Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

When An Ning got up the next day, Lin Cuihua was already watching TV, holding Xiao Lang.

’That’s some impressive energy.’

An Ning wasn’t quite at that level. She first went downstairs for a run. On her way back, she picked up breakfast from the cafeteria.

She placed the breakfast on the coffee table. Lin Cuihua started to get up to help, her eyes still darting toward the screen every few seconds.

”Mom, don’t worry about it. Everything’s ready to eat. You just watch your show.”

An Ning took a large steamed bun, placed it in Lin Cuihua’s hand, and gently pushed her back down onto the sofa. ”Eat.”

Lin Cuihua was like a little child, holding the big bun in her hand while her eyes were glued to the TV. It might not have been a pretty sight, but she was so happy inside!

She took a huge bite, growing happier with each mouthful. As soon as she finished the first bun, a second one immediately appeared, and An Ning placed something else in her other hand.

”Hold this steady. Have some porridge.”

Lin Cuihua looked at An Ning and asked, ”Isn’t this a bit much—”

”It’s just the two of us, what are you worried about? Just do whatever’s comfortable.”

Lin Cuihua nodded, took a sip of porridge, and began to relax more and more as she ate.

After breakfast, Lin Cuihua stopped An Ning from cleaning up, telling her to go do whatever she needed to do.

An Ning left with her file folder, promising to be back at noon. Lin Cuihua gave a casual wave of her hand in acknowledgment, her eyes never leaving the television.

After leaving, An Ning went straight to the director’s office, took over half the space, and continued her work.

Director Hu didn’t have the slightest objection to her bandit-like behavior. In fact, he willingly gave up the entire office, setting himself up to work at a small desk by the door.

At noon, An Ning didn’t return to the dorm. She arranged for Wei Hong, from the day before, to bring lunch to Lin Cuihua. She herself stayed in the office, munching on a few steamed buns without ever stopping her hands from moving.

She remained in this state until almost eleven at night, when Director Hu had to practically chase her out to go get some sleep.

Director Hu, who had been waiting for An Ning outside the office, remarked thoughtfully to Assistant Wang beside him, ”A genius isn’t scary. What’s scary is a genius who is also hardworking and self-aware.”

Assistant Wang nodded. He truly admired An Ning’s focus.

When An Ning got back to the dorm from the office, the lights were still on.

’There can’t be any shows on this late, can there?’

An Ning opened the door. A warm, yellow light flickered inside. The room was quiet, without the sound of the TV.

Lin Cuihua had fallen asleep on the sofa, with the ever-loyal Xiao Lang nestled beside her.

She walked to the sofa and picked up Lin Cuihua. Xiao Lang’s eyes snapped open warily. Upon seeing it was An Ning, it nimbly leaped up and lay on Lin Cuihua’s stomach, allowing An Ning to carry them both into the bedroom.

After settling Lin Cuihua in, An Ning returned to her own room and saw a bowl on the desk, sitting in an iron basin filled with water.

She reached out a hand; the water was warm.

Lifting the lid, the rich aroma of chicken soup wafted out, and the corners of An Ning’s mouth curved upward.

’Perhaps... this is what a mother is.’

She could get addicted, even obsessed, with something, but there was always a part of her heart reserved for her child.

An Ning sat down and finished the chicken soup before washing up and finally going to bed.

For the next two days, An Ning continued her routine of leaving in the morning and returning at night.

Every night, An Ning carried Lin Cuihua back to her room, and her mother never knew a thing.

「Two days later.」 An Ning, having returned with breakfast, sat down on the sofa with Lin Cuihua after they finished eating.

Lin Cuihua, who was watching the news, asked in confusion, ”How come you haven’t left yet?”

”I’m not going in. I’m taking you out today.”

”Out?”

Lin Cuihua’s gaze shifted from the TV. She looked at An Ning, puzzled, and asked, ”Is your work here finished?”

”I’ve finished a stage of it. Time to go out and relax. We’ll leave after the news is over?”

Lin Cuihua, of course, had no objections. She turned off the TV before the news was even over.

An Ning joked, ”Looks like your daughter is a tiny bit more important after all.”

”Oh, get out of here.”

Lin Cuihua tried on several outfits before finally settling on one she was satisfied with. After carefully combing her hair and applying some vanishing cream, she left with An Ning.

At the door, Lin Cuihua tugged at her clothes and asked, ”Is this okay?”

”It’s okay? It’s more than okay!”

An Ning’s exaggerated praise earned her an eye-roll from Lin Cuihua.

The mother and daughter went downstairs, walked out of the automobile factory, and took a bus into the city.

On the bus, An Ning took out a piece of paper and handed it to Lin Cuihua. ”This is our current address. There are two phone numbers on it. One is for our room, and the other is for the factory. You can call either one.”

”There’s some pocket money in this small purse. If we get separated, don’t be scared. Just find a place to make a phone call. A post office usually works.”

Lin Cuihua carefully memorized everything and put the items away safely.

That day, An Ning took Lin Cuihua to a lush, colorful park. The mother and daughter experienced the romance of boating on a lake, ate a meal of authentic local cuisine, listened to a live opera performance, and savored a pot of high-quality Biluochun tea.

Not only that, but An Ning also took Lin Cuihua to a clothing store. They bought several sets of clothes and shoes—everything she needed—and even bought two tubes of bright red lipstick.

Lin Cuihua’s eyes showed that she liked it, but she said dismissively, ”It’s too red. I wouldn’t dare wear it.”

But An Ning bought them anyway.

After buying the lipstick, An Ning, with guidance from a local, found an old artisan from a family that had been making qipaos for generations. She had several qipaos custom-made for Lin Cuihua.

Lin Cuihua didn’t even dare to touch the qipao fabric with her hands. She kept tugging on An Ning, trying to leave.

”No, I can’t. These aren’t for someone like me to wear. My rough hands would ruin such fine fabric.”

An Ning didn’t pull Lin Cuihua back. She just said lightly, ”A lot of people will be coming over when the college entrance exam results are out. Are you sure you don’t want one made?”

Lin Cuihua, who had already reached the doorway, stopped dead in her tracks.

”Make them!”

That one word was all it took for An Ning to order five qipaos for Lin Cuihua in one go, plus a few for herself. It wasn’t for any other reason than to keep her company.

Their extravagant spending made the shop owner beam with joy. Her attitude couldn’t have been better.

They spent several hours at the qipao shop before finally leaving.

After leaving, An Ning held Lin Cuihua’s arm as they walked through the streets of Jin City, enjoying a time when life moved at a slower pace.

”Ning—”

”What’s wrong?”

Lin Cuihua had to go to the bathroom.

Luckily, there was a public restroom nearby. An Ning waited outside for Lin Cuihua. A few minutes later, she came out, and the two of them headed back to the automobile factory together.

An Ning had just gotten back to the automobile factory and hadn’t even made it into the dorm before she was urgently called away by Director Hu.

Lin Cuihua returned to the dorm accompanied by Wei Hong.

Meanwhile, An Ning was pulled away by Director Hu for a meeting that lasted until two in the morning.

The entire next day, An Ning was still in meetings, mainly explaining blueprints to the staff and demonstrating some basic operations.

Another day passed. When An Ning finally broke free from her meetings and returned to the dorm, Lin Cuihua was gone.

’Where did she go? And why is Xiao Lang gone too?’

An Ning leaned on the windowsill, looking down below. ’Could she be out for a walk?’

But the TV... was still on.

Knowing her mother was an expert at saving electricity, An Ning realized something was wrong.