The Fitter Master in the Courtyard: Surrounded by Dead Men

Watching that departing figure, Director Yang remained silent for a long time before suddenly opening a drawer, taking out several medals, and gently placing them in his palm.

"Old buddies,"

He murmured to himself, "How have you all been doing over there all these years?"

Among those medals were three third-class merits and two second-class merits—behind each engraving lay a memory of endless war.

Witnessing the award ceremony, he felt no envy whatsoever. Instead, he recalled the faces of those who had lain side by side with him in the trenches years ago.

If they were alive today, they would be twenty years old by now.

Thinking of this, his eyes welled up slightly.

After a moment, Director Yang put the medal back in the drawer, took a deep breath, composed himself, and resumed his work at his desk.

Yang Ping was completely unaware of this.

As he left the office, he carefully put away the medal.

This honor doesn't need to be publicized; it's enough that I understand it myself.

The appointment of the deputy director of the R&D department is truly gratifying.

There has never been a precedent in the steel rolling mill for having two directors, a director and a deputy director, at the same time, nor in other mills.

This arrangement is unprecedented.

From this day forward, his name will likely remain in the factory's annals.

As soon as he stepped into the R&D department, Guo Gang came out of the inner office and greeted everyone:

"Everyone come here for a moment, I have something to announce."

Wei Chengdong and others gathered around.

Cao Dayu and Song Zixu, who were busy in the parts manufacturing area, also put down their tools and came out.

Yang Ping stopped and stood at the edge of the crowd.

"From today onwards,"

Guo Gang announced in a clear voice, "Comrade Yang Ping will serve as the deputy director of the R&D department."

His abilities are undeniable; he truly deserves this position.

"That's right!"

Cao Dayu was the first to speak up in agreement.

Everyone nodded in agreement, expressing their approval of the result.

Yang Ping's performance since joining the R&D department has already won everyone's approval.

He is certainly capable of taking on the position of deputy director.

As for what changes this appointment will bring? It's actually irrelevant to them.

Yang Ping was already the second-in-command in the department, and now he's just officially in charge.

A raise? That's hardly an attraction—if you really want money, just ask your family; every month's salary is much more than that little bit.

That concludes today's meeting.

Guo Gang adjourned the meeting, giving Yang Ping a thumbs-up at the same time.

Even knowing the other party's special identity, he still sincerely admired the young man's talent.

Yang Ping simply smiled faintly and said nothing more.

"Director Yang!"

Cao Dayu greeted him with a smile.

"Hello, Director Yang!"

Song Zixu and the others also spoke up.

"Um."

Yang Ping nodded, a slight sense of satisfaction spreading through her heart.

He turned and went back to his office, burying himself in his desk once more.

With the Lunar New Year approaching and only a little over half a month left, he had to hurry up and complete the modification plan for that fitter's machine before the Spring Festival.

The clock on the wall swung quietly, and before we knew it, it was already three in the afternoon.

My eyes are a little sore from staring at the blueprints all day.

Yang Ping simply put down his pen, got up, and walked towards the workshop—just to clear his head and get some fresh air.

As soon as he arrived at the workshop entrance, Lü Shuitian stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled:

"Director Yang, congratulations on your promotion!"

The news of his appointment as deputy director of the department had already spread, and when he saw Yang Ping coming over, he made a special trip forward to congratulate him.

"Director Lü, you're too kind. It was just luck."

Yang Ping responded.

Director Lü chuckled and replied, "Director Yang is too modest. How could someone hold down the position of director of two departments? You can't just rely on luck. You can't hold this position without real ability."

He genuinely admired him.

In all these years of steel rolling mills, no one else in other factories has ever been known to hold two positions simultaneously; Yang Ping has set a precedent.

Yang Ping simply smiled and didn't say anything more. "Director Lü, I'll go check on everyone's progress at the machines."

"Okay, go ahead and get busy."

Lü Shuitian nodded.

Yang Ping then turned and walked into the workshop.

……

Time flies, and the day off has arrived.

Yang Ping woke up naturally, put on her clothes, and went to the sink in the middle courtyard to brush her teeth and wash her face.

