Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The morning sun on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month seemed to rise earlier than usual, its golden-red rays piercing the morning mist and bathing the towering chimneys and brand-new factory buildings of the Red Star United Industrial Corporation, giving the cold steel and cement a warm glow. Within the factory area, the roar of the machines, silent for more than half a month, awakened like a sleeping beast, rumbling once more, more urgent and resounding than before the New Year, carrying a sense of urgency that time waits for no one.

The construction site of the expanding Hongxing Tractor Factory was the epicenter of this bustling activity. The simple steel-structured factory buildings were already topped out, their enormous windows, still without glass, resembling the gaping mouths of a giant beast. Inside, the blue light of arc welding flashed blindingly, the iron arms of cranes moved steadily, and heavy machine tool bases were lowered with a clang, kicking up clouds of dust. Workers, clad in oil-stained work clothes, chanted slogans as they lifted steel beams and tightened bolts, their sweat evaporating into white mist in the early spring chill. Huge red banners hung from the steel beams: "One hundred days of hard work, conquer one thousand machines, support the front lines of agriculture!" "Time is food, speed is victory!"

Dressed in the same work clothes as the workers, wearing a safety helmet, and carrying construction drawings and a notebook, Li Huaide moved through the noisy construction site. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was a little hoarse, but he was energetic. One moment he was pointing at the unfinished power lines and urging the electricians to speed up the process; the next he was squatting down to discuss the foundation level with the experienced installer of the machine tools; and then he was running to the material storage area to count the special steel that had just arrived. He was like a tireless worker bee, or a strategist general, ensuring that this huge and complex production system could be assembled and put into operation in the shortest possible time.

"Old Zhang! The gearbox housing casting mold must be debugged today! I need to see the first qualified blank tomorrow!"

"Xiao Wang! Have the sample test reports from the hydraulic component supplier come out yet? Not a single piece can pass through the factory if it fails!"

"Canteen! Add a meat dish for lunch! Make it more oily and flavorful! The workers expend a lot of energy!"

His orders were concise and forceful, and every detail was implemented. Everyone knew that Deputy Factory Director Li was going all out this time. The order for a thousand "little cannons" from above was not only a death order, but also a tremendous trust and opportunity. The tractor factory became the focus of attention for the entire factory and even the ministry; it could only succeed, not fail.

In this bustling sea of ​​activity, a young and excited figure stood out, yet seemed somewhat out of place. Little Stone, dressed in brand-new, slightly baggy blue overalls and wearing a faded old hat (his father Wang Yuanshan's), followed closely behind a master fitter surnamed Ma in the final assembly workshop, his eyes taking in everything around him as if he couldn't take it all in.

A massive workshop! Towering beams! Roaring machines! The air was thick with the mixed smells of machine oil, metal, and paint—a smell that, far from being unpleasant, actually made Wang Shitou's blood boil. This was the factory! This was the place he had always dreamed of!

"Little Stone, what are you daydreaming about?" Master Ma was a burly man with a dark face, his voice deep and resonant, but his eyes were kind. "Stay close! Let me show you around. This is the starting point of the final assembly line; the chassis are assembled here. That's the engine sub-assembly area, and that's the gearbox… See that gantry crane? Keep your distance while they're working, and get out of the way when you hear the whistle…"

Wang Jinshi nodded like a chick pecking at rice, trying his best to remember every word his master said. He was assigned to the final assembly workshop, the hardest and most tiring place, but also the place where he could learn the most. Master Ma was a top technician in the workshop, and also known for his strictness. Being able to apprentice under him was a stroke of luck for Wang Jinshi. He knew that this must be due to the favor of Engineer Wang and Factory Director Li, so he was even more determined not to let his family and Engineer Wang down.

"Can you read?" Master Ma asked.

"I know! He graduated from elementary school!" Wang Jinshi quickly replied.

"Can you read pictures?"

"Simple...it's somewhat readable."

