Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The air in the Third Experimental Workshop of the Red Star United Industrial Corporation was always a unique mixture of machine oil, solder, and graphite powder. This smell was Wang Huanbo's most familiar lifeline; it represented the pulse of New China's industry, and every beat tugged at his nerves. On this day in late autumn of 1958, an unusual tension and anticipation permeated the workshop. Wang Huanbo was bent over a huge drawing board, his pencil tracing smooth and precise arcs on the drawing paper—an improved plan for the rear axle differential of the US Army M35 military truck. Old Zhou, the head of the technical department, approached with a stack of calculations, his brow furrowed: "Engineer Wang, according to your modified parameters, the torque distribution can be improved by 18%, but the heat treatment process for the gears… We tried the German equipment provided by the Soviet experts, but it still doesn't meet the requirements; fine cracks appear as soon as a load is applied."

"Use high-frequency quenching, and follow the temperature curve I've marked in red." Wang Huanbo didn't even look up, his voice steady and confident. "Bring out that backup equipment; don't waste it." His pen tip marked a red dot on the drawing, like a beating heart. The M35 truck replication project was a major military project, related to the future mobility of the army, and could not tolerate the slightest carelessness.

Just then, the heavy iron door of the workshop was pushed open with a clang, and a cold wind carrying a few withered leaves swept into the room. Factory Party Secretary Yao Jianghe, wrapped in a worn cotton overcoat, strode in, followed by Factory Director Yang Weimin, Deputy Factory Director Li Huaide, and six young men who looked reserved and somewhat naive. Three men and three women, all dressed in faded blue work clothes, with badges of prestigious Beijing universities pinned to their chests, stood out starkly in the greasy workshop, yet exuded a unique spirit.

"Comrade Huanbo, sorry to disturb your work." Yao Jianghe patted the chalk dust off his hands, his voice booming with unquestionable authority, "I've brought you your 'treasure'!"

All eyes were on the six young men. Yao Jianghe pointed at them, a hint of barely perceptible pride in his voice: "Tsinghua, Peking University, Harbin Institute of Technology—these are the six most outstanding talents in the industrial field this year! The organization has made a special approval to place them next to you, a world-class expert, so they can learn and further their studies under your guidance!"

Li Huaide added from the side, "Engineer Wang, the higher-ups originally wanted to hire you as a visiting professor at a university, to give lectures and answer students' questions. But we know about your family situation..." He glanced at Wang Huanbo's unconscious gesture of touching his chest, where a snapshot of his daughter Yan Yan was hidden. "The chief engineer's responsibilities are already heavy, and little Yan Yan was premature and has a weak constitution. You have to go home to be with her every day after get off work, which is really too much for you. So the higher-ups changed their minds and implemented a 'mentor-apprentice' model, letting these kids come directly to the factory, live and eat there, and learn real skills from you around the clock."

Wang Huanbo slowly straightened up, his gaze sharp as he swept over the six young faces. He noticed that Chen Zhiyuan, the boy in the lead, pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, his eyes behind the lenses sharp as an eagle's, revealing a maturity and scrutiny beyond his years. The girl beside him, Su Xiaomei, appeared much quieter, clutching a thick notebook tightly to her chest, her fingertips slightly white from the pressure, clearly treasuring all knowledge. The other four, some shy, some stubborn, some bookish, all shared a burning thirst for knowledge and aspirations for the future in their eyes. They had all experienced the political upheaval of 1957 and knew what being selected for a core, confidential unit like the Red Star Factory meant. It wasn't just an opportunity to learn; it was a weighty trust and a responsibility to serve the country.

"Secretary Yao, Factory Director Yang, Deputy Factory Director Li," Wang Huanbo suddenly unbuttoned the second button of his Zhongshan suit, revealing a Parker 51 fountain pen tucked into the inner pocket—a precious gift he brought back from his studies in the United States. "I understand. Please rest assured, I will not let you down." His voice was not loud, but it was firm and resonant, echoing in the empty workshop. "I will temper them into true steel."

