Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

After the dinner, the two walked out of the private room at Qinghelou Restaurant, one after the other.

The evening breeze carried a hint of autumn night coolness, and its touch on the face instantly refreshed the spirit.

The lanterns at the entrance cast a warm red glow, stretching the two people's shadows long.

"I'll take you home," Li Feng said naturally.

Wu Na wanted to say no need to trouble herself, but she swallowed the words back and just gave a soft "hmm," her lips unconsciously curving upwards slightly.

Sun Qiang had already parked the black factory manager's car in front of the restaurant.

When Sun Qiang saw Li Feng and Wu Na come out, he quickly got out of the car and opened the back door.

This car was specially provided by the factory for Li Feng, the new factory director, and is one of the most direct manifestations of his change in status.

"Section Chief Wu, please," Sun Qiang said respectfully.

Wu Na smiled at him, bent down, and sat down.

Li Feng then sat down next to her.

The space inside the carriage wasn't large, and the two sat side by side, able to smell each other's faint scent.

Wu Na smelled of fresh face cream, while Li Feng smelled of clean soap mixed with a faint hint of smoky aroma—a unique mark left by years spent in the workshop.

"Go to the General's Tower," Li Feng instructed Sun Qiang, who was ahead of him.

Sun Qiang responded without asking any further questions. He then skillfully started the car, and the black sedan smoothly merged into the nighttime traffic.

The carriage was quiet for a moment, with only the slight hum of the engine and the fleeting street scenes outside the window.

Wu Na turned her head to look out the window. The night view of Beijing, illuminated by neon lights, had a unique charm. But her mind was not on the scenery at all.

The man next to her was a few years younger than her, yet he had already taken the position that her father had struggled for a long time to attain.

Moreover, judging from his expression, this seems to be just the beginning.

This feeling is amazing.

She had met quite a few promising young talents. Among those arrogant peers in the compound, which one didn't come from a prominent family and have a bright future?
But their arrogance and impetuosity, compared to Li Feng's composure and restraint, made them seem like immature children.

They talked about whose father had been promoted, who had gotten a new watch, or whose daughter was pretty.

Li Feng, however, was talking about industrial layout, technological innovation, and the future of the country and the nation.

Their perspectives and vision are on completely different levels.

The car drove along and soon arrived at the solemn and dignified area at the foot of the imperial city.

The tall courtyard walls and the sentries standing ramrod straight at the entrance silently highlight the uniqueness of this place.

"Sun Qiang, let's stop here at the guard post," Li Feng said.

"Yes, factory director."

Sun Qiang parked the car steadily in a place where it wouldn't get in the way, next to the guard post.

Wu Na knew very well that Li Feng did this because he was afraid that driving this car, which had no factory license plate and was not registered, would attract unnecessary questions and trouble.

This thoughtfulness and consideration warmed her heart once again.

"Then I'll go back." Wu Na pushed open the car door and stepped out with one long, slender leg.

"Be careful on the road," Li Feng reminded him.

Wu Na got out of the car, turned around, waved to Li Feng in the car, and said with a bright smile, "You too, be careful on the road."

Li Feng nodded to her through the car window.

Wu Na only looked away after the black sedan turned the corner and disappeared completely from sight.

She stood there, the evening breeze ruffling her hair, her heart feeling both filled and empty.

She remembered Li Feng's incredibly bright eyes when he talked about his future plans at the dinner table, remembered how he was willing to give up his comfortable home and move to the factory dormitory for work, and remembered how, at such a young age, he had already shouldered a burden that was unimaginable to ordinary people.

In such a short period of time, he went from a worker to an ordinary college student, then from a technician to an ordinary cadre, and finally to the top position in a large factory with thousands of employees.

With this ability and this mindset, how many people in the entire capital can you find?
What's more, he's also... very good-looking.

He wasn't the pretty boy type, but rather possessed a sharp, angular, and heroic air, especially his deep eyes, which seemed to see through everything, making people unconsciously want to immerse themselves in them.

Isn't this exactly the image of my future partner that I've been imagining in my mind all along?

She is capable, responsible, idealistic, ambitious, and possesses a beautiful appearance that makes her heart race.

Unfortunately... he already has a girl named Ding Qiunan.

Thinking of this, Wu Na felt a pang of melancholy that she couldn't quite explain. She sighed softly, turned and walked towards the gate of the compound, stepping into this mysterious place in the eyes of outsiders.

When I got home, the living room light was still on when I opened the door.

Zhang Ying, the mother, was sitting on the sofa knitting a sweater. When she saw her mother return, she immediately put down her work and looked at her with a hint of reproach.

"Why are you so late? I asked your dad's driver to pick you up, but you said no."

"Mom, I'm back now." Wu Na changed into slippers, walked to her mother's side, and sat down in a coquettish manner.

"Did you go out to eat with your classmates?" Zhang Ying asked casually while looking her daughter up and down.

“No, with a… friend.” Wu Na’s eyes flickered.

