Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

The next day, at dawn, the fourth son, Jiayu, along with twenty bodyguards, Chai Hua, and Jia Le, led their horses out. As soon as they left the house, the horses broke into a clattering gallop, "Gee, gee!" Sun Quan joined them. They practiced archery and mounted combat. They made a daily trip to the city, bringing back whatever game they caught along the way. Sometimes they practiced at night, day and night. Today, upon arriving at the city gate, they encountered the county magistrate. "Sir," Chai Hua said. Zhang Qingshan said, "This is the Minister of Works." The entire group dismounted and knelt on the ground. Minister Li said, "Everyone, get up." Zhang Qingshan said to Lord Li, "This is the people of Taohua Village. We're going to this place." "Let's go together." "Okay, okay. Chai Hua, fourth son, let's go together. As you say." The fourth son and his men mounted their horses and rode ahead, constantly chasing prey: rabbits, puppies.

At the hour of Mao, everyone returned to the village. Sun Quan rode home, calling out to his father. The fourth son took Li Shangshu to the school to sit for a while. The gatekeeper boiled water and poured tea; the imperial guards had gone to help. There were plenty of tables and benches, so the group sat down to rest.

Sun Gui came a little while later and asked if they had eaten. Zhang Qingshan said, "Son-in-law, hurry up and find someone to cook. We haven't even had breakfast yet." "Okay, I'll find someone to cook right away."

Zhang Qing arrived, bringing with him several women. They cooked millet porridge, pancakes, steamed buns, and stir-fried vegetables and meat. A wild boar had been killed the previous day, and there was still plenty left. The women busied themselves, and in over half an hour, the meal was ready. Sun Gui and Zhang Qingshan invited Minister Li and his group to eat.

The women continued to prepare lunch, and Sun Gui gathered a few men to butcher a pig for lunch. The village chief said everyone would be paid. The women said they would work even if they weren't paid, as they would eat well and save money for the family. They also offered to eat whatever children came, so Sun Gui was happy to invite anyone to come. With money in the village, every household was better off. What went into the big pot also went into the small bowls.

The Imperial Guards helped carry large bluestones and built pig, sheep, and chicken pens on the west side of the river, spaced apart to prevent the spread of disease. Someone said, "Wait until the brothers come again, and we can enjoy roasted whole lamb." Within a day, the common people and the soldiers were on friendly terms, demonstrating the infectious nature of the people here. "Everyone, work hard to build more and raise more pigs and sheep. Our village can sell them for money." "Yes, we can eat meat and make money at the same time." "We're not at risk yet." "Our village is great! I heard from my wife, after visiting her parents, that many people are asking about our village boys, and many families want to marry their daughters to our village." "We have to be selective too. Our village boys are all educated. We can't marry someone who's ignorant and will corrupt our next generation," someone said. "That's right. Go back and talk to my mother. Let her ask. He has to be gentle and polite." The Imperial Guards were shocked by this thought process, a level of awareness not even the ladies of the upper class in the capital had. Several of the Imperial Guards discussed their desire to live here. While life might be simple, it was free of intrigue. They could be alive one day and gone the next, unsure of the cause. They lived day by day, their lives hanging in the balance. A few close friends discussed making arrangements to provide for their families. "Let's go a little further north on the west side of the river and explore it tonight."

After finishing his meal, Minister Li was anxious to see the Regent. He hurriedly stood up and said, "Master Zhang, lead the way. We'll meet the prince." "Very well, we'll be off now." Sun Gui also hurriedly stood up, walking ahead, heading for the Chai residence. Seeing the prince, Minister Li quickly knelt, apologizing for being late. He lowered his head, not daring to look up. Ye Heng, happily playing with the little baby, held him in his arms, and without even looking up, asked, "Have you completed the task the emperor assigned you?" "I just arrived and haven't had time yet." "Go on with your work. You don't need to come to me. Just complete your task. It's a big deal. Go ahead," Ye Heng said, emphasizing the importance of what Minister Li was about to do. "I understand. I'll take my leave." Minister Li took two steps back and turned to leave.