"Okay. Starting today, don't wander around after get off work. Go to night school to learn mechanical drawing and how to read blueprints! Strength alone isn't enough; you need to use your brain! The 'little steel cannon' we're building is Chief Engineer Wang's brainchild, a treasure to support agriculture. Every single screw must be perfect! Understand?"

"Understood, Master!" Wang Shitou straightened his chest and answered loudly.

His apprenticeship began amidst the deafening roar and his master's stern admonitions. By day, he assisted his master, handing him tools, wiping parts, and cleaning away iron filings—taking on all the dirty and tiring work. At night, he went to the factory's night school, where, under the dim light, he eagerly studied the blueprints composed of lines and symbols, learned the meaning of tolerances, and the temperament of steel. His hands quickly developed blisters, which then turned into thick calluses, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter. He gradually went from being unfamiliar with every part of that red "iron ox" to becoming familiar with it, from awe to a desire to assemble them himself.

Meanwhile, in his study in the west courtyard, Wang Huanbo faced a different kind of "battlefield." On his desk, besides the final draft of the "small cannon" mass production process, there was also a top-secret preliminary technical demonstration report for the project, codenamed "August 1st." He needed to find time, while ensuring the smooth mass production of the tractors, to guide the secretive firearms pre-research team in conducting principle tests of some key technologies.

Lou Xiao'e knew he had started his non-stop work schedule again, so she quietly took care of his daily needs and kept the house in perfect order. The wedding date was set for May Day, and there were many trivial matters to prepare, but she tried her best not to distract him, only asking for his opinion softly when she was unsure of something herself. Their feelings for each other deepened day by day in their ordinary yet tacit relationship.

On the twentieth day of the first lunar month, good news arrived. Jia Dongxu excitedly found Wang Huanbo, his face beaming with a long-lost sense of relief: "Engineer Wang! It's approved! The street office and the factory coordinated, and Huai Ru's application to participate in that 'Worker-Peasant Mutual Assistance' training course has been approved! She'll report to the Red Star Commune tomorrow! The training lasts three months, during which time she'll be considered a commune member and receive work points as a subsidy. Outstanding trainees might be assigned to work at the commune-run agricultural machinery station or kindergarten after graduation! Although her household registration can't be resolved yet, at least we have a way out, and she can earn some work points to help support her family!"

Wang Huanbo nodded: "That's a good thing. Comrade Qin Huairu is hardworking and should learn quickly. If she performs well during the training, she'll have opportunities in the future. Is there enough food at home?"

Jia Dongxu said gratefully, "I can manage! I'm carefully managing my New Year's rations from the factory, plus the subsidies from Huai Ru's training, and trying to find ways to exchange them for some coarse grains... I can make it until the summer harvest. My mom... she's calmed down a lot; she knows it's useless to make a fuss anymore." He paused, then said solemnly, "Engineer Wang, thank you... your words that day woke me up. Thank you also for not taking pity on me and for giving me a way out."

"You have to walk your own path." Wang Huanbo patted him on the shoulder. "Study hard, and when you graduate from vocational school, you'll be a cadre. The difficulties at home can be resolved gradually."

Jia Dongxu gave a heavy "hmm," and hope for the future rekindled in his eyes. The long-standing dark cloud over the Jia family seemed to finally let in a ray of light.

Time flies by in the midst of busyness. On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon raises its head. Folk customs include eating spring pancakes and "shaving the dragon's head," symbolizing the revival of all things and striving upwards. At the Hongxing Tractor Factory, a day of "raising its head" also arrived—the first "Hongxing Little Steel Cannon" tractor to officially roll off the production line, completing its final inspection process, adorned with a large red flower, slowly drove out of the assembly workshop and stopped in the open space in the center of the factory area!

It was still that familiar vermilion, with sharp lines, gleaming in the early spring sunshine. But this one was slightly different from the prototype; some details had been optimized based on test feedback, and the craftsmanship was more mature. Factory Director Yang Weimin, Party Secretary Yao Jianghe, Deputy Chief Commander Li Huaide, Chief Designer Wang Huanbo, and many cadres and workers who participated in the research and development and construction gathered around the tractor, their faces beaming with pride and excitement.

