Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

At midnight, Chai Zhen, Jia Le, Jia Yu, and Little Nai Bao drove a horse-drawn carriage to the county. "Grandpa, is the County Magistrate's carriage ready?" Chai Zhen said, "Let's go ask." "Fourth Brother, when we're there, you go and ask on horseback." "Also, go see Head Escape Master Li and have those twenty men come and explain they're going to the capital." "Guo Guo, let's pay for their expenses! They have families to support too." "Yes, Grandpa. The capital is far. Daddy, ask Master Li. You decide how much to pay." Chai Zhen took out two silver notes and told the fourth brother to exchange them for silver. He took them. Little Nai Bao gave him a bag with a drawstring. It was a sturdy white canvas bag.

They arrived at the county town, and the fourth brother left. Jiale drove the carriage, and Chai Zhen gave instructions. They arrived at the blacksmith's shop. Chai Zhen said, "Jiale, tie up the carriage. Go buy some meat." He whispered to Guoguo, "Bring out some rice and flour." "Okay, Grandpa." "Two bags of flour and one bag of rice." Okay. They got off the carriage. Chai Zhen carried Guoguo into the blacksmith's shop. "Hello, old man." The old blacksmith saw Chai Zhen and said, "Why are you here today?" Chai Zhen said, "I'm here to find work for you again." Little Milk Bag took out a blueprint and handed it to the old blacksmith. "Grandpa, take a look. Can you do it?" "This one's fine. It's not difficult." "Great-grandfather, how many should we make?" "Twenty," the old blacksmith said. "Sure." The little milk bag said something. The old blacksmith understood, "Come back in a few days." Little Milk Bag took out another blueprint and showed it to the old blacksmith. The old blacksmith looked at it and shook his head. Even after breaking it down, the old blacksmith couldn't make it. Xiang Xiang said, "I can't make it, but I remember when I was still in the army, there was a weapons forger who could make all kinds of hidden weapons. They had strange shapes." Little Milk Bag said, "Grandpa Blacksmith, do you remember this guy?" "Let me think about it. It was six years ago, on the battlefield of Qilian State. The enemy was strong, and our army was only able to win thanks to these advanced weapons. Back then, I remember a young prince brought many talented people to forge new weapons, which gave us the advantage. Sleeve arrows, bows, crossbows, flying needles." The old blacksmith looked at the blueprint again and said, "Here are some simple steps. I can make a few parts, but not most." "If we can find these people, we might be able to make it." "What is this?" Little Milk Bag said, "It's a wheat thresher. Wheat goes in through a connecting rod, and out comes the seeds. It's hand-cranked. It can also be replaced by electricity." The old blacksmith didn't understand. "Grandpa, do you know the prince's name?" "He's the current emperor's younger brother, named Ye..." "Ye Heng." "Yes, Ye Heng." "The little kid looked at Chai Zhen, and they looked at each other and smiled. "Grandpa Blacksmith, make whichever one you think can make it. The drawings are all with you." "Okay, I'll keep them." Chai Zhen saw a child and asked, "Brother Blacksmith, where did you find this child?" The blacksmith: "It's Huo Hua. I bought him. He's also a poor child, without a father or a mother. He learned blacksmithing from me, and he can also have something to eat." Chai Zhen: "Okay, you have someone to keep you company. I said I would find one for you, but I haven't found one yet. Huo Hua, you can buy him and treat him as your own child." "What's his name?" The old blacksmith: "Huo Hua named him and said he would take my last name. So I named him Wen, Wen Xiaoming." The little kid asked, "Brother Xiaoming, how old are you?" Xiaoming said shyly, "I'm eight years old." "Then where are your parents?" "Xiao Ming lowered his head. The old blacksmith said, "Guoguo, this child is pitiful. Both his parents are gone. He fled from famine and was sold here by human traffickers. I don't know how many hands he has passed through." He was lucky to be bought by Huo Hua." Chai Zhen said, "Xiao Ming will settle down here. This will be your home from now on." "It's Grandpa Chai." Chai Zhen asked the old blacksmith, "Does Huo Hua come to you to learn blacksmithing?" "Yes, often." "I didn't expect Huo Hua to like this business." The little milk bag said. "Grandpa is making a few big pots, right? We don't have any at home?" "Okay, just make... " "Five big pots. There will be more people when Brother Ye comes." "Okay, five." Jiale came back. He bought a big piece of pork and some vegetables. Chai Zhen said, "Jia Le will cook. Grandpa and Guoguo will go for a walk outside." "Okay. Don't think I'm not doing well."

