Ch 66: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

Didn’t see it? Fine. But once you’ve seen it, how can you pretend you haven’t?

That’s a precious artifact! It should be properly preserved in a museum, a treasure to be cherished. These items have endured the passage of history, bearing witness to time and human civilization. How can they be used to prop up a wobbly table here?

And with this treatment—when the table eventually “retires,” will the artifact be buried with it?

Later, they disguised themselves, acquired this bronze cauldron, and went to other acquisition stations in the capital to see if there were similar items.

There were two main considerations: first, artifacts like this are prohibited for private ownership. If they found any, they would anonymously donate them to a museum. But for items legally collectible, well, they weren’t indifferent to money. Such pieces could be kept for appreciation or as heirlooms.

The capital truly lives up to its name.

If there’s a shortage of antiques elsewhere, there certainly isn’t one here.

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai even stumbled upon a painting that looked like an authentic work by Wu Daozi, a famous Tang dynasty artist.

The two of them were like mice falling into a rice jar, using the savings in their personal space to transport treasures non-stop.

With their collection, even if they didn’t take up any trade in the future and just lived idly, they wouldn’t have to worry about food or shelter for generations.

The thrill of finding hidden gems became addictive. They carried on for quite a while until their activities nearly drew attention, prompting them to stop. It was around this time that they received a letter from Qin Shenghua.

Now that Yu Xiang’an was in the capital, closer to Qin Shenghua, their correspondence was much faster. She sent a letter, and he quickly received it and replied.

When Yu Xiang’an opened the letter, expecting casual chit-chat, she found something entirely different.

The letter was short but heart-wrenching.

After hearing Lan Wangshan talk about his son’s sacrifice, Yu Xiang’an couldn’t help but worry about Qin Shenghua, who was in the same profession. Furthermore, their stock of ginseng—a key ingredient in emergency heart-stabilizing pills—had proven useful. They sent him some heart pills made with aged ginseng, instructing him to keep them on hand.

Lan Wangshan’s son had been Qin Shenghua’s comrade-in-arms, and in turn, Qin Shenghua had taken on some duties as a foster son, helping care for Lan Wangshan’s grandson.

This revealed the dangerous nature of Qin Shenghua’s work.

Given her capabilities, Yu Xiang’an was determined to prevent such tragedies from happening to those around her.

Her thoughtfulness was not wasted. Qin Shenghua always carried the pills but hadn’t had to use them—until now. This time, they saved not him but a comrade.

Everyone thought the comrade wouldn’t make it. At the critical moment, Qin Shenghua remembered the pills his cousin had sent and gave one to his comrade. It stabilized his condition long enough to get him to the hospital, where hours of surgery saved his life. Though he could no longer serve in the military and had to transition to civilian life, his life was saved.

To save a life—nothing else mattered.

After celebrating his comrade’s recovery, Qin Shenghua became deeply invested in the pills. If they could obtain more, could they save other comrades in critical moments?

Of course, he knew such items weren’t cheap. He didn’t know where his cousin had sourced them, but if she could get them once, maybe she could do so again.

Enclosed in the letter was 300 yuan, pooled from him and his comrades, hoping Yu Xiang’an could help. If she couldn’t, they’d understand, but if she could, they wanted to buy more for emergencies.

As Yu Xiang’an read, her brows furrowed. Qin Shenghua’s letter detailed his comrade’s plight but mentioned nothing about whether he himself was injured. It was obvious—he must have been hurt but chose to hide it, downplaying the danger and focusing solely on others.

“Shouldn’t be too serious, right?”

Yu Xiang’an showed the letter to Lin Chuanbai, who nodded. “Making more isn’t an issue. Just price it at market rate. If he asks later, we’ll say it was a rare opportunity to acquire aged ginseng.”

Even at market rate, it was already a bargain. Unless purchased through acquisition stations, the prices for such items on the black market often doubled.

Especially for aged ginseng, which many scramble to obtain for its life-saving potential in emergencies.

Lin Chuanbai, who studied pharmaceuticals, had been laying the groundwork before. While Lin Duzhong could teach him how to diagnose and prescribe, he knew little about the actual production of medicine. Lin Chuanbai took the initiative to explore it himself. At university, things were different—there were many experts, and no teacher minded a student’s hunger for knowledge. He learned a lot.

Now, the medicines he made were far superior to before, with many new advancements. In addition to traditional Chinese and Western medicine, he also developed sunscreen and hand cream as gifts for Yu Xiang’an.

