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

After leaving Jin Yin Tan, the jeep was replaced by a Jiefang truck, and what followed was a full nine days of arduous travel. The wheels rolled over the rugged gravel roads of the Qilian Mountains, and the truck bed swayed so violently it almost fell apart. Liu Guangqi leaned against his bulging canvas bag, not feeling the hardship at all. He took out his fountain pen from the bag—the pen body was worn smooth by time, the fine engravings on it the marks left by years of holding a pen. Gently stroking the cap with his fingertips, he suddenly understood why so many researchers were willing to remain anonymous, dedicating their lives unreservedly to this land.

He then opened the book "Fundamentals of Nuclear Physics," which was covered in signatures. On the title page, the words "Forging swords for the nation, let us strive together" stood out boldly, and behind each signature was a vivid and sincere face.

"Boss! Look! We're almost at Beijing!"

The guard's cheerful voice roused him from his reverie.

Liu Guangqi looked up. The scenery outside the window had completely changed: the boundless wilderness was left behind, and before him stretched rolling fields, lush and green. The wind no longer carried sand and gravel, but rather the fresh scent of earth and grass.

He looked down at his hands. Oil stains, impossible to wash off, still clung to his fingernails; his knuckles were covered in tiny scratches and thick calluses. His face still bore the rough marks of the Gobi Desert winds and sand—these were the real medals the Northwest had bestowed upon him.

As the truck entered the city, the familiar hustle and bustle washed over him. Smoke billowed from the chimneys of state-run restaurants, bicycle bells jingled on the streets, and children's laughter echoed from the alleyways. This rich and welcoming atmosphere of everyday life finally allowed his long-tense nerves to relax. A slight smile unconsciously appeared on his lips—he had set out with a heart full of longing for home, and upon his return, he had not only completed his mission but also brought back the deep friendship of his comrades and the weighty spiritual entrustment from Director Deng.

After an unknown amount of time, the Jiefang truck slowly came to a stop in front of the gate of the First Ministry of Machine Building compound.

Liu Guangqi was stunned.

The area in front of the office building was packed with people. Standing at the very front was the Minister of the Ministry of Machine Building, flanked by several vice ministers, and behind him was his direct superior, Director Lin. Colleagues from various departments, whether they knew each other or not, were all there. Even the technicians from the research department, who spent their days drawing diagrams, were now all crowding in the crowd, looking at him.

The crowd stood on tiptoe, craning their necks, their faces filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Before Liu Guangqi could react, the minister strode forward with great strides, grabbed his hand firmly with a thick, powerful hand, and shook it vigorously a few times.

"Comrade Guangqi, welcome back!"

The heat and strength transmitted from that palm instantly dispelled Liu Guangqi's travel fatigue and cleared his mind.

He smiled, revealing his lips, slightly chapped from years of exposure to wind and sand, and said loudly:

"Minister, I'm back. All the tasks assigned to me have been completed."

"It's more than just implementation!" The deputy minister stepped forward, patted Liu Guangqi on the shoulder twice with a smile, his eyes full of approval. "Director Deng's urgent report from three days ago has already arrived, praising you to the skies. You assembled precision machine tools, modified that 104 computer, and even taught us a lot of core computing technologies—your trip to the Northwest has truly made our department proud."

As Liu Guangqi's direct superior, Director Lin felt extremely proud at this moment. He leaned closer and gave Liu Guangqi a light tap on the back of the shoulder.

"You rascal! Before you left, I was worried sick every day about your machine tool export targets, afraid something would go wrong. And you, you went to the Northwest without a word and set off this huge disaster for us!"

His words sounded like a complaint, but the smile on his face was brighter than anyone else's.

Faced with the undisguised praise from the leaders, Liu Guangqi couldn't help but smile. He had originally thought that at most, Director Lin would come to pick him up alone, but he never expected such a warm welcome.

"Thank you for your recognition, leaders. I was just doing my job," he said, his gaze sweeping across the crowd and landing on the group of young researchers in his department.

