Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

A few days later, colorful flags fluttered along the main road of the automobile factory, and all the employees, dressed in work clothes, lined up on both sides.

The newly appointed factory director and his team stood at the front, their faces full of respectful smiles.

They had already been notified that the newly appointed project leader was not only a top genius in the military industry, but also a key figure who would soon take the helm of the Red Star Machinery Plant.

Lin Weidong had just gotten off the bus when he saw the corner at the very end of the line.

Liu Zhiqiang was wearing work clothes stained with oil, his head bowed low.

The person he least wants to see right now is Lin Weidong.

He never imagined that Lin Weidong, whom he had once looked down upon, would become so important.

Now he has become my direct superior, while I, who was once a glamorous factory manager, have fallen from grace.

The huge drop in status from being reduced to an ordinary worker almost made him grit his teeth in despair.

"Director Lin, welcome to the automobile factory to guide our work!" The factory director stepped forward quickly and extended his hand warmly.

Lin Weidong shook hands with him: "No need for formalities, take me to the workshop."

The group headed straight to the truck manufacturing workshop. As soon as they entered, Lin Weidong's expression darkened.

The equipment in the workshop was arranged in a mess, the chassis of the semi-finished trucks were roughly welded, and the machining precision of the engine parts was visibly substandard.

Waste and oil were scattered on the ground, and the entire production site was completely disorganized.

"Is this your current level of technology?" Lin Weidong pointed to an engine block.

"With the cylinder block casting riddled with pores and tolerances exceeding the standard by three times, can the engine run normally for over 100 hours after such a part is installed?"

He then walked to the frame and kicked the poor-quality weld, which revealed a tiny crack.

"The chassis welding strength is insufficient, and the rust prevention treatment is perfunctory. Driving such a truck is practically suicide for the driver!"

Lin Weidong's words were like a slap in the face to the technicians present, leaving them all blushing.

But no one dared to refute it.

Because all these technical solutions were finalized by Liu Zhiqiang himself beforehand.

"Stop pointing fingers here!" Liu Zhiqiang could no longer contain his anger.

He suddenly rushed out of the crowd, pointing his finger at Lin Weidong's nose and roaring angrily.

"These technical solutions have all undergone repeated verification; what makes you think they're completely useless?"

"You're just lucky; you've managed to create a few new weapons. Do you really think you know anything about car manufacturing?"

Lin Weidong turned around and looked at Liu Zhiqiang in front of him: "Proof? I think it's just a waste of time!"

"Your so-called technical solution is full of loopholes; it's garbage, just like you."

"What did you say? Who's trash?!"

Liu Zhiqiang glared angrily at Lin Weidong.

"You're trash and you still won't accept it?"

Lin Weidong threw the blueprints in front of him, "Someone like you, who can't even understand the basic operating conditions, dares to be the factory manager of a car factory?"

"No wonder the truck project is stalled; you're simply playing with the nation's resources!"

"Ignorance is bliss, that's exactly what you're like."

"If you're not trash, then what are you?"

"You were quite capable when you were vying for projects, weren't you? Why are you so quiet now?"

"If you're really capable, come up with a decent technical solution instead of proving to me that you're garbage."

Liu Zhiqiang was verbally abused and felt the piercing gazes of the surrounding employees were like needles, making him feel utterly ashamed.

He roared angrily, "I quit! You just wait, Lin Weidong!"

After saying that, he turned around and rushed out of the workshop, his eyes filled with embarrassment and resentment.

Lin Weidong turned to the technicians and said, "From today onwards, all technical solutions will be scrapped and started over."

"I will provide you with systematic training and new design drawings and process standards."

"There is only one goal: to produce the first qualified truck prototype before the New Year, two months from now."

"Are you confident?" Lin Weidong asked loudly.

"Yes!" The technicians, already impressed by Lin Weidong's professional skills, responded in unison, their voices filled with enthusiasm.

After inspecting the workshop, Lin Weidong began training the technicians and provided in-depth explanations of the techniques.

When Liu Zhiqiang returned home, Liu Jie was sitting in the living room smoking, and the room was filled with smoke.

Seeing his younger brother's disheveled appearance, Liu Jie frowned: "What happened? Why do you look so pale?"

Liu Zhiqiang plopped down on the sofa and recounted his ordeal at the car factory in detail.

Finally, gritting his teeth, he said, "Brother, tell me, am I not frustrated?"

"I used to be the factory manager of a car factory. Who did Lin Weidong think he was?"

"Now look what's happened! He's the boss, and I'm being bossed around by him and publicly humiliated!"

Liu Jie's face grew increasingly grim, and the cigarette he was holding almost burned his fingers.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes sharply fixed on Liu Zhiqiang: "Tell me honestly, how did you know the steel mill was going to build trucks? Who told you?"

Liu Zhiqiang was stunned for a moment, then blurted out without thinking, "It's Yuan Chao! He said the car factory has readily available technical data, and told me to hurry up and grab it, otherwise someone else would beat me to it."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Liu Yuanchao pushed the door open and came in. Seeing his father and second uncle looking worried, he decided to go up and ask them what was wrong.

As soon as Liu Yuanchao reached the two men, Liu Jie kicked him against the wall, causing him to grimace in pain.

"Did you tell your second uncle about the truck?"

Liu Yuanchao instantly understood the whole story; his father had lost both his wife and his army in this matter.

"I was only thinking of my family, who knew it would turn out like this?"

Liu Jie rushed up to Liu Yuanchao and pointed at his nose, cursing angrily.

"You don't know? If you don't know, why are you meddling?"

"If it weren't for your terrible idea, would your second uncle have been able to steal that lousy project?"

"Could we have ended up like this?"

"Now, my brother and I are both in the same position—one has been dismissed, and the other demoted. Forget about getting promoted; I'm even contemplating suicide."

Liu Yuanchao clutched his stomach, his face full of grievance: "Dad, I just wanted things to be better for the family, but who knew Lin Weidong was so capable and the project so difficult?"

"You dare to argue!"

Liu Jie's face turned ashen with anger. "From today onwards, you're locked up at home to reflect on your actions. You're not allowed to step out of the house without my permission!"

"If you dare to cause any more trouble, I'll break your legs!"

Liu Yuanchao shrank back in fright and dared not speak again.

Liu Zhiqiang sat to the side, watching his furious brother and his disheveled nephew.

The resentment in my heart grew deeper and deeper.

He blamed it all on Lin Weidong, and a vicious revenge plan quietly took root in his heart.