Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

As night deepened, a cool autumn breeze slipped in through the cracks in the car window, brushing against Li Feng's face and clearing his head, which was slightly feverish from drinking a little alcohol at dinner.

The dark green military jeep drove smoothly through the streets of Beijing, its wheels making a monotonous, dull sound as they rolled over the road.

The driver was Wu Zhenghua's bodyguard, not the same driver who had brought him here initially. This driver was a serious-looking, unsmiling young man who hadn't uttered a single word since getting in the car, creating a quiet and somewhat oppressive atmosphere.

Li Feng leaned back in the back seat, his body rising and falling slightly with the bumps of the vehicle, but his mind was a jumbled mess.

Wu Zhenghua's words tonight were like a boulder thrown into his otherwise calm heart, stirring up huge waves.

That wasn't a multiple-choice question, but a life-altering problem.

He didn't even have a chance to refuse on the spot.

Wu Zhenghua made his point clear, then quickly changed the subject, and finally arranged for a car to take him back. The whole process was smooth and seamless, full of the unquestionable control of a superior.

This did give him time to buffer and think, but it also put him under unprecedented pressure.

To be honest, Wu Na is very talented.

Her impeccable looks and her rare air of confidence and charisma among girls her age are both extremely attractive.

Her family background is something that ordinary people can hardly achieve even after a lifetime of hard work.

Li Feng had to admit that, from a purely worldly perspective, Wu Na was far superior to Ding Qiunan in terms of qualifications.

If he were a lone individual, single-mindedly focused on climbing the social ladder, he would probably be too excited to sleep tonight.

But he is not.

He has Ding Qiunan.

The girl who would be genuinely happy for him when he achieved even a small success, and who would quietly stay by his side when he was tired.

Their affection for each other was built up slowly through daily meals and conversations, becoming warm and grounded.

If Li Feng were to betray this relationship for the sake of Wu Zhenghua's promise of "instant success," what kind of person would he be?
Wu Zhenghua is right. A man who can easily abandon his feelings has questionable character.

But he used this very point to test himself, and then used a huge temptation to force himself to become the person whose "character is questionable".

This is the true open strategy, making you know it's a trap, yet you can't help but weigh the gains and losses.

Li Feng rubbed his temples, feeling a wave of fatigue. What he needed to consider now was not just how to refuse, but how to refuse "tactfully," so as to express his stance without completely offending Wu Zhenghua, a very important figure, and ruining their relationship.

The balance in this is extremely difficult to grasp.

The car stopped in front of the dormitory building of the Wuxing Ceramics Factory branch.

"Director Li, we've arrived." The driver finally spoke, his voice as crisp and decisive as his personality.

"Thank you, comrade." Li Feng nodded, opened the car door, and got out of the car.

Watching the military vehicle turn around, merge into the traffic flow in the night, and finally disappear from sight, Li Feng finally let out a long breath, as if to expel all the frustration in his chest.

He looked up at the dark window of his dormitory room and stepped inside.

……

Meanwhile, the Wu family's small building was brightly lit.

After washing up, Wu Na changed into a soft silk nightgown and sat in front of her dressing table.

The mirror reflected a fair, flawless, and radiant face, with long eyelashes casting soft shadows under the light.

She reached out and gently stroked her smooth cheek, but her heart was not as calm as it appeared.

She had overheard her parents' conversation in the living room from the kitchen. Her father's analysis deepened her appreciation for Li Feng.

Indeed, if Li Feng showed even the slightest sign of being opportunistic or eager for quick success tonight, even if it was just to curry favor with his father by saying something bad about his girlfriend, her goodwill towards him would probably collapse instantly.

He did not.

He openly admitted to having a girlfriend, and despite the pressure from his father, he still protected her. This precisely proved his father's judgment—that he was a man of deep feelings and with principles.

This kind of man is what makes her heart flutter.

Wu Na stood up, walked to the full-length mirror, and examined herself.

Her slender and well-proportioned figure was faintly visible beneath the thin pajamas, her curves exquisite, exuding youthful vitality and mature charm.

A blush quietly crept onto her face.

The mother believed that the answer to this multiple-choice question was obvious.

But Wu Na felt that for a man like Li Feng, things might not be so simple. The weight of feelings sometimes cannot be simply measured by family background and future prospects.

She suddenly realized that her past attitude, which was somewhat arrogant and reserved, was perhaps far from enough.

"Perhaps... what I showed Li Feng was not enough."

She murmured to herself, a hint of unprecedented determination and a barely perceptible...competitiveness flashing in her bright eyes.

……

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Li Feng opened his eyes.

His biological clock had conditioned him to wake up at this time, even though he had many thoughts last night and didn't sleep very well.

His promotion to factory director did not change his long-standing routine. Unless he was extremely exhausted, he would always start his day with the first rays of dawn.

After a quick wash, he changed into clean work clothes and left the dormitory building.

The morning air, moistened by dew, is refreshing and invigorating.

On the road to the branch factory, there were already groups of workers hurrying to their early shifts. When they saw Li Feng, they all greeted him warmly.

"Good morning, Director Li!"

"Factory manager, you're up so early!"

Li Feng responded to each question with a smile, showing no airs of a leader whatsoever.

He went to the branch factory canteen and lined up with the other workers to get breakfast—two steamed buns, a bowl of millet porridge, and a dish of pickled vegetables. Li Feng didn't get any meat dishes. Now, unlike when he first came to the ceramics factory, he didn't just get meat and vegetables.

The branch factory's canteen is newly built, bright and clean, and the food standards are basically the same as those at the old factory.

Li Feng found a corner to sit down and ate at a leisurely pace.

He likes to eat breakfast in the canteen, where he can hear the workers' most authentic voices, chatting about their families, work, and all sorts of gossip in the factory. This is the most direct way to understand the factory.

After finishing breakfast, he strolled towards his office.

This is a spacious and bright office located on the second floor of a newly built office building, with an excellent view. On the desk, a stack of documents has been piled up to a moderate height.

As the newly appointed leader, there are many things he needs to familiarize himself with, make decisions on, and handle.

He then brewed a strong cup of tea and had barely sat down at his desk when there was a knock on the office door. (End of Chapter)