Ch 4: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

After hearing Yu Qingshan’s thoughts, Yao Cuifen mused, “Yang Xizhi works at the food processing plant. The pay and benefits there are among the best, definitely top-tier. Just last New Year, every worker got a can of fruit and half a pound of sugar as a bonus.” These were rare luxuries.

Qin Fengmao thought for a moment and said, “It takes connections to secure a replacement for a retiring position without any family ties. Last time, I heard a food plant official mention at the state-run restaurant that an accountant at their factory is about to retire. Her children already have jobs, so there’s no one to take her place. Xiao An, with her high school diploma, might have a shot at that position.”

Yu Xianghai was surprised. “Uncle, will the food plant openly recruit for the position?”

Qin Fengmao shook his head. “No, it’s just one spot. There won’t be any public recruitment. I remember the official also mentioned he has a nephew from the countryside with no education. There’s an opening, but the nephew isn’t qualified to fill it. He can’t even work as a temporary hire because they don’t need more hands. But now, this situation might be an opportunity.”

Yao Cuifen and Qin Qiang quickly understood his meaning.

Yu Qingshan, initially puzzled, thought it through and understood as well.

With the scandal hanging over Zhou Boyang and Ding Minxiu, Yang Xizhi wouldn’t dare refuse a job for Xiao An. However, directly taking over the retiring accountant’s position could leave room for future trouble. It would be better to secure Xiao An’s entry into the plant through a private arrangement.

In the current climate, no factory was openly hiring, as most positions were already filled.

The food plant official wanted to help his nephew secure a job, but it was challenging given the circumstances. If both families reached an agreement, the official could privately arrange an interview. Xiao An, with her high school diploma, could join as an accountant. This would free up the retiring position for the official’s nephew, who could start as a temporary worker. After a few years of good performance, transitioning to a permanent role wouldn’t be difficult.

Yu Xianghai glanced at his grandparents, his father, and his uncle, confused. “What are you all talking about? I don’t understand.”

Yu Qingshan waved him off, annoyed by his slowness. “Think about it—two positions, two people.”

Yu Xianghai paused. “…” He was starting to get it. But could it really be this easy? Was getting a job really as simple as this?

Yao Cuifen sighed. “We’ll need to confirm some details. This can’t be delayed. Graduation isn’t far off, and it’s best to secure the job before then. With a job in hand, there’s no need to go to the countryside.”

Her words reminded Yu Xianghai of the betrayal. The thought of Zhou Boyang planning to add his sister’s name to the rural assignment list reignited his fury.

If only he weren’t already employed, he would’ve wanted Zhou Boyang to taste the hardship of being sent to the countryside himself.

The Zhou family was relatively well-off. As an only son, Zhou Boyang didn’t have any siblings, let alone brothers. His grandfather retired years ago, and he took over his position right after finishing middle school. Besides his grandfather, his grandmother, father, and mother were all formal employees, giving the family four stable incomes. His grandmother’s position had originally been intended for his future wife.

Yao Cuifen sneered. “The Zhou family spoiled that only child rotten. They’ll regret it later.”

The Zhou family had only one heir across three generations. Naturally, he was treated like a precious gem, protected and pampered. But now, he’d done something so vile that it was hard to imagine he wouldn’t repeat it in the future.

As for Ding Minxiu, she was far too naive. Even if she managed to marry into the Zhou family because of her pregnancy, she’d never earn the respect of the elders. If her first child turned out to be a girl, her hardships would only multiply.

Qin Qiang turned to his son-in-law. “What do you plan to do about her? It takes two to tango.”

Yu Qingshan’s expression grew heavy. He couldn’t understand why she would do such a thing. With a long sigh, he said, “I believe I’ve been a good stepfather. What she did shows no regard for me or the Yu family. She always seemed decent enough, but now it feels like a slap in the face. I don’t even know if Qiaoniang knows about this.”

If she did, it would be an even greater blow.

