Mother Tao gestured with her hands, agreeing with Father Tao.

She stood up, took out the money they had saved, and began counting it for Tao Tao.

“Mom, you don’t need to count. I don’t want your money. I have enough for my own dowry. I’ve prepared it myself.”

Father Tao gently patted Tao Tao’s head, looking both proud and reluctant. “Tao Tao, you’re our only daughter. All the money we’ve saved is for your wedding.”

Tao Tao looked at the iron box filled with coins and bills, some stained with engine oil, knowing that each bit was hard-earned from her parents’ work fixing cars and knitting sweaters.

Her eyes filled with tears.

She hugged her mother tightly and shook her head. “You’ve worked too hard for this. I don’t want it; I have enough.”

Father Tao replied, “It’s not hard work. Fixing cars isn’t tiring.”

Mother Tao waved her hands, also saying that knitting sweaters wasn’t tiring.

In the end, neither Tao Tao nor her parents could convince each other about the dowry, so they decided to put the discussion on hold—otherwise, they’d be up all night.

However, they all agreed that the gifts given by the Jiang family would be taken to their new home.

That day, Chuxia had the day off, so she spent most of it helping Jiang Shengnan and Jiang Zhida with the engagement preparations.

When she returned home, she was alone.

She poured herself a glass of water, letting it cool as she started peeling an apple.

After finishing the apple and drinking the water, she felt a bit drowsy and took a nap.

When she woke up, the sun was already setting, and Chuxia was surprised to realize she had slept so long.

She sat up, feeling a bit groggy from the extended nap, and her throat was parched.

After downing a large glass of water, she felt better.

Just as she settled on the sofa, wondering what to have for dinner, Cen Zhengnian returned home.

Chuxia immediately turned to him, “What should we have for dinner? I went with everyone to help with Dazi’s engagement today and ate so well that I’m not too hungry yet.”

Cen Zhengnian walked over and lightly touched her stomach, now flat, with no evidence of how much she’d eaten at lunch.

He thought for a moment and said, “Let’s have something light tonight. How about I make us two bowls of scallion noodles?”

Though Cen Zhengnian hadn’t mastered any gourmet dishes, he had become quite capable of cooking simple home meals over the years.

His food wasn’t as delicious as what Chuxia or Cen Huaian made, but it was quite good.

“Sure, just skip the eggs; I don’t have room for them.”

He patted her head, got up, and headed to the kitchen.

Chuxia followed him to help season the bowls.

Scallion noodles were simple—she placed some salt and scallions in the bowl, poured in the hot noodle water, then added the noodles and a few drops of sesame oil.

The result was a bowl of noodles with the pure flavor of wheat, accented by scallions and sesame oil, perfectly seasoned with a touch of salt.

Cen Zhengnian’s bowl included an egg and some boiled beef slices that Chuxia added for him since he’d likely have forgotten to add anything extra.

“When Dazi gets married, let’s give him a gift, maybe just a single digit one?” Chuxia suggested.

Cen Zhengnian agreed, “Sure, but if it’s too much, we’ll give the rest privately. For appearances, we should match whatever my big brother gives.”

“I know. I already prepared a wedding gift for Dazi and Tao Tao. It’s a shame you couldn’t make it today. The engagement ceremony was lively.”

Cen Zhengnian ate quickly but elegantly, and Chuxia always marveled at how he managed it.

He swallowed a piece of beef and said, “No problem; I won’t miss the wedding.”

Chuxia laughed and nodded. “If you skip the wedding, Dazi might come drag you out of the lab himself.”

Cen Zhengnian nodded seriously, “I think so too.”

He then asked Chuxia about the engagement, curious about the lively details.

He spent his time in the lab, designing and calculating data, with little exposure to such events.

Chuxia started from the beginning, recounting the trip to Tao’s home, the extravagant gifts from the Jiang family, the reaction of the neighbors, and what Tao’s parents said.

“One thing’s for sure, though—Tao Tao and her family are good people, and Dazi has a great eye for picking a partner.”

Cen Zhengnian nodded, “Dazi has a solid sense of character. He wouldn’t choose to befriend anyone without integrity.”

Chuxia agreed wholeheartedly.

She knew his friends well since they were all company shareholders, and indeed, they were all decent people.

Cen Zhengnian then said, “Give me your bowl. Do you want some fruit?”

“Yes, and some milk too.”

He nodded, washing the bowl, and then pulled out some milk to warm and some strawberries from the fridge.

Strawberries were in season, and though expensive, Chuxia had bought a small batch to store.

Since they couldn’t be kept for too long, they needed to be eaten soon.

He placed the strawberries in warm water to remove the chill.

Though chilled strawberries taste better, Chuxia’s health was delicate, and in this colder season, she was cautious about eating cold foods.

Cen Zhengnian also insisted she avoid it since she often suffered from cramps during her period.

After warming the strawberries slightly, they needed to be eaten quickly before the heat softened their skins.

Cen Zhengnian took a few, then checked the kitchen, where the milk was warmed just right.

