Ch 31: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

Before going to sleep, Lin Duzhong glanced at the light in Lin Chuanbai’s room, feeling reassured.

The family’s medical legacy was something he was determined to pass down. He didn’t want it to end with his generation.

Though he had three children, only his daughter had pursued medicine. Despite her being a woman, he had taught her everything, and she had become the sole doctor among his children. However, she was now married and part of another family.

His eldest son was bright but had no interest in medicine, choosing instead to join the military, where he made a name for himself. Now, he was a factory director in a distant city, having achieved great success. As a father, Lin Duzhong couldn’t discount his son’s efforts over the years.

His younger son, on the other hand, had wanted to study medicine but lacked the aptitude. Despite Lin Duzhong’s best efforts, his younger son’s rigid thinking made it impossible for him to entrust him with prescribing medications. He settled into a role as a quality inspector at a pharmaceutical factory, which was suitable enough.

Among the grandchildren, his eldest grandson was in Shanghai, and his eldest granddaughter worked at the Women’s Federation in the city. Lin Chuanbai, the second grandson, had previously been disinterested in medicine. But now, seeing him shift from passive resistance to active enthusiasm, Lin Duzhong was overjoyed.

His younger son’s family, meanwhile, had given him a granddaughter and a grandson, neither of whom showed any talent for medicine. With the family’s legacy at risk of being lost, Lin Duzhong placed his hopes on Lin Chuanbai and naturally paid him more attention.

---

Lin Chuanbai slipped out under the cover of night, guided only by the faint moonlight. Arriving at the agreed meeting spot, he crouched down and mimicked the sound of a cat.

“Meow~”

“Meow~”

In response, two soft cat calls came from somewhere nearby. The two parties had successfully made contact.

Lin Chuanbai was the buyer, and the other was the seller.

Despite having a medicinal garden, the garden didn’t produce food or meat. To obtain these essentials, Lin Chuanbai had no choice but to rely on the black market. Technically, he could also purchase from the official grain and food shops, but beyond the money and ration coupons required, availability depended on luck and connections. If there was no stock, no amount of money or coupons would help.

The deal worked for both sides—Lin Chuanbai supplied medicinal sachets needed by the seller’s family, while the seller provided him with grains, vegetables, and other essentials.

Their acquaintance had been somewhat fortuitous.

The seller, Wang Zhi, had once brought his ailing mother to the hospital. After exhausting their savings, the village collective could no longer cover the medical costs, and they were advised to take her home. Refusing to give up, Wang Zhi knelt and begged the doctors for help.

Lin Chuanbai, moved by his desperation, approached Wang Zhi with a proposal: he would supply medicinal sachets to help alleviate his mother’s symptoms, and in return, Wang Zhi would provide him with food and supplies.

Living in the countryside with access to mountains and rivers, Wang Zhi’s family could gather a variety of resources with some effort and courage.

They established a deal to trade every ten days, which was far safer than relying on the unpredictable black market, where one always risked being caught.

---

The meeting was swift and quiet. After exchanging goods, both parties quickly counted their items, nodded in satisfaction, and parted ways without delay.

Each had their own obligations the following day, and lingering unnecessarily would only waste time.

Meanwhile, Yu Xiang’an wasn’t asleep either.

She was busy tasting the difference between two jars of soy sauce.

The two jars were made with the same soybeans, placed in identical jars, fermented for the same amount of time, and measured in equal quantities. The only difference? The water used.

One jar was made with water drawn from the well, while the other had an addition of spiritual spring water, a reward she received after logging into her farm system for seven consecutive days.

The spiritual spring water came in variable amounts, sometimes as little as a few drops, and at most around ten.

Its effects weren’t immediately noticeable when consumed by humans, but when used on fast-growing animals, the results were striking.

Yu Xiang’an cherished every drop, reserving one or two for her family and using the rest sparingly. Over time, she noticed no one in the family fell ill, and everyone seemed healthier and more energetic than before.

