Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

The booming of the cannons gradually faded into the wind over the Bohai Bay, while the red flags above the shipyard still fluttered in the wind.

The prototype of China's domestically built aircraft carrier, the "Huawei", floats steadily on the water.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, reporters, carrying cameras, chased after military leaders and technical representatives, asking questions. Amid the noise, Li Yu quietly stepped aside, leaning against a rusty iron stake, gazing absently at the aircraft carrier before him.

five years.

He recalled that late night five years ago, in his office at Longxing Factory, under the dim light of a desk lamp, as he meticulously revised the aircraft carrier planning outline, stroke by stroke.

Back then, Old Wang, with two cold steamed buns in his pocket, stayed up with him until dawn, his fingers turning red from the cold, and he even circled the doubts about the welding process on the drawings.

Xiao Zhang was just a young lad, holding a missile technology manual, speaking with a timid air, yet he dared to argue with him about the parameters of the guidance chip.

"Chief Engineer! What are you daydreaming about?"

Old Wang's loud voice interrupted his thoughts.

Li Yu turned around and saw Old Wang leading three apprentices over. The apprentices were all carrying brand-new welding tool kits and their faces were full of youthful vigor.

Old Wang patted his youngest apprentice on the shoulder, grinning from ear to ear: "These three lads are now the factory's technical backbone! Look at this weld, it's even smoother than I did back in the day!"

The young apprentice scratched his head sheepishly and handed over an enamel mug: "Chief Engineer Li, a few of us chipped in to buy this. We'll make some hot tea to warm ourselves up. You've worked so hard these past five years."

The enamel mug, still warm to the touch, bore the five red characters "Labor is the Most Glorious." Li Yu took it and sipped the hot tea.

"I'm not the only one who's suffering."

He looked at Xiao Zhang, who was talking with Soviet experts not far away, and said with a smile, "Look at Xiao Zhang, he's now the head of the missile research and development team. Five years ago, he didn't even dare to speak to foreigners."

Following his gaze, Lao Wang saw Xiao Zhang holding a missile parameter table, talking confidently with Andrei.

Andrei nodded frequently as he listened, and even gave a thumbs up from time to time, clearly appreciating Xiao Zhang's insights.

"That kid's really something!"

Old Wang said with emotion, "Back when his father was sick, you paid for his medical expenses. He said he would never forget it and that he would definitely build the most powerful missile to repay you and the country."

Li Yu waved his hand, about to say something, when he heard his daughter's clear voice behind him.

"Dad! Grandpa's calling you!"

With her hair in a ponytail and clutching the picture of an aircraft carrier in her hand, Nannan ran incredibly fast on her short legs. Bai Ling followed behind, smiling helplessly as she called out, "Slow down, don't fall."

Bai Ling's parents also came over. Bai's father was wearing a smart Zhongshan suit, holding a red-headed document in his hand, with a solemn expression on his face.

He walked up to Li Yu and patted him on the shoulder: "Li, the state has decided to establish a national-level aircraft carrier supporting materials research and development center at Longxing Factory, and you will be the director. Here is the appointment document, take a look."

Li Yu accepted the document and solemnly said, "Please rest assured, I will certainly live up to the country's trust."

Holding Bai Ling's hand, Bai's mother smiled and interjected, "Don't talk about being a director or anything like that. Take care of yourself first. We'll have dinner at home tonight. I'll cook for you myself and make your favorite braised pork."

The little girl tugged at Li Yu's clothes, holding the painting high in her hand: "Daddy, the teacher said my painting is going to be sent to the province for exhibition! She said it's the most meaningful piece!"

On the drawing paper, next to the crooked aircraft carrier, there is a family of four little figures, along with a line of childish words: "The big ship that Daddy built protects our home."

Li Yu squatted down and pinched Nannan's little face: "Our Nannan is so great."

Amidst the family's cheerful conversation, no one noticed that in a corner of the crowd, a man wearing a baseball cap was quietly putting away his camera.

His camera lens was covered in a layer of dust and looked inconspicuous, but his gaze was always on the direction of the aircraft carrier's engine room, and he would occasionally take out a small notebook and quickly jot something down.

This scene was witnessed by Old Wang's eldest apprentice.

The young apprentice frowned and tugged at Old Wang's sleeve: "Master, look at that person, he's acting suspiciously, and he's only taking pictures of the aircraft carrier's hull, not the lively ceremony."