He brought it over for Chuxia to drink.

“It’s not too hot, just the right temperature,” he said.

Chuxia carefully took a sip of the milk.

It was at a comfortable temperature, so she continued to drink it in small sips until the cup was empty, then went back to eating strawberries.

“Oh, by the way, we also went to see the courtyard house that Dazi bought. You know, it’s in Xidan, quite close to our courtyard house.”

Cen Zhengnian asked, “Will Dazi and his wife live there after they get married?”

Chuxia nodded, and seeing that Cen Zhengnian wasn’t eating, she playfully popped a strawberry into his mouth. “It’s convenient for Yun Mengze and Tao Tao too since they work nearby. I wish our workplaces were also in Xidan, so we could live in the courtyard house and be neighbors with Dazi and Tao Tao.”

Though she said it casually, Cen Zhengnian replied seriously, “Beijing has more than just the research institute in the southern suburbs. If you’d like, I can apply to transfer to a unit in a different area.”

Chuxia stopped eating the strawberry, and instead of showing excitement, she asked, “But what about the project you’re working on now? If you transfer, what will happen to it?”

Cen Zhengnian showed no hesitation, “I’d hand it over to someone else.”

“Would there be suitable projects for you at a new workplace?”

“I’m not sure, but I doubt there’d be a shortage of projects.”

With his skills, a new unit would likely give him plenty of opportunities, though his position might change, and he might not immediately lead any projects.

Realizing this, Chuxia shook her head. “No, let’s stay in the southern suburbs. The environment here is good, and all the necessary amenities are available.”

The research institute’s area had facilities like hospitals, schools, and even kindergartens.

Markets and supermarkets were also cropping up, so the area was becoming quite self-sufficient.

Since Chuxia’s job was also here, she preferred that they remain in this location.

She added, “We can consider moving when we retire.”

Chuxia was also keeping an eye out for new developments in the southern suburbs.

It was only a matter of time before the area was fully developed, and with its distance from the city center and pleasant surroundings, it was likely to have villas.

If that happened, she’d be the first to buy one.

---

Not long after Jiang Zhida’s engagement, Qian Ran brought betrothal gifts to Jiang Zhiyi’s family.

Compared to what Jiang Zhida had given, his gifts were equally if not more generous.

Chuxia was there, camera in hand, standing in front of Jiang Zhiyi, who held a bouquet of red roses, looking more radiant than the flowers themselves.

After spending days at home, Jiang Zhiyi’s complexion had lightened, and today she wore a white sweater dress with a soft pink coat draped over her shoulders, leaning slightly on Qian Ran’s shoulder, radiating happiness.

Chuxia took many sweet photos of the couple, capturing the joyful atmosphere of the engagement.

Qian’s mother had a lively personality, much like Yang Mei, but with a slightly more easygoing demeanor.

Although Zhou Huaying didn’t say much, her expressions were gentle and kind.

Since Tao Tao hadn’t officially joined the Jiang family yet, Jiang Zhida didn’t bring her along.

He stood beside Chuxia, smiling and tilting his head toward her. “They’ve finally settled things.”

Chuxia nodded, knowing how challenging it had been for Qian Ran and Jiang Zhiyi, especially given the long-distance relationship they had for quite some time.

“Oh, by the way, I also took some photos of your engagement with Tao Tao last time.

I had them developed and left them in my car. I’ll give them to you later.”

Jiang Zhida said, “Now that you’ve mentioned it, can’t you give them to me right now?”

“Alright.”

With Jiang Zhiyi’s photos mostly done, Jiang Zhida followed Chuxia to the parking area, where she handed him the envelope with the photos. “Don’t worry, I only printed the best ones. You can show them to Tao Tao later.”

“Will do.”

---

At Jinghua University, Cen Huaian became busy as soon as he returned.

Aside from an initial gathering with Hu Pandeng, Xiaohu, and Bangzi at the start of the semester, he had little time for friends.

Professor Liu had secured project funding, so everyone in the lab had to work diligently to produce tangible results. Otherwise, they’d not only waste funding but also set back national progress in semiconductor research.

Professor Liu, not wanting to be outdone by peers in the industry, made full use of time, pushing his team to focus on research.

Cen Huaian and Zhao Xuebing, his two most promising students, were the busiest.

Li Shi, now working under Cen Huaian, was equally swamped.

They often spent nights in the lab, eventually prompting Professor Liu to provide several dozen camp beds.

Chuxia, concerned for Cen Huaian, brought homemade meals to him every few days since he rarely came home.

She also packed enough for Bangzi, Hu Pandeng, and Xiaohu, knowing they didn’t have family nearby to cook for them.

“These are homemade, not something you can buy elsewhere. Make sure they get some, alright?” she told Cen Huaian.

“Got it, Mom.”

Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Chuxia’s heart ached.

She gently touched his hair and said, “Don’t overwork yourself. Your father and I worry about you.”

Cen Huaian nodded, his exhaustion momentarily replaced by warmth.