Chai Zhen held the little girl in his arms and said, "Guoguo, what do you want to do?" "Let's take a look first, Grandpa." Chai Zhen carried her to the busiest street. "Grandpa, there are too many people." "Let's go to the street next to the county government office. It's cleaner." "Okay, let's go." The county government office was on the east side, and at the west end of the street, there was a two-story shop for sale. "Grandpa, take a look!" Okay, Guoguo, do you want to buy the shop? "Yes. I can sell the food we can't eat at home." Chai Zhen: "Let's go in and take a look." "Is anyone here?" "Who?" Someone came out and asked, "Old man, is there anything I can do for you?" Chai Zhen: "I want to ask if you want to buy this shop?" "Yes, my master wants to go back to his hometown and won't be coming out again." "How much?" "If you want to buy it, I'll go find the master. Wait a moment, old man, and have a seat." The waiter went to find the owner. A short while later, a middle-aged man arrived and said, "Excuse me, old man, do you want to buy this shop?" Chai Zhen had just looked around and saw that there was a large yard in the back. "Then come with me and take a look. The shop is about the same size, with two floors. Come up and take a look." Chai Zhen carried Little Milk Bag upstairs. The stairs were made of sturdy wood. Going up, they saw that it wasn't small either. Just like the stairs down below, they were all empty. Chai Zhen walked to the window. There was a house facing the street. The walls were quite thick, about 70% new. He went downstairs again. "Old man, go take a look at the small courtyard at the back. There are three rooms, a kitchen, a warehouse, and a small piece of land with crops planted in it. There's a well next to it." Little Milk Bag whispered in Great Grandfather's ear, "This shop is good." Chai Zhen looked at Guoguo and smiled. He was a little smart. Chai Zhen asked, "How much does the owner want for it?" "Three hundred taels!" "There's no need to clean up this shop. Just sweep it up and you can use it. The procedures can be completed now. The deed is here." You can move in in three days. The keys can be given to you today. "Since you've mentioned this, I won't bargain anymore. I want to be clean." "Then we'll do the transfer procedures today." "Okay, okay. I'll go find someone."

After a while, three people arrived. The owner introduced himself, "I'm Zong Liang, from Datong Prefecture, Shanxi Province." "These are prominent figures in the county." "My name is Zong Liang." Ma Facai. Zhao Jiaju. Chai Zhen also stood up and saluted. "I'm from Taohua Village, my surname is Chai, and my name is Chai Zhen." "Zong Liang is a teacher at the school. I'd like to invite you all to be witnesses. I'd like you to write the transfer document, the house deed, on my behalf." The three also signed their names. The clerk brought pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and Zong Liang wrote two copies. Both families signed their names, and the owner went to the government office to stamp them. A quarter of an hour later, he returned and gave the deed to Chai Zhen, who handed over a three-hundred-liang silver note to the owner. The deed was written under the name Chai Jin.

"Grandfather!" "Guoguo, tell me when you get home." Chai Zhen checked the deed and put it in his underwear pocket.

Everyone, Chai Zhen is leaving. We will treat you to a meal next time. "Okay." "Okay." Several people bowed and said goodbye.

Great-grandfather went to the cloth shop. "Okay. I'll go right away." "What would you like to eat, Guoguo?" Little Milk Bag said, "I'll go home for dinner later." They arrived at the cloth shop. "Why is everything black and gray?" the waiter said, "Look, there are other colors. I'll go get some." The waiter took a few steps and brought out a large batch of dark blue cloth. Little Milk Bag touched it and looked at it. It looked okay. He asked, "How much is this cloth?" "Three taels of silver." "Waiter, wrap it up." Chai Zhen took out three taels of silver and gave it to the waiter. The waiter took the silver, found a large piece of white cloth, wrapped it up, and handed it to Chai Zhen. Little Milk Bag asked, "Brother, what other cloth do you have?" "Black, gray, and white. I shook my head and said, 'There's nothing left.'" "Bring the white cloth over here." The waiter brought out two rolls of white cloth. Little Milk Bag touched them and thought, 'Not bad,' he thought. "How much are they?' The waiter said, 'Three taels and two qian of silver a piece.' "I'll take both of them.' "Grandpa, pay for them." "Okay." Chai Zhen took out a ten-tael ingot and gave it to the waiter, who gave him three taels and six qian of silver in change. Chai Zhen asked, "Brother, can you help me with the delivery?" "Sure." The waiter carried the three rolls of cloth, locked the shop door, and followed Chai Zhen to the blacksmith's house. Chai Zhen said, "Brother, have a drink of water." "Okay, I'll just take a break and have a drink." Little Milk Bag went downstairs, and Chai Zhen went to get some water. "Drink, little brother." Little Milk Bag staggered to the kitchen to wash a few apples. Chai Zhen was startled and quickly took them. After washing the apples, Chai Zhen brought them to the yard and said, "Xiao Ming, have one for you," and gave one to the waiter. The little boy picked it up and started chewing it. The clerk took a few sips of water and said, "Sir, I'm leaving now. I have to open the shop." "Take the apples." "Okay, I'll come back when you buy more cloth." "Okay."

The meal was ready and served on the table in the yard. The blacksmith stopped working and washed his hands. They sat down to eat. Chai Zhen said, "Xiao Ming, eat more." "Thank you, Grandpa."

After dinner, Jiale moved the rice and noodles into the kitchen and said, "Grandpa Blacksmith, I put the rice and noodles in the kitchen, and the meat is also in the kitchen. You can decide where to put them. You can arrange them. We are leaving." Chai Zhen said, "Brother, can you calculate the total amount? It's for twenty plowshares and five pots." The old blacksmith said, "You can pay when you come to pick up the goods." "Okay, I'll give you ten taels as a deposit first." Chai Zhen took out ten taels of silver and gave it to the old blacksmith. "Okay, I'll take it." Jiale harnessed the carriage and loaded the cloth onto it. Chai Zhen picked up Guoguo and walked out. The little milk bag looked at Xiao Ming again. The old blacksmith said, "Come again." "Yes, come next time." "Eat well, old brother. I'm waiting for you to quit your job and come to our village to retire." "Okay, I get it. I will."