Ch 37: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

Upon recognizing each other, the atmosphere between them instantly froze.

Lin Chuanbai glanced at Yu Xiang’an’s basket, guessing it contained apples and those famously fat ducks. So this is her idea of “life’s tough”?

Meanwhile, Yu Xiang’an’s eyes fell on the bulge in Lin Chuanbai’s pocket, undoubtedly where the ginseng was stored. This is his version of “life’s tough”?

In that moment, both silently mocked each other: “Men’s/women’s words—full of lies!”

Despite the awkwardness, the trade needed to proceed.

Both averted their eyes almost simultaneously and began silently taking out their goods for the exchange.

There wasn’t much haggling. For disputes, they used quick gestures to settle the matter.

Once the deal was done, they immediately chose opposite directions to leave.

This county is big enough; surely they wouldn’t run into each other again, right?

After walking a fair distance, Yu Xiang’an patted her chest to calm herself, placing the ginseng she’d obtained into the Xixi Farm storage. She reflected on what had just happened.

So he was the one I was supposed to trade with? Then the worn clothes and tattered shoes exposing his toes must have been part of an act.

It made sense. After all, she had disguised herself too.

But thinking back on it, she still found it unbelievable. How could something this coincidental actually happen?

Questions began flooding her mind.

When had he arrived here?
Had he arrived at the same time as her?
Was he a local in the county, from a nearby village, or just passing through by chance?

Still, it seemed fitting that they were “old acquaintances.” Compared to most, they both seemed a little bolder.

In this era, with strict regulations, few dared to venture into the black market. For example, Yu Qingshan must have conducted trades in the black market over the years, but she had never caught him in the act—not even in her memories.

Either he was unusually cautious, or he had always played by the rules. She, his own daughter, had never detected any evidence of such dealings.

However, the idea that he had never traded secretly was unrealistic. Yu Xiang’an remembered that during particularly difficult times—when the family was large, and food ran out halfway through the month—he would occasionally sneak out at night. The next morning, the rice jar would magically contain new supplies.

When asked, he would never answer. These instances were rare and likely occurred only out of sheer necessity.

Yu Xiang’an believed her father’s behavior reflected a general sentiment. Most who ventured into the black market weren’t thrill-seekers but people with no other choice. For many, the black market was their last resort to keep their families afloat. Compared to outright starvation, the risk of engaging in black market activities seemed worth taking.

As for that nameless “old acquaintance,” was he acting out of desperation too?

If so, he would probably appear again.

This time, he had brought ginseng, freshly harvested and undoubtedly from the northern regions. Yu Xiang’an suspected she could track his activities by asking around for others selling ginseng. Since ginseng was so rare here, anyone trading it would likely stand out.

Her own sales of northern fruits, like apples, were easier to manage. Apples were common enough to avoid drawing attention, and she could sell them primarily in the city to remain inconspicuous.

But ginseng was a different story. Unlike fruits, its rarity and value made it a far riskier item to trade, ensuring that any information about it would spread quickly. If she wanted to uncover more about this “old acquaintance,” tracking ginseng sales was a good place to start.

From this encounter, she inferred that his courage was considerable. However, she couldn’t be certain about his character or discretion.

If his integrity was lacking and he ended up saying things he shouldn’t…

It was best to maintain a safe distance.

No interference, no entanglement. Perhaps she should reduce her visits to the black market altogether. When necessary, she could travel to the city, where better goods were more accessible.

On the other side, Lin Chuanbai shared similar thoughts. While their “fated connection” was too bizarre for words, he had no intention of letting it entangle them further. Keeping a safe distance from someone whose motives and habits were unknown seemed the wisest course of action. Especially now, with the crackdown on superstition and other “misdeeds,” even an unintentional slip of the tongue from her could spell trouble for him.

This fellow “local” hadn’t appeared before. If he paid attention to who else could acquire northern fruits like apples, he might be able to determine whether her activity was centered in this area or more widespread.

