Ch 42: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

Yu Shunwen was at home when Yu Xiang’an told him about the situation. His expression immediately turned serious. If it turned out to be a false alarm, that would be one thing, but if it were true, ignoring it could lead to serious consequences.

If something happened to a female educated youth in the area, as the brigade leader, he would be held accountable.

“There are three female educated youths who stayed behind for the New Year. I’ll go talk to them first and see what’s going on.”

Without delay, Yu Shunwen set off to investigate, and Yu Xiang’an went with him.

Yu Shunwen didn’t directly mention any potential danger but instead asked casually, “Are you all settling in well during the New Year? Let me know if there’s anything unusual or if you need help. How do you like the festive atmosphere here?”

He posed his questions indirectly, but the girls didn’t seem to sense anything amiss.

Among the three, Ruan Chenxi had the best family background and was also the most attractive. It wasn’t surprising that she might have caught someone’s attention. Despite the lack of concrete evidence and her lone testimony, Yu Shunwen decided to arrange for her to temporarily stay with a reliable family to see if the situation improved.

When the brigade leader got involved, things naturally moved more smoothly. Publicly, he explained that Ruan Chenxi had a good rapport with a local family who happened to have a spare room, so she would be staying with them for a while. He didn’t mention rent or her concerns about being followed to avoid raising suspicion.

Privately, Yu Shunwen heightened his vigilance. If there truly was someone dangerous in the area, he would need to arrange for more patrols. The New Year was a time of bustling activity, making it easier for things to go unnoticed or for trouble to arise. He instructed people to keep an eye out and pay special attention to anyone acting suspiciously.

Ruan Chenxi was satisfied with the arrangement and eager to move in right away. The family she was staying with consisted of an elderly couple and their grandchildren. Though they appeared vulnerable, the situation was far from precarious. The grandchildren belonged to their youngest son, who had passed away. To prevent the children from being seen as burdens raised by their uncles, the couple took on the responsibility themselves.

The family lived near their other four sons, who were just a shout away if anything happened. The arrangement offered both security and reassurance.

Ruan Chenxi had a lot of belongings, so Yu Xiang’an helped carry some. Before parting, Ruan Chenxi gave her two pieces of chocolate.

Chocolate was a rare treat in those days—so rare, in fact, that even the county supply cooperatives didn’t stock it. Judging by the packaging, it must have been expensive.

Yu Xiang’an accepted the chocolate, planning to give it to Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie. They had never tasted it before.

After resolving the matter, it was already late. The family packed their things to return home. It was Yu Xiang’an’s last day of New Year break; she would return to work the next day. Yu Xiangyan and Wen Ruzhen also began packing, preparing to catch the bus back to the countryside.

Before leaving, Yu Xiangyan had a private conversation with Yu Qingshan.

“I’ve looked into things, and it’s a bit chaotic here. While the New Year period is quieter, if it continues like this, I might not bring them back as often.”

The underlying concern was clear: gossip and rumors. Such talk wouldn’t just affect those staying at home but could also hurt Wen Ruzhen. If they didn’t return, both sides could avoid unnecessary troubles. This time, for example, Wen Ruzhen had mostly stayed indoors after visiting her grandmother, avoiding guests who came to pay respects.

The only reason no one had guessed Wen Ruzhen’s background yet was because her previous social circle was so different from this one that there was no overlap.

Yu Qingshan nodded in understanding.

Wen Ruzhen and her brother were good looking, but they lacked the physical strength to defend themselves. Until her younger brother grew older, Yu Xiangyan wouldn’t feel safe leaving them to return alone. Trips like this, lasting ten days to two weeks, left little room for swift responses if anything happened.

Even so, Yu Qingshan remained silent for a moment. Yu Xiangyan had just recently married and didn’t yet have children. Once he did, it would become even harder for him to leave them behind.

With this thought, Yu Qingshan sighed deeply.

Yu Xiangyan’s face was filled with guilt. “I’ve failed as a son, but I believe this situation won’t last forever.”

Hearing this, Yu Qingshan posed a serious question: “If one day, the current circumstances disappear, could you and her still remain husband and wife?”

For a moment, Yu Xiangyan’s face went blank. After a long silence, he responded with a somber tone, “Dad, I don’t know.”

