Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

An Ning was on the phone for the better part of the day.

She was still on the phone when Lin Cuihua came looking for her.

Lin Cuihua walked into the room, picked up Hei Dan’er, and went home first.

As An Ning took call after call, a piece of paper sat beside her, densely covered in writing.

It listed what every factory needed most right now—the very reason they were so eager for her to visit.

An Ning noted everything down, one by one. Even when she was busy at other factories, her mind had time to process these things.

Projects involving electric cars, batteries, mechanical design, refrigerator improvements, air conditioning proposals, new washing machine concepts, engines, and more had all landed on her plate.

When the last call finally ended, An Ning stared blankly at the list in her hand.

’If we really want to develop well and ensure long-term growth, maybe it’s time to bring out some things?’

An Ning set the thought aside. She would finish this round of visits first.

She tossed ten yuan down for the phone bill and walked out of the telephone office.

When An Ning got home, Lin Cuihua was feeding Hei Dan’er from a bowl. An Ning stuck out her tongue sheepishly; she had been so preoccupied with the calls that she’d completely forgotten Hei Dan’er needed to eat.

”Hei Dan’er, your auntie is so sorry. You must be starving, right?”

Lin Cuihua glanced at An Ning. ”What was all that about? Why so many calls?”

On that topic, An Ning grabbed a small stool and sat down beside Lin Cuihua, asking tentatively, ”Mom, how about we go on a trip together?”

”Where to? If you want to go to the market, we have to wait two more days. It’s not the seventh yet.”

Lin Cuihua continued feeding Hei Dan’er, not understanding what An Ning meant.

”Not to the market. I mean leaving Sanhe Town, leaving the county, leaving the province... going to other cities.”

Now that she had started, An Ning let it all pour out.

”Mom, I’ve received invitations to do research for some factories, but I don’t want to go alone. Will you come with me?”

Lin Cuihua’s movements slowed. She turned and placed a hand on An Ning’s forehead.

”You don’t have a fever. What nonsense are you talking about? What would I do with you? I don’t know how to do anything.”

”Who says?”

An Ning retorted dramatically, holding up one hand and counting off her mother’s uses on her fingers.

”Mom, I’ll be gone for a long time this trip, and I’ll be very busy. I need someone who can cook and take care of me. I thought about it, and no one is more suitable than my own mother.”

”Don’t you agree?”

Lin Cuihua didn’t immediately refute her, but she didn’t agree either.

”Really that busy? No time to eat?”

An Ning nodded firmly, her expression serious.

Lin Cuihua still hadn’t made up her mind. She looked at Hei Dan’er in front of her and said, ”What about this big family?”

”What about the family?”

An Sancheng had returned.

Everyone who’d been working in the fields was back.

An Ning took the opportunity to tell everyone about her trip, and most importantly, that she wanted to take Lin Cuihua with her.

The members of the An family were all on the same page. An Sancheng was the first to speak up. ”Go. You have to go with her. Our daughter is all grown up and so beautiful—I won’t be at ease otherwise.”

An Guoming, An Guoping, and An Guoqing all chimed in, urging Lin Cuihua to go.

Lin Cuihua put down the bowl, her emotions rising again as she asked, ”If you all want me to go, what’s going to happen to this household?”

”Who’s going to wash the dirty clothes? Who’s going to clean the house? Who’s going to make three meals a day? Who’s going to scrub your muddy shoes from the fields? Who will mend your torn clothes? Who will look after Hei Dan’er? It’s easy for you all to say, but with all these things to do, how can I possibly leave?”

Lin Cuihua, who had been swayed, now had no desire to go after listing all her own concerns.

Seeing this, An Ning immediately stood up. ”Mom, they can eat with Master Tang. Besides, it’s summer. A simple meal of sorghum rice porridge with some dipping sauce is perfectly fine. It’s no worse than what we used to eat.”

”They can wash their own clothes and clean their own rooms. Leave Hei Dan’er with Zhou Xiaoshan. If need be, Zhou Xiaoshan can go work at the breeding farm, right?”

When his name was called, Zhou Xiaoshan snapped to attention and shouted, ”Yes! I guarantee I’ll complete the mission.”

Lin Cuihua was amused by Zhou Xiaoshan’s serious salute. She asked in disbelief, ”Can I really go?”

”Yes!”

”Go on, Mom. Don’t worry.”

”That’s right, we have hands and feet. Don’t worry about us.”

Everyone began to voice their support, and Lin Cuihua was finally persuaded.

And just like that, she was busy. Not only did she have to pack her luggage, but she also had to explain all the household matters.

This rag is for this, that broom is for that, this bucket is used for this, that basin is used for that.

With every sentence Lin Cuihua spoke, the family’s guilt grew a little more.

They realized there were so many details they had never noticed; Lin Cuihua’s entire life revolved around them, never around herself.

For every ten sentences that came out of Lin Cuihua’s mouth, eleven were instructions for others. Not a single one was about herself.

That evening, after washing her feet, Gao Guifen returned and sat on the edge of the kang bed for a long time.

”What’s wrong, dear?” An Guoqing asked.

”Guoqing, I haven’t been a good daughter-in-law. Mom works so hard, and all I’ve felt is how lucky I am. I haven’t helped her enough.”

Gao Guifen was truly wracked with guilt. Lin Cuihua’s kindness had made her forget just how fortunate her own life was now.

Although she worked hard, her job was at the breeding farm. She was on her own there and didn’t need to worry about other things, focusing solely on her work. It was nothing like the endless, complicated, and tedious worries that Lin Cuihua dealt with.

An Guoqing sat silently on the edge of the kang bed beside Gao Guifen.

”Dear, when Mom gets back, let’s divide the family property. We’ll let them do less. The two of us can’t run the breeding farm alone. Let’s hire someone to help, and you can focus on taking care of Hei Dan’er.”

”Okay, we’ll hire someone.”

The couple made their decision, but they would wait until Lin Cuihua returned to act on it.

At the same time, An Sancheng was in their room, helping Lin Cuihua pack her luggage.

Lin Cuihua sat on the kang in a bit of a daze. After a moment of silence, she said, ”I don’t know what’s gotten into me. Have I been scaring the children these past two days?”

”Not at all. Your own daughter and sons are as bold as brass. How could they be scared by you?”

An Sancheng set down the bag and sat on the edge of the kang, taking Lin Cuihua’s hand in his own rough one.

”My dear, once the kids’ university acceptance letters arrive, we’ll divide the family assets. Let them worry about their own lives for a change, and we can finally start enjoying ours.”

”Oh! The acceptance letters haven’t arrived! I’m not going. I can’t go.”

Lin Cuihua had just remembered this crucial detail. An Sancheng patted the back of her hand. ”Go. What would you do if you stayed? Your daughter won’t even be home.”

Hearing that, Lin Cuihua realized he was right. She let out a long sigh. ”You know, back when life was hard, I never felt this way. Now that things are better, I’ve started acting strange.”

”I know our daughter is doing this so I can get out and see the world, but... what if I embarrass her?”

An Sancheng shook his head knowingly.

”You won’t. With your daughter’s personality, you’ll be lucky if she doesn’t cause trouble for you. You’d better keep a close eye on her, or she might just poke a hole in the sky.”