Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

Sun Gui arrived at the Chai family early in the morning, "Second Uncle?" "Please sit down." Old Lady Li, Zhang Baohua and Juanzi were cooking. Juanzi put the meal on the table and Chai Zhen said, "Eat first." "Okay." Sun Gui ate it in one bite. It was delicious. How could you deny the scallion pancake! After eating, the two sat aside. Sun Gui: "Second Uncle, I think it's time to harvest the rice. I just don't know whether to harvest the rice with the stalks or just the ears." "Leave one less stalk so it's easier to carry." Either drain the water from the field and harvest it when the field is dry. Or harvest it in the water. Anything is fine, let's give it a try. Sun Gui: "I'm going to the meeting now." Sun Gui left in a hurry. Chai Zhen said to the family, "Let's clean up the cowshed today. We can't work tomorrow. Even if we have to make a fence with sticks, we have to finish it today. Fourth brother, go call your new uncle and his family." "Okay, Grandpa, I'll go right away."

Soon, everyone in the Chai family had reached the east side. Chai Zhen said, "We can't build the north wall anymore." Chai Ping'an said, "Dad's hemp stalks are sturdy enough to use as sticks." "Okay, let's get started." Both men and women worked, the women taking them while the men stuck them into the soil. Old Lady Li also found some rattan and started weaving. Little Naibao was walking unsteadily, and Chai Ye took her hand, saying, "Hold on, sister, don't fall." "Thank you, brother." Li Qi joined in, and Li Jingwen also tried his hand at weaving. Chai Xin, Chai Pai, Chai Shuai, and his wife all arrived, and finally all the sorghum stalks were used. Everyone laughed and talked as they worked.

The sound of horse hooves clattered into everyone's ears. "Shh..." the carriage stopped, and the child inside shouted, "The adults are here, get off."

People saw the curtain part, revealing a young face. Then, he stepped out and dismounted from the carriage. Seeing so many people looking at him, his face flushed slightly. He lowered his head, paused briefly, then raised it again, his mind resolute. He didn't understand. He thought he'd done well, but the emperor had demoted him. This journey... for nearly a month, every day, except for sleep, was filled with thoughts. Until today, when he saw this village, he finally understood. He stopped thinking. Since he was here, he might as well make the best of it. He stepped forward and said, "Excuse me, who is Chai Zhen?" "Grandpa, someone's looking for you?" the little kid shouted. The shout was heard by everyone in the room. Hahaha. "My daughter has a voice like mine," the fourth child said proudly. Li Ru glared at him. Chai Zhen clapped his hands and clothes and approached. "I am He Shouyi." "I'm He Shouyi, here to hire your village teacher." He took out his diploma and household registration and handed it to Chai Zhen. Li Jingwen saw from afar that even last year's top scholar had arrived. Chai Zhen looked at the household registration documents, "You're from the capital?!" "Yes." "Who asked you to come?" "The emperor asked me to come here for training." "I can teach my students to learn culture. This is a former Wen Pin." Chai Zhen looked carefully. It was clearly the top scholar! How could he come to their small village? Thinking of the letter from the prince saying that a teacher would be coming soon, he confirmed, "Okay, okay. Hongying, go back and arrange for accommodation." "Yes, Dad." Li Hongying walked over and said, "Who is this?" "Sister-in-law, just call me Shouyi." "Come with me." The little boy drove the cart, and Li Ru and Zhang Baohua also went home to cook.

Old lady Li was also worried about where to stay. Well, let's eat first. Old lady Li asked the carriage to stop and the boy led the horse out. "Take it to the cowshed," and went to fetch horse feed to feed the horse. The boy was stunned to see the soybeans. Such a good thing to feed the horse, and then poured water, and then walked away. "Come on, kid, wash up and eat something, it's such a long way." Zhang Baohua and Li Ru had already made two bowls of noodles and served them on the table. "Eat, we'll arrange accommodation after you eat." He Shouyi said, "Thank you, sister-in-law." "It's not easy for you. It must take more than a month to walk from the capital to here?" "Yes, it took one and a half months."

Chai Zhen returned, thinking he had no place to live at home, and thought of looking for Sun Gui. He washed his hands and left. Chai Zhen walked towards the school, called out to Sun Gui, and said, "The teacher is here, from the capital. The prince sent a letter two days ago saying he was looking for a teacher for us, and now there are two of them. I have no place to live at home, do you think yours can accommodate me?" "Yes, how about this? Let the teacher live here, and I'll go back home." "Okay, then hurry up and build a house." "The emperor's people haven't left yet. It's getting cold, and we need a place to live." "After a few days, after we harvest the grain and plant the land, we'll build it. If that doesn't work, we can go to the county to recruit workers." "Yes, that's one way." "Pack up quickly, I'll bring it over later." "Okay." "I'm leaving." This went on day after day. Sun Gui quickly packed up his things, leaving all the pots and pans behind. He only took his clothes and the four treasures of the study and swept the floor.

After He Shouyi finished his meal, Chai Zhen asked Old Lady Li to bring out a sheet and two sets of bedding. He said, "I'll take you two to your residence and bring in the bedding." The boy went to harness the carriage. "Alright," he said, putting the bedding inside. "Let's go," the boy drove, while He Shouyi and Chai Zhen walked. When they reached the river, He Shouyi said, "Uncle, what are those crops growing by the river?" "These are precious. Time to pick them. Every one of them will sell for money." "What are they?" "These are watermelons. They're so sweet. They were just planted this year. This first batch is for the Emperor. It'll be ready in the next day or two." "Come to my house for dinner tonight. I'll open one for you to try."

Heading east, the village entrance is the school. Sun Gui will be waiting at the gate, "You're here! Pull the cart in." Unload the cart. Children load the cart, one by one. Chai Zhen and Sun Gui help, and He Shouyi also takes his books. Sun Gui looks on with envy: six large boxes. He steps forward to carry them, "Thank you, Master." "I'm just a scholar. I haven't learned much." "You're the village chief," He Shouyi compliments. "Your village is great! It's all thanks to you." It's rare for a scholar to become a village chief. No wonder this village is so prosperous.

Soon the beds were made, and Chai Zhen said, "You guys clean up, take a break, and come to my house for dinner tonight." "Okay, thank you, uncle." Sun Gui also said, "Let's take a break. We'll arrange the class time when we're not tired." "Okay, Village Chief, you're busy."

He Shouyi asked the child to sleep in the same bed with him, saying, "There's no need to be so particular when you're away from home." The child, He Duo, said, "I'll go boil some water while you wash your feet." "From now on, don't call me 'Master' anymore. Call me 'Master' too." "I'll listen to you, 'Master.' I'll go boil some water."

The Chai family didn't rest at noon, but continued working after lunch. The wooden fence was sturdy, with a door in the southwest corner and another large gate due west.

By dusk, everything was packed. Chai Zhen said, "Let's make do with this for now." The stable roof was thickly padded, the troughs were installed, and the large bluestone water troughs were carved. Chai Zhen looked at it and said, "It could probably hold a hundred head." "The ground is smooth. Pick up the mess and smooth it out." Little Milk Bag came to Chai Zhen and said, "Grandpa, at midnight tonight, we're going to the county to buy some cows." "Okay, Grandpa, get the ox cart." The family worked together, and the work was quick and efficient. They happily returned home, the west yard just a few steps away. From now on, they would call it the East Yard and the West Yard.