Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

An Ning once again found a random corner and hunkered down for the night.

Thankfully, it was summer, so spending the night outside wasn’t too cold, though there were mosquitoes.

The next morning, Director Zhu went to work again. At the same time as before, he came back out and went to his mistress’s house.

This was the moment An Ning had been waiting for. She immediately went to find Director Zhu’s wife.

She grabbed a handful of dirt and smeared it on her face, then messed up her hair until she was unrecognizable.

With her head down and back bent, looking terrified, she found Director Zhu’s wife and timidly handed her a slip of paper.

"Someone told me to give this to you."

Director Zhu’s wife took it instinctively, but before she could even ask a question, the little beggar in front of her had already run off.

She opened the note, and her breathing instantly grew heavy.

Zhu Jianping, how dare he!

The woman was naturally formidable, and Zhu Jianping was a typical case of someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong. His wife’s family was well-off; if Zhu Jianping hadn’t been reasonably good-looking back then, he never would have had the chance to marry her.

Director Zhu’s wife immediately rounded up her whole clan of aunts and cousins and stormed off to the address on the note.

An Ning followed from the shadows. After seeing them find the right address and kick the door in, she very helpfully called over a crowd of people.

In an instant, the alleyway became incredibly lively.

The narrow alley filled with the sounds of crying and cursing, a scene of utter chaos.

Her mission accomplished and identity hidden, An Ning turned her back to the alley, her mood finally starting to improve.

’It’s about time to head home.’

’Vengeance is truly a dish best served by oneself.’

But before going home, An Ning took something with her to visit Director Li.

The textile factory, in the director’s office.

"When did you get here? Are you by yourself?"

"Yes, I came alone. I have a small matter to trouble you with, Director Li."

Director Li, sitting behind his desk, looked up in some surprise. "You sound a little different," he said, looking at An Ning.

"Don’t be so formal. Just speak your mind."

On the other side of the desk, An Ning smiled faintly and first presented a set of blueprints.

"Director Li, since ancient times, fair exchange has always been the principle. You’ve helped me so many times, so this is my repayment."

Director Li stared at the thick stack of paper on his desk, not knowing what expression to make.

It was the first time anyone had ever tried to bribe him with paper.

It wasn’t that he wanted anything; he just found An Ning’s method very interesting.

"Let me see what this is."

Greatly intrigued, Director Li opened the notebook.

It was a large notebook of plain white paper. From the side, he could see it was filled with writing and showed signs of use.

"Please," An Ning said.

An Ning leaned back a little in her chair, resting against the backrest, looking perfectly at ease.

Director Li opened the notebook’s cover. A four-word title written in large characters jumped out at him.

"Needle-Punch Non-Woven Technology."

The four words made Director Li look up. He saw An Ning give him a calm smile and a nod.

Director Li looked down and turned to the next page, where there was an explanation.

"Staple fibers are opened, carded, and laid into a web. The web is then reinforced by needle-punching to create cloth, yielding a series of products like needle-punched non-woven fabric."

Just that brief description was enough for Director Li to give it his utmost attention.

He continued to flip through the pages, each one more engrossing than the last, even though he didn’t fully understand everything he was seeing.

Each of the following pages contained full diagrams and exploded-view drawings, all marked with precise measurements. Every page screamed that this wasn’t some fantasy, but a tangible reality that could be built.

"An Ning, this... did you make this?"

"Yes."

An Ning nodded, leaning forward from the back of her chair. "Director Li, you helped me out a great deal last time."

Director Li was at a loss for words. How could the little help he’d given possibly compare to what was in front of him now!

"How did you come up with this?"

"Have you forgotten, Director Li? I toured the textile factory and spoke with several of the master craftsmen. I just went home, thought about it, and drew it up."

Director Li was screaming internally. ’Just went home and drew it up’—what a way to put it.

’Is this something a person can just draw up?!’

No, that wasn’t right. A person could draw this.

But it wasn’t something a person could draw up in a short time after just a brief tour of a factory.

Director Li closed the notebook and looked at An Ning, asking once again, "Do you want to come work at the textile factory?"

"Don’t be hasty. I’m telling you, if you come, you’ll get the same salary as me. You don’t even have to come to work normally. Just show up when a machine breaks down or when you have a new idea."

"What do you say?"

An Ning gave a polite smile and shook her head.

"Thank you, Director Li, but I really can’t."

Director Li was genuinely disappointed.

"However—"

"However what? I’ll agree to anything!"

Looking at Director Li, who seemed even more anxious than she was, An Ning asked sheepishly, "I actually have another favor to ask you. Is now a good time to bring it up?"

"Hah, of course! Go ahead."

"I’d like you to help me keep an ear out for news about Zhu Jianping from the bag factory. Whether it’s good or bad, just give me a call. But don’t do anything; I only want the information."

Director Li wasn’t an ordinary person; he was a factory director, after all.

"Alright. I’ll definitely keep an eye on this for you. Is there anything else?"

’Anything else?’

An Ning thought for a moment. Thinking of her second older brother at home, she realized there was indeed something else.

"Director Li, I’d like to arrange for my second brother to learn how to drive. It would be best if he could apprentice under a driver, get out on the road, and see a bit of the world. I was wondering if you could arrange that?"

Director Li didn’t even have to think about it before agreeing. "No problem. Just have your second brother come over when you get back. We have vehicles at the textile factory. We’ll have him learn from one of the drivers, run some routes. It’s a small matter."

For Director Li, this wasn’t just doing a favor; it was an opportunity. It was a good way to build a connection with An Ning.

"Then I’ll thank you in advance. However, my second brother took a fall the day before yesterday and got a little injured. He’ll need to recover before he can come. I’ll give you a call then."

Director Li asked a few concerned questions. The two didn’t exchange too many pleasantries before he personally walked An Ning out of the textile factory.

After watching An Ning walk away, Director Li ran straight back to his office, grabbed his secretary, and headed for the machinery factory.

Whether the machine would work well or not was a question for later. First, he had to find out if the machinery factory could even build it.

Director Li quickly arrived at the machinery factory. He was very familiar with the place and went straight to find the director and their only Level 8 worker.

"So? Can you build it?"

Director Li craned his neck, looking from side to side, but the two men studying the blueprints wore grave expressions. What did that mean?

"Say something, you two. Can it be done or not? Just give me an answer."

The machinery factory’s director looked up at Director Li and asked, "Where did you get these blueprints?"

"Never mind where I got them. Can you make it?"

"Yes!"

The Level 8 worker’s "Yes!" was resolute. He was even more eager than his own director as he asked, "Who gave you these blueprints?!"

"They’re incredibly professional."

Having finally gotten his affirmative answer, Director Li breathed a sigh of relief and said to the Level 8 worker:

"It was the young lady who saved your grandson."