Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

Chai Zhen went to the county town and found a blacksmith shop with Jiaxing. "It's a bell, ringing loudly, listening to the sound," Chai Zhen said. The blacksmith was an old man, imagining it like this, "Yes." Everyone knew, "You'll get one tael of silver, the iron and the labor." Chai Zhen said there were also tools for carpentry, which the blacksmith had made before, "I know." Planes, axes, wood saws, large saws, iron bar splitters, with thin front ends. "I know," the blacksmith said, "I'll make you a whole set." "Okay, how much is a set?" "Five taels of silver, this is a craft, slow." "Make three sets first, twenty each of the farm tools iron chisel, hoe, and sickle. Brother, make them well, we need more." "Okay, if you're not satisfied, I'll redo it. One tael of silver for one set, twenty taels for twenty sets." Chai Zhen took out ten taels of silver as a deposit, "Brother, here you go, this is a ten-tael deposit, pay the full amount when you pick up the goods."

The blacksmith asked, "Do you have any weapons? Bows and arrows, swords and so on." "You need..." "Someone in my family wants to join the army. He'll be fighting on the front lines to protect our country. Let me see if you have any. The child is active and patriotic. As elders, we can only support him." The blacksmith said, "Come with me, both of you." The blacksmith walked into the house and said, "Young men, take a stool and climb onto the beam." Jiaxing climbed onto the beam and took down a large bag. The blacksmith opened it and Chai Zhen saw that it was a suit of armor. Jiaxing helped to open it. The chain mail chest guard and the bronze mirror were shining yellow. Chai Zhen knocked on the golden helmet with his hand and it was very solid. The blacksmith said, "Even a sledgehammer can't break it. There is a hard metal inside. I'm giving it to you. This is left by our ancestors. I didn't use it. I feel sorry for my ancestors. I'll give it to the right person." Chai Zhen said, "I'm grateful for your kindness, brother. My name is Chai Zhen. I'm from Taohua Village in this county. If you have any questions, just tell me. I'll do whatever I can. You can find me anytime." "Okay." The blacksmith went to another room and fumbled out a weapon, a gun with a red tassel on the head. The blacksmith presented it with both hands, "This is a set," Jiaxing took it. Not knowing what to say, he looked at his grandfather, then at the blacksmith, and then he knelt down with a plop and kowtowed three times. The blacksmith helped Jiaxing up and said, "This is what our ancestors left us. It was ruined in my hands. I feel sorry for our ancestors. I give it to you so that you can make use of it. I will also be proud, and our ancestors will be pleased. No more words." Tears welled up in the old blacksmith's eyes. "You can make the saddle yourself." Chai Zhen patted the blacksmith on the shoulder and said, "Brother, I still say the same thing. Great favors are not to be thanked. I, Chai Zhen, have remembered it today. You are the benefactor of our Chai family. When you can't work anymore, our Chai family will take care of you in your old age. You are our relative, and we will be a family from now on. Jiaxing, go get some good wine and some snacks. Grandpa wants to drink a few cups."

Blacksmith Li said, "I'd better start the furnace and make some for you as soon as possible. We can't miss the spring plowing." "Okay, okay, I'll watch the fire."