She typically mixed the spiritual water into their meals. While it didn’t alter the taste, she suspected it worked wonders.

This was the first time she had tried incorporating it into soy sauce fermentation, and she was eager to see the results.

Calculating the time, she opened the jars and dipped a chopstick into the first one made with well water. She tasted it.

The soy sauce was excellent, as expected. The farm-produced ingredients always ensured premium quality.

Satisfied, she moved on to the second jar.

After rinsing her mouth, she sampled the soy sauce made with the spiritual spring water.

Yu Xiang’an: “!!”

The difference was astonishing. The soy sauce with the spiritual spring water was far more flavorful and fragrant.

Yu Xiang’an: “…”

It was divine.

She was so excited that she could hardly wait to use it in cooking.

Did the spiritual spring water yield better results when used for fermented foods?

If it worked with soy sauce, it might enhance wine or vinegar as well. Her mind raced as she glanced at the grapevine heavy with small, ripening clusters.

Perhaps it was time to make a batch of homemade wine.

Her gaze shifted to the pear tree nearby, its branches adorned with nearly ripe fruit. Soon, those pears would be ready to harvest, and the accelerated water would come in handy.

In just a few months, she’d already enjoyed four types of fruit. Once the newly planted saplings matured, she could enjoy these fruits year-round.

And if her farm game still retained its upgrade feature, the possibilities were endless.

A ranch?

A mountain retreat?

Or perhaps a processing plant and a mall?

That night, Yu Xiang’an dreamed of a prosperous future. Though the details of the dream escaped her upon waking, her good mood lingered.

---

At the factory, the first thing she did was check on the progress of the housing construction.

Sun Qingchun was there as well, standing by the site with a complicated expression.

The houses were taking shape day by day, and those who had hesitated to buy now regretted it deeply.

In contrast, those who had secured a home wore expressions of satisfaction and pride.

Take her office, for instance—Sun Qingchun and Yan Yuzhen were polar opposites.

Sun Qingchun, now regretting his indecision, often stood near the construction site, lost in thought.

His current home was cramped and could not compare to these spacious, bright new houses. Even a one-bedroom unit would have been an improvement.

Yan Yuzhen, on the other hand, was a frequent visitor to the site, helping with odd tasks like moving bricks. She couldn’t go a day without checking on the progress.

“Who knows,” she mused, “maybe the one I’m helping with will end up being mine!”

When Yu Xiang’an saw the progress on the new houses, she was surprised at how quickly they were being built. At this pace, they might be able to move in before the end of the year.

Some people were already considering how to arrange their furniture in the new space. Even Yu Xiang’an’s father, Yu Qingshan, had brought up the subject.

Yu Xiang’an replied, “We’ll start with some second-hand furniture for now and buy a new bed. Other pieces can wait and be replaced gradually.”

A new bed wouldn’t cost too much, but furnishing the entire house with brand-new furniture would be quite expensive. She preferred to pace herself and upgrade over time.

Yu Qingshan nodded approvingly. “As long as you’ve got a plan. Your cousin works at the recycling station, and I’ve asked him to keep an eye out for some decent second-hand furniture for you.”

Standing there, looking at the houses, Yu Xiang’an started to feel a twinge of regret. Maybe she should work harder and aim for newer furniture sooner. Would old furniture clash too much with the fresh, modern house?

---

That day, Yu Xiang’an joined Yan Yuzhen at the cafeteria for lunch as usual. After eating, they washed their dishes and returned to the office. With some time left during the lunch break, they both rested by laying their heads on their desks.

Just as they were about to doze off, Sun Qingchun walked in.

“You’re back so soon. Haven’t you eaten yet?” Yan Yuzhen asked, noticing the lunchbox still in his hand.

Sun Qingchun sighed and placed the lunchbox on the desk. “I forgot that no one’s home today. I started walking back out of habit and only remembered halfway there. So, I turned back.”

