Courtyard House: I'm an engineer, and a fairy godmother transferred me to a different position.

"You know what your brother-in-law is capable of, so stop showing off, okay?"

The young man from the same courtyard laughed and retorted, but when he turned his gaze to Liu Guangqi, he couldn't hide his admiration.

These days, even the proud and arrogant children of high-ranking families respect those who are truly capable.

With such achievements clearly printed in the newspapers, who could possibly disagree?

Liu Guangqi was somewhat helpless as the crowd gradually gathered around him, so he could only put on a polite smile and nod to the left and right.

The feeling of being stared at like a rare sight made his back stiffen, as if tiny ants were crawling on his skin.

It seems that one needs a broad mind to achieve fame.

However, he knew in his heart that such excitement would come and go quickly, and once the hype died down, people would naturally forget about it.

He was, in the end, still that engineer who buried himself in technical blueprints.

The starting gun fired suddenly, and the crowd surged forward like a floodgate being opened.

Liu Guangqi and Zhao Mengsheng were running in the middle of the group.

This year's participants seemed to have learned their lesson; no one rushed recklessly at the start, and everyone maintained a steady pace. In particular, the young people around Zhao Mengsheng had neat and efficient running postures, clearly indicating that they had been instructed by someone.

The winter wind, sharp as a blade, scraped across Liu Guangqi's face, but instead, it helped to relax his muscles and bones, which had been feeling a little stiff lately.

He glanced sideways at his brother-in-law, whose face was flushed with excitement, and was about to remind him to steady his breathing when he suddenly caught a glimpse of an incongruous shadow out of the corner of his eye—

A dark figure emerged from the gaps in the crowd, diagonally ahead!

The man was wearing a thick cotton-padded coat, with his hat pulled down very low, almost completely covering his face.

He stood out conspicuously among the lightly dressed competitors.

What sent a chill down Liu Guangqi's spine was the faint, cold, metallic glint that flashed beneath the other person's sleeve.

It's the real deal.

In a flash, Liu Guangqi had already determined the man's identity—a real enemy agent, far more serious than the farcical mistaken arrests of the past.

"Oh no!"

A chill ran from the soles of my feet straight up to the top of my head.

He instantly judged that the crowd was dense and the other party would have difficulty aiming accurately, yet still dared to launch an attack in public, which meant they must be determined to die.

"boom--"

Another gunshot rang out, startling everyone into screams and panic.

The enemy agent missed his first shot and viciously pushed through the crowd, charging straight at them.

Without hesitation, Liu Guangqi grabbed Zhao Mengsheng around the waist and tackled him to the side, while simultaneously kicking over a roadside bollard.

With a loud crash, the fallen roadblock blocked the way.

The echoes of the gunshots lingered, and the air seemed frozen solid.

Not far away, an enemy agent stumbled over a roadblock, giving everyone a moment to catch their breath.

But that was just a feint.

On the other side, several henchmen simultaneously tore off their disguises and pulled out weapons from their pockets.

The dark muzzles of guns were all pointed at the crowd—aimed at Liu Guangqi and the children of the General Logistics Department compound beside him.

This was an indiscriminate killing.

In an instant, Liu Guangqi had no time to think and instinctively grabbed Zhao Mengsheng and rolled quickly to the side of the road.

The gravel hurt my skin.

In a flash, several dark figures shot out from the crowd, like cheetahs that had been lurking for a long time suddenly pouncing on their prey—these were the guards who had been hidden in the shadows all along!

Their actions were even more swift than those of the lurking saboteurs!

From the moment the attack began to the moment the enemy was subdued, the series of actions flowed smoothly and effortlessly in the blink of an eye.

By the time the other security personnel realized what was happening and tightly surrounded the scene, the potential threat had already been quietly nipped in the bud.

The guard leading the group quickly approached Liu Guangqi, stood at attention, saluted, and asked in a calm, normal voice, "Director Liu, are you alright?"

"It's alright."

Liu Guangqi straightened up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and then looked at Zhao Mengsheng, who was still lying on the ground, and reached out to pull him up.

"How are you? Are your legs still working?"

Zhao Mengsheng's face was ashen, his lips trembled slightly, but his neck remained stiff, refusing to show weakness: "I'm fine! Brother-in-law, your reaction just now was incredibly quick!"

