Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

In New York, many financial tycoons gathered in front of the giant screen of the Wall Street Stock Exchange.

The stock price of Western Communications Alliance fell immediately after the market opened, and the red downward arrow was like a red-hot branding iron, making the faces of the capital tycoons present turn pale.

Alexander stood in the Rockefeller family's private trading room, gripping his phone tightly.

On the screen, the stock price of the family's energy company was plummeting at a visible speed. In just half an hour, the drop reached 12%, and the market value evaporated by more than 20 billion US dollars.

"What's going on?!"

He roared at the financial director on the other end of the phone, "Didn't we tell you to use the market stabilization funds? Why is it still falling?!"

The financial director said anxiously, "Mr. Alexander, it's no use!"

"Mysterious funds are aggressively shorting the market, and a large amount of evidence of environmental violations by our energy companies has suddenly surfaced. International environmental organizations have launched a sanctions initiative, and major institutions are following suit by selling off their shares!"

Alexander's vision went black, and he staggered back half a step, crashing into the leather sofa behind him.

He recalled Rockefeller's earlier warnings, and a strong sense of panic welled up inside him.

"Could it be... that Li Yu had already laid this trap?"

Just then, the office door was flung open, and several board members of the Western Communications Alliance stormed in, their faces ashen.

"Alexander! You have to give us an explanation! The additional investment of 300 billion just went in, and the stock price plummeted. Are you hiding something?"

"And there are base stations!"

Another director pointed to the news on his phone and said, "Another 50 base stations in Los Angeles have malfunctioned, and user complaints have sparked massive protests. The carrier wants to terminate the cooperation agreement!"

The self-proclaimed sophisticated capital tycoons were now like ants on a hot plate, blaming and hurling insults at each other, creating chaos in the trading room.

Alexander looked at the chaos before him and felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

His proud American version of the 3G plan has now become a joke.

The capital strategy that was once highly anticipated is now facing collapse.

"Quiet!" Alexander roared.

He then added, "This is only temporary! Our base station technology will be optimized soon, and the environmental scandal is a slander!"

"I'll go find my grandfather right now and mobilize all the family's funds to prop up the stock!"

He rushed out of the trading room and drove to the Rockefeller family's estate.

Meanwhile, at Longxing Factory in Beijing, the research and development center was brightly lit.

Li Yu, dressed in white overalls, was discussing intercontinental ballistic missile design blueprints with several aerospace engineers.

The tea on the table had gone cold, and the ashtray was piled high with cigarette butts, clearly indicating that he had been working overtime for more than ten hours straight.

"The missile's range must be over 12000 kilometers to cover the entire North American territory."

"This liquid fuel propulsion system still needs optimization. The thrust is insufficient, and the launch preparation time is too long, making it easy for the enemy to detect."

One engineer sighed and said, "Chief Engineer Li, we've tried using solid fuel, but the stability has never been satisfactory."

"Furthermore, the guidance accuracy of MIRVs (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles) still needs further adjustments."

After rubbing his sore eyes, Li Yu said, "Time waits for no one."

"Western financial markets have begun to fluctuate, and the Rockefeller family will not sit idly by."

"If they become desperate and resort to military pressure, we must have sufficient confidence to fight back."

"This intercontinental ballistic missile is our reassurance."

After drinking a cup of tea, he said, "Change the engine nozzle to vector propulsion to increase fuel efficiency."

"The guidance system uses our satellite navigation."

"Regarding the solid fuel formulation, I'll give you another direction for optimization. We must produce new experimental data as soon as possible."

"Understood!" the engineers replied in unison.

Li Yu felt a little more at ease watching the engineers busily working.

Once the United States possesses nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, stealth fighters, and intercontinental ballistic missiles, it will have to carefully consider the consequences before it can use military force.

Now, he only needs to wait for the financial storm on Wall Street to completely engulf the Rockefeller family.

During this period, He Yuzhu had more and more apprentices, so he was fortunate enough to rent an abandoned courtyard house.

The once overgrown courtyard house is now well-maintained.

A huge canvas shed was erected in the center of the courtyard, with more than a dozen stoves neatly arranged underneath.

At noon, He Yuzhu was wearing a blue work vest and sitting on a bamboo chair in the yard.

He was holding a large tea mug, tucked under his arm, and taking sips every now and then.

He squinted as he watched his apprentices toss and turn the food in the wok, occasionally offering a few words of advice:

"Xiao Wang, use your wrists when you're tossing the food, don't just rely on your arms!"

"Xiao Li, you put too much salt! Cooking is all about the perfect balance of saltiness; too much and it's too salty, too little and it's too bland!"

An apprentice ran over carrying a steaming plate of food, his face full of anticipation. "Master, please try my Kung Pao Chicken!"

He Yuzhu picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of chicken, put it in his mouth, chewed slowly, and nodded.

"Not bad, the heat was just right, and the taste was alright too. The peanuts were a little overcooked though, I'll be more careful next time."

The apprentice nodded quickly, "Yes, Master!"

Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open.

The person who arrived was He Yushui. She was wearing a gray dress and her eyes were red.

Upon seeing He Yuzhu, He Yushui could no longer hold back her tears and burst into sobs.

She immediately ran over and threw herself into He Yuzhu's arms, crying, "Brother! Waaah... Brother!"

He Yuzhu was startled and quickly put down his teacup, supporting his sister's shoulder.

He asked urgently, "Rain, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Did someone bully you?"

The apprentices also stopped and looked over curiously.

He Yushui sobbed, saying haltingly, "Brother, Father... Father passed away in Baocheng!"

"What?!"

"What did you say? Father... how could he have suddenly passed away?"

"I received a call from Baocheng this morning. Aunt Bai said that Dad had been lying in the hospital for some time, and he suddenly became unwell last night."

"She had wanted to tell us for a long time, but Dad wouldn't let her, afraid of wasting our time."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu's eyes instantly reddened.

"Brother, let's go to Baocheng now to send Father off on his final journey."

He Yuzhu took a deep breath and nodded: "Okay! Let's go now!"

He turned to his eldest disciple and said, "Xiao Wang, I'm leaving things here to you. Lead the junior disciples in their practice diligently, and don't slack off!"

"Don't worry, Master, we'll take care of things here!" Xiao Wang quickly replied.

He Yuzhu quickly packed a few clothes, took out a wad of cash from the drawer and put it in his pocket, then pulled He Yushui along and walked quickly out of the courtyard, heading straight for the train station.