The group of young men couldn't contain themselves any longer. One of the bolder ones shouted at the top of his lungs, "Director! While you were away, we finished assembling and debugging the entire new batch of five-axis CNC machine tools! Does that count as passing the test you left us before you left?"

Upon hearing this, a burst of knowing laughter erupted from the crowd.

"Alright, everyone, stop crowding around here and go do what you need to do." The Minister of the First Ministry of Machine Building waved his hand, but his gaze remained fixed on Liu Guangqi. The man before him seemed to have become more robust, with a few traces of hardship between his brows, and his eyes, in particular, were calmer and brighter than when he left.

The minister couldn't help but joke, "It seems the trip to the Northwest wasn't in vain. Your skin is a bit rougher, and you're more robust. Most importantly, your spirit and energy have become even more composed."

Liu Guangqi raised his hand and touched his cheeks, which had been exposed to the scorching sun and sandstorms, and smiled, "The sun is fierce and the wind is harsh on the Gobi Desert, but it's worth it to endure this hardship while working with Director Deng and the others."

Subsequently, surrounded by several leaders, Liu Guangqi followed the Minister of the First Ministry of Machine Building into his office.

Clearly, the real reporting and discussions are only just beginning. The department leaders need a more detailed understanding of Liu Guangqi's specific work and achievements at the Northwest base over the past two months.

"Sit down and let's talk." The minister gestured to the sofa and got straight to the point. "Director Deng specifically mentioned in his report that the 104B computer you improved, although still based on the first-generation vacuum tube architecture, has tripled in computing efficiency, helping them overcome a key problem. The Institute of Computing Technology also sent people to inquire about it, and they said that your skills have impressed them greatly."

"The leaders are too kind; there's an element of luck involved," Liu Guangqi said humbly, picking up his teacup and feeling the warmth emanating from the porcelain.

"At that time, the Northwest CNC Center had just been built, and my main task had come to a temporary end. I thought I shouldn't waste my free time, so I wondered if I could make some more contributions. I happened to be quite familiar with some basic computer principles, so I tried to make some improvements."

Although he spoke casually, Liu Guangqi knew perfectly well that the Institute of Computing Technology's special inquiry was not merely an expression of admiration. Behind it lay an urgent need for that technology.

Now that I'm practically part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) system, holding back on technical aspects would seem narrow-minded. Moreover, while CAS is currently working diligently on developing a second-generation transistor computer, such a groundbreaking product requires three to five years of dedicated effort to bring it to fruition. At the current stage, comprehensively improving the performance of the existing 104-type computers nationwide would have immeasurable strategic value.

Thinking of this, Liu Guangqi spoke up before his superior could ask any further questions:

"Sir, I have left the modification plan and detailed technical points of the 104B computer at the Northwest Research Institute. If the Institute of Computing Technology or other relevant units need it, I can compile a complete document and send it over at any time, which may provide some reference for domestic computer research and development."

At that time, the Chinese Academy of Sciences was not the only institution in China researching computers. The Shanghai Institute of Computing Technology, located in the southern base, was also conducting related research, and the famous J-501 computer was born there. In addition, core research institutes under several important departments were also continuously working in this cutting-edge field.

In the office, the deputy minister gazed at Liu Guangqi with admiration, nodding slowly. "You young man certainly know how to navigate the world." He scrutinized the young man before him, as if trying to see beyond appearances to understand his inner self, and couldn't help but exclaim, "I really can't fathom how your brain is structured! From industrial machine tools to home appliances, and now even the most cutting-edge computer technology, is there anything in this world you can't do?"

The Minister of the First Ministry of Machine Building gently waved his hand, signaling his deputy to put down the joke. He straightened his expression and his tone became serious: "There's something else I need to tell you. There's been new progress recently regarding the selection of academicians. Director Deng personally gave a detailed explanation to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, fully presenting your contributions this time. Given his prestige in the academic community, your chances of being selected should be even greater."