His mind was still buzzing; if he had been a fraction of a second later, he and his brother-in-law would probably have met with certain death.

The guard reported in a low voice: "It has been determined that this was the work of hostile elements, and their target was likely your identity. The person has been apprehended and will be handed over to the security authorities for further processing. Please return to the General Logistics Department compound with us for your safety."

Liu Guangqi nodded slightly.

His gaze swept over the still-terrified crowd in the distance, a flicker of relief washing over him—thankfully, he had always been accompanied by guards, and thankfully, he had reacted swiftly, preventing any harm to his brother-in-law. Otherwise, he would have had a hard time explaining himself when he got home!

Inside the jeep on the return trip, the air felt heavy and leaden.

Zhao Mengsheng finally came to his senses, muttering with lingering fear, "Brother-in-law, that was a real knife! Those people were so brazen, daring to attack even with a knife!" Looking at Liu Guangqi's calm face, he couldn't help but ask, "How come you're not afraid at all?"

"The more chaotic things get, the more likely things are to change." Liu Guangqi smiled calmly. "At such a critical moment, one must be even more clear-headed."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the rapidly receding street scene outside the window, his eyes gradually deepening.

Yes, it's only the beginning of the 1960s. The undercurrents in the city have not been completely swept away, and those figures lurking in the shadows are like venomous snakes, always waiting for their chance to strike. In the end, he had become complacent. These years of peaceful living, without any major upheavals, had eroded his vigilance. The recent successful development of the five-axis CNC center brought him into the news, making him a prominent figure in the industry, but also a thorn in the side for some.

He clearly remembered how many outstanding scientists in that era ultimately perished in various "accidents." It was precisely because of this that the choice to remain anonymous came about later on.

Thinking of this, Liu Guangqi felt no fear, but rather a burning flame ignited within him. This perilous situation only strengthened his resolve. Their audacity in attacking him stemmed from fear—fear that he might truly become the light illuminating the future of China's industry!

Since that's the case, the more arduous the road ahead, the more determined he is to carve out an undeniable place for himself.

……

When they returned to the General Logistics Department compound, his father-in-law, Mr. Zhao, and mother-in-law, Ms. Wu Shuang, were already waiting at the gate, clearly having received prior notice. Seeing the two of them get out of the car safely and unharmed, his heart finally settled down.

However, the next moment, Wu Shuang's mother-in-law's expression suddenly turned serious.

Without uttering a word, this shrewd elder turned and went inside, picked up the phone, and dialed the relevant department responsible for security of the city's ring race.

Once the call connected, she even skipped introducing herself, her stern voice almost piercing through the receiver: "How exactly are you handling this? How could such a blunder occur right in front of the General Logistics Department compound?"

It's no wonder she was furious. Today's matter concerns the two most important people in her Zhao family: her promising son-in-law and her own flesh and blood. This matter cannot be handled lightly.

Compared to his mother-in-law Wu Shuang's overprotective nature, his father-in-law Zhao appeared more composed. He immediately made arrangements to upgrade Liu Guangqi's daily security. "I was also negligent in this matter. Guangqi, from now on, you will be accompanied by two guards when you go out. Safety is the top priority."

Liu Guangqi nodded in agreement.

As if sensing the atmosphere around him, Ruixue reached out her round little hands and asked her father for a hug. The next moment, the soft and warm touch quietly soothed the turbulent waves in Liu Guangqi's heart.

Ultimately, this thrilling race became an unexpected interlude during the Spring Festival of 1961.

……

Inside the Zhao residence within the General Logistics Department compound.

What should have been a joyous and happy time for family reunion dinners was instead marred by this incident! The atmosphere in the entire mansion suddenly became much more somber than usual.

The children in the inner room were fast asleep, and the darkness outside the window shut out all sounds.

The living room light illuminated several tense faces. Zhao Mengsheng repeatedly rubbed the reddened abrasion on his arm; the throbbing sensation beneath his skin made him clench his teeth, forcing out a low mutter: "Those shameful rats... they deserve to be torn to pieces."

No one responded. His father sat in the main seat like a stone statue, the tea in his hand long since cold, the surface of which remained completely still. Zhao Mengyun leaned against Liu Guangqi, her face drained of color, only her clasped fingers revealing a trace of life, as if the warmth had been drained from her fingertips.

