Courtyard House: In this life, I have a new home!

Li Weidong wondered if he could use his connections to dig a pit for Yi Zhonghai.

To be more specific, during the assessment, they would give you a workpiece that scores 80 points as the test question. Yi Zhonghai's skill level is at most 70 points, and even if he performs exceptionally well, he can only reach 75 at most.

As a result, his title of Grade 8 worker will be revoked, and he will be reduced to Grade 7 worker.

"It's not easy to find connections like this. My level seven engineer certification is still too low."

Li Weidong muttered to himself, "I should have just taken the Level 5 Engineer exam back then."

Back then, they didn't test Level 5 because they were afraid of scaring people. He originally planned to wait two more years, until around 1966 when things were looking up, and then bring his family to settle down on Hong Kong Island.

Once they get there, they should save money and build up their strength first, and then bring back a large amount of funds to contribute to the country's development when reform and opening up take place.

Li Weidong walked over to the examination hall and tried to sneak in through a small door next to the gatehouse. However, he was stopped by an old gatekeeper.

"Young man, you're not from around here, are you?"

The old man sized him up. "If you want to go in, show me your work ID or a letter of introduction."

Li Weidong took out his work ID and handed it over.

The old man took it and his eyes widened immediately: "Wow, a chief engineer? A level seven engineer! Impressive."

He clicked his tongue twice. "You're here for the afternoon assessment, right? But you're a bit early—"

Li Weidong stepped inside with a grin: "I'm just taking a stroll..."

Before the words had even finished, a middle-aged man in his fifties suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Hey, aren't you the chief engineer from the steel rolling mill? I've heard of you."

The man approached with a look of delighted surprise. "You designed that little engine on your bicycle, didn't you? I was just about to come and chat with you about it."

"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Wang Changhe, and I am the director of the assessment center."

"Hello, Director Wang!"

Li Weidong quickly replied politely, "I didn't invent that thing. I just shrunk down a large engine."

"This doesn't count as an invention?"

Wang Changhe smiled so much his eyes narrowed. "I wanted to buy one, but your factory said you don't sell them to the public."

"It's definitely not for sale."

Li Weidong nodded, "The production was too low; it was all transferred to higher-ups. But if you want more, there's still a way."

"No, no, we can't break the rules."

Wang Changhe put on a stern face.

"It's not against the rules."

Li Weidong laughed, "I'll just make you a set right now. Your workshop is fully equipped, and you definitely have the materials. You pay for the materials, and I'll do the machining."

"Can you make it by hand?"

Wang Changhe's eyes widened. "This craftsmanship must be at least at the eighth level, and top-notch at that."

"Come with me."

Li Weidong pointed to the engine in his car, "This is the one I just rubbed this morning."

Wang Changhe clicked his tongue in amazement: "Everyone thought you were just a level seven engineer, but I didn't expect you to have the skills of a level eight engineer. Well then, I'll treat you to drinks tonight."

The two entered the workshop. The equipment here was complete, specifically used to assess senior workers, and they also took on some jobs involving precision parts.

Li Weidong deftly wrung out the small engine and then casually installed it on Wang Changhe's bicycle.

"With your skills, it would be a waste not to get an eighth-level craftsmanship certificate."

Wang Changhe looked regretful.

Li Weidong hadn't known Wang Changhe for long, but he could tell that the man was quite capable.

"Why would I need to take the Level 8 technical worker exam?"

Li Weidong smiled and said, "My main job is to treat patients."

"What? You're a doctor?"

Wang Changhe's jaw almost dropped.

"Yes, a Master of Medicine."

Li Weidong spoke casually.

He didn't want to show off, but in order to convince the other party, he had no choice but to reveal his hand.

"Incredible! Incredible!"

Wang Changhe's voice rose with excitement, "Judging from your appearance, you must be about twenty years old?"

"Exactly twenty. I skipped a few grades in school."

Li Weidong continued to demonstrate his skills.

"Are you dating anyone? I know a girl who just graduated from university this year, and she's a good catch..."

Wang Changhe then changed the subject.

"No need, no need, I have a girlfriend, and I'm thinking of getting married before the new year."

Li Weidong quickly waved his hand.

"You're right. You're good-looking and capable, so you'll never have trouble finding a partner."

Wang Changhe smiled, then changed the subject, "By the way, you came so early, there must be something you need, right?"

"There is indeed something going on; it's related to one of our factory's level eight workers."

Li Weidong didn't beat around the bush and recounted the whole story in detail. He concluded by saying, "I don't intend to let this kind of scab continue to hold the position of an eighth-grade worker."

"I'd like to ask you for a favor: help him devise a plan. During the assessment, just give him a task of moderate difficulty."

"This matter..."

Wang Changhe hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded. "Alright, he's not worthy of his position, he should be allowed to learn some lessons."

Thanks!

Li Weidong raised an eyebrow and thanked him.

"Don't mention it, don't mention it."

Wang Changhe quickly waved his hand.

"Then I'll go wait at the entrance; our factory staff will be here shortly."

After Li Weidong finished speaking, he walked out and arrived at the main gate.

Just as they arrived at the entrance, a large truck pulled up. Inside the cab sat Secretary Zhang, Li Huaide, and a driver—three people in total. The truck bed was filled with workers who had come to take the exam.

The car stopped at the entrance of the assessment workshop. Secretary Zhang and Li Huaide jumped out of the car and exchanged a few pleasantries with Li Weidong.