Each of these six young people has an extraordinary background and a unique personality.

Chen Zhiyuan, a recent graduate of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University, is widely recognized as a top student in his department. Born into an intellectual family—his father a university professor and his mother a doctor—he grew up surrounded by books, developing meticulous logical thinking and exceptional hands-on skills. He chose mechanical engineering because he firmly believed in "saving the nation through industry," wanting to use steel and gears to support the backbone of the new China. He is introverted and rarely smiles, but once immersed in technical problems, he displays astonishing focus and creativity. His purpose in coming to the Hongxing Factory was simple: to learn core technologies that could truly be transformed into productivity from practical experts like Wang Huanbo.

Su Xiaomei, a talented woman from the Physics Department of Peking University. In an era when science and engineering were still largely dominated by men, she stood out thanks to her solid theoretical foundation and indomitable spirit. Her father, a veteran engineer who had participated in the construction of railways in old China, succumbed to illness due to overwork and passed away when she was in high school. Her father's legacy and her passion for technology drove her to choose this challenging path. She is meticulous, observant, and particularly adept at applying complex physical principles to practical engineering designs. Her goal here is to master the "magic" of transforming theory into industrial products.

Zhao Dayong is a top student majoring in Vehicle Engineering at Harbin Institute of Technology. He is the only one of the six from Northeast China, tall and strong, with a personality as forthright and honest as his name suggests. Born into a working-class family, he grew up in a factory compound and has a natural affinity for machinery. He is skilled with his hands, enjoys tinkering with various machines, and dreams of designing world-class automobiles. He admires Wang Huanbo's achievements in the automotive industry and hopes to learn his design concepts and innovative thinking.

Sun Xiaoyan, also a graduate of Harbin Institute of Technology, majored in internal combustion engines. She was Zhao Dayong's classmate and the object of his secret crush. Cheerful and lively, she was the team's "joker," but when it came to technical issues, she immediately became serious and focused. She had an almost obsessive passion for internal combustion engines, dreaming of building high-performance engines made in China. She came to the Hongxing plant partly to learn, and partly hoping to work alongside Zhao Dayong.

Li Mo is a graduate of the Automation major at Beijing Institute of Technology. He wears thick glasses and has a somewhat scholarly appearance, but his eyes sparkle with intelligence. Born into an ordinary family of office workers, he has had a strong interest in circuits and programming since childhood. He believes that the future of industry will undoubtedly be dominated by automation, and he hopes to make a contribution in this field. He is calm and reserved, not very talkative, but his thinking is extremely active, often coming up with unexpected solutions.

Zhou Yaqin is a student majoring in aircraft manufacturing at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. She is the only one among the six with an aerospace background and is also the youngest. She is intelligent, quick to learn, and has unique insights into aerodynamics and structural mechanics. She came to the Hongxing Factory partly to learn from Wang Huanbo's engineering experience, and partly to understand the design concepts of ground vehicles, laying a foundation for her future career in aircraft manufacturing.

These six people, like six unpolished gems, were carefully selected by the organization and presented to Wang Huanbo. Their arrival made Wang Huanbo feel that the burden on his shoulders had become even heavier, but at the same time, it gave him hope for the future of the Red Star Factory and even the entire Chinese industry.

That evening, the light stayed on late into the night in the study in the west wing of courtyard number 95. Wang Huanbo didn't go to the workshop; he needed to calm down and think things through. Several documents were spread out on the table: one was a progress report on the M35 truck imitation project, and the other was a detailed investigation report on worker commuting issues that Li Huaide had submitted to the factory committee that afternoon.