He had arranged to see the movie with Gao Yue and Zhou Xiaobai in the afternoon, and since it was still early, he wasn't in a hurry at all.

After leisurely tidying up, he went back to his room to prepare some breakfast when the curtain was lifted and Ma Xiaoling walked in.

"Yang Ping, are you free this afternoon? My husband, Da Mao, has two extra movie tickets. Want to go see one together?"

Yang Ping was taken aback, somewhat surprised.

Gao Yue also booked an afternoon session, could it be that they've run into each other?

"Sister Xiaoling, I've already made plans with someone."

He told the truth to avoid any awkwardness if they bumped into each other at the movie theater.

"You've made plans? Who is it? Which lucky girl is it?"

Ma Xiaoling's eyes lit up, and she pressed for an answer.

"She was an announcer at our factory's radio station, and she was with a friend; the three of them were together."

Yang Ping explained with a smile.

This wasn't exactly a secret in the factory; anyone who had worked at the steel rolling mill knew that I was dating Gao Yue, and even Xu Damao knew.

"Oh, it's her. Xu Damao mentioned her before, saying she's quite pretty."

Ma Xiaoling smiled and said, "Then I won't join in the fun this afternoon, so as not to bother you."

She had originally planned to invite her younger brother, Yang Ping, to come along, worried that he might get bored staying in the house alone, but now she had to give up on that idea—she couldn't very well be the third wheel.

"It's alright, Xiaoling. You can go with Da Mao. It'll be fine."

Yang Ping stirred the egg mixture in the bowl while looking up and smiling.

The movie theater was spacious enough that people could sit anywhere. It didn't really matter if there was one more or one less person.

"That's true... but Xu Damao is too boring, I don't like watching movies with him."

Ma Xiaoling muttered something under her breath.

Yang Ping almost burst out laughing when she heard that.

Let alone Xu Damao, even if it were him facing Ma Xiaoling, he probably wouldn't be able to find any romance—like Sun Wukong's seventy-two transformations, he could transform into nothing but a flower.

This isn't to look down on anyone, it's just that some people, when you're with them, just don't have that heart-fluttering quality.

"Alright, I won't bother you anymore. You can take your time making breakfast."

Ma Xiaoling waved her hand dismissively, turned around, and walked out.

Yang Ping continued chopping his scallions.

After breakfast, he casually flipped through a few pages of a book in the room, letting time slowly pass by.

The daffodils on the windowsill have already sprouted bluish-white buds, and they should bloom in a few days. They will surely be beautiful and fragrant then.

He silently calculated the days, figuring it would be around the Lunar New Year, just in time to stay up late on New Year's Eve and enjoy the flowers at the same time.

Before long, the sun was setting in the west, around three o'clock in the afternoon.

Yang Ping pushed her bicycle out of the courtyard gate.

He had arranged to meet Gao Yue at four o'clock, and planned to first go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some candied peach shortbread so he could have some snacks while watching the movie.

As for sunflower seeds and peanuts—there are plenty of stalls selling them near the screening venue, so you can buy them anytime.

Yang Ping, carrying the desserts wrapped in oil paper, rode his bicycle into the alley near Gao Yue's house.

Two figures were already standing at the entrance of the alley; they were Gao Yue and Zhou Xiaobai.

"For you."

Yang Ping parked the car and handed a bag of candied peach shortbread to Gao Yue, saying, "Eat it slowly while watching the movie later."

Thank you.

Gao Yue took it, her voice very soft.

"What about mine?"

Zhou Xiaobai, who was standing to the side, reached out his hand and looked straight at Yang Ping.

Yang Ping paused, then turned his gaze to Gao Yue.

Seeing her nod slightly, he took another bag out of the bicycle basket and handed it to her: "Xiaobai, this one is for you."

"That's more like it."

Zhou Xiaobai took the paper package and handed it to Gao Yue, declaring in a matter-of-fact tone, "From now on, how you treat Gao Yue is how you should treat me."

You must treat everyone equally, without favoritism, do you hear me?

"I heard you."

Yang Ping responded, glancing at Gao Yue discreetly.

Her expression was calm, revealing no emotion.

