Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

Are you willing to sell it?

If he were a typical street performer, he probably would have sold it.

But clearly, the street performer An Ning had encountered was not a typical one.

The old man let go of the lapel he was clutching, sizing up An Ning as he asked, ”What price are you offering?”

An Ning answered openly, ”I don’t know the specific materials of your erhu, but I’d guess they’re high-quality. As for the price, I have no basis for one. Do you?”

”If not, why don’t we go to that instrument shop over there and get it appraised?”

An Ning’s sincere question made the old man across from her break into a genuine smile.

”You’re quite an interesting girl.”

In the space of a single sentence, the pitiful old street performer’s entire demeanor underwent a heaven-and-earth-shattering change.

At that moment, An Ning realized the old man before her was no ordinary person. He was probably just bored at home and had come out to experience life.

’No wonder that erhu is so special.’

”My apologies. I was too forward.”

An Ning cupped her hands in a salute, preparing to leave.

”Wait. A young girl like you needs to have more patience.”

The old man told An Ning to follow him. Feeling no fear, An Ning followed the old man with her crutch, walking deeper and deeper into the alleyway.

The old man beside her admired An Ning’s courage.

”Aren’t you afraid?”

”Afraid of what?”

An Ning truly didn’t know what there was to be afraid of. Her faith was in herself.

”Hahaha! You’ve got guts.”

The old man laughed heartily, like a hidden master or a heroic swordsman from a novel.

The old man and the young woman walked for twenty minutes before arriving at a large black gate.

”We’re here. Do you dare go in, girl?”

”Isn’t it a little late to be asking now?”

An Ning’s response made the old man laugh loudly as he knocked on the gate.

The knocking was answered almost immediately.

The black gate swung open to reveal a person dressed in an opera costume. Upon seeing the old man, they feigned anger but spoke with genuine affection, ”You went out to pretend to be a blind man again.”

”What, do I need to report my every move to you?!”

The old man put on a stern face, but the costumed person who opened the gate wasn’t scared at all and just let out a cold snort.

”Hmph! I’m going to go tattle!”

”Hey—don’t, don’t, don’t—”

The old man blocked the costumed person’s path, pleading placatingly, ”Don’t tell Haitang. I won’t go again, alright?”

His pitiful appearance made him seem like a completely different person from the old man from just a moment ago.

Left with no choice, the costumed person who opened the gate could only warn, ”If you go again, I’ll tell Master Haitang.”

”I promise I won’t go!”

The old man made his promise, and the costumed person stepped aside to let him and An Ning enter.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, An Ning discovered it was full of people in opera costumes, all hurrying back and forth. The faint sound of singing reached her ears, and An Ning looked toward the sound.

Up ahead, there seemed to be a stage.

”Have you eaten? Are you hungry?”

The costumed person who had opened the gate asked An Ning this, and before she could answer, two pastries were pressed into her palm.

”Have a little something to tide you over. I still have a part to play. If you go over there, someone will take care of you.”

Not understanding what was happening, An Ning watched the costumed person hurry toward the front, then could only look to the old man at her side.

”Girl, you wait here for a bit. We’ll talk about the erhu later. I have to go on stage now.”

By now, the old man’s face was clean, he had changed his clothes, and he was running toward the front, erhu in hand.

Having no idea what she was supposed to do, An Ning simply followed the old man.

Soon, a chaotic opera backstage area appeared before her.

The clear sound of singing, the beat of gongs, drums, and suonas, and the sudden appearance of the erhu on stage made An Ning realize she was in the midst of an opera troupe.

As for what play it was or how well it was being sung, An Ning had no idea.

Knowledge of this sort was completely absent in the interstellar era.

The lilting, melodious sounds and unique rhythms fascinated An Ning.

Her head involuntarily bobbed up and down with the rhythm, and one of her fingers waved in the air.

”Haitang is here.”

The phrase ”Haitang is here” made An Ning, who had been enjoying the music with her eyes closed, open them. She saw a gorgeous traditional Chinese dress, an exquisite yet heavy headdress, makeup with a unique charm, and a distinctive gait.

”So beautiful!”

Her soft murmur caused Haitang to nod and smile at An Ning. Haitang then performed a Beijing Opera salute before gliding gracefully onto the stage.

With Haitang’s appearance, the audience out front erupted in cheers.

”The ice wheel on the sea isle has just begun to rise—”

That voice... An Ning didn’t know how to describe it.

If opera singing had a ceiling, this would probably be it.

Peeking through a gap in the curtains, she saw that Haitang’s every movement was part of the drama, every frown and smile brimming with emotion.

”She’s amazing, isn’t she?”

”Haitang? Of course. He’s a star performer. All these people in the audience came just for him.”

”She is amazing.”

An Ning listened to an entire opera from backstage.

When it ended, thunderous applause erupted from outside. An Ning clapped along, suddenly wanting very much to meet this opera singer, Haitang.

’If only I could record a few segments and transmit them to the interstellar society, that would be wonderful.’

”Girl, what are you doing here? Come on, follow me.”

An Ning was called away by the old erhu player, who had just come off stage. She glanced at Haitang taking a bow on the main stage; he wouldn’t be free for a while.

”Coming.”

An Ning followed the old man to the back courtyard, where they found a quiet spot to sit and talk.

”I haven’t introduced myself. This old man is called Hu Dahai. And you?”

”My name is An Ning.”

”An Ning. A good name, a very good name. Isn’t a peaceful and quiet life all a person wants in the end?”

The old man murmured this sentimentally, placing the erhu in his hands on the table. The affection in his eyes was genuine.

”How much do you think this old friend of mine would sell for?”

”Are you really going to sell it? I can tell you’re very fond of it.”

The old man stroked the erhu with one hand and said magnanimously, ”In life, there are many things one is fond of.”

”But don’t you always have to trade something you like for something you like even more?”

”Perhaps.”

Hearing An Ning’s uncertain reply, the old man spoke in a way that was slightly preachy, pulling rank with his age but not in an annoying way, ”If you get everything you want, you must be dreaming.”

”But, it’s also good that you don’t know that yet.”

An Ning gave a faint smile and pointed at the old man’s erhu. ”Your erhu should be very valuable, but I’m not an expert, so I don’t know the exact amount.”

Her sincere words made the old man laugh heartily.

”You’re my kind of girl. This erhu has been passed down for several generations. I never lost it, not even during the chaotic years of war. I even relied on this thing to perform in operas.”

”I don’t really know the specific materials either. I heard from my grandfather that our ancestors were also opera performers. Back then, there was an official who liked our family’s performances and gifted them some things, which were made into this erhu.”

”How about... one thousand?”

The old man said tentatively. An Ning hesitated, unsure whether to nod.

”It’s not for sale.”

A firm voice came from their side.

An Ning turned her head. A man was approaching, his gait indescribably graceful. His posture had a relaxed nobility, as if a young nobleman from ancient times, or perhaps a Prince, had walked straight out of a painting.

He was the second most handsome man An Ning had ever seen.