Ch 63: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

Yu Xiang’an and her family set out early, a few days before the semester began. Upon arriving in the capital, the four of them checked into a guesthouse near their university, settled their belongings, and then made their way to visit Lin Houpin’s old comrade, Zhao Li, bearing gifts of homemade wine, jerky, and a bag of fresh fruit.

They deliberately chose modest quantities, avoiding the impression of trying too hard to curry favor.

Zhao Li welcomed them warmly. He was an imposing man, nearly 1.9 meters tall, with a broad chest and booming voice. When he patted Lin Chuanbai on the shoulder in greeting, the sheer strength of it left Lin’s half of his body tingling slightly. Lin maintained his composure and smiled, “Hello, Uncle Zhao.”

Zhao Li laughed heartily. “Good, good! And these must be your twins. They look wonderful. There’s no need for you to be so formal with me—your father and I are like brothers, comrades who fought side by side. You don’t have to rent a house; just stay with me. There’s plenty of room here.”

Lin Chuanbai responded with a polite smile, “Thank you, Uncle Zhao, but since we have the children with us, living near the university would be more convenient.”

Zhao Li sighed, “Fair enough. It’s true the commute from here would be too long. Otherwise, even if you refused, I’d insist you stay so my children could soak up some of your knowledge and improve themselves.”

He gestured toward his two children, giving each a hearty pat on the back. Lin Chuanbai, recalling the force of Zhao’s earlier greeting, empathized with the discomfort on their faces.

Zhao Li’s family situation was complex. His eldest son, born much earlier, already had a child about to start primary school. However, his second daughter, Zhao Lin, was seventeen, and his youngest son, Zhao Mi, was sixteen. Zhao Lin had taken the college entrance exam this year but hadn’t passed. Zhao Li was making her repeat the year and try again, while he imposed stricter academic standards on Zhao Mi, whose grades weren’t much better.

“You’re lucky to have this opportunity. The college entrance exam is a godsend, and you must treasure it. University students are highly valued; your future will surely be bright.”

Zhao Li sighed. “If only my two could learn half as much as you two, I’d be content.”

Zhao Lin and Zhao Mi exchanged awkward, resigned looks. Their expressions practically screamed, This is the helpless plight of students who struggle academically.

Not every child of influential parents excels in academics. Some lack the aptitude or drive, and it was evident that Zhao Lin and Zhao Mi fell into this category. Their current struggle was likely due to past neglect in their studies. Picking up the slack now would be painful, but enduring it for a year and earning a college degree could pave the way for a promising future.

“Second Brother Lin, Second Sister-in-law Lin, you’ve done so well academically. Do you have any study tips?”

The siblings’ envy of Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an was palpable. After all, they had not only passed but were accepted into prestigious universities.

“Practice. Solve as many problems as you can,” Lin Chuanbai replied succinctly.

“Is there anything else? Could you tutor us for the exam?” Zhao Mi asked eagerly.

Zhao Li’s eyebrows arched slightly at the idea—it sounded promising. With Lin Chuanbai ranked third in science and Yu Xiang’an second in humanities in the province, they were more than qualified to tutor his children.

Lin Chuanbai declined politely but firmly. “I’ll be busy at university, especially with the kids to care for. Tutoring requires preparation and time, and doing it halfheartedly might waste your time as well. However, if you’re interested, we can share copies of our study notes.”

These notes had been painstakingly compiled and were highly sought after by others. Offering them was a more practical solution.

Zhao Mi’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That would be amazing—thank you, Second Brother Lin!”

Zhao Lin quickly chimed in, “Thank you, Second Sister-in-law Lin!”

The two siblings were elated, as if they’d just been handed a golden ticket.

Zhao Li chuckled as he listened to their conversation, then brought the topic back to the main point. “Your father mentioned renting a house in his letter. I’ve looked into it, and there are three options near your schools.

The first option is a single-story house with three rooms. The owner’s son was transferred out of town and won’t return anytime soon, so they’re looking to rent out one of the rooms. Kitchen and bathroom are shared, but if you prefer not to share the kitchen, you can build a small one yourself. The room is about 18 square meters, which is a decent size. The house has electricity, so you can use appliances, and there’s a well about 100 meters behind it. Both schools are nearby—one is a ten-minute walk, and the other is fifteen minutes. There are also two daycare centers within a ten-minute walk.”

“The second option is two kilometers from Qingmu University. It’s closer to Qingmu but smaller, only about 10 square meters. The kitchen is a makeshift one set up outside the front door, and the nearest water source is 500 meters away.”

“The third option is near the medical university. It’s on the second floor of a small two-story building, consisting of two adjoining rooms, but combined, they’re only 12 square meters. The rooms originally belonged to two brothers who’ve both moved out. The family is renting them out for extra income.”

