Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

The waiter gently closed the door to the private room, shutting out the noise from outside.

Qinghelou truly lives up to its reputation as one of the top state-run restaurants in Beijing. Although the furnishings in this private room are not luxurious, they exude an elegant charm.

A landscape painting hangs on the wall, its brushstrokes skillful and its artistic conception profound.

A pot of asparagus fern sits by the window, its lush greenery adding a touch of life to the antique-style room.

The tables and chairs are made of heavy mahogany, polished to a glossy shine, and look quite old.

It has to be said that this was significantly different from the private rooms Li Feng had been to before, which made Li Feng wonder.

Were you treated differently when you came here before?
When Li Feng thought of this, he couldn't help but take a deep breath.

However, he didn't pay attention to these things at the time.

I came here to eat; everything else is really not that important.

As long as Wu Na is satisfied with this place, that's all that matters.

Wu Na's gaze swept around the room, and then she nodded in satisfaction.

She had been to many nice places before, but she still greatly admired the profound cultural heritage of Qinghelou.

In the past, Wu Na rarely came to places like this. At her age, she preferred places like Lao Mo. She rarely went to restaurants like Qinghelou.

However, she felt that the environment here was quite nice.

Just as Wu Na was thinking about these things, Li Feng's voice rang in her ears.

"The environment is not bad, is it?" Li Feng picked up the tea that the waiter had just brewed and refilled the celadon teacup in front of Wu Na. The rising steam carried a fragrance of jasmine.

"Hmm, it's nice, quiet." Wu Na picked up her teacup, blew on it gently, and took a sip, but her eyes never left Li Feng's calm face.

The waiter stood calmly to the side with the menu in his hand. Li Feng took it, but instead of looking at it himself, he handed it to Wu Na first.

Since he was the one treating Wu Na to dinner, he thought it best to let Wu Na look at the menu first.

At this moment, Wu Na waved her hand, a faint smile playing on her lips: "You're the host, you order. I'd like to see what Director Li likes to eat."

Li Feng didn't stand on ceremony. Upon hearing this, he took back the menu, skillfully flipped through a few pages, and said to the waiter, "Give me a braised fish fillet, a braised yellow croaker, a braised sea cucumber with scallions, a stir-fried bean sprout for vegetables, a three-delicacy soup for soup, and two bowls of rice for the main course."

He spoke at a moderate pace when ordering, clearly knowing the restaurant's signature dishes inside and out.

The waiter noted everything down and respectfully asked, "Is there anything else you two might need?"

"That's all for now, let's serve the dishes." Li Feng closed the menu and handed it back.

The waiter left as instructed, and the private room returned to silence.

Wu Na looked at Li Feng, her bright eyes filled with a hint of inquiry. She gently stroked the warm teacup with her fingertips and asked casually, "Judging from how skillfully you order, you seem to be a regular here?"

"I wouldn't call myself a regular customer."

Li Feng shook his head, poured himself a cup of tea, and met her gaze with a calm expression. "I've been here a few times before with friends, including the 'Silly Zhu' and his wife's family whom you met last time. I've also eaten here with my teachers from Tsinghua University. The Shandong cuisine here is authentic, and the chef's skills are impeccable."

He offered a casual explanation, which both answered Wu Na's question and subtly revealed his past network of connections.

Wu Na was incredibly intelligent and naturally understood the meaning behind his words.

Her opinion of Li Feng rose even higher, but she didn't show it on her face. She just smiled and didn't dwell on the matter any further.

She knew that when talking to intelligent people, it was enough to stop short of making a point.

She changed the subject, leaning forward slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on Li Feng: "Alright, now you're the rightful head of the Five Star Ceramics Factory, Director Li, tell me honestly, what are your plans next?"

That's the question she really wanted to ask during this meal.

Upon hearing this, Li Feng put down his teacup and tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice, as if he were organizing his thoughts.

He pondered for a moment, then raised his head, his gaze deep and resolute.

"Of course I have plans."

"The primary task is to complete the second phase of the project thoroughly, ensuring both quality and quantity, without any mistakes. This is an explanation to the leaders of the ministry and the city, as well as to all the factory's employees."

Wu Na nodded; this was within her expectations.

