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

"As for Japan, they went even further—they directly handed over the complete process for the latest model of special steel, and even included the production line drawings."

"You may all ponder this carefully,"

"These are genuine items that no amount of foreign exchange can buy."

In the end, Director Chen shook his head and gave a wry smile:

"The leadership understands the difficulties faced by your industrial sector, which is why they asked me to come and discuss this with them."

After he finished speaking, Director Lin remained silent, and Liu Guangqi also composed himself.

This is no longer just a simple foreign exchange transaction.

Outsiders may not understand why Hans and Japan, who are not dull-witted and have their own research and development capabilities, would be willing to hand over the technology they regard as their lifeblood.

But reality is often more complicated than imagination.

The progress of industry is like a race against the current.

If you don't change, your neighbors, your rivals, and even your partners will rush to do so.

After others have made leaps in technological precision and production scale

Once the product is innovated...

If we try to catch up again, the cost will be ten or a hundred times greater.

on the contrary,

If one closes oneself off and dedicates oneself to research, spending a long time on it, one might still achieve something.

But during this period,

Your domestic market has long been shattered by the more advanced products of others.

The nation's industrial progress will be slowed as a result.

This is no longer a simple business deal, but a clever scheme, a subtle form of coercion.

To follow or not to follow?

This decision will affect the nation's fate for decades to come.

not to mention,

There was also a Russian bear squatting nearby, who seemed to be hoping everyone would fall flat on their face.

Given his tendency to cause trouble,

Right now, we are waiting for China to pay off its debts so that we can invest all the real money into the bottomless arms race with the United States.

If you keep up,

That would make everyone happy.

If we don't follow...

The Russian bear would certainly not mind paying a visit to you and having a good talk about what "international cooperation" means.

Director Chen observed the expressions on the two men's faces.

Knowing the time was right, he made his final proposal:

"Our foreign trade department is asking if it's possible to ask the dozen or so machine tool factories under the First Ministry of Machine Building to coordinate overtime work to catch up on production?"

His gaze was fixed on their faces.

He then added cautiously, "Or, to be more direct—approve the establishment of several more directly affiliated factories and add new production lines."

"Apart from the machine tool factories in Beijing,"

"Don't you still have the No. 1 and No. 3 machine tool factories in Shenyang?"

"Those are all the elites under the Ministry of Machine Building, with more solid technology, more skilled workers, and a more complete foundation."

For this,

Director Lin did not immediately agree.

This level of approval exceeds the authority of a department head.

"Old Chen,"

"This matter is of great importance, and I must report to my superiors before making a decision."

"Of course, of course."

Director Chen immediately put on a smile and nodded repeatedly.

That means we're facing the First Ministry of Machine Building.

If it were any other department, he would have already placed the documents on the table.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade bears the heavy responsibility of generating foreign exchange.

How to solve the production capacity problem is your business, but if you delay the country's orders, no one can take responsibility.

In this day and age,

Apart from national defense, which must be given absolute priority, foreign trade and foreign exchange earnings are of the highest priority.

Difficult?

Even if it's difficult, we have to get it done.

But here at the Ministry of Machine Building today, he dared not show even a trace of that.

Not to mention that the core technologies of these machine tools all came from the R&D Department of the First Ministry of Machine Building, even the Hongxing Factory, which was responsible for production, had half of its jurisdiction in the hands of the First Ministry of Machine Building.

Director Chen had to take into account the attitude of the Ministry of Machine Building.

It really does n’t work.

We must discuss and work together to move forward; we absolutely cannot force it.

One Liu Guangqi,

This nearly quadrupled the debt repayment targets of their two ministries.

This is a critical period.

We must stabilize the situation and, more importantly, protect it.

If attitude issues cause a rift between the various departments within the Ministry of Machine Building and lead to a passive response, who can the Ministry of Foreign Trade rely on to achieve its goal of generating foreign exchange this year?

Thinking of this,

Director Chen understood perfectly well.