Yao Cuifen sighed deeply as well. It was such a pity that her daughter, Fenglan, had passed, leaving behind a newborn son with no one to care for him. Her son-in-law was still young, so no one objected when he remarried. The Qin family had vetted Zhao Qiaoniang, finding her mild-mannered and with no better prospects. They assumed she would take good care of young Yu Xiangju. As for her daughter, who was already of marriageable age, they figured she would be married off in a few years, which would be fair for both mother and daughter.

But who would’ve thought that Ding Minxiu, after eating Yu family’s food and living under their roof, would shamelessly snatch Xiao An’s fiancé?

It was important to note that Ding Minxiu’s household registration had always been with her father, yet all the food and resources she used came from the Yu family. After raising her for years, they ended up nurturing an ungrateful wolf.

Seeing Yu Qingshan’s heavy expression, Yao Cuifen pressed further, “What if she knew about this?”

Yu Qingshan’s face twitched. “If she was involved, then this marriage won’t work anymore.”

Deep down, he wanted to believe that she didn’t know. He didn’t think she had the guts for it. After living under the same roof for so long, he prided himself on his ability to judge character. She didn’t seem like someone with such schemes. If she had meddled, he doubted he would have missed the signs.

Yao Cuifen didn’t pursue the topic further. “We need evidence. Tomorrow, I’ll find time to look into things myself.”

Qin Fengmao nodded. “I’ll visit the food factory and see what I can find out.” As a state-run restaurant chef, he had connections with the factory official who enjoyed his cooking.

Qin Qiang assigned himself a task as well: “I’ll check things out on the Zhou family’s side.”

Yu Xianghai looked around, unsure of what to do. “What about me? What can I do?”

Yu Qingshan replied, “You pretend you don’t know anything. Stay out of it for now and don’t spread the word. Don’t even tell your wife about this.” His son lacked the restraint needed for such delicate matters. If he acted on impulse and revealed things prematurely, it could cause unnecessary trouble.

Yu Xianghai gave a bitter laugh. “Dad, I’m not stupid. Have a little faith in me.”

He was fuming inside but held back his anger. These two would eventually face consequences, but for now, he needed to endure.

As it grew late, everyone returned home.

Zhao Qiaoniang had already gone to bed, but when she saw Yu Qingshan return, she got up to prepare water for his bath.

After bathing, Yu Qingshan went to stand outside Yu Xiang’an’s room. Hearing some movement inside, he cleared his throat and said, “I’m back. Go to bed early. Don’t worry about anything—Dad’s here.”

His words were meant to reassure her, and they worked. Yu Xiang’an felt significantly more at ease.

The next morning, Yao Cuifen arrived with a batch of jujube cakes. She handed a bowl of the cakes to Yu Xiangju, telling him to share them with their eldest cousin, Yu Mingjie, before sending him off to play. Once the house was quiet, she sat by Yu Xiang’an’s bed and stroked her head lovingly.

“Xiao An, don’t worry. We’ll make sure justice is served for you. Right now, focus on taking care of your body. Your health is the foundation for everything. Leave the rest to us elders.”

Even though Yu Xiang’an wasn’t the original owner of the body, those words filled her heart with warmth. Adapting to this new era hadn’t been easy, and she’d felt nervous, but it wasn’t without its perks. Just like her modern family, these relatives were kind and harmonious.

Yao Cuifen asked for the specific details of what Yu Xiang’an had overheard. After listening carefully, she left the jujube cakes and a handful of White Rabbit milk candies from her pocket behind. Before leaving, she whispered, “Keep these candies to yourself—no one else knows about them. They’re just for you, okay?”

Yu Xiang’an smiled, nearly tearing up at the familiar sentiment.

It reminded her of when she used to follow her grandfather around. Whenever he cooked something, he’d secretly give her a taste, always saying, “Here, try this. But don’t let your brother or sister know what Grandpa made for you, okay?”

