Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

”How much is the compensation? Is there a price list?”

A doll-like voice, sweet enough to cause cavities, came from their side. An Ning and An Guoping turned their heads at the same time. A girl, about five-foot-one, wearing a puffy skirt with slightly curly hair and a baby face, was curiously waiting for an answer.

”Do you two know? How much is the compensation for killing someone?”

An Ning and An Guoping both shook their heads. The doll-like girl shrugged with regret, a mischievous curl bouncing on her forehead.

’So it really is a deep secret.’

The doll-like girl was very forward, holding out her hand to introduce herself. ”Hello, my name is Luo Li. I’m a first-year in the Department of Medicine.”

An Ning nodded in greeting. After shaking her hand, she pointed to An Guoping and said, ”I’m An Ning. He’s also a first-year in the Department of Medicine, An Guoping.”

”An Ning? As in, the An Ning who ranked first in the nation?”

After hearing An Ning’s name, Luo Li’s eyes suddenly shone with a peculiar glint.

It wasn’t reverence, nor curiosity, but a kind of... expectant gaze? ’And what she seems to be anticipating is rather unsettling.’

”Yes, that’s me.”

An Ning’s calm demeanor was a stark contrast to Luo Li’s excessive enthusiasm.

”Your brain must be gorgeous, mustn’t it? I heard that smart people have the most developed brains. In other words, the areas that are dark in other people are all lit up in yours.”

Luo Li’s eyes were fixed on An Ning’s head. It was a look of desire—a desire to see what was inside An Ning’s brain.

”Um... Sis, let’s go inside.”

”Okay.”

An Ning nodded at Luo Li and walked onto campus with An Guoping.

Behind them, Luo Li sighed mournfully.

”I was just talking. It’s not like I’ve saved up enough blood money yet.”

Her regretful tone was perfectly clear to An Ning, who was walking ahead. ’This Luo Li seems to be seriously saving up money... to pay for a life?’

”Sis, that Luo Li doesn’t seem all there. You should stay away from her.”

”An Guoping, *you’re* the one studying medicine.”

An Guoping stood frozen in place, staring dumbly at An Ning walking ahead of him before slapping himself on the head.

”Damn it!”

An Guoping caught up with An Ning and accompanied her to register. Although An Ning refused, An Guoping invoked the name of Lin Cuihua, so An Ning had no choice but to let him.

An Ning had enrolled in Beijing University’s most famous department: the Mathematics Department. She had only one reason for choosing it—Yu the Elder taught there.

She needed a major that would allow her to take leave at any time without being questioned by the professors.

An Ning’s arrival caused a minor sensation, but it was only temporary.

After all, there was a top scorer every year, which wasn’t such a rare sight at Beijing University. The reason this year’s created such a stir was because of that notoriously difficult math exam.

But even though it was difficult, no one who applied to the Mathematics Department was bad at math. In fact, as many as thirteen people had gotten a perfect score.

So while An Ning’s perfect score was outstanding, it wasn’t all that remarkable.

A senior helping with the registration process handed An Ning a set of books, a key, and a piece of paper with all the relevant information she needed.

”An Ning, our Mathematics Department only has thirty-two students this year, and you’re the only girl. So you’ll have to be in a mixed-major dorm.”

”No problem.”

An Ning’s good attitude made the senior like her a little more.

Every new student at Beijing University was once the top student at their old school, the one who received the most attention.

But after arriving at Beijing University, these advantages gradually faded away. They would even discover that they were, in fact, just another ordinary face in the crowd.

”Thanks for being so understanding. The university has assigned you a two-person dorm. The conditions are pretty good; it has a private bathroom. Do you need me to find someone to show you the way? Do you have a lot of luggage?”

Even as the senior asked, he was already getting ready to call someone over.

”No need, I can manage on my own.”

Lifting her large bag with one hand and a backpack on her back, An Ning walked off, holding the paper with the small map.

Efficient, poised, and confident.

Many of the single upperclassmen started nudging each other, their interest in An Ning growing a little.

”Stop messing around. You can tell she’s a very independent person.”

The senior who had handled An Ning’s registration stopped their fooling around and went back to work.

Having already left, An Ning found her dormitory with An Guoping in tow.

For the first two days of the term, parents and friends were allowed to accompany new students inside. An Guoping followed An Ning to the third floor and helped her make the bed.

Inside the dorm room, the bathroom was on the left. It had a sink and a toilet, but no shower.

Further in were two single beds separated by a walkway. Past the beds was a combination desk-and-wardrobe unit, and beyond that was the dorm’s balcony and window. There was plenty of sunlight, which would be very convenient for drying clothes.

The overall environment was nice. With a few simple decorations, it could be very cozy.

”Sis, I put your luggage here. Remember to put it away in the wardrobe.”

”I’ll put your pillow over here. It’s better to be further from the door.”

”Let me lay out this thick mattress pad for you first. It gets a little chilly at night.”

”When you go out later, remember to buy a thermos, a washbasin, and all that. Don’t forget, neither of us brought one.”

An Guoping, acting like a complete mother hen, took on Lin Cuihua’s role, helping An Ning make her bed and get everything settled.

”Well, look at you. My little brother knows how to take care of people now.”

”Hehe, taking care of my sis is just instinct.”

The brother and sister didn’t see the other roommate. After getting things in order, An Ning went with An Guoping to get him registered. After that, they got him settled in. He was in a four-person room with loft beds over desks, which was also quite nice.

Next, the two went out to buy toiletries, then returned to their respective dorms. They didn’t make plans to eat together. An Ning told An Guoping to get along well with his roommates, as they would be living together for five years, or perhaps even longer.

An Ning walked through the Beijing University campus, carrying a thermos, washbasin, toothbrush and toothpaste, and laundry detergent. She looked around as she went, and by the time she reached her dorm, she was still thinking: ’I wonder if Jiang Xia has arrived yet.’

Registration was open for three days in total, and An Ning had arrived on the second day.

An Ning carried her things upstairs. The dorm room door was open; it seemed her other roommate had already arrived.

She walked into the dorm with a hint of anticipation.

”Beautiful Brain?”

”Luo Li.”

Luo Li, dressed in her doll-like skirt, looked ready to jump for joy when she saw An Ning.

”You live here? You’re my roommate?”

”If that’s your bed, then yes.”

An Ning put her things down, and a shriek pierced her ears.

”AHHHH—”

”I’m screwed! I’m screwed! This is an incredible test of my willpower!”

Luo Li cupped her cheeks with both hands, staring at An Ning without blinking. Ignoring the words coming out of her mouth, she was criminally cute.

The screaming Luo Li took a few deep breaths, struggling to control herself as she said, ”Beautiful—An Ning, don’t be scared. I just like cutting things up. No hard feelings.”

”Really. The most I’ve ever done is dissect a few frogs, donated cadavers for medical research, that sort of thing. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you in the middle of the night.”

An Ning finished putting her things away, then looked at Luo Li seriously and gave a faint smile.

”Feel free to think about it as much as you like. Just leave the rest to me.”