Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

An Ning was about to leave, but remembering the girl’s kindness, she walked over anyway.

"Where are you going?"

The girl was surprised to see An Ning.

"What a coincidence!"

The beggar across from the girl bowed in thanks and left. The girl put away her wallet and smiled sweetly at An Ning.

"Where are you going?"

"The Provincial Machinery Factory."

An Ning saw the girl cover her mouth with one hand, her eyes full of disbelief, and so she asked:

"Are you going there, too?"

The girl nodded frantically, with the exaggeration of someone who had just seen a mirage.

"How can it be such a coincidence? We’re really fated to meet."

An Ning simply replied, "You should put your wallet away. It’s not very safe here."

"Huh?"

The girl looked at her wallet, a corner of which was sticking out of her coat pocket, shrugged, and said nonchalantly, "It’s fine. If someone really takes it, it must be because they need it."

An Ning was caught off guard by this point of view.

’A thief... needs it?’

’What do they need? To improve their performance stats?’

An Ning wasn’t denying that many were forced into it by their circumstances. But a large portion of them were simply bad people.

"Well, do as you please. I’m going now."

An Ning didn’t want any more involvement with the girl; their values were too different.

"Hey, wait."

The girl caught up to An Ning and explained with a smile, "It’s not that I’m naive. I just feel that losing a little money is worth it if it can help someone who might be in urgent need."

"I’ve lost several wallets already, but whenever I think of it this way, I don’t get angry at all."

"We should look on the bright side of things, you know? It makes life happier."

An Ning, who was walking ahead, could not bring herself to agree.

She just asked a single question.

"You come from a good family, don’t you?"

"It’s alright. Why?"

The girl didn’t understand.

An Ning said no more and continued walking toward the bus stop.

The girl followed, confused. More importantly, that was her bus stop too.

When the two of them reached the bus stop, the bus hadn’t arrived yet. The girl stood next to An Ning.

"What did you mean by your question just now? Are you in trouble? I can help you."

An Ning frowned, turning her head to look at the sincere and worried girl.

She took a deep breath.

"I’m not in trouble."

"You’re right. Looking on the bright side is how people live happily."

"But you only develop an eye for beauty when your own financial situation allows for it."

"Most importantly, you only have the right to give away money that you’ve earned yourself."

Just as An Ning finished speaking, the bus arrived.

They both got on the bus and got off at the same stop, but they headed in different directions.

At an intersection, the girl finally spoke up again.

"I don’t think you’re right. I can’t choose my background, but even if I were poor, I would still be positive and optimistic. Your attitude in life depends on you, not on external things."

An Ning watched the girl and said slowly, "If you can really do that, I’ll be very impressed, and I’ll apologize for what I said today."

"Goodbye."

An Ning left without a backward glance. The girl behind her also turned and walked away.

An Ning went to the machinery factory and got in without any obstruction. She was personally received by Factory Director Zhang.

In the office, there was a fruit platter, a tray of nuts, tea, and even a bottle of orange-flavored soda.

Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought they’d stumbled into the wrong place.

An Ning glanced down, then looked up and asked, "Director Zhang, just get straight to the point. I have to make a trip to Jin City, so my time is limited."

"Ah, yes, yes. My apologies."

Factory Director Zhang apologized sheepishly.

"It’s like this. You know how our factory produced a new batch of vehicles? The quality is excellent, and they’re being sold far and wide overseas."

"Building on that success, we’ve received a batch of orders to produce gears."

"The thing is, we haven’t accepted them yet because there are some technical specifications we can’t meet. But it’s such a huge amount of foreign currency... it would be a real shame to give it up."

An Ning understood. They needed her to research something new.

"Foreign currency is money from foreigners, right?"

"Right!"

With that one "Right!", An Ning stood up and said, "Let’s not waste any time. Earning other people’s money is all the more satisfying."

"What are their requirements? If we improve the quality by a tier, can we sell it for a higher price?"

"Since it’s foreign currency, what’s the exchange rate with our local currency?"

Along the way, An Ning’s questions were all focused on how much money they could make and whether they could make more.

Factory Director Zhang was amused by this side of An Ning, and he naturally began to relax.

’She can definitely do it.’

The two arrived at a workshop specializing in parts production. An Ning took the client’s requirements and inspected the current equipment. They weren’t just a little bit off; the gap was enormous.

"Director Zhang, you were being modest. We’re far from meeting the requirements."

Factory Director Zhang didn’t feel the least bit discouraged. On the contrary, he liked that An Ning said "we."

"Can it be solved?"

"Yes."

An Ning stayed.

What should have been a trip of a few days ended up lasting half a month.

In that half-month, An Ning solved the problem with the foreign-exchange parts, developed a new set of machine tools, and trained the staff on the new techniques.

When she left the Provincial Machinery Factory, Factory Director Zhang was extremely reluctant to see her go.

"An Ning, you must come visit often in the future."

"That’s unlikely. I’m going to be farming when I get back."

Factory Director Zhang was dumbfounded. Of all the possible answers, he had never expected that one.

He chose his words carefully and asked, "An Ning, forgive my bluntness, but with your talent, isn’t it a bit of a waste to go home and farm?"

"Not at all. I get better inspiration when I’m working in the fields."

Realization dawned on Factory Director Zhang. He said quickly, "Then working in the fields is for the best! Yes, the fields are good."

"Hey, so... does any plot of land work?"

"As long as I can work on it, it’s fine."

Factory Director Zhang nodded, taking note of this.

An Ning wasted no more time. A dedicated car was arranged to take her to the station, and she headed straight for Jin City.

After An Ning left, the first order Factory Director Zhang gave wasn’t to start full-speed production to meet the deadline, but to clear uncultivated land.

Secretary Song, notebook in hand, froze in the office. For the first time, he unprofessionally had to ask a second time.

"Director, what did you say?"

"I said, arrange for people to clear some land. A large plot, at least ten mu."

"If there isn’t a space that large on the factory grounds, then find one nearby. The closer, the better."

"This is the top priority. It’s related to our long-term development."

"Yes, sir."

Secretary Song left the office with his little notebook and started making arrangements.

Thus began the era of a machinery factory that made land reclamation its top priority.

At that moment, An Ning had no idea that because of her one comment about getting inspiration from farm work, countless factories were about to start clearing land.

She took the train, arriving in Jin City in a daze.

After working overtime for half a month straight, even she was a little exhausted.

An Ning had just gotten off the train, and the bright sun overhead made it hard for her to open her eyes.

"Stop him!"