Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

A resonant ”Come in!” prompted An Ning, who was at the door, to enter without a second’s delay. However, she left a small crack when she closed the door.

Inside the office, Sun Qian was perhaps too worked up to notice An Ning’s subtle move.

After An Ning entered, Sun Qian was busy with some files, not even bothering to lift her head.

It was a classic intimidation tactic—the silent treatment. An Ning had no time for games.

”Are you having trouble understanding the files, Professor? Or is there a difficult problem you need my help with?”

Sun Qian remained silent.

”Oh... I’ll be on my way, then.”

Just as An Ning turned to leave, Sun Qian slammed the folder in front of her shut.

”What kind of attitude is that? Is that how a student should act toward a teacher?”

An Ning, already at the door, half-turned, wearing that faint smile Sun Qian detested.

”I’m a student, which means I’m here to learn from my teacher. My attitude will simply mirror yours.”

Stunned into silence by An Ning’s retort, Sun Qian didn’t take the bait. Instead, she suddenly laughed.

”An Ning, I’m officially notifying you to move out of your school-assigned dormitory.”

”May I know the reason, Professor? As far as I’m aware, students have the right to choose whether to live in the dorms or off-campus. We can’t just be evicted.”

”Really? That’s news to me.”

The smug look on Sun Qian’s face was unmistakable. Finally feeling she had the upper hand, she looked at An Ning, her voice laced with triumph. ”You were originally supposed to be in an eight-person room. I’m just making you move out of your current one, that’s all.”

”Is that so... May I ask why?”

”Enough with the questions! Just pack your things and move! This is the address of your new dorm.”

With a flick of her wrist, Sun Qian sent a palm-sized piece of paper fluttering down to An Ning’s feet.

An Ning didn’t even glance at it. ”I’m not moving,” she said flatly.

”You dare!”

Sun Qian slammed her hand on the desk and shot to her feet, pointing at An Ning. ”I’m your advisor! I suggest you learn what’s good for you! Otherwise, I’ll teach you just how hard life can be!”

An Ning ducked her head, a smile turning into an audible laugh. She casually pulled out a chair and sat down, extending her spiritual power outward. Then, she asked in a satisfied tone, ”I’m extremely curious. Who gave a professor this much authority?”

”The school assigns a dorm, and you can tell me I can’t live there anymore? You’re going to make my life ’difficult’? I thought I came here to study and serve my country one day, not to get a lesson in the abuse of power.”

”Hmph!”

Sun Qian snorted, the contempt in her voice undisguised.

”An Ning, you have no idea how big this world really is.”

”Actually, there is a way out... If you change your story, graduating won’t be an issue. Otherwise... You’re a smart girl. I’m sure you understand.”

An Ning feigned a look of sudden understanding. She rested her hands on the desktop and leaned forward, her eyes curious and her tone careful.

”Are you referring to... the matter with Jiang Xia, Professor?”

Now that An Ning had said it outright, Sun Qian gave a slight nod. ”So you’re not completely clueless.”

”Oh... so that’s what this is about. I wonder who you’re delivering this message for, Professor?”

An Ning sat up straight, waiting for Sun Qian’s answer.

”Don’t ask questions that don’t concern you. Just do what you need to do, and your diploma will be in your hands, no problem.”

Sun Qian leaned back in her chair, reveling in the intoxicating feeling of control.

”A class advisor... has that much power?”

An Ning asked in disbelief, receiving a cold reply from Sun Qian.

”It’s more than enough to handle you.”

BANG!

”Bullshit!”

”I wouldn’t even dare to say that! Who gave you the authority to?”

The principal, who had been listening outside for who knows how long, finally burst in and started laying into Sun Qian, his finger pointed right at her.

Civility and politeness could wait.

”Principal... It’s a misunderstanding. I didn’t... I wasn’t...”

Sun Qian tried to explain, but the principal gave her no opportunity—or more accurately, didn’t believe her in the slightest.

”An Ning, you rest easy and stay right where you are. There will be no problems with your dorm or your diploma. I’m making my position clear today: if anyone dares to give you trouble, you come straight to me!”

”In a university as big as this, it’s not for some outsider to come in and throw their weight around!”

An Ning stood and bowed in sincere thanks, a completely different person from the one who had confronted Sun Qian just moments before.

”What’s your name?”

The principal directed his glare at Sun Qian. Before she could answer, he continued, ”Actually, it doesn’t matter. I don’t care who you are. As of this moment, you are no longer this class’s advisor. As for whether you’ll remain a teacher here, the committee will decide after a review.”

”For now, you’re suspended, pending investigation.”

After he finished speaking, the principal walked over to the desk, picked up the phone, and dialed a number. Just like that, Sun Qian’s suspension pending investigation was finalized.

Not only was it finalized, but An Ning’s class also got a new advisor: Yu the Elder.

Yu the Elder was the advisor in name only; his assistant, Li Chengze, handled most of the day-to-day affairs.

As the group was leaving the administration building, the principal stopped An Ning to have a word with her.

The gist of it was an exhortation to cherish this opportunity and study hard. He told her she should put her intelligence to good use, that the country needed people like her, and that she absolutely must not waste her talent.

An Ning showed no impatience. She listened attentively and agreed to everything he said.

The principal left, still fuming. He was planning on having a little ”chat” with certain people to remind them not to overstep their bounds.

With the issue of her class advisor perfectly resolved, An Ning returned to her routine, dutifully following her schedule and attending her classes.

However, she always sat at the very back of the classroom, multitasking so she could listen to the lecture while also working on her designs.

After calling on her once, her professors learned to leave her be.

「Three days later.」

Jiang Xia still hadn’t registered for classes.

Things were quiet at Beijing University, and Xiao Yan hadn’t made any new moves either.

Today, however, there was a bit of a buzz on campus. Banners had been hung at the school entrance and across the main square.

An Ning and Luo Li stood together, looking up at a banner. An Ning read it aloud unconsciously, ”Welcome to Mr. Jiang, our visiting businessman from Hong Kong.”

”Mr. Jiang? They didn’t even use his full name?”

Luo Li muttered, missing the fleeting smile on An Ning’s face.

”Luo Li, can I come over to your place tonight?”

”Of course! I already talked to my family the day before yesterday, and they’re fine with it. Let’s meet at our dorm after the last class.”

”Okay, thank you.”

An Ning thanked her, and Luo Li waved it off. The two parted ways at a fork in the path, each heading to their own class.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan’s office was bustling. A businessman from Hong Kong had returned to the mainland, preparing to make a major investment, which was an event of great importance for them.

A few days prior, Xiao Yan had been summoned home for dinner by the family patriarch.

It was ostensibly a dinner, but in reality, it was a reprimand.

He warned Xiao Yan to stop causing trouble over the Jiang Xia affair and, more importantly, to stay out of matters at Beijing University.

After leaving the Xiao family estate, Xiao Yan had to suppress her resentment. Besides, with the arrival of the Hong Kong businessman, she genuinely had no time to spare.

She just couldn’t figure out what connection this businessman had to Beijing University to make it his very first stop.

In any case, as the person specifically assigned to manage his visit, she couldn’t afford any distractions.