Courtyard Houses: The Great Masters of a Nation Hidden Within

Gao Jianguo knocked on the door twice, and Yi Zhonghai's wife opened it.

Upon seeing Gao Jianguo standing outside the door, the middle-aged woman immediately put on a smile and ushered him into the house.

Yi Zhonghai was crouching by the table, fiddling with a small, unremarkable part in his hand.

Honestly, people who are truly skilled in technology can't stay idle after work; they always have to think about something.

Seeing Gao Jianguo carrying in a heavy typewriter, Yi Zhonghai quickly stood up and helped him, and the two of them moved the metal lump onto the table together.

Gao Jianguo breathed a sigh of relief; his arms were sore from being constricted.

Yi Zhonghai glanced at the things on the table and asked, "Jianguo, do you need this typewriter repaired?"

Yi Zhonghai recognized the typewriter, but he didn't think of anything else and assumed it was broken.

Gao Jianguo didn't explain why he wanted to make the change, and Yi Zhonghai didn't press him for an answer.

"Well, Master Yi, I'm tinkering with something, and I'm missing a part." Gao Jianguo patted the typewriter. "This thing can be modified to fit perfectly, so I was hoping you could help me out."

Yi Zhonghai always remembered Gao Jianguo's kindness.

Jia Dongxu was able to get into the thermocouple group entirely thanks to Gao Jianguo's hard work. Gao Jianguo's help was truly substantial, and now it seems to have really benefited Jia Dongxu's future.

In their daily interactions, Gao Jianguo treated the elderly couple with great courtesy and never put on airs, making their relationship comfortable.

So when Gao Jianguo asked for help, Yi Zhonghai was actually quite happy.

When people owe each other too much and can't repay it, sometimes it makes them feel conflicted.

The ways people react are all different; some will feel guilty, while others will simply hate you. It's unpredictable.

Yi Zhonghai's face immediately turned serious: "No problem, Jianguo, just tell me how you want to change it."

Gao Jianguo explained his plans and methods in detail, and Yi Zhonghai listened and nodded, gesturing with his fingers on the typewriter.

After Gao Jianguo finished rambling, Yi Zhonghai stroked his chin and pondered for a moment: "If you keep doing it this way, most of this thing will have to be dismantled and thrown away."

"That's right," Gao Jianguo said, tapping the keyboard with his finger, "I need this keyboard, the casing, and the linkages under the keys. The rest is unnecessary."

Yi Zhonghai went over the task in his mind and felt confident: "It's piecemeal, I reckon I can get everything done by Sunday. Hopefully, that won't interfere with your schedule. If you're in a hurry, I'll stay up a little later tonight."

Gao Jianguo waved his hand, "No rush, no rush, Master Yi, there's enough time, don't be in a hurry."

After saying that, Gao Jianguo took out a ten-yuan bill and stuffed it into Yi Zhonghai's hand: "Master Yi, thank you for this. Consider it my own side job. The processing fee isn't much, but you have to take it."

Yi Zhonghai shoved his hand away forcefully: "Jianguo, don't bother with this. I see how you treat my wife and me. Taking money for this little favor is a slap in the face to me, Old Yi."

The two went back and forth several times, but Yi Zhonghai refused to take it no matter what.

Gao Jianguo had no other choice but to put the money back in his pocket.

If they don't want to accept it, they don't have to. They can make up for it at another time.

Once the deal was settled, Gao Jianguo put down his typewriter and went home.

He didn't rest when he got home. He took apart the cardboard box that contained the TV, squatted down and started to study the TV's signal circuit, intending to modify the input signal himself.

I squatted there until almost 11 o'clock, my eyes were almost blurry from looking so much, before I finally got up to rest.

Early Tuesday morning, Gao Jianguo was busy when someone came to call him, saying that Chief Engineer Chen wanted him to go to the office.

Gao Jianguo dropped what he was doing and went straight to Old Chen's room.

Old Chen saw him come in and tossed him a cigarette: "Jianguo, there's something I need you to take care of."

Gao Jianguo took out a notebook and pen: "Master, I'll remember your instructions."

Old Chen rummaged through the desk, pulled out a document, and handed it over: "The department is holding a seminar to discuss the management of scientific research. I see you manage your group quite well. Here's what we'll do: you prepare some materials first, and I'll take you there. You can speak on my behalf at the meeting."

This sounded like a good thing, but Gao Jianguo's heart skipped a beat.

He didn't show it on his face, and casually asked, "Okay, I'll write the materials first. Master, where is this meeting being held? How many days will it take? Let me see what I need to bring."

Old Chen took a puff of his cigarette: "You don't need to bring anything. It's all right here in Beijing. The notice says two days, but it's actually only one day. The first day is for comrades from out of town to register. The department will arrange for someone to handle the registration procedures for us. We just need to arrive on the second day, this Saturday."

After hearing this, Gao Jianguo felt relieved.

The task given to him when the system first appeared was to stabilize the world's connection. He couldn't leave that courtyard for too long; that would be fatal.

It's just in the city, only for one day, nothing to worry about.

Gao Jianguo closed his notebook: "I guarantee I'll complete the mission."

Old Chen pointed his chin at the document in his hand: "Take this notice back and think about it carefully. Write the report in a positive light."

Gao Jianguo responded, put away the notice, and was about to move when Old Chen stopped him: "Wait a minute, I checked your group's progress, it's pretty fast. You shouldn't be too busy these next couple of days, stay and play a couple of games of Go with me."

Gao Jianguo shook his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum: "I can play a couple of moves in Gomoku, but I really can't play Go."

"Gomoku?" Old Chen had never heard of it before. "Tell me, how do you play it?"

Gao Jianguo explained the rules to Lao Chen. They were very simple, and Lao Chen understood them immediately. He got excited and insisted on playing a couple of rounds.

In the first few games, Gao Jianguo actually won a few by using some clever tricks, but Old Chen's Go foundation was there, and in no time he figured out the tricks of Gomoku, and turned the tables on Gao Jianguo, leaving him with no chance of winning.

Old Chen tossed the Go stones back into the box, his face full of disgust: "This is utterly boring. You're so capable at everything at work, how come you don't even touch a game of Go?"

Gao Jianguo didn't feel ashamed at all, and chuckled, "My brain isn't particularly sharp, so I don't put much effort into other things. Good steel should be used where it's needed most, Master, I can't compare to you. I only have this much brainpower, and it's all poured into work, so please bear with me. Don't ask me to play chess anymore."

That was a smooth way of putting it, ostensibly self-deprecating, but subtly praising both Old Chen and himself.

Old Chen pondered for a moment, and it seemed he was right: "You're one of those people who knows what's important. Go away, I won't play chess with you again next time, you're such a terrible chess player."

Gao Jianguo took the notice back to his office and carefully looked through it.

It was pretty much the same as what Lao Chen said, except for the usual questions about the reason for the meeting, who would be there, and what time and place it would be.

The real work is still the same stuff Old Chen told me to do.

How do I begin? I need to systematically outline my own management methods, which will require some brainpower to refine.

Gao Jianguo thought for a while, flipped through the stock of items he had accumulated from previous lottery draws that had never been used, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

Hey, I've got a plan!