An Ning went to find Li Chengze.

Director Li reacted quickly, activating the factory’s PA system. After a brief broadcast, Li Chengze came running frantically to the office.

"What happened? Is someone hurt?"

Li Chengze couldn’t imagine any other reason. If it wasn’t a family emergency, why would his second uncle summon him so urgently?

Director Li Changcheng came 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 someone like her, it would be crucial for their future development.

"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 somewhat at a loss.

"Comrade An Ning, hello."

"Li Chengze, have you thought about the answers to the three questions?"

Her characteristically direct approach was something Li Chengze had somewhat anticipated.

"I have, but may I know why you’re asking me?"

"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 mechanical 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 moment I decided to go abroad. I am one of the Huaxia people; this is where my roots are. I had to come 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 me 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 me?"

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 mechanical design. What did you think I was talking about?"

"Er... haha, that’s what I meant, 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 met."

"And you’re very generous and open-minded. You’ve overlooked my previous doubts and impoliteness and are still willing to teach me."

Li Chengze spoke with genuine sincerity.

"I’m giving you a chance to study with me 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 me out first."

"I still have to go back to the countryside. If you really want to study with me, 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 environment—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 immediately 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, remembering 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 home.

"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 home first and tell your dad. No, wait, why didn’t you leave with An Ning?"

"Let me tell you, there’s a lot of etiquette involved in being someone’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 arrangements.

If he was going, he had to go quickly.

Li Chengze was hurried home 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 memory.

While preparations were underway on their end, An Ning, having hitched a ride, finally arrived home a little after ten o’clock at night. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

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 something 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 moment 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 assume you missed me."

Just as An Ning finished speaking, the black main gate opened, and An Guoqing, An Sancheng, An Guoping, and Lin Cuihua all came 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."