These were free of unnecessary additives. Though their shelf life was short, they were sufficient for Yu Xiang’an’s personal use.

When she ran out or they expired, he’d make more—just enough.

Yu Xiang’an sent the items. When Qin Shenghua received them, he was overjoyed.

Just as Yu Xiang’an guessed, his arm was still in a cast. Luckily, it was his left hand that was injured; otherwise, his handwriting would’ve betrayed him, and his cousin might have noticed something was amiss.

---

Yu Xiangyan and Wen Ruzhen, along with another friend, brought a Peking duck as a gift when they visited.

Wen Ruzhen also made several pairs of cotton shoes shaped like rabbits for the twins. They were so adorable that Lin Yining clung to them and refused to let go. Even Yu Xiang’an couldn’t help but glance at them a few extra times.

She could carve food into the shape of a chubby bunny, but turning yarn and cotton into one? That wasn’t her skill set—orz.

Now familiar with the university, the siblings were eager to investigate their father’s situation at Nanxi Farm.

Yu Xiang’an understood their urgency—he was their biological father, and they had a deep bond. After so many years apart, their patience up to now was admirable.

However, she felt the need to lay things out clearly. “He hasn’t been rehabilitated yet, and he’s still at Nanxi Farm. If you go to see him now, there’s a risk of being implicated.”

Their status as university students could be jeopardized. Yu Xiang’an didn’t recommend they openly visit unless they had strong connections—but where would those come from?

The gatekeepers at Nanxi Farm weren’t easy to deal with, and the risk of being targeted out of jealousy or malice was real. Many had been dragged down by such schemes.

She had already asked Liu Hengbo to send items in multiple times through a friend and had some understanding of the strict access control. Sending supplies was one thing; meeting in person was much harder.

Yu Xiang’an advised them to endure a bit longer. “If you can hold on until next year, there should be good news.”

Reform, rehabilitation, and the return of educated youth to cities were all underway. Signs of change were already appearing in the newspapers.

If they were noticed now and maliciously reported, their university status could be revoked. Even if their father’s name was cleared later, reinstating their student status might involve complications. If re-enrollment was denied, they’d have to retake the exams, which would waste valuable time.

Under the table, Yu Xiangyan squeezed Wen Ruzhen’s hand. “Let’s go to Tongcheng first to assess the situation, and then decide. I don’t think we should rush to reveal our identities. We’ve held out this long already.”

Wen Ruzhen tightened her grip on his hand. “He never talks about anything bad happening to him in his letters. I’m afraid he’s just putting on a brave face. His health wasn’t great to begin with, and he’s endured so many hard days…”

Wen Yizhen’s jaw tightened, his whole body seemingly on edge. Though he said nothing, his eyes burned with a fire that seemed to blaze with dissatisfaction and anger toward fate, coupled with a desperate desire to change the current situation.

Yu Xiang’an glanced at him and instinctively looked away. That fiery determination in his eyes, filled with indignation and longing for change, could almost blind anyone who saw it.

There was a fire in his heart.

Yu Xiang’an hoped this fire wouldn’t spiral out of control.

She carefully chose her words. “You can use your rest days to travel to that area. There are historical landmarks there too. As university students, getting a referral letter to visit isn’t difficult. To avoid suspicion, it’s best to also visit some nearby cities. If you’re lucky when you get there, it’s not impossible. I recall that there are many people at the farm, and they’ve even set up a primary school. If you go during the holidays, you could possibly use the excuse of offering interest-based classes for the students to gain access.”

Hearing this, Wen Ruzhen and Wen Yizhen’s eyes lit up.

Yu Xiangyan gave a thumbs-up. “Sis, that’s a great idea!”

After they left, Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai hosted a fun class for the twins, but their hearts felt heavy.

Lin Yining was flipping through some flashcards when she suddenly reached out her chubby little hand and touched Yu Xiang’an’s cheek. “Mommy, mommy, don’t be sad. Here, have my candy. It’s sweet, and it’ll make you happy.”

At that moment, Yu Xiang’an’s heart melted. No wonder they say daughters are like little padded jackets for their mothers. This little jacket warmed her heart until it was almost too hot to bear.

“Okay, mommy is happy now. Thank you, Yining.” Yu Xiang’an gave her a big kiss.

Lin Yihong leaned over. “Mommy, me too!”