He opened the box, took a bite of his meal, and frowned. “Did the chef forget to add salt today? It’s so bland.”

Yu Xiang’an immediately offered, “I have soybean paste, peanut butter, and chili sauce. Want to try?”

Sun Qingchun’s eyes lit up. “You made those yourself?”

Yan Yuzhen gave Yu Xiang’an a thumbs-up. “No need to say ‘we.’ I don’t have her skills. These are all her creations.”

Curious, Sun Qingchun tried the chili sauce first. One taste and he regretted not discovering this treasure earlier. The spicy kick was perfectly balanced, enhancing his appetite instantly.

“This is amazing! Just a tiny bit of this chili sauce, and I could eat three bowls of rice!” he exclaimed.

Sun Qingchun eagerly asked, “Could you make a batch for me too? I’ll provide the ingredients. Just tell me what you need.”

Yu Xiang’an agreed readily. “Sure. If you can prepare the ingredients at home, I can stop by one afternoon and make it for you.”

“That sounds perfect,” Sun Qingchun replied, relieved at how easy this was turning out to be.

After savoring the chili sauce, he also tried the soybean paste and peanut butter. While both were excellent, the chili sauce remained his favorite.

---

After lunch, Sun Qingchun couldn’t sit still. Unlike Yu Xiang’an and Yan Yuzhen, who were used to resting briefly at their desks, he wasn’t one to nap. With time on his hands, he decided to head to the warehouse to finish his inventory check.

When the break ended, Sun Qingchun returned, holding a completed inventory list. “Finally done.”

He shared his experience at the warehouse. “While I was there, Chen Yi and the production team were stocking items. Funny coincidence. I checked the records and noticed there were two fewer defective items this month compared to last month.”

Defective products were inevitable in production. However, these so-called defects often had minimal impact and were sold at discounted prices without requiring ration tickets. They were particularly sought after by thrifty buyers, much like the discounted fabric that Xu Xiaojun and others had recently purchased. Though labeled as defective, the flaws were barely noticeable and made for an excellent bargain.

For the factory, defective products meant wasted resources, as they cost the same to produce but failed to meet standards. Naturally, the lower the defect rate, the better.

However, noticing someone working during lunch break, particularly Chen Yi, was peculiar.

Chen Yi was infamous for slacking off. He would drag his feet through tasks, leave work the moment his shift ended, and was often late in the mornings. Yet, here he was, seemingly industrious during his usual nap time?

This unusual behavior puzzled Yu Xiang’an and Yan Yuzhen. They exchanged glances, both sensing something was off. Could Chen Yi have suddenly had a change of heart?

Yan Yuzhen muttered, “Just the other day, I asked him for some inventory records, and he told me they weren’t ready yet and to check back later.”

The situation seemed strange, but neither of them could pinpoint what exactly was wrong. Yu Xiang’an decided to keep an eye on the inventory records he submitted, hoping that everything was in order.

Her worst fear was that Chen Yi might be tampering with records, possibly colluding with others in the production team to embezzle factory property. If so, everyone might end up implicated.

Though Yu Xiang’an considered this scenario a remote possibility, she couldn’t ignore the slight chance of wrongdoing. Her suspicion drove her to subtly investigate Chen Yi’s background.

She learned that Chen Yi had been working in the warehouse for eight years. With his seniority, he often disregarded others’ input and was infamously lazy. Worse, he had a reputation for taking advantage of others.

One warehouse colleague vented to Yu Xiang’an, “Last time, I brought a small bag of peanuts and left them on my desk. I stepped out to use the restroom, and when I came back, he had eaten all of them, leaving only the shells! I was furious. When I confronted him, he had the audacity to say he thought I was sharing them with everyone. If I wanted to share, wouldn’t I have said so? And once, during a family celebration, I brought some candy to share at work. He took two portions without telling me, leaving me short. It was so embarrassing when I couldn’t give candy to everyone.”

