Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

It was an ordinary morning, with people bustling about in their daily rush to make a living.

The number of hawkers shouting their wares from the streets was growing, and even the telephone poles lining the roads seemed to multiply. Construction vehicles were everywhere, paving the streets. Electric tricycles passed by from time to time, along with the occasional new car that wasn’t one of the usual boxy sedans.

All of this signaled that Huaxia was developing rapidly, but since the changes accumulated gradually in daily life, no one paid them much mind.

There was one place, however, that did attract a great deal of attention.

A four-story building on a prime piece of real estate in Beijing. It boasted brand-new renovations, white textured walls, several golden pillars, and clean, bright floor-to-ceiling windows. Through the windows, one could see a dazzling array of products inside.

Near the top of the building’s center, a plaque covered by a red cloth awaited its unveiling by the owner.

Just as passersby were casting curious glances, a massive television screen behind the glass windows suddenly lit up.

"Heavens, what is that?"

"Is that a TV?"

"How does it have color?"

"Color TVs exist, you know."

"Whose color TV is that big? Besides, have you ever seen one so clear? Look at that person—I feel like you can see their pores."

"You’re right... Oh, oh, it’s moving!"

The enormous color television inside the transparent floor-to-ceiling windows began to play its content.

A news report was being broadcast.

"Following an investigation, former ****** leader Xiao Xian has been removed from his ****** position for accepting bribes and embezzling funds totaling over 870,000 yuan."

"Following an investigation, former ****** employee Xiao Yan has been removed from her ****** position for accepting bribes and embezzling funds totaling over 450,000 yuan."

"Following an investigation...position."

"Following an investigation..."

Qiu Yue had wiped out the entire Xiao Family.

Even Jiang Xia hadn’t expected Qiu Yue to have so much concrete evidence in her possession.

The news report behind the transparent windows scrolled on continuously, seemingly without end.

Meanwhile, inside the detention center, Xiao Xian met with the one person he had never suspected: Qiu Yue.

The Qiu Yue before him now was different from the woman she used to be.

In the past, she had been gentle and without sharp edges, yet still possessed the grace of a family matriarch. Now, her sharpness was on full display as she sat across from Xiao Xian with a faint smile.

"We meet again."

Qiu Yue began with a smile. Across from her, Xiao Xian, save for the stubble around the corners of his lips, was as calm as ever. There was no anger, only a hint of confusion.

"Why? I thought we had the most solid foundation of mutual interest."

"Hehehe..."

Qiu Yue chuckled. Instead of answering, she countered with a question of her own. "You answer a question of mine, and I’ll answer one of yours. How about it?"

"Fair."

Xiao Xian softly uttered the single word. Qiu Yue pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth and asked the question she least wanted to ask, yet had always wanted to know.

"You and Xiao Yan... Why? Do you love her?"

After asking, Qiu Yue spoke again. "Forget it. I don’t actually want to know the answer to that question."

Qiu Yue raised an eyebrow and spoke again.

"Xiao Xian, I want to know... after you married me, did you and Xiao Yan ever have a physical relationship?"

"No."

Xiao Xian answered without hesitation. "I honored our agreement. Xiao Yan and I... it only happened once."

As he said this, a different expression finally appeared on Xiao Xian’s face.

"That one time was a mistake. I owe Xiao Yan, and I have to repay my debt."

Hearing this answer, Qiu Yue didn’t know whether she should be relieved or something else. She didn’t feel as good as she thought she would.

’It seems that no matter the answer, Xiao Xian never loved me, from start to finish, did he?’

"Why do you owe Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Xian looked into Qiu Yue’s eyes and found his answer there.

"You like me."

"Heheheheheh... HAHAHAHAHA..."

Qiu Yue laughed until tears streamed down her face, slapping one hand on the table. Unable to stop laughing, she said, "Hearing those words come out of your mouth... it’s just so laughable."

Qiu Yue’s laughter was desolate. Xiao Xian watched her in silence.

"Xiao Xian, you owe me an explanation, don’t you?"

"You’re right."

Xiao Xian agreed. He knew all too well he had no room to maneuver.

After a long silence, a distant look came into Xiao Xian’s eyes. "The Xiao Family had it too hard in the early years," he said. "It was Xiao Yan who found a way to earn money so I could continue my studies. She said I was the family’s only hope."

Xiao Xian paused. Qiu Yue seized on the key point. "Xiao Yan... what kind of work did she do?"

"You’re smart enough. You should have guessed."

Xiao Xian’s words made Qiu Yue’s pupils contract. She stared at him in disbelief.

"You... allowed it?"

With a hint of overwhelmed self-mockery, Xiao Xian said, "Not only did I allow it, I was her first client."

Qiu Yue glared at Xiao Xian. She felt like she was truly seeing the man before her for the first time.

All the disgust she had previously felt for Xiao Yan was suddenly released in that moment, replaced even by a trace of pity.

"Xiao Xian, I’m only just realizing... I never knew you. Not at all."

"How could you take that kind of money to study, to live?"

"You should know, Xiao Yan really fell in love with you."

"But you... you only love yourself."

Qiu Yue stood up and left without another word.

In the visitation room, Xiao Xian closed his eyes tightly. The memories were painful, but he felt little regret.

Even now, Xiao Xian only felt that he had made a single misstep; otherwise, the Xiao Family would never have stopped here.

Xiao Xian opened his eyes, his former clarity and composure returning. He murmured self-mockingly, "That’s right. I really do only care about myself."

Xiao Xian was led away. The downfall of the Xiao Family was now set in stone, with no possibility of a comeback.

As Qiu Yue walked out of the detention center, she immediately saw Jiang Xia waiting for her by his car.

Her steps were slightly heavy as she walked toward Jiang Xia, who was standing beside the car. "Congratulations," she said. "You won."

"I did win," Jiang Xia replied, "but there’s nothing to be happy about. My uncle, my grandmother, my mother, and that unborn child... they’re all gone."

Qiu Yue was at a loss for words.

’That’s right. All of those people were actually victims of Xiao Xian’s ambition.’

Xiao Xian had instructed Xiao Yan to seduce Jiang Dongcheng. And although Jiang Dongcheng’s own character played a significant role, the Xiao Family was truly the root cause, the catalyst.

"Do you mind?"

Qiu Yue took a pack of cigarettes from her bag, and with a flick of a delicate lighter, lit one up with a CLICK.

"No."

Jiang Xia shook his head. Qiu Yue slowly took a drag, letting the smoke roll over her tongue before slowly exhaling.

"So, when are you planning to release the news about Xiao Yan and Xiao Xian?"

"Hm?"

Jiang Xia hummed, a small smile playing on his lips. "I’m not going to release it. This secret is known only to us, and it will stay that way."

Qiu Yue’s hand, holding the cigarette, froze mid-air. She looked at Jiang Xia, confused. "Why? I thought you hated them."

"Hate is natural, and they’ve received their due punishment. As for this matter... there’s still an innocent person involved, isn’t there?"

"Someone once told me: ’Wield thunder in your hand, but leave mercy in your heart.’"

As Jiang Xia said this, a look of profound affection appeared on his face.

Qiu Yue dropped her cigarette to the ground and stubbed it out with her foot. She looked at Jiang Xia seriously. "Hold on tight to that person you mentioned. Goodbye."

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