Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

On the afternoon of the third day of Wang Huanbo's leave, near the end of the workday, the usual rhythmic hum of machinery at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill was replaced by a new, restless atmosphere. Several trucks covered with heavy military green tarpaulins, escorted by solemn-faced officers from the factory's security department, slowly drove into the large playground and lined up in a row. This unusual commotion attracted the attention of all the workers, who poured out of the workshops, whispering and speculating about what was on the trucks.

Li Huaide, the deputy director of logistics, was already waiting there. He was in high spirits and directed the logistics staff to step forward. With his command, the canvas was lifted with a "whoosh"!

In an instant, the entire playground fell into an eerie silence, followed by a thunderous roar of exclamations and clamor!

The truck was piled high with supplies, far exceeding everyone's expectations! It wasn't just the usual holiday-ready cuts of pork belly (even more!), but also baskets of juicy Fuji apples and golden snow pears, boxes of canned peaches in syrup and luncheon meat with unfamiliar foreign labels, fine, white, and fragrant wheat flour (five pounds per person!), crystal-clear white sugar, even entire cases of bottled Coca-Cola (five bottles per person!), and carefully wrapped in oil paper, emanating an enticing aroma and marbled with an appealing texture—half a pound per person! Most people had only ever seen this in magazines!—along with large quantities of new towels, soap, work gloves, and other practical items!

"Good heavens! Am I seeing things? That's... beef? How can it look like this? It looks just like in a painting!"

"Cola! It's really cola! Oh my god, five bottles!"

"Snowflake flour! Five pounds of wheat flour! Enough to steam several batches of big white steamed buns!"

"How much did this cost? Did they strike gold at the factory?"

"Not celebrating this year? This is even more extravagant than celebrating the Lunar New Year!"

The workers stood in three or four deep rows, their eyes wide with disbelief and ecstasy. Children ran around the sidelines, screaming with excitement.

Li Huaide looked at the effect with satisfaction, nimbly jumped onto the front of the car, took the tin megaphone handed to him by the head of the security department, and blew it twice to quell the clamor of the crowd.

"Workers! Quiet down! Be quiet!" His voice was loud and clear, filled with barely suppressed joy.

The playground quickly fell silent as thousands of eyes focused on him, filled with eager anticipation.

"Now, I have some fantastic news to share with you all!" Li Huaide announced loudly, his voice echoing across the playground. "These supplies were obtained through special channels by the factory, specifically to reward everyone! During this time, everyone has worked overtime, sweating and toiling to complete the arduous tasks assigned by the nation. Thank you for your hard work! The factory leadership has seen it all and remembers it! This is just a small token of the factory's appreciation! Thank you all for your contributions to the development of Hongxing Factory!"

"Oh!! Long live the factory!"

"Thank you, boss!"

The workers erupted in deafening cheers and applause. Many of them were so excited that their faces turned red as they clapped their hands vigorously. The atmosphere instantly reached a climax, even more enthusiastic than during the Chinese New Year!

Li Huaide pressed his hands down slightly, and after the cheers subsided, his expression turned serious, and his tone became extremely sincere, even somewhat solemn: "However! Before distributing these supplies, there is one person I must emphasize; all the employees of our factory must thank him!"

The crowd quieted down again and listened attentively.

"As everyone knows, our factory's chief engineer, Comrade Wang Huanbo!" Li Huaide's voice rose eight octaves, "He worked day and night for the factory's technological innovation, developing CNC machine tools, a 10,000-ton hydraulic press, and the Hongxing automobile! He made outstanding contributions! It can be said that without Chief Engineer Wang, there would be no Hongxing Factory as we are today!"

The workers nodded in agreement; it was the truth.

"This time, the factory wanted to get some supplies to reward everyone for their hard work. But as you all know, supplies are so scarce right now! You can't buy these things even if you have money!" Li Huaide changed the subject, "It was Chief Engineer Wang! Even during his vacation, he was still thinking of everyone! He used his overseas connections, went through a lot of trouble, asked for countless favors, and paid a huge price to get this batch of highly sought-after goods that are practically impossible to find on the market! Especially this Angus beef and Coca-Cola, they're rare items that are hard to buy even with foreign exchange!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, his voice growing even deeper: "Moreover, what's most admirable is that Chief Engineer Wang insisted that all these supplies must be used entirely, without a single drop, to improve the lives of the frontline workers! He himself kept not a single ounce or penny for himself! Chief Engineer Wang said, 'The workers have shed sweat; we must not let them feel disheartened again!'"

These words, spoken with sincerity and conviction, struck like a hammer blow to everyone's heart!

The workers were stunned, and many of the older workers' eyes instantly welled up with tears. In those days of extreme scarcity, a bite of meat, a piece of fruit, or a piece of candy was an immense gesture of kindness! Let alone so many, so many good things—things they never even dared to dream of! Chief Engineer Wang's timely act of kindness was incredibly profound! He not only brought advanced technology but also truly cared about the workers!

After a brief silence came even more intense, longer, and heartfelt applause and shouts! Many tough guys couldn't help but wipe away tears.

"It's Chief Engineer Wang!"

"It's Engineer Wang! I knew it!"

"Engineer Wang didn't take any for himself? This... how can we possibly repay him!"

"Long live Engineer Wang! He truly cares about us workers!"

"We'll definitely work hard! We'll live up to Engineer Wang's dedication!"

"Therefore!" Li Huaide pressed on, loudly concluding, "Everyone, remember Chief Engineer Wang's kindness when you receive these things! Turn that kindness into motivation, work with full vigor, and repay Chief Engineer Wang's care and the country's nurturing with even better work performance! Workshop directors, distribute these items in an orderly manner according to the list!"

