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

Lying won't help; the evidence is right in front of him, he can't deny it.

Li Huaide chuckled and raised his chin: "If Dr. Li didn't become a doctor and went straight to the workshop, you wouldn't be able to become his mentor. Once he's figured out how to make an electric fan, he'll be called an eighth-level engineer."

He patted Yi Zhonghai on the shoulder, his tone full of pride: "From now on, you'll have to learn from Dr. Li."

Yi Zhonghai's face first turned bright red, then as white as paper, and a metallic taste rose in his mouth.

He cursed inwardly, "Damn it, just wait until we get back to the courtyard house, I'll see how I deal with you!"

Yi Zhonghai managed to swallow back the mouthful of blood that was rising in his throat.

Li Weidong was working happily at the machine tool, making a whole bunch of small parts, all in duplicate.

As soon as we finished work, someone brought over a welding machine and anti-rust paint.

Director Zhou approached with a smile: "Dr. Li, what color do you want to use? I'll do it!"

Li Weidong smiled and instructed, "Paint the leaves green, and the rest blue. Thank you for your hard work, Director Zhou."

"What's the hard work? You're developing a new product for the factory!"

Factory Director Li waved his hand, his voice booming, "Yi Zhonghai, what are you waiting for? Go up and lend a hand! Follow Dr. Li's instructions!"

Factory Director Li had a big smile on his face, thinking to himself: This electric fan project will definitely be a success, and then the factory will set up a separate workshop to produce fans.

He became increasingly pleased with himself: "Even if I can't get rid of Old Yang, I'll still be able to speak much louder than before!"

He was beaming from ear to ear, and muttered, "I'm really lucky, Old Yang isn't here today."

Yi Zhonghai kept his head down and silently used a brush to apply blue anti-rust paint to the base.

Li Weidong waved his hand: "No need, Master Yi. He's only an eighth-grade worker; he should go back to his post and serve the country. You come over here and dismantle those two motors, dismantle them into as many pieces as possible. Also, get some kerosene; some parts need to be washed."

Yi Zhonghai returned to his workstation with his head down. The apprentice he had called over was not yet twenty years old, his eyes red as he disassembled the motor with incredible skill.

Li Huaide saw it all but remained silent.

He understood—Li Weidong's arrangement of the work clearly meant that this job was for the factory.

Li Weidong was welding a wire mesh cover with steel bars, without even looking up:

"I'll make a sample of a floor fan first. If we really go into mass production, we can add features and make high-end, mid-range, and low-end models."

"I'll draw up the blueprints later, and then we can produce according to them."

Li Huaide grinned, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

"You're got the makings of an engineer. Tsk tsk, when Lao Yang comes back tomorrow, I'll try to get you engineer-level benefits. You can even take the certification exam."

Director Zhou took a closer look and exclaimed in amazement:

"Dr. Li's welding skills are quite impressive, probably level eight, right? Look at these thin steel bars, the welds are spotless, not a single drop of molten iron, not even a trace of slag."

Factory Director Li stood to the side, chin raised, a smug look on his face:

"That's right, otherwise how could you become an engineer?"

With more helpers, the work will be faster.

Li Weidong quickly devised new rotor and stator parts. He used salvaged insulating paper to wrap copper wire, manually winding the wires into assemblies, and finally assembling everything together.

Two rustic-looking floor fans stood there on the ground.

But in the eyes of the people in the factory, it was something high-end, stylish, and classy.

The buttons were pried out from thick plastic scraps. The capacitors and other parts were all salvaged from old motors.

Plug it in, press the button, and the fan blades start spinning.

Li Weidong laughed: "The voice is alright, acceptable."

By this time, a crowd had gathered three layers deep. Some had their mouths agape, some stared wide-eyed, and some even had drool dripping from their mouths, all staring blankly at the spinning fan.

Everyone wanted to take this thing home—it would make sleeping on hot nights much easier.

Director Zhou wiped his drool: "**, wouldn't it be so comfortable to sleep at night if we had one at home?"

Factory Director Li waved his hand magnanimously: "Once it's produced, everyone will be able to buy it!"

His family already had ceiling fans and table fans, so he wasn't in a hurry at all.

Li Weidong took out his pocket watch and saw it was already eleven o'clock. Just as he was about to say they were leaving, Li Huaide quickly stopped him:

"Dr. Li, I'm having a welcome lunch for you today. I had someone... uh, Sha Zhu isn't here today. Um... let's eat out."

The only person in the factory who could cook for guests was Sha Zhu.

"No need, no need, let's talk about it when I start work in three days."

Li Weidong waved his hand.

"Then calculate how much the paint and welding rods cost, and find me a tricycle to take me home. I still have a lot of stuff to pack up at home."

Li Huaide waved his hand and raised his voice: "What money? I'm returning the portion you just gave me!"

He paused for a moment, then said, "Okay, I'll give you a proper welcome-back dinner when you start work in three days."

"I'll have someone take you home in a tricycle. By the way, consider today your start-of-work pay. Days spent drawing at home also count as work. And your engineer's salary—we'll see what level of benefits they assign, and we'll pay it all together later."

Suddenly, the factory's loudspeakers blared, and the entire workshop could hear it clearly.

