Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

Autumn, 1957, Beijing.

Golden ginkgo leaves fall, draping this ancient and bustling city in a colorful coat. But in the ever-expanding industrial zone in the eastern suburbs, the changing of the seasons seems to be masked by another, more constant rhythm—the clanging of steel, the whirring of machine tools, the roar of engines being tested, and the cacophony of countless people hurrying along, tirelessly striving for the same goal.

This is the Red Star United Industrial Corporation. In just a few years, this giant, as if injected with magical vitality, has expanded from the original "Red Star Steel Rolling Mill," which mainly focused on steel smelting and simple parts processing, into a behemoth spanning multiple key industrial sectors. In the automobile manufacturing plant, the sleek "Red Star" brand cars and the majestic "Red Flag" brand sedans are rolling off the production line at a rate that increases every month. Some are supplied to meet urgent domestic needs, while others are shipped overseas to earn valuable foreign exchange for the country. In the motorcycle prototype workshop, three prototype vehicles have undergone repeated refinement, with their technology maturing and performance becoming more stable. The blueprint for large-scale production has been drawn up, and a brand-new "Red Star Motorcycle Manufacturing Plant" is already in the planning stages. In the agricultural machinery manufacturing plant, the production capacity of "Little Cannon" tractors and supporting agricultural implements is constantly increasing, becoming the backbone of supporting the communeization of agriculture. Meanwhile, those three-axis CNC machine tools, which can be called "industrial mother machines," are processing precision components related to national strategy with astonishing accuracy in a highly confidential workshop. The derivative technologies and skilled workers trained by these machines are quietly being sown like seeds in key factories across the country.

The number of employees has snowballed from over 10,000 when Wang Huanbo first returned to China to over 50,000, and this number continues to grow rapidly with the launch of new projects. They come from all over the country: experienced master craftsmen, recent graduates, experts and scholars who resolutely returned from overseas, and strong laborers recruited from rural areas. Every morning, the roads leading to the Hongxing Factory are filled with a spectacular torrent of bicycles, pedestrians shoulder to shoulder, and occasionally the factory's own cars and jeeps drive by. The sounds of horns, bells, greetings, and laughter, mixed with the faint hum of machinery coming from the direction of the factory, create an unprecedented industrial morning symphony.

However, on this vibrant and hopeful land, an increasingly acute contradiction, like a lurking undercurrent, has begun to constantly erode the facade of prosperity—housing.

In the early days of the nation, everything was in ruins and had already endured major trials such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War, leaving the national treasury not abundant. Under the overarching policy of "tightening the belt to carry out construction," limited resources were prioritized for heavy industry, national defense, and infrastructure. While the entire nation focused on blast furnaces, machine tools, tractors, and automobiles, the issue of "housing," which was crucial to the basic survival needs of millions of ordinary workers and their families, was unfortunately relegated to the margins. Housing construction lagged far behind the pace of industrial expansion and the influx of urban population, a contradiction that was particularly pronounced within the rapidly expanding industrial giant, the Red Star Factory.

Many of the technical backbone and skilled workers from all over the country came to Beijing alone, crammed into overcrowded dormitories with eight, twelve, or even more people sharing a single room, leaving virtually no personal space. Those with families and both spouses working were slightly better off, able to share a room in a ten-story building, but often three generations lived together in a space of ten or twenty square meters, accommodating grandparents, grandchildren, spouses, and children—eating, sleeping, and all daily activities took place within it; privacy was a luxury, and quiet was a dream. Even more numerous were workers from remote areas of Beijing or surrounding rural areas, commuting two or three hours daily, working long hours and leaving them exhausted. Meanwhile, experts and senior technicians, attracted by high salaries and patriotic fervor, brought their families to Beijing, facing the same predicament of "housing shortages," and these inconveniences severely impacted their work enthusiasm and stability.