Minister Li invited Zhang Qingshan to the courtyard. Chai Zhen arranged for them to sit under the tea shed. Old Lady Li picked up the kettle, poured tea, and walked away. Sun Gui also came forward to accompany him. Minister Li said, "I am the Minister of Works. Today I have brought the emperor's decree and I will not drink tea. Take me to the carpentry department." "Okay," said Sun Gui. He stood up and walked out. People came to Li Dong's house, and the Minister said, "This is the craftsman I brought from the Ministry of Works.

The emperor ordered these people to learn how to make waterwheels and bring back the emperor's rewards. He ordered the servants to bring them up, crates of rewards crammed into three large carriages. Minister Li continued, "This is a reward for your development of the waterwheel, which will benefit the nation and our Great Yan State. May it bring blessings to the world!" The people quickly knelt and kowtowed in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, long live the emperor."

Sun Gui said, "Li Dong and Jia He, you two should take care of it. Patiently teach each component." "Okay," Jia He said. The two men brought carpenters from the Ministry of Industry with them. They all brought tools. Li Dong saw that the tools they brought out were much better than his own. Some he had never seen before. He asked, "Can I see your tools?" The men didn't dare to object, but they remained silent. Jia He looked down on their attitude and said, "You want to learn how to make a waterwheel? That's a life skill in our village, and we can't just pass it on to you. Our village depends on it to support everyone." The men looked at each other. Minister Li, noticing they hadn't started yet, stepped forward. Jia He said, "Sir, we'd like to see the tools you brought?" "Sure," Minister Li said. Jia He called everyone over to come and see. They picked up their tools and examined them. Some said, "This part I made would work well with this tool." Li Dong said, "Take it and try it out." Everyone went to see and learn. He added, "Crafts are about learning from each other. Only by learning from each other can we innovate and create something unprecedented." "During this period, Li Dong has changed a lot, and Jia He has also learned a lot. No matter how busy they are, they all go to school to learn. They speak neither humbly nor arrogantly. They don't bully others, nor are they afraid of things.

The waterwheel was improved. Li Dong and Jia He discussed it and decided to build it. In the evening, Jia He told his grandfather about it. The Regent heard about it and sent his men to call the Minister of Works. Minister Li received the message and ran over, "What are your orders, Your Highness?" "Where do you get the carpentry tools for the Ministry of Works?" "We make them ourselves; we don't get them from outside," said Regent Ye Heng. "Please arrange for them to send twenty sets of carpentry tools. Come quickly." "Yes, I'll arrange it right away." Jia He said, "Thank you, Your Highness. We used the tools they brought to improve the waterwheel, and it makes the water flow faster." "They have good tools but can't create good things. The Ministry of Works has a bunch of useless people." The Regent continued, "Are twenty sets enough?" "It's not a big deal. If you need more, we'll find a blacksmith shop to make them." "How many carpenters do you have here?" "Thirty-two." "Then one set for each. I hope you can come up with more inventions." Ye Heng sent his men to inform Minister Li to make thirty-two sets. "Okay, Your Highness." The little milk bag said softly, "Your Highness." As soon as the little milk bag called out, Ye Heng said, "Didn't I tell you to call me brother? Am I that old?" The little milk bag said in a low voice, "But they all call you Your Highness." Ye Heng said, "They are them and you are you." "I just like it when you call me that." Chai Zhen touched his chin with his hand, smiled, and said nothing. Jia He was very happy to think that he could also have such a good tool. He and Li Dong thanked the prince and ran away, saying, "Go tell everyone the good news, we can also have a set of good tools."

These days, Sun Quan, the fourth brother, and twenty bodyguards stopped working in the fields and instead practiced martial arts outside. Ye Heng often coached them, and their skills improved dramatically. He explained to them the importance of combat and how to execute moves, emphasizing the importance of adapting their minds and avoiding rigid routines. He kept his eyes and ears alert. Sun Quan's grandfather also found him fine weapons, armor, and a warhorse. Zhang Qingshan had spent tens of thousands of taels of silver on a fine horse, spending his entire family's savings. Sun Quan remembered his grandfather's kindness to him.

These people would set aside time to study in the evenings. The fourth brother had a military manual by Sun Quan, which he copied and studied every day. The bodyguards followed suit, learning as much as they could to equip their brains.