Courtyard House: The Road to an Industrial Power

Lin Weidong, who was standing outside Yang Weimin's office, heard the conversation between Director Yang and the old head of the technical department. They vaguely mentioned the words "machine tool renovation", "military orders" and "technical talents".

Lin Weidong then gently knocked on the door and entered: "Director Yang, Section Chief Li, I'm here to report for duty."

Upon seeing that it was Lin Weidong, Director Yang quickly stood up to offer him a seat: "Dongzi? We've been waiting for you! Harbin Institute of Technology sent a telegram yesterday saying that you're graduating early and are the youngest graduate student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. They told us to pay close attention to you."

Li, the old head of the technical department, also came over: "Dongzi, the Soviet machine tool you helped us modify last year is still in use. The parts qualification rate has increased by 20%, which solved a big problem! I didn't expect you to graduate so quickly. You are really young and promising."

Lin Weidong handed over a letter of introduction from the subdistrict office and his postgraduate diploma.

Director Yang flipped through the compilation of technological achievements from the Harbin Institute of Technology Affiliated High School page by page, becoming more and more excited as he read, and suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

"Dongzi, you're not an outsider; you know the factory's situation better than anyone. Military orders are pressing hard right now, and the old machine tools are inefficient and lack precision. The veterans in the technical department haven't made a breakthrough in months. You're a lifesaver for our factory!"

He turned around, took an employment registration form from the filing cabinet, and stamped it with the bright red seal of the factory's Party Committee: "It's settled then! You're young, energetic, and truly capable; this chief engineer position is rightfully yours!"

"You are in charge of all technological innovation, equipment upgrades, and technical support for military production across the entire factory. All technical personnel in the technical department and workshops will be at your command. Just ask for any resources you need!"

Lin Weidong was taken aback, not expecting Factory Director Yang to trust him so much. He'd appointed the chief engineer right off the bat.

He was about to decline when Director Yang shoved the registration form into his hand: "Don't hesitate! The factory is in dire need of people like you who can solve practical problems. The sooner you take office, the sooner you can help the factory overcome its difficulties. The labor and personnel department will process your work permit this afternoon, and you'll officially start work tomorrow. I'll have Section Chief Li show you around the latest production situation."

Master Li nodded in agreement, "Director Yang is right, Dongzi, we all believe in you! With you taking the lead, our factory's technical level will definitely reach a new level."

That afternoon, the steel rolling mill's loudspeakers suddenly blared, broadcasting throughout the entire factory area.

"Attention all staff! Attention all staff! The factory's Party Committee has decided to appoint Comrade Lin Weidong as the Chief Engineer of the Beijing Steel Rolling Mill..."

The announcer was Yu Haitang, who had graduated from vocational school this year and was assigned to a steel rolling mill. After finishing the broadcast, she looked at the script in her hand and thought of Lin Weidong, who had been very outgoing before.

"This must be Lin Weidong. I can't believe he's become the chief engineer in just a few years."

"He Yushui used to talk about it every day."

At that moment, in the forging workshop, Liu Haizhong was holding a sledgehammer, forging parts in rhythm with the machine tool. Hearing the broadcast, he suddenly stopped what he was doing, and the sledgehammer slammed onto the anvil with a "clang," sending sparks flying.

"What? Lin Weidong? Chief Engineer?" Liu Haizhong stared wide-eyed at his coworker next to him in disbelief.

"Is that Lin Jianjun's son? He came to the workshop to watch me forge last year, he was only sixteen or seventeen!"

"That's right! I heard he's a graduate student from Harbin Institute of Technology, and he even modified several machine tools for the factory. Director Yang appointed him on his own initiative!"

Liu Haizhong's mind immediately started racing with calculations. He was just an ordinary worker in the workshop, but now Lin Weidong had become the chief engineer, wielding real power over technical scheduling and job adjustments. If he could make his team leader Dangdang, that would be great.

He became more and more excited, and he lost all interest in doing the rest of his work, eagerly waiting to get off work and try to "get closer" to Lin Weidong.

Meanwhile, in the precision machining area, Yi Zhonghai was holding a file. When the words "Lin Weidong" and "Chief Engineer" entered his ears, the file in his hand suddenly slipped, leaving a shallow scratch on the surface of the part.

"That little bastard!" Yi Zhonghai cursed under his breath, looking at the nearly completed precision part with a pained expression, but his anger was rising to the top of his head.

Yi Zhonghai's face was ashen, and he muttered through gritted teeth, "He definitely pulled strings! That old bastard Lin Jianjun, he seems honest all the time, but I never expected him to be so cunning behind the scenes! Just wait and see, I want to see if that kid can hold onto this position!"

His coworkers noticed that something was wrong with him.

After finishing his overtime work in the evening, Liu Haizhong was the first to rush out of the workshop and hurried back to the Hongxing Courtyard.

He didn't even go home. He went straight to the Lin family's door, straightened his work clothes, put on a fawning smile, and gently knocked on the door: "Dongzi, are you home?"

Lin Weidong had just finished eating with his father and was clearing the dishes when he heard a shout. He opened the door and saw Liu Haizhong.

I already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

"Second Uncle, is there something you need?"

"Dongzi, congratulations!"

Liu Haizhong rubbed his hands together, leaned closer, and said, "You've become the chief engineer at such a young age, you have a bright future ahead of you! Could you promote me to team leader? From now on, I'll definitely follow your lead and never hold you back!"

Lin Weidong's smile faded. "Second Uncle, there are clear regulations for job appointments in the factory. They depend on technical skills, work performance, and public reputation. You can't rely on connections or backdoors."

"If you want to be a team leader, focus on improving your skills. The factory will take your place without me having to tell you. I can't and shouldn't help you get promoted through connections."

"You!" Liu Haizhong's smile froze instantly. He hadn't expected Lin Weidong to be so disrespectful.

After a long pause, he said, "You're something else! Just you wait," and stormed off, slamming the door shut with a loud bang as he left.

Back home, Liu Haizhong grew increasingly angry, and he launched into a tirade against his wife: "That Lin Weidong, he's really got too big for his britches! Just because he's a chief engineer, he thinks he's all that! He doesn't even give me, a level seven blacksmith, any respect! He's just a kid, what's so great about him?!"

Lin Weidong closed the door.

Father Lin Jianjun said, "Dongzi, you did the right thing. You followed the rules, and no one can find fault with it. But Liu Haizhong is a vengeful person, so you have to be careful when dealing with him in the factory in the future."

Lin Weidong nodded. He recalled that when he was familiarizing himself with the factory that afternoon, he heard his old colleagues in the technical department talking about how Yi Zhonghai's reputation in the factory had been getting better and better recently.

Upon further inquiry, it was learned that he had been helping some impoverished households over the years.

"Yi Zhonghai certainly knows how to play the game." He knew Yi Zhonghai's character all too well. His outward acts of kindness were merely a way to build a reputation so that he could continue to scheme against Sha Zhu to support him in his old age.

This kind of hypocritical "benevolence and righteousness" can only deceive those who are unaware of the truth.