"I announce!" Yang Weimin's voice echoed throughout the factory area through the loudspeaker, "The Red Star brand multi-functional small wheeled tractor has officially entered mass production!"

Thunderous applause and the crackling of firecrackers (specially approved by the factory) filled the air. Many veteran workers touched the cold machine body, their eyes moist. From a blueprint to testing in the freezing cold, and now to this steel machine that can produce endless quantities of steel, they have witnessed history and participated in creating it.

Standing before the crowd, Wang Huanbo gazed at the "Iron Ox," a testament to the hard work of countless people, his heart surging with emotion. He knew this was just the beginning. This tractor, carrying its mission, was about to set off for distant lands.

Its first destination was Heilongjiang, the Great Northern Wilderness.

In late February, the first batch of thirty "Red Star Little Cannons," after rigorous testing and packaging, were loaded onto specially made train flatbeds and, amidst the long whistle of the train, departed Beijing, heading towards that slumbering black soil, towards the "Great Northern Granary" that was about to be awakened by the roar of machinery.

Accompanying them was an advance technical service team, carefully selected by the Hongxing Factory and consisting of five young technicians, including two veteran workers and Wang Jinshi. Their mission was to accompany the tractors to the Production and Construction Corps, where they would be responsible for the initial handover, operational training, and maintenance guidance. This was an incredibly honorable yet arduous task, and also the fastest way to hone the skills of new workers like Wang Jinshi.

On the platform, Wang Jinshi, carrying simple luggage, watched the departing train, feeling both excited and reluctant to leave. He recalled his father Wang Yuanshan's words of advice when he left home, and Huanbo's calm yet powerful encouragement. He knew that he was going to a place more arduous and vast than the factory, but also the battlefield where "Little Cannon" would truly play its role and prove its value.

"Little Stone, when you get there, be quick-witted, diligent, and learn and observe more! Don't embarrass our Red Star Factory!" Master Ma, who was leading the team, patted him on the shoulder.

"Master, don't worry!" Wang Jinshi nodded vigorously, his eyes filled with anticipation for the unknown.

In the warm spring of March, the grass grows and the orioles sing. Spring arrives late in the Great Northern Wilderness, but it comes fiercely. The ice and snow melt, revealing the black soil, which steams with moisture under the sun, so fertile it seems you could squeeze oil out of it. But on this wasteland of hope, the hardship of cultivation is beyond imagination. Swamps, marshes, thickets, shrubs, permafrost... "Getting up at 3:30 in the morning, returning home under a sky full of stars; eating frozen buns with snowflake soup" is a true depiction of the lives of the soldiers of the Production and Construction Corps.

When the thirty "Red Star Little Cannons" draped in red silk, covered in the dust of their long train journey, were unloaded from flatbeds by the soldiers and driven into the corps' camp, the sensation was unprecedented.

"Iron Bull is here!"

"So small? Is it okay?"

"I heard it can plow fields, haul goods, and even dig wells!"

The corps leaders and technicians surrounded the tractor, carefully examining it and listening to the explanation from the technicians at the Red Star Factory. When the "little cannon," under the curious gazes of the soldiers, attached a specially made heavy-duty land-clearing plow, started its engine, and charged towards a patch of uncultivated wasteland covered with shrubs and mounds, everyone held their breath.

The diesel engine roared, its wide tires grinding through the damp earth, leaving deep ruts. The heavy plowshare, like the sharp teeth of a beast, viciously cut into the hardened sod and tangled roots, turning them upside down, tearing them apart, and tossing them aside along with the black soil! Though the speed wasn't fast, its unstoppable, indomitable momentum stirred the blood of the soldiers, who were used to the arduous work of clearing land by manpower and animal power, and they cheered loudly!

"Great! That's powerful!"

"That's fast! This one is worth a whole platoon!"

