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

This unexpected gift made Zhao Mengyun feel as if a spoonful of honey had melted in her heart, and a sweet feeling kept rising from her.

Behind the windows and around the stairwells of the entire tenement building, countless faces peered out. A multitude of gazes converged, surrounding Zhao Mengyun, who stood there clutching laundry detergent. The envious look in those eyes almost materialized, gently lifting her up.

The installer worked swiftly, prying open the wooden crate in no time. A brand-new, off-white washing machine was revealed, its smooth surface bathed in a soft, pale gold glow from the setting sun. Two knobs, labeled "Wash" and "Spin," were mounted side-by-side on the control panel, their design simple yet modern.

"Engineer Liu, this machine was built according to the principles you suggested. We won't show off in front of experts; you definitely know better than us how to use it!" The foreman said with a smile as he expertly connected the water pipes. "The pre-installed locations for the pipes in your house are perfect; it's ready to use right out of the box, saving us a lot of trouble!"

Zhao Mengyun couldn't help but reach out, her fingertips gently tracing the cool, smooth enamel surface of the washing machine. A surge of joy welled up in her heart. She murmured to herself, "Doing laundry will be so much easier from now on."

"That's right," a smiling voice chimed in, "From now on, leave all the heavy work to it, and you can just relax."

Zhao Mengyun turned around and playfully punched him, but a smile had already spread across her face. No matter the era, such tender words could easily touch a woman's heart.

After seeing off the installation workers, Liu Guangqi and Zhao Mengyun got into the car and drove towards the courtyard house.

As soon as the black sedan turned into the alley, Yan Bugui, who lived in the front yard, strode out of his house as if he had been waiting for a long time. He squinted to see who got out of the car, and his face immediately broke into a warm smile, his wrinkles all knitted together.

"Guangqi's back! It's been quite a while since we last met. Look at you, you look so radiant, and you've become even more responsible!" Yan Bugui rushed forward, and before Liu Guangqi could respond, he affectionately took his arm, his words brimming with gratitude. "My husband, Jiecheng, always talks about how thanks to you, he was able to get into such a good company as Hongxing Factory. Now everyone knows that Hongxing Factory is a major foreign exchange recipient that the ministry is very interested in; it's very prestigious and respectable!"

Every word he uttered emphasized that his son's job was entirely due to Liu Guangqi's connections.

This excessive expression of gratitude left Liu Guangqi feeling somewhat helpless. He knew all too well that it was absolutely impossible for him to plead on behalf of someone like Yan Jiecheng. Yet, the Yan family was fixated on this excuse, insisting on pinning the favor on him. Liu Guangqi found it somewhat amusing, but he had no intention of pointing it out, letting them think what they wanted.

"Uncle, you're too kind," he said with a forced smile. "I'll go home and see my parents first."

After saying that, he led Zhao Mengyun into the courtyard.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I ran into Yi Zhonghai, who was coming out of a house. This "old man" in the courtyard was holding a pair of pliers, and his sleeves were rolled up high, as if he had just been tidying up the stove. His gaze lingered on Liu Guangqi for a moment, and a genuine look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Guangqi is back." Yi Zhonghai's tone was calm, unlike Yan Bugui's overt manner. "He's a bit lighter this time, but he looks more composed. Xiaoyun said you were busy with important matters, and it seems she was right."

He was genuinely moved. In just two months, the young man before him had changed dramatically. His features showed signs of experience, but this only highlighted his maturity and composure, like a tree that had suddenly shed its immaturity and stretched out its upright branches.

Qin Huairu was carrying a washbasin when she saw this and stopped, greeting him with a smile, "Guangqi is back?" Her tone was noticeably more polite than usual.

Liu Guangqi nodded in response to each question, his attitude was calm and appropriate, neither putting on airs nor being overly enthusiastic.

However, it was precisely this calm and composed demeanor that, in the eyes of Yan Bugui, who had not yet left, became another form of confirmation. Yan Bugui secretly admired him: Look at his composure! He has achieved success but does not put on airs, and he is still so polite to his old neighbor. This is what a truly accomplished person should be like! Thinking this, he became even more certain that his son's entry into the Red Star Factory must have been due to Liu Guangqi's immense favor.

As they talked, they continued walking towards the backyard without stopping.

As the children began their wobbly first steps, Liu Guangqi pushed open the courtyard gate, the setting sun casting its slanting rays across the threshold. The two little ones were almost six months old, a time brimming with curiosity about the world. Little Ruixue was the first to spot her father; her round eyes lit up, and she wobbled towards him, pushing her wooden walker. The wheels creaked softly across the brick pavement, and just as she was about to hit the threshold—Liu Pangpang swiftly reached out from the side, and Liu Guangqi stepped forward, steadily scooping his daughter into his arms. The little girl immediately wrapped her chubby arms around his neck, giggling.