The first option seemed the most suitable.

Zhao Li nodded. “Why don’t you go take a look? Decide after seeing the places. Let the kids take you around so you can also get familiar with the area.”

“We’ll trouble you two, then.” Lin Chuanbai naturally wanted to check out the options. “Uncle Zhao, do you know if anyone near the schools is selling a house? We don’t mind if it’s old and small—we can rebuild it to suit our needs.”

Zhao Li hesitated. “If that’s the case, you’ll need to wait a while before moving in.”

“That’s fine. We can stay in the rental house in the meantime.”

Zhao Li reminded them, “Building a house is costly, especially with labor.”

“We’re aware. We’ve been working for a few years and saved up a bit.”

Buying property in the capital is always a sound investment. The property values here have never disappointed anyone. If it ends up being redeveloped, the compensation could lead to overnight wealth. And being near the schools, it would undoubtedly become prime educational district real estate.

Zhao Li nodded. “I understand. I’ll keep an eye out for you. Finding rentals isn’t too difficult, but properties for sale are rare.”

“Thank you, Uncle Zhao. We really appreciate your help. Without you, we’d be completely lost here.”

Zhao Li waved them off, smiling. “No need to be so formal. Move out of that guesthouse in a few days and save the unnecessary expenses.”

Lin Chuanbai replied, “Uncle Zhao, I appreciate the offer, but the guesthouse is closer, and moving back and forth for just a few days would be too troublesome.”

Zhao Li’s home had only three rooms, and if they stayed there as guests, he wouldn’t let them sleep in the living room with their kids. That would mean his own children might need to move out to accommodate them, which was impractical. It was better to stick to the current arrangement.

Zhao Lin and Zhao Mi eagerly took the couple out for the house tours. They were fascinated by the twins, each holding one of their little hands and finding it a delightful novelty.

The siblings were also quite impressed with how Lin Chuanbai had declined their father’s offer. “Our dad looks so intimidating. I wouldn’t dare say no to him, but you did it twice, Second Brother!”

“You didn’t even seem nervous!” Zhao Lin added, clearly amazed.

Lin Chuanbai smiled slightly. “My dad’s the same way. You get used to it.”

It was obvious neither of their fathers was an easy person to deal with.

Under Zhao Lin and Zhao Mi’s guidance, they visited all three rental properties. The siblings even helped introduce the areas around the houses, familiarizing them with the neighborhood.

After seeing the three options, both Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an leaned toward the first house. It had a decently sized room, enough for their family of four, and there was space outside to set up their own small kitchen. They also visited the two nearby daycare centers, which functioned like early versions of preschools. The daycare centers provided basic education like teaching numbers and nursery rhymes but focused more on playtime and supervision, allowing busy parents to work without worrying about their children.

The first daycare charged three yuan per month and included lunch. Parents dropped off their children in the morning and picked them up in the afternoon. However, the center had five teachers managing over 40 children, ranging from two to seven years old. When the couple visited, they saw the chaos—it was noisy, and the teachers were clearly overwhelmed.

The second daycare was more structured, with four teachers managing just 12 children and a maximum capacity of 16. They also didn’t accept children under three. Lunch was more nutritious, with a menu provided upfront. The cost was higher at five yuan per month, but the couple decided it was worth it for their twins’ well-being.

After deciding on the daycare, they went back to finalize the rental agreement.

The homeowner’s mother, Madam Jiang, handled the arrangements. Her second son, who previously lived in the house, had moved with his family to another city, leaving the room vacant to rent out for extra income. Of the three rooms in the house, one was occupied by Madam Jiang, and the other by her eldest son and his family.

Madam Jiang greeted them warmly. “So, you’ve decided to rent? Let’s sign an agreement, then.”

She was very pleased with them. A university student couple renting near their schools? That sounded like reliable tenants.

The couple paid six months’ rent upfront at four yuan per month. The agreement also included access to a small two-to-three-square-meter area for their kitchen and a clause guaranteeing privacy: the homeowners would not enter their rented room or move their belongings without permission.

Zhao Lin and Zhao Mi couldn’t help but be impressed. “Wow, you two are so decisive, Second Brother Lin and Second Sister-in-law!”

Once the agreement was signed, the room was officially theirs for the next six months.

Yu Xiang’an turned to Zhao Lin and asked, “Where’s the nearest supply cooperative? We need to buy some household items.”

The twins needed essentials for daycare: small pillows, blankets, water bottles, lunchboxes, and backpacks. Additionally, the couple needed to set up their new home.

Zhao Lin cheerfully hopped in place. “Second Sister-in-law, follow me—I’ll take you there!”

Yu Xiang’an wasn’t used to the way Zhao Lin addressed her. “Xiao Lin, just call me Sister Xiao An. When you call me ‘Second Sister-in-law Lin,’ it feels like you’re talking to someone else.”