"Look! It even dares to go into the mud! The wheels didn't get stuck!"

The "Little Steel Cannon" proved itself with its capabilities. It could not only reclaim barren land, but also tow trailers to transport building materials and grain, and even drill wells to solve drinking water problems in newly established settlements. It was small and agile, able to reach many remote plots of land that large tractors could not. It was sturdy and durable, and the harsh cold and mud of early spring in the Great Northern Wilderness did not break it down.

Xiao Shitou and his companions were incredibly busy. They taught the soldiers how to drive, maintain, and troubleshoot simple malfunctions. Conditions on the wasteland were harsh, but they ate and lived alongside the soldiers, covered in mud by day and falling asleep the moment their heads hit the pillow at night. Wang Jinshi's skills improved rapidly in real-world situations. What he learned in the workshop was "standards," but here he learned "adaptability." Once, a tractor's oil pipe was punctured by a tree branch and was leaking oil. Spare parts were exhausted, and transportation was difficult. In a moment of inspiration, Wang Jinshi used his canvas water bottle strap and wire, combined with a makeshift method he had learned from Master Ma, to make a temporary oil pipe that miraculously lasted until the spare parts arrived. This story spread throughout the corps, and even the veteran workers were impressed by him.

The news reached Beijing and the Hongxing Factory, invigorating the entire factory. Li Huaide, holding a letter of thanks from Beidahuang and tractor operation data, read it aloud with great emotion at the factory's Party Committee meeting. Secretary Yao Jianghe immediately instructed that production efforts be increased to ensure that subsequent batches were supplied to Beidahuang and other reclamation areas and key grain-producing regions across the country with guaranteed quality and quantity.

The name "Red Star Little Cannon" began to spread throughout the national agricultural front as it roared across the black soil. Orders poured into the Red Star factory like snowflakes. The original target of "annual production of 1,000 units" was far from enough in the face of the huge demand. Expansion, and more expansion! Increasing production capacity became the new consensus and action of everyone at the Red Star factory.

The spring breeze not only turns the fields green, but also warms people's hearts. In April, Beijing is filled with the flying willow catkins and blooming spring flowers.

The courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang was also filled with the warmth of spring and joy. Bright red "囍" (double happiness) characters were pasted on the doors and windows of the west wing. Wang Huanbo and Lou Xiao'e's wedding was just around the corner.

As they had agreed, the wedding was kept simple. There was no wedding procession, no elaborate formalities. On the morning of May Day, Wang Huanbo, dressed in a slightly worn Zhongshan suit, and Lou Xiao'e, wearing a new red floral-patterned jacket (made with fabric ration coupons and materials provided by Wang Huanbo), with a small red flower pinned in her hair, walked side by side from the west courtyard to the central courtyard. Under the old locust tree in the courtyard, several tables borrowed from various households were set up to form a long mat.

Invited guests arrived one after another. Factory leaders Yao Jianghe, Yang Weimin, and Li Huaide came, bringing thermos flasks and washbasins donated by the factory's labor union. Deputy Director Zhang Siyuan also came to offer congratulations on behalf of the ministry. Yi Zhonghai's family of four, the deaf old lady, the mentally challenged Zhu and his sister, several guards from the backyard, familiar neighbors from the front, middle, and back yards, and Lou Zhenhua and his wife, along with Aunt Wu, who had come specially from the Lou family, all gathered together, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Sha Zhu was naturally the head chef today. He used all his skills, and despite the limited ingredients, his superb culinary skills and ingenuity allowed him to prepare a respectable wedding feast: four-happiness meatballs, braised fish, stewed cabbage and pork with vermicelli, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, cold vermicelli salad, and braised beef. The staple foods were steamed buns and dumplings. The drinks were ordinary Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) and soda. Simple, yet filled with sincere blessings and laughter.

