Ch 20: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

Although the other party’s attitude wasn’t very friendly, they still mentioned that there were plenty of offal bones available from today’s pig slaughter and asked if they wanted any.

These were employee benefits; employees could purchase offal and bones, which didn’t require ration tickets, before others.

Deputy Factory Manager Wang spent money on two pig ears and a pig liver.

Yu Xiang’an bought a pound of bones and a pig liver, and they were each given a plate of pig blood as a freebie.

When they usually went to buy pork, pig blood was almost never available. As for offal, because it was relatively cheap, there was little to no selection left if you went late.

Yu Xiang’an wanted a pig stomach more, but there wasn’t any today, and who knew when there might be another chance?

The bones could be simmered with kelp and soybeans to make a soup rich in iodine. She remembered there was still a bit of kelp left at home from last time.

The pig blood could be made into blood tofu, and as for the pig liver, stir-fried pig liver sounded delicious.

When she brought everything back, Yan Yuzhen glanced over it. “Didn’t find much today, did you?”

“Exactly. Just pig lungs, pig liver, bones, pig ears, and pig brain. The pig blood was a gift.”

Yan Yuzhen wasn’t surprised. “Over there, they never lack pig blood. Xia’an, do you like eating pig blood?”

“Yes, especially in spicy hotpot. It’s my favorite.”

Yan Yuzhen nodded. “My brother-in-law works over there. If you like pig blood, he could get you some every month. No problem.”

Yu Xiang’an’s face lit up with joy. “Really, Sister Zhen? I’ll pay for it, whatever it costs. I’d like to buy it long-term. I wouldn’t feel right accepting it for free, and I wouldn’t want to trouble him too often either. Plus, it’d put you in an awkward position. Oh, by the way, Sister Zhen, I made some soy sauce recently. It turned out pretty good. I’ll bring some tomorrow for you to try and see how it tastes.”

Yan Yuzhen was touched by her words. When she heard about the soy sauce, she immediately agreed. “I’ve never made it myself, but I can definitely help you judge the flavor.”

---

Meanwhile, Zhou Boyang approached a familiar uncle at the factory and asked, “A stranger came by earlier. What was she doing here? Could she have come specifically to buy meat? Wouldn’t that break the rules?” He knew this uncle hated such things and figured he could stop it by bringing it up.

“Could be. I’ll go ask around.” The man went to investigate. If it were true, he would absolutely put a stop to it. This kind of precedent couldn’t be set.

He quickly returned, patting Zhou Boyang on the shoulder reassuringly. “It’s not what you think. She came here for official business. Today, there were only two outsiders here, both from the food factory. One of them is a leader who came with their staff to discuss business.”

“A leader from the food factory?”

“Yes, I heard it’s a factory director.”

Zhou Boyang fell silent. He had only seen Yu Xiang’an by herself. But why would she be with the factory director?

Didn’t his grandmother say she was working as an accountant in the finance office?

How did she get connected to the factory director? His mind was in turmoil.

How could she have the means to establish such connections?

How could she be doing so well?

She shouldn’t be.

Zhou Boyang was overwhelmed with frustration.

How was he supposed to sabotage her now? He didn’t have that kind of power. Moreover, if she was accompanying the factory director on official business, she must have earned their trust. Would her life just keep getting better and better?

Zhou Boyang grew increasingly resentful, but there was nothing he could do about it.

---

In the evening, when Yu Xiang’an returned home, she noticed something was off. The atmosphere was low, and even those who usually came home later than her were already back. Yu Xianghai was there with Yu Mingjie as well. “What’s going on? Did something happen?”

Yu Xianghai spread his hands. “The Ding family came by today. Dad and I both took the day off.”

Yu Xiang’an frowned. “What now? Did they come to stir up trouble?”

“They left already. They came to reason with us, saying we shouldn’t have married off their daughter without informing the father. But really, they were just here for money. A crowd gathered around to watch the commotion, and many overheard bits and pieces. Now they’ll have gossip for days.”

“How did they leave? What happened?”

Yu Xianghai explained, “The Zhou family also showed up, and they settled things. The Zhou family gave them a bicycle ticket and 80 yuan as a supplemental dowry, and that was the end of it.”

Yu Xiang’an nodded in understanding. So, it was a matter of paying to avoid trouble.

“They shouldn’t come back again, right?”

Yu Xianghai shrugged. “Who knows? But it’s not our problem anymore.”

His tone was indifferent.