On the other side, Director Lin had already stood up and gave Liu Guangqi a look, signaling him to take charge of the situation for the time being.

"Guangqi," he said calmly, "you sit with Director Chen for a while, I'll be right back."

"You sit with Director Chen for a while, I'm going to see the Minister."

The words had barely left his lips when he was swept out of the office like a gust of wind, leaving only a faint, hurried echo in the air.

More than one hundred CNC machine tools

This number is indeed astonishing at first glance.

Even a key unit like Hongxing Factory, operating at full capacity for a month, could only produce twelve units per workshop.

More than one hundred units, which is almost the total annual output of Hongxing Factory.

But accounts are never calculated so simply.

The atmosphere in the conference room of the First Ministry of Machine Building was lively at that moment.

"I agree!"

"Within the city limits of Beijing, there were more than a dozen machine tool factories directly under the jurisdiction of the government."

"Once the production line is fully operational, the total output of CNC machine tools this year is conservatively estimated to exceed 1,600 units."

The vice minister tapped his knuckles lightly on the table, his voice carrying an obvious air of confidence.

In this way, the extra hundred or so units in the export plan seem insignificant.

not to mention--

If all 100-plus units are successfully exported, the foreign exchange earned will likely increase by another 300 million.

How much agricultural products and grain would it take to exchange for 300 million foreign exchange?

In these years when natural disasters are still a part of our lives, their significance is far greater than the numbers on paper suggest.

The ministerial leaders present had all weathered many storms, yet upon hearing this number, their breathing still tightened slightly.

This is by no means a small amount of money.

"Using our machine tools to exchange for their foreign exchange and technology, this deal is more advantageous for us no matter how you look at it."

"I agree!"

"The window for technology import opens and closes quickly; we must seize it firmly."

The meeting did not last long, and a consensus was quickly reached.

Dry!

Director Lin received the assignment and hurried to the Ministry of Foreign Trade to find Director Chen.

When he returned to the conference room, he went straight to the point and explained the situation without beating around the bush.

"Old Chen, it's approved!"

"The task has been officially handed over. Now it's up to your foreign trade department to carry it out."

Director Chen was deeply moved and was secretly plotting how to gain the upper hand at the negotiating table when Liu Guangqi, who had been silent for a long time, slowly spoke up.

"Director Chen, there's something I'd like to add."

Director Chen turned his gaze to the young man, a smile in his eyes: "Comrade Guangqi, please speak."

Liu Guangqi smiled slightly, his tone calm, but his words carried a deeper meaning:

"The export contract must include a clause stipulating that the right to repair is exclusively ours."

"If the machine malfunctions, it can only be handled by our engineers."

He paused briefly, then continued:

"If the other party disassembles the product without authorization, even if only a single screw is moved, we will consider it a breach of contract, and all subsequent repair services will be permanently terminated."

After speaking, Director Lin was taken aback for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.

"Good! That's how it should be!"

His expression suddenly became vivid, as if memories were surging back:

"Back then, we treated those experts from the north to the best of our ability, feeding and entertaining them as if they were our ancestors."

"But when they're repairing the machines, they cover them completely with a thick cloth, so how can you get close enough to learn anything? There's no way to get a window in."

Director Lin became more and more excited as he spoke:

"If the machine breaks down a few times, the travel and entertainment expenses will add up to enough to buy a new one."

"Sometimes when they can't fix it, they just shrug and blame us for improper operation."

These words also stirred up old wounds in Director Chen's memory. His expression darkened, and the technical frustrations and humiliations he had suffered over the years seemed to resurface in his heart.

But soon, the gloom on his face vanished, replaced by a triumphant and exhilarating expression.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely include this in the list."

He chuckled.

"What goes around comes around. It's time for us to enjoy the benefits of making money from both technical skills and maintenance."

After seeing Director Chen off, Liu Guangqi seemed to finally feel a weight lifted from his shoulders.

With the export drawings and orders finalized, a major event was finally settled.