Li Huaide, the deputy director of logistics, once known as the "chief steward" for his skill in coordinating relationships and ensuring supply, now has deeper wrinkles on his brow every day. His office door is practically worn down by leaders from various branch factories and workshops; housing application reports are piled up on his desk like a small mountain, and they're visibly growing higher. Old Zhou, the head of the housing management section, is a hardworking and honest man with graying hair who comes to him almost daily to pour out his troubles.

"Director Li, there's really no way out! All the empty rooms in the factory, including those scrap rooms that were originally used as warehouses, are crammed with people! The dormitory beds have been added to the maximum capacity; if we add any more people, it will violate fire safety regulations! But every day there are new workers reporting for duty, married people asking for houses, and people with grown children asking for separate housing... I don't know where to put my face! My coworkers treat me like I'm an enemy!" Old Zhou's face was full of worry, and his voice was filled with anxiety and helplessness.

Li Huaide was also deeply troubled. He was adept at navigating the gaps between planning and the market, between the factory and the outside world, and was skilled at securing resources, cultivating relationships, and resolving conflicts. But faced with this stark, rigid demand involving the basic survival space of thousands of families, his methods of "playing tricks and making exceptions" completely failed. This was a systemic shortage, a structural contradiction in resource allocation.

"Old Zhou, don't worry, don't worry, let's think of another way... If all else fails, how about we build some temporary prefabricated houses on the edge of the factory area?" Li Huaide rubbed his temples, feeling that his suggestion was weak and ineffective.

"Prefab houses? Director Li, that can only solve the immediate problem. How will we survive the winter? How will we survive the summer? Besides, we are Red Star United Industrial Corporation! We are an advanced unit that generates foreign exchange for the country! Let the workers, especially those technical experts, live in temporary prefab houses? What will people say if word gets out? What will other brother units think? What will those newly recruited senior talents think?" Old Zhou shook his head repeatedly.

What put even more pressure on Li Huaide was the impending new round of expansion. The motorcycle project, personally overseen by Chief Engineer Wang, was set to break ground once final testing and design were completed. This would mean recruiting thousands more workers, which would inevitably lead to another "avalanche" of housing applications. Old Zhou, the head of the housing department, had already warned him: "Director Li, if the motorcycle factory starts construction, I really can't keep my job. You'd better find someone else!"

Li Huaide knew that this matter could not be delayed any longer and had to be resolved at the factory's Party Committee level. At a crucial expanded meeting of the Party Committee Standing Committee, after discussions on various production, R&D, and export issues had been completed, Li Huaide solemnly dropped this bombshell.

"...Distinguished leaders, this is the situation. The housing problem has become a major hidden danger restricting the further development of our factory, affecting the stability of the workforce, and even threatening production safety! Many dual-income families experience frequent conflicts due to poor living conditions, directly impacting their work morale; key technical personnel are unable to find housing, and their families cannot relocate with them, leading to instability; furthermore, some workers who live far away suffer from excessive commuting time and insufficient rest, resulting in several minor safety incidents. The colleagues in the housing department are under immense pressure, and I, as the deputy factory director in charge of logistics, am extremely worried! I earnestly request the Party Committee to attach great importance to this matter and come up with a solution as soon as possible!"

The meeting room fell silent. Which of the factory leaders present didn't know about the housing shortage? But Li Huaide's systematic and sharp pointing, and his warning of such serious consequences, still made everyone's hearts sink.

Party Secretary Yao Jianghe and Factory Director Yang Weimin exchanged a grave glance. Yao Jianghe slowly began, "Comrade Huaide's report is both timely and extremely serious. Our workers are our foundation, and our experts are our treasures. Only when they have a stable home can they work happily. The Hongxing Factory has developed to where it is today because all its employees share the same goals and work together towards a common purpose. If we don't even have a stable place to live, how can we talk about cohesion and fighting spirit? This problem must be solved!"

Factory Director Yang Weimin interjected, "However, given the current financial situation and the long waiting list, it's uncertain when we'll receive funding from higher authorities to build housing. We can't afford to wait, and the workers can't afford to wait even longer. My suggestion is, could we learn from the practices of some other factories? I've heard that some profitable factories have already started raising funds themselves and applying to build their own staff housing."