“Haha, okay, Sister Xiao An.”

They purchased everything they needed, tidied up the rental house, checked out of the guesthouse, and moved their belongings to the new place.

The siblings were dumbfounded. In just one day, Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai had accomplished so much without a moment’s rest. Their decisiveness amazed Zhao Lin—they wasted no time and stuck firmly to their choices.

What impressed Zhao Lin even more was how knowledgeable Xiao An seemed. She made most of the decisions with confidence.

Yu Xiang’an explained sheepishly, “It’s because I’ve been to this area before as a tourist, so I’m somewhat familiar with it.”

In the few days before classes began, the couple stayed busy organizing everything. While the tasks were small, they were time-consuming. Once everything was in place, the twins started attending daycare, and it was time for Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai to report to their respective schools.

When Yu Xiang’an arrived at Qingmu University, she presented her documentation and admission notice. When it came time to assign dormitories, she explained her situation—that she had children and it would be inconvenient to live on campus—so she requested to stay off-campus.

The teacher handling the registration looked up at her curiously. She didn’t look like a mother at all—her appearance was youthful and composed.

While there were other students with children, most of them left their kids behind with relatives. Yu Xiang’an seemed to be the only one who had traveled so far and brought her children with her.

The teacher, understanding her situation, wrote a note. “Got it. You won’t need to arrange for dormitory accommodation. Here’s the location of your classroom; make sure to arrive on time tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” Yu Xiang’an replied, relieved. Staying in a dormitory would’ve been far too inconvenient.

The next day, she arrived at the classroom, where over a dozen people were already seated. The students ranged in age from their late teens to their thirties. Most were men, reflecting the gender ratio of the time.

When Yu Xiang’an entered, her youthful appearance—around twenty—caught the attention of the group. Her neatly cropped short hair and confident demeanor stood out.

Someone took the lead and called out, “Welcome, new classmate!”

The room filled with friendly, warm smiles. Everyone seemed genuinely excited to start this new chapter in their lives. Passing the college entrance exam had brought a new sense of hope and energy to their spirits.

Yu Xiang’an wasn’t shy. She smiled and introduced herself confidently, “Hello, everyone. I’m Yu Xiang’an. It’s an honor to be here with all of you. We’ll spend the next four years together, and I hope we can all gain valuable knowledge and become even more useful contributors to society!”

“Well said!” A voice came from the doorway, followed by applause. A man in a Zhongshan suit with a pen tucked into his chest pocket entered the room. He glanced around at the students and introduced himself, “I’m your homeroom teacher, Wu Zhusheng. Gentlemen, come with me to carry the books. Ladies, don’t just sit around—lend a hand as well. We’ll talk more later!”

Those who arrived early couldn’t escape helping with the labor.

Yu Xiang’an joined in as well, helping carry books. Lighter materials were assigned to the women.

As more students trickled in, they saw others working and eagerly joined. By the time the latecomers arrived, all the books had been organized. Following the instructions written on the blackboard, they picked up their textbooks one by one. Ten minutes before the bell rang, all the students in the class had arrived, and the books had been distributed.

Everyone showed up early—clearly excited.

At this point, Wu Zhusheng stood at the front of the room and formally introduced himself. Picking up a piece of chalk, he wrote his name on the blackboard:

“Your teacher is Wu Zhusheng. For the next four years, I’ll be your homeroom teacher.”

He was about fifty years old, with streaks of gray at his temples. Looking out at the students, his warm smile was filled with sincerity.

“Class, this is our first lesson. As you all know, you’re the first group of students since the restoration of the college entrance exam. You carry a significant responsibility. In the coming years, make the most of this hard-won opportunity and study diligently. I won’t repeat the usual words of encouragement. For now, let’s start by getting to know each other. Each of you will introduce yourselves briefly, beginning with the student on the far left of the first row.”

Everyone had chosen their seats in the simplest way possible—taller students naturally sat toward the back, and shorter ones at the front.

The young man in the first seat was caught off guard. He stood abruptly, stammering with a flushed face, “H-hello, everyone. I’m Wu Qiang, from Sichuan. Nice to meet you all.”

He quickly sat back down, clearly relieved.

The next student stood up right away, his voice loud and clear. “Hello, classmates! I’m Zhou Shengyu, from Hainan.”

“Hello, I’m… and I’m from…”

Some students stumbled over their words, while others spoke smoothly.

When it was Yu Xiang’an’s turn, she stood up confidently. “I’m Yu Xiang’an. Qingmu University has been a long-time dream of mine, and I’m honored to meet all of you here. Before taking the college entrance exam, I worked at a bookstore. My hobby is cooking all kinds of delicious dishes. If you ever find yourselves struggling to improve your cooking skills or don’t know how to handle certain ingredients, feel free to ask me—I’ll help if I can!”

