Ch 59: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

Both of them couldn’t help but question the situation. Initially unsure, they eventually began to suspect the same possibility: Could the other person also have a space of their own?

This suspicion slowly sank into their minds. Without discussing it directly, they started observing each other more carefully, looking for inconsistencies. When suspicion arises, even mundane details are viewed through a different lens.

Many things are hard to hide from someone who shares your bed, and this wasn’t without reason.

Apart from work, they spent most of their time together and had a good understanding of each other’s habits. What was once unnoticed now stood out, like faint lights emerging from a fog.

Yu Xiang’an noticed that Lin Chuanbai often carried the distinct scent of processed medicinal herbs. It wasn’t unusual, given his job at the pharmacy. But on days when he attended training, with no contact with herbs, where did this scent come from?

She meticulously dissected his schedule. His time wasn’t exactly abundant. He woke up early to take the twins to the daycare at the machinery factory, then rushed to the hospital for training, which lasted until the afternoon, leaving little time before the end of his workday.

What secret was he hiding that she hadn’t noticed before?

As doubts grew in her mind, Lin Houpin’s birthday arrived. Lin Duzhong reminded everyone that they couldn’t let it pass unnoticed. After some discussion, Yu Xiang’an decided to make a birthday cake.

The cake wasn’t elaborate—just a simple mix of eggs, flour, and condensed milk. She sprinkled it with crumbs from crushed biscuits and wrote “Happy Birthday” on top with condensed milk.

She intentionally avoided using anything extravagant, sticking to common ingredients like eggs, flour, and biscuits.

The cake was large, suitable for everyone, including the four children, who were sure to enjoy it. Making it smaller would have left them wanting more.

As for the cost, it wasn’t much. Lin Houpin had helped them a great deal—he had even asked his assistant to help find their current house. This was a favor worth remembering, and a cake seemed like a small gesture in return.

Lin Houpin disliked superficial flattery and rejected gifts on his birthday. He had been in the factory long enough that everyone knew his habits—well-wishes were enough. Anyone who dared give a gift would face his stern expression, backed by his naturally intimidating demeanor. Few people could withstand that.

However, gifts from family didn’t count. His wife, children, and daughters-in-law were exceptions.

Li Yuqiao, aware of her limited cooking skills, ordered a few of Lin Houpin’s favorite dishes and made him a new pair of shoes as her gift.

When Yu Xiang’an glanced at the shoes, she couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious. The craftsmanship was excellent, showcasing Li Yuqiao’s skill as a seamstress—something Yu Xiang’an lacked.

Since it was a workday, everyone went to work as usual. Only Zhang Ying and Lin Tiandong, who were on winter break, had the freedom to play outside all day.

The twins, still too young for school breaks, went to daycare with their little friends whenever their parents were busy.

An incident occurred while Li Yuqiao went to pick up the ordered dishes.

She was one of the most beautiful women among the machinery factory families, and her husband was one of the factory’s most prominent figures.

The two of them seemed well-matched, but their age gap often drew quiet questions from others.

This led to gossip, with many using it as a way to rationalize their envy or dissatisfaction.

Previously, it was just casual talk. But after Lin Houpin’s hospitalization and the arrival of his son, the gossip turned into outright ridicule: how her husband was almost the same age as her stepson, and how her own son was only slightly older than her husband’s grandson.

People couldn’t help but ask, What was she after?

Isn’t she just after the factory director’s wealth and power?

Sure, she’s beautiful, and her life seems enviable, but clearly, she’s vain and materialistic.

Otherwise, why would she marry a man old enough to be her father?

Li Yuqiao was never one to be easily bullied. If someone dared say such things to her face, she would challenge them to repeat it in front of Lin Houpin. Who would dare?

After a few such encounters, people stopped openly gossiping in her presence, resorting instead to whispering behind her back.

But these rumors never bothered Li Yuqiao. Dwelling on them would only make her life harder. She had prepared herself for this from the start, and now, it was simply what she had anticipated coming to pass.

Idle gossip was nothing compared to the life she enjoyed.

Yu Xiang’an overheard some of the remarks and admired Li Yuqiao’s mental fortitude. Their relationship was admittedly a bit awkward—how could it not be?

