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

In the original drama, Qin Huairu earned 27.5 yuan until the 1980s before being promoted to a higher level. That was only after the three-year subsidy ended, when Yi Zhonghai taught her some skills and helped her become a higher-level worker.

At this point, Qin Huairu hadn't yet learned how to navigate the workplace with men, nor had she developed the habit of exchanging steamed buns for steamed buns. By then, she would find it too easy to get benefits from men, and who would be willing to put in the hard work?

Qin Huairu was indeed quick-witted, and with Li Weidong guiding her step by step, she managed to machine three qualified finished products in half an hour, after ruining two lead screws and several nuts.

"Excellent, truly excellent. Qin Huairu, you are very clever. Use that cleverness in your technical skills from now on."

Li Weidong said meaningfully, "That way you can stand tall and be an upright person."

"Your three children will be proud of you. You won't have to be subservient to your mother-in-law."

Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth, his scheme completely thwarted. Qin Huairu's path had veered completely off course; his chances of controlling her were virtually nonexistent.

"Thank you, Chief Engineer Li."

Qin Huairu's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Observe more, think more, and ask more questions."

Li Weidong waved his hand, "Don't just focus on asking Master Yi. Although he's a veteran, he might not be good at teaching apprentices."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: "Every senior worker in the factory has a responsibility to mentor newcomers. I've smashed all those bad habits they used to hide. Anyone who dares to trip me up or try anything underhanded, I'll smash their head in."

As he said this, Li Weidong's gaze was fixed on Yi Zhonghai's face, almost as if he were pointing out his ancestors for eighteen generations.

The workers in the workshop all knew exactly what was going on. Yi Zhonghai had always wanted to create a technological monopoly, although they couldn't quite put their finger on what a "technological barrier" was.

That's the word, but who doesn't know his little scheme?

Li Weidong understood perfectly well that Yi Zhonghai wanted to turn the workshop into a traditional courtyard house—everyone revolving around him, agreeing with everything he said, and having to pretend to be a gentleman. Unfortunately, as soon as Li Weidong arrived, all the things he had painstakingly built up in the courtyard and workshop were smashed to pieces.

A light suddenly appeared in Qin Huairu's eyes. That light sent a chill down Yi Zhonghai's spine.

This woman isn't stupid. This morning, Yi Zhonghai told her that she wasn't very talented, and that she'd be lucky to get a permanent position in three years. Jia Dongxu toiled for four years before finally getting a permanent position, and he died as a first-class worker.

Qin Huairu now understands everything. This old man just wants to control her and make her depend on him for the rest of her life.

"You old codger!"

Qin Huairu gritted her teeth, "Back then, relying on you to marry into the Jia family in the city was like jumping into a fire pit. Do you expect me to suffer in that pit forever?"

She clenched her fists: "Now it's all right, I can stand up by myself."

Once a person acquires skills, their confidence grows. With sufficient confidence, their courage naturally increases.

"Alright, everyone go back and digest what I just said."

Li Weidong announced loudly, "I will arrange the grading assessment as soon as possible."

For workers below level four, the factory can determine the assessment itself. For levels four and above, it has to be reported to the higher authorities, who will also send someone to supervise the examination. The higher the level, the more attention it receives from above.

Director Zhou beamed with joy, his heart overflowing with happiness. If these apprentices could all become first-class workers, it would be a great honor for him.

"Director Zhou, have you found the cause of the problem with that batch of props from last time?"

Li Weidong asked a question.

Director Zhou shook his head: "We can't figure out what's wrong. The people from the knife factory came too, and apart from those two knives, everything else is fine."

His face was flushed with anger. "It's fucking weird. Two knives got into trouble, and of all things, it happened in my workshop."

"Thank goodness you stepped in, otherwise two of my workshops would have been destroyed."

Yi Zhonghai's face, which had just recovered, turned pale again when he heard Li Weidong mention the knife again. His heart jumped into his throat.

"Where is the broken knife?"

Li Weidong pressed for further details.

"The manufacturer took it back, saying they need to investigate the cause."

Director Zhou curled his lip, "I think that's bullshit. It's already shattered like that, what's the point of investigating?"

"Something is definitely not right."

Li Weidong frowned. "I need to find a way to investigate this too. By the way, from now on, everyone should carefully inspect the knife before using it. Don't use any with obvious cracks, and report it immediately. This is for your own lives."

Just then, Li Huaide walked in from outside: "Chief Engineer Li, it's lunchtime. Let's go, I need to talk to you about something."

"What is it?"

Li Weidong followed him outside. Just then, the factory's loudspeaker blared a song announcing lunchtime.

"The big boss is coming over this afternoon. He just called and said he's coming specifically to see you."

Li Huaide lowered his voice, "I'll arrive around two o'clock. I told you not to wander off and to wait for him."

"Okay, this afternoon I'll be either in the engine workshop or in the medical room."

Li Weidong replied, "Then I need to go home first. I need to get the fishing rod that the big boss wanted."

Old Liu wanted an eight-meter-long fishing rod, and Li Weidong agreed. He'd go back to get it at noon and make another one later.

"Okay, okay, by the way, how about I come over for a couple of drinks tonight?"

Li Huaide asked with a smile.

"This... will work too."

Li Weidong readily agreed.

As the two were chatting, Wang Dajun, the director of the personnel department, walked over.

"Chief Engineer Li and Factory Director Li are both here, so we can notify them together. We're having roast duck tonight, both of you can join us..."

Director Wang greeted us with a smile.