“Come here…”

Just looking at them, her mood lifted instantly.

Things would only get better from here.

---

As time passed, progress on their house was satisfying. Each day brought visible changes. The dark outer layer was stripped away, and the house was repainted—gray on the exterior, with a fresh coat of putty inside. No extra decorations were added.

The walls were repaired, and the surrounding messy structures were leveled, leaving an open space that could be used to plant flowers or vegetables.

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai decided to plant vegetables and herbs—half for food, half for medicinal purposes. They planned to start sowing as soon as the house was finished.

After the main structure was completed, the next step was the interiors: electrical wiring, doors, and windows. Everything was kept simple, with no fancy designs.

They agreed that the house’s proximity to the university district meant it would likely be repurposed for business in the future. Spending too much effort on elaborate renovations now would be wasteful.

Seeing the house gradually take shape brought an unparalleled sense of satisfaction. They planned to live there for at least four years, until they graduated.

The house had plenty of rooms, but for them, it always felt like there weren’t enough. The first floor had a kitchen and bathroom, with two additional rooms. The second floor had three rooms. One of the upstairs rooms was converted into a kitchen.

This left two rooms downstairs and three upstairs. One downstairs room became a guest room, while the other served as a playroom and study area for the twins.

The upstairs rooms were divided into the master bedroom for Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai, a room prepared for the siblings, and a study.

Originally, there was no traditional heated kang bed, but anyone who had slept on one in the winter knew how wonderfully warm they were. A kang was installed in the first-floor guest room, large enough to sleep four adults. When the weather turned cold, they could use it to stay warm.

With a set deadline, the workers didn’t slack off, working overtime to complete the repairs in good time.

Once the furniture was moved in and the rooms aired out to get rid of any lingering smells, they could move in.

For furniture, Lin Chuanbai introduced them to a secondhand furniture exchange. Except for the beds, which they insisted on buying new, they didn’t mind using pre-owned items for the rest.

They visited the secondhand furniture exchange market and discovered several pieces of old furniture made from excellent wood.

The origins of these items were untraceable…

The most valuable find was a set of agarwood desks. When Lin Chuanbai recognized it, his heart raced.

Agarwood furniture, in later years, could fetch prices exceeding hundreds of millions. Though this particular set wasn’t likely to sell for that much, fifty million wouldn’t be out of the question. And now, he could take it home for just ten yuan.

No wonder so many people are enamored with treasure hunting—it’s utterly captivating. Pay one yuan and potentially gain tens or hundreds of thousands. Who wouldn’t want such luck?

Piece by piece, they completed their furniture setup. However, the more conspicuous items were stored in their personal space for now. They planned to bring them out later, as displaying them too soon might invite unwanted attention or awkward questions.

Once the house was fully furnished and aired out, they chose an auspicious day to host a warming party.

Yu Xiangyan, Wen Ruzhen, and Wen Yizhen were certainly on the guest list—they were close family. Additionally, Zhao Li’s family and Liu Hengbo were also invited.

Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an decided not to invite their classmates. Owning such a house was quite conspicuous during this time. Among their peers, who all started from similar circumstances, having a “mansion” could easily spark envy and strain relationships.

When Yu Xiang’an went to invite Liu Hengbo during her lunch break, she found him practicing calligraphy. He hadn’t napped yet after lunch, and his brushstrokes flowed confidently across the page. During his time managing a shop in Qin City, this hobby had been put on hold. Now that he was back teaching, he could finally pursue his love for calligraphy freely.

Yu Xiang’an quietly stood by, not wanting to interrupt. Only when he finished did she step forward to speak.

“Xiao An, you’re here.”

“Teacher, the house renovations are done, and we’ve picked a date for the warming party. I wonder if you’ll be free to join us for a meal?”

“I’m free! Absolutely free. I’ve been looking forward to this meal for ages.”

---

It was winter, and Yu Xiang’an had already planned the menu for the gathering. Instead of preparing a wide variety of dishes, she decided on a simple hot pot. A flavorful broth and some well-mixed dipping sauces were all that was needed.

Yes, lamb hot pot—perfect for the winter.

The house was spacious—at 100 square meters, it could accommodate many people, far more than most homes of the time. Previously, six families had crowded into this space.

When Zhao Lin and Zhao Mi saw the size of the renovated home, they couldn’t stop exclaiming.