Zhao Qiaoniang’s hands trembled, and her body felt weak. Just like today, the Yu family didn’t go beyond providing the venue and one or two people. They made their detachment clear, but there was nothing she could reproach them for.

She had no grounds to criticize them.

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “It’s true—it’s not our problem. So let’s not keep sour faces. We should be happy instead. As for the gossip, who cares? We live our lives; they’re irrelevant.”

She genuinely believed this. Life was too short to waste time or energy on such people.

She raised her voice cheerfully. “Dad, don’t let this upset you. Look at me—I’m doing so well now, and things will only get better! Tonight, I’ll make something delicious for everyone!” She pulled out the pig bones, pig blood, and pig liver she’d brought back. “I’ll make it so good tonight that everyone will want to swallow their tongues!”

The youngest members of the family, Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie, didn’t quite understand the situation. They had been quiet, following the adults’ lead. But hearing her words, their spirits lifted as they chirped, “Fifth Sister, what are you cooking tonight?”

“Auntie, what are you making?”

“We’ve got pig liver, pig blood, and pig bones. I’ll stew the bones tonight, and we’ll have some tonight and tomorrow. The pig blood and liver will be cooked tonight.”

“Wow! Auntie/Fifth Sister, you’re amazing!”

Pig liver and pig blood might be parts of the pig, but they were still meat!

Yu Xiang’an carried her ingredients into the kitchen, and Zhao Qiaoniang followed to help.

“Aunt Qiao, watch the fire for me today. I’ll take the lead in cooking.”

Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie eagerly offered their help. “Fifth Sister, I can watch the fire too!”

“Auntie, let me help!”

“You two stand over there and behave. If you really want to help, see that ginger over there? Grab it, and go pick two green onions and wash them.”

By the time Ye Qijia returned, the house was filled with an overpowering aroma—a rich, spicy fragrance that made her eyes water slightly.

“What smells so good?”

Yu Xianghai stared dreamily toward the kitchen. “Little Sister is making pig liver.”

“Pig liver?” Ye Qijia wrinkled her nose at the thought. “Can pig liver really smell this good?”

But when she tasted it, her previous notions about pig liver were completely overturned.

It was incredible! How had she been so wasteful before?

The plate of pig liver disappeared in no time. The younger ones, struggling with the slight spiciness, alternated between gasping for air and stuffing their mouths, their pain mingling with joy.

The pig liver’s flavor was bold and fragrant, while the pig blood, made into silky curd, was soft and melted in the mouth. It was impossible to stop eating.

After the meal, they finished with a bowl of bone broth that left everyone utterly satisfied.

Ye Qijia, setting her chopsticks down, couldn’t help grabbing Yu Xiang’an’s hands and looking her over. “Sister, your cooking skills just keep getting better. How did you make this? Teach me so I can try it myself later!”

Yu Xianghai nodded enthusiastically.

Even Zhao Qiaoniang perked up her ears. Although learning cooking skills from a younger girl felt a bit embarrassing, she couldn’t deny Yu Xiang’an had a natural talent for it. She must have inherited it from her maternal grandfather. Before, her skills were unremarkable, but suddenly, she had a breakthrough, and her dishes became increasingly delicious.

Distracted by her own thoughts earlier, Zhao Qiaoniang hadn’t paid much attention. By the time she snapped out of it, the food was nearly ready.

Yu Xiang’an, generous as always, said, “No problem. I’ll write down the recipe for you later. Oh, and I have some good news to share with everyone.”

She pulled out a letter she had received that day. “I hadn’t mentioned it before, but I secretly submitted an article to the newspaper. Today, I got a reply saying my submission was accepted! They even sent me a payment—two yuan. Here’s the newspaper, and this is the article I wrote.”

Everyone except Zhao Qiaoniang, who couldn’t read, and the two little kids, gathered around excitedly. Yu Qingshan, overjoyed, wiped his eyes and leaned closer to the lamp to read it carefully, confirming his daughter’s name in print.

“Xiao An, you’ve made us proud!”

Yu Xianghai beamed with pride. This was his sister, his very own amazing sister. “Sister, you even got published! Isn’t this what they call being blessed by the God of Literature?”

His own academic performance had never been great. He hadn’t gone to high school and had taken over his father’s job right after middle school. He didn’t enjoy studying back then, but his father insisted. Looking back, having a few more years of education really made a difference—especially now that jobs were harder to find, higher education stood out.

Ye Qijia, holding one hand each of Yu Mingjie and Yu Xiangju, said, “You two will start school soon, so you need to study hard. When you grow up, you can be like your aunt/sister—writing articles, earning money, and making a name for yourself!”

