The Fitter Master in the Courtyard: Surrounded by Dead Men

In recent days, he had replaced sleep with breathing exercises, repeating the cycle repeatedly. His body seemed to have undergone tempering, and the power surging between his muscles and bones was incomparable to what it used to be.

Even if he were to face a gun at this moment, he would be confident in handling the situation calmly.

Once his cultivation advances to the next level, this body will be able to surpass Yan Hancheng's level.

By then, ordinary firearms will likely be unable to get close, and the initiative in the life-or-death situation will be firmly in one's own hands.

The sky gradually brightened.

Yang Ping opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

He went to the Intermediate People's Court to wash up as usual, had a simple breakfast, and then went out to the factory.

In the R&D department, he had just picked up his tools to start polishing the parts when he heard Guo Gang's voice behind him.

"Yang Ping!"

"Mr. Guo, is something the matter?"

Yang Ping turned around and asked.

"Director Yang called you earlier but couldn't reach you, so he transferred the call to me."

"I'd like you to go to his office when you have time."

Guo Gang said.

"Okay, I'll go right away."

Yang Ping deftly put down his work, dusted off the metal shavings from the corner of his clothes, and walked straight toward the factory manager's office.

Before long, he was sitting in the chair opposite Director Yang's desk, looking calm.

Factory Director Yang didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point, explaining his purpose.

"Yang Ping, I've come to give you a reward."

Last time you trained an eighth-level fitter, I specifically applied to the higher-ups for a commendation, and it's been approved now.

He took an envelope from the drawer and gently pushed it in front of Yang Ping.

"Two hundred yuan, plus a bicycle ticket."

When Yang Ping took it, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Although a reward had been mentioned before, he didn't dare to really count on the bicycle voucher—it was a rare commodity, and many directors in the factory still couldn't afford a new bicycle.

If he hadn't won a card from Deng Gang while fishing earlier, he probably would have only been thinking about finding a second-hand car.

"It was personally approved by the top leader; he values ​​you highly."

Director Yang's tone carried a hint of suggestion.

"Thank you, factory manager. Please also thank the senior leader on my behalf."

Yang Ping immediately replied sincerely.

He realized that it was a high-ranking leader who had exerted effort, and he immediately understood.

"Don't thank me."

Factory Director Yang waved his hand, "Next time you see a high-ranking leader, you should thank him properly yourself."

"must."

Yang Ping nodded in agreement.

"Oh, right."

Factory Director Yang seemed to suddenly remember something, "The higher-ups also asked me to ask how your studies are going in the R&D department?"

"It went quite smoothly, and I encountered a lot of new things."

Yang Ping smiled and then revealed, "I'm currently working on a new type of battery, and I expect to see some results soon."

He left it at that, without giving any specific direction—some details should be left unsaid.

"Battery?"

Factory Director Yang was slightly taken aback, and his expression became serious.

Not long after Yang Ping left, news spread that he was working on a new project, showing a level of enthusiasm that far surpassed that of many young people who relied on their family background to get by.

If the battery can be successfully developed, the factory can easily add a dedicated production line.

It's too early to say how the market will react.

"That's exactly right."

Yang Ping nodded slightly.

He had already planned to launch electric bicycles once lithium battery technology matured.

This product is practical and can be used by ordinary people, so there's no worry about finding a market for it.

"You've also been given an assessment; you'll be taking the engineer qualification exam next spring."

You need to prepare in advance; you can't let them down.

Director Yang spoke solemnly.

He couldn't help but feel moved; that leader had truly considered every aspect of Yang Ping's future.

The purpose of submitting the name in advance was to ensure that the young man would not slack off at any time and would pass the test in one go.

"Don't worry, I'm confident in this assessment."

A smile appeared on Yang Ping's lips.

He had been figuring out how to register, but now that the leader was handling everything, it saved him a lot of trouble.

This care is truly thoughtful.

