Ch 24: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

The package was sent all the way from her eldest cousin, Qin Shenghua, stationed far away at his military post.

Yu Xiang’an had two maternal uncles. Her eldest uncle, Qin Fengnian, had sacrificed his life, leaving behind two sons. Her eldest cousin had followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the military.

By her calculations, he had been in the army for eight years, having enlisted at sixteen. His unit was stationed far away—if not at the northernmost region, then close to it.

Due to the distance and the nature of his work, it took some time for him to receive family letters. When he finally learned of his younger cousin’s situation, he gathered a collection of items to comfort her and sent them as gifts—hence the delay.

As Yu Xiang’an examined the package, she could guess his location: likely somewhere in the northeastern provinces.

The package included ten-year-old ginseng, pine nuts, red mushrooms, and local treasures like uracil grass for warmth, deer antlers, and a whole dried roe deer leg. There were also dried sea cucumbers, salted fish, seaweed, and a tank model assembled from discarded bullet casings.

Along with these, he wrote that she had the support of both the Yu and Qin families, encouraging her to live without worry. No matter her choices, her family would always stand behind her. He also included fifty yuan as an advance gift for her dowry.

Initially, Yu Xiang’an was deeply touched, but the mention of “dowry” shifted her emotions from sentimentality to a sharp gaze of determination.

Thank you, but she had no intention of marrying so soon!

At first, Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie were captivated by the dried roe deer leg. However, when she revealed the tank made from bullet casings, their eyes practically glued to it, unable to look away.

They exclaimed in amazement:
“So this is a tank? Wow, it’s so cool!”
“I know! Tanks are super powerful and unstoppable!”
“When they fire, it explodes on the ground with a boom—nothing’s left!”
“It’s so awesome!”

Indeed, it was impressive. Even Yu Xiang’an was amazed by the craftsmanship, wondering what kind of adhesive he had used to assemble such a model. She cherished this rare handmade item deeply. If it had been an ordinary toy, she might have given it to the boys, but this was different.

“You can look at it and touch it, but you can’t take it,” she said. “I’ll ask Dad to make a wooden replica for you based on this design. This one is too precious, so I’m locking it in the cabinet to keep it safe.”

Yu Xiangju reached out tentatively. “Okay, Fifth Sister, I just want to touch it!”

“Me too!” added Yu Mingjie.

The two boys’ small hands trembled as they gently touched it. But the moment they made contact, they recoiled as if startled, like dragonflies skimming water—barely creating ripples before flying away. In this moment, they were the startled dragonflies.

After they had their fill of looking and touching, Yu Xiang’an carefully stored the tank in the cabinet. She knew giving it to them would likely lead to its eventual damage, no matter how well-behaved they were. Kids had their mischievous moments, and it would be too late for regrets if it broke.

Qin Shenghua’s letter was brief. Besides reassuring her of his unwavering support and encouraging her to sever ties decisively, there wasn’t much else. He also mentioned sending two packages—one for her and one for the family. The one addressed to her was solely for her to keep.

The dried roe deer leg, he explained, was a lucky find during a hunt and was sent home for them to try.

Yu Xiang’an locked all the food in the kitchen cabinet. While people generally didn’t lock their doors these days due to the prevailing good-natured culture, theft still occurred occasionally. Most thieves targeted food rather than money. If she didn’t secure the items and word got out, she might wake up one morning to find the meat had disappeared.

Taking a small dish, she filled it with some pine nuts for the two boys. “Here, have some.”

Pine nuts were a treat, both delicious and nutritious.

Meanwhile, Yu Xiang’an picked up the ginseng and pondered how best to use it. This quality of ginseng, though relatively rare, wasn’t impossible to find. She considered using it to brew medicinal wine for Yu Qingshan and her grandfather. A small cup every couple of days could help improve their immunity over time.

She set the ginseng aside, planning to confirm with the family when they returned. If there were no other uses, it would likely be made into medicinal wine.

As the time was right, she went into the kitchen to prepare a special dinner.

Tonight’s menu: steamed buns with thin skins and generous fillings. The stuffing included freshly picked tender wild greens, eggs, wood ear mushrooms, and other mushrooms.

Other buns were stuffed with taro, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin.

While “thin skins and generous fillings” was a compliment in modern times, during this period, it was a way to stretch flour further.

She also planned to cook the fish into a pot of soup. With buns and soup, the meal would be complete.

When the two kids came back, they saw her preparing a variety of ingredients, even flour. Curious, they asked, “What are you making? Noodles?”