In truth, he lacked confidence. All he could do was treat her as well as possible. If that day ever came and she returned to being the daughter of a wealthy family, wanting to leave him, then he… he would let her go and give her freedom.

If Yu Xiang’an knew his thoughts, she would only sigh and call him a romantic fool.

“Giving her freedom”—those words were simple yet profound.

His affection for her was so obvious, yet he was still willing to give her freedom. What else could you call him but a true romantic? Such people were rare.

Yu Qingshan sighed again. “As long as you’ve thought it through.” He worried his son might not be able to handle such a situation. Although Yu Xiangyan seemed reliable most of the time, he was prone to stubbornness. In the past, he had almost gone down the wrong path. Since then, Yu Qingshan had lowered his expectations for him—letting him live as he pleased. As long as he avoided trouble and stayed within the law, he could do what he wanted. With his own two hands, Yu Xiangyan could always earn a living. For now, as his father, Yu Qingshan was still young and able to work, so there was no need for his son to provide for him.

“Thank you, Dad,” Yu Xiangyan said sincerely. He knew that in most families, a son who brought his wife home less frequently would be scolded as ungrateful or accused of forgetting his mother after getting married. In some cases, they would have opposed the marriage from the start. But his father was different—he was understanding and open-minded. Having such a father made Yu Xiangyan feel incredibly lucky, as if he had done countless good deeds in his past life to deserve being born as his son.

The night before their departure, the family gathered around the table for a hearty meal, sharing stories about the future and recounting experiences in the countryside—new friends they had made, new skills they had learned.

That evening, they stayed up talking late into the night.

Unbeknownst to Yu Xiang’an, some of them had slipped out again during the night. It wasn’t until after they boarded the train that she heard someone had been beaten up—a man named Zhou, who worked at the meatpacking factory.

The name sounded familiar.

After asking further, she confirmed it was Zhou Boyang.

Yu Xiang’an couldn’t help but laugh when she heard the news. But this was the last time—if it happened again, suspicion would inevitably fall on them. Though there were guesses about who might be involved, there was no concrete evidence.

Even if the Yu family was the most likely culprit, others hesitated to accuse them outright. When Liang Yong had previously shouted about finding the culprit, someone had reminded him of certain things. Realizing who might be responsible, he dropped the matter entirely.

He knew that if it was truly the Yu family and the reasons were exposed, he himself might be implicated. In that case, it was better to swallow his anger and wait for another opportunity to retaliate.

Two days after Yu Xiangyan and the others left, Yu Xiangqing boarded a train to return to the countryside. Unlike them, she traveled alone, which made Yu Qingshan uneasy, though there was little he could do.

Yu Xiangqing reassured him, “Dad, don’t worry. I’ll be fine—there are so many people around. And just look at me—who would even bother?”

She deliberately dressed herself in a disheveled and shabby manner, looking like a rural housewife. If she happened to run into trouble, her appearance was unlikely to attract attention or trouble.

“I’ll get there in half a day. Don’t worry, I’ll send a telegram as soon as I arrive. Nothing will go wrong.”

No matter how worried they were, all they could do was watch her figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance.

Even with such a short separation, their hearts were heavy with concern. It was hard to imagine how heart-wrenching it must feel for those separated by half the country.

As the festive atmosphere of the New Year faded, life returned to its normal rhythm, and Yu Xiang’an got busy again.

Her Xixi Farm had unexpectedly upgraded.

That evening, as usual, she went inside to tend to her crops and poultry. But when she counted her ducks, she realized two were missing. Thinking she had miscounted, she tried again. Still, two were gone.

Could the ducks have escaped through the fence and wandered into the soybean field? She looked up to check, only to notice that the open space behind the barn seemed larger than before.

Walking closer, she discovered a lush grassy area, about three acres in size.

The sight of cattle and sheep grazing leisurely greeted her—accompanied by a pair of dairy cows and goats. It was just like the initial allocations of apple, pear, grape, and chestnut trees when she started her farm.

Yu Xiang’an stood there, overwhelmed by the surprise.

After so long, Xixi Farm had remained stagnant, showing no signs of leveling up. She had assumed it would never change. Yet now, there was a pasture!

Could this mean that, little by little, other functions might unlock as well?

Perhaps a market, a processing workshop, or even a fishpond?

