Ch 116: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

In what felt like the blink of an eye, May arrived, and the college entrance exams were just around the corner.

The twins’ grades had already stabilized. With the remaining time, the focus was on reinforcing what they had learned. Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an provided them with a steady, comfortable environment. They were careful with food as well, avoiding large amounts of seafood or grilled meat, worried it might upset their stomachs or cause illness and interfere with the exams.

While the twins worked hard to consolidate their studies, Yu Xiang’an quietly prepared coming-of-age gifts for them.

Once they were admitted to university, they would essentially become independent and begin lives of their own.

Before they received their admission letters, Yu Xiang’an did not plan to tell them anything, so they would not overthink and distract themselves from studying.

During this time, they also received plenty of encouragement from relatives and friends, some called, some wrote letters. No matter the method, it all reflected care and importance.

The two of them were disciplined. After studying for so long, whether they could achieve results they were satisfied with now depended on the exam. They understood how critical this period was. If not to the extreme of hanging one’s hair from a beam and stabbing one’s thigh with an awl, it was close.

Among their classmates, Zhuo Mingwei planned to study abroad. Some universities still considered Gaokao scores, so he did not relax either.

Everyone was tense.

Yu Xiang’an was tense as well. After raising children for so many years, with two who were so sensible and obedient, how could she not care? This was something that would affect their entire lives. A good university meant a good starting point. Even if they would have more choices than most, a strong university was still an advantage.

A good university was a good platform, where they could meet better teachers and connect with more capable, like-minded peers.

Day by day, Yu Xiang’an felt more nervous than she had for her own exams.

She had confidence in herself.

But this was her children’s exam.

Lin Chuanbai gave a wry smile. “No wonder so many parents wait outside during the exams. I completely understand now.”

At last, the day of the exam arrived.

Yu Xiang’an booked a room near the test center so they could rest at noon. She even borrowed a kitchen to cook their meals herself.

No questions about scores.

No added pressure.

Only concern for their health.

From the look of them, their condition seemed good. They probably had not done poorly.

After the final exam ended, even the usually reserved Lin Yihong could not hold back his excitement. He rushed out of the school, and with him as the lead, students poured out of the exam hall like wild horses released from their reins.

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai waited under a tree. Watching them, they could not help but smile.

At last, the exam was over.

In the car, Lin Yining’s tone was much brighter than usual. “Mom, I want to eat good food, all kinds of good food. I want to go out, go somewhere else, travel a bit. These past days have been suffocating. I’m exhausted.”

Not a word about her score.

Yu Xiang’an said, “Alright, but first you need to estimate your scores.”

The system was still the same as before. First estimate your score, then fill out your applications. It was different from choosing schools after knowing your exact results.

Lin Yining groaned. “Ah, we still have to fill out applications first.”

Seeing her like this, Yu Xiang’an felt at ease. “Seems like you didn’t do badly.”

Lin Yining said, “I think it went pretty well. Everything was smooth. I didn’t run into anything too difficult.”

As she spoke, she began to smile.

Lin Yihong nodded as well. “I felt it went smoothly too.”

Yu Xiang’an did not take them home, but straight to school.

They estimated their scores together with their classmates.

Then their teacher’s smile became impossible to hide.

This year, their school’s ranking in the province would likely look much better than last year.

Just as they had felt, both of them had performed steadily at their level.

Their choice of schools was now wide open.

Only then did they truly relax.

Yu Xiang’an gave each of them a sum of money to go out, enjoy themselves, and buy what they needed.

They bought all kinds of things they might need for university, storage boxes, wallets, shoes, and other useful items. Even some things just for appearance.

In daily life, they did not own many expensive items. Aside from their home being relatively large, its decoration was no different from others.

Comfort mattered most. If they wanted luxury, they could always stay in a hotel for a few days.

The two of them went out early every day and returned late at night, running around with their classmates.

Yu Xiang’an did not interfere.

