Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

At dawn, a steady stream of people arrived at the school square. Just as the morning hour arrived, Old Man Chai Zhen led the entire Chai family to the school. Only Li Ru, the eldest son's wife Wang Min, and several children were absent; everyone else arrived. Every household in the village had closed their doors, and the entire family was out. Several tables and stools had been set up on a raised platform in the center of the square, along with pens, inkstones, and paper. Beneath the platform, stools were also placed for the elderly. Some residents brought their own stools, and women carried children... The crowd was enormous.

The village chief saw that most people had arrived. He had drafted a low note the previous night and read: "Second Uncle Chai Zhen, please come up and take a seat. Old Mr. Huo Hua, please come up and take a seat." Huo Hua pursed his lips, the corners of his mouth curled up, and he thought to himself, "I'm an old gentleman, hehe," trying to suppress a laugh. Qin Han, Kong Ziwu, and Zhang Bingquan, please come up, Chai Hua, please come up, Chen Jun, please come up, Li Dong, please come up, Zhang Qing, Sun Gui looked at his wife and smiled and asked her to come up. Zhang Qing blushed, but generously sat to the side. Old Mr. Li Guang, please come up.

Sun Gui spoke. "Hello everyone. Today we're holding a village-wide meeting to discuss our spring work plan for Taohua Village. This will give everyone a clear goal and allow them to work together to develop Taohua Village and achieve ever-better outcomes. Next, let me introduce Chai Zhen." Chai Zhen stood, clasped his fists, and bowed to everyone before taking a seat. "Uncle Chai Zhen, you're knowledgeable and experienced, and you're our village's chief instructor." "Mr. Huo Hua," Huo Hua stood, bowed, and sat down. "Mr. Huo Hua travels extensively and has experience in business, making him a worthy leader. He'll guide us in this area from now on. Anyone interested in learning this skill can learn from Mr. Huo." "The Qin and Han dynasties, Kong Ziwu, and Zhang Bingquan, were highly skilled in building and repairing houses. Everyone who builds a house has these instructors. Anyone who wants to learn can sign up with these old gentlemen. For now, I'll be the one to take on the cultural knowledge, and we'll have you." "Chai Hua," Chai Hua stood, bowed, and sat down. "Learn martial arts to strengthen your body. Sign up with this master." "This is Chen Jun," Chen Jun stood up, bowed, and sat down. "Chen Jun is a doctor. Anyone who wants to study medicine has an age limit. People between five and ten years old can sign up, and both boys and girls can study. The tuition is the same as the school, and the school charges a flat fee. It only takes three years. After three years, you can continue to study without charging any fees." "Li Guang," Li Guang also stood up, bowed, and sat down. "Weaving master, if you want to learn how to weave baskets, crates, and baskets, or other handicrafts, you can sign up with Master Li." "Master Li Dong, the carpenter," Li Dong bowed to everyone, "If you want to learn carpentry, you can sign up." "Zhang Qing," Zhang Qing stood up, bowed, and sat down. "These are the etiquette that women need to learn, embroidery, tailoring, and so on. There is no age limit. You can sign up to learn from her. I have said what I want to say. Everyone has considered it before signing up. Now I will take a break."

The fourth and the others moved the tables aside, each containing a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Each of the teachers sat down at a table. Sun Gui and Chai Zhen shared two tables, registering students for the general education program. Both boys and girls were welcome. Chai Zhen took out a ballpoint pen and offered it to Sun Gui first, saying, "Try this pen." Only three or four families were required to attend school. There were eighty-nine boys and girls under the age of fifteen. The two of them wrote down the names of the students, and classes would begin at the beginning of the morning hour (7:00 AM). Sun Gui put the names away and placed them in the classroom. Qin Han and the others discussed making a list as well. There were five people who wanted to learn, and they decided to notify them to come along and work on the project, earning wages while also learning. They also placed the names in the classroom, with the heading "Building and Construction." Huo Hua had many people here, all hoping to make money through business. He wrote down the names of the people on the list and said, "To do business, you need to be literate. You should go to school first. When you're older, you can take night classes and learn. I'll be taking the exam soon." He shouted, "Girls need to be here too; they can sell things, too." More parents brought their children to sign up, and Huo Hua wrote them down one by one. There were twenty-eight people. He handed the list to Sun Gui. "Those who are going to take the exam should go to school and learn to read first." "Okay," he said. "These children are also in the cultural class." Huo Hua sat down to drink tea, watching the bustle and the excitement. He also wanted the people in his village to live a better life. He was happy to be able to do something for them, and it felt meaningful and worthwhile. Sun Gui and Chai Zhen also sat down. "It would be great if the children could learn to sing." "I'll add a music class every seven days," Chai Zhen said. "Sure, Second Uncle is talented," Sun Gui said with interest. Ahem... "I'm learning and selling right now, it's expensive, you still have to find someone to teach you." There is an age limit here in Chen Jun, five to ten years old, both boys and girls are welcome. Let everyone learn, and only as many people as can be left in the end will be allowed. There are only nineteen people in the whole village, eight of whom are girls. Chen Jun handed the list to Sun Gui. Li Guang's hand-woven works are all based on age, so there is no list of names. Just go to his house in the evening. Li Dong's carpentry work is at his house these days, so there is no list of names either. Just go to his house every day. After a busy day, most of the day passed, and Sun Gui came to the high platform, "School starts tomorrow, classes will start at Mao, and students should arrive early. Those who learn martial arts should arrive at Yin Shi. Those who learn medicine and business should come to learn cultural courses, and they will be admitted only after passing the assessment. Study hard, and parents should try to let their children eat breakfast. That's all. Prepare for school tomorrow."

