Ch 123: Bringing a Farming Game System to the 1970s

Wang Yushan didn’t look much like her twin sister.

When they were little, she resembled her father while her sister looked like their uncle. But as they grew older, the resemblance shifted. Yushan ended up looking half like her father and half like her mother, while her sister seemed to gather all the best features from their uncle’s side, becoming more and more beautiful.

Sometimes Yushan would complain to her mother about it, and her mother would just smile and comfort her, saying she was pretty too.

Yushan knew she looked fine.

It was just that her sister looked even better.

And looks were something you were born with.

There was nothing to be done.

The two sisters were both bright, learning things with ease.

So their mother enrolled them in many extracurricular classes, keeping them from running around outside.

This was a result of a past incident.

When they were in elementary school, someone somehow found out their family was wealthy and attempted to kidnap them. They were usually picked up and dropped off, with security and surveillance at school, but that day during PE, they sneaked out to buy snacks.

Yushan was captured.

Her sister escaped.

Yushan was blindfolded and taken to an abandoned building.

For the kidnappers, it was both a success and a failure. Even though they got the money, they were eventually caught, and the ransom was returned untouched.

The incident didn’t leave much of an impact on Yushan herself. She felt she was fine.

But her family had been terrified.

Her father and uncle took leave to come see her. Grandparents from both sides came as well.

Yet she hadn’t been harmed at all.

She understood the kidnappers wouldn’t hurt her. If they added murder to the crime, they’d never escape. She had never seen their faces, and as long as she didn’t provoke them, there was no reason for them to take that risk.

The “aftereffects” were simply that everyone became extra protective.

Two bodyguards appeared in their lives.

They had tracking devices.

And their father and uncle began training them physically.

Life suddenly became intense.

Before, their mother let them be, if they didn’t want to learn martial arts, they didn’t have to.

Now that was no longer an option.

For their safety, they had to learn.

Fortunately, aside from that one incident, life returned to calm.

Their parents gradually loosened their control again.

In the blink of an eye, the twins finished the college entrance exams.

The pressure of senior year was finally over.

The moment they got home, they went wild, phones, computers, partying, everything.

The two of them could only be described as chaos unleashed.

Lin Yining didn’t restrict them.

As long as they didn’t cross any lines, they could do whatever they wanted.

After indulging at home and resting enough, they quickly gathered friends and set off traveling.

Summer vacation was long.

Applications weren’t a concern, their grades were stable.

They flew everywhere, domestically and abroad.

One day they’d call from one country, the next day from another.

Lin Yining sighed. “Enjoy it while you can. Once school starts, it won’t be this relaxed.”

She felt a little envious.

At their age, she had never been able to travel so freely.

Now she had time, but no companions.

Her parents were off traveling too, leaving her behind.

It felt a bit lonely.

And she couldn’t just leave.

She had to handle their exam results and applications.

The two girls had completely handed everything over to her.

When the scores came out, Lin Yining beamed with pride.

Their confidence hadn’t been misplaced.

Their results were excellent, one became the city’s top scorer in liberal arts, the other second place.

Naturally, reporters wanted interviews.

Lin Yining declined.

The girls didn’t even want to come back from abroad.

Appearing in media still made them uneasy, better not attract unwanted attention.

Yining knew this mindset wasn’t ideal.

Children needed freedom.

But since they themselves refused, she didn’t push.

Even though they weren’t present, it didn’t stop the school and teachers from celebrating.

For the thank-you banquet, parents and classmates gathered together.

Her presence was enough.

The girls could come back after they’d had their fill of fun.

They had carried immense pressure during senior year, afraid of failing at the final hurdle.

Now that it was over, they deserved to relax.

Yining understood this well.

Because their family was full of high achievers, the girls refused to be ordinary.

That was both motivation and pressure.

Their exam results were their first proof of excellence.

Meanwhile, Yining had her own tasks.

She began transferring assets their grandmother had prepared into their names, just as had been done for her and her brother.

She had been strict with them growing up, but now that they had entered adulthood, it was time to give them something.

The properties and shops her parents had given her and her brother had appreciated greatly over the years.

With redevelopment, some had become extremely valuable.

Her parents hadn’t given them much cash beyond that one time after the exams, even though they were very wealthy.

Instead, they gave assets.

And since she and her brother didn’t have many expenses, those assets were more than enough.