Her introduction drew laughter and applause from the class, instantly lightening the atmosphere.

Their homeroom teacher, a man of action, didn’t waste time. Once introductions were complete, he began appointing class leaders.

“Now that we’ve gotten to know each other a bit, I’ll temporarily assign class leaders. Wang Haiwen, who has the highest grades in the class, will serve as acting class president. Yu Xiang’an, with the highest grades among the female students, will serve as vice president. If you have any issues, you can approach them.”

Wang Haiwen, a bespectacled man in his late twenties with a scholarly demeanor, stood up naturally when his name was called. “Until the official selection of class leaders, I’ll act as class president. If you have questions, feel free to come to me. I live in Dormitory 2, Room 303—don’t go knocking on the wrong door!”

Yu Xiang’an, slightly surprised but composed, stood up as well. “Due to family reasons, I’m not staying in the dormitory. If anyone needs to reach me, you can find me here in the classroom.”

Wu Zhusheng clapped his hands. “Great. Let’s make the most of our valuable time. I’ll hand the class schedule to the acting class president, who will copy it onto the blackboard for everyone to note down. Also, stipends will be distributed tomorrow—make sure to budget wisely. Now, everyone, take out your textbooks and turn to page two…”

Although Yu Xiang’an’s previous experience didn’t directly align with economics, she listened attentively. The atmosphere in the room was infectious. Everyone treated this opportunity with immense care, their concentration razor-sharp. Slacking off here would make her stand out, and not in a good way.

This chance was too precious to squander. She might not be a genius, but she certainly wasn’t going to let herself waste it.

When the bell rang, the homeroom teacher ended the lesson punctually, without running over time. As soon as he left, the classroom erupted into lively chatter.

Yu Xiang’an was seated between two girls, as at the time, people were mindful of maintaining a distance between men and women. Every male and female seat was separated by an empty space.

On her left sat a girl from the Northeast, named Liu Mingyue. Despite her poetic name, her personality was bold and straightforward. She was already a mother of three.

On her right was a younger girl, Ke Manyun, likely unmarried and around 20 years old. She had a shy and timid demeanor; during introductions earlier, if Yu Xiang’an hadn’t been next to her, Ke Manyun might not have managed to say her name.

Liu Mingyue grabbed Yu Xiang’an’s hand. “Vice President, you’re not staying in the dorm? Are you a local?”

Yu Xiang’an saw no reason to hide the truth. “No, I’m not. I’m married and brought my kids along, so I’m renting a place outside campus.”

Hearing Liu Mingyue’s question, some of the male students nearby perked up their ears. When they overheard her response, one exclaimed in disbelief, “No way, classmate! You already have kids? You look barely over 20!”

This sounded like a compliment, and Yu Xiang’an, in a good mood, smiled brightly. “Why would I lie? If it weren’t true, the teacher wouldn’t have approved me living off-campus. My kids are still young, not even in primary school yet.”

Liu Mingyue thought of her own children. “Then who’s taking care of your kids?”

“They’re at a daycare. I’ll pick them up after school.”

“And your husband?”

“He’s at the Medical University.”

Liu Mingyue was envious. “Wow, he got into university too? You’re so lucky! I made it into college this time, but my husband isn’t academically inclined. There’s no hope for him. He’s trying to get transferred here, though. He works for the post office, and they have branches everywhere. If he can transfer, our family can be reunited.”

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “It’s always better for families to stay together.”

“Exactly! And you?” Liu Mingyue turned to Ke Manyun. “Are you married yet?”

Ke Manyun blushed and lowered her head, mumbling so softly it was almost inaudible, “N-not yet…”

Liu Mingyue laughed heartily. “No need to be embarrassed! There’s no rush. You’re still young. Finish college first, and then take your time finding someone. I got married early because there was no college entrance exam back then. Graduated high school, and bam, it was time to start a family. Things are different now.” At 28, Liu Mingyue regarded the 20-year-old Ke Manyun as if she were a junior.

---

Before long, the bell rang, and everyone returned to their seats for class. After the last class of the morning, Wang Haiwen went up to the blackboard to write down the class schedule, and everyone copied it into their notebooks.

Yu Xiang’an glanced at the schedule—it was, as expected, packed.

At lunchtime, she followed the other female students to the cafeteria. Most of the students had money and ration tickets, and though the school stipend wouldn’t be distributed until the next day, no one had to go hungry.

Yu Xiang’an kept things simple, buying a steamed cornmeal bun and a bowl of porridge with more dried vegetables than rice. She made do with the meal and then accompanied the others back to the dormitory.

Though her role as vice president had come as a surprise, she felt it was important to familiarize herself with the dorm environment, even if she wasn’t staying there. It was part of understanding her responsibilities.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