Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

Li Feng had anticipated the commotion that would ensue.

After finishing the most urgent documents at hand, he checked the time and realized it was almost time to leave work in the afternoon.

Wu Na took leave from work today and didn't come to the factory, which saved Li Feng from embarrassment, since he had just gone through what happened yesterday.

At that moment, he had something on his mind. After locking the office door, he asked Sun Qiang to drive him to Capital Medical University.

He needed to talk to someone about his troubles from last night, or rather, he just wanted to see Ding Qiunan and see her; perhaps that would calm his agitated mood.

Upon arriving at Capital Medical University, perhaps because Li Feng was traveling by car, he easily gained admission.

Li Feng then asked Sun Qiang to drive the car to the building where Ding Qiunan's dormitory was located. At that moment, Ding Qiunan and her classmates returned to the dormitory from the teaching building.

So

"Qiu Nan." Li Feng stood at the door and called out with a smile.

When Ding Qiunan looked up and saw Li Feng, a bright smile immediately bloomed on her face, like a blooming lily.

"What brings you here today?" She walked over quickly, her eyes full of surprise.

"I missed you, so I came over." Li Feng's answer was very direct, which made several classmates next to him chuckle.

Ding Qiunan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she gave him a reproachful look: "There are so many people here, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"I'm telling the truth." Li Feng smiled, then lowered his voice and said, "get out of class is over, right? Let's walk together, I need to tell you something."

"Okay, wait for me a moment."

After saying goodbye to her classmates, Ding Qiunan and her classmates walked out of the medical school side by side.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast long shadows on them.

"What's going on? Why are you being so mysterious?" Ding Qiunan asked curiously.

Li Feng held her soft hand, feeling the warmth from her palm, and the sense of security returned to him.

“The welfare housing for our factory is finished,” he said earnestly, looking into her eyes.

"Really? That's great!" Ding Qiunan was genuinely happy for him. "Do you meet the requirements?"

“It’s more than just meeting the requirements,” Li Feng said, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense, then smiled and said, “I’ve already chosen one. It’s in Building 2, on the third floor, with two bedrooms and a living room, 60 square meters, facing south, with no obstructions in front or behind, and the best natural light.”

Ding Qiunan was stunned, then looked at him with bright eyes, speechless with surprise. In this era, owning an apartment meant having a real home, a predictable and stable future.

"Then...then we..." Her words were tinged with shyness and anticipation.

Li Feng tightened his grip on her hand, pulled her to his side, and said gently but firmly, "Once the house is renovated, we'll make it our home, Qiu Nan! From now on, you'll be the lady of the house."

These words are more moving than any flowery language.

Ding Qiunan's eyes welled up with tears, and she was enveloped by an immense sense of happiness.

She nodded vigorously, her lips curving upwards in a sweet and radiant smile.

Looking at her happy smile, the troubles and pressure brought on by the Wu family seemed to vanish in that instant. He thought, this is the life he wants, this is the future he is willing to fight for and protect.

Then he took Ding Qiunan's hand and they strolled aimlessly along the paths in the school, savoring the rare tranquility and peace.

"Getting allocated subsidized housing is a great thing, but there's something else I think I should tell you right away." Li Feng stopped, turned around, and looked intently at Ding Qiunan.

Ding Qiunan's heart was still pounding with excitement over that "future home." Hearing Li Feng's words, she became even more curious. She blinked her bright eyes and asked, "What's wrong? Is the score more important than the house?"

In her view, owning a house of one's own in this day and age is already a great joy.

Looking at her curious yet slightly smug expression, Li Feng couldn't help but laugh. He cleared his throat and said in a deliberately indifferent tone, "It's nothing serious, just... my job position has changed a little."

"A change? He's been transferred to another department?" Ding Qiunan guessed. She knew that Li Feng was now the deputy factory director and head of several departments, so busy that he was always on the go. If he could be transferred, it would be good for him to have an easier time.

“No.” Li Feng shook his head.

"That means... he's no longer the deputy factory director?" Ding Qiunan's heart tightened. Had something happened?

"Yes, I'm definitely not going to be the deputy factory director anymore." Li Feng nodded seriously.

Seeing his expression, Ding Qiunan's face instantly changed. She nervously grabbed Li Feng's arm, her voice trembling slightly: "What happened? Li Feng, don't scare me! Did you run into trouble at work?"

Seeing her eyes instantly well up with tears, Li Feng felt both warm and amused. He quickly pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back to comfort her, saying, "Silly girl, what are you thinking? It's a good thing, a really great thing."

He released her, placed his hands on her shoulders, and said clearly and earnestly, word by word, "I am no longer the deputy director of the Wuxing Ceramics Factory branch."

He paused, then, seeing Ding Qiunan's still tense and puzzled expression, he grinned broadly and added, "Because from now on, I am the acting factory director and deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the Five Star Ceramics Factory branch."

"..."

Ding Qiunan was completely stunned.

Her brain seemed to freeze instantly, and she remained stunned for more than ten seconds before slowly digesting the enormous information contained in Li Feng's words.

Acting factory manager?
Deputy Party Secretary?
For her, each of these two words carried immense weight.

She opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't say a word. She just stared at Li Feng in disbelief, her beautiful eyes filled with shock, as if she were confirming that she had misheard.

"Factory...factory manager?" she stammered, repeating the question, her voice trembling slightly. "You...you've become the factory manager?"

"He's the acting factory director, with the 'acting' prefix," Li Feng corrected with a smile, but the confidence and joy in his eyes were impossible to hide.

"This...this is too fast!" Ding Qiunan finally found her voice and exclaimed.

Her heart was pounding even faster and more violently than when she had heard the news about the housing allocation.

Being allocated a house is a blessing for settling down and starting a career, but becoming a factory director represents a huge leap in Li Feng's personal career and a fundamental improvement in his social status!
She knew Li Feng's promotion history better than anyone else. From deputy factory director to factory director, there was a huge gap between them that many people could not cross in their entire lives.

But Li Feng... he's only been the deputy factory director for a few months now!

It was like shooting upwards on a rocket, so fast it felt almost unreal. (End of Chapter)