He naturally understood the leader's deeper meaning: with this goal in sight, he would not slack off, much less drift through life like some of the children of employees in the R&D department.

This dedication, almost like supervising one's own child, deeply moved him.

"Okay, then you can go back and get back to work."

Factory Director Yang waved his hand.

The encouragement that needed to be given has been given, and the advice that needed to be given has been given. The rest of the road is for him to walk on his own.

Yang Ping acknowledged and took his leave.

As soon as I stepped into the R&D department, I heard Cao Dayu and Song Zixu talking loudly, surrounded by a group of people, chatting animatedly and having a great time.

"cough."

He cleared his throat lightly.

Yang Ping let out a low cough.

Everyone turned around and greeted him in unison, "Master Yang!"

Cao Dayu and Song Zixu's expressions changed simultaneously.

They quickly turned around and respectfully greeted, "Master Yang!"

"Team leader!"

"start."

Yang Ping uttered only two words before heading straight to the parts processing area.

The two lowered their shoulders and obediently followed.

"Da Yu and Zi Xu have really had it tough."

"Who says otherwise? I definitely wouldn't go through all that trouble, it's too exhausting."

"Indeed, it would be so comfortable to be able to relax and not do any work every day."

Watching them leave, the others whispered among themselves.

Cao Dayu and Song Zixu felt no displeasure upon hearing these words; instead, they exchanged a glance discreetly.

They were involved in a research and development mission that would go down in history, and the fewer people who knew about it, the better—the less these people cared, the more benefits they could monopolize.

Once lithium-ion batteries are successfully introduced to the market, these whispering colleagues will likely be too late to regret their actions.

Everyone longs to achieve great things, but not everyone has the opportunity to do so.

Now that they've decided to follow Yang Ping, they firmly believe they're on that path.

"We'll finish polishing all the functional components today, and then we'll come back the day after tomorrow to start final assembly."

As soon as the three entered the work area, Yang Ping said, "As long as the equipment can run, the trial production of the lithium power supply can begin."

Tomorrow is a rest day, so assembly can only wait until next week.

"clear!"

The two men perked up and immediately stood in front of their respective workbenches, picking up their polishing tools again.

Yang Ping stopped talking and focused intently on her work.

Inside the parts processing area, only the regular hum of the machines and the busy figures of three people remained.

Around 3:30 in the afternoon, the last part was also finished.

Yang Ping carefully inspected the parts and, after confirming that everything was correct, instructed his two assistants to sort and organize them properly before turning to head towards the workshop.

It's alright to arrive at the workshop a little later—I was just doing a routine inspection today anyway.

"Master Yang, the list is ready. Please take a look."

When Lü Shuitian saw him coming from afar, he quickly picked up a few pages of paper from the table and went to greet him.

Yang Ping took the stack of names.

The six pages were densely filled with the names and ranks of fitters, numbering about six or seven hundred.

His gaze swept quickly across the list, picking out sixteen names—all of whom were his trusted confidants whom he had secretly cultivated.

As for the rest, let other masters train them.

"Director Lü, these are the sixteen people. Please make arrangements."

He handed the list back.

"Okay!"

Lu Shuitian took the document and glanced at it. He saw that there were fitters ranging from level one to level four, and he couldn't help but smile, hoping that these people could grow quickly under Yang Ping's guidance and become the future pillars of Workshop One.

He made a copy on a separate sheet and handed it to Yang Ping for confirmation: "Yang Ping, are these the sixteen people?"

"That's right."

Yang Ping looked again—it was indeed one of his people—and nodded in agreement.

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away."

When you return the day after tomorrow, they should be working near your machine.

Lu Shuitian put the list away and said.

"it is good."

Yang Ping gave a brief reply, then went to the machine area for a quick look before returning to Lü Shuitian's side to sit and drink tea.

Tomorrow is a rest day.

Gao Yue had already told him that she would go fishing with Zhou Xiaobai, have lunch together, and then return to the compound in the evening.