In his report, Li Huaide wrote with deep sorrow: "...Old Liu, a worker in the first phase of the residential area, has to get up at five o'clock every morning and walk for an hour and a half to get to the factory. In rainy or snowy weather, it's even more unbearable. The second phase of the residential area is located in the more distant suburbs, which means that more workers will face the same or even more severe commuting problems in the future. Although our factory has opened up the right to purchase 'Red Star' brand cars to all workers, the purchase price of 500 yuan is an astronomical figure for most workers whose monthly salary is only thirty or forty yuan. Currently, only a handful of workers can afford private cars; most workers either rely on bicycles or have to walk or hitch a ride with a colleague going the same way. This not only consumes a lot of workers' rest time but also seriously affects work efficiency..."

The report concluded with several startling photographs. In the photos, workers, carrying heavy tool bags, lined up in the dim morning light, struggling along a dusty dirt road. Their faces were etched with exhaustion, but their eyes shone with resilience. One photograph showed a hunched old man pushing a dilapidated bicycle that rattled everywhere except for its bell; a large aluminum lunchbox was strapped to the back seat.

Wang Huanbo tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought. He thought of his daughter, Yan Yan. Because she was premature, she had always been sickly, with a weak immune system, and frequently caught colds and fevers. Understanding his difficulties, the higher-ups had specially assigned an experienced caregiver, Zhang Cuilan, to Yan Yan. Even so, Wang Huanbo's greatest comfort after get off work each day was returning home, holding his daughter in his arms, and channeling the mysterious and warm energy within him to nourish her. He could clearly feel that with each infusion of this energy, his daughter's body was becoming stronger, and her colds were becoming less frequent. This joy and responsibility of fatherhood made him deeply empathize with the healthy growth of every child. And what about the children of the factory workers? They toiled every day, contributing to the nation's industrialization, yet even their most basic commute to work was so arduous.

"Old Li is right, this is indeed a big problem," Wang Huanbo muttered to himself. "If this continues, not only will the workers' enthusiasm be dampened, but the industrial efficiency of the entire country will also be greatly reduced."

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the pomegranate tree swaying in the cold wind in the courtyard. Sha Zhu was squatting under the tree chopping wood, wood chips flying everywhere, as he hummed an off-key Hebei opera tune. Since being wounded in the enemy attack, this stubborn cook had poured all his passion into his work, not only taking meticulous care of Lou Xiao'e but also frequently preparing various nourishing medicinal dishes for her after childbirth. He Daqing's injuries had also almost healed; the father and son's culinary skills were renowned throughout the courtyard.

"If Zhu Zi's skills could be put to good use..." A bold idea began to sprout in Wang Huanbo's mind.

He turned around, sat back down at the table, and his gaze fell on the blueprints of the M35 truck. This mainstay military truck of the US Army was renowned for its excellent performance and reliability. If it could be successfully copied and improved, it would not only greatly enhance the equipment level of our army, but its chassis and basic design could also be used to create a completely different vehicle.

A thought flashed through his mind like lightning—buses! The new China didn't yet have a truly domestically produced bus! If we could utilize existing production lines and technology, combined with the advantages of the M35 chassis, to develop a domestically produced bus suitable for urban commuting, economical and durable, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone? It would solve the workers' urgent needs and fill a technological gap in the country!

Thinking of this, Wang Huanbo could no longer remain calm. He immediately picked up the red secure phone on the table and dialed Li Huaide's number.

"Old Li, it's me. I've come up with a solution to the commuting problem." His voice trembled slightly with excitement. "Tomorrow morning, take a few men to the factory parking lot and drive out those newly produced 'Red Star' Jiefang trucks from the car factory. First, recruit volunteers from among the workers to form a temporary commuter fleet. Tell them this is just a temporary solution."

Li Huaide was stunned on the other end of the phone: "Engineer Wang, this... the comfort of the Jiefang truck..."

"I know," Wang Huanbo interrupted him, "this is only the first step. The second step is for you to fully hand over the progress of the M35 project to Old Zhou and the others in the technical department, and tell them that this project is of great significance and that we must overcome the difficulties as soon as possible. As for me, starting tomorrow, I will personally lead these six new students to launch a new project—developing the first domestically produced bus for our new China!"

Li Huaide was silent for a moment on the other end of the phone, then burst into unbelievable joy: "Engineer Wang, you mean...really?"

