Now it was 1974 in Huaguo’s capital. The original host was also named Mu Youyou, a 19-year-old orphan and a primary school teacher who had just started working a year ago. Her parents were both soldiers who had died during a mission one year earlier.
The original host had a husband she had only met once—yes, only once. The two had a childhood engagement. Her husband’s name was Gu Beiting, a battalion commander in the Eastern Military Region.
Their only meeting was a month ago, when Gu Beiting returned to the capital after submitting his marriage application report. They registered their marriage, and he immediately rushed back to the army afterward.
The reason for their arranged engagement dated back to when Mu Youyou was still in her mother’s womb. During a mission, her father had saved Gu Beiting’s father’s life. Half jokingly and half seriously, they arranged the engagement.
A year ago, after Mu Youyou’s parents died together, Gu Beiting’s father remembered this arrangement and forced his 26-year-old unmarried son to fulfill it. Gu Beiting had been unwilling, but after the old master of the Gu family intervened, he finally agreed.
A year after the Mu couple’s death, Gu Beiting and Mu Youyou registered their marriage.
After returning to the army, Gu Beiting had already applied—under the old master’s orders—for Mu Youyou to join him at the military base. According to the plan, she would leave in half a month.
“A soldier, tall and handsome too… though a bit cold.” From the original host’s memories, Mu Youyou could recall his appearance.
To be fair, Gu Beiting was exactly her type. But marrying someone she barely knew—she wouldn’t accept that either.
“So where did the original host go?” Mu Youyou asked.
“The same as you—she transmigrated. But she met another system and chose it willingly because she was afraid of Gu Beiting. As for where she went, I don’t know,” the system replied.
With the original host’s memories, Mu Youyou understood she had been a gentle and frail girl. Having grown up in the military compound surrounded by tough men, she preferred scholarly, refined types.
Military marriages were protected, especially in this era. Since Gu Beiting had originally been unwilling to marry her, Mu Youyou decided she would first follow him to the military base and then discuss things with him. If necessary, they could pretend to be a couple for two years before divorcing.
“I actually look exactly like myself.” Mu Youyou examined her reflection in the full-length mirror.
The girl in the mirror had bright, clear eyes, gently arched brows, long fluttering eyelashes, flawless fair skin with a hint of rosy color, and soft lips like delicate rose petals.
“Hey, little system, I’m heading out. From now on, just call me ‘sister.’ What should I call you?” Mu Youyou thought for a moment.
“I’ll call you Caicai!” she said with a smile.
“Why?” the newly named Caicai asked curiously.
“Because you’re just a rookie system on your first mission,” Mu Youyou laughed.
“……”
Before Caicai could react, Mu Youyou had already left the house (from now on referred to as the space).
Back in reality, Mu Youyou returned to her residence. She was still living in the northern family compound of the capital’s military district. Since Gu Beiting’s family lived in the southern compound, and the original host had been introverted and rarely went out, they had never met before.
This house belonged to the military district. The original host had been allowed to live here because she taught at a school under the district. Once she moved to join the army, she would have to return it.
The Mu family had also owned a courtyard house in the city. Useful belongings had already been gradually moved there.
Mu Youyou found an iron box inside a wardrobe trunk. Opening it, she saw three bankbooks.
One contained her parents’ lifetime savings—over 9,000 yuan, a huge sum for this era, made possible by their high-ranking positions.
Another held their compensation payments—4,500 yuan total: 2,500 for her father and 2,000 for her mother.
The third had 1,000 yuan, given by the Gu family as a bride price and for purchasing the “three turning points and one sound” items after joining the army.
There was also some cash and various ration coupons in the box. Mu Youyou counted 270 yuan in cash—likely leftover from her parents and her own salary after expenses.
There were also different kinds of coupons, including those from the Gu family for purchasing the “three turning points and one sound.” Since these were issued by the military, they could be used nationwide.
“Sister, there’s still money in the original host’s bag,” Caicai’s voice sounded in her mind.
“You can even detect that?” Mu Youyou picked up the bag from the desk. Inside was 29.53 yuan, along with several grain and meat coupons, likely for use at cafeterias or state-run restaurants.
“Hehe, sister, I have appraisal abilities!” Caicai said proudly.
“Appraisal, huh?” Mu Youyou smiled. That ability was useful.
“……”
“The original host left all her money here—how will she survive after transmigrating?” Mu Youyou wondered.
“Uh……”
“Don’t tell me her system is like mine?” Mu Youyou felt she had figured something out.
“Basically, yes. The same type of system can only transfer between each other,” Caicai admitted.
“And you made it sound like I took advantage of you,” Mu Youyou rolled her eyes.
“But that enhanced spirit spring system isn’t something every system has!” Caicai said excitedly. “My ‘tech father’ gave it to me privately!”
“So since you accidentally chose me, does that mean I died in my original world?” Mu Youyou asked.
“No. The person who was supposed to transmigrate into this body will instead go into your original body.”
“That’s good.” She didn’t want her original self to just die for no reason.
“So what’s your purpose in finding a host?” Mu Youyou asked. There had to be a reason for granting someone a system.
“Uh……” Caicai sounded embarrassed.
“What is it?”
“Sister… I got too excited on my first mission and forgot what ‘tech father’ told me,” Caicai said quietly.
“I……”
“But don’t worry! Failing the mission won’t harm you. At worst, you’ll just live out your life in this era. And completing the set tasks might bring rewards,” Caicai explained.
“Alright.” Mu Youyou finally felt at ease.
She carried the iron box into the space and placed it in the wardrobe of the master bedroom.
“Sister, you don’t need to come in personally—you can just use your thoughts,” Caicai reminded her.
“I know. I was just bored outside,” Mu Youyou replied, looking at the nine plots of land on the screen, wondering what to plant. With the marketplace available, she could buy anything she needed.
“Sister, why not plant rice? We can sell it to the system or on the black market,” Caicai suggested, its green eyes spinning eagerly.
“Can items grown in the system be sold to the marketplace?” Mu Youyou asked.
“Yes, and they’re settled in this era’s currency,” Caicai nodded seriously.
Mu Youyou thought to herself—wasn’t this basically a path to getting rich? From now on, she would never have to worry about money again.