After they had had their fill of fun, she took them out to “scout locations.”

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai had each prepared four apartments for them, one each in Yangcheng, the Special Economic Zone, the capital, and Changsha. All were spacious flats over 120 square meters, and the one in the capital was even a duplex. The siblings’ units were either across the hall from each other or on different floors of the same building. All had basic renovations and essential furniture. They could move in after a simple cleaning.

In addition, each of them received two shopfronts.

Yu Xiang’an made things clear in advance. “From now on, your father and I won’t cover your living expenses. The rent you collect each month will be your income. Whether you want to live off the rent steadily or take the properties back and do something else with them is up to you. We won’t interfere. These houses are yours. If you want to sell them, you can, but we won’t make up for it afterward. This counts as a simple division of assets. When you get married, your father and I will give you something more. As for the rest, your father and I are still healthy, and we have a long future ahead. Don’t count on it.”

The twins: “…”

It felt like becoming rich overnight.

Before this, Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai had been strict with money. The full chapter is up on HololoNovels dot com. Aside from letting them keep their New Year gift money, they only provided modest allowances. Now… it was like night and day.

They still did not have much cash.

But their total assets were considerable.

As for “dividing the family,” they did not really grasp the concept yet.

For now, they had no other plans. They would just collect rent. Managing things themselves would take too much time, especially since the shopfronts were in the Special Economic Zone, while the schools they chose were elsewhere.

Yu Xiang’an also said that once their admission letters arrived, she would gift them one or two more shopfronts near their universities.

At that point, if they wanted to try something else, they could. After all, they were students. Students should dare to explore and take risks. Later in life, there would only be more restrictions.

Lin Yihong’s path was already set once he entered university.

Lin Yining, although she had chosen a direction, was still young. If she wanted to change, she could do so at any time.

If neither of them changed their plans, they would not take over the family business. That would be left to future grandchildren. If no one wanted it, they could always hire professional managers.

There were always more solutions than problems.

When the admission letters arrived, Wang Lipan did indeed become Lin Yihong’s classmate.

Everything was settled.

Once the two children left for university, Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai were finally free. For years, they had adjusted many things around their children. Now that the twins were going off to school, it was time for them to be independent. In some aspects, the parents no longer needed to hold back, like hiding in their room and turning off the lights to pretend to sleep before entering their space.

When it was time for the twins to leave for university, they learned something unexpected.

Wang Yongle would be the one taking them to school. First to Changsha, then to the capital.

Their parents would not be going with them.

They were grown now.

They had to handle it themselves.

The twins: “…”

It almost felt like once they got into university, the children suddenly became like grass, left to grow on their own.

Yu Qingshan: “……”

Not sending the children off to university was one thing, they were already grown after all. But ever since the twins left for college, the two of them seemed to have returned to their younger days. One day it was a date, the next day another outing, leaving on a whim.

Only after quite some time did they settle back into their usual rhythm, each busy with their own things.

Yu Qingshan shook his head. Young people.

And truth be told, he did not agree with his daughter giving the twins so much at this age.

The shops and apartments had all been transferred into their names. They were still young. What if, in a moment of impulse, they sold everything for cash and spent it recklessly?

That would be squandering the family wealth.

Although he believed the twins’ character would not lead them to do such things, it was still a great deal of money. He could not help but worry.

But both his daughter and son-in-law agreed, and the twins themselves agreed as well. Outnumbered, he could only watch.

*

University life was undoubtedly colorful. Classmates came from all over, and roommates were from different places, of varying ages and personalities. For the twins, this was their first time living in dormitories. Lin Yihong had no choice, and Lin Yining had no intention of seeking special treatment. If she got along well with her roommates, she planned to live in the dorm for all four years. Otherwise, she might feel she had missed out. The apartment outside could be used on weekends, for example, to take laundry back or cook something nice.

Both of them adapted quickly.

