Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

In the evening, Ye Heng came to Chai's house to eat and sleep. As soon as he entered the house, Ye Heng and Guo Guo went into the space. Ye Heng asked: "Guo Guo, do you still have the Mao Jian tea you drank?" Little Milk Bag: "Yes, do you want it?" Ye Heng: "Yeah, it tastes good, the tea is good." Little Milk Bag thought about it and found a large jar of Mao Jian in his hand. "Here you go." Ye Heng opened it and smelled it. This is the smell. The two went to the living room. Ye Heng boiled water to make tea. Little Milk Bag took out two exquisite porcelain cups. Ye Heng poured tea into them, picked up a cup and smelled it, "It smells good! Good tea! The water is clear and clean, without any sediment! Good tea!" He blew gently and took a sip. It was sweet and fragrant! Ye Heng: "The imperial examination will be held in a few days. Is anyone from your hometown coming?"

Little Milk Bag: "No one has come yet! There should be at least a few people coming, right?" Ye Heng: "Don't worry, they may arrive tomorrow." Little Milk Bag: "Don't worry. My village chief's youngest son has studied for several years, and I don't know if he can pass the exam to become a scholar, let alone take the national college entrance examination. It depends on the younger generation. When Guoguo grows up, he must take the exam too." Ye Heng: "Okay. Just compete with me. Let the emperor be the chief examiner." Little Milk Bag: "Okay, it's a deal." Five years later, Guoguo was seven years old. One day, they mentioned this matter jokingly, and the two competed on the spot. The emperor judged that Guoguo won the first place.

Ye Heng and Guo Guo drank tea and couldn't sleep, so they went to the fields to take a look. They took baskets and picked vegetables. The crops were growing well and the corn could be cooked and eaten. Little Milk Bag asked Ye Heng to pick a few ears.

The two of them cooked and ate it; it was sweet and soft. "Delicious, isn't it?" Ye Heng said, "Yes. We'll be able to plant it on a large scale next year." Little Milk Bag: "Well, this year, my hometown has planted over a hundred acres of cotton. I almost forgot, I'm going to teach everyone how to spin and weave. I'll send someone to tell everyone tomorrow as fast as I can." Ye Heng said, "Guoguo, don't worry. You tell me later and I'll write." Yes. The two of them ate with relish. The woolen men in black did all the work. They even picked the eggs. Little Milk Bag said, "Let Ye Heng write." With a ballpoint pen, no need to grind ink, Ye Heng's writing captured the powerful spirit of a brush. He wrote down everything from planting the cotton to wilting, hoeing it eight times with a fork, and picking the white flowers. Planting in spring and harvesting in autumn, one season a year. Ye Heng read it again, and Little Milk Bag said, "That's it." Then he wrote about spinning and weaving, how to draw the thread, how to weave the cloth, in great detail. Finally, Guoguo drew a spinning machine and a loom. Later, Li Dong built two wooden machines. They were very useful.

The two took a shower and went to sleep. The next day, when the sun rose, they both slept in Ye Heng's bed. They got up, washed, and ate. Ye Heng sent someone to deliver a letter to Taohua Village, and asked if there were any students coming to Beijing.

Li Dong hurried over and said, "The crossbows are ready." Ye Heng went to test them himself. He fired three arrows at the cliff face. They were powerful, far-reaching, and accurate. Ye Heng shouted, "Excellent! Increase production and make as many crossbows as possible for the expedition." Li Dong said, "Excellent. I'll make as many as I can." Ye Heng replied, "I'll report your achievement." He found a large red silk cloth and covered the first crossbow. "Don't tell anyone else." Li Dong said, "I understand, Your Highness."

Ye Heng rode away, galloping all the way to the palace. His legs were weak with excitement. He ran to the imperial study and said, "Royal brother, Royal brother, look at so many people." The emperor knew it and said, "Everyone, please leave. Discuss and draft a plan, and I will make the decision." "Your Majesty, take your leave." After all the ministers had left, Ye Heng said, "Royal brother, the crossbow arrow was a success. It is powerful, fast, accurate and has a long range. It is simply a magical weapon." The emperor was also happy and said, "You have won a prize this time." Ye Heng: "Give him an official title and let him serve the court. This is an old farmer's child. He made the real thing based on Guoguo's drawings. He is a smart man. A talented person! A talent that is rare in a century." The emperor: "Okay, what official position do you think is suitable?" Lord Li, the Minister of Works, still has a few years to go, so Li Dong will be trained for the position of Deputy Minister of Works first. It sounds like Gao has no real power. This child has no impulse to become an official for the time being and is willing to do carpentry work. The deputy position suits him just fine. "The Emperor: You must make it clear to everyone that you have no real power. If you want to be an official and have real power, just say so. Don't offend anyone." Ye Heng: "I will." The Emperor: "I will draft an edict and it will be here soon. Give some rewards. Something substantial."

Ye Heng: "That's fine. I heard the wedding date has been set. It would be best if you give me a reward." After saying that, Ye Heng left and rode his horse to tell Li Dong to go home.

