The Fitter Master in the Courtyard: Surrounded by Dead Men

Yang Ping first took Gao Yue home, and then rode the bicycle towards the Lou family's location.

When Lou Xiao'e pulled the courtyard gate open from the inside, her eyes were still red.

Yang Ping looked at her and asked softly, "Xiao'e, what happened?"

Lou Xiao'e didn't answer, but stepped forward and hugged his waist tightly, burying her face in his shoulder, before letting go after a long while.

"Let's eat first."

Her voice was somewhat low.

"it is good."

Yang Ping agreed and followed her into the house.

He had already guessed that Lou Bancheng had probably come and said everything that needed to be said about Hong Kong.

But he still seemed oblivious, and asked again in a gentle voice, "What's wrong? You seem distracted."

"I...I might have to go home."

Lou Xiao'e's voice was choked with sobs.

She always felt that once she left, she would never see him again.

"What's there to be afraid of?"

Yang Ping laughed, "I know your home address."

"Once you go back, I'll come to see you often."

"Um."

Lou Xiao'e nodded.

She didn't tell him the truth, not wanting to see him sad, so she simply kept the details of their separation to herself.

"Let's eat."

Yang Ping changed the subject, "I rushed over as soon as I got off work, I'm starving right now."

Lou Xiao'e sat down, but didn't pick up her chopsticks immediately.

She got up and walked to the phonograph, gently putting down the needle.

The music of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony filled the room, its melody carrying a jumble of emotions, as complex as her current state of mind.

But as you listen, the melody seems to convey a silent courage—teaching you that no matter what hardships you face, you don't have to be afraid, and even if you have to part ways with Yang Ping today, you can stand up straight and bear it.

As the music played, she returned to the table and picked up her bowl and chopsticks.

"Yang Ping,"

Lou Xiao'e raised her eyes, "Tonight...spend more time with me."

From now on, this place will probably never be where we meet again.

The night was deep, and the light inside cast two shadows on the wall.

"I'm staying here tonight."

Yang Ping's voice carried a gentle smile, "It's just a change of location, we'll always be together."

He whispered words of comfort, unwilling to let the sorrow of parting engulf them too soon.

Lou Xiao'e raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears: "Yes, we will always be together."

"right."

Yang Ping replied, then remembered something else, "Remember to take those two cheongsams with you, and don't forget the ruby ​​necklace either."

Take the phonograph back with you—Uncle Yao gave it to me; it would be a waste to leave it here.

"Yang Ping,"

Lou Xiao'e suddenly asked softly, "Do you...like how I look in a cheongsam?"

"like,"

Yang Ping looked directly into her eyes and said frankly, "You look beautiful in a cheongsam."

Lou Xiao'e said nothing more, quietly finished her meal, and then turned and went into the inner room.

A moment later, the curtain fluttered slightly, and she stepped out—a dark red cheongsam that hugged her figure perfectly, and a ruby ​​pendant below the collar shimmered faintly in the light.

She was already beautiful, and now she had an added touch of classical charm, like a woman who stepped out of an old painting, with a quiet elegance that concealed a dazzling beauty.

Yang Ping was momentarily speechless.

He had met many people, but he had to admit that Lou Xiao'e was the most special one—not stunning, but a kind of beauty that gradually spread and made it impossible to look away.

Lou Xiao'e walked slowly closer and stopped slightly in front of him.

"Is it pretty?"

Before he could finish speaking, her lips gently covered his.

Parting is imminent, and we may never see each other again.

But at this moment, she just wanted to be brave just this once.

**75: Entering the R&D Department**

The morning light shone through the window, waking Yang Ping from her sleep.

He got up and looked around the empty room without making a sound. He simply straightened his clothes and prepared to leave.

I spent last night at Lou Xiao'e's place.

At five o'clock in the morning, she quietly left with her luggage, leaving only a note on the table.

Yang Ping had actually heard her leave, but he didn't get up.

He knew she didn't want to disturb him, so he listened quietly to the faint sounds until he saw her get into the car through the crack in the window and disappear into the distance around the street corner, then he closed his eyes and lay down again.

The handwriting on the letter was very brief.

Lou Xiao'e wrote that she was going to ** with her family, and hoped that they would meet again in the future.

In just a few words, an overwhelming sense of affection was conveyed.

Yang Ping held the thin piece of paper and sighed softly.

Faced with the overwhelming tides of this era, he was powerless to promise to protect her.

Since we couldn't just stand by and watch her go into danger, sending her to the other side of the strait for temporary refuge was the only option.

I just hope we can meet again someday.

Yang Ping pushed his bicycle out the door and rode towards the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

Today is the day he reports to the R&D department.

I had already arranged with Lü Shuitian to come to the workshop from the research lab at 3 p.m. to guide the workers in their fitter skills.

Lü Shuitian was quite agreeable, saying he would come whenever he had time and that he didn't need to be there every day.

He knew in his heart that the skill of an eighth-level fitter could not be mastered overnight, and that coming too often would be of no benefit.

With Master Lin Dahai now in charge of the workshop, there's always someone to handle the grinding of special parts, so there's no need to worry too much.

Before long, the outline of the steel rolling mill came into view.

Yang Ping walked into the first workshop.

"Master Yang!"

Lü Shuitian's voice came from the sound of the machines.

Yang Ping turned his head to look.

"Someone from the R&D department has come; you can just go with him."

As Lü Shuitian spoke, he pointed to the side.

A middle-aged man in his early thirties stood up upon hearing the sound, his gaze falling on Yang Ping with a hint of scrutiny.

The young man looked to be in his early twenties, with a youthful and delicate appearance, but he wore a badge of an eighth-level fitter on his chest—a contrast that made people take a second look.