"Build it ourselves?" Li Huaide's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again. "Director Yang, I've thought about that too. But building it ourselves is easier said than done. First of all, land is a huge problem. All the usable land around our factory area is already taken. In the city, land is incredibly valuable, and getting approvals is even more difficult. Secondly, building materials—cement, timber, bricks… there's construction going on all over the country right now, and these materials are in short supply. Everything is planned. How much can we get approved if we apply on short notice? Finally, even if we solve the land and materials issues, we don't have a professional construction team. We'll have to outsource, which is another huge expense, and the construction period and quality will be hard to control."

Secretary Yao pondered for a moment and said, "Regarding the land and approvals, we can submit reports to higher authorities, the city government, and even the central government in the name of the factory's Party Committee, explaining the pros and cons. Our Hongxing Factory is not an ordinary factory; it's a major foreign exchange earner and a key enterprise. I believe the higher authorities will consider this comprehensively. Building materials... are indeed a difficult problem."

Chief Engineer Wang Huanbo listened quietly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table unconsciously. When he heard about the building materials problem, he looked up. He had heard about the housing issue before and was well aware of its severity. This wasn't just a problem for the Hongxing Factory; it was a common predicament faced by the entire country in the early stages of rapid industrialization. Fragments of memories from his past life flashed through his mind—the overcrowding and inconvenience of "tenement buildings" and "communities," and even further back, the extreme scarcity of resources during the three years of natural disasters. A vague plan gradually took shape in his mind.

"We can actively strive for the land and approvals," Wang Huanbo said calmly, his voice not loud, but it drew everyone's attention. "As for building materials and construction methods... perhaps we can change our approach."

"Oh? What good idea does Comrade Huanbo have?" Secretary Yao asked immediately. Everyone knew that this young chief engineer could always come up with some unexpected yet practical ideas.

Instead of directly answering the question about building materials, Wang Huanbo said, "I suggest that the factory's Party Committee immediately draft a detailed report in the name of the Hongxing United Industrial Corporation, focusing on the factory's current production contribution, future development potential, the urgency of talent recruitment, and how housing has become a bottleneck restricting the factory from playing a greater role. We should apply for a plot of land in a nearby area, with the factory raising its own funds to build (or entrust others to build) a residential area for employees and their families, to alleviate the immediate crisis, stabilize the workforce, and promote production. The report should be substantial, data-driven, and demonstrate a sense of urgency."

"Great! This is the right approach!" Factory Director Yang slammed his hand on the table. "Let's go in this direction and get a report drafted as soon as possible. Secretary Yao and I will personally go and report to the central and municipal governments, layer by layer! For the sake of our 50,000 employees, we're willing to risk our reputation!"

The Party Committee unanimously passed a resolution for the factory to apply to higher authorities for the construction of its own staff housing. The report was drafted as quickly as possible, stamped with the bright red seal of the Red Star United Industrial Corporation, and personally carried by Secretary Yao Jianghe and Factory Director Yang Weimin, beginning the arduous process of reporting at each level and lobbying from various parties.

Things went more smoothly than expected, but were also far more complicated. The status of the Red Star Factory was now vastly different; it was not only a major taxpayer in Beijing but also a vital source of foreign exchange and a technological benchmark for the country. When the report finally reached the desks of the relevant central leaders, it attracted great attention. After deliberation at a meeting, considering the Red Star Factory's special contributions and practical difficulties, the application for self-funded construction of employee housing was approved in principle, and a plot of land of approximately 200 mu (about 13.3 hectares) in the eastern suburbs was specially allocated for the construction of the "Red Star Employee Living Area."

When the news reached the factory, Li Huaide and Old Zhou, the head of the real estate department, both breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if half the heavy burden on their shoulders had been lifted. However, when they received the specific approval documents and land plot drawings, their hearts sank again.

