Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

Tao Quan returned from tailing Uncle Jiang’s personal secretary with news for An Ning.

Apparently, the secretary had taken a call. He’d arranged to meet the person on the other end at a nightclub in two days. No specifics were mentioned, but it was enough to give An Ning a lead.

An Ning drew Tao Quan into a gourd and sealed him inside with a wisp of her spiritual power. He wouldn’t be able to get out unless she summoned him.

If Tao Quan hadn’t floated out on his own today, An Ning would have completely forgotten about the soul.

’As expected, keeping a soul isn’t something just anyone can do.’

An Ning slipped away from Uncle Jiang’s villa using the same methods as before. As for the Feng Shui Formation, she decided not to break it just yet.

The Feng Shui Formation at Uncle Jiang’s home targeted two things: his health and his wealth.

The process was gradual. The caster likely knew that acting too quickly would be counterproductive.

An Ning left, taking the same route back to the building they were cleaning.

By the time she got back to their assigned floor, still in her disguise, about two-thirds of the cleaning was already finished.

She saw the person Zhao Pandi had found to cover for her. She had to admit, the resemblance was uncanny.

An Ning swapped places with her stand-in, who made a professional exit that left An Ning impressed.

After making sure no one was around, she spoke to Zhao Pandi.

"Your people are very impressive."

"Our people, to be precise. But you’re right, they really are impressive."

Pride shone in Zhao Pandi’s eyes. They were all extraordinary individuals hiding in plain sight, always mindful of their mission.

"I still don’t know your real name."

Zhao Pandi didn’t answer An Ning’s question.

"Each mission I take becomes my identity. You don’t need to remember anything else."

An Ning didn’t push it. She extended her hand to Zhao Pandi. "It’s nice to meet you, Zhao Pandi. I don’t think your name does you justice."

"Hahahahaha! You’ve got a point there!"

The two of them shook hands, shared a smile, and got back to work.

Amidst the swirling dust of the building, An Ning relayed her observations and her plan for what to do next.

After listening, Zhao Pandi summarized everything. "I’ll send word about Jiang Xia’s case. We should hear something back in the next couple of days. As for the nightclub, if you’re okay with taking Brother Hu’s offer, we can use that as our way in."

"I’m fine with it. It’s not like it’s real, anyway. I’m thinking of carving out a path for myself as a grandmaster of Mysticism."

An Ning held her broom like a ceremonial whisk, posing as an unworldly master.

"In that case—"

Zhao Pandi and An Ning said in unison, "We’re done working!"

The two of them decisively headed downstairs and found a clean spot to sit. If they were going to accept Brother Hu’s offer, they couldn’t do their jobs *too* well.

It would only be believable if it looked like they couldn’t handle the work anymore.

Looking at the spotless floor, Zhao Pandi dumped out some of the trash they had just swept up, leaving the place a mess again.

Next, the two of them went to work on their clothes.

RRRIP! They tore their clothes with sharp rocks.

SCRAPE. They wore through the knees of their pants until their skin began to bleed.

As for their hair, they just rubbed dirt all over it.

After their makeover, they looked so wretched that even beggars would likely turn them away.

When the foreman came down from another floor to inspect, he found fault with everything on their level. This was wrong, that was wrong—in short, nothing was right.

With so many problems, their wages for the day were withheld.

A heartbroken Zhao Pandi went forward to plead their case, talking about how difficult it was for them, how they didn’t have enough strength, how they weren’t well-rested, and so on. But all her reasons were met with a heartless refusal. No pay.

Utterly disheartened, the two "sisters" followed the rickety truck back to their "pigeon coop."

That night, they were supposedly so smelly and dirty that their roommates couldn’t stand being near them.

Reeling from this double blow to both body and spirit, the two "sisters" found Brother Hu the next day while he was having his morning tea.

When Brother Hu saw the two of them approaching, he didn’t bother to hide his smug satisfaction. ’There’s no one I can’t handle.’

"Brother Hu—"

Zhao Pandi greeted him with her head lowered, her voice dejected and tinged with the bitter reluctance of someone forced to accept their fate.

"What brings you here today? Have you eaten? Brother Hu will treat you."

Playing dumb, Brother Hu invited the two of them to eat.

He had expected them to refuse, but to his surprise, Zhao Pandi plopped right down in a seat and pulled An Ning down with her.

"Sis, let’s eat up. From now on, we’re with Brother Hu."

Her last sentence made Brother Hu’s face light up. He called over a waiter, handed the two a menu, and said magnanimously, "Order whatever you want. It’s on Brother Hu."

An Ning timidly took the menu, keeping her head bowed. Her finger just tapped and tapped and tapped on the menu.

The waiter beside them asked, "So which one do you want?"

Zhao Pandi immediately "translated" for her. "All of them. We’ll have everything my sister pointed at."

"Brother Hu, my sister can’t read and she’s never seen anything like this before. But she always listens to me."

Zhao Pandi spoke with a forlorn look, as if channeling all her bitter resentment into her appetite. She, too, began pointing randomly at things on the menu.

By the time the two "illiterate" women had finished ordering, Brother Hu’s expression had darkened.

But the thought of delivering two good-looking women later that day was enough to suppress his displeasure. He yelled at the waiter, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and bring the food!"

"Right away!"

The waiter scurried away with the menu, and the kitchen got to work.

Zhao Pandi shouted after him, "Just bring out whatever’s ready first! Don’t hold up Brother Hu’s business!"

Her words made Brother Hu, who was sitting opposite them, feel his stomach churn. Something felt off.

Regardless, Brother Hu was stuck paying for the meal today.

As the dishes began to arrive one by one, Brother Hu was surprised to find they had ordered all the most expensive items on the menu. Not a single cheap one among them.

"Uh, Pandi, you two can’t read?"

"Of course not. If our family had money for school, we wouldn’t be out here like this."

’That makes sense,’ Brother Hu thought.

’It must be a coincidence.’

An Ning and Zhao Pandi ate their way through the entire feast—meat dishes, vegetable dishes, soup, dessert, drinks, and snacks. They didn’t miss a single item.

Finally full, the two of them were led away by Brother Hu.

Since he was delivering them to someone, he had to make sure they were cleaned up first.

So, a trip to the bathhouse was necessary.

At the bathhouse, Zhao Pandi played her "I can’t read" card again, ordering two of a moderately expensive service package. After ordering, she looked at Brother Hu innocently and asked, "Did I pick the wrong one? Will this get us clean? If not, I can just wash myself."

’That’s right,’ Brother Hu thought. ’Leave professional work to the professionals.’

With the two packages confirmed, An Ning and Zhao Pandi went inside the bathhouse. Outside, Brother Hu blinked. He still felt that something wasn’t quite right, but when he thought it over, he couldn’t put his finger on what was wrong.

’Damn it,’ he thought. ’What is this shitty feeling?!’