Even addressing her felt strange. Li Yuqiao had just turned 30 this year, only a few years older than Yu Xiang’an.

Both women, however, maintained a tacit understanding, keeping a polite and comfortable distance from each other. This arrangement suited them both.

Initially, Li Yuqiao worried they might compete with her son for resources. Her son was still young and no match for them if it came to that. But seeing how they were determined to be self-reliant, she considered them naive. Still, she had no intention of warning them otherwise—this was exactly what she wanted to see.

When Lin Houpin saw the cake, he frowned. “This is a Western thing. Why bother making something like this?”

He was inherently traditional and had a distaste for Western influences. He associated birthday cakes with Western customs, finding them extravagant and unnecessary. To him, the money could’ve been better spent elsewhere.

He had never bought a cake in his life.

Yu Xiang’an remained composed. “It has two names. In the West, it’s called a birthday cake. Here, we can call it egg sponge cake. If you don’t like the Western name, just call it egg sponge cake.”

Call it whatever you like.

Lin Houpin: “…”

He had no rebuttal.

Lin Duzhong coughed lightly, suppressing his amusement. Watching his son rendered speechless by his granddaughter-in-law’s simple retort was unexpectedly entertaining. Now Lin Houpin knew what it felt like to have no words left to say.

Besides, Yu Xiang’an wasn’t wrong. Food wasn’t inherently Western or Eastern—it was all about perspective. If he didn’t want to use the Western name, there were plenty of alternatives to choose from. And not all things Western were bad. Birthday cakes carried positive symbolism, after all.

Lin Duzhong also knew how much effort it took to make such a cake.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ying and Lin Tiandong stared at the cake, their eyes glued to it. The sweet aroma captivated them so thoroughly that they didn’t even blink.

The twins, too, couldn’t tear their eyes away. If it weren’t for the fact that the dinner dishes were also delicious, they wouldn’t have bothered eating at all, saving their appetites entirely for the cake.

Even Li Yuqiao looked forward to tasting it. Judging by its appearance, it seemed just as good as the cakes she had purchased in the past. She was eager to see how it compared in flavor.

Truthfully, with their family’s circumstances, buying and eating meat wasn’t difficult.

After dinner, Lin Duzhong insisted that Lin Houpin light the candles, make a birthday wish, and blow them out. Then, he personally cut and served the cake to everyone.

He believed that this small ceremony added a touch of joy and thought it would be nice for Lin Houpin to experience it.

Lin Houpin could still offer a word or two of protest to the younger generation, but he wouldn’t refuse Lin Duzhong’s harmless request for a small celebration.

He followed the suggested steps: lighting the candles, making a wish, blowing them out, and then cutting the cake to share with everyone.

With nine people present, he divided the cake into ten equal slices, giving everyone a piece. The cake was soft, sweet, and melted in their mouths. The aroma of eggs blended with the toasty flavor of the biscuit crumbs, creating a delightful mix of textures and tastes.

Silently, Lin Houpin began eating faster. He was naturally a quick eater, but now he was even quicker. Without saying a word, he reached for the tenth slice—the extra one. As the birthday celebrant, he figured it was only right for him to have two pieces.

The thought of splitting that extra slice among the children vanished from his mind.

Lin Chuanbai glanced at him, then silently looked away, providing a mental narration: Delicious!

It was clear he enjoyed the cake. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have had the chance to eat such a treat. Lin Chuanbai, however, had no such limitations—if he wanted cake, his wife could make it.

That thought sparked an idea in his mind.

Previously, when he mentioned wanting fish and couldn’t find any, they somehow ended up eating ling yu (Chinese dace) from the south. Now, what if he asked for something like chestnut cake or grape cake? Would he get to eat those too?

His gaze shifted to Yu Xiang’an. Did she have connections he didn’t know about? Or was it something else entirely?

---

Meanwhile, back in Baishi County, Wen Ruzhen and Yu Xiangyan received a letter from Yu Xiang’an. She had written individual letters to everyone, including Yu Qingshan, their grandmother’s family, their grandfather’s family, and Yu Xiangyan.

She also included New Year’s gifts—lamb jerky, a common treat from her area. It could be enjoyed as a snack or used in cooking, depending on personal preference.

In the letters to others, Yu Xiang’an shared casual updates. In her letter to Yu Xiangyan, however, she included news about Wen Yanjun’s condition.