Lin Yihong was confined within the campus most of the time. Discipline was strict, as expected in a military-style system. Every time Lin Yining went out on weekends, she could not help but feel relieved she had not chosen a military academy as well, otherwise she would have been under the same restrictions.

Another thing worth mentioning was that shortly after arriving at school, Lin Yining was selected as the “department beauty.”

Outwardly, she maintained composure and modestly declined the title, but inside she was absolutely delighted.

At school, she kept a relatively low profile. She described her family as running a small business. Her daily food and belongings were slightly better than average, but not excessively so. Compared to those flaunting wealth, she lived quietly.

Everyone had their own way of living.

She wanted to be accepted by her classmates. If she flaunted her wealth as well, it would create a gap between them that might never be bridged.

She often visited her great-grandfather, Lin Duzhong.

In a way, Lin Duzhong had become a walking advertisement. He had been drinking the ginseng tonic wine Lin Chuanbai provided, and seeing how healthy and vigorous he remained, looking as though he would live a long time yet, many elderly people who feared death began placing orders.

The ginseng tonic wine from Yu Xiang’an’s family was now rarely sold openly. Even advance reservations were not enough to meet demand. With connections and favors involved, the price had been raised, yet demand only increased.

Whenever Lin Yining visited Lin Duzhong, she would bring food and daily necessities.

After all, she now lived off rental income from four shops. Her wallet was well supplied.

As for Li Yujiao, she was filled with jealousy.

What use was it for a girl to have so many houses and shops? Once she married, it would all belong to someone else.

What a nouveau riche family. Her parents were the same. With so much wealth, how could they forget she still had a younger brother?

On top of that, things were not going smoothly on her daughter-in-law’s side. She had tried to make life difficult for her daughter-in-law in hopes of forcing a divorce, but instead she had become known in her social circle as a vicious mother-in-law. Whenever she went to her son’s place, the daughter-in-law would conveniently not be home. She could not even see her, let alone trouble her.

Her reputation had become the backlash against her, and she had nearly lost access to her granddaughter as well, which infuriated her.

At times like this, she even regretted marrying into a family with such a strong background. It would have been better to choose someone with no backing. Then replacing a daughter-in-law would not have faced such resistance.

Occasionally, when Lin Yining visited Lin Duzhong, she would overhear Li Yujiao’s complaints. Internally, she could not help but sigh. Women making things difficult for other women, what was the point?

Her aunt-in-law truly had terrible luck to become her daughter-in-law. Just because she had not given birth to a grandson, she had become an enemy. But was having a son or daughter something a woman could decide?

In the end, it came down to the man.

If anything, blame should fall on her uncle. It was he who fathered a daughter.

Lin Yining kept these thoughts to herself, saying nothing aloud.

Otherwise, she might get dragged into the mess.

She knew Li Yujiao envied the properties and shops owned by her and her brother.

Lin Duzhong had tried to advise her, but she would not listen. There was nothing more he could do. After all, she was his daughter-in-law, and there were many things he could not say as her father-in-law. Since the birth of her granddaughter, she no longer seemed as spirited as before. The full chapter is up on HololoNovels dot com. She used to pay great attention to her appearance, always dressing neatly wherever she went, eating black sesame regularly to maintain her hair’s shine. Now strands of gray had begun to appear, and the lines on her face had grown more pronounced.

She looked sharper, harsher than before.

Today, Lin Yining brought some steamed sponge cakes. “Great-grandpa, try these. A new shop opened near my school. Their craftsmanship is excellent. There’s always a line.”

Lin Duzhong chuckled and took a bite. “They really are good.”

Lin Yining said, “I’ll buy more next time.”

Lin Duzhong smiled. “Then I’ll be in for a treat. Last time you mentioned an old classmate who finally got in touch with you again. How did that go?”

After returning to the capital, Lin Yining had gradually reconnected with some childhood friends, former neighbors and classmates.