She understood.

Her parents had earned their money.

They didn’t want to spoil them with easy cash, partly because they weren’t going into business, and partly to avoid raising idle dependents.

Yining thought this was a good approach.

While she stayed busy, the twins were having the time of their lives abroad.

Their friends all came from well-off families.

Money wasn’t much of a concern.

They went skiing in the mountains, diving in the ocean, hiking in the wilderness…

When they got tired, someone suggested hot springs.

Everyone agreed immediately.

They booked tickets to a famous hot spring destination.

Coincidentally, Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai were there too.

They hadn’t known beforehand and had booked neighboring hotels.

When Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai stepped out for a walk, they ran into the girls just as they were arriving with luggage.

They stopped face to face.

The twins lit up with surprise. “Grandma, Grandpa! You’re here too!”

Yu Xiang’an noticed their sun-tanned skin and smiled. “Looks like you’ve been having too much fun. Yesterday your mom said you were in Europe, and now you’re here. Having a good time?”

Yushan grinned. “Of course! Let me introduce you, these are our grandparents.”

Their classmates hesitated.

That face…

It looked familiar.

They were top students, aware of current events. They recognized faces from financial news.

And now they were being told this was their friend’s grandmother.

A prominent figure they’d seen on TV was right in front of them.

The group grew excited.

But in front of Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai, they behaved politely, smiling shyly.

Only after the two elders left did they swarm around the twins.

“You two are way too low-key.”

“Our school bully acts so arrogant on campus, but your family is way better off than his, and you’re still this low-key.”

“If you hadn’t said they were your grandparents, I would’ve thought they were your parents. Your grandparents take such good care of themselves, they look like mother and daughter, not grandparents and grandchild.”

“No wonder their beauty products sell so well, they’re basically walking advertisements.”

“I know that brand! My mom uses it too!”

“I also heard about their health supplements, super famous. I even read somewhere that your family has five generations living together, is that true?”

It was true, counting from Lin Duzhong’s side.

“Can I cling to you for support?”

“Can we get a photo together?”

Wang Yushan laughed. “Keeping a low profile is the way. I like being low-key. What’s wrong with that? I’m still me. As for photos, no, my grandparents don’t like taking pictures with strangers. But since we ran into each other, my grandma will definitely come find us later. While you’re here, don’t hold back, go enjoy whatever you want.”

“Rich girl confirmed, then we won’t be polite!”

“Yushan! Long live your grandma!”

At their age, they didn’t really understand restraint. Whatever they thought, they said it, straightforward and full of enthusiasm.

—

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai had just finished negotiating business ahead of schedule. Since things wrapped up early, they decided to relax at the hot springs.

Even on a simple walk, they had people accompanying them.

They had no intention of testing anyone’s morals. It was better not to give others the chance.

After a stroll, they relaxed.

When they checked their phones, there was a message from Yushan with their room number.

The eldest granddaughter was thoughtful.

Yu Xiang’an went to find them.

By then, the group had finished soaking and were playing cards in the room.

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai brought snacks and joined in, surprising the classmates.

Such prominent figures, yet completely without airs.

In TV dramas and movies, people like this were usually distant and hard to approach.

One student quietly asked Yushan, “Has your grandma always been like this?”

Yushan nodded. “Yep, always. Work is work, personal is personal. She keeps them separate.”

She had seen her grandmother in the office.

Completely different.

Serious. No room for carelessness.

That night, Yu Xiang’an had great luck with cards, while Lin Chuanbai kept losing.

Watching for a while, Yushan rolled up her sleeves. “Grandpa, let me help you.”

She was excellent at card games.

Lin Chuanbai happily gave up his seat.

In just a few rounds, she won back half the chips.

Their “chips” were just snacks Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai had brought. Lin Chuanbai’s side had been empty before, now it was piled high again.

—

After playing enough, Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai went to the twins’ room.

It was a twin room, comfortable and well laid out.

“Looks nice here. Are you two having fun? When are you planning to head back?”

Yushan grabbed Yu Xiang’an’s arm, while her sister held onto Lin Chuanbai. “We rarely get to have this much fun, we’re going to enjoy it fully. We’ll definitely go back before school starts.”

The two elders exchanged a glance. “Just don’t lose track of time.”

“No way, we won’t. We call home every day to check in.”