This was the second letter they had received. Upon reading it, Wen Ruzhen clung to Yu Xiangyan and burst into tears. Through her sobs, she said, “We’re so lucky to have Xiao An. If not for her, my father and I might have been separated forever, never to meet again. Now that he’s pulled through, there’s still hope for us to reunite.”

Yu Xiangyan patted her back, feeling a pang of sadness. She was so thin, despite their improved circumstances. It was clear that the emotional burden she carried weighed heavily on her.

“At least now you can take a breather,” he said gently. “When the child is a little older, we’ll go visit Xiao An—and we’ll visit your father too.”

Their youngest daughter was still nursing, making long trips impossible for now. But when she was older, they could make the journey with ease.

“We’ll get off the train early on the way and say we mistook the address. That way, we can visit him.”

Wen Ruzhen gazed at Yu Xiangyan, her eyes filled with gratitude. She reached out to touch his face. “Thank you for being with me. I know it hasn’t been easy for you.”

Yu Xiangyan had taken full responsibility for supporting the family. As a formal worker with a steady income, he used part of his salary to save and spent the rest on his family and household needs.

“If you’d married someone else, you wouldn’t have had to work so hard,” she said.

Yu Xiangyan laughed heartily. “What nonsense. It’s not hard at all.”

He was willing to do it all for her.

“Make a couple of outfits for Xiao An,” Wen Ruzhen suggested. “If I do nothing, I’ll keep feeling guilty about this.”

---

Meanwhile, Yu Shunwen and Ruan Chenxi were also talking about Yu Xiang’an.

Ruan Chenxi, now a temporary elementary school teacher, didn’t have a permanent position but no longer had to work in the fields regularly. Teaching children was far easier than manual labor, though she still had to help with farm work during busy seasons.

Her current position was already better than that of most young intellectuals.

Originally, she hadn’t had this opportunity, but as the village prospered, more families sent their children to school. While higher education was a strain for many, primary schooling was manageable. With money in their pockets, no one wanted their child to grow up illiterate.

Basic literacy and math skills opened up numerous opportunities in the village, from scorekeeping to clerical work in brickyards or paper mills. The path forward had expanded, and education was increasingly valued.

Their brigade had become famous within a ten-mile radius. Countless young women hoped to marry into the village, while local women were reluctant to marry out—they preferred to stay and “keep it in the family.”

Why marry out?

If a woman married out, she’d work tirelessly in the fields all year, earning just a few dozen yuan for the entire household. But now, in Red Star Brigade?

The paper mill’s profits were mainly handed over to higher authorities, but the remainder belonged to the village. After all, the mill used their land and materials.

The brick factory, however, was a fully collective enterprise, and all its profits were kept within the village.

Last year, during the New Year, households with strong, hardworking members received dividends in the hundreds!

What kind of concept was that?

It was ten times their previous income!

Who would still want to marry into another village to scrape by for a few work points?

Now, not only were boys being sent to school, but even girls were being encouraged to study for a few years. Additionally, most villagers, except for those who lacked enough strong laborers to earn sufficient points, had started moving into brick-built houses. These houses didn’t cost money—just work points. Given a few more years, the entire village could transition to brick homes.

Yu Shunwen had noticed all these changes. Now, the village was even planning to build a proper road to improve access for transporting bricks.

“Captain, you’ve seen her test scores. She’s a good kid and a great student. Forcing her to give up her studies to take care of her younger siblings would be such a waste.”

Ruan Chenxi genuinely felt it was unfair for the child and had come to the brigade captain to fight for her chance to continue studying.

“The saying ‘knowledge changes fate’ isn’t a lie. Look at Xiao An. If she hadn’t studied and gone to school, she wouldn’t have been able to move to Qin City and continue publishing in newspapers. This kid, if she keeps at it, I’m confident she’ll get into high school.”

Yu Shunwen tapped the table thoughtfully. “I understand. Go back for now. I’ll talk to her parents about it.”

He, too, knew the importance of education.

Take Xiao An, for instance. Or look at their village’s intellectual, Wen Yizhen.

He had improved the paper-making process, securing a formal job for himself. His suggestions had also allowed the village to produce better-quality paper, which sold further and brought in significant profits. Now, whenever he visited the commune, the officials greeted him with smiles.