Most of them had found their own paths. Some were in university, some already working, some had moved to other cities, and some had gone abroad.

That particular one had gone overseas right after middle school graduation. They had been kindergarten classmates and lived close by, often playing together.

Lin Yining nodded. “We got back in touch. He’s a freshman now too. He said he actually wanted to come back to study here, but his parents didn’t agree.”

Their school had publicly funded study-abroad spots, fiercely competitive each year.

But some people were homesick and did not want to live abroad.

Lin Duzhong laughed. “That’s rare. Do you want to go abroad for graduate school in the future?”

Lin Yining planned to pursue a double degree during her undergraduate years. As for graduate school, she had not decided yet.

“Great-grandpa, I’ll see. In some areas, foreign countries are indeed more advanced, but there are many things I’m not used to.”

She frowned.

She had been to quite a few countries. Short visits were fine, but over a long period, she found it hard to adjust.

The biggest issue was food.

Her tastes had long since become refined.

Lin Duzhong said, “Then take your time thinking about it. There’s no rush. By the way, come fishing with me tomorrow. I’ll introduce you to an old friend.”

One of his regular fishing companions was a renowned professor in Lin Yining’s university’s Chinese department.

Lin Yining needed a mentor, not just a teacher lecturing many students, but someone who would take her on as a disciple.

Yu Xiang’an had previously taken her to visit such respected teachers, but after being evaluated, she had been declined.

Lin Duzhong said, “I’ve known him for a long time. Since you’re in university and still want to continue with calligraphy, I’ll introduce you. If there’s a connection between you…”

He did not need to finish the sentence.

Lin Yining grew excited. Who would not want a good mentor?

“Which professor is it?”

“He’s surnamed Shi.”

“I know him!” Lin Yining’s eyes lit up.

“I’ve practiced using his copybooks before. His work has its own character. I can imitate the form, but not the spirit.”

At that moment, they heard the sound of a car. It was the weekend, and Lin Tiandong had called ahead to say he would be bringing his wife and daughter home. Because of this, Li Yujiao had been busy since early morning preparing groceries.

“Uncle, Auntie, and Xuanxuan~” Lin Yining greeted them with a smile.

The little girl was just over a year old, chubby and fair, her speech still unclear, irresistibly adorable.

Li Yujiao wanted a grandson, but faced with such a granddaughter, she could not muster even a trace of temper.

When she saw Lin Yining, Auntie Yao Yuyan smiled. She liked this niece.

She found her pleasing to the eye.

Lin Yining crouched down in front of Xuanxuan. “Hey, Xuanxuan, do you still remember me? I’m your sister Ningning.”

The little girl broke into a wide smile and called out in her soft baby voice, “Jiejie!”

That single word melted hearts. The child was just too cute, impossible to resist. “So good! Big sister bought some sponge cakes. Want to try some? They’re really tasty.”

Lin Duzhong chimed in, “Yes, they’re quite good.”

Yao Yuyan asked, “Xuanxuan, do you want some?”

Xuanxuan was practically drooling. “Want!”

Yao Yuyan prompted, “Then what should you say?”

Without hesitation, Xuanxuan replied, “Thank you!”

Yao Yuyan praised her, “So good!”

Lin Yining: …

This obedient, sweet little baby had maximum impact.

She was completely struck down.

Yao Yuyan invited Lin Yining to join them for a meal the next day. “An old classmate of mine opened a private kitchen restaurant. It’s opening tomorrow. Let’s go support her.”

Lin Yining shook her head regretfully. “I can’t make it. I’m going fishing with Great-grandpa.”

As for the matter of apprenticeship, it had not been finalized yet, so it was better not to mention it.

That was also Lin Duzhong’s intention. “We already arranged to go fishing with a friend, even said I’d bring my great-granddaughter along for him to see. Next time, you can all go together.”

Yao Yuyan sighed with a bit of regret. “Then next time. There’ll be plenty of chances.”

