Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

The whole family sat around the stone table, drinking water. The eldest and second daughters-in-law, Wang, and Zhang went to the kitchen. Old Lady Li cooked noodles, stirred them, and brought them to a boil. She then picked up the fried eggs and added them to the stew. The stewed green cabbage and egg yolks looked so delicious. Both daughters-in-law were smiling. Li said, "Mother's cooking is still the best." Old Lady Li fished out the noodles. The eldest daughter-in-law, Wang, added stewed vegetables and eggs, picked them up and walked out. Old Lady Li was stunned for a moment, then filled the bowl again. The second daughter-in-law also scooped out some eggs. At this time, the eldest daughter-in-law came back and said, "I'll serve it to Dad first." The second daughter-in-law said nothing, lowered her head, took the bowl and went out, gave the noodles to the second son, and returned to the kitchen. Old Lady Li asked the second daughter-in-law, Zhang, "Didn't you eat?" The second daughter-in-law said she had given it to the second son. Old Lady Li was so happy. The eldest daughter-in-law brought another bowl to her son, and then she brought it to herself. They sat at the table and ate. The second daughter-in-law smiled and said to her mother-in-law, "Our family is so kind." Old Lady Li also said, "Yeah." She smiled. This is what family cares about each other. Although there were fewer eggs in the end, no one complained. After dinner, the two daughters-in-law cleaned up the dishes, washed up, and tidied up the kitchen, letting their mother go to rest. Old Lady Li took off her apron and went out.

Old Lady Li took her two grandsons back to her and Old Man Chai's room, coaxed them to sleep, and once they were asleep, she closed the door and quietly left. She went to the fourth son's room to see if his wife had had some soup. When he got home, he poured her some water. He wasn't thirsty or hungry, and his granddaughter was asleep. Old Lady Li told the fourth son to lie down and rest for a while, as he had to go to the fields that afternoon. Then she left, closing the door tightly behind her. Old Lady Li walked into the yard and said to the eldest and second sons' wives, "Take a break at noon." She spread out the grain she'd harvested that day, then returned to the front door, sat on the threshold, and gazed into the distance. Old Man Chai also came over and sat on the threshold with his wife, lighting a pipe, taking a few deep puffs, and exhaling the smoke softly. He just sat there, enjoying the fleeting peace of the passing years.

For those who know and love each other, everything is self-evident. Both body and mind found rest. Old Lady Li stood up and brought Old Man Chai a bowl of water. He took it and placed it at his feet, continuing to smoke his pipe. Old Man Chai said, "Life may be tiring, but it's stable and secure, free of quarrels and fights. That's what peace and happiness are." He continued, "Look at our village. The Gaos and Wangs quarrel and fight all the time. It's so annoying. Look at ours. It's the best. Old woman, Hongying, go away." With that, Old Man Chai picked up the bowl and gulped down the water. Holding the bowl and pipe in one hand, he placed his other hand on Old Lady Li's arm. He turned and walked back. Old Lady Li smiled and patted Old Man Chai's hand, then took the bowl, closed the door, and locked it. Living on the edge of the village requires more worry. A short lunch break will help you get back to work in the afternoon.

Old Lady Li woke up after about half an hour of sleep and got up to boil some hot water for everyone. She took the kettle and bowls and went to the yard, poured the water in, and let it cool. Old Man Chai and the children also got up. The two grandsons came out, rubbing their eyes with their little hands, and called out for Grandma before they even opened their eyes. The two daughters-in-law picked them up, put them on their laps, rocked them, and gently patted their backs to wake them up. Patting and shaking at the same time, "Mom, mom, look at my younger sister, let's go." The eldest daughter-in-law held Huanhuan and the second daughter-in-law held Hengheng, and they went to the fourth daughter-in-law's room together. When they reached the door, they just raised their hands and the fourth daughter-in-law came out and opened the door. The fourth daughter-in-law shouted, "Sister-in-law and second sister-in-law, come in." Guoguo also woke up, "Huanhuan and Hengheng, come quickly and see your younger sister." Huanhuan walked fast and Hengheng walked slowly. The second daughter-in-law Zhang could only hold the baby and came to them. The little girl opened her big eyes and blinked uncomfortably. Her eyes were full of black pupils, like agate, grapes, and pearls, shining with obsidian light, and like a clear spring, deep and attractive. She was born only two days ago, unlike ordinary children. The child had no clothes yet and was wrapped in a thin quilt with cotton quilt, which was old. It seemed like she was born in the wrong family. "Oh, oh, oh, oh," Guoguo could only hum "I'm happy" and the little girl smiled. Huanhuan clapped her hands and said, "Mom, look at my little sister smiling. Hehe, calling me brother... my little sister is so pretty." The eldest and second daughters-in-law also said that the child was really pretty. Then they looked at their own children, and they were pretty too. There was no ugly child in the Chai family. The fourth daughter-in-law looked at her daughter's smile, her mouth never closing. The little girl understood her mother's feelings and whimpered, stretching her little hands out and dancing with joy. The adults laughed out loud, saying, "What a treasure of the family!"