Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Zhang Dabiao didn't stand on ceremony and handed him a bunch of design drawings with explanations: "I don't know if the factory is making some of these, but these are all I can think of."

"Lighters are too sophisticated. I don't know if our country can handle it, but if we can put them into production, exporting them won't be a problem. They're a necessity for smokers. I'm so grateful to Yan Jiecheng for lending me matches; otherwise, I wouldn't have thought of it. It would be best if we could make them, but if we can't... it would be great if we could get an international patent. That's all I can think of."

Zhang Dabiao himself didn't know the history of disposable lighters, but he mentioned it casually, hoping that if he could apply for patent protection, he would have gotten lucky.

"If there's a suitable one, we'll use it, but Guangqi, I don't want a repeat of what happened with the previous manufacturing plant. Since they used my invention, there has to be an explanation."

"Otherwise, I'd better just stick to being a purchasing agent from now on."

There's not much to say about Liu Guangqi; he's incredibly smart and loyal. If it weren't for him secretly getting Zhang Dabiao a temporary purchasing permit, Zhang Dabiao would have been in a lot of trouble.

As Liu Guangqi's friend, Tian Baocheng took good care of him.

So if you can help, then lend a hand.

But if the department maintains its previous attitude, then they definitely won't help anymore. Just focus on making money through procurement.

As for things like copyright, patents...

Zhang Dabiao only mentioned it briefly, but didn't expect it. These days, if you want to get a patent, you have to pay me patent fees if you use my stuff.

Then you are following the capitalist path, you are a heretic!

These Soviet-affiliated countries do not value copyright and patents.

But I helped you, so you have to give me an explanation, right?

Looking at these three-view design drafts, Liu Guangqi immediately had an idea. Most of the things here could be made by hand by the integrated utilization plant itself, without the need for any production line.

Moreover, Zhang Dabiao's product design is exquisite. If it can be made, it will outperform most products on the market, provided that the quality and functions are the same.

However, the lighter, the push-button mop, and the plastic broom will require cooperation with a chemical plant. If these three products work as well as Zhang Dabiao described, then it would be a major project no less impressive than a push-button mixer, a hand-cranked egg beater, or a push-button mini fan. Moreover, the principle is obvious, and apart from the lighter, the technology is not difficult.

"Don't worry, Da Biao. Bao Cheng's uncle works in the ministry. We'll talk to his uncle about this and try to get it done without going through the metallurgical department of the steel rolling mill, so we won't be controlled by others."

"We'll try our best to secure the best interests for you. As for the patent, we'll see how it goes. We haven't heard of it before; let's see what the higher-ups think."

"Tell me first, what do you want?"

"There are standards for inventions: a certificate and a bonus. The bonus ranges from 50 to 200 depending on the value of the invention. We can't change that."

"But for other aspects, if there are any problems you want to solve, you can tell me in advance so that I have a clear idea and it will be easier to discuss them."

Zhang Dabiao frowned and thought for a moment...

Just then, Mu Wanqing got off work and came over to cook for Zhang Dabiao with Qin Jingru. He Yushui also came to join in the fun, because she, like Mu Wanqing, brought her monthly ration to cook together.

But it's obvious to everyone that He Yushui and Qin Jingru are living together, and Mu Wanqing is clearly pursuing Zhang Dabiao.

"Da Biao, what do you want to eat tonight? Let's make it now."

"Get Mu Wanqing a spot in university."

"Huh?" The three girls were stunned. They asked what you wanted to eat for dinner, and you said you wanted to get Wanqing a spot in college?

What's going on here?

"I want to skip grades, both junior high and high school, because I want to go to university as soon as possible."

"I don't have any other requirements."

Zhang Dabiao only had this one requirement: money. There are no standards for money; it's not like you can just do whatever you want. Besides, Zhang Dabiao didn't know what else to do with the extra money besides building houses, and he couldn't invest in building factories.

Buying a house is an option, but there's no need for it right now; we should keep a low profile.

So that's all there are to it.

Liu Guangqi and his team could have done better, but if they couldn't... Zhang Dabiao wouldn't have suffered any loss.

Liu Guangqi nodded, glanced at Mu Wanqing, and then at Zhang Dabiao—

"Are you two dating?"

Zhang Dabiao looked helpless: "I was just helping out."

Liu Guangqi immediately expressed his understanding: "I understand, I understand, you decide for yourself."

"Three of them! That's not easy!"

"Da Biao, you can't make a mistake!"

These words made Mu Wanqing and Yushui blush deeply, and they quickly turned around to cook.

Zhang Dabiao kicked Liu Guangqi in the butt: "Get out of here—get back to your business."

Liu Guangqi left the courtyard with a laugh and went back to the factory to urgently find Tian Baocheng, the factory director, and the party secretary to discuss the matter.

Whether the comprehensive utilization plant can stand up and start afresh this time depends on Zhang Dabiao's design.

In the small courtyard, while everyone was eating, Mu Wanqing, blushing, asked Zhang Dabiao, "Dabiao, is it really possible to get a spot in university?"

Zhang Dabiao shook his head as he ate: "I don't know either. They just ask for the moon and then try to bargain."

"I'll give them some advice to salvage the situation, but whether it works or not is another matter. Even if it does work, it's hard to say what conditions they'll agree to."

"Keep it running for now, we'll see about the rest later."

"By the way, how's your job as a quality inspector going? Is anyone in the factory bullying you?"

Mu Wanqing shook her head: "No one in the factory bullies me. My mentor is Sister Ma from the Women's Federation. She leads the women comrades to stand up for the sisters all day long. The male workers avoid her like the plague, and the leaders are also afraid of her, so no one bullies me."

"The work is a bit tedious, but not difficult."

"By the way, the factory is going to put up a new blackboard bulletin board next month. I volunteered because I thought you would. I'm the only one in my department who's going to do it, so no one's competing with me. But what's the next step?"

This was part of Zhang Dabiao's plan. Large factories like this often need to put up blackboard bulletins or year-end cultural activities, which are part of the construction of spiritual civilization. The higher-ups would often send people down to inspect them.

This is difficult for others; they are all roughnecks who work in steelmaking. Who would know how to do this?

Art students aren't going to be assigned to your steel mill after graduation.

Moreover, even if you can draw, you also need to be able to draw with chalk and design bulletin boards. These are the special skills of art teachers and language teachers in elementary and middle schools, one of whom can draw and the other has beautiful handwriting.

So this has always been a difficult task for the steel rolling mill. Even Xu Damao was often dragged out to work on the blackboard, which not only exhausted him, but also resulted in poor drawing quality and bad handwriting. The workers would despise him, and the leaders would talk to him and ask if he had any objections to the tasks assigned by the organization.

Xu Damao was so wronged. "I'm just a movie projectionist, how would I know anything about these things?"

But for Zhang Dabiao—

Drawing a blackboard bulletin board, isn't that something anyone with hands can do?