If Wen’s children weren’t already grown, they might have sent them back to school. But while it was too late for his children, Yu Shunwen was determined to support any grandchild who showed promise.

If other families had talented children, wasting their potential would be a pity—even if it was a daughter.

The brigade’s prosperity today was largely thanks to Xiao An. And she, too, was a daughter.

Satisfied with the captain’s response, Ruan Chenxi left. As Yu Shunwen watched her retreating figure, he spotted his cousin Yu Manwu hurrying in her direction, obviously trying to catch up.

Yu Shunwen sighed deeply.

This had become a notable scene in their brigade: his cousin chasing after Ruan Chenxi for years without success. He didn’t know whether to advise him to give up or let him persist.

But even if he did try to dissuade him, Yu Shunwen suspected his cousin wouldn’t listen anyway.

The passion of young people isn’t easily extinguished.

---

As the New Year approached, Yu Xiangju asked Yu Qingshan, “Dad, is Fifth Sister not coming home? I see lots of people going home for the New Year. Won’t she even come back on the second day of the year?”

He had received clothes sent by his Fifth Sister, which made him happy, but he missed seeing her.

Yu Qingshan nodded. “She’s not coming home this year. There isn’t enough time, and it’s too far. Your sister only recently started her job, and she can’t keep taking time off—it’s not good for her work.”

Yu Xiangju didn’t say anything at first, but after a while, he muttered unhappily, “Then I want to write to her. I’ll send her a letter.”

Yu Qingshan replied, “Alright, you write. Do you know how to write the characters you use often now? If not, ask me or look them up in the dictionary. Once you finish, I’ll send it along with the next mail.”

Hearing this, Yu Xiangju’s face lit up.

Among the siblings, Yu Xiangju was the closest in age to Yu Xiang’an. They had never been separated for so long. Even after she got married, he could visit her whenever he wanted, but now it was no longer so simple.

As they were talking, Yao Cuifen stormed in, visibly angry.

Yu Qingshan stepped forward to meet her. “Mom, what’s wrong?”

Yao Cuifen raised her voice. “What’s wrong? I’d like to know too! I didn’t realize until now what Zhao Qiaoniang has done. Did she secretly move things from this house to theirs while we weren’t paying attention? Just now, I went to buy something and ran into one of the Zhou kids. He was showing off nougat candy to a group of kids, boasting about it. That nougat came from Xiao An’s package! It’s something we don’t even have for sale here, made with peanuts, raisins, pine nuts, and all kinds of good stuff. Tell me, how did that candy end up in the Zhou family?”

“She can spend her own money however she wants, but who gave her the right to take what Xiao An sent home and give it to her grandson? Does she not fear he’ll choke on it?”

“Does she think just because Xiao An isn’t home, she can do whatever she pleases? I’m telling you, not a chance! Does she think we’re dead? You need to figure this out and check how many other things she’s quietly taken to the Zhou family!”

Hearing this, Yu Xiangju lowered his head in sadness.

He wasn’t a little boy anymore; he understood what had happened back then and why the brother-in-law he remembered as Fifth Brother-in-law had become the tabooed Sixth Brother-in-law.

He also knew that Zhao Qiaoniang wanted reconciliation and had told him several times how difficult Sixth Sister’s life was now, emphasizing how hard it was for her without support from her family. She had even asked him to help out if he could in the future.

Every time she said something like that, he felt completely at a loss.

Yu Qingshan frowned deeply. “I’ll go check.”

Xiao An had mentioned in her letter that she wouldn’t be coming back for the New Year but had prepared gifts and even red envelopes for the younger family members, leaving everything with him to distribute during the celebrations.

He returned to his room and opened a locked cabinet.

The cabinet was filled with food.

Xiao An was not only good at making food but also at storing it.

Inside were items like milk powder, malted milk essence, jerky, and candy.

This cabinet was the most coveted by Yu Xiangju and the younger children.

He carefully inspected the contents. In one corner was the nougat candy—two pounds initially. After dividing some, there should have been about a pound and a half left.

He picked it up and weighed it in his hand. Now, only about a pound remained.

He asked Yu Xiangju, “Did anyone take this out to eat recently?”