Next, his gaze turned to the depths of the workshop—

There, a brand-new five-axis CNC center awaits, waiting to be assembled by his own hands.

Cleaning, debugging, and assembly—this process was already second nature to Liu Guangqi, and it didn't take him much effort.

Immediately afterwards, the development of the seven-axis five-linkage CNC system was officially put on the agenda. When he included the assembly of the new CNC center in his schedule, he suddenly realized how packed his life was: busy at work during the day, picking up his wife from school in the evening, playing with his children in his spare time, and drawing blueprints late into the night. His schedule was full.

Although these are still difficult times, and the whole country is tightening its belt, he, as a ministerial cadre and a level-six engineer, enjoys special talent allowances and has never run out of food and meat coupons, so he lives a relatively stable life.

Moreover, if memory serves me correctly, this year should be the last year of this series of natural disasters.

Over the past two years, the foreign exchange-earning products he developed have boosted the Hongxing Factory, and a large number of downstream state-owned factories have also benefited. As a result, the country has been able to repay its debts in the north much faster.

The good news came suddenly.

A few days later, the loudspeakers in the ministry compound suddenly blared, causing everyone who heard it to hold their breath:

"...After deliberation by higher authorities, it has been decided that starting next month, the grain rations for residents of Beijing will be gradually restored to the original standards, and the proportion of refined grains supplied will also be increased accordingly..."

The announcer's resounding voice echoed in the air.

The entire compound fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a tidal wave of discussion.

"Did you hear that? The distribution quota is going back to normal! We don't need to distribute it at 60-70% anymore!"

"The supply of refined grains has increased... Does this mean we're almost through this?"

The initial surprise and doubt on their faces gradually turned into ecstasy.

Restoring quotas and eliminating deductions—what does this mean? It means that the enormous debt weighing on the shoulders of the entire nation is no longer an insurmountable mountain. The country no longer needs to desperately squeeze out agricultural products and grains to exchange for foreign exchange. Before long, the people of this land will be able to unload their burdens and move forward with lighter loads.

The broadcast also mentioned that the proportion of refined grains would gradually increase, indicating that the shadow of famine was receding and there was more hope for the future.

In the office, several senior researchers were so excited that their eyes reddened, and childlike smiles bloomed on their usually serious faces: "Great...that's wonderful!"

Liu Guangqi stood by the window, looking at the jubilant crowd below, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

He knew that he had played a part in this.

It must be said that the feeling of personally participating in driving the times forward is more exhilarating than receiving any honor.

This land—finally, no longer has to suffer so much!

This era, which should have been burning brightly, can finally avoid so many dim cracks.

Perhaps this is the true meaning behind his dedication to research and his efforts to acquire foreign exchange.

In this life, he was never confined to a courtyard, but instead strived to grow into a tree, reaching for the brighter light of the sky for the land beneath his feet.

**The other end**

Just as everyone was celebrating the end of the disaster year and the clearing of foreign debts, a less optimistic message came back to the ministries from the Northwest.

"Director Liu!"

"The department leader requests your presence as soon as possible; there is an important matter to discuss."

That day, Liu Guangqi was bent over in front of a brand-new CNC machine tool frame, carefully adjusting the spindle concentricity. Hearing the sound, he didn't look up, but simply made his movements even lighter.

"Did Director Lin mention anything about it?"

He was generally aware of the ministry's recent affairs, so there was no reason for him to be summoned suddenly. Foreign trade orders had been finalized, and annual targets had been assigned; there seemed to be nothing that required the director to be so eager to see him. Even if the machine tool factories below wanted to come to learn technology or conduct research, they should have gone to the Hongxing factory first, rather than directly inviting him to the ministry leadership.

The special envoy who came to report shook his head, his expression solemn: "The director didn't go into details. He had just finished a phone call, and his expression turned sour. He went to the minister's office first, and then asked me to come and invite you."

Should we see the minister first, and then go find him?