"Don't be so polite. How about this, you and Director Li can both come to my house for a couple of drinks tonight."

Li Weidong said with a smile, "I don't know if Director Yang and Secretary Zhang are free. I'll go and invite them later."

If they only invited Li Huaide but not Factory Director Yang and Secretary Zhang, that would be openly showing they were taking sides. But a technical expert like Li Weidong doesn't need to take sides at all. Whoever is in charge has to appease him.

Li Huaide smiled wryly. He understood that Li Weidong could no longer take sides. But as long as their relationship was closer than that of Factory Director Yang, they could work things out gradually.

Li Weidong rode his bicycle home. As he approached the gate of his courtyard, seeing no one around, a bundle of bamboo suddenly landed on his shoulder.

As soon as he stepped through the courtyard gate, he caught a glimpse of Yan Bugui timidly peering in their direction. Upon seeing Li Weidong enter, the man immediately scurried away like a mouse.

Li Weidong ignored him and carried the bamboo to the backyard. As he passed the middle courtyard, he heard a commotion coming from the Jia family's house and smelled the aroma of burning paper money.

He turned his head and almost burst out laughing.

A fat man, as big as a pig, wearing a Taoist robe, his face painted in all sorts of colors, was holding a peach wood sword and writhing around as if he were being electrocuted.

Judging from her limping posture, Li Weidong immediately recognized that the shaman was Jia Zhangshi.

"Wow, you can do it like that?"

He muttered something under his breath with a cold laugh.

A group of children had gathered in the courtyard to watch the commotion. Li Weidong's eyes darted around, and he waved to Liu Guangfu beside him.

This kid is fifteen this year, the age when he's fearless and dares to do anything in a moment of passion.

"Go to the neighborhood office to report this, here's one yuan."

Li Weidong stuffed the money into Liu Guangfu's hand and said in a low voice, "Remember, don't tell anyone that I sent you."

"Don't worry, Dong-ge, I've got your back!"

Liu Guangfu clutched the money and darted out like a rabbit. One yuan! That's enough to buy fifty banana popsicles (each costing two cents) and ten bottles of soda (each costing ten cents)!

Li Weidong returned home with a smile, casually tossing the bamboo on the ground at the door.

Inside the house, Xiaoxi ran out when she heard the noise.

"Brother! Brother's back!"

The little girl opened her arms and rushed over to hug Li Weidong's leg.

"Dong-ge, are you coming back for lunch? I haven't cooked yet; I ate breakfast late."

Lin Yurou came out of the house with a smile, her eyes showing a hint of embarrassment: "I'll go do it right away, Yushui and I..."

"Don't bother, just make me a bowl of fish noodles."

Li Weidong waved his hand.

This is simple. Make a soup base with greens, knead flour until it's elastic, and then use chopsticks to slide the noodles into the pot along the edge of the bowl. Once cooked, it's ready to eat.

"Then hurry up."

He Yushui also came out: "I'll start the fire and make the soup, Rou-jie, you knead the dough. We can make lunch together."

The two women went into the kitchen to get busy. Xiao Xi pulled Li Weidong into the main room.

"Brother, sit down and get some fresh air."

The little girl's face lit up with a smile, but her big eyes were fixed on Li Weidong's canvas bag.

"Xiao Xi, guess what your brother brought back?"

Li Weidong reached into his canvas bag and pulled out a large handful of bananas. This was the first time he had received fresh fruit for signing in.

The first time I checked in, I received 100 pounds of various fruits, including 10 pounds of bananas, as well as mangoes, lychees, and other things. But I can't take them all out at once now.

It's one thing to show bananas to people; you can get those things in Beijing, even if they're a bit rare. But what if you pull out lychees now? How do you explain that? Even if you ship them by plane, the season won't be right.

"Brother, what is this?"

Xiao Xi stared wide-eyed at the yellowish object with curiosity.

Li Weidong reached out and broke off a banana, smiling as he handed it over: "Look, this is called a banana. You have to peel it like this—hold this end, and don't throw the peel away after you're done eating."

He handed the peeled banana to Xiaoxi.

"I want to eat the skin!"

The little girl's eyes curved into crescents, and her voice was full of joy: "It smells so good, like an ice pop. Brother, you should try some first!"

She remembered the taste of popsicles, and held up a banana to Li Weidong's mouth.

Li Weidong patted her head: "You eat it, this stuff is too sweet, I don't like it. The little one is cuter."

"Brother, why don't you like sweets?"

Xiao Xi's little face was filled with confusion and regret. "I love it so much... mmm... it's so delicious!"

She took a bite; the banana was soft, sweet, and fragrant, making her hum with delight.

Just then, a commotion erupted from the intermediate court. Li Weidong's lips curled into a smile; he knew the people from the street office had arrived.

"Let's go see what's going on!"

He picked up Xiaoxi and walked towards the central courtyard.

"Brother, why can't we eat banana peels?"

Xiao Xi was still pondering the waste.

"The skin is very astringent."

Li Weidong said, "I can't eat it."

When I carried Xiaoxi into the courtyard, a large crowd had already gathered. Several unfamiliar men and women stood in the middle; they were clearly from the neighborhood committee.

Jia Zhangshi was dragged out by two strong women, and she plopped down on the ground, howling like a pig being slaughtered.

"Brother, put me down!"

When Xiaoxi saw Huaihua and Xiaodang, she immediately wanted to get down to the ground.

"Locust Blossom! Little Dang! Come here, I have something delicious to eat!"