Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

Li Feng wore a satisfied smile. He didn't say anything more, simply waving his hand to signal Zhou Jianjun that he could leave. Some things are better left unsaid; saying them too explicitly would destroy the tacit understanding between brothers.

Zhou Jianjun took a deep breath, as if he wanted to inhale all the composure and sharpness that belonged to Li Feng in this office into his lungs.

He nodded solemnly to Li Feng, said no more grand words, turned around, and left the factory director's office, which symbolized the center of power in the entire factory, with steady and powerful steps.

The door was gently closed, separating the two worlds.

Inside the office, it's the beginning of strategic planning; outside the office, it's the journey of charging into battle.

Zhou Jianjun walked along the empty corridor of the government building, his footsteps echoing crisply on the terrazzo floor, each step seemingly tapping to the beat of his own heartbeat.

The surge of passion that rushed to his head in the office just now was slowly settling down, transforming into a heavy sense of responsibility weighing on his shoulders.

He clenched his fists, his palms sweating.

Deputy Director of the Printing Workshop!
Just a few hours ago, he wouldn't have dared to even dream of this position.

He knew his own qualifications and was well aware of how serious the seniority system was in the factory.

Without Li Feng, he might have had to endure another seven or eight years, or even ten, in the position of a junior staff member before he could have even a sliver of an opportunity.

But now, Li Feng has pulled him out of the crowd and placed him in front of everyone, at the forefront of the impending wave of reform.

This is not just a promotion, but also a test.

If Zhou Jianjun doesn't do a good job, he'll not only lose face for himself, but also for Li Feng! It'll be like handing a sharp knife to those who are waiting to see Li Feng make a fool of himself.

"Hoo..." Zhou Jianjun let out a long breath, the turmoil in his chest slowly subsided, replaced by an unprecedented firmness.

He cannot afford to lose.

To fulfill his lifelong dream and to live up to his brother's immense trust, he had to make a name for himself!
He looked up at the window and saw the afterglow of the setting sun casting a warm golden glow over the gray factory area.

At this moment, those familiar factory buildings, chimneys, and crisscrossing pipes seemed to come alive again.

He felt that from this day forward, he had a deeper connection with the place where he grew up.

Back in the printing workshop, the roar of machines and the busy figures of the workers still filled the air.

When everyone saw Zhou Jianjun, they greeted him as usual.

"Jianjun, you're back from Factory Director Li's?"

"Brother Jianjun, the director was just looking for you."

Zhou Jianjun responded with a smile to each of them, but his mindset was completely different. Looking at these familiar faces, he thought that soon he would become one of their leaders, leading them, following in Li Feng's footsteps, to create a new world together.

He didn't make a fuss; the appointment document hadn't been issued yet, and everything was still uncertain.

He silently returned to his post, inspecting the equipment and patrolling the production line more diligently than ever before. His gaze swept over each process, and his mind began to consider where he would start, how he would make changes and improvements if he were the deputy director.

……

In the evening, the bell rang throughout the factory area, signaling the end of the workday.

Zhou Jianjun rode his old, worn-out bicycle, the wheels rolling, but his mood seemed to have taken flight.

Instead of going directly to his girlfriend's place, he turned a corner and rode towards his own home.

Such a joyous occasion required him to immediately share the news with his elderly father, who had dedicated his entire life to the ceramics painting workshop and on whom all his hopes had been pinned. The staff quarters of the ceramics factory were filled with the aroma of food wafting from each household.

Zhou Jianjun pushed open the door to his home. His father, Zhou Kai, was sitting at a small square table, eating a plate of peanuts and drinking two ounces of loose liquor, while his mother was busy in the kitchen.

"Dad, I'm back." Zhou Jianjun parked his bicycle behind the door, changed his shoes, and came in.

"Yeah, you're back." Zhou Kai didn't even lift his eyelids, picked up a peanut, threw it into his mouth, and slowly chewed. "Why are you back so late today?"

"Director Li talked to me about something this afternoon." Zhou Jianjun sat down across the table and poured himself a glass of water.

Upon hearing the name "Factory Director Li," Zhou Kai paused for a moment. He looked up, his cloudy but still sharp eyes scrutinizing his son. "Factory Director Li wants to see you? What's it about? Is it about your promotion to deputy director?"

He knew the ins and outs of the factory all too well.

With a new official in office, every move he makes affects countless people. Li Feng's decision to seek out his son alone at this time is certainly no small matter.

Looking at his father's face, etched with the marks of time, Zhou Jianjun took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and said in a calm tone, "Dad, Director Li said he's planning to promote me to deputy director of the printing workshop."

"Bang."

Zhou Kai lost his grip on the wine glass and it fell onto the table, spilling half a glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor), the rich aroma of which instantly filled the air.

But he couldn't care less.

"You...what did you say?" His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. "The...deputy director of the printing workshop?"

"Yes." Zhou Jianjun nodded heavily.

Hearing the commotion, the mother, who was busy in the kitchen, ran out with a spatula in hand: "Old Zhou, Jianjun, what's wrong?"

Zhou Kai ignored his wife and stared intently at his son, his voice trembling slightly: "Jianjun, is this...is this true? Director Li told you himself?"

"He said it himself." Zhou Jianjun stood ramrod straight. "The appointment document should be issued tomorrow."

silence.

A full ten seconds of silence.

Zhou Kai's lips trembled, and his eyes instantly reddened. He slapped his thigh hard, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement and relief: "Good! Good! Good lad!"

Throughout his life, he worked diligently in the painting workshop, starting as a junior clerk. He worked hard for decades, his hair turned white, and in the end, he only became the workshop director.

He knew how difficult it would be for his son to advance his career, given his temperament and the factory environment.

But now, his son, who is only in his twenties, is about to become the deputy director!
He knew better than anyone what this meant.

"It's all thanks to Director Li!" Zhou Kai quickly calmed down. He picked up his glass and drank the rest of the wine in one gulp. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, making him even more sober.

"Ah."

"I knew it!" Zhou Kai nodded vigorously, his face flushed. "You've chosen the right person to follow! I told you before that Li Feng was no ordinary person, and that I should have you associate with him more often. You were right, weren't you!"

He stood up and paced back and forth in the small living room, muttering to himself, "That's good, that's good... You'd better make me proud! Director Li values ​​you so much, you have to do your job well, even if it costs you your life, and don't let him down, you hear me!"

Zhou Kai's voice was loud. He understood that everything his son had achieved was because of Li Feng. If it weren't for Li Feng, his son certainly wouldn't have been promoted to deputy director so quickly. (End of Chapter)