Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

An Ning took the lead with Director Jin right behind her. Vice Factory Director Li looked at the two of them and saw the heroic air of legendary outlaws.

’Are we really just going to file a complaint? Why do I feel like we’re about to go blow up a bunker!’

Vice Factory Director Li hurried to catch up, shouting worriedly from behind, "Slow down! Don’t be rash!"

They drove over and arrived at the provincial machinery factory in under ten minutes.

Vice Factory Director Li was a frequent visitor on behalf of his city’s machinery factory.

He took the lead, knowing the place well, but felt a little awkward about it.

’He felt like an underling being pushed out front to pretend he was the chief.’

"Well, if it isn’t Vice Factory Director Li. You’re here bright and early."

The man at the gate, Uncle Wan Neng, could always recall anyone’s official title.

"We’ve got some business, just some business."

Vice Factory Director Li signed them in and led the other two inside.

"Jiang Dongcheng is on good terms with one of the directors here. Should we go straight to the top leader?"

Vice Factory Director Li couldn’t help but ask, even though the three of them had already made a plan before coming.

But he just couldn’t stop himself from asking again.

"Good."

An Ning’s single word, "Good," inexplicably put Vice Factory Director Li’s mind at ease.

The provincial machinery factory wasn’t very large, smaller even than the city’s. But it had a large staff, with even more researchers.

The building facing the main gate had five floors in total.

Vice Factory Director Li led the two of them up to the third floor and found the room right in the middle.

"Vice Factory Director Li, what brings you here today?"

At a desk outside, a man was all smiles. He covertly flipped open a notebook, his gaze quickly returning to normal. If An Ning’s spiritual power hadn’t been so sharp, she might have missed it.

"Secretary Song, I have some business with Factory Director Zhang. Is he in today?"

The man, Secretary Song, immediately broke into an even wider smile.

"The Director is in, but he’s not available at the moment. He has guests today."

Vice Factory Director Li didn’t press Secretary Song. The secretary’s position might not be high, but everyone knew you didn’t mess with a director’s secretary.

Still, he was unwilling to just turn back.

"Secretary Song, how about this? We’ll just wait out here. We only need a moment of his time when he’s free."

"It’s really an urgent matter. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have driven through the night to get here."

Secretary Song understood what Vice Factory Director Li was implying: they absolutely had to see him today.

"Alright, this way, please. Have a seat and rest for a bit. I’ll go get you some water."

Secretary Song got moving. After serving the water, he returned to his desk and got back to work.

An Ning wasn’t in a rush. She simply took a piece of paper from her backpack and started drawing blueprints again.

Vice Factory Director Li was truly impressed. He couldn’t hope to match her composure.

The three of them waited for an hour, during which An Ning completed two drawings.

The steady SCRATCHING of her pencil eventually made even Secretary Song glance back a few times.

A secretary at a machinery factory might not be an expert, but he still knew the basics.

’That girl... is she drawing blueprints?’

’But is she just doodling to get attention, or is she serious?’

Secretary Song didn’t make a subjective judgment. A secretary only needed to report what he saw and provide timely reminders when his superior forgot certain details. That was enough.

’Being too clever is not a good thing.’

Secretary Song stood up and went into the office to refill the water.

When the door to Factory Director Zhang’s office opened, the jabbering of a foreign language came from inside.

There really were guests—foreign guests, at that.

Vice Factory Director Li’s heart sank. Foreign guests were definitely here to talk about technology, and in those situations, their side was generally at a disadvantage.

The chances of getting a meeting today were slim.

Vice Factory Director Li started to worry.

After bringing the water in, Secretary Song leaned in and said something in the Factory Director’s ear.

"Vice Factory Director Li and Director Jin are outside with a young woman who can draw."

He delivered the single sentence quickly and clearly. Factory Director Zhang, who had been enduring endless frustration in the negotiations, immediately thought of An Ning.

He knew who An Ning was; it was just that back then, the matter had been handed off to someone else to handle.

After all, although An Ning’s performance had been impressive at the time, it hadn’t yet reached a level that demanded serious attention.

Factory Director Zhang raised his wrist.

Secretary Song immediately understood and said, "Director, shall we take a short break? Have some fruit and tea."

Factory Director Zhang immediately put on an apologetic expression and invited his two foreign guests to take a short break, suggesting they could resume their discussion later.

After the message was translated, the men stood up and shook hands. Secretary Song then invited the foreign guests to move to a nearby table, where he served them some fruit and tea.

Meanwhile, Factory Director Zhang took the opportunity to step out of his office and saw the three people waiting off to the side.

Vice Factory Director Li spotted Factory Director Zhang immediately and was about to nudge An Ning.

"Don’t move!"

Factory Director Zhang himself stopped him. Vice Factory Director Li froze in place; only his eyes darted around nimbly.

’What’s going on?’

By now, Factory Director Zhang was standing next to An Ning. He had a technical background himself, and though his skills had only been average, he understood what he was seeing.

Factory Director Zhang crouched beside An Ning, like a man grasping his last straw.

"Do you know household appliances?"

"Yes."

An Ning’s firm "Yes" was irresistibly convincing.

"Automobiles?"

"Yes."

"Heavy-duty trucks?"

"Yes."

Three questions, and An Ning answered each one without the slightest hesitation.

Factory Director Zhang’s eyes, shining with a piercing light, were fixed on An Ning. The seriousness in his tone was something an outsider couldn’t possibly understand.

"Do you have any idea what you’re saying?"

An Ning stopped drawing and met Factory Director Zhang’s gaze.

"I do."

She took the eleven blueprints she had finished drawing that day and spread them out one by one.

"This is for refrigeration machinery."

"This is for a heating and cooling system."

"These are mechanical drawings for a heavy-duty truck."

"These are for automobiles. I’ve drawn three different kinds."

"This is for imaging machinery."

"And this is—"

"Enough! I believe you."

The way Factory Director Zhang looked at An Ning had suddenly transformed.

’The heavens have sent us a genius!’

It wasn’t that they couldn’t develop this technology themselves, but they couldn’t afford to wait that long.

They were already decades behind other countries. At this point, they had to catch up first before they could even talk about development and innovation.

"My name is Zhang Sinan. And you are?"

"Hello, I’m An Ning." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The two shook hands. Zhang Sinan’s exhilaration was indescribable.

’Those two in there... trying to sell us their outdated technology, and not only did they want money, but our resources too.’

’It was utterly intolerable! How could he be willing to use his own country’s resources to enrich them!’

"Wait here for a moment. I need to finish with my foreign guests."

"Of course. We’ll wait."

"Please, don’t let us keep you."

An Ning just gave a faint nod and sat back down to continue her drawing.

To everyone else, her attitude gave off only one impression.

’Our girl is so composed!’

’What a good kid!’