Lin Chuanbai resolved to reduce his trips to the black market, ideally finding someone else to act as his proxy for trades.

Both reached similar conclusions.

With their thoughts settled, the matter appeared closed.

Lin Chuanbai didn’t stash all the goods he’d acquired. The ducks and most of the apples went into his herb garden, while the rest he brought home as proof of his purchases. These items needed to pass the scrutiny of others in his household.

After returning home, both resumed their usual routines. The unexpected encounter seemed not to have caused any visible ripples in their lives. But whether it had deeper, unseen effects… only they knew.

---

Yu Xiang’an had no idea what Lin Chuanbai thought of her. After that encounter, she had recurring dreams about her parents, friends, classmates, and teachers from her previous life.

In her dreams, everything was as it had been, and she was still her old self.

Waking up from these dreams, she felt hollow.

How were they doing now?

At first, they must have been heartbroken to hear the news of her death. But with time, grief would fade. By now, they must have moved on…

In a few more years, perhaps she would be completely forgotten, lingering only in the memories of her immediate family.

Such thoughts always left her feeling melancholic.

Adding to her burden, she received some unwelcome news—she had to help buy supplies for the New Year.

During the holiday season, the local supply stores increased their stock, sometimes offering rare items. This year, each household was allowed to purchase additional cooking oil with their ration book. Notices were posted outside the stores, and clerks frequently reminded customers to take advantage of the opportunity.

Who wouldn’t want extra oil? It was a rare occasion for the supply to be abundant enough to allow additional purchases.

Based on the household count, Yu Xiang’an’s family could buy an extra pound of oil.

The first day the store’s new stock arrived coincided with Yu Xiang’an’s day off. She had to wake early to queue for the New Year’s supplies.

The holiday required many things: rice cakes, tofu, fish, and, if possible, meat. Roasted peanuts and sunflower seeds were prepared as snacks for visiting children.

Families with means would buy new clothes or shoes for their children.

For those fortunate enough, the New Year symbolized abundance and celebration.

At 6 p.m., she went to bed early, only to rise at 2 a.m. to queue at the supply store. She brought a small stool and an old coat to protect herself from the cold, damp winter night.

Even at 2 a.m., she wasn’t early. Yu Xiang’an counted about twenty people ahead of her. Each person sat on a small stool or wooden block, eyes closed, waiting for the store to open at dawn so they could rush to secure the items they needed.

Yu Xiang’an: “…”

What a pain. When will the days of supermarkets on every corner, where you can buy anything anytime, return?

Late at night, with nothing to do, she could only sit on her small stool, resting her eyes. Leaving her stool behind to save her spot wasn’t an option—someone might toss it out of the queue. After all, why should others who showed up early accept someone taking their place with just a stool?

She wanted to read or browse a newspaper, but keeping her flashlight on all night would be too much of a drain on the battery.

Luckily, the moonlight was decent tonight. Yu Xiang’an took out paper and a pen, jotting down a rough list of tasks and ideas in her mind.

First, work.

She had adjusted smoothly to her new responsibilities, and the handover went without a hitch. If she encountered any issues, she could always consult Liu Shouyi, who patiently answered her questions. There weren’t any major changes in the factory, and the established procedures were easy to follow. Once accustomed to her role, she found the job quite manageable.

Next, her house.

She planned to return to spend the New Year with her family, but only for a few days. After her holiday ended, she’d be back in her home alone.

At that point, it would be time to slowly furnish it. She wanted a desk in her room, along with a bookcase—nothing to hold banned books, of course, but textbooks, newspapers, and permitted materials. The desk would be her workspace for drafting and researching.

She also needed a large lockable cabinet. If she ever brought out anything unusual, it would serve as a useful cover.

On her next day off, she’d head to the city to sell off some inventory.

Then there was the matter of her second brother and fourth sister, who would be returning for the New Year.

