Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

The auditorium of the Five Star Ceramics Factory appeared particularly solemn and dignified today.

Built in the early 1950s, this spacious building with a high dome was large enough to accommodate nearly a thousand employees of the old factory.

At this moment, the audience was packed, a sea of ​​black, with workers whispering and buzzing with discussion, the air thick with an atmosphere of anticipation and tension.

As Li Feng followed Director Jin into the auditorium through the side door, all the sounds seemed to be instantly cut off by an invisible hand.

Thousands of eyes turned to him, focusing on the excessively young figure.

Li Feng walked calmly and steadily toward the podium.

The platform was covered with a brand-new bright red velvet cloth, and a row of enamel teacups and nameplates were neatly arranged.

In the very center, it was clearly written—Li Feng.

To his left was Factory Director Zhu Hongjie, and beyond that was Factory Director Wu Qing from the branch factory. To his right were Deputy Factory Director Xiang and several other factory leaders.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Li Feng calmly sat down in the seat that belonged to the factory's top leader.

The chair was an old wooden chair that would even make a slight creaking sound when you sat on it, but Li Feng's heart was unusually calm.

His gaze swept over the pairs of eyes below the stage, some filled with awe, some with curiosity, and some with trust, and he felt a surge of emotion.

A year ago, I was just a deputy director in the factory office, sitting in a corner of this auditorium, looking up at the leaders on the stage.

But now, I've become the one being looked up to.

All of this is certainly due to my own hard work, but it is also inseparable from the help of benefactors.

If it weren't for Director Zheng Guowei's strong opposition and exceptional promotion, I would never have been able to reach this position at the level of a division chief at the age of twenty-one.

Li Feng will always remember this kindness and support.

He secretly resolved that he would never let down Director Zheng and the leaders of the ministry, and that he would definitely lead the Five Star Ceramics Factory to a new level.

The meeting was chaired by Director Zhu Hongjie.

The old factory director, who had worked in the factory for most of his life, looked at the young Li Feng beside him and felt a mix of emotions.

There was relief, there was emotion, and there was also a touch of loss belonging to the older generation.

He cleared his throat and said in a deep voice into the microphone, "Comrades, quiet down, we're starting the meeting now."

The auditorium fell silent instantly.

"Today, we are holding this factory-wide staff meeting mainly to announce an important appointment," Factory Director Zhu's voice echoed through the auditorium via loudspeaker. "Based on the research and decision of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Light Industry, and the official document notification from the Ministry..."

He paused, picked up a red-headed document from the table, and solemnly read aloud: "Comrade Li Feng is hereby appointed as the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Acting Director of our factory, Wuxing Ceramics Factory, to preside over the production, operation, and administrative management of the entire factory!"

The moment the words were spoken, the entire auditorium fell into complete silence.

Everyone was stunned by this news!

Acting factory manager!
Although there had been various rumors circulating in the factory beforehand, the official announcement of the appointment still left everyone stunned.

That's too fast! It's incredibly fast!

From deputy director to deputy factory director, and now to acting factory director, Li Feng's promotion speed is like a rocket!
However, after this brief moment of shock, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

"it is good!"

"Support Factory Director Li!"

"We support the ministry's decision!"

Someone shouted first, and then cheers and applause merged into a huge wave of sound that almost lifted the roof off the auditorium.

The workers' faces were filled with genuine excitement and joy.

They are convinced!

No one in the entire factory dared to disagree with Li Feng!
Starting with the first phase of the ceramic industrialization project, followed by the technological upgrade of the first phase, a new model for industrial ceramic production was designed from scratch.

In the second and third phases of the project, the most advanced ceramic production line in the country was established, from solving various technical problems to striving for higher wages and benefits for everyone.

Everything Li Feng did at the factory genuinely changed everyone's lives.

With a young factory manager who possesses exceptional technical skills, a strong background, and genuine concern for the workers, how could the future of Wuxing Ceramics Factory not be glorious?
Meanwhile, several kilometers away in the branch factory's conference hall, hundreds of branch factory employees were gathered around the loudspeaker in the lobby, listening to the live broadcast of the main factory's conference.

When Director Zhu's voice came through the radio clearly, the workers at the branch factory erupted in cheers. "Director Li! It really is Director Li!"

"Great! There's hope for our factory!"

Applause and cheers echoed across the main factory area and branch factories, all in support of this historic decision.

On the platform, Director Zhu and Wu Qing, among others, looked at the enthusiastic workers below, their faces revealing undisguised shock.

They anticipated that Li Feng's appointment would be supported, but they never expected that the support would be so enthusiastic and so unreserved.

This is no longer a simple act of supporting the superior's decision; it is a heartfelt and absolute belief in and following of Li Feng's personal charisma.

Zhu Hongjie sighed inwardly, "The younger generation surpasses the older."

Having served in this position for so many years, I have never seen such profound prestige.

Wu Qing's expression was even more complicated.

He looked at the young man who used to follow behind him and needed his guidance in everything, and now he had grown into a towering tree that he could look up to. He felt a sense of pride and honor, but also a touch of melancholy that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

This young man is destined to soar to great heights.

In the conference hall of the branch factory, applause lasted for a long time.

The two girls, Zhou Miaomiao and Wang Ping, were so excited that their faces turned red. They clapped their hands vigorously until their palms were red.

"Section Chief Wu! Section Chief Wu, did you hear that?!" Zhou Miaomiao excitedly shook Wu Na's arm beside her. "It's Factory Director Li! He really became the factory director! From now on, we're Factory Director Li's people!"

Wu Na was jolted back to her senses by the shaking. She forced a smile and nodded, "Yes, I heard you."

Her voice was very soft, almost drowned out by the cheers around her.

No one noticed that, amidst the enthusiastic atmosphere, a complex and unfathomable emotion was hidden deep in Wu Na's eyes.

Mixed feelings.

This word perfectly describes her current mood.

The first thought that welled up in her heart when she heard that Li Feng had been officially appointed as the factory director was pure joy and pride.

That outstanding man, the one who had unknowingly won her heart, had finally reached the heights he deserved. He was like the most dazzling star, radiating brilliance, deserving everyone's attention and admiration.

She was happy for him.

However, after the initial wave of joy subsided, an indescribable sorrow quietly crept into her heart.

He stood higher and higher.

A 21-year-old acting factory director at the level of a division chief has unlimited potential for the future, from deputy director-general to director-general... or even higher.

He will be surrounded by beautiful girls like Ding Qiunan, or other women from good families, highly educated, and equally outstanding.

And what about yourself?

Even with her family background, would Li Feng value those things?

At this moment, a question arose in Wu Na's mind.

Wu Na felt that although she came from a privileged family, everything about her seemed so dim and insignificant in the face of Li Feng's dazzling brilliance.

The distance between them seemed to have been infinitely widened.

Back when he was the deputy factory director, she could use work as an excuse to see him often, and even exchange a few harmless jokes, feeling that subtle closeness.

But now, he's the head of the entire factory.

In the future, when I see him again, will I have to stand respectfully to the side like other ordinary employees and greet him with "Hello, Director Li"?

Thinking of this, Wu Na felt as if something was blocking her heart, making her feel suffocated and somewhat panicked.

The cheers and celebrations around her seemed to have become the sounds of another world, growing farther and farther away from her.

She suddenly felt a little down, and the joy she felt for his promotion was completely washed away by this strong sense of loss.

At this moment, Wu Na couldn't help but think that she should work even harder. (End of Chapter)