"I guarantee it in my capacity as chief engineer!" Wang Huanbo's tone was resolute. "Our Hongxing Factory's technical reserves and production capacity are fully capable of completing this task in a short time. Lao Li, you go and make preparations immediately, and allocate all the necessary resources. Remember, this matter must be kept strictly confidential, starting with the most crucial parts."

Hanging up the phone, Wang Huanbo let out a long sigh of relief. He knew that he had once again made a decision that could change the fate of many people. Outside the window, the moonlight, like water, shone on the pomegranate tree in the yard and also on the Parker 51 fountain pen on his chest, reflecting a few points of cold light.

The next morning, Yao Jianghe, Yang Weimin, and Li Huaide returned to the experimental workshop. After listening to Wang Huanbo's vision for developing domestically produced buses, they were all impressed by the grand blueprint he had painted.

"Great! Comrade Huanbo, your idea is excellent!" Yao Jianghe slapped his thigh excitedly. "This is exactly what our Hongxing Factory should be doing! It solves practical problems and brings glory to the country! On behalf of the factory's Party Committee, I fully support you!"

Yang Weimin also smiled, a rare occurrence for him: "Engineer Wang, you always manage to surprise us. I'll personally take charge of this project and serve as the chief commander!"

Li Huaide was so excited his face turned red: "Engineer Wang, don't worry! I guarantee that logistical support will be flawless! Whatever materials or equipment you need, just give me a call, and I'll get it done for you immediately!"

Looking into the resolute eyes of the three leaders, Wang Huanbo felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He knew he was not fighting alone.

After seeing off the three leaders, Wang Huanbo immediately summoned all the key personnel in the technical department and the six new students. In the center of the workshop, six blueprints were laid out side by side, showing the chassis, power system, transmission system, electrical wiring, and body structure of the M35 truck.

"Comrades," Wang Huanbo's gaze swept over the crowd, his voice steady and powerful, "the M35 truck replication project has achieved some initial success, but there are still many technical hurdles to overcome. From today onwards, Comrade Zhou from the Technical Department will be fully responsible for the follow-up work of this project. I hope you will all go all out to overcome these difficulties as soon as possible and build our own 'Iron Warhorse'!"

After saying that, he walked to another blank drawing board and picked up a brand new drawing pencil.

"And we," his voice suddenly rose, brimming with passion and charisma, "are about to embark on a brand new journey! We will utilize our existing technology and production lines, combined with the mature chassis of the M35 truck, to develop the first domestically produced bus of our new China! We will enable the workers in the capital to commute to and from get off work in buses made by ourselves! We will ensure that the 'Red Star' brand not only shines on military trucks, but also traverses the city streets of our motherland!"

His words ignited the passion of everyone present like a flame. The engineers in the technical department gleamed with excitement; they had long hoped to participate in such a groundbreaking project. The six students, their faces flushed with excitement, were even more thrilled. They hadn't expected that upon entering the factory, they would have the opportunity to participate in such an important national-level project, and under the tutelage of a master like Wang Huanbo.

"Teacher," Chen Zhiyuan was the first to step forward, adjusting his glasses, his voice slightly hoarse with excitement, "we will definitely study hard and persevere in our research, and we will never let you down!"

"Teacher," Su Xiaomei stood up, clutching her notebook tightly, "we will definitely apply the knowledge you've taught us to practice and contribute our efforts to the development of domestically produced buses!"

"Yes! We will definitely work hard!" The other four students shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the workshop, full of youthful vigor and energy.

Wang Huanbo nodded in satisfaction. He knew that these six seeds of hope had taken deep root in this fertile industrial land.

"Alright!" He waved his hand sharply, like a general about to go into battle. "From now on, we'll split into two teams. Lao Zhou, you'll lead one group to continue tackling the M35 project, focusing on solving the process problems of differential heat treatment and high-strength steel welding. I'm giving you a deadline: you must produce a qualified prototype within three months!"

