Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

The laughter in the office gradually subsided. Wu Na put away her joking expression, looked at Li Feng seriously with her bright eyes, and asked softly, "Hey, seriously, you went to the ministry this time... will you come back to the factory later?"

She asked this question cautiously, with a hint of barely perceptible expectation. After all, for Wu Na, if Li Feng were to work in the ministry, he would definitely not come to the ceramics factory or would come very rarely. If that were the case, wouldn't it be a long time before she and Li Feng could see each other again?

Or should I go to the ministry myself?
Although I can go to the ministry often, wouldn't that be counterproductive?
This made Wu Na start to worry; she didn't want things to be this way.

Upon hearing Wu Na's words, Li Feng paused slightly, then understood the meaning behind them.

At this time, Li Feng thought that Wu Na was worried about the second phase of the factory project. Since Li Feng knew that Wu Na was coming down to the factory to gain experience, he thought it was normal for Wu Na to be worried.

At this moment, Li Feng smiled at Wu Na, his smile gentle yet firm: "Of course I'll come back. Don't forget I'm still the deputy director of our factory and the person in charge of the second phase of the project."

"There's still some finishing work to be done on the first phase of the technological upgrade, and the second phase project has only just begun. How could I possibly just sit back and do nothing?"

He paused, his tone becoming more solemn: "I have already expressed my stance to Director Zhu and reported to the leaders of the department. The department's project is a priority, and I will do my best. But if the factory, especially the second phase project, encounters any technical difficulties that require me to come back to handle, I will rush back at any time. Wuxing Ceramics Factory is my starting point and my root, and that will never change."

Upon hearing these words, Wu Na's eyes lit up instantly, as if starlight were twinkling within them.

The little stone that had been hanging over her heart quietly fell to the ground.

Her biggest worry was that Li Feng would never come back, but after hearing his answer, she realized that she had been worrying too much.

As long as he comes back, as long as we still have work-related interactions, then... there is still a chance.

"At least you still have some conscience." Wu Na felt a sweet warmth in her heart, but deliberately snorted and couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth into a beautiful smile. "You said it yourself, don't complain that we're a hassle and call you back every day to put out fires."

"I couldn't ask for more." Li Feng smiled frankly.

The two chatted for a few more minutes about some details of the second phase of the project before Wu Na got up to say goodbye. She knew that Li Feng was going to report to the ministry tomorrow, and he must have a lot of things to prepare today, so she didn't want to bother him too much.

……

At six o'clock in the afternoon, the bell rang on time to signal the end of the workday.

After tidying up the documents on his desk and locking the drawers, Li Feng instructed his colleagues in the factory office on some matters and then left the office building.

This time, instead of going straight back to his dormitory at the factory as usual, he headed towards the factory gate.

It's almost October, and the weather in Beijing is getting cooler day by day.

The autumn wind carried a hint of bleak chill, swirling fallen leaves in the air. The sky was the uniquely high and azure blue of northern autumn, like a giant sapphire, so clear and without a trace of impurity.

The leaves of the poplar trees on both sides of the road have turned yellow, and in the afterglow of the setting sun, they are tinged with a golden halo. When the wind blows, they rustle and whisper, as if telling the story of summer's departure.

A faint scent, characteristic of this season, permeates the air—the fragrance of earth, the fresh scent of fallen leaves, and the faint smell of coal smoke wafting from the chimneys of every household.

Pedestrians on the street were all wearing long sleeves, and young people riding bicycles were moving fast, their clothes billowing in the wind, full of youthful vigor.

This time, Li Feng didn't take a car; he chose to walk back to Nanluoguxiang, where he felt exceptionally calm.

During this period, he practically lived at the factory, and he hadn't been back to his own little courtyard in Nanluoguxiang for a long time.

Tomorrow he'll be heading to the ministry to begin a brand new journey, and tonight he wants to go home, pack up properly, and say a small goodbye to his past life.

As soon as I turned into the familiar alley, I ran into an "old acquaintance" carrying a basket and about to go out to buy groceries.

"Oh my, isn't this Li Feng?" Uncle Yan Bugui squinted his shrewd little eyes, and when he saw Li Feng, his face immediately lit up with a warm smile. "It's been so long since I've seen you! I thought you were staying at the ceramics factory and hadn't come back to live in our courtyard!"

