Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

Old Lady Li found work for the three men, making larger combs out of sorghum. "Mom," Baohua said, "are their hands really capable of sewing? Haha." Old Lady Li thought about it and agreed. "Let me do it. Min, you cook. Let the men rest."

Old Man Chai sat down next to Old Lady Li and said, "I'm going to visit Dad tonight. He's been so busy lately that he hasn't been able to see him." Old Lady Li said, "You go now! Get up and make some steamed buns for Dad. Dad hasn't eaten yet!" She grabbed a few more, thinking of the two children. Old Lady Li brought a basket, put two heads of cabbage and a radish in it, and wrapped the buns tightly inside. "Go see if Dad's kang needs repairing? What's he need for the winter? Go ahead. And then check on our two brothers to see if they've finished the harvest. Have them come to our house tomorrow. Have Dad and the two brothers come too. We'll make some hemp tomorrow so they can learn a thing or two."

Old Man Chai, carrying a basket, left the house and walked along the river without passing through the village. His hometown was in the southwest corner, not far from the river. There were more people living to the east, close to the land on the south side of the main road. There were fewer people by the river, and occasionally one or two women were washing clothes, usually in the morning. Old Man Chai walked all the way to the south end, and it took him more than a quarter of an hour to reach his father's house. The door was open, so he entered and closed it casually. Walking south, his father lived in the south room, and his cousins ​​lived in the east and north. The two nephews and grandchildren were playing in the yard. "Wangwang, Mumu." Old Man Chai touched the child's head and said, "Go and play, Third Grandpa is going to see your great-grandfather." At this time, Chai Xin came out and saw Old Man Chai, "Third brother is here, and uncle is in the room." "Yeah." "Go and tell the second brother to come to my father's room." "Sure, I'll be there in a moment." " Old man Chai went to his father's room. His father was resting in the room, so he didn't wake him up. He walked back and forth in the room. He knocked on the wall again and looked at the roof. The roof was okay. Needless to say, the eldest brother and the second brother helped to fix it. He climbed under the kang again. The kang hole was clean. He just said that it was cold and he would light a fire. He paused for a while before patting his father and waking him up. The quilt his father covered was thin and there was no warmth at all. He asked his father, "Is it cold at night?" Chai Zhen said, "It's okay. If it gets cold in a few days, we'll light the kang." Old man Chai thought about what he had eaten and quilted these days, and he felt bad. Chai Xin and Chai Dong also came in. "Thank you, eldest brother and second brother, for helping me fix Dad's room." He took out the cabbage and put it aside, and then took out the tightly wrapped steamed buns. He said, "My wife steamed some steamed buns. Let Dad have a taste, and let the eldest brother and second brother have a taste too!" ” Soft and fragrant, “Delicious.” The two also said it was delicious. “If the children eat it at night, they won’t have stomach upset.” Looking at the third child, Old Man Chai said, “Hongying thought of it. Ask your sister-in-law to get the dough. It needs it to ferment. A small ball can ferment into a big one. I have other things to do.” He continued, “Hongying happened to think of it a few days ago. There are hemp stalks growing by the river in our village. They have thorns and some people use them as firewood. They can be processed into hemp ropes. I fermented some to see if I can make ropes. It can also be woven into linen. It has many uses. I thought of selling it in the county town in winter. The raw materials don’t cost money, but it takes time. Look at the eldest and second brothers. Do you want to do it? If you do, come to my house tomorrow. I will dry the hemp and tear it into pieces tomorrow... It’s just hard work. You can also ferment hemp yourself in the yard. I will teach you. Think about it and tell me tomorrow! Also, tonight, my two brothers, come to my house, around midnight. Go quietly, don't disturb anyone, and be careful on the way so no one sees you. This job will be known sooner or later. I just want us to do more and earn more money. I've told the village chief, and he'll be needed in many places in the future. Also, considering his family is a good character, I'm thinking of doing it later. This job is big." Chai Ping'an said again, "Dad, I remember you can use a rope?" Looking at his father! Chai Zhen looked at his son, thinking he was asking me to work for him. Thinking about it, this is a good thing. "Okay." He said, "We're not a big family, but we've survived thanks to our unity and hard work. Don't think too much, eldest and second brother, I think we can do it." The eldest and second brothers said, "Listen to uncle, there's not much work left on the land, let the women finish it." "Take those two boys with you tomorrow."

After saying this, Old Man Chai smiled and added, "The fourth son's wife has given birth, a girl." The two brothers and their father exclaimed, "Great, great!" Finally, our Chai family has a girl! Father Chai asked, "When was she born?" Chai Ping'an replied, "Over twenty days ago. We were busy with autumn, so we didn't tell anyone. The baby will be one month old on August 25th!" Father Chai glared at him. "You know the whole family is hoping for a girl, you bastard son! Why aren't you letting me be happy sooner?" With that, Old Man Chai got up from his kang. "Let's go, let's go! I'm going to see my great-granddaughter!"