Now some women are buzzing. They still have to pay the tax. Someone said, "Our village's annual tax isn't as high as other villages' monthly tax. Outside, it's only two taels of silver. You should be content." Our village is so good, it's like we don't have to pay any taxes. My two daughters and two sons all go to school. Even knowing a few words is better than not learning at all. Women in this village don't dare to curse casually. Firstly, their husbands are in charge, and secondly, the village head is strict. No one is allowed to swear, and if they have something to say, they'll just talk it out. The men in every household are the boss, and they want to maintain their dignity. They're afraid of being criticized when they go out, so gradually, even women, including the elderly, don't dare to curse. The village head is a cultured man, leading the community with good morals. They don't lock their doors, don't lose things, and don't pick up things on the street. A few women from outside the village marry in, but they don't dare to cause a scene. Even the men in the family won't tolerate it, so they have to be reasonable.

Some families attend evening classes upon returning home. Even if they don't write, they must learn to read and understand the principles. This phenomenon occurs in every household. Following the village chief's lead is a surefire way to succeed.

At Chai Ping'an's house, Li Guang's family, Chai Xin's family, Chai Dong's family, and the old Chai family were all gathered. They were all gathered in Chai Ping'an's house, enjoying a lively lunch. Little Naibao quietly taught Grandma how to make pulled noodles. Add a little salt to the water when kneading the dough. Knead the noodles in the morning, and they're perfect for lunch. They pulled them into long, chewy noodles, and mixed them with crushed garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, and chili peppers. Add the meat stew, and everyone was enjoying the meal.

After lunch, they didn't even take a nap. Chai Hua asked Jia Yu, "You can't just say you want to go to the battlefield. Life and death can happen in the blink of an eye. Are you sure you want to join the army?" The whole room was silent. The fourth brother said, "I want to go." "Then practice martial arts well. Kung Fu can give you a little life. What weapon should you use?" "A knife!" The fourth brother had already thought of it. A knife, like chopping melons. The fourth brother ran back to the house and pulled out a three-foot-long knife with a sharp blade. Chai Hua took a look and his eyes lit up. Ah! The fourth brother already had a weapon. He had planned it all along.

Everyone went to the open space in the courtyard, and the fourth brother practiced with his sword. "Not bad," Chai Hua said. "We'll start tonight." Even Sun Quan was invited to join him in learning horseback tactics. "The weapon is still a little short. Let's make a larger one for use in mounted combat. This one will be a saber. And a bow." They started in the evening and prepared in the afternoon. The fourth brother went to the stable. There were two oxen and two horses, both sturdy and strong. These were military horses. Chai Hua came to the stable, squatted down to examine the horseshoes, and then ordered two more pairs for the horses. He said to the fourth brother, "We'll leave for the county town tomorrow morning at 3:00 AM. We'll ride horses. Change the horses' hooves." The fourth brother brought soybeans to the horses and placed them in the hay pool. He also filled the nearby pool with water and brushed the horses' fur. The fourth brother was practically living in the stable. Chai Hua looked at the fourth brother, smiled, and said, "You can live in the stable." The fourth brother said, "When I go out, I'll just sleep with the horses." "That's good enough," the horse tulutulu glanced at the fourth brother. The head rubbed against Lao Si, the tall black horse, like a child. Lao Si often fed the horse with food. The horse ate whatever he ate. He would even eat half an apple and let the horse drink his milk. Only after Lao Si had stayed long enough would he leave and go to Sun Quan's house.

Chai Hua went to see his little master. The children had woken from their nap. Juanzi was feeding Chai Ye milk, while the other children each nibbled on a piece of bread, milk in a small bowl beside them, eating and drinking. Children happily ate and played. After the children finished eating, Chai Hua picked up the two younger ones, followed by the older one, and took them to play in the yard.

Juanzi returned to the west room and made clothes with Li Ru for the children's spring wear. Three sets of clothing for each child. Three pairs of shoes for each child. Wang Min, still heavily pregnant, sat on the kang. The men wore only single clothing. Two sets of clothing were made for each, and the old ones were patched up and worn again. Three pairs of shoes were made for each person. Ru's mother, Zhang Baohua, and Old Lady Li were all busy with their work. Li Dong and Jia He went to Li Dong's house to work as carpenters, so they could take on a few apprentices. Six more apprentices arrived that afternoon. They started by making tables and benches for the school. At nightfall, a large amount of wood arrived—trees. The trees had just been cut that afternoon, and the village chief had arranged for others to cut them down, as they were short of wood. Li Dong arranged to punch boards and dry them tomorrow. He figured he'd make a few sets of carpentry tools, too.

At the riverside kiln, every able-bodied man in the village had gathered. An oxcart was pulling clay from a nearby backside. The elderly were making bricks, while the younger ones were pulling clay. Others were collecting firewood. Twenty-six people were standing there. Ten were felling trees, with Sun Gui taking turns. Six carpenters were writing down their names. The rest, along with the women, would be repairing the road tomorrow. Everyone was busy.