Li Feng stopped and smiled politely: "Uncle, are you going to buy groceries?"

“That’s right.” Yan Bugui looked Li Feng up and down, clicked his tongue, and said, “Last time I asked Shazhu about you, he said you were so busy at the factory that you were practically living there. I said, ‘How can you not go home when you’re working at the factory? You’re really working very hard.’”

"The factory has been really busy lately. I'm a technician, and the project is at a critical stage, so we can't do without me," Li Feng explained casually. Of course, he wouldn't mention his promotion or transfer to the ministry to the Third Uncle.

With that big mouth of an old man, he'll know everything about the entire compound, and even the whole alley, in less than half a day, which will inevitably cause a lot of trouble.

"Oh, I see. It's good that you're energetic, young man!" Yan Bugui nodded repeatedly, but his eyes darted around Li Feng, as if trying to figure something out from him.

Li Feng didn't want to talk to him any longer, so he said, "Uncle, I just got off work and need to hurry back to tidy up the house, so I won't chat with you any longer. Take care."

"Alright, alright, you go ahead and get busy." Seeing Li Feng about to leave, Yan Bugui didn't ask any more questions and picked up his basket. But after walking a few steps, he couldn't help but turn back to look at Li Feng's retreating figure, muttering to himself, "That kid, he seems to have a different air about him after all this time..."

Li Feng returned to his leave and pushed open the door, a musty smell wafted out.

He went inside and, sure enough, the table and furniture were covered in a layer of dust.

It seems I really have forgotten about this place lately.

If Ding Qiunan were home, she would probably keep things very clean, right?
Without giving it much thought, Li Feng rolled up his sleeves, found a rag and a bucket, and began cleaning.

Sweeping, wiping tables, making beds... After more than an hour, the whole house was refreshed, bright and clean, and restored to its former warmth.

By the time I finished tidying up the house, it was completely dark.

Li Feng's stomach also started to rumble. Too lazy to cook himself, he went straight to Sha Zhu's house.

Sha Zhu was sitting alone at the table, drinking a little wine. On the table were a plate of peanuts and a plate of cucumber salad. When he saw Li Feng come in, his eyes lit up.

"Hey! You finally came back!" Sha Zhu grinned, got up and took another set of bowls and chopsticks from the cupboard. "Sit down, perfect timing, have a couple of drinks with me."

"Silly Zhu." Li Feng didn't stand on ceremony, pulled out a chair and sat down. "You seem to be living a pretty leisurely life."

"Leisurely my ass!" Sha Zhu poured Li Feng a drink, took a swig himself, and then began to complain bitterly, "It's all because of those petty things in the courtyard! That old hag Jia Zhangshi has started causing trouble again recently, making veiled accusations every day, saying that I've taken advantage of their family so much. Can you believe it?"

Li Feng picked up a peanut, popped it into his mouth, and chewed slowly while listening to Sha Zhu's complaints. These mundane family matters seemed like stories from another world to him, yet they were so real.

“Shazhu, don’t worry about this.” Li Feng took a sip of wine and said slowly, “That’s just how Jia Zhangshi is. The more you go against her, the more she’ll act up. Sometimes, if you ignore her, she’ll make a fuss for a couple of days, then she’ll get bored and calm down. It’s not worth getting angry with her. Just like I said last time, if she’s going to come, we should give her a big one.”

"That makes sense, but I just can't swallow this!" Sha Zhu took another swig of wine, his face showing some frustration.

Li Feng patted him on the shoulder and didn't try to persuade him any further. He knew that was just Sha Zhu's personality—straightforward and unable to tolerate the slightest grievance. Ultimately, he had to figure some things out for himself.

The two drank and chatted until after eight o'clock. Li Feng didn't mention that he was going to report to the ministry the next day, only saying that the factory would be busier recently and he might be able to come back less often. Although Sha Zhu was a little disappointed, he knew that Li Feng was now a man of great importance, and told him to take care of his health and not overwork himself.

After leaving Sha Zhu's house, Li Feng returned to his own small house, lay on his clean and tidy bed, and spent the night in silence.

……

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, a black sedan pulled up at the entrance of the alley right on time.

The driver was Sun Qiang, the factory's driver.

Li Feng, carrying a simple briefcase, said goodbye to Sha Zhu, who had come to see him off, and got into the car.