He wanted nothing more than to curl up in his mother’s embrace, listen to a bedtime story, and slowly drift off to sleep, as he had when he was a child.

After Chuxia left Jinghua University, Cen Huaian used his pager to call Bangzi, Hu Pandeng, Xiaohu, and Hong Youxuan.

This year, Hong Youxuan was due to graduate and had been accepted into a master’s program.

He was passionate about his field, and pursuing a graduate degree would allow him to delve deeper into computer science.

“Fried yellow croaker! Dumplings!”

Hu Pandeng’s eyes lit up when he saw the food. “This is it! I’ve missed homemade dumplings for so long, and I couldn’t find any to buy around here.”

In addition to the food, Chuxia had also brought a large jar of lotus root and pork rib soup.

The boys gathered around a small pavilion at Jinghua University, savoring each bite of dumplings and sips of soup, while also nibbling on fried yellow croaker with expressions of pure enjoyment.

They finished everything that Chuxia had brought, not leaving a single bite.

Bangzi handed Cen Huaian a bag containing a silk scarf and some pretty hair accessories. “Give these to Aunt Xia for me. These are from my shop; she can’t refuse.”

Bangzi didn’t mention that he had personally selected each item, ensuring nothing looked cheap.

The scarf was a soft yellow silk with a patchwork edge in complementary colors, perfect for spring or even as a bag accessory.

The hair accessories were pure silver, a high-end type that he rarely stocked, usually bought by affluent students.

Cen Huaian immediately recognized the quality of the items.

Without refusing, he took the bag, saying, “I’ll make sure she gets them next time she comes.”

Bangzi clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks!”

---

Zhang Lu’s semester started around the same time as Cen Huaian’s, and she immediately jumped into intense training.

After specialized training sessions and physical evaluations, her group of trainees was assigned specific aircraft types based on their suitability.

Zhang Lu’s height, excellent physical condition, and top-notch vision qualified her for fighter jet training—the type she loved most.

When she found out, she was so happy that she ran ten laps around the track, causing her friends to jokingly call her a lunatic.

Who celebrates by running laps? But everyone was genuinely happy for her.

After the aircraft assignments, however, they still had a long way to go before becoming full-fledged pilots.

Besides regular training, they had to study the theoretical aspects of flying.

In their third year, they’d finally get hands-on experience with basic trainer aircraft, where they’d find out if they could handle flying and really pilot a plane.

Some people, despite having the necessary physical attributes, couldn’t adapt to flying.

They’d become so disoriented that they’d have no choice but to leave the pilot training program.

Zhang Lu, however, had never considered the possibility of being unable to fly fighter jets.

Even if it was difficult, she’d train until she could handle it.

Training included exercises like high-altitude jumps and ten-meter tightrope walks, designed to build courage and overcome acrophobia.

Many trainees hesitated when first faced with these challenges, unable to take a single step.

The psychological obstacles in the air are much harder to overcome than those on the ground, as they involve intense physical fear that’s hard to control.

But Zhang Lu wasn’t afraid the first time she attempted it.

She handled the high-altitude leap with ease, and when it came time to walk the tightrope, she strolled across as if she were on solid ground.

The instructor, watching her, couldn’t help but be amazed.

When she finished, the instructor asked, “Aren’t you scared?”

“No, this height is nothing.”

Zhang Lu had climbed trees since she was young and had no fear of heights.

Besides, they were all secured with safety gear, so even if she fell, she’d be fine.

What was there to fear?

The instructor nodded with admiration, thinking she was a natural-born pilot.

While some other trainees were also unafraid of heights, none performed as well as Zhang Lu, not even the boys.

In the anti-dizziness training, she excelled at spinning exercises, enduring the maximum number of rotations without showing any disorientation.

Her fellow trainees, meanwhile, were dizzy and barely able to stand, while Zhang Lu remained perfectly steady, prompting her friends to give her a thumbs-up.

“Zhang Lu, you’re incredible! If you can’t fly a fighter jet, no one else can!”

Grinning with confidence, she replied, “I’m born to be a pilot!” The instructor nodded, clearly impressed.

Zhang Lu’s outstanding performance was reported to higher-ups, and she was placed in a priority training program.

She’d been on the radar since basic training, and now even more people were taking notice.

Once these trainees graduated, they’d be assigned to various military regions, and promising talents like Zhang Lu were highly sought after.

Who wouldn’t want an exceptional pilot on their team?

Zhang Lu, unaware of these discussions, focused solely on training, aiming to be the best among her peers.

She eagerly looked forward to her third year, when she’d finally get to fly.

She often told her roommates, “The first time I get to touch a plane, I’m going to kiss it! I’ve waited for this for so long!”

Her roommates all agreed—they felt the same way.

Amid Zhang Lu’s intense training schedule, the wedding day of Jiang Zhida and Tao Tao finally arrived.

On the morning of February 16th on the lunar calendar, Tao Tao was up early to get ready, awaiting Jiang Zhida to pick her up for their wedding at Yunmengze.