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

He paused briefly, took a deep breath, and added firmly, "As long as the higher-ups approve, I pledge that I will present a prototype of the seven-axis technology within this year, and I will never let the country down."

In the following days, he and several ministers meticulously reviewed every aspect of the export plan. Only after all the details were finalized was Liu Guangqi allowed to leave. The senior leaders had tight schedules, having already devoted themselves to the demanding task of allocating annual plans, assigning tasks to various departments, and coordinating with higher authorities at the very beginning of the new year.

Stepping out of the office, Liu Guangqi breathed a sigh of relief, the pressure on his shoulders seeming to lessen somewhat.

Back in his lab, all was quiet. He had just made himself a cup of tea and sat down, not even having a chance to enjoy this moment of peace—

"Squeak—crack—"

Suddenly, a piercing static crackled from the loudspeaker in the corner, followed by a clear female voice:

"Attention, comrades, we are now broadcasting a special letter of thanks from the Ministry of Public Security."

A letter of thanks from the Ministry of Public Security? And it even names names? That's quite a novel thing.

"Our researcher, Comrade Liu Guangqi, remained calm and resourceful when encountering armed saboteurs during a recent city-wide long-distance running event, thus buying crucial time for the security forces..."

Liu Guangqi's hand, holding the teacup, hovered in mid-air.

Are they talking about him?

The broadcast continued to echo: "Ultimately, they assisted us in successfully apprehending five suspects involved in the case."

"Afterwards, they actively cooperated with the public security authorities to follow the clues and completely destroy their secret base, seizing a number of encrypted communication devices and weapons."

"Comrade Liu Guangqi is hereby commended for his bravery, resourcefulness, and patriotism!"

The broadcast repeated this message three times to ensure that every corner of the ministry could hear it.

This news quickly sparked discussion within the organization. The reason was simple: Liu Guangqi's reputation within the unit had been remarkably high over the past two years. There were frequent reports about him; it was impossible not to know him. This time, however, it was his act of bravely fighting off saboteurs that revealed an unusual side of him to his colleagues.

"Director Liu actually has this ability?"

"Not only are they excellent at scientific research, but they're also capable of stepping forward in the face of danger!"

"I never expected that our section chief could not only shoulder the heavy responsibility of tackling technical challenges, but also be so courageous in critical moments!"

Liu Guangqi was somewhat taken aback by what he heard.

What does it mean to confront saboteurs head-on? When has he ever risked his life?

He'd seen it for himself; so this was how commendation letters could be written. The so-called "cleverly taking evasive action"—wasn't that just timely dodging? And "buying crucial opportunities for security forces"—did that mean his act of protecting Zhao Mengsheng and causing him to fall to the ground count as tactical cooperation?

Liu Guangqi smiled helplessly, deeply appreciating the exquisite beauty of the Chinese language. This art of expression is far more sophisticated than writing technical reports.

In less than half a day, news of Liu Guangqi's clever outmaneuver of the saboteurs spread like wildfire throughout the entire Ministry of Machinery Industry. Colleagues from various departments gathered to discuss it endlessly. In those days, the topic of saboteurs always attracted particular attention. So much so that by lunchtime in the canteen, the version that reached Liu Guangqi's ears had evolved into—Director Liu single-handedly dealt with an entire team of saboteurs.

In the afternoon, several cars drove into the compound. Heads of various factories, carrying briefcases, walked in twos and threes toward the ministry's auditorium—holding a system-wide work deployment meeting on the first working day of the new year is a long-standing tradition of the ministry.

The auditorium was so warm it made everyone's ears burn, and representatives from various factories took their seats one after another. Wang Jianguo, clutching a worn-out briefcase, had just squeezed into the front row when someone next to him teased, "You're sweating buckets even though you're going back to your hometown for a meeting?" He wiped his forehead and slammed his notebook on the table. "Our factory director, Mr. Li, was called away by the Ministry of Foreign Trade early this morning to collect export quotas. There are over four thousand mouths in fourteen workshops in the factory waiting to be fed. How can I not be anxious?" Before he could finish speaking, murmurs of discussion came from the back row, like cold water splashed into a hot oil pan.

"Have you heard? That guy in the research department wiped out an entire nest of enemy agents over the New Year..."