“No, tonight we’re having steamed buns,” she replied.

“Really? Wow, buns for dinner! That’s amazing! Let us help!”

If the family were to eat their fill, a lot of flour would be used. However, Yu Manchang ate at the meat processing plant before returning, and Yu Qingshan brought food back from work, so they weren’t relying solely on the buns to fill up.

“Xiaojue, help me steam this taro, peel it, and mash it into taro paste.”

“Mingjie, you wash these wild greens and tear the wood ear mushrooms into small pieces.”

While they were busy, Yao Cuifen arrived to check if Yu Xiang’an had received her package.

“I got it,” Yu Xiang’an said with a nod. “When I picked up my package, I noticed another one of a similar size. At the time, I didn’t pay much attention, but after reading the letter, I realized it was sent to the family—it arrived on the same day.”

Yao Cuifen nodded. “Good, as long as it arrived. Just like your cousin said, you have us, your whole family, behind you. Remember that.”

“I know, Grandma,” Yu Xiang’an replied.

She couldn’t help but feel grateful for her good fortune. Without drinking Meng Po’s soup, she was given a second chance at life in such a warm and supportive family.

Perhaps this was a reward for her good deeds in her past life?

But if karma worked like this, then wouldn’t those who saved hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of lives reincarnate as royalty or heirs to powerful families?

Well, there were no emperors or princes anymore. Perhaps now they would become the “second generation” of some elite family.

Yu Qingshan and Zhao Qiaoniang returned together, greeted by the enticing aroma wafting through the air. Zhao Qiaoniang sniffed and identified the scent—it was the distinct and overpowering smell of fried food.

“What’s cooking today?” Yu Qingshan asked.

Zhao Qiaoniang felt both joy and concern. She was happy for another delicious meal but worried whether their supplies would last until the next grain purchase.

Yu Xiangju ran out to announce, “Fifth Sister is making steamed buns!”

Yu Mingjie added, “And it smells so good—it’s pork cracklings!” He could hardly wait to eat.

Yu Qingshan, already aware of the package sent by Qin Shenghua, didn’t comment on the plan to use the ginseng for medicinal wine. However, the fifty yuan included in the package made him frown. Both Qin Shenghua and his wife were in the military, and their two children didn’t have many expenses. While he knew they could save some money, fifty yuan was a significant amount.

Yu Xiang’an felt the same. “I think we should send back thirty yuan and keep twenty. At the same time, I’ll buy some local goods and send them to him. It wouldn’t be right to return the entire amount—that would be too impersonal. But exchanging the twenty yuan for useful items, especially things he can use, feels more appropriate.”

The reason Qin Shenghua was so generous was simple—before he joined the army, the original Yu Xiang’an used to follow him everywhere. When she learned he was leaving for the military, she even cried and said she wanted to be his bride so he wouldn’t leave home, causing a big scene.

Looking back, it filled her with second-hand embarrassment. Even though it wasn’t her, the memory of the original ten-year-old Yu Xiang’an felt like a black mark best left to gather dust in a forgotten corner of her mind.

“By the way, Dad,” Yu Xiang’an said, “I made steamed buns today. It’s a special day, so we’re indulging a little. I made a variety of fillings—wild greens, taro, pumpkin, sweet potato, wood ear mushrooms, and some with pork cracklings mixed in randomly. Let’s see who’s lucky enough to get one!”

Yu Qingshan nodded and asked, “How much flour do we have left?”

“Less than a pound,” she replied.

“Make sure to send a few buns back with Mingjie later,” he said. He was particularly attentive now that his eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant again after several years.

As for whether the baby would be a boy or a girl, everyone speculated it might be a girl this time. When Yu Mingjie was in the womb, Ye Qijia had a hearty appetite and was in excellent health. But this time, her symptoms were the opposite—nausea at even the slightest unpleasant smell.

Yu Xianghai had no complaints. With a son already, a daughter would make a “perfect pair.” Yu Qingshan, who wasn’t the type to favor sons over daughters, was also fond of his daughter. Although Zhao Qiaoniang leaned more toward valuing sons, she had no say, as this wasn’t her biological child.

Seizing the moment, Yu Xiang’an proposed visiting her second brother. “Sister-in-law’s condition makes it hard for Big Brother to leave. I, on the other hand, have fewer ties. Plus, if I find any local specialties over there, I can send them as gifts to Eldest Cousin.”

Yu Qingshan gave her a glance. “No matter what you say, I’m not letting you go alone.”

