Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

Handcuffed, An Ning watched the show with a leisurely air.

Of the four people who had come in, one was a formidable lawyer, two were outstanding journalists, and the last one hadn’t said a word.

These people were all part of the backup plan Jiang Xia had arranged.

Jiang Xia’s intelligence had never been lacking; in fact, when it came to planning and strategy, he was even more brilliant.

An Ning didn’t know where Jiang Xia had found this lawyer, but he was incredibly silver-tongued. For a moment, she even thought he was going to get the police thrown in jail.

His arguments were well-reasoned and evidence-based, leaving no room for rebuttal.

Still, even though the three were impressive, An Ning guessed that Mrs. Jiang must be even more powerful, because they still hadn’t agreed to let her go.

Because their official reason for detaining her was another matter entirely.

”Intentional injury? Who did my client injure? Please have the victim step forward. Please present the evidence.”

The lawyer’s words put everyone in a difficult position. No one dared to call Mrs. Jiang back, and it was impossible that she would return on her own.

”She—assaulted an officer!”

An officer, cornered by the lawyer, blurted out. But once the words were out, they had to run with it.

It looked like they were about to pin the crime of assaulting a police officer on An Ning.

”Please present the evidence. As far as I know, police interrogation rooms must have recording equipment. We want to review the footage.”

The lawyer’s request was perfectly reasonable, but the other side claimed the recording equipment was malfunctioning today. They did, however, have eyewitnesses.

”Without video evidence, your verbal testimonies hold no weight.”

The lawyer refused to yield an inch, bringing the situation to a stalemate.

”Oh—that’s right! I have a recording!”

An Ning suddenly spoke up, causing everyone to look at her in surprise. ’She has a recording?’

With an expression of both innocence and vexation, An Ning said, ”What a coincidence. I just developed this miniature recording device a few days ago. I’ve been meaning to test it out, and I must have forgotten to turn it off. It’s the second button on my shirt. Do you want to take it off and have a look? I think I might have recorded something very interesting.”

”Oh, yes. A certain lady also came to see me.”

Those few sentences were finally enough to make the superior officer step forward.

”A misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. Miss An Ning was indeed just cooperating with our investigation. There were just some small misunderstandings between us. It’s not a big deal, no need to blow things out of proportion.”

”Quick, uncuff Miss An Ning. It’s all just a trivial matter.”

An Ning’s hands were freed. She shook her wrists, then casually plucked the second button from her shirt and held it up between two fingers.

”Oops, my mistake. It wasn’t on this shirt!”

The button fell through the air as if in slow motion, landing on the floor with a distinct CLICK. The sound was as loud as a resounding slap across certain people’s faces.

”Hello, Miss An Ning. I’m your legal counsel, Jin Xiang.”

”Hello. A pleasure to work with you.”

An Ning and Jin Xiang shook hands as if no one else was in the room, infuriating the group of officers opposite them.

Just as the leader of the opposing group was about to say something, his voice trembled. He looked at the man who had followed them in but had remained silent the whole time and swallowed hard.

”Chief... Chief... Chief...”

The man addressed as ”Chief” didn’t respond with a single word. He just grunted coldly, nodded, and turned to leave. In the darkness of the night, he got into a black sedan with very conspicuous license plates.

An Ning suddenly understood. ’So this was Jiang Xia’s trump card.’

’I knew it,’ she thought. ’There was no way Jiang Xia didn’t have any connections.’

Judging by the reactions of the people behind her, she could tell this man’s position was extraordinary.

An Ning walked out of the police station without any trouble. The lawyer, Jin Xiang, stayed behind to handle some follow-up matters, such as ensuring this incident wasn’t entered into An Ning’s permanent record.

’What? You want to put this on her record?’

’In that case, I’m afraid we’ll have to sue you for defamation.’

In the end, An Ning had basically gone in for a tour and come out completely unscathed.

After leaving the station and walking a short distance, a smile appeared on An Ning’s face. She headed toward a dark corner.

”Shouldn’t a missing person be, you know, missing? What are you doing wandering around out here?”

Hiding in the corner, Jiang Xia saw that An Ning was safe and sound, and the weight on his heart was finally lifted.

”I brought you some food.”

Leaning on a crutch with one hand, Jiang Xia held out a food container to An Ning with the other.

”You made this?”

”Mhm.”

”In that case, I have to eat this all by myself.”

An Ning’s precious expression made Jiang Xia desperately want to ruffle her hair, but after rubbing his fingers together in his palm, he didn’t dare to move.

Carrying an oversized food container, An Ning asked, ”Weren’t there a few too many people today? I think the lawyer and the reporters would have been enough. That other man showed up a bit early. Won’t it make Jiang Dongcheng and the others too guarded?”

”It’s not a big problem. Don’t worry.”

What Jiang Xia didn’t say was that he *was* worried.

He had to ensure everything was foolproof. He didn’t want any accidents happening to An Ning.

He was willing to play all his cards, no matter the cost.

An Ning, however, didn’t overthink it. If Jiang Xia said it was fine, then it was fine.

”Alright, I’ll walk you home.”

After she spoke, she saw Jiang Xia give a helpless smile and ask, ”Shouldn’t I be the one walking you home?”

”Cut the crap. Are you coming or not?”

”I’m coming.”

An Ning carried the container in one hand and supported Jiang Xia’s arm with the other. The two of them walked further and further away under the moonlight, their shadows intertwining behind them until they were indistinguishable.

After insisting on taking Jiang Xia home, An Ning returned to Zhou Xiaoshan’s house.

That night, an inconspicuous person carrying a state-of-the-art camera left Zhou Xiaoshan’s home.

As An Ning was getting ready for bed, Zhou Yicheng stared at her eagerly.

”You want it?”

”Mhm, mhm, mhm.”

Zhou Yicheng nodded frantically. Something the size of a grain of rice was incredibly important to them.

”You know, I’m a proper scientist from the future. Why don’t you try filing a report? I can’t just give it to you to take back and use. That would be against regulations, right?”

An Ning’s meaning couldn’t have been more obvious. She wanted to establish a cooperative relationship with the party Zhou Yicheng represented.

Zhou Yicheng understood and didn’t resist the idea.

Although An Ning’s methods were a bit wild, she had her principles.

”Alright!”

Zhou Yicheng agreed. An Ning smiled confidently and said, ”You won’t regret this. What you saw today was just the tip of the iceberg.”

An Ning pointed a finger at her own head and said, ”There’s a lot more where that came from.”

Zhou Yicheng’s pupils contracted as he watched An Ning enter a room.

Zhou Xiaoshan appeared from somewhere and pushed Zhou Yicheng’s wheelchair, saying, ”Dad, she’s my master. I’ll always believe in her.”

”I know.”

The father and son shared a tacit understanding and said no more.

It was now after two in the morning. For most people, there was still some time before they had to get up for work.

But for those in certain special industries, it was already time to begin their work.

As time passed, freshly printed newspapers were delivered to thousands of households.

A new day was about to begin.