Yang Ping put down his bicycle and stood at the alley entrance for a moment.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the bluestone path still bore the damp marks of the night's rain.

He reached out and touched the air, and the fishing rod and stool landed steadily in his palm—he did this with ease, as if taking a handkerchief out of his pocket.

We need to get there before Gao Yue arrives.

As he pondered this, the wheel of his car rolled over the puddles, startling a gray pigeon that was perched on the wall.

The noise from Houhai can be heard from two streets away.

Sunday crowds are always like this: vendors selling water chestnuts, old men renting boats, and boys squatting by the stone railing fiddling with fishing lines; all the sounds, mixed with the fishy smell of water, hit you in the face.

Yang Ping pushed the cart through the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces—but none of them were what he was looking for.

He set up a stool under an old willow tree, leaned his fishing rod against the stone railing, and kept the sinker suspended an inch above the water.

"Comrade Yang!"

He turned his head.

Deng Gang was squeezing through the crowd, the bamboo fishing rod in his hand gleaming in the sun. The tense expression on his face was gone, replaced by a relaxed smile, as if he had untied some knot.

"It's rare to see you out on a Sunday."

Deng Gang squatted down next to him, took out a cigarette case from his cloth bag, and said, "After hearing what you said last time, I thought about it all night."

Yang Ping took the cigarette, but didn't light it, just slowly twirled it between his fingers. "Fishing shouldn't be limited to any particular day."

He spoke softly, but his gaze drifted toward the distant arched bridge—two girls had just appeared at the bridgehead, one wearing a light blue shirt and the other with a ponytail, waving in their direction.

Deng Gang followed his gaze and smiled knowingly, "Then I won't bother you any longer."

Let's have a proper competition another day.

As he got up, Yang Ping noticed that his trouser legs were covered in grass clippings and his shoes were still damp with mud—this man must have left before dawn, perhaps first going to the outskirts before coming to Houhai.

Some changes happen quietly, like water seeping into the cracks between bricks, leaving no trace, yet allowing moss to grow at the base of the wall.

As Gao Yue and Zhou Xiaobai approached, Yang Ping had already looked away.

He tucked the cigarette behind his ear and picked up the bucket of water from beside the stool: "The water level is two fingers lower today than last week."

"I saw someone selling fried cakes on the street just now."

Gao Yue placed the canvas bag on the stone railing, took out an oil paper package from it, and said, "I brought you two, they're filled with red bean paste."

Zhou Xiaobai squatted down to tie her shoelaces, her ponytail slipping off her shoulder.

When she looked up, her eyes crinkled: "Comrade Deng Gang looks really good today."

I saw him last month, and he looked very worried.

Yang Ping took the warm fried cake, and the oil stains on the paper slowly spread.

He took a bite, and the sweet red bean paste melted on his tongue, mixed with the scent of seaweed in the breeze from Houhai.

In the distance, a boatman was calling out, the sound of his oars echoing, startling a string of tiny silver flashes on the water's surface.

"Everyone needs something to keep them occupied."

As he spoke, he cast his fishing line into the shimmering waves.

The ripples created by the sinking lead weight spread out in circles, shattering the cloud reflections on the lake's surface.

Yang Ping had a faint smile on her face.

Deng Gang took a few steps closer and tentatively asked, "Mr. Yang, would it be convenient for me to cast a couple of lines next to you today?"

"random."

Yang Ping answered decisively.

He didn't mind having people watching him.

No matter how noisy or challenging the surroundings, he is confident that he can catch a fish as long as its shadow swims by – that is his confidence.

"Thank you in advance, Mr. Yang."

Deng Gang said sincerely, "I'll share half of what I catch with you later."

He felt that being able to observe Yang Ping was already a rare opportunity.

"No need,"

Yang Ping waved his hand, "If you want to eat fish, I'll cook it myself."

As much as you want, we have it all.

This is not an exaggeration.