Ch 5: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

The Yu family had a courtyard, as did their neighbors, keeping a decent distance between homes. Unlike the Zhou family, who lived in a row of single-story houses with thin walls, where a loud conversation could be heard clearly by their neighbors.

When the Zhou family arrived, they assumed the gathering was to discuss the joyous occasion of the marriage. They came in high spirits.

However, upon arrival, Zhou Boyang was immediately pulled aside by Yu Xianghai, who smiled grimly. “I need to have a private chat with him.”

Zhou Changshou, the Zhou family patriarch, took it as a sign of camaraderie between the two young men and waved them off. “Go ahead.” Discussions between the younger generation weren’t their concern. But he noted that the gathering was unusually formal. Present were the bride-to-be’s grandparents, Qin Qiang and Yao Cuifen, her uncle, Qin Fengmao, along with Yu Qingshan and Zhao Qiaoniang. Strangely, even Ding Minxiu was there.

Ding Minxiu herself felt out of place. She reined in her unease, exchanged a few pleasantries, and was about to excuse herself when Zhao Qiaoniang spoke.

“Minxiu, go boil some water and prepare tea.”

Just as Ding Minxiu was about to comply, Yu Qingshan stopped her. “Sit down. Don’t move. We’re addressing some matters today, and you’re involved.”

He then suddenly stood up, slamming his palm hard on the table, the loud bang startling everyone, including Zhao Qiaoniang. She looked at him in shock. “Why are you so angry all of a sudden?”

“Angry? Why shouldn’t I be angry?” Yu Qingshan retorted, glaring at Ding Minxiu. “Minxiu, do you dare to tell everyone the disgraceful thing you’ve done?”

Ding Minxiu’s fingers tightened nervously, her heart racing. In a trembling voice, she replied, “Dad, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Yu Qingshan’s tone hardened. “Don’t call me Dad. I’m not your father. A daughter like you? I don’t want, and I don’t dare to have.”

Zhao Qiaoniang’s face turned pale. “What do you mean by this?”

The Zhou family exchanged puzzled glances, unsure if they were there to witness Yu Qingshan scolding his daughter.

Turning to Zhou Changshou, Yu Qingshan declared, “You probably don’t know the good deeds your grandson and this girl have been up to. She’s already one month pregnant—with your family’s child!”

Ding Minxiu visibly trembled, her face ashen as her hand instinctively moved to protect her abdomen.

Zhao Qiaoniang stared at her husband in disbelief, her voice dry and cracking. “You’re joking, right? This isn’t funny at all. Stop this.”

“I’m not joking,” Yu Qingshan said firmly. “You know I don’t make jokes about things like this.”

He then looked back at Zhou Changshou. “This is no laughing matter. When I found out, I wanted to take a knife to the both of them.”

Yang Xizhi, Zhou Boyang’s grandmother, and Fang Rong, his mother, exchanged uneasy glances, growing increasingly restless.

Before Ding Minxiu could say anything, the door opened, and a bruised, battered Zhou Boyang was shoved into the room by Yu Xianghai. “Go ahead, tell everyone what you’ve been doing. If you’re not afraid of rotting in prison for indecency, you shouldn’t be afraid to speak up now!”

Zhou Changshou’s heart sank as he saw the panic and guilt on his grandson’s face.

Zhao Qiaoniang, seeing her daughter’s expression and demeanor, didn’t need any further confirmation. Her strength seemed to drain from her body, and she leaned against the wall to keep herself from collapsing.

Yang Xizhi forced a stiff smile. “What nonsense is this? And what’s this about indecency charges? There’s no such thing!” She glanced at her grandson’s bruised face, aching to ask if he was hurt, but she didn’t dare speak up.

Yao Cuifen sneered. “Oh, you think that’s funny? An unmarried man and woman, one of them the brother-in-law-to-be, and the other the younger sister-in-law, and she’s already pregnant. If that’s not indecency, then what is?”

Yu Xianghai clenched his fists tightly, deliberately waving them in front of Zhou Boyang, making his already aching injuries throb. Zhou Boyang, still a young man barely past adulthood, froze under the pressure of being exposed so abruptly. His mind went blank, and he could only look helplessly at his grandparents and parents, hoping they could find a solution.

He couldn’t go to prison. His life had just started—prison would ruin everything.

Zhou Duosun, usually a quiet man, was deeply distressed. This was his only son, but though he opened his mouth several times, not a single word came out.

It was Zhou Changshou who finally stepped forward, speaking in a conciliatory tone, “There must be some misunderstanding here! Let’s talk it through and clear up this confusion.”

Yao Cuifen sneered, “What kind of misunderstanding results in her carrying a child in her belly? Explain that, why don’t you?”

Yang Xizhi looked at Ding Minxiu with mixed feelings. Was she really carrying their Zhou family’s bloodline?

On one hand, it was a joyous matter, but on the other, the choice of the mother was entirely wrong.

Ding Minxiu shook her head vehemently, tears streaming down her face. “I didn’t, I’m not, I didn’t!”

Yao Cuifen countered, “Don’t rush to deny it. I took your pulse earlier. If you think I’m lying, I can bring a doctor here right now to confirm it.”

“No doctor!” Zhou Boyang shouted in panic. If a doctor came, the truth would be undeniable and spread like wildfire.

Ding Minxiu knew this too. She shrank into herself, silent and trembling.

The truth was clear to everyone now. If they weren’t aware of the pregnancy, why would they be so desperate to hide it? Zhou Changshou, having lived many years, quickly realized the implications. He felt somewhat relieved. The Yu family’s invitation to talk privately was an opportunity. If they had exposed this matter publicly, the Zhou family would have been utterly ruined.

