Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

After An Ning hung up with An Guoping, the heavy stone of guilt in her heart was finally half-lifted.

”Sis, we can’t forget again.”

”Right. From now on, we’ll call separately. You make your calls, and I’ll make mine.”

After An Ning spoke, An Guoping nodded in firm agreement. He looked at her and asked, ”Sis, what are you thinking about?”

”I’m thinking, should we get a phone installed at home?”

This thought didn’t just slip away; it took root in her mind.

After the siblings returned to school, they went back to their respective dorms and went about their business.

The next day, after her morning exercises, An Ning went to Yu Zheng’s house on an empty stomach and had breakfast with Yu the Elder and Li Chengze.

After breakfast, the three of them began their lesson.

The lesson lasted from morning until noon. Yu Zheng had to call them for lunch three times before it finally ended.

The three of them had a simple lunch and then continued with their lesson.

By the end of the day, both Yu the Elder and Li Chengze felt invigorated, having spent the day feeling both mentally sharp and on edge.

An Ning didn’t stay for dinner. She had arranged to meet with Jiang Xia.

Yu Zheng drove An Ning to her destination. The ride was smooth. Sitting in the back, An Ning gazed absently into the rearview mirror.

”Yu Zheng, do you have a job?”

”No.”

”Then how do you and Yu the Elder cover your daily expenses?”

”My father’s salary is quite good. That, plus our savings and rent from our properties, is more than enough to support our current lifestyle. We even have some left over.”

’So that’s how it is.’

An Ning mulled it over for a moment before asking, ”Yu Zheng, would you be willing to be my... assistant?”

”You don’t have to agree just for Yu the Elder’s sake. Only if it’s what you want. I need someone to help me handle my personal affairs. The work is tedious, monotonous, and perhaps even boring.”

Yu Zheng, who was driving, didn’t agree right away. He kept the car steady and said, ”I’ll give it serious consideration.”

”That’s good.”

The two said no more, and they soon arrived at An Ning’s destination.

After Yu Zheng parked, he got out to open her door, holding his hand over the top of the doorframe as he invited An Ning to step out.

An Ning stepped out of the black sedan. Her ”commoner” attire seemed out of place before the hotel’s grand, imposing entrance, but the staff at the door didn’t stop her. After all, she had arrived in a private car.

”You can head back first.”

”Will you be long?”

An Ning thought for a moment, then shook her head. ”Not too long.”

Yu Zheng bowed slightly, standing by the car door. ”Then I will wait for you. Please take your time.”

”Okay.”

An Ning agreed without hesitation.

She walked through the revolving door and into the magnificent hotel lobby. Her eyes scanned the room, and she spotted Jiang Xia on a sofa in the reception area.

She walked over to him, and Jiang Xia stood up from the sofa, giving her a slight smile.

”Have you eaten?”

This was Jiang Xia’s first question. After seeing An Ning, he turned around mysteriously, retrieved a container, and placed it on the coffee table in the lobby.

”Eat first.”

An Ning, who was already starving, looked at the delicious-smelling and appetizing food. She sat down without any ceremony, picked up her chopsticks, and asked, ”Who made this? It smells amazing.”

Jiang Xia didn’t answer. He watched as An Ning took a couple of bites, then furrowed her brow cutely and said, ”It’s a bit like Master Tang’s cooking, but not quite.”

Jiang Xia gave An Ning a thumbs-up. ”Impressive!”

”I made it all. I learned a little from Master Tang and made a few improvements of my own. What do you think?”

”It’s delicious! It suits my tastes even better.”

After speaking, An Ning let her actions show Jiang Xia just how much she was enjoying the meal.

Two containers of rice, three containers of side dishes, and a bowl of soup—An Ning ate every last bite.

”Ahh... I’m stuffed. I haven’t been this full in a long time!”

An Ning felt like leaning back comfortably in her chair. A sense of satisfied languor softened her entire demeanor.

As Jiang Xia packed up the food containers, he said casually, ”When I go back to school, I’ll cook for you every day.”

”Huh? For real? You’d be that nice?”

An Ning sized up Jiang Xia, her eyes narrowing as she asked, ”Fess up. What’s your angle?”

A caught-in-the-act smile spread across Jiang Xia’s face. With a look of surrender, he said to An Ning, ”I really can’t hide anything from you. I’ve been skipping class, haven’t I? I’m afraid I’ve fallen behind, so I was hoping the great master could give me some remedial lessons.”

”No problem! Just remember to pay me in food.”

The two chatted, half-joking, and An Ning learned that Jiang Xia planned to return to school the following week.

”Is everything with the Xiao Family settled? Can you handle it?”

Jiang Xia wiped his hands with a napkin and said confidently, ”Don’t worry. I only made a move against Xiao Yan and Jiang Dongcheng. Those two alone aren’t enough to represent the entire Xiao Family.”

An Ning nodded. She didn’t press for details; this wasn’t the place to talk.

Soon, after a bit more small talk, An Ning left the hotel lobby. Jiang Xia followed behind, carrying the food containers to see her off. When they reached the entrance, Yu Zheng drove the car up and opened the door.

An Ning waved to Jiang Xia. ”Call me if you need anything.”

”Don’t worry, I will.”

Jiang Xia handed the food containers to An Ning. She took them, confused, and looked at him.

”For a late-night snack.”

”You’re too good to me.”

An Ning held the food containers and said to Jiang Xia, ”Thanks!”

Jiang Xia just smiled without a word, watching as An Ning got into the car. After greeting Yu Zheng, he watched the car slowly drive away.

After the car disappeared from sight, Jiang Xia turned and went back into the hotel. His aura was cold and proud, like a lone wolf.

Jiang Xia’s ambition was not small. Right now, he was using his identity as a Hong Kong investor to control Xiao Yan and Jiang Dongcheng, but the effectiveness of this identity wouldn’t last forever. He needed another platform where he held real influence.

Jiang Xia had already chosen this platform—the media.

As the old saying goes: if you want to condemn someone, you’ll never lack a pretext.

The media is a mouthpiece. It can make the innocent appear guilty and the guilty appear innocent.

Jiang Xia didn’t want to distort the truth, but there’s a world of difference between being armed and being unarmed.

And so, Jiang Xia’s busy period began. Meanwhile, as An Ning was returning, she encountered an expected, yet unexpected, visitor at the school gate.

As An Ning got out of the car, several ordinary-looking but clearly skilled martial artists blocked her path.

Yu Zheng immediately moved to stand in front of An Ning, but she calmed him from behind.

”When it comes to matters of force, I’ll handle it.”

”An Ning—”

A familiar voice called out. The martial artists in front of her parted, and Director Zhao appeared.

”You’re finally here.”

”Yes. Shall we talk?”

An Ning glanced around and said, half-jokingly, ”It seems I don’t have a choice, do I?”

”Don’t misunderstand... We don’t mean to force you.” Director Zhao pointed to the men beside him. ”They’re here for you to choose from. You can pick one for yourself, but we can talk about that after our discussion.”

”Alright. Can I take my own car?”

An Ning pointed to Yu Zheng’s car behind her, and Director Zhao readily agreed.

An Ning got into Yu Zheng’s car and followed Director Zhao’s car, heading toward an unknown destination.

’Sir, whether or not the future you desired can be realized... it all comes down to this.’