"Mission accomplished!"

"Don't worry, Engineer Wang! We will definitely not slack off!"

The workers were in high spirits, queuing in an orderly fashion to receive supplies, their faces beaming with genuine smiles, gratitude, and pride. The entire Hongxing factory was filled with a festive atmosphere, brimming with high morale. Looking at this scene, Li Huaide felt both relieved and proud. This had been handled brilliantly; it had both appeased the workers and boosted their morale, while also earning Wang Huanbo unparalleled prestige. His logistical work was flawless.

The news spread like wildfire back to courtyard number 95. Yan Bugui listened with envy as Yan Jiecheng excitedly described the factory's distribution of Angus beef, cola, snow powder, and canned goods upon returning from get off work. His eyes darted around, and his mind raced with calculations: Angus beef—you can't find it on the market; it must be three or four yuan a pound on the black market! Cola must be at least fifty cents a bottle, right? Five pounds of snow powder, one yuan and fifty cents; canned goods, sugar, fruit… all added up, the value of everyone's share must be close to ten yuan! That's more than half a month's salary for him! Wang Huanbo's generosity… his influence…

He excitedly grabbed Yan Jiecheng: "Jiecheng! Did you see that? Did you see that? Stick with Engineer Wang, and you'll live the high life! This is a living example! Tonight! Tonight, take my bag of tea leaves! No! I'll go all out, add five cents, and buy two ounces of peach shortbread! Go and deliver it to Engineer Wang right away! Just say... just say congratulations on his holiday, it's a small token of my appreciation!"

Yan Jiecheng frowned and shrank back, saying, "Dad! What good stuff hasn't Engineer Wang seen? Why would he want our tea leaves and peach crisps? It's too embarrassing to send them! I'm not going! You send them yourself!"

"You! How can you be so clueless about social etiquette!" Yan Bugui stomped his feet in anger. "It's the thought that counts! Is Engineer Wang someone who lacks such small things? What he wants is this attitude! Do you even understand attitude? If you won't go, I will! You're hopeless!" The father and son started arguing at the door.

At Liu Haizhong's home in the Intermediate People's Court, however, the scene was quite different. When Liu Haizhong returned home from get off work, the aroma of stewed meat wafting from every household in the courtyard (some of the workers' wives had already started cooking), coupled with news of the factory's exorbitant welfare benefits and the workers' cries of "Long live Engineer Wang," filled him with a burning jealousy. Upon arriving home and seeing Liu Guangqi still hunched over his desk, scribbling, while Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu played marbles, he flew into a rage, slamming his bag on the table: "Eat, eat, eat! Play, play, play! All you know is eating and playing! Look at the west wing of the courtyard! And look at you all! A bunch of good-for-nothings! I work hard to support a bunch of freeloaders like you!"

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu were so frightened that they immediately stood at attention, not daring to utter a sound. Liu Guangqi looked up, frowned, and asked, "Dad, what's wrong now?"

"What's wrong?" Liu Haizhong pointed out the window, spitting as he spoke. "What do you mean, what's wrong? Wang Huanbo is making a big splash again! The factory is giving out so many good things, the workers are all chanting 'Long live Wang Huanbo!' And look at you! You're useless at studying, useless at working, when are you going to bring me any honor? Huh?"

Feeling aggrieved, Liu Guangqi retorted, "Dad, Wang Gong is capable, and his family has a huge business overseas. How can I compare?"

"You dare talk back!" Liu Hai hated his sons' disobedience the most, especially compared to Wang Huanbo, which enraged him even more. He suddenly stood up, avoiding his eldest son Liu Guangqi, grabbed a feather duster, and started whipping Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu indiscriminately! "I'll teach you to talk back! I'll teach you to be spineless! I'll beat you two good-for-nothings to death!"

Screams and cries rang out again. Auntie Er rushed over to pull them away, but was pushed away. Liu Guangqi watched his younger brothers being beaten, and saw his father's face twisted with jealousy. He trembled with fear, and the thought of getting married immediately after graduation and escaping this family far away had never been so strong and urgent.

In the backyard, an older woman sat in the deaf old woman's room, keeping her company. The old woman chuckled, "Huanbo is such a kind-hearted boy! All the workers at the factory speak highly of him; he's truly a virtuous man!" The older woman nodded with a smile, but her eyes were somewhat unfocused, carrying a hint of indescribable sadness. She thought of the man who, because of Yi Zhonghai, had gone mad, obsessed with finding someone to care for him in his old age, ultimately causing her to lose her right to be a mother. Her heart ached like it was being stabbed with needles. Although Yi Zhonghai was now disgraced and she lived separately from him, the deep-seated pain and irreparable regret, especially when she heard other children making noise and saw young people like Wang Huanbo achieving success, gnawed at her heart with increasing clarity. Now, only when caring for the deaf old woman could she temporarily forget her loneliness and find a sliver of solace.

In the west courtyard, Wang Huanbo remained oblivious to the turmoil unfolding at the factory and the various tragedies and comedies that had arisen because of him. He sat leisurely on a bench in Beihai Park, the afterglow of the setting sun shimmering on the lake. He listened to the Pangu AI's low-pitched explanation of the White Pagoda's historical evolution through bone conduction headphones, completely immersed in this rare tranquility and leisure. To him, improving the workers' lives was something he could do and was simply a matter of course; he never expected anything in return. The faint rumble of the factory in the distance intertwined with the shimmering lake and mountain scenery before him, creating a unique symphony of this era. Meanwhile, in courtyard number 95, the discussions about him, and the joys and sorrows that arose because of him, would continue to unfold.