Yu Xiang’an was speechless. Having such a colleague sounded exhausting.

The coworker scoffed, “Chen Yi, working during lunch? That’s impossible. If it’s true, the sun must be rising in the west!”

Yu Xiang’an said nothing but decided to stay vigilant.

It was by sheer coincidence that she stumbled upon evidence. During a quiet lunch break, she caught Chen Yi red-handed, sneaking newly delivered, unchecked products from the warehouse.

Seizing the opportunity, Yu Xiang’an immediately reported the incident to Yan Yuzhen. Yan Yuzhen, without hesitation, went straight to the production team to verify the recent delivery records.

The production team, having just delivered the batch, couldn’t possibly be unaware of the exact quantities. It was time to see if the numbers matched—or if foul play was indeed afoot.

Even if there were people manipulating things behind the scenes, not everyone in the factory was involved.

Ultimately, the issue was handed over to Deputy Director Wang for resolution. After thorough verification, it was confirmed that Chen Yi, along with a friend from the production workshop, had colluded to steal from the factory.

However, the matter was not made public. Their petty thefts, if exposed, would ruin their lives entirely. Deputy Director Wang, while stern, wasn’t overly harsh. He ordered them to pay compensation and terminated their employment.

For Wang, such individuals were no longer trustworthy. Despite their pleas and promises that it would never happen again, he refused to believe them. After all, minor thefts over the years would surely add up to a significant loss.

Yu Xiang’an had no objections to this outcome, though Sun Qingchun seemed a bit taken aback. He had assumed they would be demoted to lower-level positions or transferred to other departments, not outright dismissed. Then again, dismissal was fair, given the circumstances.

For a few days, Sun Qingchun remained in low spirits, feeling it was unfortunate that they lost their jobs. However, Yu Xiang’an didn’t feel guilty—it was their wrongdoing, and Wang had already been lenient. Publicizing the incident would have made their future lives even more difficult.

With their dismissal, the two vacated positions were quickly filled by new workers—one who had completed a few years of primary school and another who had graduated from primary school. Both had connections to factory officials.

---

As the whistleblower, Yu Xiang’an received praise from Deputy Director Wang. Around the same time, she received a reply from the newspaper regarding her second submission—it had been accepted. Her second article getting published signified not just luck but genuine talent.

To acknowledge her efforts, Deputy Director Wang gifted her a notebook and a fountain pen. While the notebook wasn’t particularly valuable, the pen was—worth several yuan.

Deputy Director Wang also began frequently assigning tasks to Yu Xiang’an, often calling her to assist him. Though still technically part of the accounting department, nearly half of her work now consisted of tasks typically handled by his assistant. To outsiders, it seemed as if she had already stepped into the role of his assistant.

Curious about her future, Yu Xiang’an sought out Liu Shouyi, the current assistant, to discuss her situation. Liu chuckled, “You’re worried, aren’t you? Don’t be.” He wasn’t concerned about losing his position; in fact, he looked pleased.

Liu revealed he was about to be promoted to another department, leaving the assistant position vacant. It was clear that Deputy Director Wang saw Yu Xiang’an as the most suitable candidate for the role.

A promotion meant more than just a title. Following the deputy director granted one higher visibility and access to a different network. She would often have opportunities to liaise with other factories, building valuable connections.

---

Yu Xiang’an was thrilled. Before the reopening of college entrance exams, her current worker status already shielded her from many societal hassles. A higher position would bring even greater benefits and pave the way for her future endeavors.

Her ultimate dream wasn’t just to excel at her factory job—it was to revive her ambition of running a restaurant. The small eatery she once managed in her previous life had barely begun before she transitioned into this new world.

Now, with the advantage of foreknowledge and determination, she aimed for more. She didn’t just want to open a single restaurant. She envisioned building a restaurant empire, one that could spread across all of China and, perhaps, like iconic brands of the future, expand globally.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

Thingyan: Next chapter is password locked. Pw is 70s.