Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

Time flies, and it was the late summer and early autumn of 1955. The Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill was like a giant beehive, busy and full of hope. The CNC machine tool workshop was already able to stably produce high-precision parts, but what was even more eye-catching was the newly built "Hongxing Automobile Project Team" workshop on the east side of the factory area.

Inside the workshop, a sleek, gleaming dark green four-door sedan and a sky-blue hatchback were undergoing final adjustments. These were the Hongxing C501 and C502! Their exteriors borrowed from the minimalist style of the Hongxing brand, but were more elongated and stable, conforming to Eastern aesthetics. The 1.1-liter four-stroke engine ran smoothly, with low noise and ample power, far superior to the original two-stroke engine that emitted black smoke. The interior, though simple (artificial leather seats, metal instrument panel), was solidly crafted.

Wang Huanbo personally conducted the final road test. Driving the C501, he smoothly accelerated, turned, and braked on the factory's test track, with performance far exceeding expectations! The engineers and workers watching cheered! This meant the project was a success!

"Great! Huanbo! We've really built a car!" Factory Director Yang, sitting in the passenger seat, exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Yes, factory manager! This is a car designed and manufactured by the Chinese themselves!" Wang Huanbo felt a surge of pride. Although he considered the car rudimentary, it was undoubtedly a tremendous achievement for this era!

With the National Day celebrations fast approaching, the factory decided to send a CNC machine tool and two Hongxing sedans to Beijing to participate in the National Day celebrations and exhibition, as significant achievements of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill and the Industrial Department! The news sent shivers down the spines of the entire factory! This was an unparalleled honor!

Wang Huanbo, however, remained clear-headed. Amidst the busy preparations for the exhibition, he received a confidential letter from his family in Hong Kong. The letter stated that the required electron tubes had been transported to the Hong Kong warehouse in batches through special channels. Simultaneously, as per his request, a considerable quantity of rice, flour, cooking oil, canned food, and other supplies procured by his family in Southeast Asia had been stockpiled in warehouses in Singapore and Bangkok, and the transit warehouse in Hong Kong was ready for immediate deployment. His family inquired about the next steps.

Wang Huanbo felt much more at ease. The initial establishment of this "lifeline" gave him more confidence to cope with future difficulties. He wrote back to his family, instructing them to continue quietly expanding reserves, keeping channels open, and awaiting further news. At the same time, he used some of the gold in his system space ("seized" from the Jinling plane) to exchange for foreign currency through family channels to support the procurement plan. He knew that this "private stash" was more valuable than anything else.

On the eve of National Day, Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill held a grand "Sending-Off Ceremony for the Achievements of the Project". CNC machine tools adorned with red ribbons and two brand-new Hongxing sedans slowly drove out of the factory gate amidst cheers and applause from all the factory workers and neighbors who had come to hear the news. Escorted by motorcycles, they headed to Beijing! Wang Huanbo, as the project's chief engineer, accompanied them in the car.

The birds in the courtyard also crowded in to watch. Yi Zhonghai looked at the smug Wang Huanbo with a complex expression, which finally turned into a sigh. Liu Haizhong forced his sons to shout slogans, saying they should learn from Uncle Wang. Xu Damao took out a camera from who-knows-where and frantically took pictures, saying he wanted to keep them as souvenirs. Yan Bugui was calculating how much the two cars were worth. Jia Zhangshi watched from afar, muttering "What's there to show off?", but Qin Huairu pulled her away. Qin Huairu looked at the cars, a hint of envy in her eyes, but more so a bewildered look of worry about making a living.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Wang Huanbo looked out at the cheering crowds and the brand-new city of Beijing, his heart pounding with excitement. He knew this was just the beginning. The success of CNC machine tools and automobiles would greatly boost national confidence and drive the development of related industrial chains. Next, it was time to consider hydraulic presses and more advanced steel technologies. Only through a comprehensive upgrade of basic industries could the dream of a strong nation be truly realized.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, in an unassuming trading house on the shores of Victoria Harbour, Wang Huanbo's elder brother, Wang Huanfa, frowned slightly as he reviewed inventory reports and shipping arrangements from across Southeast Asia. Although he didn't understand why his younger brother was stockpiling such a massive amount of grain (far exceeding the needs of business operations), he carried it out without question due to his unconditional trust in his brother and the high degree of coordination within the family. He had a vague feeling that his brother was involved in an extremely important matter back home, one that might even concern the fate of the nation. And everything the Wang family had overseas might become one of the strongest supports for this great undertaking.

The wheels of history are quietly accelerating under the flapping of Wang Huanbo, this "butterfly." The spark of science and technology has been ignited, and a "lifeline" hidden on the banks of Hong Kong is being quietly constructed, waiting to play a vital role someday in the future.