1950s: After transmigrating into a capitalist, I relied on military industry to achieve a comeback.

The success of the "Dongfeng" water pump was just the beginning.

With the cheap and high-quality steel provided by the converter steelmaking method and the efficient and precise casting technology brought by the lost-wax casting method, the "civilian products workshop" of Institute 909 has unleashed amazing energy.

Over the next two years, all sorts of "small inventions" bearing the "Dongfeng" trademark were born here and then spread throughout the country.

Wheat that originally required strong men to swing their arms to thresh was now easily threshed by the "Dongfeng" brand small threshing machine. With a flick of the switch, the wheat grains and straw were clearly separated in the iron trough.

In the brigade's pig farm, the feeder who used to suffer from tenosynovitis from cutting pig feed now grins from ear to ear all day long while touching the "Dongfeng" brand feed grinder.

Not to mention the "Dongfeng" brand green washbasins, large-bellied thermos flasks, and double-layered lunch boxes on the shelves of the supply store, which were made by stamping steel plates—they were unbreakable and could not be smashed, and the prices were shockingly cheap. As soon as they were put on the counter, they were snatched up by aunties and grandmas holding tickets, almost breaking the glass cabinet.

In Lin Jiaoyue's view, these things had almost no technical content, but in this era of extreme scarcity, they greatly improved the quality of life for ordinary people.

Of course, what truly made Lin Jiaoyue and Director Zhang beam with joy was the exquisitely designed "money-devouring beast" that raked in large quantities of foreign exchange—the high-performance "Panda" brand vacuum tube radio.

This thing isn't currently sold in any civilian stores in China.

Packed in exquisite boxes printed with English, it was shipped to Hong Kong in batches through special channels, and from Hong Kong it flowed to the whole of Southeast Asia, and even entered the European and American markets openly.

The outer shell was designed by Lin Jiaoyue herself: abandoning the bulky and square shape of the Soviet Union, it features a streamlined walnut wood veneer, chrome-plated brass knobs that gleam warmly under the light, and even the speaker grille is made of special cotton and linen fabric with dark gold threads.

In this day and age, this retro and exquisite exterior alone is enough to fool those foreigners who claim to have good taste.

Its performance far surpasses that of any competitor.

Song Siming led the team and used the signal processing technology accumulated in the "Sky Shield" project, which made its radio signal-to-noise ratio reach an astonishing level. Even in the worst signal areas, it could clearly receive radio stations from distant countries.

This radio, "from the mysterious East," became a favorite among middle-class families overseas as soon as it hit the market.

Huge amounts of foreign exchange flowed into the country's coffers like a tidal wave.

With money and steel, the entire country seemed to have been injected with a powerful stimulant, and began to undergo rapid and dramatic changes at a visible pace.

The most direct manifestation of this is in people's dining tables.

Pork, which used to be a rare treat reserved for holidays, can now be purchased occasionally with ration coupons. The shelves at the supply and marketing cooperatives are no longer empty; they are stocked with various canned goods, biscuits, and pastries, though coupons are still required, at least they are now available.

People's faces gradually regained their color, becoming less pale and more rosy and smiling.

……

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Beijing, late autumn evening. In the Lin family's courtyard in Nanluoguxiang, the rich aroma of star anise and spices sizzling in hot oil wafts out through the cracks in the door.

"Dinner's ready, Lao Lin! Jiaojiao! Stop fiddling with your damn blueprints and wash your hands!"

Su Wanqing wore a floral apron and carried a chipped but gleaming white porcelain plate. On the plate, braised pork, its color a deep red, was steaming hot. She placed the plate on the octagonal table in the main room and raised her voice towards the east and west wing rooms.

"Here it comes, here it comes."

The cotton curtain of the west wing was lifted, and Lin Jiaoyue casually placed the well-worn copy of "High Energy Fluid Mechanics" on the table before slipping on her cloth shoes and walking out.

These past three years have probably been the most comfortable days she's had since she came from that grueling, high-pressure factory.

There was no high-pressure environment like in "Project 541" where a single decimal point error could be fatal, nor was there Director Zhang constantly urging progress on his demands.

Her daily routine consisted of going to the institute to drink tea, drawing two improvement sketches for the stalled workshop below, and spending the rest of her time living the "useless" life she longed for.

She even casually scattered a handful of tomato seeds in a small patch of open space in the southwest corner of the yard. However, every time she watered them, she would secretly add a drop or two of diluted spiritual spring water from her space. She just tended to them so casually, and the ordinary seeds actually grew into several thick vines that looked like tree vines.

Right now, several fist-sized, juicy, and bright red fruits are hanging on the vine.

The Lin family's courtyard is now surrounded by layers of hidden sentries, preventing outsiders from even getting close to the alley entrance. But even the strictest security cannot keep out those few "one of their own" who have risked their lives for them.

Last year, when Gao Jianguo came to the Lin family's house for a meal, he casually ate a red tomato and was immediately amazed. This roughneck refused to believe it and insisted that he could grow it himself with the same mud.

This spring, he toiled away digging a long stretch of land in the military compound, carrying manure and watering it every day, but all that grew were sour, unripe fruits.

Lin Jiaoyue still remembers that just last month, Gao Jianguo came to the Lin family's courtyard and sighed as he stared at the few red tomatoes in the corner that had been watered with diluted spiritual spring water.

"Jiaoyue, I'm just baffled." Gao Jianguo said with a dark face, hands on his hips, "Same seed, I've been carrying manure in the military compound every day, how come the stuff that grows is so sour it makes my teeth ache?"

Just as Lin Jiaoyue was about to laugh at him, she saw him reach into his military uniform pocket to take out a match. However, instead of a match, a small red-lacquered and gold-painted rattle fell out with a "ding-dong".

Lin Jiaoyue still laughs when she thinks about that scene.

Speaking of rattles, one must mention that Gao Jianguo has changed the most in recent years.

Now, Gao Jianguo's chest is adorned with medals, and he's a well-known deputy regimental commander. Two years ago, Director Zhang personally acted as matchmaker, introducing him to a leading lady in the performing arts troupe. Her wife was straightforward and had this rough-around-the-edges man completely under her thumb.

The couple had a very good relationship and had just welcomed a healthy baby girl six months ago. Now, the once fierce and ruthless Deputy Regiment Commander Gao has completely become a doting "daughter slave" with no bottom line.

I heard that later, at a combat summary meeting held in the military region, when this dark-faced man took out his notebook, he dropped a rattle drum out of his pocket, causing the entire conference room to burst into laughter.

Even Gao Jianguo has become a father, but what surprised Lin Jiaoyue the most was Song Siming.

This bookworm's head is full of wind deflection data and aerodynamics; he talks about calculus the moment he starts chatting with someone.

Lin Jiaoyue once thought that he would spend the rest of his life with ballistic computers.

Who would have thought that this taciturn guy would actually have someone who likes him, and that the girl would be pursuing him relentlessly.