It seems the two have indeed had a frank talk.

He had never experienced this situation before. Although he had been with many girls, this was the first time he had ever been in such a situation. It was novel and left him at a loss for what to do.

"Let's go."

Yang Ping climbed onto the car seat.

"OK!"

Zhou Xiaobai should be cheerful.

The three of them, on two bikes, rode towards the open-air cinema outside the steel rolling mill.

The wheels rolled over the stone pavement, making a soft, rustling sound.

"Yang Ping,"

Zhou Xiaobai suddenly asked from the side, "That electric bicycle... I heard you modified it?"

"Yes, I changed it."

Yang Ping looked ahead and nodded.

Outside the courtyard wall, on the open ground, the screen was already hung up, and the projector waited quietly for the light in the twilight.

The crowd arrived early, and the chairs were all occupied, leaving only the first three rows empty—those were reserved for the factory leaders.

The shouts pierced through the noisy crowd as vendors selling melon seeds and peanuts weaved through the gaps in the crowd with their bamboo baskets.

Zhou Xiaobai pushed his bicycle closer, the wheels making a soft crunching sound as they rolled over the gravel. "See that? Someone's riding a pretty nice model over there," he said.

She turned to Yang Ping and gestured with her chin, "Help me modify one later, it'll make patrolling much faster."

Yang Ping readily agreed: "Okay, I'll get it done for you right away once I install the power outage protection."

It's not safe to install it directly now.

He knew Zhou Xiaobai's temperament—she never beat around the bush when she wanted something. Back when she couldn't buy a bicycle, she came to him directly in the same way.

Someone else might have thought it was rash, but things are different now.

She was one of his girlfriends, so he naturally had to agree to this small favor.

"Then it's settled."

Zhou Xiaobai parked the car against the wall. "You can tell Gao Yue when it's fixed, and I'll bring the car over."

"rest assured."

Gao Yue followed beside her, but her steps were somewhat hesitant.

Yang Ping turned his head and smiled at her: "Don't forget, I'm a leader now, so it's perfectly reasonable for me to sit in the front."

As dusk deepened, the projector began to turn, its beam piercing the darkening sky.

The three of them walked through the crowd and headed towards the empty third row.

Gao Yue's expression softened slightly, and she finally moved her feet and walked over.

Yang Ping didn't stand on ceremony, and the three of them sat down on the bench.

"Oh, you guys... Oh, Director Yang, you've arrived!"

The security personnel on duty initially intended to disperse the group, but upon seeing Yang Ping, their faces immediately lit up with smiles, and they greeted him warmly.

"Yes, I came to see a movie with my family."

Yang Ping responded.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiaobai's eyes lit up with joy.

Gao Yue simply sat there calmly, without any expression.

"Hey, Yang Ping, you're here to watch a movie too?"

Xu Damao suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

He stared intently at Zhou Xiaobai, a particularly warm smile spreading across his face, and leaned forward to ask, "Yang Ping, who is this?"

As for Gao Yue, he dared not entertain any thoughts—who didn't know she was with Yang Ping now? If he rashly approached her, he feared he would only get nowhere.

Yang Ping's lips curled up slightly, thinking to herself that Xu Damao really hadn't changed his ways. He wanted to fawn over any pretty girl he saw, completely ignoring Ma Xiaoling.

He glanced up and saw Ma Xiaoling looking around in the distance, as if searching for someone.

Yang Ping immediately understood; there was probably going to be a good show to watch.

Ma Xiaoling was momentarily stunned, still trying to understand the situation.

"Hello comrade, my name is Xu Damao, and I live in the same courtyard as Yang Ping. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Xu Damao smiled obsequiously and reached out his hand to Zhou Xiaobai.

My name is Zhou Xiaobai.

Zhou Xiaobai replied politely.

Seeing that the other person knew Yang Ping and was also a neighbor in the same courtyard, she gave her name.

"Xiaobai... what a wonderful name! It evokes the dawn, the bright daylight, and is both meaningful and fitting for someone as refined as you. It couldn't be more perfect!"

Xu Damao smoothly picked up the conversation, continuing to chime in with a smile.