Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

In the evening, all the Chai family members came. Chai Zhen told his nephew, "Wangwang and Mumu both passed the exam and were listed on the imperial list. In a few days, the officers and soldiers will be back to report the good news. They are on their way." Chai Xin and Chai Dong were very happy. "Thank you, uncle." Chai Zhen said, "Why thank the whole family?" Chai Xin quickly said, "Yes, yes. We are all happy."

Ye Heng asked Chai Xin, "Do you have any knowledge?" Chai Xin replied, "We're all learning, and we recognize a few words." Guo Guo said, "Grandpa, Second Grandpa, are you good at math?" Chai Xin replied, "Not bad, I can." Ye Heng said, "Keep learning. Great Grandpa recommended you for a job. I'll let you try. Chai Xin, Chai Dong, listen up. I'm going to build a factory, and this time I'm going to open a mine—um, a salt mine. I'll let you two manage it. Harvest the crops these days, and then go in a few days." Chai Xin looked at Chai Zhen and said, "Uncle, we're going!" Chai Zhen said, "Go, and do a good job. It's reassuring to have someone on your side." Guo Guo said, "Don't worry, Grandpa, Second Grandpa. If you don't know how, I'll teach you. Uncle can also do the accounting, so you can ask him for help." Chai Xin and Chai Dong both knew how to do it, but it was a bit complicated. They were unsure. Guo Guo's words gave them strength. They discussed how to do things and what to do.

Ye Heng and Guo Guo went to the fields, and Chai Zhen followed. Guo Guo looked around and said, "The main field has 20 mu, and the northern field has about 100 mu. Xiao Shunzi, help harvest the crops." "Yes, master." The ears of corn were gathered at lightning speed, and the cobs piled up like a mountain at the edge of the field. Guo Guo said, "Grandpa, find someone to load them and take them home." Chai Zhen was still confused, but after hearing what Guo Guo said, he came to his senses and said, "Okay. I'll go home and find someone to take them."

At night, they stayed awake to work. Guoguo took out the cutter again and chopped the stalks into pieces. The plow was plowing the land, and then the wheat was planted. Guoguo said, "Let's do the dike work manually." Chai Zhen said, "Okay. We'll come and harvest during the day."

Yeheng and Guoguo went to the north again. A large combine harvester emerged, its rumbling sound echoing far away. Up top, it was harvesting and threshing the grain. Down below, it was chopping the stalks and plowing the land. Yeheng was in the lead, and Guoguo was also driving the machine, sowing the seeds. The chopped corn stalks littered the field, like fertilizer. Guoguo said with a pang of worry, "Just don't feed the cows. Let them eat hay and beans. If that doesn't work, get some of the stalks out of the space."

One hundred acres of land were harvested overnight, and the sacks piled up like a mountain. One night, the Chai family was pulling in grain, and Beidi put the grain in the north courtyard. The piles filled several rooms.

Some veterans got up and started working. All the farm work was done overnight. Guoguo went to a house and took out a lot of vegetables, leaving only two pieces of pork.

When the sun rises and they return home for dinner, smiles fill their faces. "As long as we have food, we won't be hungry," a new soldier says. An old soldier says, "You'll know after a while. How can you be hungry? I'm afraid you'll overeat. You'll have to control yourselves then."

The two hundred veterans who had left were all doing well. Some managed shops in the county, some worked as carpenters, and some drove horse-drawn carts, transporting people and goods, working in transportation. Some farmed and cleared wasteland. In the winter, they felled trees, pulled hemp stalks and ropes, and now they're building roads. They were eager to go mining coal. All year round, they had enough to eat and lived well, their smiles wide open every day. Many had married, their houses built by the village. With wives and children, they lived comfortably. Some veterans' children were in school, while others were preparing to leave for the capital.

"Do your job well. Even if I chase you away, you won't leave."

As they were talking, they returned to their quarters. The meal was ready in the cafeteria, and everyone washed their hands and ate. There was a dedicated cafeteria that could accommodate a thousand people, with rows of tables and benches neatly arranged. Jiale managed the place well.

After dinner, everyone went to help Chai Xin and Chai Dong. The veterans helped both families finish harvesting their crops and plant wheat. Pai and Shuai watered the fields. There were also some odd jobs for the women and children. Chai Xin and Chai Dong packed their bags and went to the Chai family's house, waiting to depart.

Ye Heng said, "Grandpa, you guys shouldn't go there. Wait until it opens and you want to go and have a look. There's nothing there now." Chai Zhen thought about it and said, "Okay."

They loaded up vegetables from home; there were plenty of fresh vegetables in the greenhouse. They also loaded a few jars of water and a few bags of flour and rice. Guoguo said, "Bring the big pots. Grandpa will talk to the blacksmith at home and have a few more made." Chai Ping'an said, "Okay. I'll do it."

The old blacksmith was in good health. He raised his godson, and after he passed the imperial examination, he gave up the exam. He took care of the old blacksmith and taught in the village. This kid is great. Guoguo said, "I remember calling him Xiao Ming." Chai Ping'an said, "Yes, that's Xiao Ming. He also works with us at night, earning a lot of money. The two of them rented a small yard at the entrance of the village and live there. They're doing well." Guoguo said, "That's good." "The village has good welfare, and every household is doing well. Haha."