Old Wang looked in the direction he pointed, and the man in the baseball cap seemed to realize that someone was watching him. He immediately lowered his head, pretended to tidy up his camera, and deliberately hid in the crowd.

Something's not right.

Old Wang's face darkened. "This person isn't a reporter. Reporters are busy taking pictures of the commanders and the entire aircraft carrier; who would be focusing on the hull?"

He immediately turned to Li Yu and said, "Chief Engineer, that man is suspicious! I'll go get someone!"

Li Yu's gaze fell on the man in the baseball cap, and his brows furrowed tightly.

He recalled something Xiao Zhang had told him three days ago: a few temporary workers had come to the factory to help organize data, but one of them always used the excuse of delivering data to sneak into the R&D workshop and kept asking about the parameters of the power system.

At the time, he thought it was just a temporary worker's curiosity, but now he thinks it's probably not that simple.

"Don't make a fuss."

Li Yu pulled Old Wang aside and lowered his voice, "Have someone secretly follow him to see where he lives and who he contacts. Also, replace the power system blueprints in the classified area with fake ones. Make sure they look realistic."

Old Wang nodded and immediately turned to make the arrangements.

As the sun set, the shipyard gradually quieted down. Bai Ling's parents took Nannan back to the guesthouse first, while Bai Ling stayed with Li Yu, accompanying him for a walk on the shore.

The seawater lapped against the shore, making a splashing sound.

The ship's lights came on, like a pair of bright eyes, guarding this sea area.

"Are you tired?"

Bai Ling took his arm and whispered, "You've rarely had a good night's sleep in the past five years. Now that the aircraft carrier has been launched, it's time for you to rest."

Li Yu shook his head, looked at the aircraft carrier in the distance, and said softly, "We can't rest. The 'Huawei' is just the beginning. The development of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers is still waiting for us."

Bai Ling knew his temperament, smiled, and stopped trying to persuade him, but simply tightened her grip on his arm.

As night deepened, Old Wang returned with the security personnel, his face beaming with excitement.

"Factory manager, we've caught up!"

Old Wang lowered his voice and said, "That kid is staying in a small hotel on the outskirts of the city. He just met with a foreigner and exchanged a note! The special agents have already set up sentries around the hotel, just waiting for him to make his move!"

Li Yu's eyes turned cold: "When will he make his move?"

"It's probably tonight. He's definitely trying to sneak into the secret area and steal the blueprints while no one's around at night."

Li Yu nodded: "Notify the military to coordinate the operation. Remember, catch them red-handed."

In the dead of night, the shipyard was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.

The door to the classified area was ajar, the lights were on inside, and a power system blueprint marked "Top Secret" lay on the table—a fake blueprint prepared by Li Yu's men.

At two o'clock in the morning, a dark figure quietly crept over.

It was the man in the baseball cap, dressed in all black. He moved quietly, avoiding the patrol routes, and skillfully pried open the window of the secure area and climbed inside.

He went straight to the table, picked up the blueprints, and eagerly glanced at them, a smug smile spreading across his face. He quickly stuffed the blueprints into his pocket and turned to climb out the window.

Just then, a loud shout pierced the night sky.

"Don't move!"

Secret Service agents rushed in, their flashlights blinding the man in the baseball cap. Military personnel also surrounded him from the outside.

The man in the baseball cap panicked and turned to run, but was grabbed by the collar and slammed to the ground. The blueprints he was carrying fell out and scattered all over the floor.

The man in the baseball cap struggled and shouted, "Who...who are you? I'm a reporter! You have no right to arrest me!"

Li Yu stepped out of the crowd, squatted down, picked up a blueprint, and sneered, "A reporter? Would a reporter steal fake blueprints?"

The man in the baseball cap turned deathly pale instantly.

Li Yu stood up, looking at the man being led away, his eyes filled with coldness: "Five years ago, you tried to strangle us with an embargo; five years later, you tried to destroy our hard work by stealing technology. Unfortunately for you, you've miscalculated."

As dawn broke in the east, Li Yu stood on the shore with Bai Ling, Nannan, and his parents-in-law.

As the "Huawei" sounded its horn and set sail, its carrier-based aircraft taxied and took off from the deck, leaving a beautiful arc as they headed towards the distant sea.