The second phase of the project was initiated by Li Feng, so it's inevitable that it will be completed successfully.

Li Feng continued, "After the second phase of the project stabilizes, I will continue to advance some related research work."

"Research?" Wu Na's interest was immediately piqued. "What kind of research? Is it related to the computer control system you worked on before?"

A mysterious smile played on Li Feng's lips as he looked at Wu Na and slowly shook his head: "It's related, but not entirely. As for the specifics..."

He paused deliberately, meeting Wu Na's curious gaze, and said, word by word, "I'll keep it a secret from you for now."

"Keep it a secret?" Wu Na was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing, giving him a charmingly disdainful look. "Keep it a secret from me? Director Li, your official airs are getting stronger."

That's what she said, but inside she felt like she'd been scratched by a cat's claw, itchy and itchy.

This guy always manages to pique her curiosity unexpectedly.

Looking at her coquettish expression, Li Feng simply smiled and explained, "It's not about keeping it a secret from you personally, but about the matter itself. Until we achieve any significant progress, it needs to be kept strictly confidential."

"You know, some things are of great significance."

He didn't elaborate, but the phrase "of great significance" was enough to make Wu Na's mind wander.

Wu Na's smile gradually faded.

She comes from an extraordinary background, so her vision is naturally higher than that of ordinary people.

She knew very well that in this day and age, any technological research that Li Feng described as "of great significance" and "strictly confidential" could not possibly be a trivial matter.

Recalling the extraordinary importance that Minister Jiang and Deputy Director Zheng had shown to Li Feng, a thought flashed through her mind.

Could it be... related to national defense?
When the idea first came to her, she was startled, but the more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Only when it comes to that level is such caution necessary.

Thinking of this, Wu Na's heart skipped a beat.

She gave Li Feng a deep look, her eyes revealing a hint of awe that she herself was unaware of.

But then she thought again, what does ceramics have to do with national defense?
But now ceramic factories are also related to machinery and such.

perhaps
She didn't press further, but simply picked up her teacup and said solemnly, "Okay, I understand. Just let me know what you need me to do."

"I will definitely help you if it is within my power."

"If all else fails, my parents can help."

She knew this might be the only way she could help. Looking at her earnest expression, Li Feng felt a warmth in his heart and nodded, "Thank you."

He knew that Wu Na was a smart woman who knew how to behave appropriately.

Just then, there was a knock on the door of the private room, and the waiters began to serve the dishes.

Qinghelou's signature dishes truly lived up to their reputation.

That braised fish fillets with fermented rice wine had white, tender fish that melted in your mouth, with a subtle aroma of fermented rice wine, making it incredibly delicious.

The braised yellow croaker is bright red in color, with a rich sauce, firm fish meat, and a salty-sweet flavor that leaves a lingering aftertaste.

Braised sea cucumber with scallions is cooked to perfection, the sea cucumber is soft and chewy, and the aroma of scallions is irresistible, it is an authentic Shandong dish.

"Try this fish slice, it's their specialty." Li Feng offered Wu Na a slice of fish and placed it on the bone plate in front of her.

"Hmm, it's really good." Wu Na took a bite, her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed sincerely.

With the food as a buffer, the atmosphere between the two became much more relaxed.

They chatted about interesting things that happened in the factory, the recent changes in Beijing, and occasionally their views on the future development of industry.

Li Feng discovered that Wu Na had a wide range of knowledge and many insightful views, unlike most women of this era who were limited to trivial family matters.

Chatting with her is a pleasure.

Wu Na, on the other hand, became increasingly alarmed as they talked.

She discovered that Li Feng's knowledge was like a bottomless pit. He could talk fluently about everything, from mechanics and chemical engineering to economics and management, and many of his ideas were far beyond her comprehension.

She felt less like she was having dinner with a 21-year-old and more like she was listening to a learned elder giving her advice.

Just how much stuff is in this guy's head?
The meal drew to a close in this relaxed yet subtly tense atmosphere.

Seeing that more than half of the dishes on the table were gone, Wu Na put down her chopsticks, gently wiped her mouth with a napkin, and as if she suddenly remembered something, asked, "By the way, now that you're the factory manager, you must be even busier. Do you still go back to that courtyard house in Nanluoguxiang every day?"

