Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

"Final confirmation from all units: vacuum valve pressure is stable, detonation circuit is normal, countdown to commence!"

Inside the underground command post of the Lop Nur nuclear test site, all the monitoring screens remained constantly lit up with green light, without the slightest fluctuation.

Mr. Qian stood in front of the core control console, his sharp eyes fixed on the real-time image in the direction of the explosion's epicenter. The only sound in the entire command post was the soft hum of the instruments.

Everyone held their breath, so tense that they even breathed softly.

This is a moment that will determine the fate of the nation's nuclear program, and there is no room for error.

"3, 2, 1, detonate!"

As soon as the commander-in-chief gave the order, the red detonation signal was instantly transmitted to the top of the hundred-meter-high iron tower.

Without any further sound or light embellishment, an extremely bright white light suddenly burst forth, instantly illuminating the entire Gobi Desert, and the light-blocking layer of the observation screen automatically reduced to its limit.

Immediately afterwards, a devastating fireball soared into the sky, its shockwave sweeping across all directions with overwhelming force. The earth trembled violently, and a mushroom cloud rose steadily into the sky above Lop Nur.

The monitoring data instantly met all the standards, and the green success light remained on.

China's first atomic bomb test was a complete success!

At that very moment, far away in Beijing, a system notification sounded in Lin Weidong's mind:

[Ding! The host has successfully broken through the core vacuum valve technology for nuclear weapons, ensuring the successful test detonation of the first atomic bomb and breaking the nuclear monopoly of the superpower!]

[Reward Awarded: Complete technology for a third-generation supersonic fighter jet!]

A massive influx of technical data flooded into Lin Weidong's mind, almost causing him to faint from the pain.

More than ten minutes later, Lin Weidong, drenched in sweat, finally calmed down. "Damn system, couldn't you transfer it bit by bit?"

The third-generation aircraft contained the most technology Lin Weidong had ever received since his transmigration.

At the same time as the nuclear explosion, alarms sounded in the satellite monitoring center of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

The duty officer, staring at the nuclear pulse signal transmitted back by the satellite, turned pale and immediately reported: "General! A clear nuclear explosion signal has appeared in Lop Nur. China's atomic bomb test was successful!"

The news quickly reached the White House.

The president summoned top military and political officials overnight, and everyone in the meeting room looked solemn.

"Our intelligence indicates that their vacuum valves have been sabotaged by Russian agents, achieving a breakthrough independently in just half a month!"

The Secretary of State said in a deep voice.

"Nuclear blackmail has completely failed against China, and the global strategic landscape must be readjusted."

The intelligence agencies remained silent; China's nuclear breakthrough had completely exceeded their expectations.

Almost simultaneously, the Russian Ministry of Defense's satellite monitoring center fell silent.

After technicians confirmed the nuclear explosion signal, the message reached the Kremlin directly.

The Marshal of National Defense slammed his fist on the table, his anger blazing: "Our agents have confirmed that all vacuum valves are completely unusable, yet they've managed to develop an even more advanced model!"

"The meticulously planned blockade and sabotage have all become a joke!" The KGB leader was sweating profusely; the $200 million technology extortion had completely fallen into oblivion.

Within an hour, news of China's successful nuclear test swept the globe, with Reuters, Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse all publishing it as a headline.

European countries have recognized China's status as a nuclear power, and overseas Chinese have spread the news, as China has completely shaken off the shadow of nuclear blackmail.

Three days later, Lin Weidong was invited to the Beijing Military Region.

Here he met with the top leader of China and received a medal from him in front of everyone.

In order to protect Lin Weidong, the awarding ceremony was kept strictly confidential.

After the awarding ceremony, Lin Weidong drove back to the No. 95 courtyard house.

At this moment, in the west courtyard.

Lin's parents and Su Wanqing were already waiting.

The stone table in the courtyard was filled with steaming dishes: braised pork, stewed chicken, braised fish, and seasonal fresh vegetables, all of which were his favorite flavors.

Lin's mother held his hand, her eyes filled with both heartache and pride: "My son, you have made great contributions to the country. I just want you to come back safe and sound."

Su Wanqing handed over the warm tea, her eyes full of tenderness.

Lin's father picked up his wine glass and solemnly instructed, "No matter how great your achievements, you must always work diligently for the country."

As night deepened, a sinister fighting spirit permeated the northern border command headquarters of Russia, thousands of miles away.

China's successful atomic bomb test caused Russia to lose face.

In order to test China's defense limits and retaliate by demonstrating air superiority, the Russian high command issued a top-secret operational order overnight:

"Immediately deploy three supersonic fighter squadrons to airfields along the northern border."

Tomorrow at dawn, a low-altitude incursion will be carried out to penetrate Chinese airspace and demonstrate military force!

On the tarmac of the border airport, dozens of supersonic fighter jets were ready to take off. Their silver fuselages gleamed coldly in the moonlight. Ground crew had completed the final checks, and the pilots were fully equipped and ready to board at any time.

The border commander stood in the control tower, gazing towards China with a sinister look in his eyes: "Even if China has atomic bombs, air superiority will still be in our hands!"

"This low-altitude penetration is meant to make it clear to them that our armed forces remain an unassailable force!"

The signal lights in the control tower lit up one by one, the fighter jet engines began to warm up, and the roar echoed across the border. A military provocation against China's airspace was already imminent.

"Wei Dong, did you see any high-ranking leaders when you went to receive your medals?" Su Wanqing asked, leaning against Lin Wei Dong's chest.

Lin Weidong looked up at the wooden roof and slowly said, "I saw him, and he even personally awarded me the medal!"

"Really!" Su Wanqing looked at Lin Weidong with admiration.

Lin Weidong pinched Su Wanqing's cute nose with his hand: "Of course it's true, how could I lie to you?"

Suddenly, Su Wanqing rolled over and turned on the light. The bright light blinded Lin Weidong for a moment.

"Wei Dong, let me see your medal," Su Wanqing said, staring into Lin Wei Dong's eyes.

Lin Weidong said with a helpless expression, "It's so late, why are you still looking at medals?"

"No, no, I want to see! Let me see it now!"

Unable to resist Su Wanqing's coquettishness any longer, Lin Weidong had no choice but to get up and take out the medal from his briefcase.

He actually put it in the system space, not in the package.

After all, this is a family heirloom.

Lin Weidong opened the box and found a first-class merit medal inside, next to which was an even larger box.

Su Wanqing curiously opened it and was instantly surprised, covering her mouth and staring at the certificate in disbelief.

It reads "Special Merit Award from the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense".

Su Wanqing didn't really know much about the First-Class Merit Medal.

However, this Special Merit Certificate from the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense was basically one of the things that national defense researchers longed for most at that time.

No one in the previous weapons research institutes had ever obtained it.

Unexpectedly, Lin Weidong got it just like that.

"My God, Wei Dong, you actually got this."

Su Wanqing gently picked up the certificate with both hands and looked at it carefully again and again.