"More than just one nest! They even sent a banner from the Ministry of Public Security!"

Wang Jianguo listened intently for a while, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. Liu Guangqi? That old colleague who spent all day buried in blueprints and analyzing data? Just as he was pondering this, a slender figure walked in against the light at the doorway. Wang Jianguo quickly stretched out his arm and waved.

Liu Guangqi strolled over unhurriedly, and was immediately grabbed by the cuff as soon as he sat down. "Guangqi," Wang Jianguo said in a low voice, his eyes burning with fury, "the rumors are getting really outrageous now, saying you single-handedly destroyed a spy's hideout?" Liu Guangqi glanced at him, gently pulled his cuff back, and tapped his fingertips on the open meeting minutes. Outside the window, the winter clouds hung low, and the auditorium's overhead lights cast a thin mist of light on his glasses.

"Rumors." He uttered only two words before flipping open the production quota allocation sheet with a red heading in front of him. The crisp sound of the pages turning cut off all the unfinished business.

Liu Guangqi had no intention of delving deeper into the matter, and instead asked, "If that's the case, in a few days I'll be able to take out a whole battalion of enemy agents single-handedly." He cut off the other's continued probing and steered the conversation straight to business: "Enough of the small talk, you're here for the meeting today. What's the situation at the factory now? Is everything going smoothly after the merger?"

Mentioning the Red Star Factory immediately brightened Wang Jianguo's expression. His earlier inquisitive look vanished, replaced by genuine pride. "Everything went very smoothly!" he said earnestly to Liu Guangqi, abandoning his exaggeration. "Old Liu, we really have to thank you for this. Although we added a few deputy factory directors after the merger, our Red Star Factory hasn't lost any of its influence. Since the Third Electrical Factory joined us, our factory's scale... it's truly been transformed!"

As he got excited, Wang Jianguo pulled out a small booklet with frayed edges from his inner pocket and presented it to Liu Guangqi as if it were a precious treasure: "Look at this, Hongxing Factory now has more than four thousand people and fourteen production workshops! Although it is still a bit behind those large provincial-level factories with tens of thousands of people, anyone with eyes can see that it is only a matter of time before we reach that level."

After his initial elation, Wang Jianguo didn't just report the good news and kept the bad news to himself. He immediately mentioned the current difficulties: "However, to be honest, our factory doesn't have many new products besides rice cookers, induction cookers, and electric ovens. Electric kettles and electric blankets didn't sell well as soon as spring started, and the CNC machine tool business is stuck and can't be exported. With these fourteen workshops here, we really need to think carefully about how to plan this year's production." He leaned closer to Liu Guangqi and lowered his voice, "Guangqi, you have to give us some advice. If the factory wants to maintain its growth momentum this year, we need some new ideas. Now that you're back in the ministry, you can't just abandon Hongxing Factory, can you? We didn't release any new products all year last year. If we don't find a way, this year's growth rate might not be sustainable."

It's no wonder Wang Jianguo is worried. As the saying goes, the capable are burdened with more work. The Hongxing Factory is now like a top student, far surpassing other directly affiliated factories under the First Ministry of Machine Building, almost single-handedly shouldering the responsibility of earning foreign exchange and repaying debts. It's easy to imagine how high the expectations the First Ministry of Machine Building and the Ministry of Foreign Trade have for the Hongxing Foreign Exchange Machinery Factory. This is evident in the merger with the Third Electrical Factory—a new factory established only two years ago was able to absorb the old factory and firmly grasp its dominant position; such support is extraordinary. Under these circumstances, if he can't produce impressive foreign exchange growth figures this year, Wang Jianguo will likely find it difficult to even lift his head in ministry meetings.

Fortunately, Liu Guangqi was already used to Wang Jianguo's sweet burden. "What about the technicians from Tsinghua University in your factory?" he asked.

Upon hearing this, Wang Jianguo's relaxed brows furrowed again, and he sighed heavily, "Don't even mention it! Those kids certainly have a solid technical foundation; their reputation as graduates of top universities is well-deserved. But when it comes to production based on existing blueprints, they're all full of energy; yet, if you ask them to figure out some new research and development, they immediately wilted." He glanced at Liu Guangqi, his words carrying a hidden meaning: "They can't compare to a genius like you with a brain that seems to have some strange origin!" The subtext was practically laid bare: Guangqi, the factory needs you, the workers need you, quickly come up with some new gadgets to solve this urgent problem!

