Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

The words were true, and Jiang Xia understood them instantly.

”Ah? Hmph. Okay.”

Jiang Xia responded with three interjections. His feelings were just as complicated as An Ning’s, but he was prepared.

The two of them didn’t say much more in front of everyone. They quietly finished breakfast and went back to their books.

This quiet life continued for another three days. Then, after receiving a phone call, Jiang Xia prepared to make his move.

After Jiang Xia hung up, An Ning asked knowingly, ”You’re going to find Qiu Yue?”

”Yes. Xiao Xian has made his move, so I have to give him a little something in return.”

An Ning asked curiously, ”What did Xiao Xian do?”

”You know my two companies? They’re being audited and have had their operations suspended for ’rectification.’”

An Ning nodded in understanding and asked, ”Do you need my help?”

Jiang Xia shook his head and said to An Ning, ”You’ve already given me the heavy artillery. I can’t let you down.”

”True. Don’t embarrass me.”

An Ning raised a small fist. She watched Jiang Xia leave the room, and soon she could hear Grandpa Jiang’s nagging voice from the courtyard.

”What are you going out for?” ”Do you have to go?”

”Why can’t someone else go? Why does it have to be you?”

”Be careful!”

The worried Grandpa Jiang walked Jiang Xia all the way to the gate. As he watched him get into the car, fear began to creep into his heart.

Uncle Jiang, who had come out with them, said reassuringly, ”He’ll be fine. Jiang Xia knows what he’s doing.”

”Besides, you’re someone who’s seen it all. When did you become so timid?”

Grandpa Jiang looked at Uncle Jiang, the worry in his eyes completely undisguised. ”You two are all I have left.”

That single sentence conveyed all the old man’s heartache, making Uncle Jiang fall silent for a moment. He reached out, took Grandpa Jiang’s hand, and said, ”Dad—”

”What do you think you’re doing?! Grown men holding hands? Let go.”

Grandpa Jiang, who had seemed sick with worry just a second before, now shook off Uncle Jiang’s hand in disgust, his expression shifting with incredible naturalness.

”You know, that’s your problem. You’re too upright. You believe whatever anyone tells you.”

”If I didn’t pretend to be worried and give that brat something to keep him on his toes, he’d go and poke a hole in the sky.”

With that final complaint, Grandpa Jiang strolled away under Uncle Jiang’s crushed gaze. Hands clasped behind his back and humming a little tune, he showed no trace of his earlier sadness.

Uncle Jiang shook his head and sighed. ”Just as I thought. I’m the biggest fool in this family.”

An Ning, who had witnessed the entire exchange from her window, was truly impressed by Grandpa Jiang’s performance.

She turned, picked up the phone, and dialed Director Zhao’s number.

The call connected quickly, and An Ning asked Director Zhao about some matters concerning the Xiao Family.

”We’re investigating, but it will take some time. It’s best to have direct evidence.”

An Ning understood what Director Zhao meant. The Xiao Family was very likely corrupt, but they had covered their tracks so well that they hadn’t left much incriminating evidence behind.

”Okay, I understand.”

An Ning hung up, her thoughts turning to Jiang Xia. ’If he really manages to get to Xiao Xian’s wife, Qiu Yue, the evidence will probably land right in our laps.’

An Ning sat in her wheelchair, staring blankly out the window as she, too, planned to go out.

’Staying cooped up at home all the time isn’t going to solve anything.’

Just as An Ning was wondering how to get Lin Cuihua’s approval, a visitor arrived.

Yin Xuemei’s arrival was met with immense enthusiasm from Lin Cuihua—so much so that it made Yin Xuemei a little uneasy.

After sitting down in An Ning’s room, Yin Xuemei asked uncertainly, ”Did I somehow offend your mom?”

An Ning shook her head. She was just as baffled, but she offered a comforting reply. ”Don’t worry about it. My mom just genuinely likes you.”

”Oh... alright.”

Yin Xuemei still felt that something wasn’t quite right, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Deciding not to dwell on it, she got straight to the purpose of her visit.

”An Ning, a while ago, didn’t you ask me to find a history professor at Beijing University named Anna?”

”Mhm, did you find her?”

”Yes, I just got in touch with her.”

Yin Xuemei explained that she had gone looking for Anna right after An Ning first mentioned her, but Anna hadn’t been home. She’d heard that Anna had taken leave to travel, though she didn’t know the specifics.

Since then, Yin Xuemei had been checking every few days and had finally met her in person yesterday.

”I told her your name and about what happened on the train. She got very emotional and wants to see you.”

”Okay, you can just bring her here.”

Yin Xuemei nodded and lowered her voice. ”She’s waiting by the phone at home. She said that if you agree, they’ll come over themselves.”

Hearing this, An Ning didn’t wait and dialed the number immediately.

An Ning quickly gave her the address and phone number, and Anna said they would arrive soon.

The urgency in her voice made An Ning sense that she needed to talk to her about something important.

Yin Xuemei didn’t stay long. She never seemed to have enough time in the day; with her shop and classes, everything demanded her time and energy.

As An Ning saw Yin Xuemei out, Lin Cuihua appeared from nowhere, carrying a basket that she insisted on stuffing into Yin Xuemei’s hands.

”Aunty, I don’t need this.”

”Take it. It’s all tea made by Master Tang. Brew some when you get home—it’s good for you and will help you sleep. Look at the dark circles under your eyes. You must be exhausted and not sleeping well.”

Unable to refuse, Yin Xuemei had no choice but to leave with the basket of tea and pastries.

Back in the courtyard, An Ning raised an eyebrow at Lin Cuihua, blocking her path. Wanting to get to the bottom of things, she asked, ”Mom, fess up. What are you really up to?”

Lin Cuihua looked at her equally clueless daughter, poked her firmly on the forehead, and said, ”So dense!”

”Everyone says I’m a genius, so how am I dense? Explain yourself! Hey, don’t walk away!”

An Ning pushed her wheelchair, chasing after Lin Cuihua, but her mother deliberately refused to tell her. ’What if I say something and she actually figures it out?’

Although Lin Cuihua was eager for her son to get married, she wasn’t at all eager for her daughter to do the same.

’Getting married is the biggest gamble in a girl’s life, and it’s not something to be taken lightly.’

’It’s better for her to stay clueless a while longer. That way, when she’s a bit older, she’ll know more and have seen more of the world.’

Having received no answer from Lin Cuihua, a dejected An Ning stopped chasing her and simply stared up at the sky from the courtyard.

’What could the reason be?’

’Maybe I should ask for an outside opinion? My younger brother is definitely out. My older brother is a long shot... How about my second brother?’

Just as An Ning had an idea and was about to act on it, there was another knock on the main gate.

She immediately realized it must be Anna. She lived in the residential buildings for Beijing University, which was very close by.

”Coming.”

An Ning wheeled herself over to open the gate. The moment she did, she understood the reason for Anna’s urgency.

”An Ning—”

”Don’t worry. We’ll figure something out.”

With her left hand, Anna held onto the little boy from the train, Treasure.

Treasure, who should have been a lively and active boy, now had a dull, vacant gaze. His movements were sluggish, and he stood stiffly beside Anna like a soulless wooden doll.