Courtyard House: Starting as an engineer, crushing a yard full of poultry

Hearing this, you can tell that Secretary Zhang is an amateur.

"This is the first machine. There are methods for mass production later," Li Xiangdong said with a smile. "And the machines produced can be used as master machines, turning one into two, two into a hundred!"

The four men walked out of the workshop talking. But Li Huaide, looking worried, said, "Secretary Zhang, about the welfare distribution for this year's Spring Festival..."

"What's wrong with giving out welfare benefits?" Secretary Zhang asked hurriedly.

"We only have enough meat for one pound per person right now," Li Huaide said with a wry smile. "I can't think of any other way."

"Didn't you say there would be two jin before..." Director Yang frowned.

"The meat processing plant just contacted me. That's how it is, what can I do?" Li Huaide said with a bitter expression, "Now the director of the meat processing plant is hiding."

"We're weightlifters, otherwise we could keep each other entertained."

Li Xiangdong raised an eyebrow and said, "If there's no pork, then fish will do."

"It's almost the end of the year, and nothing's going to be easy," Li Huaide said, shaking his head.

“We’re not far from Tianjin, or maybe a little further south. We can search along the coast. We’re sure to find something. Whatever kind of seafood it is, we can just bring it back,” Li Xiangdong said.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be river fish, right?"

Li Huaide shook his head and said, "Do you think I haven't thought of this method? I sent people there half a month ago. Everything there has already been taken."

"Unless we trade our cloth and pork for it, I mean, if I had pork, why would I trade it for fish?"

Li Xiangdong suddenly remembered: "Right, didn't the textile factory need to repair the opening machine? Let's go and fix it. Then we need to buy some fabric, is that alright?"

"Chief Engineer Li, you can repair flowering machines? I sent Deputy Section Chief Zhang last time," Factory Director Yang said excitedly. "I only thought you were good at machine tools and firearms..."

“I’ll go take a look now,” Li Xiangdong said, raising an eyebrow. “After it’s repaired, I can get some cloth back. Even if we don’t exchange it for seafood, we can still distribute it to the employees.”

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Li Huaide said excitedly, "We ate lunch at their textile factory."

Li Xiangdong drove himself to the textile factory. Before he went, Li Huaide called the textile factory.

When Li Xiangdong's car arrived at the entrance of the textile factory, he saw three people standing there.

“These three people, including Chief Engineer Li, are the factory director, Party Secretary, and deputy director of the textile factory,” Li Huaide said. “Just park your car in front of their door and exchange pleasantries.”

After exchanging pleasantries, we went to the flower-making workshop. The factory director and party secretary personally led the way.

Along the way, I saw many slender female workers walking past me from time to time. Textile factories definitely have a lot of female workers.

There are eight flowering machines in the Kaihua workshop. All of these machines have the same problem, explained factory manager Fan Wenlong.

"There shouldn't be any problem. It's nine o'clock now, so let's get it done by twelve," Li Xiangdong said with a hint of pride.

"Thank you, thank you. This is a completely different level of chief engineer." Secretary Lin said excitedly.

Just then, Yu Dahu ran over excitedly: "Nephew-in-law, you're here! I knew you wouldn't abandon me..."

Yu Dahu and his fellow mechanics had all been there. Yu Dahu was incredibly excited to see Li Xiangdong. He thought Li Xiangdong had come because of him, so he rushed over to acknowledge him and claim credit.

"Who are you?" Li Xiangdong frowned and said, "Get out of the way, don't delay me from doing my work."

Fan Wenlong pushed Yu Dahu aside and followed Li Xiangdong to the machine.

The head of the repair team rushed over and pulled Yu Dahu outside. He then launched into a tirade of abuse.

By 11:00 AM, Li Xiangdong had adjusted all eight flowering machines. In fact, Fan Wenlong, Secretary Lin, and the others were overjoyed after the first machine was adjusted.

The workers operating the machine told them that it now produces tampons faster than the new ones, and that the quality of the tampons produced is excellent!

"Come on, our canteen has already prepared a celebratory drink," Secretary Lin said hurriedly. "We absolutely must have it at noon today..."

"Um, never mind then. I have to drive and can't drink."

Li Xiangdong said very seriously. Although there were no drunk driving checks in this era, the deeply ingrained concept of not drinking and driving made Li Xiangdong very conscientious.

"It's alright, it's alright, we'll have the driver take you back later," Fan Wenlong hurriedly replied.

Li Xiangdong and Liu Huaide exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement.

Li Xiangdong cheated while drinking, making it appear as if he had actually drunk the alcohol. However, he managed to store it all in his mysterious space.

"When I have some free time, I'll research a new opening machine. It's quite simple to manufacture," Li Xiangdong said casually after a few rounds of drinks. "With your production capacity, two opening machines will be enough. And your textile machines, those can also be improved..."

"Great! Great! I'll leave it to Chief Engineer Li." Fan Wenlong said excitedly.

"Chief Engineer Li, you already have enough work on your hands, you don't have time for this," Li Huaide chimed in, adding, "Our machine tools are finished, and we still have tasks for the military!"

"I'll work overtime tonight," Li Xiangdong said, rubbing his nose.

"Alright then, Lao Fan, could you sell us some of your cloth?" Li Huaide stated his purpose.

"Old Li, it's been two days already. Where would we find any more stock? Your factory is so big, you need more than just a little bit," Fan Wenlong said with a wry smile.

