Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

The day after Director Zhao left, An Ning started her daily routine as usual, but the atmosphere today was a little different.

The moment An Ning stepped out of her dormitory, Director Hu’s aide, Assistant Wang, was by her side.

Assistant Wang, who wore black-rimmed glasses, a dated hairstyle, and inconspicuous gray clothes, rushed over with a pace that belied his age when he saw An Ning.

”Good morning, Comrade An.”

”Good morning.”

An Ning walked toward the cafeteria, with Assistant Wang following slightly behind her on the right.

”Do you need something?”

”Comrade An, it’s like this. The director told me to inform you that representatives from other factories are coming today.”

An Ning didn’t slow her pace and asked speculatively, ”They want blueprints?”

”Some do, some don’t.”

Assistant Wang didn’t keep her in suspense. It turned out that after some factories in Jin City learned of An Ning’s existence, several directors they had dealings with did indeed want to ask her for blueprints, designs, technology, and the like.

But there were also one or two factories that were coming to size her up. They had already entered into partnerships with foreign investors and were mainly here to scout things out.

”Comrade An, Director Hu asked me to stay by your side mainly to help you identify the visitors, so you don’t have to waste your energy on it.”

”Mm, that’s good.”

An Ning saw no problem with this and proceeded to have breakfast as usual.

After breakfast, the two of them headed for the workshop. Before they even arrived, An Ning saw several dozen people standing at the entrance.

”Are all these...?”

”Yes.”

Assistant Wang nodded.

An Ning looked at Assistant Wang with admiration and asked, ”You know all of them?”

”Yes, it’s my job.”

An Ning said praisefully, ”You’re very impressive.”

’Indeed, anyone who reaches a position of some authority is never a simple person.’

Assistant Wang dutifully followed behind An Ning, quietly briefing her on each person she met.

It was so convenient that An Ning couldn’t help but think: ’It’d be nice to have an assistant like him.’

”Comrade An Ning, I’m the director of the washing machine factory—”

”Hello, I’m from the television factory—”

One after another, the directors introduced themselves to An Ning. She greeted each of them in turn, but as for their requests, she politely deferred them all, using the excuse that her work at the auto plant was not yet finished.

The few directors who were hoping to get An Ning’s help had some understanding of her way of doing things. They didn’t press her, simply asking that she consider their requests when she had time after finishing her current project.

An Ning not only agreed but also took out a notebook and wrote their requests down to show she was taking them seriously.

And she was indeed serious. These were all things she planned to create anyway.

On the short walk from outside the workshop to the entrance, An Ning had already promised to consider the requests of several factories. Just as she was about to go inside, Assistant Wang, who was behind her, gave her a reminder.

”Hello, I’m Zhou Zheng, the director of the bearing factory. This is my first time meeting you, Comrade An Ning. I’ve heard so much about you.”

”Hello.”

An Ning calmly replied with a single word and was about to enter, but Zhou Zheng stepped forward to block her way.

”Wait a moment, I was wondering if I could have a few minutes of your time?”

”No.”

An Ning’s refusal was not what Zhou Zheng expected. ’Wasn’t that a bit too direct?’

”Please wait. I genuinely want to talk with you.”

Zhou Zheng didn’t give up. He caught up to her in a few steps, blocking her path again. He waved to someone at the side, and a young woman came over, carrying a bag.

”Look, these are bearings I brought back from another country. We need to reach this level of quality, but we can’t do it right now. Can you?”

Zhou Zheng took two bearings, one large and one small, out of the bag. He and the young woman next to him each held one up to show An Ning.

”And what if I can? What if I can’t?”

An Ning retorted. Zhou Zheng didn’t evade the question and said directly, ”I did come here with doubts, but my intentions are fundamentally the same as everyone else’s. We want to be able to make them, to make our own products. We don’t want to buy obsolete technology from abroad.”

”But I must confirm that your skills are superior to this technology. Otherwise, I can’t waste this time. Every minute and every second is important right now.”

Zhou Zheng’s words were earnest.

An Ning didn’t reject him outright. She reached out, took the smaller bearing, and turned it over in her palm to examine it.

”You’ve already bought them?”

”We haven’t finalized the deal yet. They want to raise the price. If I can’t get confirmation from you today, I’ll have to buy them tomorrow.”

An Ning placed the bearing back into the young woman’s hand, her gaze lingering for an extra second on the person she’d now met twice.

She withdrew her gaze and said, ”I can do it. How do you want to confirm my ability?”

Zhou Zheng was overjoyed—genuinely and truly overjoyed.

”Our technician is here as well. Can she shadow you?”

An Ning turned her gaze to the young woman beside him and asked, ”Are you the technician?”

”Not me, my master.”

The young woman looked up for the first time and gave An Ning a faint smile. An Ning returned a nod and said, ”We meet again.”

”You know each other?”

Zhou Zheng looked back and forth between them. An Ning stated confidently, ”We’ve met a few times but didn’t know each other’s names.”

”Have your technician come over.”

An Ning didn’t make things difficult for Zhou Zheng. He was even more ecstatic, but then said with some difficulty, ”Our best technician has injured her leg and needs someone to look after her. This is the one who takes care of her.”

Zhou Zheng pointed to the young woman An Ning had met a few times and said, ”Can she come along too?”

”Yes.”

An Ning didn’t ask for a reason. Once things were settled, she went inside to work first, telling the young woman and the unseen technician to wait for her.

As for the directors from the other factories, they were all led away by Director Hu for tea.

When An Ning came out of the workshop, Assistant Wang was waiting outside with two people.

”Comrade An, this is the technician from the bearing factory, Comrade Wang Hua.”

”Hello, I’m An Ning.”

An Ning extended her hand and shook hands with the woman in the wheelchair.

What kind of hand was it? It was like the roughest tree bark that had been lightly smoothed with sandpaper.

”Hello. This is my apprentice, and also my daughter, Sun Xiaomei.”

An Ning turned to look at Sun Xiaomei beside the wheelchair and nodded. ”Hello, Sun Xiaomei.”

”Hello, An Ning.”

Wang Hua, in her wheelchair, was very forthright. She asked how An Ning and her daughter knew each other.

”We were once in the same train car and had a pleasant conversation. A few days ago, when I first arrived in Jin City, we ran into each other once.”

After An Ning’s brief explanation, Sun Xiaomei apologized to her. ”I’m so sorry about that day. My attitude was terrible.”

”It’s fine. We weren’t looking where we were going anyway.”

The two didn’t continue the topic. The four of them went to the cafeteria to eat first. After the meal, An Ning led the mother and daughter to a temporary workshop that was reserved exclusively for her.

When An Ning used a key to unlock the main door, Wang Hua, behind her, was so excited she nearly stood up, but Sun Xiaomei quickly steadied her.

”Mom, your leg!”

”What is this?”

Wang Hua excitedly looked at the familiar yet strange equipment inside, then turned to An Ning with an anxious gaze.