Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

Factory Director Zhang returned to his office. The second half of the negotiation proceeded with surprising speed.

The translator was completely baffled.

’Did the director take some kind of super-pill while he was out? Why is he speaking so forcefully all of a sudden? It’s not that being forceful is bad, but... why?’

A negotiation that was supposed to take a full day, or even several, ended in just half a day.

When Factory Director Zhang pulled open the office door, Secretary Song, who was waiting outside, was astonished.

’Is it time for lunch already?’

”Xiao Song, please escort our friends to the hotel. Arrange their itinerary and be sure to entertain them thoroughly.”

”We are a nation of courtesy; we cannot neglect our guests.”

”Yes, Director.”

Secretary Song understood. His job was to arrange for their food, drink, and entertainment. No need to consider anything else, no need to be obsequious—just provide a normal, polite reception.

Secretary Song and the translator led the two short foreign guests away.

After watching them leave, a wave of nervousness washed over Factory Director Zhang.

He had staked everything on this.

”An Ning, let’s talk.”

”Alright.”

An Ning rose to her feet. Director Jin and Vice Factory Director Li followed behind her, each clutching several rolls of blueprints.

The four of them entered the office. Factory Director Zhang called a staff member over and told him to go find the technicians.

When the seven technicians arrived, Director Jin and Vice Factory Director Li were squeezed into a corner of the office, where they silently squatted down.

There simply weren’t any more chairs in the office!

And even if there were, the two men wouldn’t have dared to sit.

Inside the office, with An Ning at the center, everyone began talking at once, asking about the blueprints.

Initially, the seven technicians had been skeptical. But after each of them had spent more than half an hour examining a blueprint, this fierce discussion erupted.

”Don’t rush.”

An Ning was so crowded that she was nearly forced to stand on the desk.

Far from stopping them, Factory Director Zhang cleared all the documents off his desk, opening up a spacious area.

”An Ning, get up there.”

For the first time, a slightly dizzy An Ning was invited onto a desk. From her high perch, she looked down at everyone.

”Form a line. One question per person. If you have another question, go to the back of the line.”

The seven men below exchanged glances, then scrambled to be first, like a crowd fighting for tickets during the Spring Festival travel rush.

”Don’t push! You’ll damage the blueprints.”

Sure enough, An Ning’s words stopped the pushing instantly.

They obediently formed a line and began asking their questions one by one.

Seeing the seven men in an orderly line, An Ning sat down on the desk and began to answer their questions.

At some point, Factory Director Zhang had slipped over to the corner and was now squatting with the other two directors.

”What a beautiful sound, what a beautiful sight.”

Factory Director Zhang listened, utterly entranced.

The moment the seven men had started clamoring to ask questions, he knew his gamble had paid off.

He was so emotional he felt like crying!

Director Jin and Vice Factory Director Li were also deeply moved. Perhaps their feelings weren’t as intense as Factory Director Zhang’s, but all three shared a single thought: the mechanical factory and An Ning were now bound together.

The live Q&A session lasted from noon until evening.

Secretary Song had already returned from escorting the foreign guests.

When he pushed the door open and finally found the three directors in the corner, he knew at once that the young woman at the center of the room was not to be trifled with. She was incredibly important.

After all, she was the only person who could make three factory directors willingly squat in a corner.

Secretary Song was very perceptive. He quietly backed out, arranged for dinner, and asked the canteen to have a chef stay behind. When they finally finished, they would surely need to eat.

And when they did eat, he couldn’t just let them have leftovers.

As expected, by the time An Ning’s Q&A session concluded, it was already past eight o’clock in the evening.

Everyone’s stomach had long been growling with hunger.

But even though they were starving, no one had wanted it to end.

In the end, it was An Ning who decided to call a halt.

”Everyone, I’m hungry and I’d like to eat. I can stay tomorrow, so if you have more questions, we can continue then.”

”Okay!”

”No problem!”

”We should have eaten long ago!”

”Quick, is there still food in the canteen?”

”Why don’t you come to my place? My wife is an amazing cook.”

”My place is good too! My dad used to be a head chef.”

The seven men chimed in one after another, eagerly trying to invite An Ning to their homes for dinner.

”Ms. An, and everyone, the Director instructed me to arrange a meal at the canteen. The head chef has stayed behind and can whip up more dishes as you like.”

Secretary Song’s appearance greatly pleased Factory Director Zhang. ’Xiao Song really knows how to get things done.’ he thought.

The group, not wanting to part with the blueprints, left them in the office and instructed Secretary Song to lock the door securely.

Once the door was locked, the group headed toward the canteen, squeezing in several more questions along the way.

At the canteen, the head chef fired up the stove. Several dishes were already prepped and came out of the wok in no time.

Soon, a table was filled with steaming hot food.

Factory Director Zhang picked up a bowl from the table and filled it with water.

”Today, I’ll use water in place of wine. I want to thank An Ning for being here, and for your help.”

Factory Director Zhang spoke those two sentences with heartfelt sincerity.

For once, An Ning didn’t reject the gesture. She toasted with everyone and drank the bowl of water.

”Alright, let’s eat!”

Everyone started to eat.

The meal ended quickly. An Ning was full; the food had been quite good.

After eating, the seven technicians left first.

An Ning didn’t leave right away. Factory Director Zhang understood this meant she had something to discuss.

The group simply remained seated in the canteen. Aside from them, the place was empty; the head chef had left after finishing the cooking.

”An Ning, go ahead and speak.”

What followed was Factory Director Zhang’s first real taste of An Ning’s bluntness.

”Jiang Dongcheng stole three of my design schematics. I want him to publish a public apology in the newspaper, and I want the factory to dismiss him.”

”The people who helped Jiang Dongcheng must also be punished, for example, the director of the City Mechanical Factory.”

”As for the next director of the City Mechanical Factory, I would find Vice Factory Director Li acceptable. At the same time, I hope there can be a change in Director Jin’s position as well.”

After speaking, An Ning waited for Factory Director Zhang’s decision.

Factory Director Zhang was stunned by her directness. He had been in his position for so long that it had been ages since anyone had spoken to him so frankly.

”I will have to investigate the matters you’ve raised. As long as they’re true, everything you’ve asked for can be done.”

An Ning was reasonably satisfied with this result. She stood up.

”Good. I will stay here tomorrow to answer their questions. After you’ve resolved this, if you need new mechanical designs, you can come to me.”

An Ning’s words prompted a joking question from Factory Director Zhang. ”And if I don’t resolve it well, you won’t give us any more design blueprints?”

”That is correct. It’s not a threat, just a matter of preference.”

An Ning’s candid reply actually made Factory Director Zhang hope that everything she said was true.

”I will investigate this seriously.”

Factory Director Zhang still didn’t make any impulsive promises. A proper investigation was necessary.

An Ning nodded in understanding. ”Your attitude is correct, and your method is right.”

”See you tomorrow.”

With that, she turned and left without a moment’s hesitation.