"Your factory is so big, and you don't even have this much stock?" Li Huaide asked with a suspicious look.

"Really, there isn't any left. There's just some scraps of gauze," Secretary Lin said. "They don't meet the specifications for market sale, so our factory workers won't get many."

"Mixed gauze?" Li Huaide asked.

"Yes, mixed yarn cloth is made from inferior yarn. It contains all sorts of yarn," Secretary Lin said. "Not only is the quality poor, but a single piece of cloth will have various colors on it..."

"How many are there? How much do they cost?" Li Xiangdong asked.

"100,000 meters! It's been accumulated over many years," Fan Wenlong said with a wry smile.

"Then let's see what it looks like later..." Li Huaide said hesitantly.

"How much per meter?" Li Xiangdong asked. "How about we take them all?"

"Only one-third the price of normal cloth, and no cloth ration coupons are needed!" Fan Wenlong said in surprise. "Of course, we need to consult with the Ministry of Light Industry."

“Okay, I’ll take it all.” Li Xiangdong glanced at Li Huaide and said, “Have the factory’s trucks come and pick up the goods.”

Li Huaide nodded in agreement. He certainly wouldn't use any miscellaneous gauze or fabric to make clothes.

When Li Xiangdong and Li Huaide took their leave, Fan Wenlong and the others saw them to the gate. They placed four bolts of cloth in Li Xiangdong's car, undoubtedly as gifts for Li Xiangdong and Li Huaide.

Li Xiangdong drove Li Huaide home, but instead of going to the factory himself, he drove back home and bought a sewing machine on the way before returning.

Yu Li works in the purchasing department, and she has nothing to do right now. She can go home without any problems.

When Li Xiangdong stopped the car, Yu Li, along with her three younger brothers, had bought a lot of things and had just returned to the front gate.

"Xiao Li, hurry up and take the things back." Li Xiangdong said after getting out of the car, "I bought a sewing machine, and there are two bolts of cloth in the car."

"Oh, that's great. We bought fabric too, and were just thinking about how to make clothes for them, but I didn't expect you to buy a sewing machine, Dong-ge. We'll be right there."

Yu Li, along with her three younger brothers, returned the items. They then had to carry the sewing machine and bolts of fabric on their way back.

As we passed the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi was sitting at the entrance sewing shoe soles. She was wearing a hat that covered her egg-shaped head.

After seeing you take the two bolts of cloth, Jia Zhangshi muttered a curse under her breath.

"These damned bastards have so much cloth, yet they don't even offer some to our family. Don't they know we're poor?"

"Damn it, damn it. I even bought a sewing machine."

Only the Jia Zhang family in the courtyard owned a sewing machine. This made Jia Zhang very proud, as their family was the only one in the courtyard with a sewing machine.

Now, 383 has become one of only two in Jia Zhangshi's family. It would be strange if Jia Zhangshi didn't curse him.

"Damn it, this old hag is asking for it." Li Xiangdong watched as Jia Zhangshi habitually rubbed her head with a needle and awl twice before putting it down to prepare to sew shoe soles.

Li Xiangdong slightly waved his hand, and the needle landed precisely on Jia Zhangshi's cheek. Suddenly, he felt as if he had been bumped. Just like last time, the needle pierced straight into Jia Zhangshi's cheek.

The place where Jia Zhangshi was stabbed last time hadn't fully healed yet, and this time it happened again, causing Jia Zhangshi to faint decisively.

"Tsk tsk, he's already passed out." Li Xiangdong shook his head. "Let's get out of here and not meddle in other people's business!"

They were on this side of the pond, about three to five meters away from Jia Zhangshi. There were also six or seven women sunbathing in the courtyard, who could see everything clearly.

Banggeng was at home during winter vacation. He went up to Jia Zhangshi and shook her. He finally managed to wake her up. But the needle was still dangling in Jia Zhangshi's face, so she gritted her teeth and pulled the needle out herself.

"Oh dear, it must be Li Xiangdong who did it. It happened twice..." Jia Zhangshi cried out, covering her face.

After putting everything down, Li Xiangdong picked up his fishing rod and axe, ready to go fishing.

"Wait, Dong-ge. What do you want with these two bolts of cloth?" Yu Li asked.

“These are green and blue,” Li Xiangdong said, touching his nose. “You can all make clothes.”

“I don’t need it, I still have clothes to wear. Xiaoli, give these two bolts of cloth to your uncle and aunt, and your three younger brothers.”

Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong were both home today; it seemed they had both taken the day off. However, when Yi Zhonghai went to the backyard, he found Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai discussing something.

Li Xiangdong went straight home. He had no interest in what those two beasts were up to.

“Old Yi, this isn’t right. You’re not some big shot anymore; you can’t just say you’ll give it to me and then expect me to. It has to go through the proper channels,” Liu Haizhong said seriously.

"I'm someone who aspires to be a cadre, how could I possibly associate with you... that... that..."

“Old Liu, you don’t need to look for the neighborhood committee; you can still live like an old man there.”

Yi Zhonghai was still trying to fool Liu Haizhong, but to his surprise, Liu Haizhong turned around and went inside.

"Damn it, you bastard, just you wait!" Yi Zhonghai said viciously.

Yi Zhonghai didn't go to work today because he knew the factory was already spreading rumors about him.

Yi Zhonghai wanted to lay low until things calmed down, never expecting that he could just get Liu Haizhong to smooth things over. He never imagined that he was no longer the glamorous old man he once was.