Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

"The food’s pretty good, but you can’t really have it with drinks."

An Ning sounded rather troubled. She put on the air of an elder, saying, "Drinking is bad for your health. It can even affect your fertility—"

"I don’t drink!"

Li Chengze had a feeling that if he didn’t cut her off, An Ning was about to launch into a vivid lesson on genetics.

"Teacher An, I wasn’t planning on drinking. The thought never even crossed my mind. I think eating here is perfectly fine."

"Let’s just eat. I’m hungry."

To prove his point, Li Chengze shoveled a huge mouthful of rice into his mouth and ate with gusto.

An Ning blinked. Turning back to him, she said slowly, "There’s no need to be embarrassed, you know."

Li Chengze, his mouth stuffed with food, was once again rendered speechless by An Ning.

Fortunately, An Ning didn’t press the matter.

The two of them sat on the curb under the glaring sun, each with a boxed lunch, wolfing down their food.

After an overnight train ride, their clothes were wrinkled.

They gradually began to blend in perfectly with the temporary laborers working nearby.

One man, holding his own lunch box, even sat down next to them to make small talk.

"Where are you two working? Don’t think I saw you this morning."

"Working indoors somewhere?"

An Ning swallowed her food, radiating an air of simple, honest sincerity.

"And where do you work?"

"We’re up front, unloading cargo. On a good day, we can make a few bucks."

The man, an older fellow, spoke freely about his work.

An Ning chatted with him off and on until the man finished his meal and left.

Li Chengze, who was also nearly finished, watched the man’s retreating figure. "He seemed like a really nice guy. He told us everything."

"He’s a decent person, sure, but take a look at our builds."

An Ning flexed her wrist. "You and I don’t look like we do manual labor, no matter how you slice it. We’re not competition."

"Out in the world, you should never have the heart to harm others, but you can’t let your guard down, either."

"Just because someone opens up to you a little, don’t go spilling your guts to them. Got it?"

With a natural air of maturity, An Ning cleaned up her lunch box, tossed it into a nearby trash can, and got ready to check out the automobile factory.

Li Chengze stood up and followed, saying from behind her, "Teacher An, I’ll remember that."

An Ning, walking ahead, gave an almost imperceptible nod. Her posture radiated composure, but a smug little smile played on her lips.

’Being a teacher is great!’

’Especially when you have a student who’s smart and obedient. It’s a pretty great feeling.’

An Ning figured her own interstellar teachers must have felt the same way about her.

One walking behind the other, they arrived at the entrance to the automobile factory.

An Ning, moving with a practiced ease, found the gatekeeper and handed him a slip of paper.

"Sir, this is a pass from your Director Hu. He told me to come find him. Could you please let him know I’m here?"

The old man, who had been basking in the sun, shot up the moment he heard Director Hu’s name and took the paper from An Ning.

It was a sheet of white paper with the automobile factory’s letterhead. There were red lines at the top and bottom, and in the blank space between them, two lines were written in blue ink. In the bottom right corner was a signature, the official company seal, and Director Hu’s personal seal.

The level of importance this implied was clear at a glance.

"Please wait here a moment. There’s a stool you can use. I’ll go get someone for you."

"Right, and what’s your name?"

"I’m An Ning."

The old man nodded in understanding, then headed across the courtyard and into a large building.

He was in and out in less than a minute.

The old man came back out, smiling cheerfully. "I told someone, and he’s gone to get the director. It shouldn’t be long now."

"Where did you say you were from?"

"Sanhe Town."

An Ning’s answer wasn’t wrong, per se, it’s just that Sanhe Town wasn’t exactly a well-known place.

In fact, it wasn’t well-known at all.

But the old gatekeeper thought for a moment, then tapped his head. "Sanhe Town... I think I’ve heard of it. It’s in the Northeast, right?"

An Ning nodded but said no more.

Just then, several people came hurrying out of the building. Leading the group was Director Hu, whom An Ning had met before, along with Wang, who was accompanying him.

Seeing the commotion, the old man didn’t dare sit down again. With a backward kick, he sent the small stool flying several feet away.

"Comrade An Ning! Please forgive our poor reception, truly."

Director Hu came to a stop in front of An Ning. He didn’t offer his hand this time, but the warmth in his attitude was something the old gatekeeper had never seen before in his life.

’Just what are the origins of this young woman?’

’Could she be from Beijing?’

"Hello, Director Hu. I’ve come to tour your automobile factory. Afterward, I’ll begin the design work."

Her words were as simple and direct as ever, but to Director Hu’s ears, they were like music from the heavens.

’Finally, someone who actually gets things done has arrived!’

He loved this straightforward approach. It was so much better than all the people who just made empty promises and put on a big show.

Director Hu’s face was flushed with excitement. He rubbed his hands together incessantly and said to An Ning, "Welcome, welcome! A most hearty welcome!"

"Please, come in! I’ll give you the tour myself."

"Uncle Lin, remember Comrade An Ning. From now on, she is to have unrestricted access whenever she visits the factory."

The old man readily agreed to Director Hu’s instructions.

An Ning gave the old man a nod and, with Li Chengze in tow, entered the automobile factory.

As they walked, Director Hu constantly pointed out the surrounding buildings with one hand, explaining the function of each.

He also asked solicitously about her lodging arrangements.

"We came straight here, so we haven’t found a place to stay yet."

"Oh, right. This is Li Chengze, my probationary apprentice."

Li Chengze, standing behind her, didn’t mind the title at all. In fact, he felt that even being a probationary apprentice to An Ning was the highest honor.

"A pleasure to meet you, Director Hu."

Li Chengze extended his hand, and Director Hu, who had been eager for a handshake, finally got his wish.

"Heroes are born from the young! The future belongs to your generation."

"Comrade An Ning is a remarkable talent. Make sure you learn everything you can from her."

Li Chengze nodded seriously. "I will."

Director Hu had no intention of underestimating Li Chengze. If An Ning was as brilliant as he suspected, then her apprentice was bound to be extraordinary in the future as well.

As they continued on their way, Director Hu arranged for both An Ning’s and Li Chengze’s room and board.

The automobile factory had its own employee dormitories, so he arranged two single rooms for them, one for each.

An Ning had no objections.

’There isn’t much work to be done back in the village right now anyway,’ she thought. ’So this is a good chance to get out, build some connections, and make some money.’

’Once spring arrives and the flowers bloom, I won’t be able to leave the village for a long time.’

"This here is our number one workshop."

Director Hu gestured toward a large set of doors. Just as their group was about to step inside, a batch of people came out.

When Director Hu saw them, a single thought crossed his mind: ’Looks like I’ve run into the masters of the empty promise.’