Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

While chopping wood, An Ning secretly observed the polite Jiang Xia, making mental notes.

No wonder Lin Cuihua liked Jiang Xia so much.

It seemed like every elder who met Jiang Xia liked him a lot.

An Ning felt that this, too, was a kind of skill.

She had learned quite a few "life lessons" from being around Jiang Xia.

Over there, Jiang Xia felt An Ning’s gaze and straightened his back. He carried the groceries into the house, rolled up his sleeves, and immediately started to work.

As he worked, he gradually took over all the most difficult tasks.

After An Ning finished chopping the wood, before she could even go inside, she saw two people standing rigidly at the doorway.

An Guoming and An Guoping.

The two of them stood like Door Gods, one on the left and one on the right, arms crossed as they stared at the busy person in the kitchen.

An Guoming: ’That Jiang Xia kid is up to no good.’

An Guoping: ’Brother Jiang Xia is so capable.’

"What are you two doing?"

An Ning’s sudden appearance from behind startled them.

"Nothing, nothing. We’re not doing anything."

An Guoming replied with a goofy smile, looking a little guilty.

An Guoping, however, was genuinely clueless. "I was watching Brother Jiang Xia," he said, completely oblivious. "He’s really amazing."

"Sis, look! Brother Jiang Xia is cooking. It looks delicious."

An Guoping’s bluntness made An Guoming shoot him a covert glance, worrying inwardly.

’My little brother’s guard is way too low.’

He felt it was necessary to teach An Guoping a lesson.

Standing between the two of them, An Ning was even more confused.

She squeezed between them and craned her neck to look.

She was just in time to see Jiang Xia preparing a black carp. A cleaver spun nimbly in his hands. In no time, the fish’s skin and flesh showed no obvious change, but when Jiang Xia lifted it, the meat fanned out downwards without falling off.

"That’s just incredible."

"This isn’t ’knowing a little,’ this is being an expert!"

Lin Cuihua, who was helping out nearby, was grinning from ear to ear. The more she looked at Jiang Xia, the more she liked what she saw.

Even her previous fears about him stealing An Ning away had faded considerably.

’Actually, Jiang Xia is pretty great.’

Holding the fish by its tail, Jiang Xia gave a modest smile, laid the fish flat, and began to marinate it.

"Mine just looks fancy. When it comes to eating, I still prefer the fish pot pie you make, Auntie. That’s what’s truly delicious."

One praised, the other smiled; the atmosphere in the kitchen was perfectly harmonious.

An Guoqing came in from outside carrying a prepared chicken. He stood behind the three of them and said, "This is the first time I’ve ever seen Mom so happy while cooking."

"I remember she usually has to cuss out Second Brother while cooking. How come she hasn’t this time?"

At An Guoqing’s words, An Ning and An Guoping, who were in front, snickered. An Guoming rolled his eyes dramatically.

An Guoming stepped aside to make room for An Guoqing and said gloomily, "Don’t just talk about me. You’ve gotten your fair share of scoldings too."

An Guoqing was carrying a whole frozen chicken, its two wings and two feet splayed out.

As he walked past An Guoming, the chicken suddenly loomed up from below, right in An Guoming’s face.

"AH—"

An Guoming slid down the doorframe, nearly collapsing onto the floor.

An Guoqing walked into the kitchen with a straight face and said over his shoulder, "Second Brother, the chicken’s already dead. No need to be scared."

An Guoqing spoke smugly, but before a smile could even form on his face, Lin Cuihua smacked him on the back.

"Hush now! It’s the New Year, don’t say such unlucky things."

"Hurry up and chop the chicken. And you three at the door, if you can’t help, then get out. Don’t cause trouble in here."

"A bunch of able-bodied adults, and you still can’t compare to one Jiang Xia."

With just a few words from Lin Cuihua, the siblings scattered—those who were supposed to leave, left, and the one who was supposed to chop the chicken went to chop the chicken.

An Ning stood in the courtyard, momentarily unsure of what she should do.

"Little Sis, want to go ice skating?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Okay!"

An Ning was very interested in any new activity she could experience.

She saw An Guoming grab two woven sacks and call her over. The three of them went out the main gate.

An Ning followed An Guoming and An Guoping to the riverbank, but there weren’t many people ice skating.

After asking around, they learned that thanks to the recent heavy snow, everyone had gone sledding instead.

The three of them changed plans on the spot and headed for the slope at the foot of the mountain.

The moment they arrived, they were hit by a wave of lively energy.

Whoops and hollers, the laughter of children and adults—everyone was gathered together having fun.

An Ning felt a little excited.

She watched a child sitting on a burlap sack at the top of the slope. With a gentle push, they shot down the hill at high speed, sliding all the way to the flat ground below.

"Second Brother?"

"Here you go."

An Guoming understood and handed the woven sack to An Ning, who took it and ran up the hill.

An Guoping was about to follow her but was pulled back by An Guoming.

However, there was a huge difference in their strength. An Guoming was dragged forward by An Guoping, stumbling and almost doing a face-plant.

An Guoping turned around and asked doubtfully, "Second Brother, with a physique like yours, I really have to wonder, how did you even manage to do business in the south?"

"Nonsense. Business is about brains."

An Guoming brushed the snow off his clothes and said, "Besides, if you want to know how to fight, you first have to learn how to take a punch. Got it?"

An Guoping nodded in sudden realization.

"So you’re saying you were the one getting beaten up before?"

An Guoming’s expression turned a little awkward. He refused to answer the question.

"The past is the past. Don’t you know Little Sis sent me some backup? From now on, getting beaten up has nothing to do with me."

An Guoming pulled An Guoping aside. "Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. I need to have a word with you."

An Guoping was obedient enough to stay put and wait.

An Guoming considered his words. ’But how should I put it?’

’Is Jiang Xia outstanding? Absolutely.’

’Is Jiang Xia good to An Ning? From what I’ve seen, he’s given her the greatest help whenever she’s needed it.’

’Is Jiang Xia good-looking? Without a doubt.’

For a moment, An Guoming felt like he was convincing himself. How was he supposed to warn An Guoping now?

"Second Brother, what did you want to say?"

An Guoping’s mouth asked the question, but his eyes had already drifted over to An Ning.

At that moment, An Ning spread out the woven sack and sat near the back edge, gripping the front of it tightly. With a little push...

"WHOOSH—"

"HAHAHA—"

Her hearty laughter echoed all the way down the slope. An Ning felt the wind whistling past her ears. The biting air pierced her lungs and shot straight to her brain, a thrilling jolt.

’Thrilling!’

’Exhilarating!’

Reaching the bottom, An Ning sprang to her feet. She grabbed her woven sack, letting it swing from her hand as she scrambled back up the side path, using both her hands and feet.

’Again!’

Down below, An Guoping had been itching to go. "Second Brother, we can talk later!" he said anxiously. "I’m going up!"

An Guoping shook off An Guoming’s hand and charged up the hill with big strides.

Left behind, An Guoming decided to forget about the talk. He’d have some fun first and worry about it later.