This question was asked very naturally, like a casual expression of concern between friends.

Li Feng was drinking the three-delicacy soup in his bowl when he heard this and paused for a moment.

He thought of Ding Qiunan, who was far away at Capital Medical University.

Medical school courses are very demanding, especially in the later years, with internships and theoretical studies interspersed. Ding Qiunan has indeed been very busy lately, and the two of them have had much less time to see each other.

As for himself, after taking over as factory director, it is foreseeable that the next period will be his busiest and most crucial time.

The final work of the second phase of the project is complex and demanding, and he also needs to devote a lot of energy to the preparation and planning of new research projects.

There is still a considerable distance between the branch factory and the main factory area, and traveling back and forth every day will indeed waste a lot of valuable time.

He already had a plan in mind.

Li Feng looked up at Wu Na and calmly replied, "I won't be going back for now. Qiu Nan and the others have a lot of schoolwork lately and don't go home often. I'm going to have the logistics department arrange a single room for me in the factory's dormitory for single workers. I'll just live in the factory from now on, which will make it easier to handle my work."

"Living at the factory?"

Wu Na's face showed obvious surprise.

She had considered many possibilities, but this was the one she hadn't thought of.

Living in the factory dormitory?

What are those conditions?
A single bed, a table, a cabinet—that's all.

Then Wu Na thought again that, given Li Feng's rank as the top leader, the dormitory he stayed in couldn't be too bad.

But Li Feng really went to this extent for work? He didn't even go home?

Keep in mind, he was only twenty-one years old, an age when he should be indulging in pleasure and enjoying excitement.

If it were any young person in Beijing with a similar background to Li Feng, who became the factory manager of such a large factory, instead of thinking about how to enjoy life and be powerful, they would voluntarily choose to live in a simple single dormitory.

This is simply unbelievable.

In an instant, Wu Na felt a mix of emotions.

There was surprise, there was confusion, but more than anything, there was a deep sense of awe and admiration.

Looking at Li Feng's face, which appeared exceptionally calm under the light, she suddenly realized that she had underestimated him before.

She thought Li Feng was ambitious and had aspirations.

But now she understands that this man harbors an almost obsessive persistence and a ruthless determination to achieve his goals at all costs.

This ruthlessness is directed not only at others, but also at oneself.

If someone can be this ruthless to himself, what is there that he can't do?
Wu Na thought to herself silently.

She suddenly realized that her previous idea that "the small Five Star Ceramics Factory was just a stop on his long journey" might have been a bit conservative.

What this man is plotting is probably much bigger and farther-reaching than she imagined.

He wasn't following a conventional path of promotion; he was forging his own path, one that had never been seen before.

For him, the position of director of the Five Star Ceramics Factory was not a comfortable and enjoyable official post, but a trench where he could focus wholeheartedly on his work and strive for excellence.

He's determined to completely commit himself to the factory!

Having figured this out, Wu Na's gaze towards Li Feng completely changed.

If before, her feelings towards Li Feng were curiosity, admiration, and a challenge tinged with a desire to conquer, then...

Now, an indescribable sense of respect has quietly risen in her heart.

She picked up the now-cold tea in front of her and drank it all in one gulp, as if to bolster her courage or to make an important decision.

She looked at Li Feng, a confident and bright smile returning to her lips, and slowly said, "Okay, it's fine to live in the factory. I'm at the Phase II project site, so it'll be convenient to contact you if I need anything in the future."

Her tone no longer held the previous probing and teasing, but instead conveyed a sense of sincerity and steadfastness, like that of a partner.

Li Feng keenly sensed the change in her tone, glanced at her with some surprise, and then nodded with a smile.

"Then I'll have to trouble Section Chief Wu more often in the future."

"It's my duty, Director Li."

Wu Na's smile grew even brighter, but deep in her eyes, a flame was burning fiercely.

She thought, watching such a man, starting step by step from an inconspicuous ceramics factory, eventually stir up the winds of change in the times, must be such a magnificent and exciting thing.

She felt fortunate to be one of the earliest witnesses to this magnificent spectacle. (End of Chapter)