"I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Old Zhou stepped forward and answered firmly.

"I," Wang Huanbo said, turning his gaze to the six students, "will be leading the six of you to officially launch the 'Red Star No. 1' bus project! Our goal, too, is to produce the first concept prototype within three months!"

"Yes!" the six students answered in unison, their voices deafening.

In the days that followed, the experimental workshop became two bustling battlefields. On one side was the M35 truck project team, experimenting, improving, and optimizing repeatedly based on the blueprints and data; on the other side was the "Red Star No. 1" project team, filled with novelty and challenges.

Wang Huanbo first assigned tasks to the six students. He put Chen Zhiyuan and Zhao Dayong in charge of surveying and analyzing the chassis structure of the M35 truck, which was the foundation of the entire project. Su Xiaomei and Sun Xiaoyan were responsible for studying the vehicle body structure and materials, thinking about how to transform the cold military vehicle chassis into a comfortable bus. Li Mo and Zhou Yaqin were assigned to the power and electrical group, researching how to achieve lower fuel consumption and more stable operation while ensuring power.

"Students, remember," Wang Huanbo repeatedly emphasized at the project launch meeting, "we are not simply copying, but creating. The M35 is an excellent platform, but we want to give it a new soul. Buses are for the people, and their core is 'people-oriented.' Therefore, all designs must revolve around how to make passengers more comfortable, safer, and more convenient."

However, the ideal was far from reality. The project encountered numerous difficulties from the very beginning.

The first challenge was adapting the chassis. The M35 truck was designed for off-road and heavy-duty driving, featuring a high chassis, stiff suspension, and high noise levels. Softening it to adapt to the smooth surfaces of city roads and frequent starts and stops became a major problem. Chen Zhiyuan and Zhao Dayong, along with several technicians, spent days and nights in the workshop, repeatedly measuring, calculating, and simulating, trying to find the optimal balance.

"No, teacher," a few days later, Chen Zhiyuan approached Wang Huanbo with a weary expression. "According to the original chassis data, even if we thin the steel plates and replace the suspension with springs, its center of gravity is still too high. When turning, the body roll will be severe, which is unsafe."

Wang Huanbo looked at his bloodshot eyes and nodded: "I understand. Stop for now and change your approach. Don't think about 'modifying,' think about 'redesigning.' Keep its high-strength frame and reliable transmission system; everything else, tear it down and start over."

"Redesign?" Zhao Dayong scratched his head. "But time..."

"Time is not an issue, quality is the key." Wang Huanbo patted him on the shoulder. "We're not rushing to finish; we're making history. Go ahead, I believe in your abilities."

Inspired by Wang Huanbo, Chen Zhiyuan and Zhao Dayong had a breakthrough. They no longer adhered rigidly to the original structure, but boldly lowered the chassis by fifteen centimeters and redesigned the front and rear axle suspension systems, adopting a leaf spring structure more suitable for buses. This process was fraught with hardship, involving countless calculations and experiments, numerous failures, and restarts.

Meanwhile, Su Xiaomei and Sun Xiaoyan from the body panel also encountered problems. The body model they designed performed poorly in wind tunnel tests, exhibiting excessive drag and noise levels at high speeds.

"Professor Wang, shouldn't we use a more streamlined design?" Su Xiaomei said somewhat dejectedly, holding a stack of wind tunnel test reports.

Wang Huanbo picked up the report and examined it carefully, then asked, "Where does the resistance mainly come from?"

"The main issue is the vortex at the front and rear of the vehicle," Sun Xiaoyan replied. "We tried several shapes, but the results were not ideal."

Wang Huanbo pondered for a moment, then walked to a discarded gasoline drum in the corner of the workshop and drew a simple streamlined outline on it with chalk. "Try this approach," he said. "Don't pursue complex curves; the simplest geometric shapes can achieve unexpected results. Remember, what we lack is processing equipment, not design wisdom."

