Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

Chai Zhen led the Taohua County troops out of the border and headed back. The carriages were empty, so everyone got into them. The carriages were covered with straw fans, and everyone wore large cotton-padded jackets and boots. In the carriages, they could even lie down and sleep for a while, covered with blankets to keep warm.

The drivers were replaced every half a day, ensuring no one was tired. They traveled day and night, with the horse, Little Milk Bag, taking over at night. In the interstellar space, Chai Zhen kept the horse well-fed and provided it with plenty of spiritual spring water. A month's absence took a mere ten days to return. Arriving at Pingjin Prefecture, everyone wanted to go out and have fun, hoping to buy things for their families as the New Year was approaching. Chai Zhen divided the money among them, asking Chai Hua to exchange the banknotes for silver. Chai Zhen said, "We seized a lot of banknotes on our trip to the front. We've exchanged them for silver and are now sharing it with everyone." Everyone cheered and laughed! "Ten thousand taels of silver. Seventy men will each receive one hundred and forty-two taels. General Ma has also contributed. Now each of you will receive two hundred taels, and each will receive a purse." Chai Zhen distributed the money. "Count it all! Two hundred taels!" the yamen runner said happily. "This trip was a good one! We barely earn ten taels a year, but this trip has earned us so much! We're rich!" "I'll go home and build a new house next spring." "I'll buy my wife new clothes and the kids good food." Chai Zhen said, "Everyone, pack up your money. You can take turns playing and a few of you can watch it here. You can also leave it with me. I'll watch it for everyone." "Okay, we trust your second uncle. I'll leave the money with you. I still have the money you gave me earlier, so I can't spend it." Guoguo wrote his name on the cloth bag with a pen, tied the top, and placed it in the basket. Then everyone left their money with Chai Zhen for safekeeping. Only Chai Zhen, Guoguo, and Qin Binbin stayed, while Chai Hua watched over the carriage. A row of carriages were parked, and the horses were grazing nearby. Chai Zhen brought out a trough and watered the horses. There was plenty of hay and soybeans. They ate bread, milk, and fruit.

Later, Guoguo gave everyone a bucket of instant noodles. Chai Zhen boiled the water. Qin Binbin ate heartily, not asking questions or saying anything. He just ate, because it was always good food with the Chai family. He was the first to know, what a foodie!

Chai Zhen sat by the roadside to rest, Guoguo played with Qin Binbin, and Chai Hua watched the carriages moving back and forth. There were over thirty of them. For a moment, he sat in a tree, looking down, squinting his eyes as he rested.

It was almost dark when everyone came back, laughing and chatting. Empty baskets were left, and everyone put their things away. Chai Zhen asked if everyone had eaten. "Yes," someone offered Guoguo some cakes, someone offered Tangren some. It was all food, and Guoguo couldn't hold it all. She said, "Thank you, big brother. No more, I can't finish it." Everyone sat back down. Chai Zhen said, "Are you going to stay in a hotel in the city, or sleep outside?" "Uncle, let's go. We'll take turns driving the carriage and rest," Chai Zhen said. "Alright, then let's harness the carriage and continue on our journey."

Two days later, they arrived at Taohua County early in the morning. Chai Zhen said, "Let's part ways here." The yamen runners took the money bag away, caught up with the carriage they had come in, and went home first, then drove the carriage back to the yamen.

Chai Zhen drove the cart, and the villagers of Taohua Village, imitating the children, sang along the way, "Walking on the country road..." They sang all the way back to the village. As the carriage turned into the village entrance, someone saw it and called out, "So-and-so, your son is back." The villagers rushed to tell their families, and their parents came out to greet them. "My son is back," Qin Binbin's mother said with tears in her eyes. She had only this one son in her old age, and she had longed for him. Qin Han accompanied his wife to pick up Qin Binbin. Seeing this, Guoguo's eyes lit up, sparkling with brilliance. She said, "Brother Binbin, I'm so glad you're back." "Oh, my dear, Guoguo, please don't tell my parents. I beg you." "Okay, I won't tell them. Keep it a secret." "Oh, that's right. Brother loves you!" Guoguo: "Ah!" Guoguo was stunned. She was deeply moved.

The carriage arrived at the Chai family's east courtyard, where it was unloaded. The horses were then led to the stables, where they were fed grass and watered. The fifteen men bathed the horses before taking their belongings home. Outside the gate, the parents helped carry the belongings home.