The sisters quickly reassured them, afraid they might be forced to return early.

After all, once university started, freedom wouldn’t be the same.

The period between high school graduation and university was a rare break.

Ending it early would be such a waste.

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai stayed for two days before flying back to China. The twins left the next day, heading to their next destination.

—

Lin Yining could only shake her head at how carefree they were.

Back when she had traveled after her exams, she still worried about admission letters.

These two?

They glanced at a photo of their acceptance letters and went right back to traveling.

By the time they returned, her two fair, beautiful daughters had tanned several shades darker.

Their darker skin made their teeth stand out even more, dazzling when they smiled.

Yining sighed. “Did you go mining somewhere? How did you get this dark?”

Her heart ached a little.

The twins didn’t mind at all. “It’s fine, Mom. We tan fast and lighten fast. It’ll go away.”

“You’ve forgotten you still have military training when school starts? You’ll get even darker.”

“Then we’ll just be darker. We’ll still look good.”

“You two…” Yining couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, school’s about to start. Hurry and finish all the procedures.”

Some things required their signatures, and they also had to visit their teachers to express thanks.

After their wild vacation, they became very obedient, doing whatever was asked.

Just like Yining and her brother back then, the twins became wealthy overnight.

With today’s housing prices, their assets instantly reached over a hundred million.

“These are from your grandparents,” Yining told them. “I won’t be giving you living expenses.”

Same as before, rental income from several shops and properties was more than enough for a comfortable university life.

Unlike Yining and her brother, however, these two were bold.

After the properties were transferred, they were free to manage them.

By sophomore year, each of them had already sold one property for cash.

When Yining heard this: “…”

She didn’t know what to say.

Unable to scold her daughters directly, she went to Yu Xiang’an instead.

Yu Xiang’an waved it off. “It’s fine. If they make money from it, that’s their ability. If they lose it, I won’t cover for them.”

The worst case was simply that they spent it all.

Yining quietly checked and learned they had invested the money.

She finally relaxed.

At least it was for something legitimate.

As Yushan put it, “Shops give steady rent, but houses just sit there unused. Selling one gives us liquid capital to invest. Our assets were too concentrated.”

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “If you don’t understand something, feel free to call me.”

Yushan hesitated. “If we don’t understand, we’ll ask… but it feels like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken.”

Yu Xiang’an: “……”

It was praise, but the comparison made her laugh.

—

The sisters kept a low profile in university.

But after volunteering as hosts for an event, Wang Yuyan suddenly went viral.

People called her “the most beautiful top student host.”

Videos of her spread online.

Talent scouts approached her, hoping to sign her and launch her into the entertainment industry.

“Most beautiful natural beauty from a top university.”

“God gave her looks and intelligence.”

Headlines became more and more exaggerated.

Yuyan understood the industry somewhat.

It was glamorous, and being on stage felt exhilarating.

But she wasn’t happy.

She hadn’t wanted this kind of attention.

To her, it was an accident.

She knew some people wanted that path, like her mother’s acquaintance’s daughter who studied acting and dreamed of becoming a star.

If it had happened to someone like that, they would have been thrilled.

But when faced with so many people coming just to gawk at her, Wang Yuyan only felt annoyed. Yu Xiang’an noticed and called her.

“Do you want to enter the entertainment industry?”

“No. There’s no privacy at all. I’ve already turned them down.” Wang Yuyan refused decisively.

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “If you ever change your mind, tell me.”

Yuyan nodded. She knew her grandmother held a 20% stake in a long-established film and television company.

If she chose that path, things would go very smoothly.

—

Chen Xiaoyang saw the video while accompanying her daughter. She smiled, not surprised at Wang Yuyan’s decision.

As a veteran employee who had been with the factory from the beginning, she knew the boss’s family well, having met them before.

To this day, Yu Xiang’an was still her idol.

And she would never forget her idol’s family after seeing them once.

Now, Chen Xiaoyang’s life was quite good. She had a home and a family in the special economic zone.

She had persisted for many years, only marrying in her thirties. Her husband was a colleague, and they worked in different departments.

Because of their consistent excellent performance, they were allocated a two-bedroom apartment, with proper ownership documents.

Now that apartment was worth several million, and still rising. The surrounding commercial area was well developed, life was convenient, and transportation was excellent. Naturally, such housing was in high demand.

