Chapter 530: Zheng Juan: Your Big Brother Got Married, You Two Keep It Up Too

Zheng Juan raised her hand to smooth her hair blown messy by the wind, her voice a little hoarse: "Alright, alright, safety is enough, success is enough. These days I can't sleep at night, always fearing something might happen."

"Now you can rest easy!" He Yushui walked over, handed Zheng Juan a cup of warm water, "Drink some water, catch your breath. The kids are all back, busy putting up couplets, Han Chunyan also went to the kitchen to arrange extra dishes, tonight we'll celebrate properly."

Zheng Juan took the cup, took a sip, her gaze fell on the children bustling in the courtyard, and a gentle, gratified smile appeared on her face.

Lin Zhengcheng saw her, hurriedly put down the brush in his hand and ran over:

"Mom, you're back! Dad and big brother are amazing, the J‑20 test flight was a complete success, our avionics system stayed stable the whole time!"

Zheng Juan patted his head, eyes full of pride: "Yes, your dad and big brother lived up to the country's expectations and our family's hopes. You all must work harder, learn from your dad and big brother, and contribute to the nation."

Lin Qinhua also came over, slipped her arm around Zheng Juan, and leaned closer to Qin Jingru, her tone proud:

"Aunt Zheng, Mom, our material compatibility system also passed the test, fully meeting design standards."

"Good, you have ambition!" Zheng Juan laughed, patting her arm, turned to look at Qin Jingru, eyes giving a tacit reminder, "Jingru, look how outstanding Qinhua is, her career is so impressive, she also needs to tighten up personal matters."

While speaking, Ding Qiunan also returned from the hospital, wearing a white coat and holding a medical record folder, clearly having rushed back right after finishing work.

"I heard it on the way, the test flight succeeded!" Ding Qiunan walked into the courtyard, smiling, "Just now the hospital colleagues congratulated me, saying our Lin family has again made a great contribution to the country."

"Exactly!" Qin Jingru said with a smile, "Tonight our whole family gathers, let's celebrate properly. Shengli and Zheng Peng are not home, but we should be happy for them too."

From the kitchen came the aroma of stir‑fried dishes, the scent of scallion, ginger, garlic mixing with meat, spreading through the courtyard.

Han Chunyan poked her head out of the kitchen: "Big sister, Jingru sister, Yushui sister, Qiunan sister, the kids, hurry wash your hands and get ready to eat! The dishes will be ready soon!"

Zheng Juan nodded, turned to the kids: "Stop the hustle, go wash your hands first; when we eat, we'll talk properly about your dad and big brother."

The children answered in unison, hopping and running to wash their hands.

Qin Jingru and He Yushui busily moved the eight‑immortal table to the center of the courtyard, spread a red tablecloth, and brought the prepared dishes out one by one.

Braised pork ribs, sweet‑and‑sour fish, stewed chicken soup, and the stir‑fried seasonal vegetables the kids love, a table full of dishes, steaming hot, fragrant.

As dusk fell, Qin Jingru lit the red lanterns in the courtyard, the warm yellow light illuminating everyone's smiling faces.

Zheng Juan picked up the wine bottle, poured each person a cup of wine or a cup of juice, and raised her glass:

"Today is a great joyous occasion, our Lin family's J‑20 test flight succeeded, thanks to Shengli and Zheng Peng's effort, and it's our whole family's pride. I propose a toast: to Shengli and Zheng Peng's safety and smoothness, and to our country's growing strength!"

"Cheers!" Everyone lifted their cups, children's voices crisp, adults' voices steady, the clink of glasses sounding especially pleasant in the lantern light.

Lin Zhengcheng took a sip of wine, set down his cup, and said seriously:

"Mom, Aunt Qin, after the follow‑up data from this test flight are compiled, I will apply to be stationed in Xibei, to work with dad and big brother on the subsequent optimization, aiming to get the J‑20 into units soon."

Zheng Juan smiled and nodded, then shifted tone, her gaze on Lin Zhengcheng and Lin Qinhua, her voice a bit gentler:

"Mom supports your research, but you must also keep your lifelong matters in mind. You're 32 this year, Qinhua is also 32, your careers are stable, it's time to think about marriage. Especially Qinhua, at this age for a girl, if you don't hurry it'll be too late."

At that point, she turned to look at Qin Jingru.

Qin Jingru immediately replied, her tone brimming with impatient urgency, grabbing Lin Qinhua's hand before Zheng Juan finished, her eyes slightly red:

"Big sister, even if you don't mention it, I have to bring it up! Qinhua, you're worrying Mom to death! Nowadays girls in their early twenties are already getting married; you're 32, still buried in research, not even a single person who understands you nearby, Mom can't sleep soundly at night!"

She got more excited, pulling Qinhua's hand and refusing to let go: "Earlier Mom mentioned that university professor from the community, he teaches physics, basically a half‑colleague of yours, of good character and a respectable family. I wanted you two to meet, but you said research was too busy; also the engineer at the research institute I asked about, he's young but already a senior engineer, his specialty matches yours, you also said no time. Now the test flight succeeded, you should at least carve out some time to handle your own affairs, right?"

"Mom, I didn't deliberately push it aside; the material compatibility side was truly busy, I was in the lab every day, there was no mind to think about these."

Lin Qinhua's cheeks flushed bright red, embarrassed by her own mother's words, also a bit helpless.

"Even if you're busy you can't delay lifelong matters!" Qin Jingru interrupted, tone a bit anxious, "Women at this age don't wait; when you finally think of it, good families will already be taken! Mom says you must pay attention; next week I'll arrange a meeting with that university professor, no matter how busy you are, you must find time to meet him!"

Zheng Juan chimed in: "Qin Jingru is right, Qinhua, your mother also wants what's best for you. Research may be important, but you need a home; when you're old someone will take care of you."

Lin Qinhua pressed her lips together, looked at Qin Jingru's anxious expression, finally couldn't bear to refuse, gave a soft "mm".

"Mom, I understand, next week I'll make time to meet."

Qin Jingru finally breathed a sigh of relief, raised her hand to wipe her corner of the eye, and, still holding her hand, advised:

"That's the way! When the time comes, dress decently, don't always wear research lab coats; a girl should tidy herself up."

Lin Zhengcheng also took the floor: "Mom, I'll keep an eye on it; after this busy period I'll find time to meet the daughter of the colleague you mentioned."

The laughter and chatter in the courtyard, mixed with the scent of food, drifted out of the Lin Family Courtyard and floated toward the night sky of Sijiucheng.

The red lanterns swayed gently in the wind, stretching each person's shadow long, and imprinting this warmth, joy, and a mother's concern and hope for her daughters deep in everyone's hearts.

At the distant Xibei Shifeichang, Lin Shengli and Lin Zhengpeng might still be busy, but they will surely feel the celebration and thoughts spanning a thousand miles from home.