Upon hearing the news, Liu Guangqi felt a ripple of emotion, but his expression remained calm. To be honest, he wasn't overly attached to the title of Academician. It was already 1961, and the situation would change again in a few years. However, upon further reflection, he realized he came from a clean background, had always worked in scientific research domestically, and had neither overseas study experience nor any foreign connections. Even if the outside world was turbulent, it shouldn't affect him. Moreover, his parents-in-law had powerful connections and considerable influence; they could certainly provide protection should the situation change.

Putting these considerations aside, he was truly grateful for the appreciation and guidance he received from Director Deng, this meritorious senior. This recognition was not only an affirmation of his abilities, but also symbolized the continuation of a spirit.

With business concluded, the atmosphere in the office noticeably relaxed. Liu Guangqi suddenly remembered something and asked, "Boss, how's the mass production of washing machines at the Hongxing factory progressing?"

This question finally gave Director Lin, who was standing nearby, a chance to speak. With the ministry leaders present, he hadn't had a chance to interject. Now, with the washing machine project mentioned, he immediately took the lead, beaming: "That's a perfect question! Comrade Jianguo just came to the ministry a few days ago to report the good news—it was like winning a brilliant battle! The Red Star brand washing machines have received an extremely enthusiastic response; the foreign trade department has already received orders from more than a dozen countries, pouring in like snowflakes. Even many family members of cadres in the ministry compound are hoping to get their hands on one."

Upon hearing this, the vice minister laughed and said, "These people are quite good at keeping up with trends." Liu Guangqi also laughed.

After chatting for a while longer, seeing that it was getting late, Liu Guangqi got up to take his leave. As he walked out of the office building, the afternoon sun shone warmly on the red brick walls. Holding the fountain pen that symbolized inheritance, he walked forward with steady steps—the winds and sands of the Northwest had shed his former naiveté and made the path ahead clearer. Modifying machine tools and upgrading computers were just the beginning; next, he wanted to make the flame of industrial development burn even brighter, propelling the motherland to take more solid steps on the road to becoming a strong nation.

After returning to his office and tidying up briefly, Liu Guangqi quickly went to the R&D laboratory. Inside, several brand-new five-axis CNC machine tools were neatly arranged, their metal surfaces gleaming with a cold luster. He slowly surveyed the entire CNC center, his fingertips occasionally lightly touching the control panels and key connecting parts. He had to admit that during his two months away, his technical team had indeed delivered satisfactory results.

"Is all the debugging complete?" Liu Guangqi's gaze remained fixed on the equipment. "What were the test results?"

The technicians beside him immediately straightened their backs, like soldiers awaiting inspection. "Reporting, Director! All CNC machine tools have been debugged, and the accuracy data is completely consistent with the original CNC center!" Their voices were filled with suppressed excitement. Although Liu Guangqi had been gone for two months, they had successfully replicated the brilliant achievement of the entire CNC system.

Liu Guangqi nodded slightly, a smile of approval appearing on his lips: "Well done." He encouraged the technical backbone who were already capable of handling things independently for a few words, then raised his wrist to look at his watch.

As dusk settled and twilight crept over the street corner, he glanced at his watch; it was time to pick up his wife.

For the past two months, the research institute in the Northwest has been cut off from the signal, and I couldn't even make a phone call. Thinking of the days she spent alone at home, a thin layer of guilt rose in my heart.

Just after 5:30, the black Volga sedan quietly stopped outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs compound.

Before long, Zhao Mengyun emerged side by side with several colleagues. As they chatted and laughed, her eyelashes lowered, her smile like light floating on water, fleeting and ephemeral. Sixty-odd days of silence had left everyone with a heavy weight on their hearts.

"Xiaoyun!" Her colleague suddenly nudged her arm and gestured towards the door, "Look, isn't that your car?"

The voice, soft as a whisper, broke the silence. Zhao Mengyun suddenly looked up, her gaze sweeping past the passing figures, and abruptly fixed on the figure by the car door—so familiar, as if etched into the lines of time.

For a moment she forgot what to say, and didn't even have time to say goodbye to her colleagues. She clutched her handbag and ran forward.

When she reached him, her eyes were already slightly red. Liu Guangqi smiled and reached out to tidy her wind-blown hair, his voice as gentle as the evening breeze:

"I'm back."