On meeting his granddaughter for the first time, Old Man Chai washed up, changed into clean clothes, and left, leaving his three brothers behind. He'd taken a few steps when he paused, needing to bring a gift. He turned back, rummaged through boxes and drawers, found a silver necklace, tucked it into his pocket, and then, beaming, left. Old Man Chai also hurried back, saying, "Brothers, I'm leaving now. I'm going to catch up with Dad."

Old Man Chai chased after him, catching up at the door. He said, "You're in good health! Your son is catching up quickly." As soon as he entered the house, Old Man Chai called out, "Hongying, go see if the fourth son's wife and the children are awake?" Old Mrs. Li saw that her father had arrived and said, "Baohua, go get your grandfather a cup of tea!" She finished her needlework and got up to go to the fourth son's room. Old Mrs. Li lifted the curtain, stepped out of the way, and said, "Dad, come in!" Li Ru was sitting on the bed, holding the child. The girl laughed at her brother playing...

As soon as Grandpa Chai entered the room, he saw the little baby in his granddaughter-in-law's arms, looking very cute. Li Ru quickly called out, "Grandpa, please sit down."

Chai Zhen, Old Chai, glared at his son and said, "Hmph, you deserve a beating for not telling your father about such a serious matter." The old man stopped looking at him and stared directly at the little kid. The little kid also saw a smiling old man, staring at him with wide eyes. The more Old Chai looked, the more he liked him. He was so old, and finally he saw a little girl, and she was so beautiful. A little fairy descended to earth. Only then did he notice the child's small flowered cotton jacket. She looked like a little golden boy and a beautiful girl. The little girl, with her big, watery eyes, glared at him, "Ahhhh!" "Great Grandpa!" "Haha... Hello, Great Grandpa!" She raised her tiny hand and waved it in welcome. Her eyes were as clear and bright as pure mountain spring water. Chai Zhen looked at his great-granddaughter, wondering how bright and beautiful her heart would be when she grew up. How could she seem so precocious, even knowing to greet Grandpa! The old man looked at the others; the people in the room nodded and smiled at him! No way! Chai Zhen... Ah!! He was stunned. He stepped forward and picked up the child. The experienced old man looked closely at the child. "Baby, you've come to our Chai family. It's fate!" "The future is unpredictable!" He said to the family, "Take good care of this child. The future is unpredictable! Great wisdom!" It was their child! The child's scent and fragrance betrayed her as a member of the Chai family. The ancestors hadn't wronged them! Old Chai walked over to her father and whispered, "This child has magical powers! The steamed buns I gave you are the ones this child gave us. They're made by shoveling together yellow and white flour and steaming them. I'll show it to Dad later." "Yes." Chai Zhen said, "This is our child! Our ancestors have done good deeds! They protect our family, and we must protect the child well. Don't say anything when you go out. Just don't talk too much! !" Old Man Chai said, "I know, Dad." He muttered softly, "I'm not a fool." Even the whisper was heard by me. I stretched out a hand, slapped him, and slapped him. The little kid laughed out loud, hahahahahaha!!! He stretched out his little hand and touched his great-grandfather's face. The old man felt it was soft and sticky, and his heart melted. He felt so comfortable! He said, "If anyone bullies you, go find great-grandfather. Grandpa is the biggest, and Grandpa will beat him up!" The little kid was so happy that he shook his hands and kicked his feet. Old Man Chai was so scared that he quickly wrapped him up. He was only born more than 20 days ago, and his body was so hard! "Good, good, good" he said three "good"s in a row. There is hope for the old Chai family!

The old man sat on the kang holding the child and said, "I'll hold the child and take care of Huanhuan and Hengheng. You guys go do what you need to do."

Li Ru simply found her needle and thread. Grandma Li had already cut the fabric for the children: two sets for Guoguo, two for Huanhuan, and two for Hengheng. Making thick cotton-padded clothes for the children, Chai Zhen saw all this fabric; he'd never seen it before. There were even glittering white cotton wool. It looked so warm. The old man held his granddaughter, watching her smile. Huanhuan and Hengheng surrounded him, the old man felt so happy! He was warm all over. His mouth had been wide since he entered the room, never closing. He looked at the three little ones; they were all dressed the same, and they all looked great. The three soft little balls looked like cotton balls.

Old Man Chai went to see the village chief, taking his sickle and rope with him. Old Lady Li went to cut white radish strips and dry them in the sun.