Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

Outside the multi-paned glass window, a big, round moon hung low over the treetops, looking so close you could almost touch it.

The bright moonlight shone through the glass, casting its glow on the natural wood table.

Thin wisps of steam rising from the lunch boxes veiled the moonlight in a soft, white haze.

An Ning sat up straight, looking at the four lunch boxes before her.

One box was filled with rice, but it was drizzled with a savory braised pork sauce. Its tempting aroma seemed to wave a little hand, shouting, ’Eat me first!’

Next to it was a box of mixed seafood in a vibrant sauce. The wave of hot and sour fragrance was enough to whet anyone’s appetite.

Another box held minced pork and green beans. The beans were so vibrantly green, they looked as if they might be undercooked, but their fragrant aroma suggested otherwise.

At the very end was a roast chicken with glossy, reddish-brown skin, crammed awkwardly into its container. Its strange shape did nothing to diminish An Ning’s determination to eat it.

She picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of the rice first. The savory meat and fragrant rice blended together wonderfully. It was so satisfying.

As An Ning tasted each dish, she felt that life back home was going to be difficult from now on.

An Ning polished off all three boxes of food and the one box of rice.

Feeling a bit stuffed, she had no choice but to pace around her room to digest.

She kept at it until someone from downstairs came up, knocked on her door, and asked her to please stop pacing so they could sleep.

An Ning apologized sincerely. After closing the door, she sat on her bed and decided to do some simple exercises to burn off the meal.

An Ning didn’t know what time she fell asleep, but when she woke up in the morning, her legs were a bit sore.

She must have fallen asleep while exercising last night and ended up sitting on her legs for a long time. The pins and needles she felt after freeing them were an intense, unique kind of agony.

For a moment, she thought her legs were about to pack up and leave her.

After waking up and washing her face, An Ning went downstairs, a little hopeful.

Sure enough, the front desk of the guesthouse handed her another bag—breakfast from Jiang Xia.

An Ning took the breakfast back to her room. At that moment, she decided Jiang Xia had earned an upgrade to ’good friend’ status.

The breakfast was as delicious as ever. After finishing, An Ning had now accumulated three sets of lunch boxes and bottles.

’Where did he go?’

An Ning couldn’t find Jiang Xia. The guy had been incredibly mysterious ever since he arrived in the provincial capital.

An Ning left the lunch boxes at the front desk, asking the receptionist to give them to Jiang Xia if he came by again.

She didn’t know what Jiang Xia had done, but the receptionist seemed even more eager about it than An Ning was.

An Ning left the guesthouse and went to the mechanical factory again.

Her morning proceeded without much change, right up until noon.

It was supposed to be lunchtime, but An Ning was summoned by Factory Director Zhang.

An Ning had a hunch. ’This must be about Jiang Dongcheng. There’s an answer.’

And she was right. When An Ning entered Factory Director Zhang’s office, he used the results of his own investigation to confirm what she had previously told him.

"An Ning, have a seat. Let’s talk."

"Deal with Jiang Dongcheng first. Then we can talk."

An Ning’s stubbornness didn’t annoy Factory Director Zhang at all. Instead, he found it refreshing. ’She has character and a mind of her own. That’s great.’

He completely forgot that just a few days ago, his own son had shown the same stubborn persistence and ended up getting a taste of the belt for it.

"Fine. We’ll deal with him first."

Factory Director Zhang summoned Secretary Song and issued several directives.

"Issue an official notice: Jiang Dongcheng is to be dismissed from his position at the Provincial Mechanical Factory for suspected plagiarism and theft of another’s design schematics."

"Publicize this matter in all major newspapers in the province. Make sure everyone knows that we have zero tolerance for this kind of theft."

"Send out an official document: Director Zhao Changsheng of the City Mechanical Factory is to be stripped of all his duties."

"Furthermore, issue two transfer orders. Vice Factory Director Li of the City Mechanical Factory is promoted to Factory Director. Director Jin from the Five Counties is to be transferred to the City Mechanical Factory to serve as Vice Factory Director."

After issuing the four directives, Secretary Song calmly exited the office, but his mind was reeling.

’He had still underestimated An Ning’s influence.’ 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

’She was someone who could single-handedly sway major decisions.’

Secretary Song finished his notes, stepped out, and closed the door securely behind him.

Inside, An Ning sat calmly across from Factory Director Zhang.

"An Ning, Jiang Dongcheng held a position here, but his roots aren’t here. They’re in Beijing."

"Won’t he go to jail?"

An Ning didn’t understand. For something like technology theft, was dismissal punishment enough?

"It’s hard to say. I’ve submitted all the evidence I have, but there are loopholes. Jiang Dongcheng never actually handled the original schematics himself. He did design some of his own that are very similar to ours. He could just claim he ’grabbed the wrong ones,’ and it wouldn’t be an impossible defense."

"This is as far as I can take it."

An Ning didn’t press the issue. Instead, she asked, "Director, why did you want to see me?"

Factory Director Zhang’s smile became a little more sincere. ’She might be blunt and stubborn, but she also knows when to back down.’

"I want to hire you as a technical consultant for our factory. We will pay you separately for every schematic you produce. In addition, you’ll receive the highest tier of our monthly salary and benefits."

An Ning didn’t blindly agree. Instead, she asked, "What does a consultant need to do?"

"It’s similar to what you’re doing now. When you have time, you can come over, give some lectures to the technical designers, and answer some questions. You could also design some new products for the factory, but that’s not a requirement. We would have a cooperative relationship."

Before making this decision, Factory Director Zhang had already asked Director Jin about it in detail.

He had learned from Director Jin that An Ning was someone who enjoyed farming at home and didn’t like to be tied down.

"Okay, I accept."

An Ning accepted. She decided it was time to step out a bit and broaden her network.

’Only by doing so could she protect the people who needed her protection when something truly happened.’

From that day on, An Ning became a consultant for the mechanical factory.

As Factory Director Zhang walked An Ning out, he seemed to remember something and asked, "An Ning, I noticed some of the schematics you provided are for the automotive and heavy truck industries. May I share them with others?"

"Our mechanical factory doesn’t really get involved in those areas."

"As long as it’s a fair trade."

Factory Director Zhang readily agreed. That was already more than he could ask for.

An Ning left the office and went to the cafeteria for lunch. That afternoon, she continued her discussions with several technicians.

That evening, she once again received a meal from Jiang Xia, but this time, he delivered it in person.

The two of them stood in an alley not far from the guesthouse. An Ning glanced around.

"If I didn’t know you couldn’t beat me in a fight, I’d really think you were planning to rob and murder me."

"PFFT—where did you get an idea like that?"

Jiang Xia burst out laughing at An Ning’s comment.

"Do I look like I’m short on cash? You really underestimate me."

"It’s more likely you’d be robbing me."

Jiang Xia watched as An Ning seriously considered this for a moment, then took a step toward him.

"You’re right. I do want to rob you."

"I want the chef’s name and address."