Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

Meeting Jiang Xia’s expectant gaze, An Ning said, ”You used to be pretty handsome, too.”

Having said her piece, An Ning quickened her pace down the mountain.

Jiang Xia, who was behind her, was happy at first. But when he saw An Ning’s fleeing steps, he realized something.

’Our game was ”try to lie”...’

’So... ”you’re so handsome” means I’m not handsome?’

Jiang Xia watched An Ning’s retreating back, which radiated mischief. He smiled dotingly and chased after her, calling out.

”Hey, that’s not how you play!”

”There’s no way I’m not handsome!”

”Let me tell you, with looks like mine... if you go back several generations in my family tree, you won’t find anyone as handsome as me, okay?”

Jiang Xia chattered on as he caught up to An Ning. The two of them followed the small path back to the village.

They bickered the whole way.

”By the way, how did you know I was at the teacher’s place?”

”Yours truly is just smart.”

Jiang Xia continued, ”You didn’t come out for a run this morning, and yesterday your second brother mentioned the teacher was looking for you, so I thought I’d come check.”

”Thank you, Jiang Xia.”

”Cut that out. Just tell me I’m handsome. That’s more useful than a ’thank you’.”

An Ning, who had been genuinely grateful, immediately put on a troubled expression. ”I don’t know about that,” she said, looking conflicted.

”You little— An Ning—”

Jiang Xia chased after An Ning. She ran ahead, looking back to taunt him, ”Always in second place! You can’t catch me!”

Jiang Xia, behind her, was so provoked by An Ning’s smug look that he grimaced with effort. If his face could run instead of his legs, he probably would have been in first place already.

The two of them cut through the path on the mountain. Just as they were about to reach the village, they stopped.

”I’ll go first.”

Jiang Xia finally passed An Ning and headed down the mountain ahead of her.

An Ning stopped a short distance away. Watching Jiang Xia walk off, she called out, ”Actually, you really are pretty handsome.”

Jiang Xia, his back still to An Ning, broke into a grin that nearly reached his ears. But he didn’t turn around. He just coolly raised a hand, gave a little wave without looking back, and sauntered off.

An Ning didn’t see his expression. She waited in place for a moment and said, ”My, aren’t we confident.”

She didn’t go home, instead heading back up the mountain.

After walking for more than half an hour, she met up with Hei Niu, with whom she had agreed yesterday to go hunting on the mountain today.

Hei Niu was carrying a machete, a self-made bow and arrow, and a basket on her back. Seeing An Ning empty-handed, she glanced behind her inquisitively.

”You came by yourself?”

”Did we need anyone else?”

Hei Niu shook her head. ”No, I mean you came empty-handed.”

An Ning held up her two hands. ”These are enough.”

Under Hei Niu’s doubtful gaze, the two of them began their hunt for the day.

Hei Niu was actually very skilled. Her aim with the bow and arrow was exceptionally precise; she almost never missed.

However, when the day’s hunt was over, Hei Niu stared at An Ning, unable to calm down for a long time.

”So all this time, you’ve been using tools just to limit your own strength!”

Having personally witnessed An Ning hunt by casually picking up a rock or a piece of wood, Hei Niu wasn’t scared, nor was she hurt that her friend had hidden this from her. Instead, she was intensely curious.

An Ning gave Hei Niu a sly grin and said with false modesty, ”Just messing around.”

”Oh, get outta here!”

After Hei Niu said that, An Ning grinned again. The sound of their hearty laughter echoed through the forest.

”Seriously though, how long did it take you to master a skill like that?”

An Ning didn’t answer directly, asking Hei Niu instead, ”How long have you been practicing with your bow and arrow?”

”Ever since I could walk.”

An Ning admired Hei Niu’s dedication. She explained, ”My family is naturally strong, and I have good aim. That’s how I can achieve this effect.”

Hei Niu instantly understood what An Ning was getting at. She waved her hand dismissively. ”I’m not going to learn your thing. I’m fine just mastering my bow and arrow. I get it, don’t bite off more than you can chew.”

An Ning made a fist and gave Hei Niu a light punch on the shoulder. ”I go out of my way to be subtle for once, and you can’t even pretend like you’re desperate to learn?”

”Haha, you can do it over. I’ll play along this time.”

They kept talking, and soon, they were laughing again.

Hei Niu and An Ning went down the mountain together, but since their homes were in different parts of the village, they parted ways.

”Be careful on your way!”

”Be careful on your way!”

As they separated, they called out the warning in unison, which made them look at each other and smile again. Then they turned crisply and strode down the mountain.

An Ning really enjoyed spending time with Hei Niu. She was her first female friend with whom she could joke around as an equal and playfully roughhouse.

Although their ”discussions” often involved fists, they just clicked.

An Ning’s mood had been on a roller coaster for the past twenty-four hours, and she felt mentally drained.

She walked quickly on the way down the mountain. Exhausted, An Ning didn’t notice a little something following behind her.

When An Ning got down the mountain and returned to the An family home, Lin Cuihua first shot her a glare.

”Where’d you go! You left without even saying a word!”

”Have you eaten?”

An Ning had long since figured out how to handle Lin Cuihua. She rubbed her stomach pitifully. ”No, Mom. I’m starving to death.”

”Get on with you! Starving to death? Don’t say such things, you’re just a kid!”

”Get inside. I made big buns for you, and there are pickled vegetables from Master Tang.”

”Awesome!”

An Ning followed Lin Cuihua into the house and started eating the steaming hot buns.

A bite of a big bun, a nibble of pickled vegetables—it was absolutely delicious.

”Where did you get this puppy?”

”Huh?”

An Ning, her mouth stuffed with a big meat bun, looked at Lin Cuihua, then her gaze shifted downward.

”COUGH COUGH COUGH— COUGH COUGH COUGH—”

A piece of the bun was stuck in her throat.

”Oh, dear—”

”PAT PAT PAT PAT PAT PAT!”

Lin Cuihua slapped An Ning’s back repeatedly, trying to make her spit it out.

An Ning waved her off, stood up, and forcefully slammed her body against the family’s cupboard.

After a few thrusts, the thing stuck in her throat finally came out.

”Mom, don’t slap my back next time. It only makes it worse.”

”Are you okay? Are you okay? Want some water?”

Lin Cuihua didn’t even register what An Ning was saying. She had been scared to death just now.

An Ning shook her head, saying she was fine.

”You reckless child, you scared me to death! You kids are going to be the death of me one of these days.”

Lin Cuihua nagged for a bit out of fear, then sat down on a stool to rest, her heart still pounding.

Meanwhile, An Ning squatted down in front of the culprit, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

”Oh, you little troublemaker, where on earth did you come from?”

”Isn’t your real dad going to eat me alive?!”

”WHIMPER... WHIMPER...”

The fake puppy—the real wolf cub—in front of An Ning nuzzled against her adorably and flopped down on top of her feet.

”Hey now, why are you lying on my feet again?”

”If your dad shows up, I won’t be able to explain this.”

The little wolf cub whimpered as it lay on her feet. It wrapped its little front paws around An Ning’s ankle and tried with all its might to climb up.

”What do you want?”

”A bun?”