Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

A few days later, Su Zhenbang walked into the research and development workshop with a transfer order stamped with a red seal. His face was serious but he could not hide his satisfaction.

"Wei Dong, this is a joint transfer order issued by the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and the State Economic Commission. Take a look."

Su Zhenbang handed the transfer order to him.

Lin Weidong took it with a puzzled look, his eyes sweeping over the paper, his pupils suddenly contracting.

"Comrade Lin Weidong is appointed as the director of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill."

"Take the lead in transforming the steel rolling mill into the Hongxing Machinery Plant, which is a semi-military and semi-civilian enterprise, and promote the integrated development of industrialization and military-civilian integration."

"Deputy Director Su, this..." Lin Weidong's face was full of shock and confusion.

"My current focus is on mass production improvements of sniper rifles."

"Why were I suddenly transferred to be the manager of the steel rolling mill?"

He couldn't understand why he, who was doing so well at the weapons research institute, would be assigned to manage a factory.

Su Zhenbang sat down opposite him and slowly explained, "This is a decision made by the higher-ups; your abilities are evident to all."

"You just submitted the technology for new special steels and continuous rolling mills, and we need someone with technical expertise and the ability to coordinate to implement it."

"After the reconstruction of Hongxing Machinery Plant, it will also be responsible for the production of military materials."

"We also need to promote the research and development of civilian industrial equipment, and you are the most suitable candidate."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, Liu Jie and Liu Zhiqiang have already fallen."

"The truck and engine projects have come to a complete standstill, and the top management is furious."

"Liu Zhiqiang was directly dismissed and investigated, Liu Jie was demoted to Vice Minister of Industry, and a new minister has been appointed."

"Before you report to Hongxing Machinery Factory, the higher-ups require you to go to the automobile factory first."

"Taking the lead in bringing these two projects to fruition will also be a way to completely clean up the mess they left behind."

Lin Weidong paused for a moment before saying, "I accept the appointment."

He looked up at Su Zhenbang, "However, I'll have to trouble you to take care of my parents' situation."

"My father was transferred out of the machine tool workshop and demoted to a regular technician, and my mother was embroiled in anonymous complaints."

Don't worry.

"I will take care of these problems for you."

"Comrade Li Huaide will soon be reinstated to his original position, and will be the deputy director of the Hongxing Machinery Factory."

"The renovated machinery factory was upgraded by half a level, and his position as deputy factory director is now higher than that of the former steel rolling mill director."

"As for you, the position of factory manager is just a transition. Once you have sorted out the project, there will be more important arrangements for you."

Lin Weidong nodded, a weight lifted from his heart.

Meanwhile, inside the courtyard house, the turmoil was escalating.

Yi Zhonghai's impatience with an older woman has become blatant lately. Every day after sweeping the streets from the neighborhood office, he comes home with a hostile attitude.

As soon as the older woman placed the food on the table, he frowned and angrily demanded, "How did you cook this?"

"You put in too much salt, it's unbearably salty! Did you do that on purpose?"

An older woman silently picked up her chopsticks, intending to give him a piece of egg, but he knocked it away with his chopsticks.

At night, an older woman tried to mend his torn cuffs, but he threw the garment on the ground, saying, "What's the point of mending? With your skills, it's a waste of time!"

The daily accusations and humiliations completely chilled the heart of the usually tolerant middle-aged woman.

She knew that Yi Zhonghai was determined to get a divorce, and these were just excuses he was making up.

She stopped arguing and stopped taking care of Yi Zhonghai's life. The two lived in the same house but dreamed different dreams, and the atmosphere became extremely cold.

Unlike Yi Zhonghai's gloomy demeanor, Liu Haizhong has been in high spirits lately.

Although he is still a level 5 worker in the factory, he has been enjoying unparalleled popularity in the yard lately.

Now, whenever he encounters Liu Guangfu or Liu Guangtian, he scoffs, "So what if you've separated the family?"

"Living in someone else's west wing, they think they can cling to their coattails."

"I can't believe they just walked away like that. Let's see what kind of future you'll have."

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu completely ignored Liu Haizhong's mockery.

Because at least now the two of them can eat eggs if they want, and they won't get scolded or beaten when they go home.

Inside the deaf old woman's house, she grew increasingly dissatisfied with her current confinement and longed to regain her freedom and reclaim her former glory.

She pulled out gold bars from the bottom of the box and gave them to Yi Zhonghai to use for bribing officials.

"Xiao Yi, you'd better pay more attention to this."

"Take these gold bars and deliver them one by one according to the list I gave you."

"As long as you lift my confinement, you'll get plenty of benefits in the future."

Yi Zhonghai held the heavy gold bars, his eyes shining: "Don't worry, old lady."

"That Director Wang from the district you mentioned last time, he's already accepted the gold bars and promised to help take a look. I expect to hear back soon."

"As for the others, I'll go and check on them too."

The deaf old woman nodded in satisfaction: "That's good. I'll help you handle the divorce properly and find you someone new who's much better than your barren husband."

After Yi Zhonghai left, he put the gold bars into his pocket.

He never intended to find any connections for the deaf old woman from the beginning.

For him, the deaf old woman's current state is the best, because only in this way can he continuously reap the benefits.

At the research institute, Lin Weidong's handover work is nearing completion.

Su Wanqing looked at him and said, "I've already told my dad that once you take up your post at Hongxing Machinery Factory, I'll apply for a transfer there."

Lin Weidong patted her head and nodded with a smile: "Okay, I'll wait for you at the machinery factory."

Chen Bin, who was standing nearby, also said, "Team Leader Lin, I'm also applying to be transferred to Hongxing Machinery Factory."

"I can only learn real technology by following you. I want to participate in the implementation of special steel and continuous rolling mill projects."

Lin Weidong was somewhat surprised, but then smiled with relief: "Welcome, Chen Bin. With you here, I feel much more at ease."

In the corner, Li Yichuan lowered his head, seemingly organizing documents, but a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

Lin Weidong is a true technical genius; such a talent should either be used by Japan.

Either it will disappear completely.

Following Lin Weidong to the Hongxing Machinery Factory allows for close-up exposure to the core technologies of new special steel and continuous rolling mills.

They can also find suitable opportunities to complete their mission that they have been lying low for many years.

He raised his head, his face still bearing that shy smile, but in his heart he was fully prepared.

That evening, Li Yichuan returned to Beijing. In the middle of the night, he went to the black market and found a middle-aged man wearing a straw hat who was squatting on the ground selling corn noodles.

"Are there many corn kernels in corn noodles?"

"Pure Korean food has no noodles"

Li Yichuan squatted down and pinched the cornmeal with his hands, as if checking its quality.

"Lin Weidong has been transferred from the research institute and will be going to the car factory next. There's no need to keep an eye on him in the short term. Just be careful to stay hidden."

"It would be best to arrange for someone to join the steel rolling mill as soon as possible, because there will be big changes there soon."

After saying that, he symbolically bought two jin (1 kg) and left.

Not long after he left, the middle-aged man also picked up the cornmeal and left.