Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

At the Su family home, Su Wanqing carried two boxes of pastries and walked briskly home.

In the living room, Mr. Su was sitting in a chair reading the newspaper, while Mrs. Su was busy in the kitchen. Hearing familiar footsteps, the two of them came out to greet them.

"Wanqing's back! What brings you home today?" Su's mother smiled as she took the pastries from her hand, her eyes full of affection.

Su Wanqing's cheeks flushed slightly. She pulled her mother's hand and sat down, saying softly, "Dad, Mom, there's something I want to tell you. Lin Weidong and I are together."

Mr. Su put down his newspaper and looked at his daughter.

"Lin Weidong? When did you two get together? Has that kid ever made you suffer? That kid is always talking nonsense and he's no good."

"I asked him to come here, but he absolutely refused. Now he's even trying to steal my daughter away. I sent you here to study, and now you've all been dragged into this mess."

Su Wanqing held her father's hand and said, "Lin Weidong has been very good to me. He definitely has his own reasons for working at the steel mill."

Su's father wasn't really angry, but he felt a little resentful that his daughter had been taken by that kid.

Meanwhile, Su's mother was all smiles, saying, "I knew you two were getting close; something was definitely going on!"

"I've met Lin Weidong a few times. He's a steady and reliable person, and he cares about you. I'm satisfied!"

"It's good that you don't object."

Su Wanqing smiled and said, "We plan to get married after the New Year. Right now, we're busy with the truck project. Once the project is successful, we'll have a grand wedding."

"Fine, fine, arrange it however you like," Su's father said nonchalantly.

On the other side, Lin Weidong, carrying a thick stack of heavy truck technical blueprints, walked into Li Huaide's office.

"Director Li, this is the technical solution for heavy trucks that I have compiled. Please take a look." He placed the drawings on his desk.

Li Huaide quickly put down the documents in his hand and picked up the drawings to carefully examine them.

The more he looked, the brighter his eyes became, and the more surprised he looked at his face.

"Weidong, this technology is amazing! It far surpasses any truck currently made in China. If we can manufacture it, it will be a major breakthrough for the nation's industry!"

"That's what I think too."

Lin Weidong nodded. "But this project is a huge undertaking, involving multiple fields such as engines, chassis, and transmission systems. It cannot be completed by the steel rolling mill alone. It requires coordination with multiple manufacturers and approval from the Ministry of Industry to allocate special R&D funds and resources."

"no problem!"

Li Huaide slammed his hand on the table, his tone firm, "This project is of great significance. I'll immediately take the blueprints to the Ministry of Industry to report on it and do everything I can to secure their support!"

That afternoon, in the Ministry of Industry's office, Li Huaide was holding technical drawings and giving Minister Liu Jie a detailed report on the heavy truck project.

Liu Yuanchao happened to be looking for his father and overheard their conversation outside the door, instantly having an idea in mind.

He knew that if this project succeeded, it would be a tremendous achievement. If he could get his second uncle, Liu Zhiqiang, the director of the state-owned automobile factory, to win the project, the benefit to the Liu family would be immeasurable.

Liu Jie carefully examined the technical drawings, becoming more and more satisfied with them.

"This technical solution is highly feasible and its performance far exceeds current levels. If it can be implemented, it will greatly promote my country's logistics and industrial development!"

He looked up at Li Huaide and said, "Director Li, I agree to this project in principle, but according to the procedure, it still needs to go through a technical evaluation meeting before a final decision can be made. You can go back and wait for news."

As soon as Li Huaide left, Liu Yuanchao walked into the office and said to Liu Jie with a smile, "Dad, that heavy truck project just now sounded pretty good."

"My second uncle is the director of a state-owned automobile factory. Their factory has extensive experience in automobile manufacturing. If we can entrust this project to their factory, we will definitely achieve results faster and avoid wasting resources."

Liu Jie frowned, and was about to refuse when the phone on his desk rang.

It was Liu Zhiqiang calling. "Brother, I heard the steel rolling mill submitted an application for a heavy truck project?"

On the phone, Liu Zhiqiang's voice was urgent, "Brother, please give me this chance!"

"How can a steel rolling mill, which doesn't even have a car production line, produce such complex heavy trucks?"

"Isn't this a waste of resources? Our state-owned automobile factory has mature production lines and a technical team; we're sure we can make this project a success!"

"No way." Liu Jie refused without hesitation. "This technology was developed by Lin Weidong. He has the deepest understanding of the technology. Moreover, the steel rolling mill has already started the preliminary preparations. We can't just change the project contractor at will."

"Big brother, why are you so stubborn?"

"I'm doing this for the good of the country and want the project to be implemented as soon as possible."

"If you don't agree, I'll go talk to the old man!" After saying that, she hung up the phone.

Liu Jie sighed helplessly. He knew that his second brother had always been favored by the old man, and he would definitely not let this go this time.

Sure enough, not long after, he received a call from home asking him to come home that evening.

That evening, the atmosphere at the Liu family's old house was somber.

Old Master Liu sat in the main seat, his face gloomy, his cane thumping loudly on the ground.

"Liu Jie, are you out of your mind?"

The old man angrily rebuked, "Such a great achievement as the heavy truck project, and you didn't hand it over to your own brother, but instead gave it to an outsider?"

"Zhiqiang is now the director of a state-owned automobile factory. He needs a big project to advance his career. If we secure this project, he can move up a level and enter the central government. What a huge benefit that would be for our Liu family!"

"Dad, this technology was developed by Lin Weidong, and the steel rolling mill has already done a lot of preliminary work," Liu Jie tried to explain.

"I don't care about any of that!"

The old man interrupted him, "The technology can be provided by Lin Weidong coming over to provide guidance. What the steel rolling mill can do, Zhiqiang's factory can also do!"

"We won't steal Lin Weidong's credit, but production must be done at Zhiqiang's factory."

"If you don't agree, then don't acknowledge me as your father, and you'll have no share in anything belonging to the Liu family!"

Liu Zhiqiang stood to the side, a wronged look on his face, but secretly he was pleased with himself: "Big brother, just listen to Dad. I will definitely do a good job on the project and won't bring shame to the Liu family. I'm doing this for the Liu family too."

Looking at the old man's stern eyes and then at his second brother, Liu Jie knew that if he didn't compromise, it would only lead to a breakdown in family relations.

He remained silent for a long time before finally lowering his head and saying in a somber tone, "Okay, I agree."

In the corner, Liu Yuanchao watched this scene, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips, secretly pleased that he had finally achieved his goal.

He had been looking for an opportunity to target Lin Weidong, but the other party had a powerful background and no questionable conduct, so he had no way to make a move.

I never expected to have this opportunity again.