"Notice—Comrade Li Weidong, a graduate of Yangcheng Medical University with a master's degree, is currently the head of the factory's medical department. His basic salary is 180.08 yuan, with a position allowance of 32 yuan, plus a 120 yuan salary for an eighth-level engineer!"

Jia Dongxu was dawdling with Yi Zhonghai when he heard the broadcast, and he almost smashed the wrench in his hand into his foot.

"**...Two hundred and sixty a month?"

His eyes were wide open like saucers, and his voice was distorted.

He'd been a first-class fitter for six or seven years, earning only twenty-seven and fifty cents a month. Li Weidong's move was worth almost ten of that.

Yi Zhonghai's mind went blank for a moment. He quickly turned off the machine and steadied himself by holding onto the power tool.

"**...What gives him the right?"

Yi Zhonghai muttered to himself, then added, "By the way, he's a college student, and he also has the skills of a fitter and welder."

Jia Dongxu's eyes darted around, and he lowered his voice, saying, "Master, can he spend all this money? We need to let him help out our family."

Yi Zhonghai sighed and shook his head: "I need to think about this."

Ma Hua was riding his tricycle to take Li Weidong home when he heard this and froze on the road.

"Section Chief Li, you really are a Level 8 engineer?"

"Maybe."

Li Weidong chuckled, "You just made two electric fans, and you think that's level eight? Let's go, MCA, stop dawdling."

He made a fan today because the heat was unbearable—last night, the cooling mat was so wet you could wring water out of it.

Secondly, I also want to raise my salary. Otherwise, if I continue to live a life of luxury and my income doesn't keep up, and someone envious reports me, then there will be huge trouble.

Around noon, the two arrived at the courtyard house. Li Weidong led the way, pushing his bicycle, while Ma Hua followed behind on his tricycle.

"Hey, what's going on here?"

Yan Bugui sat by the screen, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan. When he saw the two strangely shaped fans, his mouth dropped open.

He recognized the fan, but this one was just too shabby.

Li Weidong ignored him and led Ma Hua through the hanging flower gate into the central courtyard.

The courtyard was as hot as a steamer, and every household brought out their stoves to cook at their doorsteps.

"MCA? What brings you here, kid?"

While cooking, Sha Zhu was glancing at Qin Huairu. When he saw Ma Hua, he quickly called out to him.

"Master, we'll talk about it later. Factory Director Li asked me to deliver something."

Ma Hua kept walking and quickly followed them to the backyard.

Qin Huairu stared at the electric fan, her eyes filled with envy.

"Silly Zhu, isn't that an electric fan?"

She was cooking vegetable soup in a pot and casually heated up some cornbread.

"Hmph, he bought it with his dad's pension. Let's see how long he can keep up this act once the money's gone!"

Sha Zhu pursed his lips and pressed on, "But where did he get that ticket?"

Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly: "Could it be that he's involved in speculation and profiteering?"

"That doesn't make sense. Why did Ma Hua send it back? And what's Director Li getting involved in? Wasn't he supposed to be at work today? Why is he home so early?"

Sha Zhu's mind was full of question marks.

Just then, Ma Hua rode his bicycle out of the yard.

Sha Zhu quickly stopped him: "Ma Hua, tell me what happened! That kid's just an apprentice, why would he need you to deliver a fan?"

"Master, please don't talk nonsense. Dr. Li is no ordinary apprentice."

Ma Hua quickly explained, "He's the head of the medical department, and also a level eight engineer, earning 260 a month!"

"What?! Two hundred and sixty?!"

Sha Zhu was so startled that he loosened his grip, and the spatula fell and hit his bare instep.

He screamed in pain and jumped up and down several times.

"That's how it is. Dr. Li made that fan himself."

Ma Hua continued, "The factory loudspeakers have all announced it. Master, I'm leaving now, the canteen is still busy."

Ma Hua rode away on his bike, while Silly Zhu remained muttering to himself, "Impossible... how could this be!"

He said he didn't believe it, but he knew in his heart that MCA wouldn't lie to him.

Qin Huairu understood this principle, and her eyes darted around a few times.

"Tsk tsk, 260 a month. The three of them can eat like they're nothing, they can afford to eat fish and meat every day and still not spend it all."

She lowered her voice and muttered, "I have to think of a way to get some back..."

"I don't need too much, just give me a hundred. What does he need so much money for?"

Li Weidong propped up the bicycle.

"Brother! You're back!"

Xiao Xi rushed out of the house, followed by Lin Yurou and He Yushui.

The little girl could only see her brother. She ran over and hugged Li Weidong's leg, tilting her little face up with excitement.

Sweat beaded on her little face; the midday sun was scorching.

"Yeah, I brought you something delicious."

Li Weidong took out four cans of fruit from his canvas bag.

"Canned peaches!"

Little Xi raised her hand and exclaimed in her childish voice, "I know him! I saw him eat the 'banggeng' (a type of glutton), and he even chased me away!"

Here, have one.

Li Weidong shoved a can of food into her arms. "Take it back, be careful not to drop it."

"No, no, that won't happen!"

Xiao Xi hugged the can of food and ran happily back into the house.

"The fan is a bit heavy, you guys carry the canned food."

Li Weidong handed the canned food to Lin Yurou, then carried an electric fan in each hand and went into the main room.

"Dong-ge, why did you buy two fans? You could have kept one for yourself."

Lin Yurou muttered to herself.