Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The news that Wang Huanbo had solved the critical equipment malfunction with a single move caused an uproar throughout the Loushi Steel Rolling Mill, like pouring a ladle of cold water into a boiling oil pan.

"Have you heard? The new head of the technical department, Wang, is amazing!"

"What happened? Tell me quickly!"

"That old rolling mill in Workshop One, Section Chief Liu and his team spent the whole morning trying to fix it, but they couldn't. They concluded that a major component needed to be replaced, and they'd have to wait another ten days or so. Then Section Chief Wang came, listened to the sound, looked inside, and said... something about a broken positioning key! He made a new one on the spot and replaced it, and the machine was fine!"

"Really? That's so weird! How old is he?"

"Hey! You didn't see it, his skills are even better than a master craftsman! He's incredibly adept at using lathes and milling machines!"

"Tsk tsk, no wonder Director Lou personally went to pick him up, he's a true god!"

Similar discussions spread throughout the workshops and offices. Wang Huanbo's image instantly transformed from that of a parachuted-in "young master" who might have gotten his position through connections into a truly talented and unfathomable "technical guru." Workers admire capable people most, especially those who are capable yet humble and willing to do the dirty and tiring work themselves. Wang Huanbo's unintentional actions won him immense favor among the lower-level workers.

Inside the technical department, the atmosphere was somewhat delicate. Acting department head Liu Feng locked himself in his office and didn't come out all afternoon. The other technicians, however, gathered together, discussing the matter with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

"This new section chief is impressive!"

"Looks like our department is getting serious!"

"I'll have to learn from them properly from now on!"

Of course, some people felt a pang of jealousy, such as Jia Dongxu, Yi Zhonghai's apprentice and an assistant in the technical department. Hearing others praise Wang Huanbo, and then thinking about how he had been learning from Yi Zhonghai for so many years and was still only a second-level worker, struggling even to understand simple blueprints, he felt even more resentful. The more successful Wang Huanbo was, the more it highlighted his own incompetence.

Yi Zhonghai, who was also in the workshop, heard the rumors, and his face darkened horribly. Wang Huanbo's impressive technical abilities had completely exceeded his expectations. This made him feel threatened like never before. A person with money, connections, education, and now proven superior technical skills would have an unshakeable position in the factory. His plan to use his years of connections and technical authority to marginalize and make things difficult for Wang Huanbo had almost failed before it even began.

"We have to find a way elsewhere..." Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth. "We can't let him gain a foothold in both the compound and the factory!"

As the get off work bell rang, workers poured out of the workshop like a tide.

Accompanied by Lou Zhenhua, Wang Huanbo walked towards the factory gate. Lou Zhenhua's smile never faded, and he was especially warm towards Wang Huanbo, already discussing some longer-term technological transformation plans for the factory with him.

As they approached the factory gate, Xu Damao, who had been waiting for a long time, rushed forward, his face beaming with an extremely enthusiastic, even somewhat obsequious, smile:

"Section Chief Wang! You're off work? You've worked hard! I'm Xu Damao, an apprentice projectionist in the factory's propaganda department. I live in the courtyard across from yours! If you need anything at the factory, just let me know!"

Wang Huanbo looked at the familiar "villain" character before him. Although the younger version of Xu Damao still looked somewhat green, his shrewdness and sycophantic nature were already beginning to take shape. He smiled faintly and nodded: "Comrade Xu Damao, hello."

There was neither excessive enthusiasm nor coldness; a just-right distance was maintained.

Xu Damao, however, seemed greatly encouraged and followed closely beside him, saying repeatedly, "Section Chief Wang, you're new here and might not be familiar with the factory and the surrounding area. If you need any errands, just call me! Let me tell you, there's no place in this area that I, Xu Damao, don't know..."

Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu happened to reach the doorway as well. Seeing Xu Damao's servile demeanor, Yi Zhonghai snorted coldly, while Jia Dongxu muttered under his breath, "Sycophant!"

