Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

李峰
His words were firm and resounding.

Looking into Li Feng's calm and serene eyes, Zhu Hongjie's last trace of worry vanished completely. Then...

He patted Li Feng heavily on the shoulder, his face full of trust: "Good! With you saying that, I'm relieved! Whatever you need, the whole factory will give you the green light!"

After explaining the matter, Zhu Hongjie turned around and convened a short meeting with the factory's middle-level cadres to convey the notice from the ministry leaders regarding their inspection.

The entire Five Star Ceramics factory and its branches were like a precision machine that had been started, instantly becoming highly efficient.

"Director Wu, you are responsible for the environmental sanitation and safety inspection of the entire factory area. You must ensure that the windows are spotless, there is not a single drop of oil on the ground, and the safety passages are unobstructed!"

"Deputy Factory Director Xiang, take some people to organize our finished product warehouse and place the branch factory's most representative new porcelain products in the most prominent positions!"

"And the publicity department, hurry up and hang up the welcome banner. The slogan should be eye-catching, but not too flashy. It should reflect the simplicity and strength of our industrial front!"

Zhu Hongjie issued instructions one by one, and Wu Qing and other factory leaders immediately set off, with hurried but orderly footsteps echoing throughout the office building.

Li Feng didn't sit idle either; he returned to his office, which was the combined office of the technical department and the engineering department.

"Zhou Miaomiao, Wang Ping!"

"To!"

With a crisp response, two young women wearing identical blue work uniforms and with ponytails ran over quickly.

These were Zhou Miaomiao and Wang Ping, two top students personally recruited by Li Feng from Jinling University.

After this period of training, they have long since shed their naivety upon leaving school, and their eyes are full of competence and complete trust in Li Feng.

"You must immediately organize all the comrades in the technical and equipment departments to conduct a final operational check on all production lines of the second phase of the project." Li Feng's tone was calm and unhurried, but the content left no room for doubt. "Focus on checking the response speed of the central control system, whether the parameter feedback of each sensor is accurate, and whether there are any deviations in the execution of the robotic arm."

"I want to make sure that the entire production line is in perfect working order when the leaders inspect it this afternoon."

"Yes, Director Li!" Zhou Miaomiao and Wang Ping immediately straightened their backs and answered loudly, then turned around to convey the order.

Watching their hurried figures disappear into the distance, Li Feng's gaze fell once more on the automated production line he had personally built.

Under the sunlight, the silver-gray robotic arm stands silently, exuding a cold industrial aesthetic and a surging sense of power.

This is the result he wanted to show Minister Jiang, and it is also the future that Chinese industry needs most in this era.

Time passed by, and busy figures moved about the factory area, with a tense yet expectant atmosphere filling the air.

At 2:50 p.m., the autumn sun was no longer so scorching, but rather carried a warm and pleasant feeling.

In front of the office building of the Wuxing Ceramics Factory branch, Zhu Hongjie, Wu Qing, and all the other members of the factory's leadership team had already lined up and were waiting quietly.

Standing at the very front of the line was not factory director Zhu Hongjie, nor branch factory director Wu Qing, but the youngest member, Li Feng.

This position was personally arranged by Zhu Hongjie.

During the brief meeting, he made it clear: "Minister Jiang specifically requested to see the second phase of the project, and the key person is Comrade Li Feng. Therefore, in the afternoon's welcoming ceremony, Comrade Li Feng will stand at the front, and we old guys will provide support for him!"

Upon hearing this, no one in the meeting room raised any objection.

Whether they were grateful to Li Feng or had been somewhat jealous of him, they all understood the situation perfectly at this moment.

Who is responsible for this factory's transformation and the fact that it attracted the minister's personal inspection? It's Li Feng.

Li Feng stood firm and upright, basking in the immense credit and glory. Thus, at this moment, Li Feng stood tall and straight at the very front of the group, his expression calm, his gaze steadily fixed on the main road leading to the factory. The factory leaders behind him also wore solemn expressions; no one felt there was anything wrong with this arrangement.

Strength is the most powerful passport.

At exactly 3 p.m., a black sedan appeared in everyone's sight on time. The special license plate on the front of the car showed its extraordinary identity - the department's number one car.

The car slowly came to a stop in front of the office building.

Zhu Hongjie's heart skipped a beat. He subconsciously glanced at Li Feng in front of him, only to see that Li Feng still looked calm and composed.

The car door opened, and a sprightly elderly man with gray hair, neatly combed, stepped off the car, supported by a middle-aged man of about forty years old with a resolute face.

It was Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Light Industry and Zheng Guowei, Deputy Director of the Planning Department.

After getting out of the car, Minister Jiang glanced around and precisely locked onto that young and composed figure at the very front of the crowd.

Seeing this, Zhu Hongjie felt reassured. Without making a sound, he gently nudged Li Feng's lower back with his elbow and whispered, "Li Feng, hurry up."

This is a signal, a signal that the center stage is being completely handed over to him.

Li Feng understood immediately and, without the slightest hesitation, strode forward with steady steps.

Zhu Hongjie, Wu Qing, and others behind him immediately followed, but they all tacitly lagged behind Li Feng by half a step, making him stand out in the most central position like a star surrounded by the moon.

"Greetings, Minister Jiang, greetings, Director Zheng." Li Feng approached, bowed slightly, and spoke in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant, full of respect for elders and leaders, but without a trace of the obsequiousness and nervousness that a subordinate would show when facing a superior.

"Hahaha, okay, okay!"

When Minister Jiang saw Li Feng, the smile on his face instantly became incredibly genuine and gentle—the kind of heartfelt appreciation and joy an elder feels when seeing a proud junior.

Instead of shaking hands with factory director Zhu Hongjie first, he bypassed everyone else and took the initiative to extend his broad and strong hand to Li Feng.

This action sent a jolt through Zhu Hongjie and the others following behind, followed by an indescribable surge of excitement and pride.

The minister took the initiative to offer his help! What an honor and recognition this is for an official!
Seeing this, Li Feng's eyes flickered slightly, and he quickly extended both hands, respectfully and firmly grasping Minister Jiang's hands.

"Comrade Li, we meet again." Minister Jiang shook his hand gently, his eyes full of approval. "The second phase of this project you've put together is quite a big undertaking! I could hear the roar of your machines from Beijing!"

This was a well-intentioned and encouraging joke that instantly lightened the slightly serious atmosphere.

Li Feng responded with a smile, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Minister. We were just making a small, insignificant attempt under your and the ministry's leadership's correct guidance."

"Hey, this isn't just an experiment, it's a groundbreaking achievement!" Minister Jiang released his grip, turned to look at Zheng Guowei beside him, and his smile widened. "Young Zheng, look at this young man! Calm, capable, and not arrogant or impetuous at all. I remember when you put him in charge, I felt he seemed a bit unreliable. Now it seems you've promoted a talented leader for me and our Ministry of Light Industry!"

This public praise carries immense weight.

Zheng Guowei also wore a proud smile, but he did not take credit for it. Instead, he cleverly attributed the credit back to Li Feng.

He looked at Li Feng, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration: "Minister, this is not my achievement. Gold shines wherever it is placed."

"I was just fortunate enough to be the one who dug the gold out of the sand. Ultimately, it is Comrade Li Feng's own outstanding abilities, willingness to study, and sense of responsibility that enabled him to achieve such success."

Zhu Hongjie, who was standing to the side, was overjoyed to hear the two bigwigs in the department praising Li Feng one after another.

Although the praise was directed at Li Feng, the glory belonged to the entire Five Star Ceramics Factory! As the factory director, he was also very proud! (End of Chapter)