Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

An Ning looked at the truck full of books, then at Director Hu, who was enjoying the spectacle.

"Is this all?"

Director Hu, whose mouth was halfway into a smirk, found his expression freezing into a stunned "O."

"Huh?"

"Is there more? I like them, but it’s a bit on the small side."

Under Director Hu’s disbelieving gaze, An Ning easily hopped onto the truck, gave a jaunty wave, and said, "Goodbye."

It was only when the truck was far in the distance that Director Hu finally snapped out of it.

"Is she just being stubborn and refusing to admit defeat, or does she really think it’s not enough?"

Real or fake, Director Hu found it hard to tell.

With the help of someone from the auto factory, An Ning successfully got her half-truckload of books, notebooks, and stationery onto the train.

As for that mountain of books, it was stored in the freight car, setting off on the journey right along with An Ning.

Soft sleeper, top bunk.

An Ning’s journey back to Sanhe Town was safe and uneventful.

After getting off the train, she took a claim ticket and a handcart, making two trips back and forth to retrieve all her goods and pile them at the station entrance.

Just as she was thinking about finding someone to watch her things while she made a phone call, a familiar person appeared.

"An Ning?"

"Yin Xuemei?"

An Ning was a bit surprised, but seeing Yin Xuemei wearing an apron reminded her of something.

She sold tea eggs at the station entrance.

"You’re back! Need to make a call? I can watch your things for you."

An Ning looked behind Yin Xuemei but didn’t see the tea egg stall.

"I sold out. I was just about to pack up."

Hearing this, An Ning didn’t stand on ceremony. She dashed off to call the village and tell An Guoqing to come pick her up with the tractor.

When she returned from her call, she saw Yin Xuemei standing guard over the pile of goods, holding a large cleaver.

But there was no one near her.

This scene made An Ning realize it wasn’t easy for a woman to run a business on her own out here.

"I’m back. Thanks. If you’re not in a hurry, you can wait with me. My big brother is coming with the tractor."

When Yin Xuemei saw An Ning, she smiled sheepishly, lifted a corner of her cotton-padded jacket, and slid the cleaver into a sheath at the small of her back.

"With a cleaver, people think twice before causing trouble."

What Yin Xuemei didn’t say was that when she first started her business, no one paid her any mind; everyone was just feeling their way forward and figuring things out as they went.

But when her business started doing well, the way everyone looked at her changed.

On several occasions, it was only by acting like she had nothing to lose—grabbing her cleaver and chasing someone down—that she gradually established her footing here.

An Ning gave a warm smile. "You’re doing great. Being able to protect yourself is the most important thing."

Receiving An Ning’s affirmation, Yin Xuemei gave a knowing and happy smile.

The people around, men and women alike, didn’t dare bully her anymore, but every day they would whisper and point fingers at her behind her back.

They said she’d never get married, that she was too fierce, not a proper woman.

But Yin Xuemei didn’t care. She was living a happy life.

She could afford to eat one tea egg and throw another away—though of course, she would never do that.

"I’ll wait with you for a bit."

Yin Xuemei liked being with An Ning. She felt she could learn from An Ning’s confidence.

The two sat and chatted, and An Ning learned that people were talking about Yin Xuemei behind her back.

"Let me tell you, if they’re talking behind your back, just let them talk. You just live your own good life and let them stew in their anger."

"The better your life is, the angrier they get, and the nastier their words become. That just goes to show, when they’re being nasty, they’re already at the end of their rope."

Yin Xuemei nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining with respect.

The two talked, not even noticing the time pass.

When An Guoqing arrived, An Ning was a little surprised and asked, "How did you get here so fast?"

An Guoqing’s brain stalled for a second. "Should I go back and try again, then?"

That left An Ning at a loss for words.

"Big Brother, let’s just get the stuff and go home."

"That’s what I said, go home. You’re the one who complained I was too fast."

An Guoqing grumbled, and An Ning lowered her head, embarrassed, and started moving things with a chuckle.

"Yin Xuemei, you don’t have to help move this, it’s too heavy."

"It’s fine. I’ll just take a little. I can manage a regular load."

By herself, Yin Xuemei lifted a packed box of books, completely taking An Ning by surprise.

’So everyone is making progress.’

The Yin Xuemei from before didn’t have this much strength. But from pushing a handcart by herself for dozens of miles back and forth every day to sell her goods, she had inevitably built up some muscle.

After everything was loaded, An Ning and Yin Xuemei sat in the tractor’s trailer, using the boxes of books as stools.

"An Ning, did you register for the college entrance exam?"

"I did."

An Ning explained that An Guoping had registered for her. Yin Xuemei was just as happy as the An family was.

Her eyes filled with joy as she said, "You’ll definitely get into the best university."

An Ning smiled faintly. "You will too. After all, I’m such a good teacher."

The two of them laughed out loud. Their clear laughter echoed on the country road before being scattered by the roar of the tractor.

The tractor ambled slowly into the village. They went to the Educated Youth Point first, where An Ning helped Yin Xuemei carry all her tea egg equipment inside.

"Are all the educated youth at the point able to go back home now?"

"I guess so. There are no restrictions on our freedom of movement, but without a job, what’s there to go back to?"

Yin Xuemei took off her gloves and hat. "The few of us who are left are all planning to give it our all this year. If we don’t pass the exam, we’ll have no choice but to go back. We’re really not cut out for farming."

An Ning nodded and said to Yin Xuemei, "Class is on as usual tomorrow."

"Okay!"

Yin Xuemei saw An Ning out. An Ning hopped on the tractor, waved to her, and headed for the An family home. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The tractor hadn’t even reached the An family’s gate when Da Huang from next door came running out.

Right after, her little brother, Lin Cuihua, and Jiang Xia all ran out too.

"Sis, you’re finally back!"

"Why were you gone for so long?"

Lin Cuihua stood beside the tractor and held out a hand.

An Ning obliged her, placing her hand in Lin Cuihua’s and jumping down from the tractor.

"A few more things came up, so I stayed a little longer."

"Little Brother, unload the stuff."

An Guoping obediently got to work.

"Sis, are these books or bricks? They’re so heavy."

"Books, of course. Why would I be hauling bricks?"

Holding a box of books, An Guoping muttered under his breath, "It’s not like you haven’t hauled them before."

An Ning shot him a look, and An Guoping, still holding the books, quickened his pace and carried them all into An Ning’s room.

Nearby, Jiang Xia also came forward to help.

"Your timing is pretty good."

An Ning teased him. Jiang Xia, noticing it was just the two of them, said with his typical proud air, "You’re just lucky. I was coming after my Da Huang."

"WOOF!"

Da Huang barked loudly, its gaze fixed resentfully on Jiang Xia’s... butt.

"WHIMPER—"

It felt wronged. Its butt hurt.