A short while later, Jiaxing returned with a large jar of wine and food. As he entered, he called out, "Grandpa, look what I bought! The innkeeper said this is the best wine." Jiaxing fetched a bowl, but couldn't find a cup. He opened the jar, poured the wine into two bowls, and sniffed. "It smells so good! Grandpa, the blacksmith, come and try some!" He handed the bowl to the blacksmith, who dropped his tools, took the bowl, sniffed it, and said, "Good wine!" He took a sip, paused, and said, "Good wine, good wine." Jiaxing said, "The innkeeper wasn't lying. It's okay." Chai Zhen told Jiaxing to drive the oxcart, "Go buy nine more jars. No, go ask the innkeeper how much he has left and see how much he has left. Then buy them all." "Okay, Grandpa, I'll go now," Jiaxing said, and left, catching the oxcart. A short while later, Jiaxing returned with the cart, carrying over twenty large jars of wine, filling it to the brim. There were two layers of wine. Chai Zhen stepped forward and said, "Untie the ropes and move it down. Brother Blacksmith, find a room to put the wine." "Brother Chai, this is too much." Chai Zhen said, "Leave twelve jars of wine on one layer." The three of them carried it down, and Jiaxing said, "The shopkeeper said that one jar weighs fifty kilograms, and these jars are custom-made. This is one thousand two hundred kilograms of wine." "Okay, Brother Blacksmith, drink two bowls every night when you rest, and have a good sleep. Don't drink too much, it's good for your health." "Okay, I'll listen to Brother Chai." After unloading the twelve jars of wine, Jiaxing tied up the jars on the cart and watched the cart. Chai Zhen tore off a chicken leg and gave it to Jiaxing, "Eat it, grandpa and Grandpa Blacksmith will have a drink." "Go ahead. "Grandpa." Jiaxing brought his water bottle, ate a few bites of meat, drank a sip of water, and ate some fragrant leavened bread he brought from home. After eating, he fed the cows. He put a mat under the armrest of the cart and let the cows go. Jiaxing fed the cows the same way as the fourth brother, just like feeding a child. He fed the cows grass, soybeans, and water, and stroked their hair with his hands. He said, "Brother Huang, eat more. Whatever I eat in our family, there will be food for you."

The blacksmith also saw the scene outside and felt relieved. He hadn't entrusted the job to the wrong person. Chai Zhen toasted him, saying, "Drink more, brother. Let's eat some meat." Chai Zhen asked, "Brother, are you the only one left?" Blacksmith Li said, "Yes, I was a soldier in the war when I was young. I missed the chance to start a family. I was injured and couldn't go back to the battlefield. With no one at home, I ended up here, and I've been here for all these years. I'm old and don't want to move anymore, so I just make do with this." Chai Zhen asked, "Brother, don't you take an apprentice?" "This work is tiring, and there aren't many. I can only do it on my own, and no one wants to do this job." "That's true." Chai Zhen continued, "Brother, there are many young people in our village. I'll ask around and see if anyone is willing to learn, work with you, give you a hand, and cook for you and take care of you. What do you think?" "Okay, I'll find one for you when I get back. Give it a try. If you're suitable, you can stay. If not, we won't keep you. No wages, just food." "Then give it a try. My job is okay. If you can do it, then find one." The two men agreed they got along well. After dinner, Jiaxing washed the dishes and cleaned up. Chai Zhen said goodbye to the blacksmith, "Don't tire yourself out, old man. There's no rush. Get some rest." He then clasped his hands and said goodbye. The old blacksmith stood at the door, watching the oxcart drive away, then went into the kitchen to boil some water, then cooled it. He didn't rest any more and got back to work.

On the way, Jiaxing said, "Grandpa, are we going to buy anything else?" Chai Zhen said, "Let's see if there's any candy to buy while we're walking..."

They arrived home at nightfall and drove the ox cart in from the west gate all the way to the new house at the east end. Many family members followed to help unload the cart. Wine, meat, and cloth were all black, along with more than ten chicks. Jiaxing wrapped the box and handed it to Grandma Li. Grandma Li took the yellow chicks and carried them to the west room. It was still cold in the morning and evening, so they kept them in the house for a few days. As soon as Grandma Li put them down, the chicks started chirping with hunger, and the children ran around. A group of children reached out to grab them, "Ouch," said Grandma Li, "children, be gentle, don't catch them to death, be gentle, we will raise them and eat eggs when they grow up." Zhang Baohua went to find food to feed the chickens and weave chicken coops.

In the new east house, the wine and meat were unloaded. A large piece of meat was cut off, and the rest was put into a basket by Jiaxing and dropped into the well. Cloth was placed on the bed to make spring clothes. There were also a few bags of sugar, which were taken to the kitchen.

Old Lady Li cut the meat into pieces, placed it in a large pot, added water, and seasonings, then simmered the meat. Millet and pumpkin porridge, leavened scallion pancakes, and Xuanxuan's steamed buns with braised Chinese cabbage were served. Everyone ate. The men set up the large table in the safe room, while the women and children settled in the west room. Laughter and joy filled the air. There's no custom in farmers to avoid talking while eating. When the men's table finished, Old Lady Li brought tea, fruit, and melon seeds. They savored the brief moment, usually so busy that they were always busy.