“If it weren’t for recognizing the location, I’d never believe this used to be a junk heap.”

“Now it’s so bright and airy.”

“So spacious—wow, and this kitchen is huge!”

Though others were equally impressed, they were better at masking their expressions.

Yu Xiangyan spun around the house twice before giving his sister and her husband a big thumbs-up.

“I’m not asking for much—I just want a place to rest my feet.”

Zhao Li burst out laughing. “You’re a university student. Once you start working, your workplace will surely want to keep talents like you.” High salaries are a given, but housing is the ultimate weapon to truly retain talent.

Yu Xiangyan could only smile faintly.

He couldn’t switch majors, so he was stuck battling mathematics.

He seriously doubted whether he’d still have hair by the time he graduated.

He ran his hand through his still-thick hair.

Lately, though, he felt like he was losing more hair while washing it. And with finals approaching, the hair loss seemed even worse.

Wen Ruzhen noticed his expression and couldn’t help but turn her head to hide her laughter.

As his wife, she also knew he’d had a nightmare about going bald.

In his sleep, he had waved his arms around as if trying to grab something, shouting, “My hair! Don’t leave! Don’t go!”

The desperation in his voice had been so intense it startled her awake.

Zhao Lin noticed Wen Ruzhen’s amused smile, paused for a moment, and couldn’t help but glance at Yu Xiang’an. Both sisters-in-law were stunning—was this a case of “birds of a feather flock together”?

Her gaze then shifted to Wen Yizhen, and her cheeks flushed.

He… was so handsome.

Like someone straight out of a movie.

And a college student, no less.

Sensing the mood, Zhao Li loudly cleared his throat. “I smell something delicious. What’s on the menu today?”

Yu Xiang’an brought the pot to the table while Lin Chuanbai carried the stove into the main room.

There were no electric stoves back then, so they had to use a coal stove.

Yu Xiang’an had already prepared the broth in advance, so they could start cooking right away.

The twins helped by bringing baskets of ingredients from the kitchen. Everything was washed and ready to go straight into the pot.

The meats included pork belly slices, pork blood, lamb slices, lamb offal, fish fillets, eggs, duck, and chicken. There were even more vegetables: bean sprouts, radish, potatoes, napa cabbage, winter bamboo shoots, soaked wood ear mushrooms, fresh mushrooms, seaweed, and a basket of bright green baby bok choy.

Such fresh greens were a rarity in this season.

Yu Xiang’an explained, “These were dried and revived on a heated kang bed—there isn’t much.”

In reality, she had taken them from her storage space.

Looking at the spread, Yu Xiangyan discreetly loosened his belt.

This was a feast worth waiting for—he’d made sure to leave his stomach empty all morning.

Zhao Li gave a thumbs-up. “You really went all out for this meal.” It wasn’t just a matter of spending money—connections were clearly involved.

Many of these ingredients weren’t even available on the market.

Toward the end of the meal, Yu Xiang’an brought out a plate of sweet potato noodles. She added them to the broth when everyone had nearly finished eating. The noodles soaked up the soup, becoming another delicious treat.

Lin Chuanbai chuckled. “A rare and special occasion, and everything aligned perfectly.”

Since there was no way to split spicy and non-spicy flavors, Yu Xiang’an had placed a variety of seasonings on the side for everyone to customize their own dipping sauce.

The twins adored the dipping sauce Yu Xiang’an had prepared. No matter what was served to them, they ate every bite cleanly.

Once the ingredients started going into the pot, no one spoke—they were too busy eating.

By this point, Zhao Lin had completely forgotten about Wen Yizhen’s “good looks.” With food this delicious, what could possibly be more important?

When the first pot was emptied, fresh ingredients were added, but waiting for them to cook felt like the longest, most agonizing part of the meal.

The first time set the tone—afterward, they quickly learned to pre-load their bowls with ingredients before finishing, so there was always something to eat while waiting for the next batch to cook.

Yu Xiang’an had prepared extra portions for three more people, but by the end, only a little sweet potato noodle was left; everything else was devoured.

Everyone loosened their belts, slumping contentedly in their chairs after the meal.

Yu Xiangyan patted his stomach.

“After this feast, I could go a whole month without eating meat.”

This meal alone would leave a lasting impression for a month, during which he planned to save some money.

As he watched the twins, now full and curled up in their chairs, his gaze darkened slightly.

Once he had enough savings, he’d bring his children to live with him.

