Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

After leaving Taoyuan County, we headed north non-stop. The adults were fine after a day, but the children couldn't sit still. We ate early in the evening and everyone rested. Li Dafa and two old soldiers were on duty while the others slept. In the second half of the night, the yamen runners were on duty while Li Dafa and the others rested.

At dawn, Mrs. Li Ru rose to cook, and Chai Ping'an helped light the fire and add wood. Once the meal was ready, she called everyone to eat and continue on their journey. They arrived at Pingjin Prefecture at noon and bought some cooked meat and vegetables for a restock. They also refilled their kettles.

As soon as they left Pingjin Prefecture, they met the messenger sent by the prince. After reading the letter, Old Lady Li and Chai Pingan said, "Then follow us back. We have done everything mentioned in the letter. A student came from Taoyuan County, and we also took him with us." The messenger said: "Okay." Old Lady Li asked someone to give them some food and drink, and they continued to walk towards the capital. They walked and stopped like this for 20 days before arriving in the capital.

It’s August 18th, and the exam is in one day.

Jiaxing, Chai Zhen, and Guoguo were waiting outside the city in their carriages, and Huo Hua was also waiting in his own. From a distance, they saw the convoy. Huanhuan and Hengheng had already gotten out of their carriages, shouting, "Sister, Great Grandpa!" and running towards them. The little kid ran happily with his short legs. Huanhuan hugged his sister and said, "I miss my brother so much." Hengheng also said, "Brother misses you so much." The little kid: "Sister misses brother too." Wang Min got out of the car holding the second child and walked over. Jiaxing hurried over to take the child and said, "Thank you for your hard work, sister-in-law." Huo Hua also saw his wife and child and hurried over, hugged his wife and son, "Thank you for your hard work." Huo Hua's wife said with tears in her eyes, "My husband has lost weight." Huo Hua said, "I'm in good health. I exercise every day. I was busy at the beginning, but now I'm not busy anymore. I just worry a lot, but it's okay." Huo Hua held his son and took his wife to see Chai Zhen Ping'an and said, "Uncle, brother Ping'an, let's go into the city first and talk later." Chai Zhen, "Okay, let's go to Chai's niece's house. Let's go and talk when we get home." Huo Hua's wife: "Well, listen to uncle." Everyone got in the car and rushed to the capital.

The sound of horse hooves echoed through the bustling capital, and children peered out the windows. "It's so lively, so lively! The capital is still the best."

Huanhuan: "Sister, I miss you. I'm here to take you out to play." Little Milk Bag: "Yeah, yeah. I'm bored to death every day. Second child, no, fifth child is still young and only knows how to eat and sleep." Everyone in the car laughed. "He doesn't know what to do with himself!" Little Milk Bag: "That's right! Look at my aunt's second child, no, fourth child, he rolls his eyes like he can talk. He understands everything we say." Old Lady Li: "Not everyone is that smart, that would mean there wouldn't be any fools in the world." "Grandma," Guoguo shouted. Don't be so discouraging! It took an hour to reach the Chai Mansion. Sun Qing looked out the window. The capital is wonderful. Students can be seen everywhere. When the carriage stopped, everyone got off. People looked at the street. Chai Zhen: "This is Chang'an Avenue, where the nobles live. There are not many people. Our family is crowded because we have students." Qiuju stood up and watched the Chai family chatting and laughing. Qiuju also bowed, smiling. Little Milk Bag: "This is my person, grandma. Her name is Qiuju. Hello, Sister Qiuju." Guoguo said with a smile. Qiuju: "Hello, master. Please come in." She bowed and gestured for someone to come in.

Old Lady Li looked at the girl and said, "You're so cute." Guoguo said, "Sister Qiuju, please sit down. You must be tired after being here all day." Qiuju said, "Thank you, Master. I understand."

Sun Qing stared at him, wondering when his sister Guoguo had become the master! The convoy rushed into the Chai Mansion, and Chai Zhen asked Butler Ye to arrange accommodation after unloading the vehicles. Butler Ye, "Okay, okay, I'll arrange it." Chai Zhen: "Sun Qing is going to take an exam, so please arrange a quiet place for him and take better care of his food!" Butler Ye, "Okay, Master." "Come on, follow me." Butler Ye took Sun Qing to a remote courtyard with a beautiful and quiet environment. He said, "Young Master Sun, you can stay here. It's quiet. I'll have someone get you a bath. Wash up first, have a meal and rest. Come to the living room in the front yard for dinner." Sun Qing: "Thank you, Grandpa Butler." The servant took out all the things and put the clothes in the closet and hung them up, saying, "This house is really nice. It's bright and clean. The layout is also good."

After a while, a guard brought in some bath water, and the servant helped give Sun Qing a bath. The servant also washed up briefly. The two changed into clean clothes and rested. They were very tired after the journey.

The night steward instructed everyone to unload the carriages, and a guard drove them to a stable in the backyard to feed the horses. He arranged for the yamen runners and veterans to stay in another courtyard, three to a room. "Please be patient. The candidates are coming to take the exams, and the rooms outside are full, so we have no choice but to let you all make do in the mansion. Have fun! If you need anything, just let me know. The master has said you'll get 100 taels of silver each upfront, and more when you leave, as well as travel expenses home. When to leave will be determined by the master, so just have fun during this time." They could fetch hot water themselves; a guard would bring it later for everyone to wash and eat. A yamen runner said, "Okay, go ahead. We'll do everything ourselves." Just as he was speaking, a guard arrived with hot water. "Everyone wash up," he put it down, and left. Soon, more than ten buckets of bath water arrived. Everyone jumped in to bathe, washing away their fatigue. An hour later, the group, all dressed in silk and satin, were led to the front yard living room for dinner. Chai Zhen said, "We are all from the same hometown, so there is no need to be restrained. Let's eat and rest. We can talk about it another day. Just have a good rest. Let's eat."

In another side hall, the women were eating. They had all bathed and changed into silken clothes. Wang Min and Li Ru, dressed so beautifully by Dong Shuang, were unrecognizable, transformed into noble ladies in the blink of an eye. Huo Hua's wife looked even more elegant, and the four children had become golden boys. The whole family was so handsome, it was dazzling! "What a feast for the eyes!" "Eat," said Old Lady Li. "Eat well and rest. You're feeling weak." Little Milk Bag: "Grandma, why do you say that? Guoguo will give you a shoulder rub later." Old Lady Li: "Okay, granddaughters are the best!" Everyone ate, and afterward, without a moment to discuss anything, they all went to bed. Huo Hua and his wife drove back. Chai Zhen: "Do you have a place to live?" Huo Hua: "I bought a house. It's not as big as the Chai Mansion, but it's not small either. It's very close to here. It's on Shunyi Road in front. The prince helped me buy it." Chai Zhen: "Why didn't you tell me earlier, nephew? I have to go to the warm-up room anyway." Huo Hua: When it comes to warm-up room, I have to call my second uncle, and I won't stop until we are drunk! Chai Zhen: "Okay, okay. My second uncle will be waiting." Huo Hua: "Let's go, second uncle, see you tomorrow!" Chai Zhen sent Huo Hua to the door and watched him walk away before coming back.

Qiuju was almost there; tomorrow would be the day to finish. She still had to work today. Drinking tea and eating fruit, Chai Zhen smiled and headed back home. Qiuju was blinded by Chai Zhen's smile. What a beautiful boy! And he turned out to be an old man. He looked only in his early thirties, but Guoguo called him "Great Grandpa." Everyone in the Chai family seemed so young and beautiful. How did they keep them that way?!