Two yuan—for just writing a few words.

It wasn’t just the money; it was also the recognition.

Ye Qijia couldn’t help but imagine herself in Yu Xiang’an’s position. If she could do something similar, her chances of getting a raise would surely increase.

Yu Qingshan turned to Yu Xiang’an. “Do you still have enough paper and pens? If you don’t, I have some you can use.”

“I have enough, I promise!”

That night, even after the lights were out, Yu Qingshan tossed and turned in bed. Beside him, Yu Xiangju was already fast asleep. He sighed, “Who would’ve thought Xiao An had this kind of talent? She’s really bringing honor to the family. I’ll tell her grandparents when we go back—they’ll be so happy.”

Zhao Qiaoniang was also quietly pleased. “Yes, it’s great news.”

Tomorrow, she decided, she would spread this news around so people would stop gossiping about Minxiu.

“Where did I put that newspaper?”

“It’s in the cabinet.”

“I’ll check it again.” Yu Qingshan got up, confirmed the paper’s location, and then lay back down.

This weekend, they were heading to the countryside for their eldest nephew Yu Manchang’s wedding. The original date had been postponed due to an issue on the bride’s side. While the new date wasn’t as ideal, it had been chosen carefully, and neither family wanted to delay further.

He decided to share the news then. It would make for a double celebration.

Two yuan wasn’t much, but the meaning behind it was immense.

---

After returning to their cozy home from their parents’ place, Yu Xianghai sat down, patting his full stomach contentedly.

Yu Mingjie mimicked his movements exactly, a sight that made Ye Qijia burst into laughter.

Like father, like son. Watching them, one couldn’t help but feel they were just a big and small version of the same person.

Yu Mingjie let out a satisfied burp. “Daddy, when will Auntie make something delicious again?”

Yu Xianghai patted his head. “Daddy doesn’t know, but if she makes something good, she’ll call you.”

Yu Mingjie’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. “I hope Auntie calls me tomorrow.”

Ye Qijia shot Yu Xianghai a glare—what kind of response was that? But when she turned to Yu Mingjie, her tone softened. “Earning money isn’t easy. Having a good meal every now and then is already nice. Eating like this all the time would be too expensive. You need to be a sensible child, right?”

She had taken over her mother’s job as a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative, a position many envied. The work wasn’t hard; she simply stood behind the counter, and the job came with perks like early access to good products and a broad social network.

Her husband was a regular worker at the hardware factory. They only had one child, and their home had been allocated to her father-in-law by the factory, so they didn’t have to pay rent. On paper, their life should have been relatively comfortable.

However, every month, Yu Xianghai gave a few yuan to support his younger siblings in the countryside. Additionally, when Ye Qijia married into the Yu family, it was under the condition that she would send ten yuan a month to her natal family until her two younger brothers came of age. Her mother’s health was poor, and her father was the only earner. With her brothers being only twelve and eight years old, it would be years before they were self-sufficient.

This arrangement meant nearly half of their monthly expenses went to her natal family. Though the Yu family never objected, and her husband quietly supported her, she was always moved by their understanding.

Given their financial situation and numerous expenses, Ye Qijia had always been frugal when it came to food. Even though they could save a little, splurging on food was out of the question. With only one child now, she still hoped to have more in the future—ideally two more siblings for her son. After all, everyone believed in the saying “more children, more blessings.”

However, for reasons unknown, she hadn’t conceived again. She had intentionally avoided pregnancy for the first couple of years after giving birth, but once they decided to try, nothing happened. It was a source of quiet frustration.

“I understand, Mommy,” Yu Mingjie said, though he sighed regretfully as he recalled the delicious meal. His exaggerated, adult-like expression of disappointment made everyone chuckle.

Yu Xianghai ruffled his hair. “You’re living a much better life than I did when I was a kid.”

Thinking about it brought a pang of emotion. Especially during the famine years, they had tightened their belts and filled their stomachs with water to stave off hunger. While they couldn’t eat lavishly now, at least they weren’t starving anymore.

Yu Mingjie didn’t understand the hardships his parents had endured. “Grandpa said we’re going to visit Great-Grandpa soon. When we do, I want to go down to the stream with my cousins to catch fish. I’m going to catch lots of fish and make something delicious.”

Hearing this, Yu Xianghai couldn’t help but laugh. “You just want good food, huh? Daddy can catch fish too! Once, I caught a fish that weighed over five pounds—this big!” He gestured widely with his hands.

Yu Mingjie gasped in amazement. “Wow, Daddy, you’re amazing!”