The stagnant air was broken by a series of crisp footsteps. A guard appeared in the doorway, his voice crisp: "Sir, Chief Liao from the police station and Director Wang from the security bureau have arrived."

Before the words were even finished, the two men had already stepped into the hall, one after the other. They didn't even dare to stand still completely, their faces a mixture of respect and unease, the few thin sheets of paper in their hands suddenly feeling unusually heavy. Who could have imagined that such danger was lurking within the joy of the New Year?

"Commander Zhao, Political Commissar Wu," Director Liao spoke first, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly, "We have seriously neglected our duties, putting Director Liu and Comrade Meng Sheng in danger. We are truly... extremely sorry." He dared not think too deeply about the earth-shattering consequences if the other party had succeeded today.

"The preliminary interrogation has yielded results," Director Wang quickly added, his words clear and concise. "This group infiltrated from abroad, with a clear target: key experts on our industrial front. They not only planned to target Director Liu, but also intended to exploit the crowds during the city's races to create widespread chaos. Their intentions were extremely malicious." He paused briefly, his tone shifting to urgent relief. "Thanks to Director Liu's quick thinking, he bought us crucial time. After apprehending five people on the spot, we acted overnight, dismantling their secret hideout in the city and seizing a batch of important codebooks."

The two took turns recounting their experiences, eagerly laying out all the actions and results they had taken in an attempt to fill the void of their immense unease.

Wu Shuang, who had been keeping her eyes down and silent, slowly raised them. Her gaze swept calmly over the two of them, yet it made the temperature in the room drop sharply.

"Is it all over once you take down one hideout?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it pierced the air like an icicle.

Director Liao and Director Wang both gasped for breath.

Wu Shuang's gaze lingered on their faces, devoid of any warmth: "The annual city-wide race, a day of celebration for the whole city, and I ask you—what was the security setup like? How could you allow armed enemies to infiltrate the crowds and even get close to the core area?"

Every word felt like a weight falling. Cold sweat instantly beaded on Director Liao's forehead; he didn't even bother wiping it away as he hurriedly presented the documents he had been clutching: "Political Commissar Wu, please review this! All those involved will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law, without any leniency! The relevant departments must deeply reflect on their actions and thoroughly rectify the situation. I guarantee with my life that such loopholes will never happen again!"

"Regarding Director Liu's heroic performance," Director Wang immediately added, "our Security Bureau will formally submit a document requesting the Ministry of Machine Building to issue a commendation to recognize his outstanding contribution to this counter-espionage operation."

Wu Shuang took the document, her gaze lingering for a moment on the bolded handwritten words "Strict and severe punishment" and the series of vermilion annotations that followed. The suffocating oppressive atmosphere in the room seemed to ease slightly as a result.

She placed the documents on the coffee table, her voice still cold: "I want to see the official document outlining the final decision. Also, remember—if there's a next time, I won't be sitting here listening to your reports."

The weight of those words sent chills down Liao and Wang's spines. They knew this was no empty threat.

Only then did Zhao's father, who had remained silent in the main seat, make a move. He tilted his head back and drank the cup of cold tea in one gulp, the bottom of the cup clinking against the saucer with a clear, crisp sound. "Now that the matter has been clarified, let's proceed according to the established procedures," he said calmly.

For Director Liao and Director Wang, these words were nothing short of a pardon. They made repeated assurances before bowing and leaving the Zhao family home.

Liu Guangqi watched this scene quietly. He knew better than anyone that his mother-in-law, who had emerged from war and bloodshed, always kept her word. The strength contained beneath this calm was precisely the most solid and untouchable barrier for her family.

……

The dawn of the third day of the Lunar New Year arrived quietly.

When the report on the handling of the spies was delivered to the General Logistics Department compound, the ink was still fresh.

These days, things are done with swift and decisive action—ordinary matters might take a few days to process; but when it comes to enemy agents, even interrogation is considered too slow.

Without exception.

All the ** were executed and their families were uprooted.

The area surrounding their hideout was thoroughly searched, with both permanent residents and transient populations being screened.

Zhao Mengsheng gripped the corner of the notice, spitting out a sentence through gritted teeth: "These bastards have finally paid their debt."

Liu Guangqi took the document, but his gaze remained as still as a deep pool.

He knew that only the coldest iron and the hottest blood could subdue the venomous snakes lurking in the shadows.