Liu Guangqi naturally understood. Normally, when he wasn't so busy, he would have helped out. But right now, the ministry leaders were pressing for a report on the export plan, and the R&D tasks scheduled for this year were already piling up, leaving him no time to focus on electrical appliance R&D. He could only smile wryly: "Old Wang, I've been too busy lately; I really don't have the time to tinker with these odds and ends."

Upon hearing the word "piecemeal," Wang Jianguo's eyes darted around, and he decided to play the rogue: "I don't care. If you don't give me some new products and technologies, I'm going to stay at your research department after this meeting."

"Alright, stop putting on that act."

Liu Guangqi chuckled and shook his head, casually flipping open the notebook he carried with him, neatly tearing off a page, then pulling out a fountain pen from his pocket and bending down to write rapidly.

The pen tip scratches across the paper.

Even though it wasn't the first time he'd seen it, Wang Jianguo couldn't help but secretly marvel at Liu Guangqi's skill—it was both fast and accurate.

In just a few minutes.

A simple, clearly labeled design sketch was handed to him: "Take this and give it to your technical department to study."

"If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to come to me anytime."

A square machine body with rollers is sketched on the paper.

The motor, transmission components, eddy current device, control module, water inlet and drainage system, support and protection structure... several core components are marked one by one.

The lines are clean and crisp, and the layout is easy to understand.

Wang Jianguo quickly took the blueprints with both hands and examined them closely under the light.

He stared at it for a long time, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper:

"What...what is this thing? At first glance, it looks a bit like an electric oven from a factory, but why is there a drum in the middle? What's it for?"

"washing machine."

"Specifically for washing clothes."

Seeing that the other person still looked blank, Liu Guangqi explained a few more points:

"The control system and timer can be used with an electric oven. By adjusting the circuit, it can achieve automatic rotation and automatic drainage, which is much less laborious than hand washing."

"Wash...the washing machine?!"

Wang Jianguo's voice suddenly rose, his eyes narrowing into slits with laughter:

"This is a great thing!"

"Wow! If they could actually make it, it might sell as well as rice cookers and electric ovens!"

"You're really something, kid. You pulled out a treasure for me in such a short time!"

Done.

He carefully folded the blueprint in half and then in half again, solemnly stuffing it into his inner pocket, as if he were hiding some family heirloom.

"I'll get their technical department to hold a meeting right away! They have to work overtime and get the prototype out as quickly as possible!"

Liu Guangqi slowly closed the pen cap and added casually:

"You can ask."

"But let me make this clear first—let them figure out their own problems first, don't bring me all the trivial things and delay what I'm doing."

"Of course! Don't worry!"

Wang Jianguo nodded repeatedly, his heart already bursting with joy.

With this washing machine...

With the factory's foreign exchange growth target this year, what is there to worry about?

Thinking about this...

When Wang Jianguo looked at Liu Guangqi again, his eyes held a deeper meaning.

He made up his mind.

From now on, I must make regular visits to the ministries. Otherwise—

The idea for this washing machine should have been figured out long ago, right?

Wang Jianguo naturally had no way of knowing.

Just how much weight does Liu Guangqi's sketch, drawn by hand, actually contain?

said with no exaggeration.

As long as the technicians at Hongxing Factory truly master the technical foundation of products such as electric ovens, rice cookers, and induction cookers.

Based on this one page—

This is enough to bring washing machines to market ahead of schedule.

Last year, John, who was far away in the West, developed a washing machine that could automatically complete the washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes.

If it continues on its original trajectory...

It wasn't until 1962 that Taiwan's Household Electric Appliance Research Institute successfully produced its first washing machine, marking the first step in its technological exploration.

However, that machine did not reach the general public for production.

Because it only has a simple agitation mechanism, you still have to manually add water and drain water when washing clothes, and it doesn't even have the most basic timer function.

It can only clean clothes by rotating them.

Therefore.

The washing machine project ultimately failed to take off.

Large-scale production didn't truly take place until 1978, after the reform and opening up.

This is a random piece of paper by Liu Guangqi.