"Friends? Male or female?" Zhang Ying's radar immediately went off.

"Oh dear, Mom, are you checking our household registration?"

"I was just worried about you, wasn't I?" Zhang Ying put down the sweater, took her daughter's hand, and suddenly her nose twitched as she smelled a faint whiff of alcohol. "You've been drinking?"

"I only drank a little bit of fruit wine." Wu Na stuck out her tongue. "By the way, Mom, I didn't ride in Dad's car. Li Feng brought me back."

"Li Feng?" Zhang Ying was taken aback. She had heard her husband mention this name several times, and Li Feng had even visited their home before. She had a deep impression of him, and both she and her husband were very satisfied with him. Fearing she might have mistaken him for someone else, Zhang Ying quickly asked her daughter, "Is he the newly appointed factory director Li from the Five Star Ceramics Factory?"

"Well, that's him."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ying's eyes lit up immediately. She stood up, walked to the window, lifted the curtain, and looked outside. It was quiet outside, and there was no sign of a car.

"Where is he?" she asked, turning around.

Wu Na was amused by her mother's anxious look and said, "He saw me to the guard post at the gate and left without coming in."

"Oh dear! You child!" Zhang Ying stamped her foot upon hearing this, her face full of regret and reproach. "They brought you back from so far away, how could you not invite them in for a seat and a cup of hot tea? How rude!"

In Zhang Ying's view, this was an excellent opportunity to make contact.

My daughter is already 25 years old and still hasn't found a partner. She has high standards and doesn't even look at ordinary young cadres.

She finally found a talented young man who even her father praised highly, and he even offered to take her home. It was like a golden opportunity that had fallen from the sky, but her clueless daughter let it slip away.

Seeing her mother's regretful sigh, Wu Na simply smiled slightly, but her eyes held a deeper meaning: "Mom, don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. He... will be living in the factory from now on."

"Living in the factory?" Zhang Ying was even more confused, looking at her daughter with a puzzled expression. "Why are you living in the factory instead of coming home?"

"It's for work," Wu Na explained casually. "He said it's more convenient this way."

Zhang Ying wanted to ask something more, but Wu Na had already stood up: "I'm tired, Mom, I'm going back to my room to take a shower."

Watching her daughter walk into the room, Zhang Ying could only shake her head helplessly. This daughter had always been headstrong since she was little, and she never told her family what she was thinking.

Just then, the door clicked open, and Wu Na's father, Wu Zhenghua, wearing a green military uniform, returned from his walk outside.

He had a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, but he was in high spirits.

"Nana's back?" Wu Zhenghua asked as he changed his shoes.

"Yeah, I just got back." Zhang Ying went up to him, helped him hang up his coat, and then couldn't help but tell him what had just happened.

"...Do you think this child is stupid? Li Feng even escorted her to the door, and she didn't even invite him in to sit down? As her mother, I'm so worried for her!" Wu Zhenghua, unlike his wife, didn't react with the same agitation. He walked to the sofa, poured himself a glass of cold water, took a slow sip, and said gently, "The child is grown up; she has her own thoughts."

"You shouldn't meddle. Sometimes concern leads to confusion."

“How am I meddling?” Zhang Ying said indignantly. “You know Nana’s personality. She seems very outgoing, but she’s actually more timid than anyone else when it comes to relationships. If we don’t give her a push, how long can she wait?”

Wu Zhenghua put down his teacup, looked at his wife, and said with a knowing look in his eyes, "Do you really think Nana is clueless about social etiquette and doesn't know how to invite people in?"

"Why not?"

“She doesn’t want to, or rather, she feels the timing isn’t right.” Wu Zhenghua leaned back on the sofa and analyzed slowly, “Although I haven’t met this Li Feng many times, I’ve heard Xiao Zheng and Lao Jiang mention him, and he’s no ordinary person.”

“He has just taken office and is in a position to make achievements. He is focused on his work. It may not be a good thing for Nana to get too close to him at this time.”

"Besides," Wu Zhenghua paused, lowering his voice, "I've heard that Li Feng really does have a girlfriend he's been dating for several years at the medical school, and their relationship is very stable."

"Huh?" Zhang Ying was completely stunned. "You have a boyfriend? Last time I thought he was just saying that on purpose, but I didn't expect Li Feng to be telling the truth."

"Hmm." Wu Zhenghua nodded. "So, you shouldn't join in the commotion. Children and grandchildren have their own lives to live, let the young people handle it themselves."

Zhang Ying opened her mouth, but couldn't speak for a long time. So that's what happened. No wonder her daughter acted that way earlier; it seems she knew.

For a moment, Zhang Ying felt a mix of emotions.

How come such an outstanding young man is already taken? Is it really impossible to find a good place to grow our own fine cabbage?
Moreover, Zhang Ying felt that her family really needed an excellent son-in-law to support them.

……

On the other side, a black sedan drove smoothly through the night.

In the back seat of the carriage, Li Feng leaned back and closed his eyes to rest.

