Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

In the Longxing factory workshop, the low hum of machines, mixed with a faint smell of machine oil, permeated the entire factory building.

The shelf was filled with neatly arranged Type 95 rifle samples.

Wearing white gloves, Li Yu picked up a rifle and weighed it in his hand. He walked to the salt spray test chamber in the corner, carefully placed the rifle inside, and pressed the start button. A mist rose up and quickly enveloped the rifle.

"The salt spray near the coast is too corrosive; ordinary alloy gunstocks won't last long."

"I adjusted the materials again, reduced the weight by 5%, and increased the precision by 3%, ensuring that it is manufactured to meet the amphibious operations needs of our Marine Corps."

Li Yu hummed in agreement, his gaze falling on the newly delivered document on the table.

The document cover bears the Ministry of Industry's gold-embossed lettering, clearly stating that a British delegation will visit China next month and specifically requests to see the military industrial achievements of the Longxing Factory, with a focus on examining the special steel for aircraft carriers and the alloy processes for light weapons.

"They're here to gather information."

"We want to see if our materials technology can truly support our coastal defense. This is also a good opportunity for us to flex our muscles."

Zhou Qiming's eyes lit up, and he stuffed the pencil into his pocket: "That's great! Let those British guys see that the steel for gunstocks and decks we make is ten times better than theirs!"

As they were talking, the workshop door was pushed open.

Old Wang led several apprentices in: "Chief Engineer, the master's improved vacuum welding combined with a nano-anti-corrosion coating has increased the corrosion resistance lifespan by five years! It can withstand both the salt spray of the nearshore waters and the humid weather of the south!"

Old Wang patted the steel plate and laughed heartily: "Five years is nothing! This thing we welded will protect our coastline for a lifetime!"

"Foreigners want to bully us? No way! We've got our weapons ready, and nobody's going to dare mess with us on our doorstep!"

Li Yu took the test report and looked at the impressive numbers. This was the confidence he had built up, the confidence that Longxing Factory had accumulated through every hammer blow and every weld.

In the evening, the aroma of food filled Li Yu's house.

Bai Ling's father, dressed in casual gray clothes, was sitting at the table, drinking with Li Yu.

He came back specifically today, without any briefcase, only carrying a bag of fruit candies that his daughter loves.

"I brought back some interesting news today."

Bai Ling's father took a sip of baijiu, put down his glass, and lowered his voice, "Things are in chaos back home. They're arguing like crazy about the strategic deployment of the Far East colonies."

Li Yu paused in her chopsticks, then looked up at him.

"Their Navy Department couldn't hold on any longer."

Bai Ling's father smiled and said, "Last month, our aircraft carrier group was conducting routine patrols in the South China Sea. Some of the footage of carrier-based aircraft taking off and landing somehow got transmitted to London."

"Their naval minister bluntly stated that with China's current naval strength, it is already sufficient to control the seas of East Asia. Britain's outposts in the Far East simply cannot be defended—after all, just the supply lines across half the globe required to dispatch a fleet from the mainland would be enough to give them a hard time."

He paused, then continued, "But their finance ministry objected, saying that the trade volume of the Far East colonies accounted for 30% of the total trade volume of the British Commonwealth, and it would be a huge loss to give up. The two sides argued fiercely, and even the prime minister couldn't control the situation."

Upon hearing this, Li Yu's eyes lit up.

This is the opportunity.

An opportunity that forced the British to confront the strength of China.

"The people's hearts and the military's strength have never been on their side." Li Yu picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and said with certainty, "They can't afford to waste time, and they can't hold out."

"So the tone has already been set from above."

Bai Ling's father put down his wine glass. "The Ministry of Industry, in conjunction with the military, is preparing to take advantage of the British delegation's visit to China to add fuel to the fire—to showcase our military industrial achievements and completely shatter their hopes of swaggering in the Far East."

Li Yu understood immediately.

The key to "adding fuel to the fire" was the Longxing factory.

Their special steel for aircraft carriers and the alloy technology used in the Type 95 rifles are their solid foundation. As for the movements of the aircraft carrier battle group, that's the military's decision; Longxing Factory only needs to showcase its technology to the British.

The next morning, Longxing Factory received an urgent notice from the Ministry of Industry.

The entire factory worked overtime to complete a batch of alloy parts for the Type 95 rifle and trial welding parts for aircraft carrier steel, ensuring that the delegation could see the physical results when they visited China.

When the news spread, the workers at Longxing Factory were in an uproar.

In the welding workshop, Lao Wang led his apprentices to work overtime, further refining the welding process of armored vehicle steel plates.

Sparks flew onto his face, making his eyes shine: "Let the British see for themselves! The craftsmanship of Chinese workers is no joke! The steel plates we make can withstand the high pressure of the deep sea!"

Inside the research and development center, Zhou Qiming, beaming from ear to ear, held the parameter sheet for the Type 95 rifle: "This is our confidence! Let's see what they have to say now!"

The atmosphere in the Prime Minister's office at 10 Downing Street in London was terribly oppressive.

The Navy Minister slammed a report on the exercises of a Chinese aircraft carrier battle group on the table, his face turning ashen.

"Your Excellency, you see! Their naval power is sufficient to blockade the entire East Asian seas! Our outposts in the Far East are like meat on a chopping block!"

The Chancellor of the Exchequer scoffed, "A blockade? Do they dare? The trade volume of our Far East colonies supports half of the British Commonwealth! Losing these strongholds would be a devastating blow to our economy!"

The two started arguing again, spitting as they spoke.

The Prime Minister rubbed his throbbing temples, his gaze falling on the newly delivered journal on the table—on the cover.

The anti-corrosion welding process developed by Longxing Factory is prominently displayed, accompanied by a striking title: Breakthrough in Chinese military technology, laying a solid foundation for coastal defense equipment.

He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

He knew it was time to end the argument.

China's military might has been flexed before our eyes—not through the deployment of aircraft carrier battle groups, but through genuine breakthroughs in materials technology.

If we drag this out any longer, we'll only lose even more miserably.

The Prime Minister opened his eyes, his voice weary but unusually firm: "Inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare for contact with China—we can talk about the strategic adjustment of the Far East colonies."

When the news reached Beijing, Li Yu was flying a kite with his daughter.

The kite, painted with the five-star red flag and an aircraft carrier, flew high and steadily in the blue sky.

The little girl, clutching the kite string, jumped and shouted, "Daddy, the kite is flying! It's as high as an aircraft carrier!"

Looking at his daughter's joyful expression, Li Yu looked up at the azure sky and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.