Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

Li Feng quickly composed himself and regained the calm and composure befitting a technical lead.

He then picked up his notebook and several key technical documents from the table, turned around, and walked out of his office.

Regarding the computer project, although he had already developed a detailed follow-up plan, there were still essential handover and instructions to be given before leaving.

In the project team's core office, Professor Wang and Professor Fei were gathered around a large blueprint, discussing something with several group leaders. When Li Feng entered, everyone stopped what they were doing.

"Chief Engineer Li, have you finished reporting to the Director?" Professor Wang pushed up his reading glasses and asked with concern.

"Okay, report complete." Li Feng nodded, walked to the middle of the group, and spread the documents in his hand on the table. "Professor Wang, Professor Fei, I have to go back to the ceramics factory for a few days. The automated production line of the second phase project has reached a critical stage in equipment installation and commissioning, and I have to go there to keep an eye on it."

Hearing this, Professor Fei frowned slightly and said with some concern, "What if we encounter some tricky problems here after you leave? Although we have solutions, unexpected situations always arise during actual testing."

Professor Fei is a pure technical expert who always thinks from the safest perspective. Li Feng, as the key figure in the entire project, is someone he considers indispensable.

"Don't worry, Professor Fei," Li Feng smiled and pointed to the documents on the table, explaining, "I've compiled a detailed test plan for the next two weeks, along with potential problems and corresponding solutions."

"This is the 'System Stability Stress Test Procedure,' this is the 'Peripheral Compatibility List and Debugging Manual,' and this is the 'Emergency Plan for Abnormal Data Conditions.'"

“In most cases, we have already done rehearsals and calculations. If there are any unexpected problems that we can’t solve, I will ask the factory to install a dedicated telephone line for me so that we can communicate at any time.”

Li Feng explained his arrangements in a clear and organized manner, demonstrating meticulous preparation. He not only anticipated routine tasks but also prepared contingency plans for unexpected situations.

Professor Wang picked up the documents and flipped through them, nodding more and more as he read, his eyes full of approval: "Chief Engineer Li, you've thought of everything very thoroughly, even more meticulously than us old folks."

"Okay, you can go back without worry. We'll keep an eye on things here, nothing will go wrong. You're right, the ceramics factory is also a testing ground for our own technology. The sooner we succeed, the more data we'll have to refer to."

“That’s right, theory must be combined with practice,” Li Feng said. “Dear teachers and group leaders, during my absence, Professor Wang will be in charge of the overall direction of the project, and Professor Fei will be responsible for overseeing the specific technical details and testing execution.”

"Don't worry, leave it to us," everyone replied in unison.

After handing over the work properly, Li Feng held a short meeting with the core members of each group, repeatedly emphasizing some key technical points and precautions until he was sure that everyone understood. Only then did he feel completely at ease.

It was already afternoon when I left the research institute.

A jeep with a ministry license plate was already waiting downstairs.

Li Feng opened the car door and got in. The car slowly drove out of the research institute's gate and onto the wide streets of Beijing.

Outside the car window, it was already deep winter. The roadside trees, which were lush and green in summer, were now bare branches pointing towards the gray sky in the biting wind. Pedestrians on the road were wrapped tightly in their cotton-padded coats, their necks hunched, and the white breath they exhaled was quickly blown away by the wind.

Looking out the window, Li Feng couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

He remembered that when he first came to the research institute and plunged into the computer project, it was the height of summer, and the cicadas outside the window were chirping incessantly, which was quite annoying.

In the blink of an eye, several months have passed like flowing water, and winter is already so deep.

For the past few months, he had been working non-stop, immersing himself in blueprints, data, and various experiments every day, to the point that he had become somewhat oblivious to the passage of time. But now, looking at this familiar yet somewhat desolate street scene, he truly felt that time had indeed flown by.

The car headed east and entered the city, and the surrounding scenery gradually became familiar.

When the familiar words "Five-Star Ceramics Factory" came into view, a warm feeling welled up in Li Feng's heart. As soon as the car stopped in front of the office building, Director Zhu, along with Director Wu and Deputy Director Xiang, quickly came out of the building to greet them, their faces beaming with enthusiastic smiles.

"Oh, Director Li! We've been waiting for you to come back!" Director Zhu's loud voice arrived before he did.

He stepped forward and patted Li Feng's shoulder forcefully, as if he were seeing a long-lost relative.

"Director Zhu, Director Wu, Director Xiang," Li Feng said with a smile, shaking hands with each of the leaders.

"Welcome home!" Director Zhu smiled so broadly his eyes narrowed into slits. "You're quite the star in our department now. We have to ask Deputy Director Zheng for permission to see you!"

"Factory manager, please don't make fun of me," Li Feng said sincerely. "No matter where I go, the ceramics factory is my home, and I am a part of the factory."

These words made the three factory leaders present feel extremely pleased.

Factory Director Wu happily said, "It's good that you're back! It's good that you're back! The second phase of the project is now at its most critical stage. The equipment is arriving one after another, and we're just waiting for you, the chief commander, to make the final decisions!"

Deputy Factory Director Xiang nodded repeatedly: "Yes, Deputy Factory Director Li, everyone is really eager to get started. As long as this second phase of the project goes into production smoothly, our factory, no! the entire ceramics industry in our light industry system, will be in a completely different state! Everyone here will be a hero!"

That makes sense. The importance of the second phase project is self-evident. It is not only the future of Wuxing Ceramics Factory, but also a significant chapter in the careers of Director Zhu and Director Wu.

Li Feng's return was undoubtedly the strongest reassurance for them.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Director Zhu waved his hand, seemingly impatient: "Come on, Xiao Li, don't stay in the office. I'll take you to see the second phase of the project first! You'll be amazed!"

"Okay." Li Feng nodded; he was also eager to find out the progress on site as soon as possible.

The group got into a factory car and drove towards the east side of the factory area.

The site for the second phase of the project is located on an open area a ten-minute drive from the main plant area.

The car drove along the paved road, and soon, a huge construction site bustling with activity came into view before Li Feng.

Before even getting out of the car, Li Feng was already stunned by the sight before him through the car window.

In his memory, when he left, this place was just a newly leveled open space with a few scattered foundations. But now, rows of brand-new red brick factory buildings have sprung up, standing neatly in the winter sun, with tall chimneys pointing straight to the sky, and the steel roofs of the factory buildings reflecting the metallic luster in the sunlight.

The construction site was bustling with people and vehicles. Workers wearing safety helmets were busy on the scaffolding, technicians in blue overalls were gesturing and comparing blueprints on site, and in the distance, several cranes were slowly hoisting huge metal components into place.

The clanging and banging, the roar of machinery, and the workers' chants intertwined to create a stirring and powerful symphony of construction.

"How about it?" Factory Director Zhu looked at Li Feng's surprised expression with a smug look, and then he began to boast to Li Feng, "This speed, not bad, right?"

Li Feng exclaimed sincerely, "It's more than just possible, this speed has exceeded my most optimistic expectations! I originally thought that the main factory building would not be completed until at least the end of the year."

"Haha!" Factory Director Zhu laughed heartily. "Don't underestimate the enthusiasm of our workers! Ever since your plans and renderings were released in the factory, everyone's morale has been soaring! In order to build our own modern production line as soon as possible, the construction team is working in three shifts, with people resting but machines never stopping, working 24 hours a day! Everyone says that our new factory is changing every day!"

Listening to Director Zhu's proud words and looking at the vibrant and hopeful construction site before him, Li Feng's enthusiasm was reignited. (End of Chapter)