Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

In An Ning’s room, moonlight spilled across the kang.

It was around the fifteenth of the first lunar month, and the moon outside the window was big and round.

An Ning leaned on the windowsill, finally understanding what poets meant when they called the moon the White Jade Plate.

As An Ning admired the moon, her eyes fixed upon it, she noticed something strange. ’Why is it getting smaller?’

An Ning’s eyes, wide open just a moment ago, were now slowly closing.

She tried to fight it, just like someone desperately trying to stay awake, her eyes closing only to snap open again.

’The moon is big again.’

An Ning sensed something was wrong. The drowsiness was too sudden, too irresistible.

She immediately activated her spiritual power, jolting herself awake. The sleepiness vanished.

An Ning turned from the windowsill and looked at Xiao Lang on the floor.

It... was glowing.

Halos of blue light gathered around Xiao Lang’s soft fur as he lay in his basket.

The blue aura gradually expanded, enveloping An Ning on the kang.

An Ning extended a finger. The light seemed sentient, flowing around her finger before dispersing throughout the room.

’Spiritual power?’

It was only for an instant, but An Ning was certain of what she had sensed.

’A newborn wolf cub has spiritual power?’

’Not only that, it’s the highest level of spiritual power.’

In other words, even Zhou Xiaoshan—the apprentice An Ning planned to accept, who was currently staying with the An family—wasn’t this formidable.

Moreover, this spiritual power seemed to have a special function. It was somewhat similar to An Ning’s, yet entirely unique.

An Ning lay quietly on the kang as her own spiritual power emerged uncontrollably. It resonated with the blue aura emanating from Xiao Lang, the two energies complementing each other perfectly.

The resonance between them made An Ning so comfortable she felt sleepy again.

She resisted, and resisted, and resisted some more.

’Forget it. Why fight it?’

An Ning stopped resisting. She knew this profound sleepiness was because of Xiao Lang.

And since she knew Xiao Lang wouldn’t harm her, why bother resisting?

Reassured, An Ning let herself fall asleep.

Falling asleep in an instant—the dream of countless insomniacs.

The next day, An Ning woke up right on time. A soft warmth beside her told her that Xiao Lang had climbed onto the kang again and was sleeping by her side.

She opened her eyes and met Xiao Lang’s brilliant, shimmering blue eyes.

”Your eyes are so beautiful.”

An instant later, Xiao Lang’s blue eyes vanished, returning to their usual grayish-black color.

An Ning patted the little wolf, who seemed intent on lazing in bed, then got up and dressed herself before walking out of the room, brimming with energy.

”Morning, Xiao Shan!”

Zhou Xiaoshan, who was getting his breakfast, jumped at the loudness of An Ning’s voice.

”Did you dream you found a pile of money or something?”

An Ning shook her head at Zhou Xiaoshan’s question. ”Better than finding money.”

”Why are you eating breakfast so early? Don’t you have to go for your run?”

Zhou Xiaoshan tucked a steamed roll into his bag and said as he zipped it up, ”I have something to do this morning.”

As Zhou Xiaoshan ran out with his bag, An Ning watched him go and remarked curiously, ”Ah, the kid’s rebellious phase has arrived.”

”Sis, Xiao Shan is only three years younger than you.”

”So?”

An Ning’s sharp retort made An Guoping, who was tending the fire, immediately concede, ”I think you’re right.”

An Ning ignored An Guoping and called him out for their run to complete their daily training.

After their training session, they ate, attended their lessons, and continued with their day.

Recently, An Ning didn’t have much to do and had no need to go out.

All the factory managers and local leaders knew that An Ning’s college entrance exam was just over a month away. No matter how capable she was, the exam was a huge deal, so they all had a tacit understanding not to bother her.

It wasn’t that they didn’t need her; they just didn’t want to disturb her.

Time passed slowly. The corn in the village grew to their ankles, and then to their knees.

The landscape was a riot of red flowers and green willows, with the mountains and fields covered in a lush, vibrant green.

Before they knew it, summer had arrived.

July arrived, and the college entrance exam was scheduled for three days: July 8th, 9th, and 10th.

An Ning sent Zhou Xiaoshan back to Beijing, accompanied by An Guoming and Master Tang.

Uncle Feng, who had previously been taking care of Zhou Xiaoshan, had already returned to his hometown.

As for Zhou Xiaoshan’s father, Zhou Yicheng, he had made contact three days ago to say that he was being sent on a mission and likely wouldn’t be able to be there for his son’s exam.

Zhou Xiaoshan had long suspected this would happen, so he hadn’t gotten his hopes up. He was a little disappointed, but it was well within his ability to handle.

Besides, An Ning had sent both Master Tang and her own second brother to look after him. What more could he possibly ask for?

Back in Beijing, Zhou Xiaoshan didn’t stay at his own home, but at Yu the Elder’s house.

With Yu Zheng running the household, Yu the Elder going to work and tutoring Zhou Xiaoshan in the evenings, and Master Tang providing delicious meals, Zhou Xiaoshan gradually began to forget about his father’s absence.

While everything was proceeding as usual for Zhou Xiaoshan, things back with An Ning were getting a little strange.

The closer the exam date loomed, the more excessively careful everyone in the family became.

Sometimes, even when the whole family was present, the house was as quiet as if it were empty.

Lin Cuihua no longer shouted or hollered; she was so gentle it made An Ning a little nervous. It felt as if her mother’s personality had been completely swapped out.

It wasn’t just the people in the An family, either. Even the rooster had stopped crowing.

Following the lead of the head rooster and Da Huang, all the chickens and dogs in the village had become much quieter.

Moreover, with the exception of An Ning and the other students taking the exam, the entire village was buzzing with activity.

One day a villager would bring over a fish, the next day another would deliver two eggs, the day after that some bird eggs, and the day after that a bit of millet.

In short, the message was clear: help the kids build up their strength.

Under the care of her entire family and the whole village, An Ning couldn’t help but focus on the exam a little more seriously.

Soon, it was July sixth. The college entrance exam was tomorrow.

On July sixth, the entire An family mobilized, along with Jiang Xia, Yin Xuemei, and Yang Jianguo.

An Guoqing drove a large truck loaded with all sorts of things: fruits and vegetables, grain and eggs, bowls and chopsticks, tables and chairs, quilts and pillows—you name it, they had it.

Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought the An family was moving.

An Guoqing started the truck, and outside, a worried Uncle An called out instructions, ”Drive slowly, don’t rush.”

”Safety first.”

”Just take it slow.”

An Guoqing agreed to every point as the truck slowly began to move.

Sitting in the passenger seat, An Ning opened the window and waved to the people outside. ”You can all go back now! We’ll do well on the exam!”

”Don’t rush, take your time writing.”

”But you can’t write too slowly! What if she doesn’t finish?”

”Right, right, you just pace yourself as you see fit.”

”I’ve already prayed at the ancestral graves for you,” Uncle An shouted. ”You can go in peace!”

After Uncle An’s remark, An Ning couldn’t help but feel like he was sending her off on her final journey.

Regardless, everyone meant well. She continued waving as the truck picked up speed and gradually left the village.

Outside the village, a newly paved, wide asphalt road greatly reduced the bumps, but the truck’s speed barely increased.

Because... An Guoqing was driving far too slowly.

An Ning didn’t urge him on; she knew An Guoqing was even more nervous than she was.

After the truck passed through Sanhe Town, Jiang Xia took the wheel and headed toward the county seat, the location of the examination hall.

The college entrance exam was about to begin.