The wedding was presided over by Party Secretary Yao Jianghe. He gave a speech, affirming Wang Huanbo's contributions to national development and wishing the newlyweds a long and happy life together. Wang Huanbo and Lou Xiao'e bowed to the portrait of their teacher, to their parents (represented by Lou Zhenhua and his wife), and to the guests, before exchanging vows. The ceremony was simple yet solemn.

During the banquet, everyone toasted the newlyweds and offered their blessings. Yi Aijia and Yi Aiguo, the "golden couple," presented their paintings to Uncle Wang and Aunt Lou (whom they would soon address as "Aunt Lou"). The deaf old lady beamed, took Lou Xiao'e's hand, and gave her a small red envelope containing a few yuan she had saved. Li Huaide, representing the factory, presented a brand-new enamel basin and a tin thermos, printed with the double happiness symbol and the words "Awarded to Advanced Producers"—practical and festive.

Jia Dongxu also brought Qin Huairu, presenting her with a pair of pillowcases printed with mandarin ducks. Jia Dongxu looked much better than before the New Year, and Qin Huairu had become more cheerful after attending the training. Jia Zhangshi didn't come, but sent her son with a few dyed red eggs. Wang Huanbo and Lou Xiao'e politely accepted them and thanked them.

Xu Damao also came, bringing a pair of glass vases and saying many nice things, secretly planning how to take the opportunity to get to know Engineer Wang better. His article praising "Little Cannon" and Wang Huanbo was finally published in the district's workers' newspaper. Although it was just a small piece, it made him proud for several days.

The wedding proceeded in this lively, simple, and warm atmosphere. There was no extravagant pomp, no superficial formalities, only heartfelt blessings from familiar neighbors and colleagues. Sunlight filtered through the locust tree branches, casting dappled patterns that illuminated the happy faces of the newlyweds and the sincere smiles on everyone's faces.

After the ceremony, Wang Huanbo and Lou Xiao'e went from table to table toasting (using tea instead of wine). When they reached the table of the guards in the backyard, Zheng Weiguo, Zhou Tiejun, and others stood up in unison and raised their glasses.

"Engineer Wang, Comrade Lou," Zheng Weiguo's voice was still steady and strong, but with an unusual gentleness, "I wish you a long and happy marriage! We're just rough men, not good with words, but we'll say this: if you need anything, just let us know! With us here, this place is safe and secure!"

Simple words, yet resounding with conviction. This is a promise from a comrade-in-arms, and also a heartfelt expression of recognition and blessing.

"Thank you, comrades!" Wang Huanbo solemnly raised his glass. He knew that these men who silently protected him and this courtyard were the solid support that allowed him to work with peace of mind.

The wedding lasted until the afternoon. Guests gradually left, leaving behind a courtyard filled with celebration and dishes. Sha Zhu, along with his sister and a few neighbors, helped clean up. Finally, the west courtyard quieted down, leaving only Wang Huanbo and Lou Xiao'e.

The setting sun cast a warm orange-yellow glow over the room. The red "囍" (double happiness) character on the window stood out prominently. Lou Xiao'e sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), her face still flushed, looking at this little home that would henceforth belong entirely to the two of them, her heart overflowing with a peaceful happiness.

Wang Huanbo walked to her side and took her hand. Both of their hands were a little cold, but they warmed up quickly when they were clasped together.

"Xiao'e," he said softly, "from now on, this will be our home."

"Mmm." Lou Xiao'e raised her head, looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears—a mixture of joy and promise—"Our home."

No more words were spoken. Outside the window, the spring breeze swept through the courtyard, bringing with it the faint sounds of distant machinery and the hustle and bustle of the city. But in this small space, there was only tranquility and companionship.

For them, this is a new beginning. For this ancient land and the people who work diligently on it, spring is just beginning.

The ice and snow have melted, the frozen soil has been plowed, and the seeds of hope are being sown. And those "Red Star Little Steel Cannons," symbolizing industrial power and agricultural dreams, are like this unstoppable spring tide, roaring and surging, heading towards the vast plains, towards a tomorrow with a promising harvest.