Tonight's dinner with Wu Na was more fruitful than he had expected.

He not only received Wu Na's explicit support, but more importantly, he sensed a change in Wu Na's attitude.

From initial probing and curiosity to final honesty and respect.

She is a smart woman; she knows how to assess the situation and what she wants.

For Li Feng, being able to become a partner with such a person, rather than an opponent, is undoubtedly a good thing.

The second phase of the project involves a large amount of funding and material allocation, making the position of the finance director crucial.

With Wu Na around, he can avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble.

As for her subtle, almost imperceptible, thoughts, Li Feng was not oblivious to them.

However, he currently lacks the energy and the mood to deal with these complex emotional entanglements.

Moreover, a tough battle awaits him.

"Factory Manager, are we going straight back to the branch factory?" Sun Qiang, who was driving, asked as the car approached the main road.

Li Feng opened his eyes, and the lights outside the window shone brightly. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "No, let's go back to Nanluoguxiang first."

"Ok."

"Sun Qiang, can you do me a favor tomorrow?"

"What are your orders, Factory Director?" Sun Qiang replied immediately.

"Go to the logistics department and tell them that I want to stay in the single dormitory at the branch factory."

"Have them prepare a room for me as soon as possible. It doesn't need to be too complicated; just a bed, a table, and a place to wash up will suffice," Li Feng calmly instructed.

Upon hearing this, Sun Qiang glanced at Li Feng in surprise through the rearview mirror.

Living in a single dormitory?
He followed Li Feng for a while and learned that the young factory director had a home in Nanluoguxiang.

Why not stay at home and instead squeeze into the factory dormitory?
Although the conditions of the factory leaders' single dormitories are definitely better than those of ordinary workers.

But generally speaking, factory leaders prefer to live at home.

"Factory manager, isn't the dormitory a bit too basic? You work so hard..." Sun Qiang couldn't help but advise.

“It’s fine, it’s settled then. It’ll be more convenient to handle things if I stay at the factory.” Li Feng’s tone left no room for doubt: “I’ll go back and pack my things tonight, and tomorrow you can drive directly to the courtyard house to help me move my luggage to the branch factory dormitory.”

"...Yes, Factory Director." Seeing that Li Feng had made up his mind, Sun Qiang said no more, but his respect for this young leader grew even stronger.

He had served in the army and later drove for many leaders, where he had seen too many officials who were particular about appearances and indulged in pleasure.

This was the first time he had ever seen someone like Li Feng, who, after becoming the factory director, didn't think about how to enjoy the benefits but instead took the initiative to "endure hardship."

This is the kind of person who truly gets things done.

The car quickly drove into Nanluoguxiang.

The alley was unusually quiet late at night, with only a few houses still lit by dim lights shining from their windows.

Li Feng got out of the car and told Sun Qiang to come back tomorrow morning, then pushed open the gate of the courtyard house.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the leaves on the grape trellis rustling in the night breeze.

The main house and the east and west wing rooms were all dark.

Ding Qiunan lives at the school dormitory and has been busy with her internship lately, so she rarely comes back.

The deaf old lady was taken back to her hometown by her nephew some time ago, who said she would stay there for a while.

In this large courtyard house, only Li Feng remained at this moment.

He stood in the middle of the courtyard, looking at the home he had personally tidied up, and a strange emotion suddenly welled up in his heart.

There was reluctance, and also a touch of loneliness.

But he quickly suppressed his emotions.

He walked to the door of the main room, took out his key, and opened the door.

He knew that his decision to temporarily stay at the factory might be somewhat unfair to her. The two of them already saw each other very little, and if he moved into the factory, the chances of them meeting would be even fewer.

But now is not the time to dwell on these things.

After all, I don't want to travel back and forth now.

Wuxing Ceramics Factory, the place that embodies his countless efforts and hopes for the future, is currently undergoing a crucial period of transformation.

He had to devote himself entirely to it, completely committing himself to the task, without the slightest distraction or slackening.

What he wanted to do was not just keep the factory alive, but to make it the first fulcrum for him to leverage the industrial landscape of the entire era.

This road is destined to be lonely.

Li Feng took a deep breath and carefully placed the photo frame back in its original place.

Then, he took out a large canvas bag from the cabinet and began to pack his clothes and some commonly used books and documents.

His movements were slow, but very methodical.

A few changes of clothes, toiletries, several professional books, a thick stack of drawings and notes...

Soon, the canvas bag was stuffed full.

After finishing all this, he didn't go to sleep immediately. Instead, he made a strong cup of tea, sat down at his desk, spread out a blank drawing sheet, and turned on the desk lamp.

The night outside the window was deep and quiet.

The room was warmly lit, and a young figure was hunched over a desk, sketching a grand blueprint for the future with his pen.

For him, tonight was just an ordinary night.

But for the Five Star Ceramics Factory, and for the impending industrial transformation, this was the prelude to a new era. (End of Chapter)