After a while, the imperial edict arrived. Li Dong, Li Guang and Ma Xiaohong all knelt down to receive it. "By the will of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims that Li Dong from the Li family has made a waterwheel and now a crossbow, which has contributed greatly to the country. He is hereby appointed as the deputy minister of the Ministry of Personnel. This is decreed on a certain day of a certain month of a certain year." Ye Heng came and sent these people away first. Ma Xiaohong gave them the reward and left happily. Ye Heng entered the room and said, "This is the deputy position I've recommended for you. It carries no real power, but it comes with a salary and interest. It's just that the money allows you to avoid working at the Ministry of Works. Since you're young and enjoy carpentry, you can try it for a few years. When you don't want to be a minister anymore and it's time to retire, you'll be promoted to the third rank of Minister of Works. The Emperor is worried you'll be upset, so I'm telling you this." Li Dong said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness. I know I'm not cut out for an official position, but I'd rather do carpentry. It's all right." Li Guang said, "Thank you, Your Highness. We're all farmers, never thought of becoming officials. This is enough. Our ancestors' graves are filled with joy. We're content." Ye Heng said, "Good, good." As the second group arrived, the Emperor praised them and awarded Li Dong a hundred rolls of brocade, ten sets of jewelry, a box of Dongzhu pearls, and a set of brushes, inkstones, and inkstones. "I decree this." Li Dong and the others knelt, "Thank you, Your Highness! Long live the Emperor!" They left their gifts behind, and Ma Xiaohong gave them silver as a reward.

Ye Heng said goodbye and left, and the door closed. Li Dong, Li Guang, and Ma Xiaohong happily paced back and forth, looking at the prizes. Li Dong said, "Mom and Dad, we can't take them ourselves. Guoguo gave us the blueprints." Ma Xiaohong said, "Let Guoguo take it. Let her choose. We can take the rest." Li Dong said, "Okay." Li Guang also said, "Okay, let her choose. What's left is yours."

Li Dong went to find Guoguo, picked her up and told her about the matter. Little Milk Bag: "Uncle, you are the one who made it. Guoguo, don't leave it to your aunt." Li Dong looked at Dongzhu and said, "Guoguo, Dongzhu is good. Take some and string it into a necklace and wear it. You and your aunt can share it. Is that okay?" Guoguo: "Okay, let your aunt string it for me. I'll wear it." Li Dong: "Okay. There are a hundred pieces of brocade. You can choose. Guoguo, listen to your uncle. You can pick a few pieces of cloth and wear a flowery dress." Little Milk Bag: "Okay." Guoguo picked out a few pieces of cloth that were suitable for her. Li Dong personally sent Guoguo home. On the way, he said, "Uncle just wants you to be well. Uncle is happy with everything. It's you who gave uncle confidence and a sense of accomplishment." Little Milk Bag: "It's also because of uncle's intelligence and hard work." Li Dong smiled, "That's right!" Li Dong sent the cloth to Guoguo's bed and went back. "Uncle, don't get tired." Li Dong: I know.

Li Dong returned home, picked out some beautiful silks, packed them into a box, and also some Dongzhu, then loaded them into a horse-drawn carriage and went to his wife's house.

When they returned that evening, the necklace was finished, and Li Dong gave it to Guoguo. He said, "I've strung three necklaces: one for you, one for your aunt, and one for her mother." "There's nothing for Grandma if there's a mix of them," the little girl said. "I don't want any," she said. "Can I see if I can make one for Grandma?" Li Dong didn't know what to do. Chai Zhen said, "Dong, take it up. Don't give it to Guoguo, he's still a kid. Give it to your mother." Li Dong said, "Okay." He took the necklace and went back to his relatives' house to tell them about it. Zuo Xiaoqian agreed and found the remaining Dong beads to make a larger necklace, which Li Dong had for Ma Xiaohong to take home. Ma Xiaohong took it and put it on, saying, "My Dong is the best." Li Dong felt ashamed and decided to think of his mother from now on. Ma Xiaohong had saved a lot of silk to make clothes for her daughter.

Li Dong said, "Mom, you and Dad should take some cloth and go to Guoguo's house to have some clothes made for her. We'll be busy at home soon and won't have any free time." "Okay, we'll go tomorrow."

The four members of the military assistant minister's family were discussing this. "Li Dong's official position is now higher than the assistant minister's, surpassing your father," Li Hong said. "They've chosen the right in-laws. This child has a bright future."

Zuo Xiaoqian had been packing her dowry in her room for the past few days. The gifts were so wonderful, she said, "This dowry is better and more than any of my sisters'. I'm happy too." Zuo Feng smiled and said, "Not bad, this child is down-to-earth and hardworking." Zuo Tong said, "Yes, sister, you've found a good brother-in-law." The family of four chatted and laughed. Zuo Xiaoqian gave her brother a box of pens. "Are you satisfied, brother?" Zuo Tong said, "Of course. You don't know how many people asked to buy these pens when I brought them to school, but I couldn't bear to sell them." Zuo Xiaoqian said, "Use them yourself. Come get them from me when you're done." Zuo Tong said, "Okay, thank you, sister."