make a living. From a distance, everything looks lush." ​​Chai Zhen: "Little Dong, look behind the house. Let's go dig up some sweet potatoes at the edge of the field and see how big they are." As he spoke, Chai Zhen bent down and squatted to lift up the sweet potato vines. "Oh, the crack looks so big." Chai Zhen dug with a pick, revealing a big sweet potato. He lifted the vine with a bunch of sweet potatoes hanging on it, and dug up the soil to reveal several sweet potatoes. Little Dong: "Grandpa, this seedling has grown so many sweet potatoes. The yield is high." Chai Zhen: "When it's time to harvest in autumn, let's weigh them and see how much we can harvest per acre?" Chai Zhen dug a few more plants in a row. "Dong, go get a basket home to put them in." "Okay." Little Dong ran home, got a basket, patted the soil clean, and picked up the potatoes in the basket. A large basket was overflowing. Xiaodong bent down to pick it up, and Chai Zhen took it over. "Grandpa, come here, you can't carry too much," Xiaodong refused. "Grandpa, let's carry it together," Xiaodong picked up the pick and strung the sticks together. "Okay, let's carry it together." Xiaodong led the way, Chai Zhen followed behind, and the two of them carried the basket of sweet potatoes home. "Hongying, we'll have sweet potatoes tonight." Grandma Li said, "Dad, you brought back so many in just a short time!" Xiaodong said happily. "Grandma, we've only dug up so many from just a few seedlings. We're sure to have a bumper crop of sweet potatoes this year." Just then, Huanhuan and Hengheng returned from school. "Brother Dong, we're back. The teacher knew you were back and told us to tell you that you have to go to school tomorrow." Xiaodong said, "Brother, I understand. Thank you, brother. Let's go to school together tomorrow." Hengheng said, "Okay, Brother Dong." Grandma Li looked at them with a smile. It was great to have the children at home. The two little guys put down their schoolbags and wanted to go with Chai Zhen. Chai Zhen asked, "Where is Ye'er?" Huanhuan said, "He is with Sister Juan. He will be back later. He is hiding among the women, watching them learn embroidery." Chai Zhen said, "Is it because you two went to school that no one wants to play with him?" Hengheng said, "Yes, Grandpa. Sister Juan said the adults are busy and she is watching him." Chai Zhen said, "Okay, as long as someone is watching him." Xiaodong said, "Tomorrow, Ye'er won't go. When my sister comes back, there will be someone to play with him." Huanhuan said, "That's right. My sister is so fun. He will definitely not go to play with women tomorrow."

Arriving at the fields, the group was stunned by the sight of the crops! "Haha," Chai Zhen exclaimed. "They're growing so well!" Huanhuan: "They're so tall." Hengheng: "I can't even reach the corns." Xiaodong: "Grandpa, they're almost ready to harvest." ...

When Little Milk Bag woke up, Li Ru fed her and carried her to the fields. They saw the outer leaves of the corn cobs had dried up, making it impossible to eat boiled corn. "Ah!" Little Milk Bag sighed, and several people asked, "Guoguo, what are you sighing about?" Little Milk Bag sighed again, "We can't eat boiled corn anymore. It's dried up." Xiaodong asked, "Sister Guoguo, is there any other way to eat it?" Little Milk Bag replied, "When the cobs are still fresh, the seeds are tender. They're best boiled. You can also use them in stir-fries or add corn to stews or rice." "Ah, ah..." Little Milk Bag forgot to tell the adults. Chai Zhen said, "Then we'll eat it this way next year." Little Milk Bag added, "Take them to the capital or the county town, and boil the corn cobs and sell them for a lot of money." The children's mouths watered at the thought of it; it was sweet and soft. Chai Zhen could hear, "Ah, ah, ah," "What's this for?" Little Milk Bag suddenly thought, and laughed again, "I still have tender corn, hahaha!" Xiaodong also thought, "Look at Great-Grandpa. They've planted corn in Guoguo's space." Then Xiaodong burst into laughter. Chai Zhen also thought of it and smiled slightly. He shook his head. Li Ru didn't know what was going on and didn't ask.

The corn harvest was promising. Chai Zhen, looking at the red sorghum on the dike, bent over. It was time to pick the cowpeas. Little Milk Bag pulled out two sacks, and Chai Zhen, Li Ru, and Xiao Dong all went to pick the cowpeas. Huan Huan watched Little Milk Bag, and Heng Heng followed suit. The soybeans they were part-time working on were turning yellow, almost ready for harvest. Soon, they had picked two sacks of cowpeas, leaving the green ones to grow. Chai Zhen and Li Ru each carried a sack. Xiao Dong held Guo Guo. Huan Huan pulled Heng Heng home with them.

As soon as she entered the house, Mrs. Li saw that the harvest had begun. She put down her work, picked up the broom, and began sweeping the yard. Chai Zhen then looked for a roller to roll the yard and dry the crops.

Wang Min was cooking, and once the children were asleep, she started working. The chickens, pigs, cows, and sheep all needed grazing, and Chai Ping'an wouldn't be home until dark. With so many sheep and cattle to tend to, the whole family was busy. Jia Le was building a house at the construction site, and he couldn't leave without someone. He lived there day and night. Old Mrs. Li was also very busy, getting up early to sell milk.

In the evening, the whole family came back, and they were all together when it was time for dinner. Juanzi came back with Chai Ye in her arms. When she saw Guoguo, she shouted, "Sister Guoguo, when did you come back? You are finally back," and her eyes drooped as she spoke, "No one plays with me." The little girl hurriedly said, "Guoguo is back, Guoguo will play with you, Ye'er!" Hehe smiled, she was going to be a big sister. Chai Ye got down and walked to Guoguo and sat down, "Sister, don't leave. Once you leave, brother Huanhuan will go to school, brother Hengheng will also go to school, and brother Dong will follow you. Then no one will want me." Old Lady Li listened to Ye'er and said, "You little rascal, tomorrow you will go to school too. The brothers will all leave, and you won't miss grandma anymore."

Chai Ye was stunned. "Grandma, Ye'er is just playing around. Ye'er is playing with Grandma. Hehe, just playing around." Xiaodong was delighted to see the whole family. They were all talking and laughing, so lively and cheerful! "Let's eat first," said Grandma Li. Little Milk Bag: "Yes, eating is the most important thing." Hahaha, my sister was right. Eating is the most important thing. Xiaodong also became talkative and cheerful.

On the table lay millet porridge, large white steamed buns, a large pot of steamed sweet potatoes, braised pork, stir-fried cabbage, and sweet, sour, and spicy pickled white radish. Jiale, holding a sweet potato in one hand and a large white steamed bun in the other, devoured the meal with relish. Jiahe also ate heartily, delighted to have another son. Li Guang was also invited to dinner, and Li Dongru's mother joined in the fun. The other carpenters had gone to school to eat, and the Chai family was too busy to cook for so many people. But life had improved for the entire village, and every household was well fed. ...

After dinner, the fruit arrived: watermelon, peaches, and apples spread out across the table. Everyone could eat whatever they wanted. Jia He had already given Sun Gui all the village chores when he returned, and he was still doing his carpentry work. Sun Gui was still the village chief. ...