Aside from his striking appearance, it was hard to tell what else was particularly special about him at first glance.

"You're Yang Ping?"

The person asking the question spoke in a somewhat nonchalant tone.

Upon hearing this, Lü Shuitian frowned.

The young man in front of him was one of the best in their workshop, whose skills even surpassed those of the veteran craftsman Yi Zhonghai. He felt somewhat uncomfortable being greeted with such a dismissive tone.

But he swallowed the words back and didn't say anything in the end—after all, the person was from the R&D department, and it wouldn't be good if it caused Yang Ping trouble in the future.

"Yes."

Yang Ping responded briefly, her face remaining expressionless.

He never cared about such formalities; he accepted whatever attitude others showed him without taking it to heart.

"Come with me to the R&D department."

The middle-aged man turned and walked out, taking quick and large steps.

Yang Ping turned around and waved to Lü Shuitian before following him.

As soon as they stepped out of the workshop, the person in front spoke up: "Yang Ping, let me make this clear first—the R&D department is not a fitter's workshop."

There, a certificate for an eighth-grade fitter might not be useful.

"Those who have just joined are expected to serve tea and water, run errands, and do all sorts of odd jobs."

These words carried a warning tone, clearly treating him as an ordinary apprentice.

"clear."

Yang Ping answered decisively, without the slightest hint of reluctance in his tone.

The middle-aged man was slightly taken aback and couldn't help but glance at him sideways.

The factory's public address system has praised this young man more than once or twice. Normally, someone his age who has received such honors should be proud and arrogant, and would not be willing to lower his head to do such trivial work. But the person in front of us is as calm as a deep pool.

"Oh, right."

Yang Ping suddenly remembered something and casually asked, "Isn't there a colleague named Guo Gang in the R&D department?"

"Do you know Engineer Guo?"

The middle-aged man paused, and when he turned to look at him, his eyes held a more scrutinizing gaze.

A look of astonishment crossed the middle-aged man's face.

The R&D department has two core engineers, one of whom is Guo Gang, who is also the most senior. Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill went to great lengths to invite him to take charge.

"I'd say that's about right."

Yang Ping responded.

With a slight shift in his mind, he casually pulled up Guo Gang's file.

Sure enough, the file showed that Guo Gang was an eighth-level engineer, no wonder the middle-aged man respectfully addressed him as "Engineer Guo".

That's "Engineer Guo".

The abbreviation.

"Cough, cough!"

The middle-aged man choked on his own saliva and coughed repeatedly.

His face instantly turned somewhat pale.

If he had known beforehand that this young man was connected to Guo Gang, he would never have casually ordered people to serve tea and water—now look what happened, he has offended someone he shouldn't have before even stepping into the R&D department.

Thinking of this, he was filled with deep regret.

"Um... Master Yang, please forgive me if I offended you just now."

After catching his breath, he quickly apologized.

"fine."

Yang Ping simply waved his hand.

"Master Yang, my name is Cao Dayu. You can just call me Dayu from now on."

The middle-aged man followed suit, introducing himself with a warm tone.

That previous frivolous air vanished without a trace.

A man in his thirties was being addressed by his first name by Yang Ping, who was much younger than him; the politeness was almost excessive.

"This...isn't that inappropriate?"

Yang Ping looked at the fine lines around his eyes. He was at least ten years older than her, and she felt awkward calling him by his name.

"Perfect, perfect! That's what everyone in the group calls me."

Cao Dayu put on a smile and said repeatedly.

Yang Ping smiled gently.

It must be admitted that Cao Dayu's attitude changed as quickly as flipping through a book—the moment he heard that Guo Gang was standing behind him, his attitude immediately changed completely, from looking down on him to looking up at him.

Cao Dayu led Yang Ping forward, reminding him to watch out for the scattered pebbles under his feet as they walked.

The meticulous care was almost all-encompassing, as if they were afraid Yang Ping would make a wrong move.

Before long, the two arrived at the entrance of the research and development department.

This so-called R&D department is actually just a large room that is slightly more spacious than a regular office.

Several desks were pushed together, and the desks were piled with various tools and scattered materials, making the place look crowded and messy.

At that moment, a dozen or so people were gathered in a circle, their eyes fixed on a rotating electric fan in the center.

Cao Dayu glanced at it without saying a word, then pointed to a small office separated by glass at the back of the room.

"Master Yang, that's Engineer Guo's office."

Shall we go there now?

"it is good."

Yang Ping responded.

"This way, please."

Cao Dayu made a guiding gesture and then walked towards Guo Gang's office.

Yang Ping followed immediately.

"Cao Dayu, you're dawdling around even when you're training a newbie. Hurry up and tell him to pour me a cup of tea!"

Suddenly, someone in the group looked up and saw the unfamiliar face behind Cao Dayu. He then naturally started ordering him around—after all, everyone who just joined the R&D department had to go through this process.

"Oh."

Cao Dayu chuckled softly and slowly began to speak:

"Song Zixu, are you sure you want Chef Yang to serve you tea and water?"

He had already run into a snag himself.

If anyone else wants to intimidate Yang Ping this time, that's perfect, they can all run into a brick wall together.

If someone is going to be scolded, you can't just scold him alone.

"What's there to be sure about? Newcomers should just go through this process."

While you're at it, tidy up my desk too.

Song Zixu didn't even look up, his tone full of impatience.

The bystanders watched the scene with smiles on their faces, waiting for Song Zixu to finish his explanation before they also planned to find some work for Yang Ping to do.

It's been too long since any new people have joined; it's time to have him thoroughly clean the office.

As for what level eight fitter—who cares? This is the R&D department; even a dragon would have to coil up properly here.

"He's one of Guo's men."

Cao Dayu gently revealed his hand.