No matter how she argued, his answer was firm.

“If you’re unlucky enough to run into traffickers and get sold off to some remote mountain village, can I ever find you again? The chances are slim. And with how good-looking you are, the risk is even higher. It’s impossible for me to agree.”

Yu Xiang’an sighed. She had her farm system and could hide there in an emergency, but Yu Qingshan didn’t know that—and she couldn’t tell him.

Yu Xiangju, having just eaten a pork crackling and wood ear mushroom bun, grinned and said, “Fifth Sister, wait for me. When I grow up, I’ll go with you to Second Brother’s place.”

Yu Xiang’an: “…”
Thanks, I’m touched, but when will that even happen?

Later, when Yu Manchang returned and heard her grumbling about it, he scratched his head and said, “We won’t need to leave right away. By the time his injury heals and he can return to work, I’ll likely be heading back. I can go with you then.”

Still, Yu Qingshan shook his head. “No need. I’ll write him a letter and see if they can come home for the New Year. If they can, we’ll talk about it then.”

With a new baby on the way, a family visit was reasonable. If that didn’t work, he preferred to visit his son himself and see how he was living.

His reasoning made sense, so Yu Manchang dropped the subject, and Yu Xiang’an gave up—for now. Instead, she resolved to visit the city soon.

She had turned most of the chestnuts into chestnut cakes, planning to sell them for cash rather than ration tickets. She expected business to do well.

Yu Xiang’an also began openly gathering supplies. Knowing Qin Shenghua was in the frigid north, she planned to send him warming items like alcohol and chili.

She made a batch of chili paste—spicy, salty, and aromatic. Just a dab on chopsticks could flavor a bowl of rice, though it would also leave the eater sweating and gulping down water. Its power was undeniable.

In addition to the chili paste, she made other items with one common feature: lots of salt. Long-distance transport wasn’t ideal, and with the weather not yet cold, she had to ensure the food wouldn’t spoil.

When Qin Shenghua received a package, it was quite large. The delivery staff, recognizing his name, brought it to his assigned dorm and placed it on his bed.

By the time his training was over, he hadn’t even figured out what was going on before several comrades surrounded him and pressed him toward the package.

“You’ve got a package! Look how big it is. Hurry and open it up—let’s see what goodies your family sent you!”

Seeing the large package, Qin Shenghua was momentarily puzzled.

He pushed away the curious onlookers. “What’s the rush? Let me see if there’s a letter in here first.”

“I bet it’s a jar—probably food,” someone guessed.
“Looks more like clothes to me,” another chimed in.

Their enthusiasm was contagious.

In the army, where entertainment was scarce, a package from home was a rare and exciting event.

Qin Shenghua opened the letter. “This is from my cousin,” he said.

The letter explained that she was doing well and asked him not to worry. She described herself as a proud worker with friendly colleagues and kind superiors, all of whom treated her well. She assured him everything was fine and included thirty yuan, saying the rest of the items were gifts. She also expressed her hope that they could continue exchanging goods.

Qin Shenghua scanned the letter and shook his head with a sigh. She even sent the money back—that was for her to spend.

She was being stubborn, but judging by her words, things didn’t seem too bad for her.

After reading the letter, he turned his attention to the contents of the package.

Inside were sausages, canned lychee, chili paste, meat sauce, mushroom sauce, dried mango, and fish floss—each item in generous portions.

Among the six people in his dorm, only two were from the south, while the other four had never seen fresh lychee before.

“So this is lychee?” one of the northeastern men said, eyeing it with curiosity. He’d never tasted it before.

Lychee was hard to preserve, and the only lychee that reached their region came in dried form.

“This is from the factory where my cousin works. Let’s try it. I haven’t had lychee in ages either,” Qin Shenghua said. It had been years since he’d gone home, and even if he did, he wouldn’t be able to eat it out of season.

The canned lychee was packed to the brim, and as expected, it wasn’t cheap. A single can likely cost several yuan.

He opened it and said, “Back home, we didn’t have canned fruit when I was younger. It only became common after I left.”

“Grab some spoons—everyone, have a taste.”

The six men shared the can, each getting just enough to sample the flavor.

“It’s so sweet!”
“So this is lychee. No wonder the emperors went to such lengths to have it transported thousands of miles.”
“The taste is amazing.”

In an era of material scarcity, sweetness was a luxury. Even those who didn’t normally enjoy sweet foods couldn’t bring themselves to dislike it.