The car slowly started, drove away from Nanluoguxiang, and merged into the morning traffic of Beijing.

Li Feng leaned back in his seat, watching the street scene rushing past the window, and a feeling completely different from the past welled up in his heart.

In the past, every time he took a car to the ministry, whether to report on work or attend a meeting, he felt more like a local official going to Beijing on business.

In his eyes, the imposing building of the Ministry of Light Industry was a sacred place that needed to be looked up to, representing power and direction.

He was filled with awe and a touch of trepidation, and he was very careful in his words and actions, afraid of making the slightest mistake.

But today, things are different.

From today onwards, Li Feng is officially working in the ministry, and at this time he is a formal cadre of the Ministry of Light Industry.

That building will no longer be a destination he visits occasionally, but a battlefield where he will fight in the future.

His identity changed, and so did his perspective.

In the past, he thought about how to work hard for the Five Star Ceramics Factory project, but now the department has a new project for him to take charge of. Although he is the initiator of this project, Li Feng now needs to think about more things.

From a deputy factory director to a cadre in a department, this is not just a promotion in rank, but a huge leap in vision and perspective.

The burden on their shoulders was heavy.

But in Li Feng's heart, there was more surging passion and boundless anticipation for the future.

He knew that a broader stage might be slowly unfolding before him.

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the Ministry of Light Industry building.

Li Feng got out of the car, straightened his cadre uniform, and looked up at the familiar yet unfamiliar building.

Sunlight shone brightly on the national emblem on the rooftop.

He took a deep breath, strode confidently inside.

According to the requirements in the appointment document, he should first report to the Personnel Department and complete the relevant onboarding procedures.

However, Li Feng did not go directly upstairs to the Personnel Department. Instead, he turned a corner in the corridor on the third floor and headed straight for the Planning Department's office area.

He needed to meet someone first—his former boss and mentor, Deputy Director Zheng.

Both out of courtesy and reason, one should visit the leader who has been promoting and supporting them before officially starting the job.

This is both a sign of respect and a gesture.

He arrived at the door of Deputy Director Zheng's office with practiced ease and knocked gently.

"Please come in." It was Deputy Director Zheng's familiar and powerful voice that came from inside.

Li Feng pushed open the door and entered, only to see Deputy Director Zheng sitting behind his desk, intently reading a document.

Upon hearing footsteps, Deputy Director Zheng looked up, and when he saw that it was Li Feng, a relieved smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Xiao Li, you're here! So early!" He then stood up and greeted him warmly.

"Director Zheng, I've arrived to report for duty," Li Feng said respectfully.

"Good, good!" Deputy Director Zheng walked around the desk to Li Feng, patted him on the shoulder like an elder, and said with admiration in his eyes, "The personnel department sent the appointment documents over early yesterday morning."

"Excellent, you have lived up to the department's expectations!"

"This is all thanks to the leadership's guidance," Li Feng said modestly.

Deputy Director Zheng looked him over and asked, "Have you had breakfast yet?"

Li Feng was taken aback, not expecting him to ask this, and honestly shook his head: "I haven't had time yet."

“I knew it.” Deputy Director Zheng laughed and picked up a cigarette from the table. “Come on, let’s not go to the Personnel Department yet. I’ll take you to the cafeteria to get something to eat, and we can talk while we eat.”

"This...it's too much trouble for you, Director Zheng."

"What's the trouble! From now on, we're colleagues who're all in the same boat, so why be so polite with me!" Deputy Director Zheng said without waiting for a reply, pulling Li Feng out of the room.

The canteen in the ministry was bustling with people, filled with the aroma of food and the hushed sounds of conversation. Deputy Director Zheng, along with Li Feng, got a bowl of millet porridge, two meat buns, and a dish of pickled vegetables.

The two found a quiet corner to sit down.

Deputy Director Zheng smiled kindly as he watched Li Feng wolf down his food. After Li Feng had finished eating, he said, "Little Li, I already spoke to the Personnel Department yesterday. There's no rush with the paperwork. Come to my office after you finish eating."

Li Feng put down his chopsticks and listened attentively.

Deputy Director Zheng's expression also turned serious. He lowered his voice and said, "Time is tight and the task is heavy. Today I will formally hand over the computer automation project to you."

"This is an instruction from the top leader."

"From this moment forward, this project is classified as a state secret." (End of Chapter)