Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

The news spread like wildfire throughout the steel rolling mill.

Discussions filled the workshops, canteens, and dormitories, and anger spread like wildfire.

"Why should they give away our factory's technology to others? Chief Engineer Lin worked himself to the bone to develop it, and they just sit back and reap the benefits?"

"Exactly! If the heavy truck project succeeds, our bonuses and benefits will double. Isn't that just robbing us?"

"No, we can't agree to this! We have to write a letter of protest to the Ministry of Industry!"

The workers were outraged, and that afternoon, dozens of protest letters were sent to the Ministry of Industry, filled with discontent and questions.

Some veteran workers even went directly to the factory headquarters, demanding an explanation from Li Huaide and insisting that he should not hand over the technology.

The matter caused a great uproar, and the Ministry of Industry's phone lines were ringing off the hook. Liu Jie couldn't sit still any longer.

The next morning, he personally brought his secretary to the steel rolling mill and went straight to Li Huaide's office. Lin Weidong and Su Wanqing were also called over.

"Chief Engineer Lin, Factory Director Li," Liu Jie said, sitting on the sofa, his tone softening.

"This decision was also made for the sake of the overall national interest; state-owned automobile factories are indeed more suitable to advance this project."

"Chief Engineer Lin, don't worry, once the project is successful, your name will definitely be on the list of achievements, and you will be treated well."

Lin Weidong sneered, his words full of sarcasm: "Minister Liu, I'm involved in technology not for the sake of achievements or for preferential treatment."

"This technology is the culmination of my hard work, and I have the right to decide its ownership. You want the technology? Fine, but only if I'm dead!"

"Lin Weidong, don't be so stubborn!" Liu Jie's tone turned serious.

"This is an organizational decision, and as a Party member, you should obey it. If you insist on refusing, you will bear the consequences yourself!"

"as a result of?"

Lin Weidong's anger finally erupted. He stood up abruptly and looked down at Liu Jie.

"Let me tell you, Minister Liu, if you insist on taking the technology away, I, Lin Weidong, will never participate in any technological research within the Ministry of Industry again!"

"I will not be responsible for any problems that arise with this heavy truck project from now on. You can come looking for whoever you want!"

Li Huaide immediately stood up and stood firmly beside Lin Weidong:

"Minister Liu, Chief Engineer Lin's attitude is my attitude."

"The technology can't be handed over. If you're going to hand it over, you'll have to remove me from my position as factory manager first!"

Liu Jie was taken aback by the two's resolute stance, and his face instantly turned ashen.

He comes from a family of high-ranking officials and has always been obeyed by others. When has he ever been defied like this?

A surge of anger welled up inside him, and he slammed his fist on the table: "Fine! Very well! Lin Weidong, Li Huaide, I'm not here to ask you anything, I'm here to inform you! The technology must be transferred, that's an order!"

"Order?"

Lin Weidong laughed in anger, his eyes filled with disappointment and despair.

"I won't accept such an order! Since the Ministry of Industry can't tolerate me, and the steel rolling mill can't retain my hard work, then I'm quitting this job!"

He turned to Li Huaide, his tone calm yet unwavering: "Director Li, could you please draft a resignation letter for me? From this moment forward, I formally resign from all positions at the steel rolling mill!"

"What?!" Everyone present was stunned.

Li Huaide quickly pulled him back: "Weidong, calm down! Resigning is no small matter, don't act impulsively!"

Liu Jie was also stunned. He never expected Lin Weidong to be so resolute, and for a moment he was speechless.

Lin Weidong shook off Li Huaide's hand.

"I wasn't acting impulsively. I, Lin Weidong, am engaged in technology to serve my country, not to be subservient to others."

"I certainly won't let my hard work be plundered! If this place can't accommodate me, there will be another place that will!"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was firm and resonant, echoing throughout the office.

Su Wanqing then said, "Wei Dong, I'll go with you."

The news of Lin Weidong's resignation was like a bombshell that sent shockwaves through the steel rolling mill.

The workers were stunned. No one expected that a technical dispute would force Chief Engineer Lin to resign.

Liu Jie stood in the office, his face alternating between pale and flushed.

He never imagined things would escalate to this point.

He thought Lin Weidong was just talking, but he didn't expect him to actually resign.

A talent capable of developing eight-cylinder engines and advanced heavy-duty truck technology was driven away by him and completely removed from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Industry.

He cursed inwardly, knowing he had been terribly betrayed by his younger brother and the old man, but little did he know that the mastermind behind it all was his son, Liu Yuanchao, who was single-mindedly seeking to benefit the Liu family.

Back in his office, Lin Weidong picked up the phone and dialed a number.

After the call connected, he said calmly, "Deputy Director Su, this is Lin Weidong."

"I heard your weapons research institute is short of technical personnel. Would you still welcome me?"

On the other end of the phone, Su Zhenbang's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Weidong! Welcome! You're so welcome! I've been waiting for you for so long. I'd even give you my seat if you came."

"Then I'll have to trouble Deputy Director Su."

"I want to get there as soon as possible, do you think we can expedite this?"

"No problem! Everything's fine!"

Su Zhenbang readily agreed, "I'll contact the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense right now and get the transfer paperwork done immediately. I guarantee it'll be settled by tomorrow!"

After hanging up the phone, Su Wanqing looked at Lin Weidong with a bright smile on her face: "My dad must be overjoyed now. When I told them we were together, he was furious because he thought you hadn't gone to the weapons research institute."

"Now that you're there, at least he's all smiles over there."

At that moment, Su Zhenbang was laughing heartily in his office at the weapons research institute.

Researchers passing by the office quickly walked away, sensing that something was wrong with Deputy Director Su today.

Less than three hours later, the order from the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense was issued.

A single transfer order directly removed Lin Weidong and Su Wanqing from the Ministry of Industry and officially transferred them to the Weapons Research Institute.

The entire process was swift and decisive, giving the Ministry of Industry no chance to obstruct it.

Liu Jie had only been back at the Ministry of Industry for a short time when he received a transfer order.

I felt a sudden darkness before my eyes and almost fainted.

He knew that he had not only driven away a top technical talent, but had also completely pushed him toward the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

And I may have to pay a heavy price for this.

Liu Haizhong is so happy in the workshop that he almost jumps for joy; he even has the energy to move workpieces.

For the past two weeks, he has been tortured to death. He has been constantly criticized and nitpicked, and he has to carry materials for people he used to look down on.

Now that Lin Weidong is gone, I feel incredibly relieved.

Lin Jianjun rushed home immediately, knowing that Lin Weidong would definitely go home first after resigning.

He wanted to ask what was going on. He was both worried and angry. Why was Lin Weidong being treated like this?

He's the chief engineer, but he's not even 20 years old yet. How dare they bully people like this?

He originally wanted to find Li Huaide, but he knew that Li Huaide was probably powerless to help with this matter.