This plot of land isn't too far from the main factory area of ​​Hongxing and several major branch factories, about five or six kilometers as the crow flies, making commuting within an acceptable range. However, the problem is that it's too small! Two hundred acres sounds like a lot, but it's meant to accommodate the housing needs of potentially over 60,000 employees (including their families) in the future! Moreover, this two hundred acres includes planned roads, green spaces, and essential public facilities. Even worse, the land is irregularly shaped, with some existing ditches and ponds that need to be addressed.

"This...this isn't enough!" Old Zhou's hands trembled as he held the blueprints. "Even if we built them all like the Soviet-style 'Khrushchev buildings' (community dormitories), with one or two hundred households per building, we'd still need to build dozens! There's simply not enough space! Not to mention the space needed for buildings for cadres and experts! This little bit of space isn't even enough to fill a gap between our teeth!"

Li Huaide also frowned deeply. He had long anticipated a land shortage, but he hadn't expected it to be this severe. Moreover, another thorny issue followed—building materials. While they were scrambling for land, other large, profitable factories in Beijing, such as machine tool factories, textile mills, and chemical plants, had also sensed the trend of "self-built housing" and, leveraging their connections and accumulated resources, had preemptively submitted reports to the city government. By the time Hongxing Factory received its approval, the relatively flat and easily developable plots in the vicinity had already been snapped up. Worse still, these factories acted swiftly; as soon as the approval was granted, they immediately wielded their cash and quotas, rushing to the building materials market. When the logistics personnel from Hongxing Factory went to allocate cement, timber, and bricks with their permits, they were met with the warehouse manager's helpless expression and the empty warehouse.

"Director Li, it's not that I don't want to give it, it's just that we're completely out! Last month, the Beijing Automobile Factory and the Power Bureau bought it all up! The new production plan hasn't come through yet, and even if it does, we'll have to wait in line!" The head of the materials department also had a wry smile on his face.

Li Huaide used all his connections, entertaining guests, giving gifts, and pleading his case, but after all that effort, he only managed to secure less than a third of the expected amount of cement, with timber and bricks being even scarcer. Moreover, these were obtained at high prices from unplanned channels, far exceeding the budget. The only material that the Red Star Factory could supply in sufficient quantities was steel.

"Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice!" Li Huaide sighed deeply in his office, staring at the meager building material permits and cramped site plans. Small plot of land, scarce materials—how could they possibly build this building? Was it really just a few low-rise buildings, a drop in the ocean? How could they explain this to the tens of thousands of employees who were eagerly waiting?

Desperate, Li Huaide steeled himself and knocked on Wang Huanbo's office door again. He knew Chief Engineer Wang was extremely busy, his mind focused on the "major project" in Yumen and the factory's "high-tech" advancements, and he felt bad about bothering him with something as mundane as housing. But right now, he couldn't think of any other solution. Perhaps... Chief Engineer Wang's mind, which always seemed to create miracles, might have a different approach?

After listening to Li Huaide's scathing account, Wang Huanbo didn't immediately reply. He walked to the window, gazing at the towering chimneys, bustling workshops, and constant flow of people within the factory area, and remained silent for a moment. Housing, land, building materials… these problems intertwined in his mind with another, grander and more urgent picture—the devastating drought that was about to engulf the entire country and last for three years. The food crisis was the sharpest sword of Damocles hanging over this nascent nation.

He must plan ahead. And the current housing crisis at the Red Star Factory might be an opportunity, a bridge.

"Director Li," Wang Huanbo turned around, his gaze calm and powerful, "the land is small and building materials are scarce. If we continue to build in the traditional, low-density way, then it is indeed an unsolvable problem."

"So, Mr. Wang, what do you mean...?"

"We need space from the sky." Wang Huanbo walked to his desk, picked up a pencil, and quickly sketched on a piece of white paper. "The Soviet Union's 'Khrushchev Building' is four or five stories high, without independent kitchens and bathrooms, with shared facilities, low population density, and poor comfort. It's outdated. We should build taller buildings, such as ten, fifteen, or even higher. Each unit should have an independent kitchen, toilet, balcony, and a bright living room and bedroom."

