Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

’Earning foreign money?’

It had to be said, An Guoming had a sharp eye for things.

An Ning had been thinking along the same lines this time around.

The past few years had been a period of quiet, independent growth for Huaxia as it built its strength.

Most of An Ning’s patents had been applied domestically, helping the country catch up to foreign technology. Now, they had done so.

But the main source of her patent fees was still domestic. An Ning wanted to shift her focus to collecting them from foreign entities instead.

She wanted to use foreign patent fees to fund her desired technology and rural subsidy programs—or, in other words, to help both sectors develop even better.

”Got it, Second Brother. I’ll keep it in mind. It’ll happen.”

”Alright. Go help Hei Dan’er with his homework.”

An Guoming left and went to find Yin Xuemei.

’It’s Yin Xuemei’s first day in the family,’ he thought. ’I’m the person she knows best, so I should be by her side.’

But when An Guoming came out, he saw Yin Xuemei snapping beans with Lin Cuihua and his sister-in-law. They were chatting and laughing, showing no sign of the awkwardness or discomfort he had imagined.

’Sigh, what’s wrong with me? What was I thinking?’

With nothing else to do, An Guoming grabbed a small stool, sat down next to Yin Xuemei, and joined them in snapping beans.

He’d taken a few days off for the wedding and had originally planned to take Yin Xuemei on a trip to travel and have some fun.

But Yin Xuemei didn’t want to.

As Yin Xuemei put it, they spent most of their time working away from home, so they were always busy and rarely had the chance to truly spend an extended period in the village.

So, she’d chosen to stay in the village. They would have plenty of time to travel together later.

An Guoming, of course, had no objections. He treasured his time at home, too.

”Hey, Number Two! What are you doing? Time to work the fields!”

At An Guoqing’s shout, An Guoming stood up, weary in his heart, and walked out without daring to protest.

If there was one thing he hated about being home, it was probably having to work in the fields.

He didn’t know if he was just naturally cursed when it came to farming, but he was terrible at every task in the fields.

During the sweet potato harvest two years ago, he’d ruined so many that Lin Cuihua still nagged him about it whenever she remembered.

The three brothers and their father, An Sancheng, went off to work in the fields, while the eldest sister-in-law left for the breeding farm.

These days, the farm was mostly run by hired hands, but someone still needed to be there to supervise and arrange things.

Only the children, Lin Cuihua, An Ning, and Yin Xuemei were left at the house.

A short while later, An Ning was also getting ready to head out to the county seat.

Yin Xuemei, an apron tied around her waist, asked, ”Will you be back for dinner?”

”I’m not sure. I should be, but if not, I’ll call home.”

”Alright, then. I’ll make you something delicious. Hold on, let me get you some snacks.”

Yin Xuemei went into the house and returned with a small cloth bag, which she pressed into An Ning’s hands. ”There are some pastries in here, plus some plum candies and milk toffees. Have one if you get bored. I also packed you some water and a pack of tissues. Should you take a jacket? Won’t you get cold driving with the air conditioning on?”

An Ning had to quickly stop Yin Xuemei, who was fussing over her just like Lin Cuihua would.

”I don’t need anything else, this is more than enough, my dear sister-in-law.”

Hearing An Ning call her ”sister-in-law” made Yin Xuemei blush, then she beamed. ”Now we’re truly family.”

”Yes. We always have been.”

An Ning patted the back of Yin Xuemei’s hand, said goodbye to Lin Cuihua, and drove off in the family’s SUV.

After leaving Shili Gou, she was on the highway within minutes. Driving at a steady clip, she reached the county seat in less than an hour.

Compared to the bumpy, hours-long trips it used to take, this felt like nothing at all.

An Ning drove to Green Land in the county seat, parked in a marked space, and went inside to look around.

The county seat’s Green Land had expanded twice in the past five years.

Its footprint had grown larger and larger, as had the variety of goods it sold.

The current Green Land was divided into two sections. One sold produce, grains, dried goods, meat, eggs, and dairy—the staples of daily life. The other part was a general supermarket.

Although there were other places in the county seat that sold vegetables, some at lower prices, Green Land was still wildly popular.

There was no helping it. Flavor was king.

Green Land’s produce, its rice, flour, and other grains, as well as its daily fresh-butchered pork and seasonal fruits, were all highly sought-after goods.

If you arrived too late, it was a shame, but everything would be gone—sold out.

As An Ning walked inside, she overheard a few middle-aged women speaking with great regret.

”We missed out on the watermelons. What am I going to do? My little grandson is crying for one. I told his dad to come and line up early, just come and line up early, but he wouldn’t listen. It’s making me so angry.”

”Tell me about it. I wanted to come early, but who knew they’d sell out so fast?”

”And buying a different watermelon is out of the question. The taste is just worlds apart. My husband’s gotten so picky now. If it’s not a vegetable from Green Land, he won’t even take a bite.”

”It’s the same at my house. But their vegetables really are that good. My kid is growing up so healthy.”

’Turns out everyone likes to hear good things about their work,’ she thought as their conversation faded into the distance. She walked further in, a pleasant feeling washing over her.

Inside Green Land, the display areas were clean, tidy, and neatly arranged.

The fruits and vegetables looked impeccably fresh, and their rich, sweet fragrance was wonderfully uplifting.

After a quick tour, An Ning headed toward the staff area in the back, but someone stepped in her way.

”I’m sorry, this is a staff-only— You’re An Ning, right?”

The girl who stopped her suddenly recognized her, and An Ning searched her memory.

”Oh, I remember you. The stubborn little girl from our grand opening. Shan Xing’er, right?”

”Yes, yes, yes, yes! It’s me! It’s me! You actually remember me? That’s amazing!”

An Ning smiled but didn’t say anything. Shan Xing’er, who was now a manager, led her to an office in the back, where they found Liu Yiyi going over the accounts.

”An Ning! What brings you here?”

”Sit, sit! What would you like to drink? Are you hot? Have you eaten yet?”

For a moment, Liu Yiyi seemed at a loss for how to properly host her.

”Don’t mind me, finish your work. I’m not in a hurry. I’m mainly here to ask you about a personal matter.”

”Oh—alright. Just give me a moment. I’ll be quick.”

Liu Yiyi went back to her work.

’She looks so capable when she’s working,’ An Ning thought. ’That, combined with her refined, ladylike aura... no wonder Master Tang fell for her at first sight.’

Liu Yiyi was indeed fast. After finishing her calculations, she asked the others to leave. She then sat down across from An Ning and asked, ”What’s this personal matter?”

”Should I just be direct?”

”Go ahead. I know your personality.”

An Ning nodded and smiled. ”You’re right. It wouldn’t be me if I beat around the bush.”

”I came today for two things. First, I want to ask you, do you have a boyfriend or someone you’re interested in?”

”I— I don’t.”