After leaving Yu Xiang’an’s room, Yao Cuifen went next door to thoroughly search Ding Minxiu’s room. Eventually, she found two letters hidden under a loose wooden plank at the foot of the bed.

Comparing the handwriting, she confirmed it was Zhou Boyang’s. The letters were explicit in their content.

No wonder Ding Minxiu had risked keeping such things—they were love letters. Judging by the dates, the affair had been going on for almost six months.

Yao Cuifen’s body trembled with anger. She had once thought highly of Zhou Boyang, believing him to be a good match for her granddaughter. Who could have guessed he would turn out to be such a scoundrel? Luckily, her granddaughter discovered the truth in time, or she would have suffered greatly.

This situation called for ensuring that their scheming would backfire.

With that thought, Yao Cuifen pocketed the letters and carefully replaced the wooden plank to its original position.

While Yao Cuifen had made progress, Qin Qiang had less luck. Unable to enter the Zhou family home, he tried to gather information from neighbors but learned nothing significant. Still, the two letters were more than enough.

At midday, Yao Cuifen returned to the Yu household. She observed Ding Minxiu closely, noting the subtle physical differences between a young girl and a pregnant woman. Seizing an opportunity, she grabbed Ding Minxiu’s wrist and took her pulse. She had learned some basic skills years ago when her eldest son fell ill. While she couldn’t diagnose serious illnesses, determining pregnancy was within her abilities.

Once confirmed, she said nothing and left with a cold expression, leaving Ding Minxiu uneasy.

Had she done something wrong? Was Yao Cuifen afraid she might have stolen food? She glanced at the bowl of fish porridge in her hands, which she had made for Yu Xiang’an. Her grip on the bowl tightened.

When she was sick, only her mother ever showed concern for her. Delicacies like this were never made for her without approval.

Despite being close in age, the treatment she received compared to Yu Xiang’an’s was worlds apart. Why?

Still, her mood improved at the thought that Yu Xiang’an would soon be sent to the countryside. It wouldn’t be long now.

Yu Qingshan didn’t hide the unfolding situation from Yu Xiang’an. Based on her calm and mature demeanor, he believed she was old enough to understand. Learning how these matters were handled could benefit her in the future.

Meanwhile, Qin Fengmao had reached out to the food plant official, confirming that the accountant position would be vacated next month. The official’s rural nephew was still struggling to secure work, presenting an opportunity to arrange a private interview for Yu Xiang’an.

Yu Xiang’an remained composed after hearing the plan. Though she was reassured by her father’s support, he could see that she had suppressed her sadness. He comforted her, saying, “You know how rare a formal position is. Once we secure this job for you, I won’t let them off the hook so easily.”

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “Thank you, Dad.”

It was precisely because such positions were so rare that she had insisted on pursuing it. If she were sent to the countryside, returning would be almost impossible.

She wasn’t the original owner of this body. While she felt anger, true emotional resonance was hard to achieve.

This distance allowed her to rationally weigh the pros and cons. Exposing the affair outright might be satisfying, but it wouldn’t serve her long-term interests. Securing benefits first and planning her revenge later was the smarter approach.

There’s plenty of time ahead.

“We don’t need thanks between us,” Yu Qingshan sighed. “Does Qiaoniang know about this?”

Yu Xiang’an shook her head. “I don’t think she does.”

Yu Qingshan nodded. “I tested her. She likely doesn’t know.”

Relieved, he decided not to tell her. If she knew, what could she do? Support Ding Minxiu? Support the Yu family? It would only force her into an impossible position. Since she was unaware, it was better to keep it that way.

For now, he would conceal the truth—at least until the meeting between the two families.

The Zhou family received an invitation from the Yu family, saying there was a “major matter” to discuss. All five members of the Zhou family came.

A major matter? They assumed it was about the wedding. However, upon arriving at the Yu home, they sensed something was off.

The atmosphere was somber, with no trace of joy—only a heavy, tense air.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

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