Yu Xiangju pursed his lips and shook his head. “No.”

The candy was delicious, but he only had one piece when it first arrived, shared among his father and the younger siblings.

Yu Qingshan didn’t say anything and continued inspecting the contents of the cabinet.

Some items had been there a while, and he couldn’t remember exactly how much was left. Zhao Qiaoniang was responsible for managing the food, as she was in charge of cooking.

Recently, along with the nougat, Xiao An had sent back a pound of lamb jerky. Yu Qingshan pulled it out to check. They hadn’t cooked lamb recently, as it was being saved for the New Year celebrations for the younger ones. It should have been untouched, but now it felt lighter.

Yu Qingshan’s expression darkened.

Yao Cuifen, watching him closely, grew even angrier. “And she even went through the trouble of rewrapping it to make it look untouched. Isn’t this just deliberate? There’s a saying: A thief in the family is the hardest to guard against! It’s not wrong!”

Yu Xiangju: “…”

He dug his toes hard into the ground, feeling a deep sense of embarrassment.

Yu Qingshan took a deep breath. “Mom, I understand. Don’t make a fuss about this for now. I’ll handle it.”

Yao Cuifen patted Yu Xiangju’s hair, feeling the rough texture of his short strands. She sighed. Originally, she had intended to say something harsher, but seeing the boy’s downtrodden look, she swallowed her words.

Xiao An’s gifts had no business being sent to the Zhou family!

She then took Yu Xiangju by the hand. “Come on, let’s go to Grandma’s place. Grandma made sticky rice rolls. Tonight, you’ll sleep at her place. Pack a change of clothes, let’s go.”

Yu Xiangju, feeling both relief and shame, let Yao Cuifen lead him away.

Yu Qingshan stood in place for a moment before checking on the family’s money stash.

His funds were divided into two parts: one portion went to Zhao Qiaoniang as household expenses, with larger expenditures provided separately. The other portion was kept as savings for emergencies like school fees, weddings, or medical needs.

Previously, he had given her more, but after the incident with his stepdaughter, he reduced the amount.

While the household budget had been more generous before, it was now tightly controlled to ensure his money wouldn’t end up in the Zhou family’s hands.

Zhao Qiaoniang knew where he kept the money, but it was secured with a lock.

After carefully counting, Yu Qingshan confirmed that it hadn’t been touched.

Still, he decided to convert the cash into a savings deposit slip. That way, it would be even harder for anyone to take it.

As for the matter of the nougat and lamb jerky, he set aside a portion to bring to his eldest son’s family, took note of the remaining quantities, and left everything as it was.

In a few days, he planned to check again.

---

Meanwhile, Lin Chuanbai suddenly mentioned he had a craving for chestnut cake—and fish.

The chestnut cake was delivered, but since it was already prepared, he couldn’t confirm what ingredients Yu Xiang’an had used.

The fish arrived as well—southern fish, no less.

As he ate the familiar delicacy, Lin Chuanbai found it hard to enjoy. His mind was too preoccupied to savor the meal.

After putting the children to bed, the couple sat under the lamp, studying and reading. Lin Chuanbai paused midway through writing and put down his pen.

“Xiao An, I have something to ask you.”

Yu Xiang’an replied without looking up, “Wait, let me finish this paragraph.” She completed her thought, set down her pen, and looked up to see Lin Chuanbai sitting upright, his expression serious. Thinking it was something important, she straightened her posture as well. “Alright, go ahead.”

Lin Chuanbai hesitated. “I think… people should have some secrets and private space.”

Yu Xiang’an was confused. “And?”

He opened his mouth but felt a bit guilty. He had his own secrets, yet here he was, trying to uncover hers.

“It’s just… where did tonight’s fish come from?”

Yu Xiang’an froze. “…What about it? Is there a problem?” It’s from the farm.

“Yeah, there is. It seems like it’s a fish species from back home. You can’t find that in the north, can you?”

Yu Xiang’an: “!!!”

Her heart raced. Panic-stricken, she remembered something from before. “Do you remember the 10th, when you went to training?”

“Yes.”

“You said you didn’t go to the pharmacy or anywhere else, right? So why did you come back smelling like medicine?”

Lin Chuanbai: “!!!”

His heart raced as well.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