She had already met her fourth sister and had a good impression of her. She seemed straightforward, without much pretense, yet capable of decisive action. The way she handled her relationship with Liang Yong earned Yu Xiang’an’s silent applause.

However, she had yet to meet her second brother and sister-in-law in person.

From her recollection, her second brother was tall and robust, even taller than her eldest brother. He had liked his wife for a long time but had kept his feelings to himself due to their mismatched social status. It wasn’t until her father’s political issues caused her family’s downfall that he seized the opportunity, accompanying her to the countryside in the hopes of winning her heart.

Though it might seem opportunistic, his strategy had worked—he had married his beloved.

As for her sister-in-law’s personality, Yu Xiang’an was curious. She had once been a privileged young lady with excellent living conditions. Could she still be spoiled?

Probably not. Life in the countryside would have forced her to adapt. Her brother was capable, but not so much as to shield her entirely from change.

Would their relationship last?

Yu Xiang’an wasn’t sure. It didn’t seem like her sister-in-law felt as deeply for her brother as he did for her. If her father’s situation were resolved and he were politically rehabilitated, would she still be content as his wife?

Her background and experiences made her well-suited to marry someone far more outstanding.

If that happened, her second brother would undoubtedly be devastated.

Yu Xiang’an, having never experienced love herself, found it hard to understand such emotions.

But considering her brother had liked her sister-in-law since middle school, his feelings must run deep. Having never achieved his dream would be one thing, but gaining it only to lose it again would be a far greater blow.

Once they returned, she decided to observe them closely.

Then there was the matter of visiting her grandparents for a day during the New Year.

Yu Manchang had now learned how to make bricks and mentioned that after two more months at the brick factory, he’d no longer need to go there. The factory planned to let go of temporary workers, allowing him to return home and experiment with his skills.

Meanwhile, her father, Yu Qingshan, continued experimenting with paper-making techniques, improving steadily. He planned to perfect his method before sharing it with others.

The two people in front of her began discussing making rice cakes for the New Year. Yu Xiang’an added “rice cakes” to her list.

Her family usually didn’t make rice cakes themselves but sent the ingredients to the Qin family, who made them as part of their own batch. Her grandparents’ rice cakes were delicious, and this year would be no different.

Her thoughts wandered aimlessly as drowsiness crept in. At this hour, it was almost impossible to fight off sleep.

Under normal circumstances, Yu Qingshan wouldn’t let his daughter handle this task, but today she was the only one off work while everyone else had shifts. Besides, there were many people at the supply store, and even if they didn’t know each other personally, they were familiar faces, so safety wasn’t an issue—just a matter of enduring the hassle.

After enduring through the long night until sunrise, the store had yet to open. Yu Xiang’an glanced back at the line and saw that it now wound and stretched so far she couldn’t even see the end.

At times like this, those at the front would guard their spots diligently. Leaving the line carelessly might mean someone cutting in and wasting all their effort.

When the supply store finally opened, a staff member came out to maintain order.
“Listen to me, everyone. Don’t rush all at once. The front area is full; let these people go in first. The rest, wait your turn. Did you hear me? No pushing!”

The staff were strict and experienced, having handled such situations many times before. The busiest period was always right before the New Year, and those who’d worked here for a few years were well-prepared.

Since Yu Xiang’an had arrived early, she was among the first group allowed in.

She prioritized buying sugar, oil, and biscuits, followed by rice and flour, and lastly, coarse grains.

The festive New Year’s stock was far more abundant than usual.

Fresh red dates? Bought.
Rarely in-stock malted milk powder? Bought.
Condensed milk? Bought.

She shopped generously, but no one batted an eye—this was the norm. Everyone had saved up their ration tickets throughout the year, and now was the time to spend them. Whether the New Year celebrations would be sumptuous or not depended on today’s haul.

After buying so much, Yu Xiang’an naturally couldn’t carry it all back alone.

Struggling to squeeze out of the crowd, she finally managed to find a spot to stand.

Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie were already waiting for her at the entrance. When they saw her come out, they ran over, cheering.
“Fifth Sister, you’re here!”
“Auntie, I’ll go find Dad and the others,” Yu Mingjie said, heading off to get help.

Before long, Yu Xianghai arrived. Seeing the mountain of goods on the ground, he gave her a thumbs-up.
“Xiao An, impressive!”

Exhausted, Yu Xiang’an couldn’t muster a response. Squeezing and pushing through the crowd was far from an enjoyable experience.

Sensing her fatigue, Yu Xianghai reassured her, “Go home and rest well today.”

After sleeping through most of the afternoon, Yu Xiang’an woke up refreshed.

The items Yu Xianghai had helped bring back were temporarily piled haphazardly in Yu Qingshan’s room, awaiting sorting later.

Meanwhile, Yu Xiang’an picked out some red dates. As soon as she saw them, she thought of making red date cake.

She soaked the dates for half an hour, removed the pits, and tore them into small pieces before cooking them into a paste. Then, she added sugar, eggs, and a bit of oil, stirring continuously.

Without an electric mixer, she had to do everything by hand. Her arm ached from all the stirring, and she desperately missed having a mixer.

Finally, after the batter was ready, she mixed in flour, poured it into a pan, and steamed it.

When Yu Mingjie and Yu Xiangju returned home, they were greeted by the aroma of freshly steamed red date cake.

“!!!”

What a delightful surprise!

Yu Mingjie, moved as he ate, exclaimed, “Auntie, this is even better than the ones you can buy!”

Yu Xiangju, eyes shining with anticipation, pleaded, “Fifth Sister, it’s so good! Can I have another piece?”

Yu Xiang’an shook her head “ruthlessly.” “You’ve already had one piece. The rest is for everyone to share.”

During the New Year, people tend to be more generous, and red date cake is not only delicious but also nutritious, suitable for all ages. Yu Xiang’an mused that selling date cake might be a profitable venture.

When Yu Qingshan and the others returned, they unanimously praised her creation.

Yu Qingshan suggested, “When we visit your grandparents for the New Year, you should make some to bring along.”

As people age, softer foods like these cakes are much easier to eat.

Yu Xiang’an grinned. “I can also make sponge cake. Should I make both?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Yu Qingshan replied, “As soft as this?”

“Yes.”

“Then make half of each.”

---

When word got around that Yu Xiang’an planned to visit the city on her next day off, Yan Yuzhen and Song Shujing asked her for a favor.

“If you see any red scarves or red yarn at the department store, could you help us buy some?”

The night before her trip, Yu Xiang’an stayed up late preparing red date cakes and other items for sale. Just as she had drifted off to sleep, she was jolted awake by the sound of shouting and breaking dishes from the house next door.

Sitting up, she strained to listen.

It was an older woman’s shrill, scolding voice:
“It’s all because of you, dragging my son down with your bad health! You’re clinging to him because you know you’ve got no future without him! He used to listen to everything I said, but now? He won’t even help his younger brother because of you! You’re nothing but a burden, spending all his money on your medicine!”

“If you had any decency, you’d leave him and stop dragging him down!”

Yu Xiang’an: “…”

It sounded like it was Master Bao’s mother.

Then came Master Bao’s voice, trying to calm things down:
“Mom, that’s enough! Lower your voice…”

After that, the conversation became muffled. Unable to make out the words, Yu Xiang’an decided it wasn’t her business and went back to sleep.

By morning, the incident was the talk of the neighborhood.

At breakfast in the cafeteria, Yan Yuzhen grabbed her arm. “Did you hear what happened last night?”

Yu Xiang’an shook her head. “I slept through it. What happened?”

“I didn’t hear it myself, but people are saying Master Bao’s parents showed up and caused a scene. They’re unhappy with Song Meizi, blaming her for being a burden and saying the filial money wasn’t enough.”

