Synopsis

AnNing,arigorouslytrainedexecutoroftheAncientEarthSeedProject,travelsfromtheinterstellarerabacktothelushcountrysideofthe1980swithasinglemission:findthehighest-qualityseedsandsendthemtothefuture.Butasshesearchesthemountainsandfields,shefindsherselfunexpectedlydrawntothesimplebeautyofrurallife.Onecontractatatime,sheleadsherentireclantotransformtheirhometown—leasingmountainsforfarming,buildinggreenhouses,pavingroads,foundingschools,anddevelopinglocalindustries—untiltheironce-quietvillagebecomesrenownedfarandwideasaparadiseofbreathtakingsceneryandlegendarycuisine.NoonerealizesthattheAnfamily’soriginallymuteyoungestdaughterhaschangedcompletely.Thegirlwhoentereduniversitywithoutstudyingandcanknockdownawildboarwithasinglepunch…isshereallyAnNing?Thesharp-tonguedyoungwomanwhosewordscutdeeperthanknives…issheAnNing?Andthemysterious“legendaryelder”whosedisciplesincludeseveralpowerfulfigures…couldshepossiblybeAnNing?Meanwhile,acertaininfluentialman—whohassecretlyadmiredherforyearsbutneverdaredconfess—watchesasAnNingstandsontheawardsstage.Shelookscomposed,yethermindisclearlyelsewhere.Withaknowingsmile,heremoveshiswatchandrollsuphissleeves.—Timetogohomeandcook.