Softening his tone, Zhou Changshou said, “This situation is messy, and we need to come up with a solution. I admit we were at fault. If you want to scold or hit us, we’ll take it, but this can’t drag on. We’re willing to discuss and resolve this properly.”

Yang Xizhi nodded repeatedly. “Xiao An and our Boyang are a perfect match. Maybe we can—”

Before she could finish, Yu Qingshan cut her off coldly. “You’re mistaken. The one who’s a perfect match for your Boyang is Ding Minxiu!”

Zhao Qiaoniang remained silent, listening to the exchange as if each word were a knife stabbing into her heart. Her daughter had done something so shameless—having an affair with her future brother-in-law and even getting pregnant. Did she even understand the consequences of her actions?

Where was her dignity? Had she thought of her future at all?

---

Meanwhile, Zhou Boyang, still restrained by Yu Xianghai, winced as the grip on his hands tightened. Unable to bear the pain, he cried out, “I know I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! I’ve let Xiao An down!”

Yu Xianghai barked harshly, “Don’t you dare call her Xiao An so familiarly!”

Seeing Zhou Boyang in this state, the Zhou family’s hearts ached. After all, he was their only heir—their precious son, spoiled and protected since birth. He’d never endured such suffering before.

But now, they had no choice but to endure. If they didn’t let the Yu family vent their anger, things would escalate, and the consequences would be even worse.

If the girl involved had been another Yu family daughter, they might have had some leverage to negotiate. But Ding Minxiu wasn’t truly a Yu, so they had no footing to stand on.

In their minds, their grandson couldn’t possibly be at fault. Surely, this woman with the surname Ding had seduced him! That was the only explanation for such behavior.

Feeling the accusatory stares directed at her, Ding Minxiu lowered her head further. When she glanced at Zhao Qiaoniang, the look she received burned like fire, and she quickly looked away in fear.

---

At that moment, Qin Fengmao cleared his throat and addressed Yang Xizhi. “Originally, the plan was for our two families to proceed with the engagement. When you reached retirement age, Xiao An would marry into your family and take over your position. But now, given what’s happened, what do you suggest we do?”

Yang Xizhi’s eye twitched. She understood perfectly—what the Yu family wanted was her job!

Absolutely not! That position was meant for her future granddaughter-in-law. If they were saying Yu Xiang’an wasn’t marrying in, how could they expect to take the job?

She forced a stiff smile. “Well, there are conditions to taking over a position. If Xiao An were part of our Zhou family, then of course, no problem. But if not, and someone reports it, things could get messy.”

Yu Qingshan retorted calmly, “That’s unreasonable. People pay for jobs all the time, and you don’t see them getting into trouble. If you’re unwilling, fine—we won’t force it. We’ll just let the public security bureau settle this matter.”

This was an open threat, and Yang Xizhi seethed inwardly. Zhou Changshou shot her a look, signaling her to calm down.

At that moment, Yao Cuifen waved the two love letters in her hand. “That’s perfect! If the authorities get involved, I happen to have these love letters Boyang wrote to Minxiu as evidence.”

Both Zhou Boyang and Ding Minxiu’s faces turned pale. Ding Minxiu’s voice became sharp with panic. “You can’t show those!”

Zhou Changshou let out a long sigh, glaring at his grandson with disappointment. Still, he wanted clarity. “If we give up this job, will this matter be put to rest?”

Yao Cuifen replied, “Do you realize how much this has damaged Xiao An’s future? Her marriage prospects are now uncertain. While our families didn’t publicize the engagement, many close relatives and friends knew about it. With some financial security, my granddaughter might still have a chance at a better life.”

Yang Xizhi hesitated, trying to find a way out. “We can give money instead.”

Yao Cuifen scoffed. “We have money, too.” Money was temporary, but a job brought lifelong stability. She knew exactly which was more valuable.

Zhou Changshou gave Yang Xizhi a sharp look to silence her.

Yao Cuifen’s tone grew firm. “Have you made your decision?”

Yu Qingshan’s voice was even more resolute. “If it weren’t for my daughter’s future, I wouldn’t be swallowing this anger and negotiating with you. If you refuse, we’ll handle this by the book. And when the two of them are paraded through the streets, don’t blame us.”

Both Zhou Boyang and Ding Minxiu panicked at those words. Zhou Boyang’s voice cracked, almost in tears. “Grandpa, Grandma, agree to it! Please agree to it! I don’t want to be paraded!”

He didn’t want to go to jail either.

Ding Minxiu tearfully looked at Zhou Boyang, but he avoided her gaze. She then turned toward Zhao Qiaoniang, only to find her mother sitting stiffly in silence, her hollow gaze fixed somewhere beyond her, as though she didn’t even see her.

Finally, Zhou Changshou and Yang Xizhi exchanged glances. “Fine. Let’s agree and put this matter to rest.”

At that moment, Qin Fengmao spoke up, addressing Yang Xizhi. “You raised a good point earlier—handing over your position to someone unrelated might invite gossip. Coincidentally, I know your factory’s Director Chen. He mentioned that their factory’s accountant is about to retire, and he has a relative who needs a job but isn’t qualified for the accounting role.

“Now, isn’t that lucky? Xiao An is a high school graduate, perfectly suited for the accountant position. Meanwhile, his relative might not be fit for accounting, but as a frontline worker? As long as they work diligently and maintain good hygiene, that should be no problem, don’t you think?”

Yang Xizhi’s face stiffened. “….”

Could she say no?

🌱🌿 🫧🍃