Li Huaide was dumbfounded: "Ten...fifteen stories? Engineer Wang, is this...is this even possible? No one in China has ever built such a tall residential building! The construction technology, earthquake resistance, and...it's so high, how can people get up there? They can't climb more than ten stories every day, can they?"

"Elevators," Wang Huanbo uttered. "Install elevators. At least two in each building, and up to three during peak hours. Hong Kong, and even Europe and America, have mature experience in the design and construction of high-rise buildings. My father's company in Hong Kong is mainly engaged in real estate. They have built many high-rise residential buildings and have a complete design team, construction experience, and supply chain."

Li Huaide's breathing quickened. A high-rise? An elevator? A separate kitchen and bathroom? This…this was a life he couldn't even dream of! But, was it even possible?

"Engineer Wang, even if we can design and build, what about the building materials? Cement, steel bars, and elevator equipment... We can't even gather enough materials to build a low-rise building right now!"

"Use what we have to exchange for what we don't have." Wang Huanbo's thinking was clear and decisive. "What does Hongxing Factory have? It has cars, and soon it will have motorcycles. These are things that are urgently needed domestically, but have a market in the international market, especially in some Southeast Asian and Latin American countries, and can be exchanged for what we need. We can use my father's company in Hong Kong as an intermediary to exchange for the high-grade cement, special steel, elevator equipment, and even some construction machinery and design consulting that are in short supply domestically, through the form of partial payment for the export of cars and motorcycles, or future products, or barter trade."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over us: "This isn't just about solving our family's housing problem. Director Li, think about it, if this path works, we'll not only solve our own difficulties, but we can also open up a new, relatively stable channel for importing building materials and technology for the country. In the future, if... I mean if, the country encounters temporary difficulties in certain areas, such as a shortage of certain basic materials, could we also alleviate some of the pressure on the country through similar trade methods?"

Li Huaide wasn't stupid; he immediately understood Wang Huanbo's underlying meaning. Chief Engineer Wang's considerations went far beyond simply building a few buildings. He was preemptively establishing a "private" (or rather, leveraging the power of overseas Chinese capital) supply line in preparation for a potentially wider-ranging shortage of materials! Moreover, exchanging high-value-added industrial products produced by the Hongxing Factory for basic building materials was politically sound, economically advantageous, and would also solve the pressing housing problem—a win-win situation!

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Li Huaide slapped his thigh excitedly. "Engineer Wang, your approach has turned a seemingly hopeless situation into a thriving one! I'll go prepare a detailed plan and list right away! As for the design drawings... could you please provide the design drawings as well...?"

"I'll handle the design drawings." Wang Huanbo nodded and took out a thick file that he had prepared beforehand from the drawer. "This is a preliminary plan that I modified and optimized based on more mature residential designs in Hong Kong, combined with Beijing's climate, geographical conditions, and our actual needs. It contains floor plans of different unit types, elevation renderings, and some structural considerations. You can take a look first."

Li Huaide took the file with trembling hands and eagerly opened it. He was deeply shocked after just one glance.

The blueprints no longer depict the rigid, boxy, tenement buildings, but rather modern, high-rise slab buildings with clean, modern lines. Each unit's floor plan clearly shows: three bedrooms and one living room! A bright living room, a separate bedroom, a dedicated kitchen and bathroom! There's also a small balcony! The building height is marked: 16 stories! Next to it is a diagram showing the shafts of the three elevators.

This...this is simply heavenly housing! Compared to the current cramped tenement buildings where several families are crammed into a dozen square meters, cook in the corridor, have to run to public toilets, and have absolutely no privacy, this is a revolutionary leap forward!

"This...this really can happen? Engineer Wang, this...this is wonderful!" Li Huaide was so excited he was almost incoherent. "If the workers saw this, they'd be ecstatic!"

"Technically, it's feasible. If Hong Kong can build it, we can build it too, and we can even build it better and more solidly," Wang Huanbo affirmed. "The key lies in organization, materials, and construction quality. We can set up our own infrastructure department, recruit and train construction teams, and hire experts from Hong Kong or abroad for guidance. We can support this project with profits from our export products and materials obtained through barter trade. This is not just about building houses, Director Li; it's also about cultivating our own modern construction capabilities and exploring a path for efficient and intensive housing construction that suits our national conditions."