His son’s straightforward compliment made Yu Xianghai beam with pride. “Next time, Daddy will go down to the stream with you to catch fish.”

This earned him an eye-roll from Ye Qijia. “What are you even saying?”

It was one thing for kids to catch fish, but an adult his age, especially one who wasn’t a local, would definitely attract criticism.

Nowadays, everything belonged to the collective. Wasn’t this openly taking advantage of socialism?

Realizing his mistake, Yu Xianghai quickly laughed it off. “But Daddy’s too old to go fishing now. I can still teach you the tricks, though. I’ll tell you all my secrets…”

Ye Qijia went into the room to check the wedding gift they were planning to give.

Since the family had split, they naturally had to prepare a separate gift. The Yu family never objected to her supporting her natal family, so she was equally attentive to matters concerning the Yu family.

---

When the day arrived, Yu Qingshan’s family adjusted their schedules and set off early in the morning with their gifts.

On the way, Yu Qingshan and Yu Xianghai chatted about the day’s events. Zhao Qiaoniang listened absentmindedly, her expression neutral, but her heart uneasy.

It was a joyous occasion—surely her mother-in-law wouldn’t point at her nose and scold her today?

She probably didn’t know about the Ding family’s commotion yet. If she did… well, that would be hard to predict.

Still, considering the occasion, it was unlikely her mother-in-law would make a scene. Her thoughts shifted as she glanced at little Ju, sleeping soundly in her arms. This child was her only hope for the latter half of her life.

The child wasn’t her biological son, but the bond was almost the same. She had raised him herself.

When she married into the Yu family, the other children were already grown and addressed her as “Aunt Qiao,” but little Ju was the only one who called her “Mom.”

Even though he knew she was his stepmother, the bond of nurturing was stronger than that of birth.

Having raised him from infancy, they had a deep relationship. One day, when he grew up, she would find him a dutiful and kind wife…

Lost in thought, Zhao Qiaoniang didn’t even realize they had arrived at their destination. Seeing Zhang Chahua bustling around organizing things, she instinctively shrank back. It reminded her of the only time she had been scolded with a finger pointed at her nose.

However, Zhang Chahua had no time to pick a fight today. She was overjoyed about the wedding. Seeing her other son’s family arrive, she immediately stepped forward. “Ah, you’re here!”

The Yu family was out in full force today. Even the two married daughters, Yu Mansui and Yu Manrong, had brought their families to help out.

According to local customs, the midday meal was hosted at the bride’s home, while the evening festivities were held at the groom’s.

The dowry had already been delivered, and they couldn’t afford any delays.

There were no elaborate ceremonies at this time, as simplicity was encouraged. Grand banquets were out of the question.

For families with limited means, a simple meal with a few people sufficed, with the bride’s clothes and belongings brought over. Families that were better off included the bride price and dowry, and invited close relatives for a meal to establish relationships. Others simply sent tokens of goodwill.

Cash gifts were rare. People would bring dried vegetables, a handful of rice, or even two eggs—eggs being considered a particularly valuable gift.

Those hosting the celebration didn’t hold banquets, but they wouldn’t let guests leave empty-handed either.

Zhang Chahua and her family had prepared small packets of roasted peanuts and soybeans, wrapped in red-dyed paper for good luck.

As the groom’s only uncle, Yu Qingshan, and his elder brother, Yu Xianghai, quickly departed for the bride’s home. Both wore their newest worker uniforms. They didn’t need to do much—simply sitting there was enough to give the Yu family face.

At the bride’s home, their arrival was met with enthusiasm.

The bride’s family was very pleased with their son-in-law. He was energetic, tall, strong, and skilled at farm work. He had a middle school education and two influential connections to support him.

One was his paternal uncle, who lived in the county and had four family members with secure government jobs.

The other was his cousin, who served as the village team leader. While he couldn’t expect special treatment, he certainly wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.

The bride’s family was thriving, with many branches and leaves. She was the eldest daughter, with an older brother above her who was skilled in both household and farm work. Although her education stopped after elementary school, in the countryside, it was already rare for a family to value their daughters so much. Their financial situation was ordinary, but being able to prioritize their daughter’s education was remarkable.

Yang Huili wasn’t concerned about the bride’s family’s wealth. As long as the family had good values, the bride was diligent, had decent character, wasn’t prone to causing trouble, and was tolerant of others, such a daughter-in-law was a rare treasure.

Meanwhile, Yu Xiang’an and Yu Xiangju giggled at home, whispering to each other about taking a closer look at the bride later.

