Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

”Giving him to you? Really? I’d be overjoyed!”

”It’s just that Xiao Shan isn’t of legal age... hey! You little brat, how dare you hit your old man!”

Zhou Yicheng glared, his eyes wide with anger, but Zhou Xiaoshan glared right back, completely unafraid. Yet, his voice trembled with panic as he shouted, ”Dad, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?! Teacher An!”

Zhou Xiaoshan was truly terrified. As a kid who ran with the young social circles of Beijing, he had learned about certain things quite early on.

Therefore, he truly had no improper thoughts about An Ning whatsoever. First, there was An Ning herself; the moment he saw her, he felt a deep-seated fear. All he felt was respect, to the point of wanting to kneel.

As for the second reason... that would be Jiang Xia.

That guy, Jiang Xia, seemed to get along well with everyone, but in reality, few people ever left a mark on his heart.

Zhou Xiaoshan’s correction snapped the muddle-headed Zhou Yicheng back to his senses. He stammered out an explanation, ”No, no, that’s not what I meant. I just... I misspoke.”

As Zhou Yicheng tried to explain, Zhou Xiaoshan helped him out from the side, but An Ning just waved her hand casually.

”He can become my disciple anytime. With you here, Xiao Shan will have peace of mind.”

An Ning’s words made Zhou Yicheng feel guilty. He had indeed failed his child in too many ways.

But a man has only one life to give. He had already pledged his to the country, making it difficult to pledge it to his son as well.

”Teacher An, is there a ceremony? If possible, I’d like to become your disciple now. I’m afraid I won’t have time once school starts.”

An Ning agreed. She glanced at the watch on her wrist and said, ”There isn’t much of a ceremony, but we need witnesses. I’ll see who I can find.”

An Ning didn’t stay long. After leaving Zhou Xiaoshan’s house, she went to check on Yin Xuemei’s shop.

Yin Xuemei’s shop wasn’t far from the university. She had chosen this location specifically so it would be easy to look after.

A year of selling tea eggs had allowed Yin Xuemei to buy a small courtyard house near Beijing University. The courtyard faced the street, with the shop in the front and living quarters in the back—very convenient.

After An Ning arrived at the address, she didn’t hurry forward. She saw Yin Xuemei and Feng Xiaoyu busy out front, while Feng Xiaoyu’s mother was likely busy in the back.

Yin Xuemei had knocked down the street-facing wall and replaced it entirely with transparent glass. The whole storefront looked to be over ten square meters. Inside, several large iron pots were bubbling away, simmering Yin Xuemei’s secret braised delicacies.

That aroma... You could tell just how delicious it was by the line of people waiting outside.

After all, Yin Xuemei was someone who had a fortuitous connection to an Imperial Chef, and she possessed an incredibly sensitive palate.

Above the glass storefront was an awning for shade, and above that was a rustic, wood-colored sign that read: The Braising House.

Simple, direct, and easy to understand.

Yin Xuemei, who was busy greeting customers, spotted An Ning. She called out a greeting and waved her inside.

An Ning nodded, went in through a side door, and washed her hands, ready to help.

”No, no, I’m coming out now.”

Yin Xuemei stepped away from the sales counter, and Feng Xiaoyu’s mother took her place.

Yin Xuemei led An Ning into the backyard. A jujube tree stood in the center of the courtyard, with a few simple wooden chairs placed underneath it.

”I’ve noticed there are a lot of jujube trees in Beijing.”

An Ning sat down, and Yin Xuemei busied herself pouring her some water, asking if she had eaten.

”Jujube trees are low-maintenance. They don’t need much care, and they don’t have a strong smell.”

”Should I get you something to eat?”

An Ning didn’t refuse, and Yin Xuemei went to get some of her braised delicacies, her steps light and cheerful.

Soon, a plate of sliced braised food was placed in front of An Ning. Yin Xuemei waited expectantly for her review.

