Chapter 553

I'm also very happy. Lin Zhengcheng looked at her, gathered his courage and said, "Xiaoran, next weekend… can I still ask you out?"

Zhang Xiaoran nodded vigorously, cheeks slightly flushed: "Sure."

Lin Zhengcheng felt a surge of joy, watching Zhang Xiaoran walk into the hutong; only after her figure disappeared did he turn around, mount his bicycle, and head home.

All along the way, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up; his heart felt like it was holding a piece of candy, sweet and syrupy.

When he returned to the Lin Family Courtyard, dinner was already ready.

The table was filled with abundant dishes: braised spare ribs, sweet and sour fish, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a bowl of chicken soup stewed for Su Qing. The family sat around the table, full of joy.

"Second brother, you're back? How was the date?" Lin Qinhua asked first, her eyes full of curiosity.

Lin Zhengcheng smiled, nodded: "Pretty good, we agreed to meet again next weekend."

"Great!" Qin Jingru and Zheng Juan said in unison, their faces full of joy.

Lin Shengli looked at his son, also laughed, picked up his wine cup and took a sip: "Good boy, seize the opportunity."

Su Qing also laughed and said: "Second brother, I'm truly happy for you. Miss Zhang Xiaoran looks gentle; you two will surely make it."

Lin Zhengcheng looked at the lively family before him, his heart feeling especially warm.

He picked up his chopsticks, gave Zheng Juan and Qin Jingru each a piece of spare rib, then gave Su Qing a piece of fish meat: "Mom, Aunt Qin, sister-in-law, please eat too."

As the night deepened, the lights in the courtyard came on, warm yellow light illuminating every smiling face. The locust leaves swayed gently in the autumn breeze, the air filled with the aroma of food and the family's laughter and chatter, cozy and beautiful.

Lin Zhengcheng knew that this warm family time was his strongest backing.

No matter how many difficulties at work, as long as he thought of his family at home, he felt full of strength. He also looked forward to being able to soon be with Zhang Xiaoran, so that this warm family time would gain an extra measure of completeness.

The deep autumn wind carried a chill, blowing the locust leaves of the Lin Family Courtyard down layer after layer.

Zheng Juan got up early in the morning and squatted in the courtyard to pick vegetables, but her mind was calculating the workshop's affairs—recently the Stealth Bomber project had reached a critical point; Lin Zhengcheng and Chen Mo practically lived in the workshop, working nonstop for nearly half a month, sometimes so busy they couldn't even grab a hot meal, and the dropping temperature at night made it easy to catch a chill.

"Jingru, come here a moment." Zheng Juan gathered the picked spinach into a bamboo basket and called out to Qin Jingru, who was airing a blanket for Su Qing.

When Qin Jingru walked over, she lowered her voice and said:

"Let's send the workshop kids some loving meals for a few days; they've been working so hard their bodies can't take it. Let's also prepare some epidemic prevention supplies—autumn-winter season changes make colds easy, don't let it delay the project."

Qin Jingru slapped her thigh: "I was just thinking about this! You're the best to take the lead; us womenfolk will divide the work and surely get it done properly. When Qiunan, Yushui, and Chunyan come back later, we'll discuss it in detail."

Zheng Juan nodded.

Soon enough, everyone had returned.

Zheng Juan had everyone sit down, holding a small notebook to record:

"Qiunan, you're thoughtful and usually keep medicine at home, so please take charge of preparing epidemic supplies. Masks, disinfectant, fever reducers, and band-aids all need to be stocked—there are many people in the workshop, cross-infection must be avoided."

Ding Qiunan nodded, placed the supplement in her hand on the stone table, and said in a steady tone:

"Don't worry, elder sister, I have half a box of medical masks at home, which I previously had someone get from the hospital; if it's not enough I'll ask at the health clinic. I'll have my brother bring a few bottles of disinfectant from the pharmaceutical factory, and for fever reducers and anti-inflammatories we should pick mild ones—they've been staying up late, their liver fire is strong, so we can't use anything too harsh."

Saying that, she fished out pen and paper from her pocket and listed the supplies needed.

"Yushui, Chunyan, you two are young and nimble—go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy foodstuffs." Zheng Juan continued assigning, her pen moving across the notebook: "There are about twenty people in the workshop; we need to stock more staples—two baskets each of mantou and huaju, plus some rice and millet to cook warm porridge. For vegetables, choose those that keep well and go with rice—three jin each of pork and spare ribs, plus some cabbage, radish, and potatoes, as well as the green peppers and onions the kids love; that'll be enough for stewed and stir-fried dishes."

He Yushui had a straightforward personality and immediately agreed.

"All right! Chunyan and I will go now; the director Wang at the supply and marketing cooperative knows me well and can set aside some fresh spare ribs for us. By the way, elder sister, should we buy some eggs? Steamed egg custard or boiled tea eggs would be convenient—when the kids work overtime and get hungry, they can just grab one."

Han Chunyan also added: "Bring some vermicelli and tofu too—cooking spare ribs with vermicelli smells great, and tofu can make mapo tofu, which goes well with rice. Also, there's soy sauce and vinegar; if the workshop kitchen runs short, we can supplement."

Zheng Juan smiled and nodded: "You've thought of everything; write it all down. I have the money here—take plenty, and if it's not enough, come back for more."

Saying that, she took out a cloth bundle from the inner room, wrapped with several ten-yuan bills, and shoved it into He Yushui's hand.

Su Qing sat in the corridor watching, also wanting to help: "Mom, let me help pick and sort vegetables—sitting is still sitting."

"Not possible," Qin Jingru quickly interjected, "you're pregnant—rest properly; we'll handle these chores. If you're feeling bored, just help us check the supply list so we don't miss anything."

Su Qing could only smile and agree, reaching out to take the list written by Ding Qiunan and slowly checking it over.

After the assignments were made, everyone sprang into action.

Ding Qiunan went home, dug out her medicine box, gathered the masks and fever reducers from home into a large cloth bundle, then rode her bike to the health clinic.

The doctor Li at the health clinic, who knew her well, heard she was preparing supplies for the research team and specially gave her a box of masks, then cautioned:

"If anyone catches a cold or fever, don't tough it out—have them come to the health clinic for a look, and I'll prescribe something that won't hurt the stomach."

On the other side, He Yushui and Han Chunyan slung large bamboo baskets over their shoulders, chatting and laughing as they walked to the supply and marketing cooperative.

The supply and marketing cooperative of the 1990s wasn't large; its shelves were full of various goods, and a short line had already formed at the entrance.

He Yushui, familiar with the place, walked straight to the meat stall and shouted at the butcher:

"Master Wang, cut me three jin of spare ribs and three jin of fatty pork— the spare ribs should be rib cuts, the fatty pork a bit fattier, for a fragrant stew."

Master Wang laughed in agreement, picked up his knife and swiftly sliced the meat:

"Is this for the workshop kids? I've seen them buying cold mantou lately—finally they can get something hot. What I'm setting aside for you is all fresh, from a pig slaughtered this morning."

Han Chunyan went to pick vegetables, one hand holding the list, the other sorting through, choosing only those that are sturdy and keep well, and she also asked the neighboring auntie buying vegetables:

"Auntie, how do you pick these radishes? For stewing spare ribs."