Ch 15: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

With Deng Xiahong’s big mouth spreading the gossip far and wide, it didn’t take long for the entire factory’s well-informed employees to learn the news.

Some took it as a joke, but many sympathized with Yu Xiang’an—people like Yan Yuzhen and Sun Qingchun.

Was Yu Xiang’an at fault?

No. She was completely innocent. The fault lay with the other two. Yu Xiang’an was the victim—and a strong one at that. Her coworkers had spent over a month with her and never saw any signs of her suffering such an ordeal. She was always cheerful, diligent, and meticulous in her work. She was the first to arrive at the office every morning, helping to tidy up and refill the water kettle when needed. She treated everyone politely and with warmth. What a gem of a person! Her former fiancé must have been blind to let her go.

Yan Yuzhen even started mentally filtering through her network of eligible bachelors, convinced that anyone with eyes would recognize Yu Xiang’an’s worth.

Just as Yu Xiang’an had expected, the Zhou family and Ding Minxiu bore the brunt of the gossip storm. Those familiar with the backstory of Zhou Boyang and Yu Xiang’an’s previous engagement couldn’t help but cast judgmental glances.

Zhou Boyang, who initially thought he was unbothered by it all, was beginning to regret his actions. Some people’s remarks were as sharp as blades, with jokes about “which sister is better” or “a pair of sisters for double the joy.” Ding Minxiu confined herself to her room, too ashamed to face anyone.

Even the rest of the Zhou family was fed up. Fang Rong, Zhou Boyang’s mother, wasn’t spared. Her own parents chastised her, saying, “Don’t forget, back then, when you had that accident on the road, it was Yu Xiang’an’s mother who carried her pregnant belly to get you to the hospital. She wasn’t even due yet, but because of that, she gave birth prematurely. If it hadn’t been for her, what would you have done then?”

Fang Rong blushed with shame and stammered, “Dad, Mom, do you think I don’t know that? But what could I have done?”

Her father sighed, “I know you only have one son and tend to indulge him, but you can’t let him have his way in everything. Too much indulgence ruins a child.”

Tears welled up in Fang Rong’s eyes as she finally broke down, “Dad, do you think I wanted this? But they’ve already done it! If the Yu family reports this, I could lose my son!”

Her parents were stunned. “What—what do you mean?”

Fang Rong wiped her tears and nodded, confirming their suspicions.

Her mother gasped, “Is she… is she showing already?”

“She’ll start showing soon,” Fang Rong admitted helplessly. “It’s summer; it’ll be hard to hide.”

Fang Rong then begged, “Mom, Dad, I was thinking maybe we could send her to the countryside for a while. She can stay at our old family home for a few months until it’s over.”

Her father, a former rural resident, knew the old house was far enough that news wouldn’t travel back to town. After exchanging a glance with his wife, they sighed in unison. It seemed there was no other way.

Meanwhile, Yu Xiang’an had no idea any of this was happening. Early that morning, she had left with Deputy Director Wang for a business trip.

She had been trying to figure out a reason to visit the city and secure a travel permit. Unexpectedly, the opportunity fell right into her lap. Travel permits were essential—without one, movement was severely restricted, and being caught without one could lead to serious trouble, including accusations of being a spy.

Deputy Director Wang needed to visit an oil extraction plant in the city, but his assistant had injured his foot and couldn’t travel. Since Yu Xiang’an had neat handwriting, Wang took notice of her and asked if she could accompany him on the trip.

The trip would be a quick one—leaving in the morning and returning by evening.

Naturally, Yu Xiang’an agreed.

She informed Yu Qingshan that evening. As a protective father, he asked a few questions. Upon learning that Deputy Director Wang was nearly fifty years old, he felt reassured.

The next morning, Yu Xiang’an and Deputy Director Wang would board the factory’s truck. The factory only had one precious vehicle—a truck that was practically a treasure. This time, they would hitch a ride with it since it was transporting goods to the city. By evening, they would hitch another ride back, saving considerable hassle.

Transportation in this era wasn’t very developed—limited bus services, expensive tickets, and long travel times made every journey a challenge.

Before she left, Yu Xiang’an’s younger brother Yu Xiangju clung to her hand, reluctant to let go. “Fifth Sister, you’re going to the city! What’s it like there?”

Having never been to the city herself, Yu Xiang’an turned her gaze to Yu Qingshan.

He had been to the city a few times and chuckled, “When you’re older, I’ll take you there so you can see it for yourself.”

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The next morning, Yu Xiang’an arrived early at the designated meeting spot. The two drivers were already there, checking the truck for any issues. Shortly after, Deputy Director Wang arrived as well.

The drivers took the driver’s seat and the front passenger seat—positions reserved for sturdy young men who carried tools like wooden sticks and machetes for protection under their seats. This profession, highly respected for its travel and income potential, also came with risks. Drivers had to handle basic repairs, as repair shops weren’t readily available. Moreover, remote roads sometimes posed dangers from bandits.

Yu Xiang’an and Deputy Director Wang sat in the back of the truck among the cargo. With the bumpy and uneven roads, they swayed with every pothole.

Having just eaten breakfast, the experience wasn’t particularly pleasant. Yu Xiang’an tried to distract herself by letting her thoughts wander. She remembered learning to drive after graduating high school and had four years of experience, though it had been with automatic cars. Driving in this era seemed vastly different—she doubted she’d even get the chance. Owning a car in the 1970s was a near impossibility, like owning a multi-million-dollar mansion in a prime city center in modern times, requiring both wealth and connections.

After some time, just as she began feeling better, the truck hit a severe bump. The engine sputtered, and the truck came to a stop.

The driver restarted it, but the truck shuddered briefly and fell silent again.

From the front came the driver’s voice: “Deputy Director, the truck’s broken down. We’ll need to get out and check.”

Yu Xiang’an scanned her surroundings. There were no villages or houses in sight, just uneven yellow dirt roads flanked by slopes of wild grass.

In the middle of nowhere, with a broken truck?

She stared blankly for a moment, processing the situation.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