Wang Huanbo remained noncommittal about Xu Damao's overtures. After saying goodbye to Lou Zhenhua at the factory gate, he prepared to walk back to the courtyard house. Xu Damao wanted to follow, but Wang Huanbo dismissed him with the words, "I want to walk by myself."

Back at No. 95 Courtyard, the atmosphere was noticeably different.

Yan Bugui was watering the flowers in the front yard. When he saw Wang Huanbo, he immediately put down the watering can and forced an extremely unnatural enthusiastic smile: "Section Chief Wang, you're off work? You've worked hard! Oh my, you're so young and promising! You've already made a great contribution as soon as you joined the factory! We've all heard about it!"

Wang Huanbo smiled slightly: "Teacher Yan, you flatter me. It's just part of my job."

As Qin Huairu passed by the courtyard, washing vegetables by the pool, she saw Wang Huanbo and instinctively lowered her head, a complex expression flashing across her face—envy mixed with a hint of inferiority. Behind the window of the Jia family's house, Jia Zhangshi's triangular eyes glared fiercely at Wang Huanbo's back, silently cursing under her breath.

In the backyard, the sounds of beating children and the wailing of Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu could be heard from Liu Haizhong's house. It was estimated that Liu Haizhong was taking his anger out on his sons again because of the house issue.

Wang Huanbo went straight back to the west courtyard, closed the door, and shut out the noise from outside. His appearance at the factory today was a success, and he had initially established his authority. But he knew that these beasts in the courtyard, especially Yi Zhonghai, would not give up easily. The days to come would probably be even more "exciting."

Sure enough, he had barely sat down when he heard a knock on the door. When he opened it, it was Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu held a plate of steaming braised pork in his hands, his face showing a mix of embarrassment and ingratiation: "Well... Section Chief Wang, you haven't eaten yet, have you? The factory canteen had a special meal today, so I made a little extra. I brought it to you to try. Um... thank you for treating me to dinner yesterday."

Wang Huanbo understood. It seemed his reputation as a "god" in the factory had spread back, and even that idiot Zhu was starting to show him kindness. He smiled and took the plate: "Brother Zhu, you're too kind. Just call me Huanbo. I didn't cook, thank you."

Sha Zhu rubbed his hands together, standing at the door without leaving, as if he had something to say.

"Brother Zhu, is there anything else?" Wang Huanbo asked.

Sha Zhu hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "Huanbo...brother, there's something...I've been thinking about it and I still want to ask you. You said yesterday...my father...maybe left some money and a letter back then?"

Seeing the struggle and anticipation in Sha Zhu's eyes, Wang Huanbo knew the time was right. He sighed and patted Sha Zhu's shoulder: "Brother Zhu, I've only heard about this. It's been too long to say exactly what happened. Perhaps... you could find an opportunity to go to Baocheng and ask Uncle He yourself? After all, he's your father."

Sha Zhu's body trembled, his eyes shifting uncertainly, but he finally nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Watching his retreating figure, Wang Huanbo knew that the seeds of doubt had begun to sprout. Yi Zhonghai, your "good sons" are probably not so easy to control.

Meanwhile, at Yi Zhonghai's home.

An older woman said worriedly, "Old Yi, I noticed something was off with Zhu Zi when he came back today. He even went to deliver vegetables to the west courtyard. Could it be that Wang Huanbo said something to him?"

Yi Zhonghai's face was ashen. He gulped down a mouthful of cold tea, his eyes flashing with a cold light: "It seems we have to get rid of Wang Huanbo as soon as possible! At the very least, make sure he can't stay in this courtyard any longer!"

A covert struggle over the West Wing, the elderly care plan, and future leadership escalated abruptly after Wang Huanbo's stunning appearance at the steel rolling mill. Wang Huanbo, however, remained calm and collected, preparing for the storm to come. He was also eager to see what other tricks Yi Zhonghai, this self-proclaimed "moral paragon," would pull.