Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

As dawn broke, Longxing Factory's transport trucks were parked in front of the warehouse, the words "Longxing Machinery Factory" on the trucks wiped clean and made particularly eye-catching.

In the rear compartment, samples of special steel for ship decks and alloy parts for light weapons were carefully wrapped in moisture-proof oil paper and stacked in custom-made wooden crates. Each crate was labeled with a number written in red paint and the words "Defense Supplies, Handle with Care".

Li Huaide squatted beside the car, clutching the material allocation form in his hand, checking the number of boxes one by one, afraid of making the slightest mistake.

"Chief Engineer Li, shall we double-check the sample list?"

Li Huaide raised his head and shouted at Li Yu, who had just walked out of the office building.

Li Yu held a thick stack of test reports in his hand, squatted down and checked them with him: "Ten steel deck samples, fifty sets of light weapon accessories, three test reports, and one set of parameter drawings, all complete."

He patted the wooden crate, his eyes solemn. "This batch of goods is related to the defense handover during Hong Kong's transition period. We cannot be careless in the slightest."

In the courtyard of the military research institute, several gray buildings stood in neat rows. The windows of the laboratories were covered with blackout paper, and armed sentries stood at the door. The atmosphere was so serious that no one dared to speak loudly.

Researcher Wang, who had been waiting there, quickly stepped forward and saluted: "Director Li, Chief Engineer Li, you must be tired from your journey! The testing site is ready."

The samples were carefully moved into the laboratory.

A huge impact testing machine stood in the center of the room, with a testing instrument flashing a cold red light next to it.

Engineer Wang led the two to the machine and pointed to the control panel, explaining: "Today we are mainly testing the impact resistance of the deck steel and the practical compatibility of light weapon accessories. The data will be recorded in real time."

Li Yu stepped forward and pointed to a sample of deck steel: "This batch of steel billets has increased chromium and nickel content based on the original formula, resulting in finer grains and improved impact and corrosion resistance."

Engineer Wang nodded, signaling the technician to begin the operation.

The heavy steel deck sample was fixed on the testing machine, and when the impact hammer slammed down, a dull thud resounded in the laboratory.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the sample.

After the impact hammer was lifted, the surface of the steel sample only had a shallow dent, without any cracks.

"Impact resistance meets the standard! Far exceeding the design specifications!" the technician shouted, looking at the data on the screen.

Next came the compatibility testing of small arms accessories.

The accessories were installed on standard firearms and underwent repeated disassembly, assembly, and firing tests. Their dimensional accuracy and toughness fully met the requirements, and no deformation or breakage occurred.

Looking at the test report, Engineer Wang smiled with satisfaction: "Excellent! This batch of materials perfectly meets the requirements of defense equipment! With it, the defense handover during Hong Kong's transition period will have an extra layer of solid protection!"

Just then, a messenger hurried into the laboratory, holding an urgent document stamped with the red seal of the Ministry of Industry, and handed it to Li Yu: "Chief Engineer Li, this is a message just sent by the Ministry of Industry!"

Li Yu took the urgent document and huddled together with Li Huaide to look through it.

China and the UK have reached a preliminary consensus on the handover of defense responsibilities during the transition period in Hong Kong. China will be responsible for Hong Kong's defense and security before its return to China. This batch of special materials is urgently needed to ensure the upgrading of equipment. It is hoped that Longxing Factory will speed up the mass production process.

"Great news! Really great news!"

Li Huaide exclaimed excitedly, "The handover of defense responsibilities in Hong Kong is settled! Our Longxing Steel Factory has once again made a great contribution!"

A surge of warmth welled up in Li Yu's heart. Looking at the samples in the laboratory and recalling the roaring furnaces in the factory's smelting workshop, he felt that all the hard work had been worthwhile.

After the test, Engineer Wang specially invited the two of them to stay for lunch.

On the canteen table were cornbread buns, stewed cabbage and tofu, and a small dish of pickled vegetables. The group ate and chatted, and the conversation always revolved around Hong Kong's defense and the factory's production.

On the return trip in the afternoon, an extra test report stamped with the military's red seal appeared in the trunk of the jeep.

By the time the car returned to Longxing Factory, the sun had already set.

The factory gate was already crowded with people, workers holding tools and looking on with anxious anticipation. Old Wang stood on tiptoe to look into the distance, while Zhou Qiming simply climbed onto the top of the workshop wall.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the jeep approached.

"They're back! Factory Director Li and General Manager Li are back!"

As soon as the jeep came to a stop, Li Huaide jumped out and shouted, "Comrades! Good news! All the sample assembly tests have passed! News from the Ministry of Industry indicates that China and Britain have reached a preliminary consensus on the handover of Hong Kong's defense. Our materials will come in very handy!"

The news quickly spread throughout the alleyways of the family compound.

Clutching her little model ship, the little girl squeezed through the crowd. Seeing Li Yu approach, she immediately rushed over, shouting, "Daddy! Was the test successful? Can our warship go to Hong Kong now?"

Li Yu squatted down, patted his daughter's head, and nodded with a smile: "Yes! Once our materials are in mass production, we can build even more powerful warships to defend Hong Kong!"

Holding the model ship, the little girl turned and ran to show off to the chubby boy: "Listen! My dad said our warship can go to Hong Kong now!"

That evening, the canteen at Longxing Factory added some dishes.

The head chef stewed a large pot of pork and cabbage, and also steamed white flour buns. In the 70s, when resources were scarce, this was a rare feast.

The workers, carrying enamel mugs, lined up to get their meals, their smiles never fading.

Li Yu and Li Huaide sat in a corner of the canteen, with two white steamed buns and a bowl of stewed meat in front of them.

Li Huaide picked up an enamel mug filled with loose Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) and handed a bowl to Li Yu: "Brother Li Yu, let's drink this! For Hong Kong, for the steel from our Longxing Factory!"

Li Yu took the enamel mug and clinked it against his. "Cheers!"

He tilted his head back and took a big gulp.

That afternoon, Nannan was holding her little ship model, squatting by the wall, playing marbles with Xiaopang.

Marbles rolled around on the yellow earth, and the children's laughter mingled with the sounds of machines coming from the distant workshop.

Suddenly, Nannan caught a glimpse of a thin, small figure squatting under the locust tree at the entrance of the alley.

The girl was wearing a patched gray cloth jacket, her hair was messy, her face was covered in mud, and she was holding a straw rope in her hand, pulling at the grass blades on the ground.

Nannan stopped what she was doing, tilted her little head and looked for a long time, then tugged at Xiaopang's clothes: "Look, who's that?"