He missed them terribly. It had been six months since he’d seen them—did they even remember him as their father? Had they grown taller?

---

Not long after moving into the new house, finals arrived, quickly followed by winter break. Yu Xiang’an planned to return to Baishi County for the New Year.

It had been three years since she left—first to Qin City, and now to the capital.

Lin Chuanbai wasn’t going back. He’d caught the eye of a professor who had arranged for him to assist during the break, a valuable opportunity he couldn’t turn down.

Yu Xiang’an would return with Yu Xiangyan, Wen Ruzhen, and the twins. Interestingly, Wen Yizhen also wouldn’t return home; he would stay on at Nanxi Farm to continue teaching interest-based classes.

Lin Chuanbai, left behind, felt a little dejected. With everyone gone, he’d be all alone.

But with the professor reaching out directly, it was hard for him to decline. The opportunity was undeniably beneficial for his future. Yu Xiang’an comforted him: “You won’t have much free time—it’ll go by quickly. As for meals, I’ve prepared plenty for you. With the freezing weather, it’ll last until we get back.”

When the twins heard they’d be visiting their maternal grandfather, they were thrilled.

They had left Baishi County when they were very young and had no memories of it. Now, they were excited to meet everyone again.

“There are so many relatives there—grandpa, aunts, great-grandparents…” The thought of reconnecting with family brought them joy.

For the trip, Yu Xiang’an prepared plenty of local specialties. The capital’s roast duck was a must-mention, but the cold weather would affect its flavor, so she decided to invite them to the capital in the future for a proper taste.

She secured two sleeper train tickets—one for her and the children, and another for Yu Xiangyan and Wen Ruzhen—ensuring a more comfortable journey.

---

Upon arriving in Baishi County, the familiar air made Yu Xiang’an take a deep breath.

Home.

At the station, Yu Xianghai was already waiting, waving his arms frantically. “Over here! Second Brother, Little Sister, this way!”

They had brought quite a bit of luggage, so Yu Xianghai borrowed a small cart to help them transport it home more easily.

“Where’s Dad?”

“At the factory—he couldn’t get away.”

“How’s he doing?”

“Same as always.”

Yu Qingshan was still eating at the factory and only coming home at night. Meanwhile, Yu Xiangju was still attending the local public school. Frequent school changes weren’t ideal for him, and there was also the risk of Zhao Qiaoniang causing trouble. The plan was for him to take the middle school entrance exam next term, and if all went well, he’d move back to the county for school.

Yu Xiangju was already about to start middle school—time flew by so quickly.

---

When they reached the house, it had already been tidied up. Though the building looked older, it was spotlessly clean. Yu Xianghai and Ye Qijia had helped thoroughly clean it inside and out.

With the New Year approaching, they’d be staying here.

After unpacking and organizing their belongings, they headed to their grandmother’s house. Yu Xiang’an primarily wanted to visit the elders—they were getting older, and every visit might be the last.

While Yu Qingshan was still young, her grandparents and the elders in the countryside were not. Once she started working, she might become too busy, like a constant traveler, and there was no guarantee they would live to see her next visit.

Yu Xiangyan and Wen Ruzhen accompanied her, receiving a warm welcome upon arrival.

Grandma Yao Cuifen couldn’t stop smiling, holding Yu Xiang’an’s hand tightly. “Your dad told us you’d be coming back. Every day, I walked to the gate, hoping to see you. You’re back! That’s all that matters. And these two must be Yihong and Yining? Oh, how adorable—they have such round, blessed faces. Study hard, and one day you’ll get into university too!”

Grandpa Qin Qiang, usually quiet, was uncharacteristically chatty, asking them everything—how they were doing at school, how the teachers and classmates were, and how life was in the capital.

The commotion drew the attention of neighbors, who crowded in, asking all sorts of questions.

When Yu Xiang’an mentioned that the university provided subsidies sufficient for daily living expenses, many elderly folks exclaimed that they’d make their grandchildren study even if they had to use a stick.

Hearing it directly from Yu Xiang’an convinced them, and they resolved to push their children toward education.

It was clear that many students were about to dive into grueling study sessions.

Yu Xiang’an patiently answered everyone’s questions. She had come prepared, bringing newspapers, magazines, and photos from the capital.

When she brought out photos of Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall, the elders and neighbors gathered around in awe, forming such a tight circle that latecomers couldn’t even squeeze in to catch a glimpse.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