"Tang, you really don't pay enough attention to science." Once Mr. Rodney got onto the subject, he sounded like a man watching good iron fail to become steel. "Don't you know they often run experiments in space, taking all kinds of seeds and even living creatures out into the void?"
Oh, Tang Changsheng vaguely remembered that. It seemed to be a common practice: selected crop seeds were sent into space, where the unusual environment caused them to change.
Then they were brought back to Earth for selection and breeding. Quite a few improved varieties seemed to have come about that way.
But Tang Changsheng did not believe that exposing grape seeds to a high vacuum, microgravity, and an alternating magnetic field could do anything beyond activating the seeds' internal biochemical processes and inducing chromosomal abnormalities. Could it somehow infuse the seeds with spiritual energy too?
Was that how they had grown grapes containing spiritual energy and then made wine from them?
What a joke. If that were true, shouldn't Tang Changsheng simply spend a few million on a trip through outer space?
Perhaps he would return having attained immortality...
As Tang Changsheng mocked the idea in his head, his skepticism showed plainly on his face.
"All right, all right. It isn't much of a secret, really. You'll find out soon enough. They'll be announcing this astonishing discovery before long."
"What discovery?" Tang Changsheng's voice unconsciously took on a hint of spiritual allure.
Mr. Rodney had not intended to say anything more, but now he lowered his voice. "A new world. Another world..."
Before he could finish, Mrs. Rodney cut him off sharply. "Bell, you've had too much to drink. Come back with me..."
"I haven't been drinking... Uh, all right..." Realizing he had let something slip, Mr. Rodney obediently stood