”What’s there to be nervous about? I’ve never doubted your skill.”

An Ning took a bite with her chopsticks, which only confirmed what she had just said.

Across from her, Yin Xuemei smiled in satisfaction. ”I just wanted you to like it too. I don’t make a huge variety right now, just some braised pig’s trotters, offal, chicken legs, and dried tofu.”

”That’s great. Any more and you’d be overwhelmed, right?”

”Mhm, that’s true. The hardest part is the braising liquid. You have to add new things to it from time to time. The better the ingredients you add, the better the flavor becomes.”

”For that, I really have to thank your second brother—”

An Ning, who was chewing on a pig’s trotter, paused and waited for Yin Xuemei to continue.

”Your second brother has sent me ingredients several times. They’re all from our Shili Village, and the flavor is especially good after I add them.”

An Ning didn’t speak. Still chewing on the trotter, she nodded twice. ’Is my second brother... really that nice?’

It wasn’t that An Guoming wasn’t a good person, but she never knew he could be so good to outsiders.

An Ning kept her doubts to herself. She stayed and chatted with Yin Xuemei for a while, telling her about the dinner at Zhou Xiaoshan’s house that evening. Yin Xuemei promised to head over early.

After her meal of braised food, An Ning left for the residence of Yu the Elder and her eldest disciple, Li Chengze, which was also Yu the Elder’s home.

An Ning had just reached the gate when she saw Yu the Elder and Li Chengze standing there, one on each side, both looking in opposite directions.

”Master!”

”Master!”

With two cries of ”Master,” An Ning walked into Yu the Elder’s courtyard under the gossiping gazes of the neighbors.

The three of them hadn’t seen each other in a long time. Yu the Elder and Li Chengze not only had a stockpile of questions but also a deep sense of longing for An Ning.

A reunion, a pot of tea, all over in half an hour.

Half an hour later, An Ning was seated in the middle, flanked by Yu the Elder and Li Chengze. Each held a notebook filled with questions.

Yu Zheng, who had come in silently to refill the tea, silently exited again after he was done.

The discussion ended an hour later, and the group left together, preparing to head to Zhou Xiaoshan’s house.

When they arrived, An Guoping and Yang Jianguo were there as well. Zhou Xiaoshan had asked them to come.

As everyone gathered in Zhou Xiaoshan’s house, An Ning scanned the room again. No Jiang Xia.

”Have any of you seen Jiang Xia?”

Everyone shook their heads.

An Ning glanced at her watch and looked at Yu the Elder. ”What happens if he misses the registration deadline?”

”With Jiang Xia’s grades, as long as he provides a reasonable explanation, it shouldn’t be a problem. But what has he gone off to do?”

What had Jiang Xia gone off to do? An Ning wanted to know as well.

For some unknown reason, An Ning’s heart grew inexplicably restless.

”Yu the Elder, please contact someone at the school. I want to know if Jiang Xia has registered.”

Without a moment’s delay, Yu the Elder used the telephone in Zhou Xiaoshan’s house.

After two phone calls, Yu the Elder told An Ning that the records showed Jiang Xia had completed his registration.

”That’s good. He probably went to take care of some business.”

An Ning’s mind was temporarily put at ease, and she prepared to accept Zhou Xiaoshan as her disciple.

Zhou Yicheng had invited an elderly gentleman he knew, who was the dean of the history department at Beijing University.

After everyone exchanged greetings, with the witnesses looking on, Zhou Xiaoshan knelt, kowtowed, served tea, and the discipleship ceremony was complete.

As before, An Ning gave Zhou Xiaoshan a Jade Pendant.

”Your Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother each have a Jade Pendant. They serve as your tokens. I hope you will all support and help one another in the future.”

”Yes.”

”Yes.”

”Yes.”

Yu the Elder, Li Chengze, and Zhou Xiaoshan knelt together.

This act of kneeling gave the dean of the history department quite a shock.

”Old Yu—you—?!”