Li Yujiao seized the opportunity to take her granddaughter into her arms. The child looked very much like Tiandong and would likely resemble her father even more as she grew. A daughter who resembled her father would surely be a beauty.

Li Yujiao treated her granddaughter very well. Whenever her hands were free, she wanted to hold her. In stark contrast was her attitude toward the child’s mother.

In front of others, she would not do anything excessive, but she was cold, distant, quietly oppressive. It was only because Yao Yuyan did not take it to heart that she managed, otherwise it would have been hard to endure.

Lin Tiandong felt helpless about it, caught in the middle.

He rarely let Li Yujiao and Yao Yuyan be alone together, afraid their relationship would worsen. He knew the fault lay with his mother, and he had spoken to her about it, but she would not change. As her son, what could he do?

As for replacing his wife, Lin Tiandong had never considered it. When he first learned he had a daughter, he had not been without disappointment. Many people found it hard to let go of the importance placed on sons. But as his daughter grew, he found himself unable to take his eyes off her. She was his child too. When she cried, his heart ached; when she smiled, he could not help but smile as well.

She was the treasure of his heart.

When Xuanxuan was in her mother’s arms, her grandmother did not step forward. But when she was in her father’s arms, she was quickly taken away. Lin Yining silently felt a bit of sympathy for her uncle. Being caught in the middle was something only those who experienced it could understand. But there was no real solution, unless Li Yujiao changed her mindset.

The next day, everyone set out separately. After breakfast, Lin Yining and Lin Duzhong took their gear and headed out.

Lin Duzhong was in high spirits. “The place we’re going to this time took us a lot of effort to find. Hardly anyone fishes there. The fish aren’t afraid of people, and they’re big. Even if you don’t know how to fish, you’ll still catch something. Once we catch some, we’ll make fish soup together.”

When they arrived, an elderly man was already there, sitting on a small stool, focused intently on the water.

Lin Duzhong leaned over to look into his bucket. Seeing it empty, he silently broke into a grin, then quickly wiped it away.

Shi Changtian was just as obsessed with fishing as he was, but he had one defining trait, he had terrible luck.

Same spot, same bait, same gear, Lin Duzhong might catch three fish, while Shi Changtian would catch one, sometimes none at all.

And this was not occasional. It was the norm.

Even so, he never gave up, trying different equipment and bait, persisting all the same.

That was true passion.

Shi Changtian said, “You’re here.”

Lin Duzhong snorted. “Here. And you came early again. That’s not fair. We agreed to start together, otherwise how can we compete?”

“I didn’t come early,” Shi Changtian protested. “I only got here a little before you.”

Lin Duzhong glanced at the indentation in the dirt beneath his stool and gave an “oh,” choosing not to expose him.

“Forget fishing for now. Come, let me introduce you. This is my great-granddaughter. She just got into your university this year. Well? Isn’t my great-granddaughter lively and bright?”

Shi Changtian glanced at Lin Yining and cleared his throat. “She looks like a good girl. You’re fortunate.”

There was a hint of envy in his tone.

When it came to children and grandchildren, he could not compare to Lin Duzhong.

He used to be able to say he had many children, but now only one daughter remained alive.

The third generation was also sparse, just one grandson and one granddaughter. That was all.

Lin Yining smiled brightly. “Professor Shi, I…”

While Lin Yining was striving to find a mentor, in the Special Economic Zone, Yu Xiang’an was also working on something of her own.

Her space had upgraded again.

This was good news.

The first upgrade had added a pasture beside her farmland, allowing her to raise cattle and sheep, greatly easing the strain on meat supply.

The second upgrade had added a processing workshop, a true cheat tool. Lin Chuanbai loved it, often using it for experiments.

In reality, some experiments could take months or years. But in the workshop, nothing took more than twenty-four hours. Some experimental paths could be tested quickly, saving immense amounts of time and resources.

Now, this was the third upgrade of her space.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