Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

She had learned six languages in three days. While she wasn’t yet fluent, she had absolutely no trouble reading them, as she now knew all the vocabulary.

This person was An Ning. It could only be An Ning.

The name An Ning once again became a hot topic at Beijing University.

Three days later, An Ning disappeared from the public eye once more. Not a trace of her could be found on the Beijing University campus.

The more gossipy students did some digging and learned that An Ning had taken another leave of absence.

Many people were curious about the reason for her leave, but no one spread baseless rumors.

Perhaps it was because An Ning had left such a deep impression on everyone in such a short time. They all placed her on an unattainable pedestal and didn’t dare to start malicious rumors about her.

In the interim, the Mathematics Department released a short statement: due to her exceptional mathematical abilities, An Ning had been recruited to work at a research institute.

Once the explanation was out, even those who wanted to slander An Ning shut their mouths.

An Ning was finally left in peace. She had taken this leave to handle two matters, the first of which was to move her patents forward.

That same day, An Ning arranged a meeting with Director Zhao. She gave him all the legal and translated documents she had prepared.

Director Zhao looked at the mountain of materials and asked jokingly, "In such a hurry?"

"Yes, I’m in a great hurry. The sooner this is settled, the sooner I can start making money."

An Ning made no effort to hide her intentions, even adding, "All my previous research was done under contract, but they weren’t one-time deals. I retain the primary right to modify all the technology."

"If the patents are approved, I will be collecting royalties on all of them."

Director Zhao, sitting across from her, didn’t find her request excessive. This was a very normal course of action.

"Rest assured, I will push this forward."

"Thank you."

An Ning took out another file, which was just as thick, and placed it heavily on the table.

"Once the patents are successful, all my patent income will be divided into three parts. One part will be for a research fund. This fund won’t be for sponsoring new research, but for increasing the salaries and benefits of researchers."

"The second part is for a fund to support farmers. My parents are both farmers. If they didn’t have a good child or some exceptional ability, they would likely live out their old age in poverty. So, I want to use this portion of the money to create a safety net for them."

"The third part will be for building schools, offering better pay to attract teachers, and helping children in remote areas get an education. Children are the future, and our future shouldn’t just consist of children from the cities."

After An Ning finished her explanation, Director Zhao was silent for a long moment.

"I’m sorry. I’m ashamed. I never imagined you would do this. If you give it all away, doesn’t that mean you won’t have a single cent for yourself?"

An Ning shook her head.

"I may be noble, but I’m not as noble as you think. This patent money is the result of my knowledge, and my knowledge didn’t come from thin air. It’s built on the efforts of all those who came before me. I am willing to give this back to society."

"As for everything else, rest assured, I will have a place on the list of the wealthiest business people in the future."

An Ning’s confidence made Director Zhao chuckle.

"My thinking was too narrow. But I still thank you. Even though I have no right to speak for others, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"You’re welcome."

An Ning and Director Zhao shook hands, having reached an agreement on the matter of the patents.

With the arrangements for the patent fees in place, An Ning was confident that Director Zhao would do his utmost to push the matter forward.

An Ning left the meeting place, ready to handle her second task.

But before that, she needed to see Jiang Xia.

Following the address, An Ning found Jiang Xia’s current residence and knocked on the door.

With a CREAK, the door opened to reveal Jiang Xia, dressed in loose casual clothes and an apron.

"Come in, quick! I’ve still got food on the stove."

Holding a spatula in one hand, Jiang Xia hurried back to the kitchen to continue cooking.

"There’s fruit and some snacks on the table. Just have a little for now, we’re about to eat."

"That white towel is new, you can use it to dry your hands."

"There are slippers under the sofa. If you’re tired, change into them and relax for a bit."

As Jiang Xia called out instructions, An Ning replied to each one. Making herself at home, she washed her hands, changed into the slippers, and sat down to eat some fruit.

Less than ten minutes later, Jiang Xia came in with a plate of food, set it on the table, and said, "Time to eat."

"Okay, I’ll help."

"No need."

Although Jiang Xia said he didn’t need help, An Ning still got up to lend a hand, ultimately just bringing back two pairs of chopsticks.

When they both sat down, An Ning took an appreciative sniff of the dishes on the table, picked up her chopsticks nostalgically, and said, "Your cooking skills are out of this world."

"If you like it, eat up."

Jiang Xia used the serving chopsticks to place a piece of Guo Bao Rou on An Ning’s plate. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a sweet and sour flavor that whetted the appetite.

Throughout the meal, An Ning ate with gusto while Jiang Xia diligently kept her plate full.

The two of them finished every last bite of the four dishes and one soup.

After the meal, Jiang Xia cleared the table while An Ning was handed a pot of hawthorn berry tea to sip slowly.

An Ning cradled the pot of tea, sitting on a chair just outside the kitchen, watching Jiang Xia bustle about inside.

"Jiang Xia, did you use the information I gave you?"

"Not yet. Do you want to come along? I was planning to go today."

An Ning’s interest was piqued. "Why wait until now?" she asked.

"You have to let Jiang Dongcheng cherish something first, and then take it away. Isn’t that so much more dramatic?"

An Ning put down her cup and asked, "You’re saying that Jiang Xia and Jiang Dongcheng are getting along well?"

"Mhm."

Jiang Xia dried his hands and came out of the kitchen. "Very well," he said. "It was Jiang Xia who took Jiang Dongcheng to the hospital, and he’s been going to take care of him every day since."

’So that’s how it is.’

"Actually..." Jiang Xia trailed off, but under An Ning’s pointed gaze, he continued, "This Jiang Xia isn’t a bad person at his core. He does have an intellectual disability—the mental age of a seven or eight-year-old—but he’s simple and pure, without any ulterior motives. That’s probably what Jiang Dongcheng needs most right now."

"Are you hesitating?"

"No."

Jiang Xia shook his head firmly. "It’s just a bit of a shame, and I feel a little pity for him, that’s all. But it won’t change my mind."

An Ning agreed with Jiang Xia’s point of view. ’Once someone is your enemy, you shouldn’t show them any pity. It won’t make you seem noble, nor will it make your enemy hate you any less.’

Jiang Xia finally finished cleaning up. He grabbed the file folder An Ning had given him and invited her to come to the hospital with him to watch the show.

An Ning happily agreed to go. She disliked both Xiao Yan and Jiang Dongcheng.

The two arrived at the hospital, and Jiang Xia navigated to Jiang Dongcheng’s room with familiarity. As luck would have it, Xiao Yan was there.

You had to understand, ever since Xiao Yan’s face had been slashed, she had never once left her hospital room.

Inside the room, the moment Jiang Dongcheng saw Jiang Xia, he grabbed the tea mug at his bedside and hurled it at him.

"Get out! You animal! Get out!"

Jiang Xia stepped in front of An Ning, using his arm to block the mug and the yellowish tea that sloshed out of it.

Brushing the tea leaves and water off his clothes with one hand, he retorted, "If I’m an animal, then what does that make you?"

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