Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

Far away in the southern city of Hua Cheng, Hua Cheng held his phone to his ear and asked An Ning, sounding unsure.

It wasn’t that he was stupid; it was just that An Ning hadn’t made this call in at least three years.

The last time she had called was when they had first exchanged contact information.

"If you’re Hua Cheng, then you’re the one I’m looking for."

"Then I am. Just tell me what you need."

Hua Cheng’s absolute respect for An Ning wasn’t just due to his brother’s feelings for her; it was also because of An Ning’s own formidable power.

An Ning explained Hei Niu’s situation. Hua Cheng felt a sense of resistance in his heart—not because he disliked Hei Niu, but because of an embarrassing experience he’d had.

However, because An Ning was the one asking, and because of Hei Niu’s filial piety, he agreed.

The two quickly ended the call, and An Ning went back to her romance novel.

Hua Cheng, on the other hand, instructed his assistant to find a few people who frequented the deep mountains to gather some basic information. He didn’t like being unprepared.

"Understood, Mr. Hua."

The assistant didn’t leave after speaking. Hua Cheng immediately understood there was something else.

"Speak."

"Miss Mao is here again. She’s in the lobby and refuses to leave."

When Hua Cheng heard the name, his brow furrowed in disgust.

"Have security carry her out!"

"Yes, Mr. Hua."

The assistant turned and left, ready to strictly carry out Hua Cheng’s orders.

Hua Cheng angrily tossed a pen onto his desk. ’It’s time for a visit to the Mao Family.’

Mao Piaopiao was the woman who had caused a scene at a dinner with Hua Cheng and An Ning five years ago.

Back then, Hua Cheng had agreed to give things a try with Mao Piaopiao. He genuinely tried, but after half a year, he still couldn’t bring himself to like her, and they eventually broke up.

After that, Hua Cheng left Beijing directly and went south to build his career. He just never expected Mao Piaopiao to follow him.

Their agreement had been clear: Hua Cheng would give it a try, and if it didn’t work out, Mao Piaopiao was not to pester him again. But she hadn’t kept her word.

Several years of her pestering had completely soured Hua Cheng on the Mao Family, his old neighbors, breeding resentment and even disgust.

’Would Mao Piaopiao dare to be so blatant without the Mao Family’s support behind her?’

Hua Cheng suppressed his anger and continued with his work.

Meanwhile, An Ning hadn’t even enjoyed half an hour of peace before someone else arrived at Anning’s house.

As Director Zhao sat across from her, painstakingly trying to persuade her not to go abroad, An Ning asked, confused, "Why can’t I go? My official identity is just a vegetable seller. Has there been a leak in your security protocols?"

"No! I’m just worried. You know it’s not very peaceful abroad."

"I know, but I can protect myself. Besides, I have my reasons for going. Don’t forget, I’m also a Mystic Master. If there’s a place in this world I can’t go, it’ll be on doomsday."

"I’d actually forgotten about that. We didn’t want to bring it up if you didn’t. Fine, you can go, but we have to arrange for people to go with you."

An Ning suddenly tilted her head, staring intently at Director Zhao. "I think that was your real goal all along," she said suspiciously.

Director Zhao played dumb, looking at the ceiling and the floor before spreading his hands innocently. "Was it? How would I know?"

The two shared a sly, fox-like smile. Director Zhao then said seriously, "Don’t worry, they’re all people you know."

’Acquaintances?’

An Ning couldn’t recall knowing anyone who did protection work.

"I’ve arranged a colleague, a translator, and a bodyguard for you."

As Director Zhao finished speaking, three people walked in through the door. An Ning took one look and saw they were indeed familiar faces.

"Come, let me introduce you. This is—"

"Zhao Pandi!"

An Ning’s use of her name made Zhao Pandi grin, showing her teeth. She extended a hand to An Ning. "Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Zhao Xin, your colleague. We’re both assistants to Yu the Elder."

"Zhao Xin? Zhao Pandi, is your surname actually Zhao?"

Zhao Xin gave a mischievous wink. "Guess?"

An Ning shook her head with a laugh and turned her gaze to the other two. One she knew, and the other she was... acquainted with.

"Hello, I’m Wang Qiang, Yu the Elder’s traveling security."

He was tall with dark skin and a stern face, yet he also had the air of a ruffian. He certainly looked the part of a bodyguard.

The man before her was the same one who had given An Ning a group of retired, injured dogs, and also the one who had given her trouble at the train station.

An Ning just nodded and said, "Hello, Wang Qiang." She knew these were all fake names.

"Hello, I’m Xu Cheng, the translator for this trip. I’m fluent in six languages, and my combat skills are decent."

He was a boy with an innocent-looking face who appeared to be in his teens, but in reality, he was the same age as Jiang Xia.

Xu Cheng was also an alias. He was the baby-faced young man who had once driven Jiang Xia back to the village. He had supposedly joined the army and also possessed a sense of smell as keen as Tao Quan’s.

"Alright, the three of them will stay here with you for now. Get familiar with your roles so you don’t blow your cover when you’re out."

Director Zhao left the three of them there and departed.

Afterward, the three of them introduced their current identities to An Ning one by one.

"To ensure we can work effectively, we ask that you call us by our current names, Comrade An Ning."

An Ning had no objection.

Among the three, only Zhao Xin was relatively familiar with An Ning. Since they were both women, it was easier for them to talk.

The dark-faced Wang Qiang inspected the security at Anning’s house and was thoroughly dissatisfied with everything. Their mission was to guarantee An Ning’s safety, and if necessary, to abandon everything else to protect her alone.

In the afternoon, Yu the Elder came over again to help everyone get familiar with their new identities.

For the next five days, the five of them lived together. This made Yu the Elder ecstatic. He smugly called Li Chengze to show off that he could now learn from An Ning’s side twenty-four hours a day.

This made Li Chengze, on the other side of the ocean, gnash his teeth in jealousy.

"Master, I’ll be able to return home in just a few months!"

"Really?"

This was the first time An Ning had heard Li Chengze talk about returning to the country. They spoke for a while longer, with Li Chengze even asking An Ning for advice on a few matters over the phone, and the call stretched on.

When An Ning hung up, she saw Yu the Elder beating his chest and stamping his feet. "A lesson from the ancestors, right before my eyes! You can’t get smug! I’m so stupid!"

Yu the Elder pretended to slap his own face, but An Ning just walked past him in silence, ignoring him completely.

’The older these disciples get, the more trouble they are.’

’In the end, it seems only my youngest little treasure is the least trouble of them all.’

Thinking of her little treasure, An Ning went out the next day to leave him his assignments, reminding him not to neglect his cultivation. Her little treasure agreed to everything.

"Teacher, when will you be back?"

"Soon enough. Maybe ten days, maybe half a month. I’ll bring you back a gift."

After settling things with her little treasure, An Ning first went to see An Guoming to tell her second brother that she was going abroad.

An Guoming was naturally supportive. Besides, Yin Xuemei’s period of drowsiness had passed, so he wasn’t as busy for the time being.

Everything was ready. It was time to depart.