Ye Heng watched the carriages being loaded and checked the number of people. There were twenty in total, including him and Guoguo. Ye Heng called in two secret guards to protect Chai Xin and Chai Dong. They would live, eat, and work with them. They could also take turns resting. They all boarded the carriages, five in total. Ye Heng and Guoguo took their own carriage, which had thick bedding so Guoguo could lie down and rest.

They headed northwest. As it got darker, a house appeared ahead, guarded by someone. Ye Heng asked, "Who arranged for you to stay here?" "Master, we are all from this county. Master Zhang arranged for us to stay and eat for the people who come and go. Master Jiaxing often comes to check on us and deliver food and vegetables. We have a well here, which was also arranged by Master Zhang. It's for the benefit of our county." Ye Heng asked, "How many people are there?" "Not many, just three." Ye Heng said, "Okay, get to work. Feed the horses!" "Yes, master."

Guoguo: Let's cook. There's a big pot and a kitchen in the backyard. "Not bad, everything is there," Yeheng said. "Well, it's pretty good. Let's improve it slowly." Guoguo made porridge while Yeheng went to the space to steam large white steamed buns and stir-fry vegetables. Potatoes and braised pork.

After the meal, Guoguo let Yeheng out and laid out a large basket of steamed buns in the courtyard, which had tables and benches. "Let's eat, and help ourselves." Guoguo then said, "Let the waiters come and eat."

After nine days of traveling by day and sleeping by night, they finally reached the coal mine. Guoguo prepared a few tents, and everyone got to work, some even setting up a pot to cook. Ye Heng looked around and said, "We need to dig a well, too." Guoguo said, "Let me check if there are any rivers or lakes around." "Xiao Shunzi, are there any water sources nearby?" "Yes, Master." "Master, there's a river about ten miles to the back." Guoguo said, "It's not far. Brother Ye, let's go a little further north." Ye Heng said, "Okay. Everyone, pack up your things, load the car, and then go a little further north."

This time, they chose a location and set up camp. Guoguo sighed, "This is a start-up, it's hard at the beginning!" Everywhere was a wasteland and barren mountains. Look at these mountains, they are all bare and gleaming white. Mining can be done in the open air. Great, it's simply a blessing from heaven! Chai Xin said, "Your Highness." Ye Heng said, "Tell me to do it." Chai Xin said, "Okay. I'll take you to check the water source now." Ye Heng said, "Be careful." "Yes, I will."

Ye Heng and Guo Guo also walked around. They pulled out their binoculars. "This place is quite nice! There's a river. Where there's Black Mountain, there's Burning." Guo Guo said, "Let's see if we can grow anything on the land." With space at hand, everything was at hand. "Xiao Shunzi, let's see if we can grow crops on this land." Xiao Shunzi scanned the area for a hundred miles and said, "Master, the soil is loose and fertile, and there's a river. It's a treasure trove." Ye Heng said, "Come on!" A secret guard appeared and returned to the village. "Ask Jia He to send a water cart, and then find the veterans..." Ye Heng thought, "One hundred people, and bring bricks." The secret guard said, "Yes," and turned and left. "Wait, we'll leave early tomorrow morning. Eat well and rest today. We'll ride back tomorrow." "Yes, Master."

A few days later, truckloads of bricks and tiles arrived, along with a hundred veterans. Ye Heng looked at each one. They all had arms and legs, but they were slow to walk, likely due to injuries. Ye Heng said, "Have your injuries healed?" "Yes!" The voices were resounding and unanimous. They were former soldiers, well-trained. "Who's literate?" "Your Highness, none of us can read." "Your Highness, I can only write my own name." Ye Heng smiled. Just being able to write a name was enough. "If you want to learn, we have people to teach you." "Your Highness, the young one can sing. I learned from your princess when she was little, she went to the front lines." Guo Guo smiled. That was fine. We're all family! Good, good, good. We're destined to be together. "Yes, you brought us food. As long as you went there, we would have eaten. I was still young and you were not that old either." Guoguo said, "I remember the one who was blowing his nose behind me." The soldier nodded, "Yes, it's me. Ah Niu." Guoguo said, "I know, you ate a lot of buns back then. I also said that you were too young to go to the battlefield. We had a lot of fun together." The soldier chuckled, "Those were the happiest days of my life. Later, General Ma asked me to farm and do odd jobs. He was very good to me." Guoguo thought to himself, he let you go to the battlefield to die. You little brat, you blame the local officials. Guoguo said again, "Is there anyone else in your family?" Ah Niu stopped talking, his eyes red, and he said slowly, "My father was later captured and died in the army. My mother was sold by my grandmother, and I didn't know where to find her. I followed the team leader here." Guoguo asked, "Where are you from? I'll see if I can find your mother for you when I have a chance." Ah Niu said, "Okay, okay." Ah Niu's eyes lit up. Ah Niu said, "I'm from Beishan Village, Taiyuan County, Shanxi Province. My mother's name is Wang Xiaohua, and she's 32 years old this year. I have a teardrop mole in the corner of my eye, on the left." Guoguo said, "I've got it. Brother Ye, can you send someone to look for her?" Ye Heng said, "Yes, I'll send someone to look for her tomorrow." Ah Niu was overjoyed. Guoguo said, "Call me Sister Guoguo. I'm older than you." Ah Niu said shyly, "Okay, Sister Guoguo." Let's go eat. We'll get started tomorrow.

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