With Wang Huanbo's reassurance and concrete plan, Li Huaide felt energized and his confidence soared. He immediately organized the best personnel from the logistics department, infrastructure department (in preparation), and real estate department to refine the plan, estimate the workload, material requirements, and budget, based on the design blueprints provided by Wang Huanbo. They also drafted a preliminary intention to conduct barter trade with the Wang family's company in Hong Kong.

A few days later, a thick document titled "Request Report and Preliminary Plan Regarding the Construction of a High-Rise Elevator Residential Complex by Hongxing United Industrial Corporation to Solve Employee Housing Difficulties" was once again submitted to the factory's Party Committee meeting. Unlike the previous gloomy atmosphere, this time, Li Huaide came with blueprints, plans, and confidence.

When the design renderings were displayed at the Party Committee meeting, everyone held their breath. Secretary Yao adjusted his glasses and leaned closer to examine them closely; Director Yang unconsciously stood up; the other Standing Committee members also rose from their seats and gathered around. The tall and elegant building, the clear and reasonable apartment layouts, and the markings such as "16 floors," "elevator," and "independent kitchen, bathroom, and balcony" on the drawings seemed to possess a magical power, firmly capturing everyone's attention.

"This...this is the housing for our workers?" A senior member of the Standing Committee asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"Absolutely true!" Li Huaide puffed out his chest, pointing to the blueprints and explaining in detail, "This is a design plan personally guided by Chief Engineer Wang Huanbo, referencing advanced international experience. Our plan is to build ten to twelve sixteen-story buildings like these on the land allocated to us by our superiors, all equipped with elevators. The apartment types will primarily be two-bedroom and three-bedroom units to meet the needs of different families. Preliminary estimates suggest that if all units are completed, it can solve the housing problem for over ten thousand employees and their families at once! And this is only the first phase! If it's successful, we can apply for more land in the surrounding area to build the second and third phases!"

"Ten thousand households!" "Sixteen stories! With an elevator!" "Separate kitchens and bathrooms!" A low murmur of amazement and discussion filled the conference room. This number, this standard, far exceeded their most optimistic expectations.

"Where does the money come from? Where do the materials come from?" Director Yang asked the most crucial question.

Li Huaide was well-prepared and gave a detailed report on Wang Huanbo's idea of ​​"exchanging product exports and barter trade for building materials and equipment," as well as the preliminary operational plan. He emphasized that this not only solved the housing and building material problems of the Hongxing Factory itself, but also explored a new way for the country to use its own industrial capabilities to obtain urgently needed materials, which was of strategic significance.

After listening, Secretary Yao remained silent for a long time. He took off his glasses and carefully wiped them, his gaze never leaving the rendering. Finally, he put his glasses back on, surveyed the room, and said in a low but powerful voice, "I think this plan is bold, feasible, and visionary! It not only solves our current difficulties but also looks to the future, embodying the pioneering and innovative spirit of our Hongxing Factory! I completely agree! Following this approach, immediately establish a special leading group, with myself as the group leader, Comrade Weiguo and Comrade Huaide as deputy group leaders, and Comrade Huanbo as the chief technical consultant. Push forward with all our might! Provide funding and manpower as needed! We must ensure that the workers of Hongxing Factory live in houses that workers across the country, and even the world, will envy!"

The resolution was swiftly passed. A special task force was immediately established and began operating efficiently. On one hand, trade negotiations with the Wang family's Hong Kong business were underway (coordinated by Wang Huanbo through family channels); on the other hand, the infrastructure department was quickly set up, recruiting civil engineers, contacting construction teams, surveying the site, and conducting detailed planning and design. Meanwhile, news that the "Hongxing Workers' Living Area" would be built as "high-rise buildings," "with elevators," and "with independent kitchens and toilets" spread like wildfire among the 50,000 employees of the Hongxing factory.