Yu Xiang’an didn’t have much free time. She, Zhao Qiaoniang, and Ye Qijia all went to the kitchen to help.

For the evening meal, the bride’s closest family members would join, requiring three full tables.

To prepare, Yang Huili had already coordinated with her brothers, arranging for 20 pounds of meat and six fish—a substantial amount for the occasion.

Yang Huili herself was busy in the kitchen. The women naturally started chatting, and Ye Qijia couldn’t stop praising Yu Xiang’an’s cooking skills. Hearing this, Yang Huili decided Yu Xiang’an would handle the braised pork.

When the dish was ready, Zhang Chahua tasted it and immediately declared that the main cooking responsibilities should be handed over to Yu Xiang’an.

Thus, Yu Xiang’an became the head chef.

She hadn’t expected to be given such an important role, but after a brief moment of surprise, she gladly accepted. She loved cooking as much as eating and enjoyed the process.

After checking the available seasonings in the kitchen, she realized many were missing, but there was nothing to be done. She used what she had and did her best to make the dishes as delicious as possible.

Yu Xiang’an settled into the kitchen while Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie played outside with other children, who were drawn by the roasted peanuts and soybeans. Zhang Chahua was pleased by the lively atmosphere. The more people, the merrier—it symbolized a thriving and prosperous future.

When Yu Manchang arrived on his bicycle with his bride, the children swarmed around them, showering them with compliments until they were given treats, making their little mouths even sweeter.

The groom wore a military uniform, while the bride, half-covered by a brand-new red veil, donned borrowed red clothing. Her face was hidden, but her slender figure hinted at elegance.

Yu Xiang’an, busy in the kitchen, worked up a sweat. With most of the dishes ready, Zhang Chahua insisted she step out, saying it was enough and she could handle the rest. After all, this was a joyous occasion, and it was also a good opportunity for Yu Xiang’an to mingle with everyone. Perhaps she might even meet a suitable young man.

By now, all the groom’s relatives had arrived.

Apart from Yu Qingshan’s family, there were the six siblings of Yu Changyou’s generation. Back in hard times, the family had struggled to survive. The eldest sister was married off early, the youngest sister became a child bride, and the four brothers ventured out to make a living. In the end, only Yu Changyou and the second brother returned. The third brother disappeared, and the youngest brother passed away young—but not before leaving behind a son to carry on the family line.

Now, for this wedding, the second brother, Yu Changcun, and his eldest son, Yu Shunwen—the village leader—had arrived. The youngest brother’s only descendant, Yu Niangen, was also present.

Additionally, Yu Manchang’s two maternal uncles had come.

After wiping her sweat, Yu Xiang’an finally caught sight of the bride.

She had the round face favored by elders, a tall and slender figure, and calloused hands that showed she was no stranger to hard work.

“Hello, Sister-in-law!” Yu Xiang’an greeted loudly.

Xu Xiaojun blushed and responded just as loudly, “Hello, Sister An!”

Yu Manchang stood by, grinning ear to ear. His expression alone made it clear how fond he was of his bride.

Yang Huili couldn’t stand her son looking so foolish and overly smitten, so she quickly turned to her daughter-in-law with a smile. “Xiaojun, come, let me introduce you. These are your two maternal uncles. The other uncles couldn’t make it today, but I’ll introduce them another time.”

“And this is the fifth daughter from your uncle’s family, Yu Xiang’an. She’s been busy in the kitchen all day. You’ve smelled how delicious everything is, haven’t you? It’s all thanks to her.”

As the evening wore on and the light faded, villagers who had spent the day earning work points in the fields began to come by, bringing tokens of goodwill.

At the door, Yang Huili stood with her son and daughter-in-law, introducing them to each visitor. Yu Xiang’an watched from the side.

“This is Aunt You from the third house up front. I often work in the fields with her—she’s incredibly efficient!”

“This is your Uncle Chen, an honest and kind man.”

“And this, you should call Great-Aunt. She makes the crispiest pickled radishes!”

Yu Manwu sat at the small side table the entire time, holding an old notebook and meticulously recording the gift list item by item.

For example:

• Aunt You: Two eggs
• Uncle Chen: A bag of dried vegetables
• Great-Aunt: A small bundle of thin firewood

The description “a small bundle of thin firewood” was particularly vivid.

Looking at the bundle, which was small enough to be wrapped in one arm and appeared to be made from roadside shrubs casually gathered, Yu Xiang’an was astonished. So this is a thing?!

🌱🌿 🫧🍃