An Ning went to find Li Chengze.
Director Li reacted quickly, activating the factory’s PA system. After a brief broadcast, Li Chengze ca running frantically to the office.
"What happened? Is soone hurt?"
Li Chengze couldn’t imagine any other reason. If it wasn’t a family ergency, why would his second uncle summon him so urgently?
Director Li Changcheng ca out from behind his desk and patted Li Chengze on the back to help him catch his breath.
"What’s the rush? You still need to work on your composure."
Li Chengze narrowed his eyes, panting continuously. Staring at his own uncle, he half-suspected the man wasn’t related by blood.
"An Ning is here. She’s looking for you."
Director Li was even more excited and nervous than Li Chengze. He had his suspicions, but he didn’t dare voice them.
This trip to the provincial capital had elevated Director Li’s estimation of An Ning’s capabilities to a whole new level.
If the Li family could establish a good relationship with soone like her, it would be crucial for their future developnt.
"Well, you two talk. You talk. I’ll be outside."
Director Li vacated his own office, willingly making himself scarce.
Inside, Li Chengze’s breathing gradually evened out, but facing An Ning, he felt sowhat at a loss.
"Comrade An Ning, hello."
"Li Chengze, have you thought about the answers to the three questions?"
Her characteristically direct approach was sothing Li Chengze had sowhat anticipated.
"I have, but may I know why you’re asking ?"
"No."
An Ning’s firm refusal made Li Chengze feel like a breath was caught in his throat. He slowly exhaled.
"Alright, then I’ll answer your three questions first."
"First, I love chanical design. I love that it can free people from complicated manual labor, and I love that it can make life better and easier."
"Second question: Returning to the country was a given from the mont I decided to go abroad. I am one of the Huaxia people; this is where my roots are. I had to co back."
"Third question, I don’t know what ultimate goal I want to achieve. I just focus on doing what I need to do. The future holds too many unknowns for to predict."
Li Chengze said it all in one breath, feeling an inexplicable nervousness in his heart.
An Ning was very satisfied with Li Chengze’s answers, but she couldn’t trust him completely just yet.
She wanted to take on an apprentice, and perhaps she would take on several in the future.
But the one and only rule was that after completing their training, they had to remain in this land.
’Even in interstellar history, there are still separate nations.’
"Li Chengze, what do you think of ?"
An Ning’s question made Li Chengze’s eyes go wide.
"You—in what respect?"
It wasn’t that Li Chengze was overthinking it; the question was genuinely ambiguous.
"Academically. In terms of chanical design. What did you think I was talking about?"
"Er... haha, that’s what I ant, of course. Exactly."
Li Chengze wiped the sweat from his forehead and began to answer An Ning’s question.
"I think you are incredibly talented. The most talented person I’ve ever t."
"And you’re very generous and open-minded. You’ve overlooked my previous doubts and impoliteness and are still willing to teach ."
Li Chengze spoke with genuine sincerity.
"I’m giving you a chance to study with now. Are you willing to give it a try?"
An Ning looked at the shocked Li Chengze, sat down unhurriedly, and picked up the water cup from the table.
"No rush. Hear out first."
"I still have to go back to the countryside. If you really want to study with , you’ll have to go to the countryside too. There will be no shortage of farm work for you to do."
"Your lifestyle, your living environnt—they will all change drastically. So you need to—"
"I’m willing!"
THUD. An Ning saw Li Chengze drop to his knees, about to kowtow.
She imdiately shot out a hand to stop him.
"What are you doing? I’m only giving you a chance. I haven’t agreed to accept you yet."
"Ah?"
Li Chengze gave an embarrassed tug at the corner of his mouth and used one hand on the table to pull himself up.
"It’s nothing. My legs just went a bit weak, it’s not what you think."
"Um, I’m willing. I accept this opportunity."
Li Chengze offered a flimsy excuse, which An Ning didn’t expose.
She stood up and said, "Alright. I’m heading back for today. When you’re ready, just make your own way there."
While Li Chengze was still in a daze, An Ning opened the door and left.
Director Li, who had been waiting outside, glanced at Li Chengze, but unfortunately, Li Chengze didn’t give him any useful information.
Director Li anxiously followed behind An Ning, rembering to call people over to help carry several baskets of things for her.
An Ning was seen off onto a truck, ready to head back to the village.
After the truck drove off, Director Li rushed back to the office in a frenzy, finding his nephew still standing there dumbly.
"So what exactly happened?"
"Second Uncle, An Ning asked if I was willing to study with her."
"And then?"
Director Li grabbed Li Chengze’s arms with both hands. The anticipation in his eyes gave Li Chengze the distinct impression that if he had said no, he would have had to kneel before the ancestral tablets when he got ho.
"I agreed."
"Good! Good!"
Director Li excitedly hugged Li Chengze, patting his back forcefully, even more thrilled than Li Chengze himself.
"That’s wonderful. That’s truly wonderful."
"Go ho first and tell your dad. No, wait, why didn’t you leave with An Ning?"
"Let tell you, there’s a lot of etiquette involved in being soone’s apprentice. You have to be observant."
Director Li was all over the place, and Li Chengze could barely get a word in.
Fortunately, Director Li composed himself. After getting the full story from Li Chengze, he started making arrangents.
If he was going, he had to go quickly.
Li Chengze was hurried ho to pack his things. The sooner, the better.
Along the way, Director Li drilled him on a whole host of duties an apprentice has when serving a master. Li Chengze hadn’t quite grasped the main points, but he committed every word to mory.
While preparations were underway on their end, An Ning, having hitched a ride, finally arrived ho a little after ten o’clock at night.
The truck’s headlights illuminated the An family’s courtyard.
The big rooster dutifully flew onto the main gate, its neck feathers bristling. It stood on one leg, staring intently at the driver.
"This rooster is sothing else!"
An Ning was getting her things and smiled slightly when she saw the big rooster on the gate.
"He is pretty impressive."
’Our rooster is even more useful than the average dog.’
An Ning opened the truck door and got out. The mont the big rooster saw her, it flew down from the gate and landed by her legs.
"CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK—"
"I don’t understand what you’re saying either, but I’ll just assu you missed ."
Just as An Ning finished speaking, the black main gate opened, and An Guoqing, An Sancheng, An Guoping, and Lin Cuihua all ca out.
"Why are you back so late at night? Are you cold? Have you eaten?"
Without a word, Lin Cuihua took An Ning’s backpack from her.
"It’s quite heavy. Did you pack bricks in here?"
An Ning’s fingers stiffened slightly. As it turned out, there really was a brick inside.
"Dad, there’s still stuff in the truck. Let’s unload it."
"Alright. Eldest, Third, get up there." After shouting, An Sancheng looked at An Ning and said, "Let’s get you inside. It’s freezing out here."
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