When she had free time, Chen Xiaoyang liked browsing housing websites to check transaction prices nearby. They would never sell their home, but knowing its value still made them happy.

Several people had asked if she would sell. She refused every time.

With no housing pressure, their income went partly toward their child’s education and partly into savings. They even bought another property in a more remote area for their child’s future marriage.

That “remote” area had since developed, and prices had risen again.

Which made them even happier.

She loved talking about real estate with colleagues. They had benefited greatly.

The more valuable the house became, the more diligent they felt, otherwise it seemed like holding onto something too good to deserve.

—

Today was the company anniversary.

As a long-serving employee, she received three thousand yuan in vouchers and a room voucher for a five-star hotel.

She knew both the vouchers and the hotel belonged to the company, essentially her boss’s business. But even so, she had never been willing to spend money at such places before.

One visit could empty your wallet.

For someone who had lived through hardship, it was hard to spend money on non-essentials.

At the anniversary celebration, they had a grand banquet in the auditorium. Celebrities were even invited. Big stars she had only seen on TV appeared in person.

Many people rushed forward for autographs and photos.

Chen Xiaoyang also got an autograph, for her daughter, who adored that star and had posters covering half her wall.

After enjoying the food and festivities, she took the vouchers home.

The hotel voucher she saved for family use.

The consumption vouchers she didn’t need. She had already won another two-thousand-yuan voucher earlier that she hadn’t finished using.

So she decided to take them back to her parents.

—

Back in her village, everything had changed.

Every household now lived in two- or three-story houses, neatly arranged, many decorated like small villas.

The village had become famous for bamboo crafts and rural tourism.

Visitors came to dig bamboo shoots, pick fruit, catch fish…

They could also buy all kinds of bamboo souvenirs.

Boxes, baskets, decorative vases, mats, pillows… all intricately made.

Some people even bought in bulk to resell elsewhere.

Thanks to the bamboo mountain, the village had become locally known as a “rich village.”

It all started with selling bamboo shoots. Later, agritourism was introduced by Chen Xiaoyang, who had been inspired by her boss.

That early push helped build the reputation that led to today’s prosperity.

The village leaders had even presented Yu Xiang’an with a commemorative banner.

To the boss, it might have been a casual suggestion.

But to the village, it was like discovering a gold mine.

Now people could earn money right at their doorstep. Young villagers no longer needed to leave for work.

Life had improved for everyone.

And they were not ungrateful.

—

Chen Xiaoyang handed the vouchers to her mother.

Her mother accepted them happily. “Perfect timing. The TV broke. Repairing it is expensive, might as well buy a new one.”

Chen Xiaoyang nodded. “Buy whatever you like.”

Then she slipped out and wandered toward the bamboo market at the foot of the hill.

Tourists loved that place.

Some crafts were breathtaking.

For example, an elderly man with one blind eye carved bamboo sculptures so lifelike they sold for high prices every time.

Even her father had changed.

He used to weave practical baskets and trays.

Now he made delicate decorative baskets, like works of art.

Before, it was all about durability.

Now, it was about beauty.

Like the difference between a rough mountain stone and a polished river pebble.

It took more time, but the value doubled.

—

Chen Xiaoyang hadn’t just come home to visit.

She had work to do.

She walked through the market, selecting the best-crafted bamboo cups.

They planned to purchase a batch as promotional gifts.

Because this was her hometown, such tasks were entrusted to her.

She knew which craftsmen had the best skills and the most integrity.

If someone proved unreliable, they would never get another order.

These orders were large. Landing one could bring significant profit.

After two days of evaluation, she returned with samples.

She displayed eight styles outside the cafeteria.

“Everyone, come take a look when you have time. Each style has a number. Vote for your favorites!”

She wanted everyone to choose the top three designs.

—

As Yu Xiang’an passed by, she heard the call and stopped.

She looked at the neatly arranged samples, chose three she liked, wrote down the numbers, and dropped them into the box.

It was anonymous voting.

When Chen Xiaoyang saw her, the usually eloquent woman suddenly became speechless.

All she could do was stare, excited.

Yu Xiang’an smiled at her, called her by name, and thanked her for her hard work.

Chen Xiaoyang’s face turned red with excitement.

Under the glow of admiration, it felt like Yu Xiang’an was shining.

As her daughter would say,

her boss was the best and kindest person in the world.

No objections allowed.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