There were six people here for the assessment today. Four of them were level seven workers who wanted to be promoted to level eight, while Yi Zhonghai and another old guy were here to keep their level eight positions.

"Chief Engineer Li, the higher-ups have sent people to our factory to verify the information with those two people again."

Li Huaide lowered his voice and said, "I estimate the news will come out in the next few days."

Li Weidong nodded: "It's pretty much true. That old guy is going to get shot, tsk tsk, and he keeps bragging about being a martyr's family member, acting like everyone in the courtyard is his ancestor."

"It's all thanks to Yi Zhonghai's promotion."

Secretary Zhang glanced at Yi Zhonghai and asked Li Weidong, "Why did he do that?"

"Yi Zhonghai has no sons, and he has become obsessed with his future retirement."

Li Weidong said in a calm tone, "I used to look for Jia Dongxu, but Jia Dongxu died early."

"Now they've set their sights on Sha Zhu. Heh, they're really shrewd."

"Not only that, he's also extremely controlling and has absolutely no moral bottom line, even though he pretends to be a decent person on the surface."

"He wanted to control the entire courtyard and desperately create the harmonious atmosphere he desired. Everyone had to respect and care for the elderly so that he could have an easier life in the future."

Li Huaide chimed in, "That's right, that's right. He used to have almost complete control over Workshop One, relying entirely on his apprentices to take the lead, while he himself could still play the good guy."

Li Weidong continued, "Yes, it's the same routine in the courtyard, only it's even more outrageous."

"When you encounter someone who doesn't listen to you, they immediately resort to moral blackmail. People like that are truly disgusting."

Courtyard House: Starting from Returning to the Factory

After listening, Secretary Zhang's face darkened: "If we can't hold him morally accountable, then let Sha Zhu be the thug. Justice will prevail through force. Once he's done with that, he can come out and play the good guy, making a clean slate about the assault."

"Still not good?"

Li Weidong sneered, "Then let the deaf old lady take action. Once she sits down on the ground, no one can do anything about it. If we use all three methods, there's nothing in this compound that can't be resolved."

Secretary Zhang shook his head: "Yi Zhonghai is truly a remarkable person."

"you do not say."

Li Weidong chimed in, "His favorite saying is that matters within the compound should be resolved within the compound, according to the compound's rules. I feel like cursing when I hear that."

"There's one more thing."

Li Weidong continued, "He said that there are no bad parents in the world, only children who haven't done enough. He just wants everyone in the hospital to treat him like royalty so he can be a local tyrant."

Li Huaide frowned: "It seems we need to find a way to deal with him."

"The first thing I did when I got back was to dismantle all of his systems."

Li Weidong looked at Yi Zhonghai in the distance, "He hates me to the core. If he gets involved in the deaf old lady's matter, he can expect to be shot."

The people conducting the assessment hadn't arrived yet at the workshop entrance.

Yi Zhonghai stood there and saw Li Weidong, Secretary Zhang, and Li Huaide huddled together, talking in hushed tones, glancing at him every now and then.

His heart skipped a beat.

"These three people...are they trying to mess with me?"

Yi Zhonghai broke out in a cold sweat. "I'm afraid something bad is going to happen in today's assessment."

He knew perfectly well that the factory leaders had long disapproved of his practices in the workshop. Dealing with him would be as easy as crushing an ant.

The assessment team has arrived.

Yi Zhonghai followed Engineer Chen and Engineer Ding into the workshop. Li Weidong and the other two waited outside and found a place to sit down.

First comes the written exam. All senior technicians have to take it; the test is the same for everyone, all multiple choice questions, you just need to tick a box.

Yi Zhonghai answered the questions fairly smoothly.

Next comes the main event – ​​hands-on operation.

As soon as Yi Zhonghai got his hands on the workpiece, he knew he was doomed. He simply couldn't do the job.

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and proceed with extreme caution. He figured that this task must have been deliberately assigned by the leaders.

But when he turned his head, he saw that the workpiece in Lao Jiao's hand was exactly the same as his.

Then look at those four level-seven workers; the workpieces they're handling are actually a grade lower than theirs.

Yi Zhonghai wanted to protest his innocence but couldn't bring himself to do it. If he opened his mouth, the other party would surely have something to say.

After half an hour of tinkering, something still went wrong—the workpiece was ruined.

Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to shut down the machine and slink out of the workshop.

Li Huaide glanced at his watch: "Old Yi, how did the exam go? It's not time yet, why are you out so early?"

Yi Zhonghai cursed a thousand times in his heart, but forced a bitter expression on his face: "Boss, I... I still didn't go."

Secretary Zhang shook his head, his tone laced with sarcasm: "Old Yi, you've really embarrassed yourself this time. But don't be too discouraged, there'll be another chance at the end of the year."

"Practice more during this time, and you can get back the Level 8 technician certification later."

What else could Yi Zhonghai say besides nodding?

He knew in his heart that no matter how much he practiced, his skill level would remain the same. Taking the test again would only mean more embarrassment. But he dared not skip it, otherwise he would be seen as "unambitious."

This hat has to be put on your head.

After the exam, both Secretary Zhang and Li Huaide were in good spirits. Of the six people who took the exam, only Yi Zhonghai failed.

"Let's go, get in the car and go back. I've asked the kitchen to prepare a celebration feast."

Li Huaide said with a smile, "Let's add two more meat dishes tonight."

Li Weidong waved his hand: "I'm not going, I'm going straight home."

"That's fine too, Chief Engineer Li, you have a lot on your plate."