Even if the pasture could only raise cattle and sheep for now, it was already a huge win.

Beef, lamb, milk, and dairy products filled her thoughts.

She began imagining dishes: braised beef, steak, beef offal, lamb skewers, lamb chops, hotpot, roasted whole lamb…

And dairy could open up even more possibilities—milk powder, milk candy, yogurt, cheese, custards…

Excited, she ran toward the animals. The cows and sheep were docile, mooing softly as they lazily grazed on the grass.

With so much space for just four animals, they seemed utterly relaxed.

Staring at the dairy cows, Yu Xiang’an hesitated. She had never milked a cow before. What was the correct technique to avoid being kicked?

“Quick, someone, tell me!” she thought anxiously.

Maybe there was an automatic collection option? Tentatively, she pressed a button. Her eyes widened as she watched the cows’ udders shrink.

Running to the barn, she found milk neatly sorted into a new category, some liquid already stored there.

Her laughter echoed around her.

Milk powder, milk candy, yogurt, cheese, custards—here she comes!

Later, she noticed the two missing ducks at the edge of the pasture. Scooping them up, she returned them to their pen before going back to process milk.

Her first creation? Double-layered milk custard—a treat she hadn’t enjoyed in ages.

Meanwhile, in another household, Ding Minxiu went into labor.

She woke from sleep with sharp abdominal pains and shook Zhou Boyang awake in a panic. “I’m about to give birth!”

Zhou Boyang, startled, threw on a thick coat and rushed to knock on his parents’ door.

“Mom, Dad! She’s in labor!”

Fang Rong hurried to call the midwife. Going to the hospital was out of the question; it would reveal how far along she truly was. They had prepared for this by hiring a midwife from another region, ensuring that any suspicions wouldn’t spread locally.

In the kitchen, Yang Xizhi boiled water. Zhou Changshou and Zhou Duosun sat restlessly on their chairs, while Zhou Boyang paced anxiously outside the delivery room, sweating as he listened to Ding Minxiu’s cries of pain.

She went into labor in the middle of the night, but by dawn the next day, the baby still hadn’t been born.

Zhou Changshou and Yang Xizhi, who didn’t have work, stayed by her side. Zhou Boyang took a day off, while Fang Rong went in to assist. Only Zhou Duosun went to work as usual.

Zhou Boyang paced nervously inside, unable to sit still. He turned to Yang Xizhi and asked, “Grandma, do you think it’ll be a boy or a girl?”

Yang Xizhi answered with certainty, “A boy!” Their family had only had one male heir per generation for three generations, and they desperately wanted a son.

Daughters eventually marry out of the family.

At such a critical moment, she had to say it was a boy. What if saying “girl” scared the boy away?

Zhou Changshou, sitting with his eyes half-closed, didn’t say anything, but he, too, hoped for a boy to continue the Zhou family line.

Zhou Boyang licked his dry lips, feeling a chill of fear. He hadn’t realized childbirth was such a terrifying process. Uneasily, he looked at his grandfather. “Should we go to the hospital? It’s been so long already.”

“What could possibly go wrong?” Yang Xizhi immediately dismissed the idea. “I gave birth to your father at home too. Everyone gets through it this way. Only a few people go to the hospital to deliver. It hasn’t even been that long. Don’t say such nonsense.”

Zhou Boyang could only fall silent.

The sun rose slowly, and by noon, they had eaten a quick meal and continued waiting. By now, Zhou Changshou was exhausted.

He hadn’t closed his eyes since the labor began, but his desire to be the first to know the baby’s gender kept him awake and at her side.

As their anxious waiting continued, a sharp scream pierced the air, followed by the faint cry of a newborn.

Then came Fang Rong’s delighted shout: “It’s here! The baby is here!”

Zhou Changshou immediately stood up. “Is it a boy or a girl?”

Fang Rong quickly tidied up and came out. “It’s a boy! I have a grandson now, and Dad, you have a great-grandson!”

“I have a great-grandson! Wonderful, wonderful!” Zhou Changshou exclaimed, looking at the wrinkly little baby with immense joy. He couldn’t get enough of the sight.

Yang Xizhi also stood up happily. After admiring the baby for a while, she went into her room and unlocked a cabinet. Now that the baby was born, the mother’s body was weak and needed nourishment. Without proper nutrition, she wouldn’t have enough milk to feed her great-grandson.

