Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

"We guarantee the completion of the task."

Li Feng's voice was loud and firm, echoing in the silent conference room. Every word was resounding and full of unquestionable confidence.

Minister Jiang nodded with satisfaction. He looked deeply at Li Feng, his eyes filled with expectation, trust, and a solemn sense of placing the weight of an era gently on the shoulders of this young man.

He then turned to Zheng Guowei, who was equally excited, and said, "Xiao Zheng, let's go. You follow up on the follow-up matters and make sure the project goes perfectly."

"Yes, Minister!" Zheng Guowei replied, standing at attention, his voice trembling with excitement.

Minister Jiang didn't say anything more, but walked to Li Feng's side and patted him hard on the shoulder, everything was understood without words.

Then, he led Zheng Guowei and left the conference room with steady steps.

The heavy wooden door was gently closed, making a dull "click" sound, as if completely separating the two worlds.

Outside the door lies the nation's grand narrative and its bright future.

Inside the door lies a reality about to boil over and glory within reach.

The tension that had been building in the conference room finally snapped and completely relaxed the moment the door closed.

"call--"

Zhu Hongjie and Wu Qing breathed a long sigh of relief almost simultaneously. They looked at each other and saw uncontrollable joy and relief in each other's eyes.

Zhu Hongjie felt his back was soaked with sweat. He sat back in his chair, feeling somewhat exhausted. His fingers trembled as he pulled out a cigarette case from his pocket, and it took him a while to finally get a cigarette out.

He struck the match several times before finally lighting the cigarette. He took a deep drag, letting the pungent smoke churn in his lungs, and only then did he feel his heart, which had been pounding in his throat, return to his chest.

"Factory Director Wu..." Zhu Hongjie exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his voice hoarse with emotion, "Our factory is truly going to soar to new heights this time."

Wu Qing's usually stern, almost sculpted face broke into a rare, radiant smile. He didn't sit down, but instead walked to the window, watching the workers coming and going in the factory below, his eyes filled with an unprecedented brilliance.

“Yes, Director Zhu.” Wu Qing’s voice was also full of excitement. “I’ve been working in ceramics for so many years, and I never thought that one day I would be able to personally participate in such a transformation.”

This...this is like a dream.

At this moment, they both understood perfectly.

Minister Jiang's words were not only a promise to Li Feng, but also the highest recognition of the leadership team of their Five Star Ceramics Factory.

This means that as long as the project is successfully completed, those who promoted and supported it will definitely have a significant contribution to their record.

Zhu Hongjie was making plans in her mind.

He's 53 this year; if he works a few more years, he should retire to a less demanding role.

I originally thought I could retire peacefully and be content with the benefits of being a deputy director-level official.

But now it seems that this is no longer a pipe dream, but a foregone conclusion! In fact, if the project results are amazing enough, he might even be able to drop the "deputy" title before retiring!
Retirement with the待遇 of a department head is an honor that brings glory to his ancestors!

Wu Qing's heart was burning with the same passion. He was younger than Zhu Hongjie and was in the prime of his life.

As the branch factory director, he had always been a division-level cadre.

If this project succeeds, it will be almost a natural progression for him, as one of the direct managers of the project, to be promoted by half a level and become a deputy director-level branch factory director.

At that time, the scale and level of the entire Five Star Ceramics Factory will probably have to be upgraded.

This is not just about personal honor or disgrace, but also about one's real political future!
Thinking of this, Zhu Hongjie stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, and his spirits immediately returned.

He glanced around at the other deputy factory directors and middle-level managers in the conference room, who also had happy expressions on their faces, and decisively slammed his hand on the table.

"Comrades, stop standing, sit down! Let's strike while the iron is hot and have a short meeting now to sort out the follow-up work!"

Everyone immediately sat up straight, their joy quickly fading and replaced by a high-spirited fighting spirit.

Everyone knows that a historic opportunity has been presented to us.

Zhu Hongjie's gaze finally settled on Li Feng, his eyes as gentle as if he were looking at his own precious son.

“Comrade Li Feng,” Zhu Hongjie cleared his throat and said solemnly, “you are now the chief person in charge of our second phase project, and also the hope for the future of our factory. You heard what Minister Jiang just said.”

"Now, on behalf of the factory's Party Committee, I want to make a statement: from today onwards, your work will be the top priority for the entire factory! Everyone and everything must unconditionally give way to your project!"

Li Feng stood up, his expression calm and serious, showing no arrogance whatsoever despite the immense achievement and the praise from his superiors.

He bowed slightly to all the factory leaders present and said in a deep voice, "Thank you, Director Zhu, and thank you all for your trust. I assure you that I will lead the technical team to overcome all difficulties and complete this task with high quality and quantity, and I will never let down the minister and all the leaders!"

His words were neither humble nor arrogant, but full of strong confidence and responsibility, which made the group of veteran cadres present nod in approval.

This young man not only possesses extraordinary abilities, but also has such a calm and composed temperament, which is truly rare.

"Good!" Zhu Hongjie led the applause. "With you saying that, we're relieved! Li Feng, just tell us now, what do you need? People, money, materials—just ask! As long as our factory has it, you can transfer it! If the factory doesn't have it, I'll risk my reputation and go to the city or the ministry to get it for you!"

As soon as Zhu Hongjie finished speaking, Wu Qing immediately chimed in, "That's right! Li Feng, from today onwards, my branch factory will be your experimental base! Whichever workshop you want, I'll make room for it right away! Whichever experienced worker you want, I'll transfer them over immediately! Those young men and women in the technical equipment department will all be under your direct command! In short, whatever you need, I'll provide the manpower and the land!"

The deputy factory director in charge of logistics patted his chest and guaranteed: "Comrade Li Feng, I will personally oversee all material procurement and logistical support for the project! I guarantee that whatever we need will be there, and whenever we need it, it will arrive!"

The atmosphere in the conference room instantly became extremely heated. All the factory leaders rushed to express their support to Li Feng, as if he were not a deputy factory director, but an imperial envoy wielding absolute authority.

They all knew in their hearts that supporting Li Feng now was supporting their own future.

They must be firmly tied to Li Feng's giant ship, which is about to set sail, so that it can sail towards a wider ocean.

Looking at the warm and sincere faces before him, Li Feng felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He knew that from this moment on, the blueprint for the future factory he had drawn up truly had solid soil to take root and flourish.

He took a deep breath, nodded, his eyes clear and bright. (End of Chapter)