Yu Xiang’an: “… How do you know all this, Sister Yan?”

Yan Yuzhen sighed. “This isn’t the first time. There was another incident before, where they even came to the factory and demanded half of Master Bao’s salary be given directly to them. Of course, we refused. They’ve already split households, and their registrations aren’t even under the same account anymore.”

Yu Xiang’an was astonished. “That really happened?”

Yan Yuzhen nodded. “Oh, yes, and this isn’t the first time.”

“Why would they do that?”

Such behavior severely impacts Master Bao’s reputation in the factory.

Yan Yuzhen quickly gulped down the last of her porridge. “Master Bao’s family wasn’t well-off in the past, so his marriage was almost like marrying into the bride’s family. It was agreed that their second son would take Song Meizi’s surname. Song Meizi was an only child, and her family was relatively well-to-do. When they married, her father provided significant financial support. But later, her parents fell ill, spent a lot of money on treatments, and still passed away, leaving little behind. That’s when Master Bao’s parents started regretting the marriage, looking down on their daughter-in-law. It’s said that when they lived together, they often treated her harshly. Luckily, Master Bao has a conscience.”

Yu Xiang’an frowned as she listened. Helping at the start and saying nothing, only to turn on her when there’s no benefit—how hypocritical.

She shook her head. Although this was just Yan Yuzhen’s account, it was likely accurate. “Let’s drop it; I need to catch the bus. I’ll head out first.”

Yan Yuzhen nodded and reminded her, “Don’t forget to check for the goods I mentioned.”

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “I won’t, don’t worry.”

Yu Xiang’an set off for the city to sell her goods and shop. Meanwhile, over at Lin Chuanbai’s house, his day started well but quickly took a turn when an unwelcome guest appeared.

The visitor arrived bearing gifts, and Xu Haili greeted him warmly, impressed by his appearance and offerings. The man wore clothing with only a single token patch, sported a watch on his wrist, and leather shoes on his feet. He brought malted milk powder, baby formula, and a roast chicken—each item a clear display of wealth.

Someone of such apparent status was treated with courtesy. When he mentioned who he was visiting, Xu Haili immediately sent for Lin Chuanbai and even brought out the reserved sweets from her locked cabinet to entertain the guest.

Lin Chuanbai, working in the dispensary, was summoned back urgently. Worried something serious had happened, he hurried home. However, upon stepping through the door and seeing the visitor’s smug face, his expression froze.

It was Feng Jiaye.

Feng Jiaye had been the original Lin Chuanbai’s high school classmate. After graduation, his family pulled strings to secure him a job at a grain store, where he’d since been promoted. Now, at a young age, he was already a manager.

For someone his age, there was no way such a rise wasn’t due to insider connections.

Since his promotion, Feng Jiaye delighted in sending letters to Lin Chuanbai. If not for the distance between them, Lin Chuanbai suspected he’d show up in person more often just to brag.

Feng Jiaye’s letters always started with faux concern about Lin Chuanbai’s well-being, but the bulk of the content was self-praise—about how hard he worked, how much he endured, and how beloved he was. The letters would then end with a patronizing pity for Lin Chuanbai, lamenting how he’d been replaced, unable to attend university, and forced to return to a small town, leaving his future in ruins.

It was nauseatingly fake.

And now, he wasn’t content with just letters—he had come in person!

Feng Jiaye greeted him with a smile and, lifting his chin, said, “I’m here to tell you some good news. Don’t you want to know?”

Lin Chuanbai’s face was expressionless. “No.”

Feng Jiaye was taken aback by the cold response. What kind of attitude was this? He was sharing good news, wasn’t he? Traveling all this way to say it in person, only to be met with indifference?

Irritated, he stood and made a show of leaving. “Since you’re not interested, I’ll be off, then.”

Lin Chuanbai smiled faintly. “Safe travels.”

Feng Jiaye froze mid-step.

Did he just hear that correctly?!

🌱🌿 🫧🍃