“She needs to eat well so she’ll have plenty of milk to raise a chubby, healthy boy,” she said.

Zhou Boyang wanted to go over and look at the baby, but his legs felt weak. Embarrassed, he stayed quiet and waited until his strength returned before he stood up and approached his grandfather.

Looking at the baby, he thought to himself: This is my son. I’m a father now.

He couldn’t describe his feelings—pride at being a father, mixed with uncertainty about how to care for such a tiny human. The baby was so small and would take a long time to grow.

After giving birth, Ding Minxiu fainted from exhaustion. When she awoke a while later, she was alone in the room.

She was in pain, her body too weak to move. She grasped the blanket tightly, wanting to call out, but her voice was barely a whisper.

“Is anyone there?” she murmured softly, her voice too faint for anyone to hear.

Where is everyone? Where is my baby?

The baby wasn’t by her side. Where could they have taken it?

Anxious thoughts raced through her mind. Had she given birth to a girl? Was that why no one cared about her now?

She knew they minded her job, her father’s actions—things she couldn’t control.

Before her thoughts could spiral further, someone came into the room.

It was Fang Rong, carrying a bowl of sweet egg soup. Seeing her awake, Fang Rong’s face lit up, and she quickened her steps.

“You’re awake! You must be hungry. Here, eat something. You need to regain your strength so you’ll have enough milk to feed the baby.”

“Where’s the baby?” Ding Minxiu wasn’t concerned about the food; she only wanted to know about her child. From her mother-in-law’s attitude and the bowl of egg soup, she guessed she must have given birth to a son.

“The baby is with his great-grandmother. Don’t worry, he’s fine. He’s just over five pounds—not very strong yet. You’ll need to nurse him well to make him healthier.”

“Is… it a son?” Her voice grew louder with anticipation.

“Yes, it’s a boy!” Fang Rong’s face lit up with a wide smile.

Ding Minxiu exhaled a breath of relief and managed a smile of reassurance before letting herself drift into unconsciousness.

It was wonderful.

She had given birth to a son. Her place in the Zhou family was secure now. With a son, she was no longer a liability but a contributor to the family’s legacy.

News of the birth spread quickly through the neighborhood, thanks to Yang Xizhi’s enthusiastic announcements. She even sent someone to inform Zhao Qiaoniang, formally notifying family and friends that the Zhou family had welcomed a baby boy.

Having given the Zhou family a son, Ding Minxiu’s position within the family improved. Yang Xizhi wanted to foster a better relationship with her daughter-in-law and her family. The Yu family might not be worth considering, but Ding Minxiu’s mother was still alive. After all, anything given to her would ultimately benefit the great-grandson.

When Zhao Qiaoniang heard the news, a look of joy immediately appeared on her face. “A son! That’s wonderful. Having a son gives one confidence.”

She knew giving birth must have been hard on Ding Minxiu, so she decided to bring her some nourishment.

Typically, when a married daughter gives birth, her natal family is expected to contribute—whether it’s a chicken for those well-off, eggs for those less so, or even some fine grains for those with limited means.

Zhao Qiaoniang had already prepared clothes for the baby but now worried about what to bring to help her daughter recover.

She couldn’t touch the family’s only chicken, which they relied on for eggs to supplement their nutrition. They didn’t have any eggs stored, as they never lasted long. The only options were the supply shop or trading privately with neighbors.

Fortunately, she managed to borrow 20 eggs from someone. Feeling satisfied, she returned home, her happiness evident.

Curious about her mood, Yu Xiangju asked, “Mom, why are you so happy? What did you bring back?”

Zhao Qiaoniang froze for a moment before replying, “Eggs. Minxiu gave birth, so I’m preparing something for her. Xiaoju, could you keep this between us? Don’t tell your dad or your siblings.”

Yu Xiangju didn’t understand. “Dad and the others aren’t outsiders. Why can’t we tell them?”

After a brief silence, Zhao Qiaoniang explained, “This is just between the two of us. Anyone else, even your dad, is considered an outsider. Xiaoju, your dad might get upset if he finds out, and I don’t want that. Just pretend you didn’t see anything, okay?”

Confused but obedient, Yu Xiangju nodded.

