Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

The loud crash of the U-2 reconnaissance plane was like a thunderclap, shattering the silence of the outskirts of Beijing and quickly spreading throughout the entire city.

Chief of Staff Fan immediately reported the news upon returning.

Workers at Longxing Industrial learned that the weapons they had just produced had shot down an airplane.

The factory grounds erupted in deafening drumbeats, and people spontaneously poured out of the workshops, shouting at the top of their lungs:

"Longxing is awesome! Long live Engineer Li!"

The once solemn military factory area is now bustling with activity, like a Chinese New Year celebration.

Li Huaide stood on the steps of the office building, looking at the cheering crowd below, grinning from ear to ear, almost dropping the enamel mug in his hand.

Surrounded by Zhou Qiming and several researchers, Li Yu walked back to the factory from the test launch site, surrounded by admiring glances.

Upon seeing Li Yu, Lei Chuang rushed over, patting his chest and saying, "Engineer Li, I was blind to your greatness when I talked back to you before because I thought you were a relative! From now on, I'll do whatever you tell me to do!"

Lu Qing pushed up his glasses and said seriously, "Dean Li, your design for man-portable air defense missiles has completely overturned my understanding of traditional air defense weapons. I would like to apply to join the research and development team to conduct in-depth research on guidance systems."

Li Yu smiled and nodded: "Okay, you can lead your team to specialize in guidance technology."

Just then, several cars with military license plates roared up.

Those who got off the car were all officers with general stars on their shoulders and cadres wearing Zhongshan suits.

Among them was Minister Liu from the Ministry of Industry, who strode up to Li Yu, grabbed his hand, and shook it vigorously:

"Comrade Li Yu! Well done! You have rendered a great service to the country! The central leadership has heard the news and specifically requests to see you!"

As soon as he said this, the surroundings fell silent for a moment, and then burst into even more enthusiastic applause.

Everyone knows what it means to be specifically requested to meet with central leaders.

Li Yu's heart was also stirred, but his face remained calm:

"This is the result of the hard work of all Longxing employees and the strong support from the country."

Minister Liu nodded in satisfaction and patted him on the shoulder:

"Humility is a good thing, but the country will not forget your achievements. Come with us to the military region, where we will give you a detailed report on the weapon parameters and test firing results."

"Also, the wreckage of that U-2 has been recovered; it's a valuable research resource."

The group left Longxing in a grand procession and headed straight for the military region headquarters.

The news that "Longxing Industrial developed a new type of man-portable air defense missile and shot down a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft" spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

In the steel rolling mill's office, Zheng Qiushi was sighing over a report when his secretary rushed in, her face ashen: "Director Zheng! Something terrible has happened! Longxing Industry... Longxing Industry shot down a U-2 reconnaissance plane!"

"What?" Zheng Qiushi suddenly stood up, and the pen in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter".

"What nonsense are you talking about? That kid Li Yu, could he really take down a U-2?"

"It's absolutely true! It's all over the place now! I heard that central leaders are going to meet with Li Yu!"

The secretary's voice trembled, "And...and all those skilled workers from our factory who used to work with Li Yu are now making a difference at Longxing!"

Zheng Qiushi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he slumped into a chair.

He recalled how he had made things difficult for Li Yu in the past, and how he had watched helplessly as Li Yu led his men away from the steel mill. A sense of regret and jealousy gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms: "Li Yu...it's Li Yu again!"

Meanwhile, deep in the dense forest of the mountains, Jia Zhangshi was stumbling and running forward.

She killed Hunter Wu.

Inside Wu the Hunter's house, the cold moonlight shone through the window onto Jia Zhangshi's sinister face. She looked at the sleeping Wu the Hunter, and slowly moved to the bedside. She carefully took the key from Wu the Hunter's waist.

Madam Jia swallowed hard, slowly bent down to unlock the chains, and then quietly prepared to open the door and go out.

Suddenly she saw a knife in the corner.

She recalled the days and nights she spent chained up, the faces of those old bachelors, and how she was treated like an object, given only a rabbit and half a bag of cornmeal.

A surge of ruthlessness welled up from the bottom of her heart. She picked up the knife from the ground and walked step by step to the bedside.

She gritted her teeth, gripped the knife handle tightly with both hands, and stabbed it fiercely into the chest of Wu the Hunter on the bed!

"Well--"

With a short, muffled groan, Wu the hunter's snoring came to an abrupt halt.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his cloudy pupils filled with astonishment. He reached out to grab Jia Zhangshi, but only felt the warm blood gushing from his chest.

A sharp pain struck him, and he tried to scream, but only a hoarse sound came from his throat. His limbs twitched a few times, and then he fell completely still.

As Jia Zhangshi watched the knife completely disappear into her chest, she trembled all over, but gritted her teeth and dared not utter a sound.

She pulled out the knife, and blood spurted out, splattering all over her face and body.

She didn't bother wiping herself, turned around and rushed out the door, but missed a step and fell in the yard. She got up and staggered towards the forest.

She had only one thought: run! Run back to the city, run back to the courtyard house!

They dared not stop along the way, eating wild fruits when hungry and drinking mountain spring water when thirsty. Their feet were blistered and their clothes were torn to shreds by tree branches.

As the sky began to lighten, she finally saw a dirt road, with occasional horse-drawn carts carrying goods passing by.

Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up, and with her last bit of strength, she waved towards the carriage.

The driver, a kind-hearted old farmer, was startled by her appearance and quickly stopped the carriage: "Auntie, what's wrong?"

Jia Zhangshi's lips were chapped and her voice was hoarse: "Big...Big Brother, save me, I want to go back to the capital...back to the courtyard house..."

The old farmer, seeing her pitiful state, sighed and let her get into his car: "This car is heading to the capital, you can rest here for a while."

The carriage rumbled forward, and Jia Zhangshi leaned against the carriage floor, watching the outline of the capital city getting closer and closer, when suddenly tears fell from her eyes.

She had no idea what awaited her after she returned to the courtyard house, having killed someone.

All she knew was that she had to go back, to return to that place she both loved and hated.

Meanwhile, in the conference room of the U.S. military's Far East intelligence center, the atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating.

The lieutenant colonel looked at the wreckage analysis report in front of him, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

The report clearly states: Traces of a new type of explosive were detected in the wreckage of the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, and the guidance system determined it to be in infrared tracking mode, belonging to a type of man-portable air defense weapon never seen before.

"check!"

The lieutenant colonel slammed his hand on the table, his voice filled with hostility.

"At all costs, investigate Longxing Industry thoroughly, and find out about that engineer named Li Yu! Also, notify the spies lurking in China to obtain the technical blueprints for this missile at all costs!"

"yes!"

The intelligence officers hurriedly left, leaving only the lieutenant colonel in the conference room.

He looked out the window at the night, his eyes filled with malice.

A covert battle surrounding Longxing Industry and man-portable air defense missiles has quietly begun.

Meanwhile, Li Yu, at the center of the storm, was sitting in the military region's conference room, speaking eloquently to a room full of leaders and experts.

The blackboard in front of him was covered with missile design drawings and parameters, and every piece of data amazed everyone present.

No one knows what earth-shattering changes this young chief engineer will bring to this era.