Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

It was getting dark, so Old Lady Li first scooped out a big chicken leg and a bowl of chicken soup for the fourth son's wife, and served it to her.

She took another bowl and filled it with two halves of chicken soup. She tore open a chicken leg and gave it to the two grandsons. She also picked up two chicken wings, one for each grandson, and nibbled on them. Old Lady Li took two spoons and placed the two halves of chicken soup on the stone table in the yard. She held her youngest grandson and sat him on a stool. She said, "You two brothers, eat while Grandma goes to the fields. When you're done, go to Fourth Aunt's room." Huanhuan nodded. Old Lady Li patted her grandson's head, stood up, and walked toward the gate. She turned, closed the gate, and headed back to the fields.

Along the way, crops ripened on both sides, bearing abundant fruit everywhere. The sorghum was the tallest, its ears bent with smiles. The cowpeas were harvested by the dikes, ready to be picked. They were so tempting that anyone with dirty hands would pick them for you, as everyone else went to work on the larger plots. Old Lady Li arrived at her own plot and hurried forward, shouting, "No more harvesting, tomorrow." She went to help Old Man Chai fill the baskets and carry them back. The eldest daughter-in-law carried a large bundle. The second daughter-in-law helped the eldest sister-in-law lift it onto her shoulders and handed her the sickle. She went back first. Old Lady Li helped her three sons fill the baskets and put away the four sickles. She then went to help the second daughter-in-law collect her sickle. The second daughter-in-law also carried a large bundle on her back. Old Lady Li, holding five sickles, picked up another large bundle and went home together. The three sons made another trip to pick all the harvest they had harvested that day.

At home, the two daughters-in-law had already prepared water for washing their hands and set the table for dinner. A large plate of cabbage stewed in chicken soup was filled with a small dish of pickled vegetables. Millet flour flatbreads and plenty of porridge would also fill their stomachs.

Grandma Li specially rolled noodles for the fourth daughter-in-law. She filled a large bowl and asked the fourth daughter-in-law to take it to his wife. She also filled two small bowls for her two little grandchildren. Grandma Li first let Huanhuan sit down and eat, then brought Hengheng over, placed him on a padded seat, and picked up the chopsticks to feed Hengheng. "My little grandson, eat more, grow strong, and grow tall soon." Hengheng ate with a smile. The second daughter-in-law said, "Mom, let Hengheng eat by himself. You've worked all day and you must be tired." Grandma Li glanced at the second daughter-in-law and said nothing. She was happy that she was willing to feed her own grandson.

As darkness fell, Old Lady Li asked everyone to bathe and change into clean clothes. The large shed they had built from sorghum stalks didn't distinguish between men and women; the men bathed first. Since the Li family was large, they had built several large wooden barrels specifically for bathing. After the men finished, Wang Min and Zhang Baohua bathed the children, and finally it was Old Lady Li and her two daughters-in-law's turn. By the time everyone had washed up, it was past the hour of Hai (around 9 p.m. today). Old Lady Li asked the two daughters-in-law to put the two grandchildren to bed first. Old Lady Li asked Old Man Chai to lock the gate to the courtyard. She whispered, "Everyone, go to the fourth son's room." Actually, even if Old Lady Li spoke loudly, the neighbors wouldn't hear her; the houses were far apart. Old Lady Li was cautious, and she couldn't let anything go wrong. Her little granddaughter's safety was at stake.

All the adults in the family arrived, each taking a small stool. Old Lady Li walked to the foot of the bed, unloaded the clothes from the box, and with both hands, pulled out a large piece of meat and placed it on the ground. The whole family stood up in shock. What the...?! No one was speechless. It was the fourth child who reacted quickly. "Mom, what's going on?!" Old Lady Li said, "Keep your voice down and sit down." Finally, Old Lady Li calmed down and said, "It suddenly appeared in this room." "Fourth child's wife, tell me," she continued. Everyone turned to look at her. Li Ru looked at her daughter and said, "This afternoon, I was feeding the baby." Li Ru lowered her head. "My milk wasn't good, and the baby always felt hungry. I was upset. The baby looked at me, as if she'd noticed. She stretched out her little hand and shook it. With a snap, the half piece of meat appeared on the ground."

Li Ru looked up at everyone, feeling a little uneasy. She didn't know what to do...

Everyone's hearts had calmed down by then. Old Lady Li came over to her granddaughter and looked at her. Little Guoguo had a smile on her face, her little mouth twitching as if she were eating something or having a sweet dream. Haha, so beautiful. Old Man Chai came over with his pipe and looked at his granddaughter. He had seen her since she was born. Three days later, she'd changed. Children change every day. The eldest and his wife, the second and his wife, all gathered around to look at their niece.

"Guoguo is so pretty." "Guoguo is so young, but you can tell she'll be a big beauty when she grows up." "This is our little lucky girl."

Old Man Chai's words were still pertinent. "This is our family's treasure. God sees that we ordinary people are living in hardship and has come to bless us." Finally, Old Man Chai issued a death order. "No one in our family can tell anyone about our daughter. Everyone, come and protect Guoguo."

"This is Fubao!!" The whole family will remember it!

Old Man Chai touched the child's head and said, "Grandpa wishes you to grow up safely! Grandpa is afraid that it will harm your fortune! Grandpa loves you!"

This meat, the child has a heart, born with wisdom. Old Man Chai said, "Fourth child, get a knife. Old woman, boil water. Eldest child, get a rope and a new basket." Fourth child brought the knife and handed it to his father. Old Man Chai cut off four or five pounds of meat with one stroke and handed it to Old Woman, "Cook it and offer it to the gods later." Old Man Chai cut the remaining meat into small pieces and placed them in the new basket. He then had the eldest child tie the basket with a rope and lower it into the family well, securing the rope to the well frame. When it was time to eat, the basket could be lifted out of the water; if not, it could be left in the well for safety.

The family finally felt at ease. Old Mrs. Li was cooking meat in the kitchen. The eldest son and his wife, the second son and his wife, and the fourth son and his father were picking up sickles to cut the ears of grain.

The granddaughter woke up, looked at her mother and blinked, which meant it was time to change her diaper. These days, Li Ru understood what the child meant. She opened the quilt, took out the wet cloth, replaced it with dry cloth, wrapped the quilt, picked up the child and fed her. Li Ru drank the chicken soup and felt her milk was full. This time, her daughter would definitely be full.

The little girl was sweating while eating. "Gudong, Gudong", Li Ru was happy that the child was full.