Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

The smoke from the test site at Longxing Factory had not yet dissipated.

The electromagnetic loading mechanism of the shipborne vertical launch system was still humming, and the ripples on the water in the anti-submarine torpedo test area had not yet subsided when a car horn sounded at the factory gate.

Old Wang ran over, wiping the sweat from his brow, clutching an urgent notice: "Factory Director! People from above have arrived, saying... it's a Soviet military technology delegation, specifically to observe the testing of our new equipment!"

Li Yu was stunned for a moment.

In recent years, Sino-Soviet relations have cooled and technological exchanges have basically stopped, so it is unexpected that the other side would suddenly send people here.

He looked up and saw several black cars parked at the entrance. The man in the lead was a middle-aged man with a high nose and blue eyes, who was looking at the prototype of the vertical launch system on the test site with great interest.

"I am Andrei, a senior advisor to the Soviet Ministry of Military Industry."

The man stepped forward and extended his hand. "I've long heard that Longxing Factory has produced world-leading shipborne air defense weapons. I'm here for two reasons: first, to see them with my own eyes; and second... to represent our country and hope to restart military technology exchanges between the two countries."

The technicians around were stunned when he said that.

Everyone knows that the Soviet Union's military technology was once China's teacher, but now the Soviet Union is taking the initiative to seek exchanges, which shows that the equipment of Longxing Factory has indeed impressed them.

Andrei was clearly a tech fanatic, and he didn't exchange many pleasantries.

Pointing to the vertical launch system, he pressed further: "Director Li, what is the loading speed of this system? How stable is the electromagnetic drive? And can the noise level of the anti-submarine torpedo really be reduced to below 30 decibels?"

Li Yu didn't hold back and immediately had the second experiment initiated.

As the command was given, ten interceptor missiles roared out at a rate of one per second, accurately hitting the target missile group three kilometers away.

The anti-submarine torpedo silently submerged into the water, and the noise level on the underwater monitoring instrument screen remained steadily at 28 decibels.

Andrei's eyes widened, and he kept muttering, "Incredible! This is a groundbreaking design."

The experts accompanying him stepped forward, repeatedly testing him with instruments, their arrogance gradually turning into shock.

"Director Li, we are truly impressed by your factory's rare earth tungsten alloy technology."

"We, the Soviet Union, have accumulated some expertise in aircraft carrier deck materials and nuclear submarine silencing technology. I wonder if we could... use these technologies to exchange for the heat treatment process of rare earth tungsten alloys?"

Li Yu smiled; this deal was a good one.

He deliberately kept everyone in suspense: "Advisor Andrei, technical exchanges are possible, but we have one condition: you must first show some sincerity. For example, share the basic design data of your shipborne phased array radar."

Andrei's eyes lit up, and he immediately approved the deal: "Deal!"

The exchange at the test site was in full swing, while in the Bai family's courtyard, they were busy preparing dinner.

When Bai Xiaoling heard that Soviet guests had arrived, she specially asked her mother to prepare several of her signature dishes—braised pork, sweet and sour fish, and sauerkraut and pork stew, all down-to-earth home-style dishes.

As evening fell, Li Yu led Andrei and his group to the Bai family's courtyard. The aroma of sauerkraut and pork hot pot wafted over as soon as they entered.

Andrei's eyes lit up at the aroma. Forgetting all formalities, he picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of braised pork, chewed it, and immediately gave a thumbs-up: "Delicious! Even better than the chef at our embassy!"

On the stone table in the courtyard, steaming hot food was laid out.

The father held his three-month-old grandson, making the little guy giggle.

Andrei leaned closer, looking curiously at the little guy's rosy cheeks, and carefully stretched out his finger to touch the child's little hand, but the little guy grabbed his finger.

"Haha! This little guy has his eye on my ring?"

Andrei was amused and burst into laughter. He took off the copper ring on his hand and insisted on giving it to the child as a gift.

Mr. Bai quickly waved his hand to decline, but Andrei said earnestly, "This was given to me by my grandfather, and it's very fitting to give it to this brave Chinese child!"

The atmosphere at the dinner table grew increasingly lively.

Andrei talked about the winters in the Soviet Union, saying that the snow there could be knee-deep.

Bai's mother then taught him how to use chopsticks to pick up peanuts. Watching him clumsily try to pick them up for a long time but always drop them on the table, the whole yard was filled with laughter.

After a few rounds of drinks, Andrei patted Li Yu on the shoulder and said drunkenly, "Chief Engineer Li, to tell you the truth, before coming here, I thought China's military technology was far behind that of the Soviet Union. Now I know that you've already caught up, and even... surpassed it!"

Li Yu raised his wine glass and deliberately said, "Technology knows no borders. As long as we can safeguard peace and learn from each other, it's a good thing."

A few days later, the Weihai was refitted and sailed away from the port with its horn blaring.

The vertical launch system on the ship's hull stood proudly, its anti-submarine torpedo tubes poised for fire. Li Yu and Andrei stood on the bridge, gazing at the boundless sea.

In the distance, several Western warships were loitering, and upon seeing the Weihai approaching, they even tried to provoke it.

"Advisor Andrei, would you like to witness our combat capabilities?" Li Yu asked with a smile.

Andrei immediately perked up: "Of course! I want to see if those M country warships can withstand your firepower!"

Wang Jianguo immediately ordered: "Activate the vertical launch system and conduct a simulated saturation interception drill! Anti-submarine torpedoes, activate stealth cruise mode!"

Ten interceptor missiles streaked across the sky, forming an impenetrable net of fire, and the target drone group was instantly reduced to ashes.

The anti-submarine torpedo silently slipped into the deep sea, circled in the underwater blind spot of the M-side ship, and then quietly returned.

The M-side ships on the sea were clearly visible, and they were immediately terrified.

They originally wanted to use the Soviet delegation's influence to test the strength of the Weihai, but they never expected that China's equipment would be so powerful.

After a moment's hesitation, the ships quickly turned around and slipped out of my country's territorial waters in a sorry state.

Andrei was thrilled and couldn't help but applaud: "Great! Well done! Chief Engineer Li, I'll report this to the higher-ups as soon as we get back. Our technical exchange must be implemented as soon as possible!"

"Okay, then we look forward to seeing your skills next time you come."

Li Yu wasn't particularly interested in the Soviet technology, but technical exchanges were necessary so that other skilled workers could learn more.

Moreover, China needs allies and time to develop, and the Soviet Union is currently the best option.