At first, people were skeptical. High-rise buildings? Elevators? Those were things only foreign capitalists had. Separate kitchens and toilets? Weren't those privileges reserved for leaders and experts? How could ordinary workers possibly have them?

However, when the factory's broadcasting station officially announced the news, and when the publicity department posted enlarged and meticulously drawn "Phase I Planning Rendering of the Red Star Staff Living Area" and "Typical Apartment Floor Plans" on the bulletin boards of various branch factories and workshops, doubt turned into astonishment, and astonishment turned into ecstasy!

It was an evening after get off work. In front of the huge bulletin board in the steel rolling mill, the workers who had just finished their shifts were packed in layers. Sweat still clung to their bronze cheeks, and their work clothes were covered in oil and iron filings, but everyone's eyes were fixed on the huge colorful picture on the wall.

The picture shows several light-colored, clean-lined buildings, standing majestically amidst green trees and flowers. The buildings are very tall, so tall that you have to crane your neck to count the floors—a full sixteen stories! The "elevator" symbol is clearly marked on the buildings. Next to it is an enlarged floor plan: a spacious living room, a separate bedroom, a well-proportioned kitchen, a bathroom with a toilet and sink, and a very large balcony where you can even put a few potted plants!

"My God... this... this is really for us to live in?" An elderly fitter with gray hair pointed tremblingly at the blueprints, his voice choked with emotion. He had worked in the factory for thirty years, and his family of seven was still crammed into two single-story houses with a total area of ​​less than 20 square meters. The houses were drafty in winter and leaked rain in summer, and they had to walk 200 meters to a public toilet.

"Three rooms! A living room and a kitchen! And a separate toilet! This...this is even more luxurious than our workshop foreman's house!" A young lathe operator blushed with excitement. He had just gotten married and lived with his wife in a tiny eight-square-meter room partitioned off from a dormitory. He dreamed of having his own place.

"Look! An elevator! There's an elevator! No more climbing stairs, no matter how high! My mother has trouble walking, if only we could live in a building like this..." A middle-aged blacksmith murmured to himself, his eyes reddening.

"Wow, sixteen stories! How many people can live there! This is great! My brother just started working at the factory this year and he's worried about where to live! If this building is really built, won't we all have hope?" A young apprentice squeezed to the front, his eyes shining.

"I heard this is an advanced design that Chief Engineer Wang learned from abroad! Chief Engineer Wang is truly capable!"

"The factory said they'd use our own manufactured cars and motorcycles to trade with foreigners for cement and elevators!"

"We'd better work hard! Make more steel, build more cars! Get the building up as soon as possible!"

"Yes! We'll fight tooth and nail for this house!"

The crowd erupted in cheers. Gasps of amazement, shouts of joy, whispers of discussion, and sighs of emotion mingled together. The blueprint was no longer just cold lines and blocks of color; it had become hope, a visible future, a tangible goal! Many of the older workers' eyes welled with tears; they wiped away not only sweat, but also the bitterness of years of impoverished living conditions. The younger workers clenched their fists, their eyes filled with boundless longing for a better life and a determination to strive for it.

The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the Hongxing Factory overnight. In the fitter's workshop, the sound of hammers clanging seemed even more powerful; on the assembly line, the workers' expressions were more focused; in the design room, the scratching of pens was more rapid. An unprecedented sense of unity, pride, and drive surged in the hearts of the 50,000 Hongxing employees. They knew that the factory leaders had not forgotten them, and the nation had not forgotten them. And they, in turn, would repay this weighty promise with even more diligent sweat and even more outstanding labor results, building their own modern home with their own hands!

Standing at the window of the chief engineer's office, Wang Huanbo surveyed the surging crowds leaving the factory, listening to the distant, unusually excited clamor, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips. Only with stable housing can workers thrive. Solving the workers' worries about their livelihoods is to unleash the most powerful productive force. And this step, perhaps in the near future, could also pave a hidden lifeline for the country, enabling it to weather even greater storms. He gazed into the distance; on the horizon, the outlines of tower cranes seemed to be slowly rising in the setting sun.