Once she was alone, Zhao Qiaoniang placed the eggs carefully in a room, but the joy on her face disappeared. She wiped away a tear.

Such a happy occasion, yet she had to hide it. How hard must it be for Minxiu?

Meanwhile, Yu Xiang’an went to the finance office to ask Yan Yuzhen about temporary jobs. On the way, she ran into Song Shujing, who was there to request an advance on wages for Master Bao.

Their timing was coincidental. Inside, a group was chatting loudly, and the subject of their gossip was none other than Yu Xiang’an herself.

Their voices carried through the air, clear enough for her to hear without eavesdropping as she stood outside the room.

She stopped in her tracks and pulled Song Shujing to stand with her and listen.

Song Shujing felt embarrassed. She hadn’t expected to walk into such an awkward situation. If she had known, she would have come to pick up the money on another day. But her mother-in-law had been pushing her, leaving her no choice but to come today.

Having recently transferred from accounting to become the assistant to Deputy Director Wang, the new accountant, Zheng Yingying, was young—just in her early twenties—and well-connected. Song Shujing had heard Yan Yuzhen comment more than once about Zheng Yingying’s arrogance.

At that moment, Zheng Yingying was speaking to Sun Qingchun.

“I can’t believe how indifferent you are. Don’t you want a new house? You can’t just wait for a miracle to drop out of the sky. If you miss this chance, there won’t be another. Don’t you want to live in a better place?”

Though she had a dormitory, it was old and shabby. She wanted a new house, and while she could afford the subscription fee, too few people were showing interest, and the factory leadership wasn’t committed to the idea.

Everyone talked about it, but when it came time to act, they stayed silent.

Sun Qingchun was one of them.

When asked if he wanted a new house, he would say yes, but when it came to voicing the request to the leadership, he hesitated.

“I’m not expecting a miracle, but this is how everyone is acting,” he said, unwilling to take the lead.

Perhaps, like the others, he only wanted to talk about it without actually spending such a significant amount of money.

Zheng Yingying wasn’t ready to give up. In accounting, there were three people: Yan Yuzhen already had a new house, leaving only her and Sun Qingchun.

Over in the cashier’s department, none of the three employees had a new house, so she tried to rally them as well. “Don’t you all want one? Let’s submit an application together.”

Li Jianguo was the first to refuse. “Not me. I’m fine where I am.” He didn’t have the money and couldn’t even entertain the thought.

Wang Yunlai was tempted but didn’t want to take the lead either.

Deng Xiahong scoffed. “You think the leadership will bother organizing another round of new housing? They’ve all got their homes already. Do you realize how much manpower and resources it takes?”

Zheng Yingying might be connected to the leadership, but not deeply enough to make such demands. Deng Xiahong didn’t hold back.

“If you’re so eager for a new house, why don’t you cozy up to the leadership like that Yu woman? She’s got it all—new house, promotions, and raises—just by sucking up to them.”

That was when Yu Xiang’an and Song Shujing arrived outside the door.

“Cozy up to the leadership, sweet-talk them, and you’ll get everything you want. New house, promotions, you name it!”

Song Shujing froze. I really shouldn’t have come today.

Yan Yuzhen immediately slammed her hand on the table. “What’s your problem? Stop spreading nonsense and misleading newcomers! We all have eyes. So what if she has a new house? She paid for it. You don’t want to spend money, but you still want a new house? Look at your qualifications—have you made any contributions to the factory? Have you brought any recognition or honor to the factory? Her promotions and raises are well-deserved! She’s capable, and the leadership recognizes that.

“She’s the one who proposed the idea for these houses. I’m grateful to her—we all are. If you want a promotion, why don’t you come up with ideas? Why don’t you write articles for publication? Instead, you just gossip behind people’s backs. Why don’t you go say this directly to Director Wang?”

At that moment, Yu Xiang’an pushed the door open and walked in.

“Well said! Let’s go see Director Wang and sort this out. Someone seems to have an improper understanding of my promotion and has accused Director Wang of favoritism. I’m sure he’d like to clear things up.”

She grabbed Deng Xiahong’s arm and started pulling her toward the door.

Deng Xiahong’s face turned pale. She grabbed the table with her other hand, unwilling to move. If this matter reached Director Wang, how could she continue working here in the future?

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