Su Xiaomei and Sun Xiaoyan suddenly had a breakthrough. They abandoned the complex curved design and instead adopted a simple folding-back shape, and added sloping treatment to the front and rear of the car. Miraculously, the new design performed excellently in wind tunnel tests, with a significant reduction in drag coefficient.

Li Mo and Zhou Yaqin, from the power unit, faced a dilemma in selecting an engine. The M35's 12V150 diesel engine was powerful, but its fuel consumption was high and it was extremely noisy, making it clearly unsuitable for buses. Other engines available in China at the time either lacked sufficient power or were too bulky.

"Teacher, how about... we modify it ourselves?" Li Mo suggested, "Optimize its fuel injection system and add a muffler?"

Wang Huanbo looked at his inquisitive eyes and smiled. "The idea is good, but it's not enough. We can't always be following in others' footsteps and patching things up. If we're going to do it, we should do it the best. Here's what we'll do," he said, taking out a thick foreign journal from his drawer. "There are a few recent papers on small, high-speed diesel engines in here. Take a look and see if you can find inspiration to design a completely new engine block and piston system."

Li Mo and Zhou Yaqin were overjoyed and immediately threw themselves into intensive translation and study. They discovered that foreign technology was not without flaws, and there was much room for improvement and innovation.

Thus, under Wang Huanbo's leadership, the two project teams fought hard on their respective battlefields. Under Lao Zhou's leadership, the M35 project solved the problem of differential cracks and improved the heat treatment process to make the gear strength meet the design requirements. As for the "Red Star No. 1" project, although progress was slow, every step was taken solidly and firmly.

The three-month deadline passed in the blink of an eye. The M35 project delivered its first qualified prototype on schedule. This steel behemoth stood quietly in the center of the workshop, radiating a cold, metallic luster. Meanwhile, the "Red Star No. 1" project delivered an even more complex result—a complete set of design drawings, a chassis model that had undergone countless revisions, and a scaled-down body model.

On a sunny afternoon, the factory committee members gathered again in the experimental workshop. When they saw the imposing M35 prototype and the detailed design plan, they were all filled with awe and pride.

Yao Jianghe gripped Wang Huanbo's hand tightly, too excited to speak. Yang Weimin meticulously examined every detail of "Red Star No. 1," nodding in approval from time to time. Li Huaide was beaming with joy; he knew that the commuting problem that had plagued him for so long was finally seeing a glimmer of hope for a solution.

"Comrade Huanbo," Yao Jianghe's voice choked with emotion, "you have once again created a miracle! Not only have you built the 'Iron Warhorse' for us, but you have also planned the 'People's Bus' for us! On behalf of all the factory workers, I express my highest respect to you!"

Wang Huanbo smiled modestly: "This is the result of everyone's hard work. Lao Zhou and his team deserve a lot of credit for the M35 project. As for the 'Red Star No. 1' project, these six students are the real heroes. They used their wisdom and sweat to draw a new blueprint for our future."

He turned around and looked at the six young people who had grown into the backbone of the project. Although their faces still showed signs of immaturity, their eyes already held the determination and confidence of engineers.

"Students," Wang Huanbo's voice was full of expectation, "this is just the beginning. The mass production of the M35 and the manufacturing of the 'Red Star No. 1' prototype will be the next, even more arduous tasks. I hope you can continue to maintain this enthusiasm and drive, keep learning and innovating, and become the backbone of our nation's industrial front in the future!"

"Don't worry, teacher! We will definitely not let you down!" the six students answered in unison, their voices strong and clear, full of youthful vigor and boundless aspirations for the future.

Outside the window, the setting sun cast its golden rays into the workshop, bathing everyone's faces in a golden glow. Wang Huanbo gazed at the scene before him, his heart filled with boundless emotion and hope. He knew the road ahead was long, and many more challenges and difficulties awaited them. But as long as there was light in their hearts and a path beneath their feet, nothing could hinder the progress of China's industry. And these six rising stars would, in the near future, shine with their own brilliant light, illuminating the entire land of China.