Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

The moment Director Hu’s voice fell, the trio in suits lit up, as if they’d been pumped full of energy.

’Someone’s coming?’

’Great!’

’This is just perfect!’

An Ning noticed the shift in their demeanor but asked nonchalantly, "What meeting?"

"Well, how should I put this..."

Director Hu looked troubled as he explained, apparently not entirely confident in An Ning himself.

This expression made the trio in suits even more delighted.

They were secretly gloating.

"Because our current technology can’t keep up, they sent three instructors to guide us on some technical matters."

Director Hu gave the trio in suits a subtle glance and continued speaking.

"The meeting the day after tomorrow will be a technical discussion, where some blueprints will be brought out for review."

"Experts from Beijing and some foreign personnel will be in attendance."

An Ning nodded in understanding. A troubled look flickered across her face, but it was gone in an instant.

But that fleeting look of difficulty didn’t escape Brother Jun.

In that instant, Brother Jun’s spirits soared.

’She’s scared after all.’

’Our strategy was right.’

"Okay, I’ll head back this afternoon and try drawing something up."

An Ning agreed, and the tour resumed.

For the rest of the tour, Brother Jun completely let himself go.

He laid the praise on so thick that An Ning began to wonder if he was genuinely a crazed fan.

The other two men in suits watched in confusion as Brother Jun rambled on enthusiastically.

’Did Brother Jun secretly study last night?’

’He must have been looking through a dictionary.’

As noon approached, Director Hu took the three men in suits to welcome the people attending the meeting.

Meanwhile, An Ning took Li Chengze to their assigned office and started to draw.

From the moment she entered to the moment she finished, the whole process took less than an hour.

After finishing the design plans for an engine, An Ning sat leisurely on a chair and said to the dumbfounded Li Chengze, "We’ve been touring for so long. Do you have any new ideas?"

"I... guess so."

"If you have them, you have them. If you don’t, you don’t. What’s this ’I guess so’?"

Li Chengze tore his eyes from the design plans and said sheepishly, "I do have some ideas, but they’re nothing compared to yours, Teacher. They’re not good enough to show."

"I’m too embarrassed to draw them."

An Ning sat up straight and looked at Li Chengze.

"Li Chengze, if you already knew everything I know, would you still need to learn from me?"

"Why are you comparing yourself to me?"

Li Chengze scratched his head, then smacked it lightly.

"I’m so stupid!"

Li Chengze took out a piece of paper and slowly began to prepare.

An Ning watched for a while. His fundamentals were solid. She wasn’t in a hurry to critique, deciding to wait until he was finished.

"I’m stepping out for a bit. You can draw on your own."

"Okay, Teacher."

An Ning took her sheet of paper and walked out of the office.

She didn’t linger in the factory, choosing instead to go out and explore.

When An Ning reached the main gate, she caught the attention of the old man there. She took the opportunity to ask him about fun places and good food in Jin City.

"You’ve asked the right person! I’m an Old Jin City native; I know all the places."

"Let me tell you, you should go to..." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The old man gave her detailed addresses and routes, recommending several authentic little eateries and a few pastry shops.

An Ning thanked him and left by bus.

After the bus arrived downtown, An Ning got off. She wasn’t in a hurry to find the places the old man had recommended, so she started to wander around by herself.

At the same time, Jiang Xia had also arrived in the city center.

In a quaint, antique teahouse facing the street, Jiang Xia sat on a wooden chair, dressed in a moon-white Tang suit, his posture graceful and his presence that of an unparalleled gentleman.

His slender, pale fingers held a cyan-colored teacup as he sipped his tea and enjoyed the view.

The simple act of drinking tea was elevated into a priceless, artistic scene.

After a moment, a middle-aged man wearing a Tang suit appeared. Jiang Xia put down his teacup and rose.

"Master Tang."

"Mr. Jiang."

The two exchanged traditional courtesies and invited each other to sit.

Jiang Xia lightly pushed back the sleeve at his wrist and poured tea for the man opposite him.

"This is a high-grade Biluochun. I hope it is to your liking?"

"Thank you."

The middle-aged man was very reserved, showing no emotion.

Jiang Xia was as steady as a rock, not the least bit anxious.

The two spoke in veiled terms, seemingly discussing tea, but not really talking about tea at all.

When An Ning came up the small staircase to the second floor, she sat down behind Jiang Xia, their backs directly to each other.

Neither of them noticed the other.

An Ning had simply finished most of her wandering, found a pastry shop that was said to be the most authentic, and came in.

That’s right, the most authentic pastry shop was inside a teahouse.

"Master Tang, you jest."

Jiang Xia’s unique voice reached An Ning’s ears.

An Ning couldn’t be sure. That voice... was too proper.

Unable to resist, she used her spiritual power to identify him. For a second, she thought she’d run into Jiang Xia’s twin brother.

But upon closer inspection, it really was him.

An Ning figured that the person who could make Jiang Xia dress and act like this must be someone extraordinary.

She withdrew her spiritual power. Tapping a finger on the menu, she didn’t speak, simply ordering a pot of tea and four plates of pastries.

"Please wait a moment. Your tea will be ready soon."

An Ning nodded, still not saying a word.

If she spoke, Jiang Xia would definitely recognize her voice. It wouldn’t do if he got distracted because of her and revealed a flaw in his act.

An Ning was amused by her own thoughts. It seemed she had automatically assumed Jiang Xia was trying to pull a fast one on someone.

After a short while, An Ning’s tea and pastries arrived.

She took a sip of tea and almost spat it right back out.

Fortunately, her self-control was excellent, and she managed to swallow it.

An Ning put down her teacup, making a mental note to never order Pu’er tea again.

She really didn’t have the taste for it.

Since the tea was a lost cause, she decided to just eat the pastries.

Luckily, the pastries were truly delicious.

At that moment, behind her, Jiang Xia and Master Tang were in the middle of a very pleasant conversation.

"I never thought that in this day and age, I would meet someone like you, Mr. Jiang. It’s truly rare."

"The honor is all mine to be able to make your acquaintance, Master Tang."

Jiang Xia was impeccably polite. When Master Tang asked him who else was in his family, Jiang Xia replied, "My parents passed away early. My grandfather is my only living elder."

"At home, we also have Housekeeper Huang, who is in charge of the household’s security."

A bite of pastry got stuck in An Ning’s throat, caught halfway.

’Housekeeper Huang... Da Huang?’

’Both parents dead? Is it really okay to say something like that so casually?’

But she hadn’t expected that it wasn’t over. Jiang Xia was still talking.

"Besides Housekeeper Huang, there is also a younger cousin staying with us. I’ve hired a special teacher to tutor him."

"It’s not easy for the boy, being all alone."

An Ning, her back to them, never imagined she would get dragged into this.

But on second thought, what Jiang Xia said wasn’t exactly wrong.

Right now, she was incredibly curious about who this Master Tang was, that he was worth Jiang Xia going to such great lengths.

"Rest assured, Master Tang, my family situation is simple, and everyone gets along very well."

"I wonder, what are your thoughts, Master Tang?"