“My cousin asked if it’s convenient to send pine nuts or seafood from here. She loves them. I’ll find some for her when I get the chance,” Qin Shenghua said.

Pine nuts were easy to source since there were plenty of pine trees in the area. For seafood, he’d need to take a trip to the coast and barter with the locals.

“Hey, your cousin sent a lot of sauces. Is this chili paste?”

Someone from a spice-loving province lit up with excitement. “Let’s try your cousin’s chili paste tonight!”

Qin Shenghua readily agreed but soon regretted it. He ended up sweating profusely while eating, unable to stop despite the heat. The others, however, were thoroughly enjoying themselves, happily going back for more with their chopsticks.

Qin Shenghua: “…”

“Hey, take it easy. Are you trying to finish it all in one sitting?”

Some couldn’t handle the spice of the chili paste, so they opened the mushroom and meat sauces instead. Remembering Yu Xiang’an’s note in the letter, warning him not to keep the sauces for too long despite her efforts at preservation, he urged everyone to finish them quickly.

When he saw half the meat sauce gone in one sitting, he went silent. Thankfully, there was still one jar left, and he intended to take it home for his wife and kids to try.

After tasting Yu Xiang’an’s handiwork, his comrades enthusiastically volunteered to help source the pine nuts and seafood she wanted.

“Cousin wants pine nuts? That’s easy! On our next break, we’ll head into the mountains.”
“And seafood? That’s simple too. It’s hard for us to go out, but the logistics team makes trips often. I know someone from my village in logistics—his grandma lives by the sea. I’ll ask him to bring some back for cousin.”

Qin Shenghua: “…”
“Hey, who are you calling cousin? She’s my cousin!”

“Hehe, what’s ours is yours, right? Your cousin is naturally our cousin too. By the way, does she have a boyfriend?”

Qin Shenghua smiled faintly. “Get lost.”

Meanwhile, in Baishi County, the atmosphere at the food factory was unusually lively.

Of all human necessities—clothing, food, shelter, and transportation—none could be ignored.

Clothing: Essential for warmth and decency.
Food: A fundamental need, as “food is the priority of the people.”
Shelter: People need a stable home for rest.
Transportation: Whether near or far, movement is unavoidable.

Everything here belonged to the public, from houses to the grass and trees by the roadside. Yet public goods could occasionally transition to private ownership.

For example, the factory’s newly built two-story housing was complete and would soon be allocated to eligible workers. Once assigned, the property became the worker’s, barring job transfers.

This was a big deal, especially for families living in cramped conditions, such as Yan Yuzhen.

Previously, her tenure was too short to qualify. Now, she finally met the requirements.

Currently, her family of eight squeezed into a less-than-20-square-meter home—a space so small it was almost unimaginable. If selected, they could move into a new, clean, white-walled apartment. No more hauling water daily or using public restrooms. Even her youngest son might be able to marry soon.

Temporary workers didn’t stand a chance. Even new full-time employees, like Yu Xiang’an, who hadn’t been there a year, were far from qualifying.

The allocation criteria included:

Genuine housing needs.
Work tenure.
Performance, with priority given to those who received commendations.
Dual-income households were also prioritized.

Every condition was reasonable.

Yu Xiang’an visited the newly constructed apartments out of curiosity.

The exteriors were unadorned, painted gray. Inside, the walls were whitewashed, with a simple layout: one large room with a front balcony and a smaller back balcony. The space could be divided into two rooms or configured as a living room and a bedroom.

The units were well-ventilated, with good lighting.

On one side was a communal kitchen equipped with coal stoves, and on the other, a shared bathroom for washing and bathing.

The wiring was complete, awaiting individual connections.

Yu Xiang’an found herself tempted.

It wasn’t large—just over ten square meters—but it was clean, convenient, and practical.

Currently, her living space was roomy but flawed. Rain turned the ground into a muddy mess, and the old house shed dust frequently. Fetching water required trips to the well out front.

Most importantly, the new housing was free, distributed by the factory without costing a cent.

Yu Xiang’an: “…”
As much as she wanted it, she knew it wasn’t an option for her. She lacked the seniority.

The housing allocation had made Deputy Director Wang extremely busy. According to Yan Yuzhen, some people had already tried to curry favor with him through gifts. While he accepted the presents, they wouldn’t influence his decisions.

Still, before the final list was announced, even the strictest official wasn’t immune to people lobbying for a place.

Yu Xiang’an assumed she’d remain an idle observer—until she was unexpectedly called in to help.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

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