Liu Haizhong squatted under the eaves, watching his grandson and granddaughter circling around his son like two fledglings. He muttered "naughty boy" under his breath, but deep smile lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. "At least they still know to come back and see the kids." He stood up and patted the dust off his trousers.

That evening, the dinner table in the backyard was exceptionally lavish. Halfway through the meal, Liu Haizhong finally couldn't contain himself any longer. He put down his chopsticks and lowered his voice, "Guangqi, the factory's announcement today said something about... industrial coupons? They're even tied to wages. What's going on here?" He paused, leaning forward slightly. "I heard it was your industrial department that spearheaded this? Tell Dad, is this a blessing or a curse?"

Despite Liu Haizhong's imposing manner as he strolled around the workshop with his hands behind his back, he knew very well that his position as deputy workshop director, despite his limited primary school education, was entirely due to his son's influence within the Ministry of Industry. Because of this, he couldn't help but feel anxious whenever there was any hint of policy change.

Liu Guangqi smiled and placed a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs into his wife's bowl. "Good thing," he said confidently. "Before, if we wanted to buy sewing machines or radios, didn't we have to go around asking people for 'three turns and one sound coupons'? We won't have to anymore. We can save up industrial coupons with our wages." He glanced at his father's furrowed brows, and his voice softened. "This means our factory can produce more things, and life will only get better and better."

"Really?" Liu Haizhong's eyes lit up, his chopsticks hovering in mid-air. "The radio was so vague, it kept me thinking about it all afternoon!" His aunt, watching her husband's expression, couldn't help but smile, then asked, "So, once you've saved up enough coupons, can you really just go and buy it?"

"Yes, we can." Liu Guangqi nodded firmly. "We just need to accumulate enough."

The meal was a lively affair in the courtyard. Liu Guangqi's appearance subtly dispelled the neighbors' curiosity these past few days—they had often seen his wife coming and going alone, which inevitably led to some gossip. Now, with him sitting at the table, he didn't need to say a word to tell everyone that those hectic days were finally over.

Back home in the ministry compound, it was late at night. After washing up, Zhao Mengyun took Liu Guangqi's hand and headed for the bathroom, her steps as light as a sparrow. Pointing to the brand-new white box in the corner, her eyes sparkling, she asked, "Teach me quickly, how do you use this metal thing?"

Her eagerness made Liu Guangqi chuckle. It seems that women's enthusiasm for novelties remains constant across generations. He walked over, pressed his palm against the cool exterior of the washing machine, and placed his fingers on the largest knob. "Look, this is the washing mode. To get it clean, turn it to the right for a strong wash." He then pointed to a few other buttons. "This is the water level; adjust it higher if you have a lot of clothes." Finally, he patted the side of the machine. "The water hoses are all connected; just press this to start it."

Zhao Mengyun leaned closer, her nose almost touching the control panel. She extended her index finger and carefully turned the knob. Click, click, the crisp mechanical sound was particularly clear in the quiet night. "Is it that simple?" She looked up, her eyes filled with surprise. "I thought it would be like those machine tools in your workshop, taking forever to figure out."

"Home appliances are all about convenience," Liu Guangqi said with a smile, casually picking up his discarded white shirt from the bamboo basket beside him. "Here, give it a try."

Zhao Mengyun took the shirt and gently placed it into the roller, her movements as solemn as if she were performing some kind of ritual.

The collar and cuffs of the shirt were covered with a light layer of dust.

She imitated Liu Guangqi's previous actions, throwing the shirt into the silver-gray roller, but a doubt arose in her heart: could this cast iron object really clean better than rubbing it with her hands?

"Just wait and see."

Following the instructions, Zhao Mengyun adjusted the water level to low, switched the program to standard, and slowly poured in a basin of prepared soap solution. She took a deep breath, as if initiating a solemn ceremony, and pressed the round button.

The machine first made a soft "click," which then turned into a steady hum as the drum began to slowly rotate. Water gurgled in, and through the clear round window, you could see the water quickly washing over the clothes, stirring up fluffy, dense foam.

Zhao Mengyun was stunned, her gaze fixed on the fabric undulating in the roller, unable to look away for a long time.

"Isn't that easier?"

Liu Guangqi had somehow appeared behind her, his arms naturally encircling her waist, his chin gently resting on her fragrant hair.

"From now on, leave all the washing and scrubbing to it. Just throw dirty clothes in, let them soak and spin until they're clean. After washing, you can spin them dry, hang them by the window, and they'll be ready in less than half a day."

He lowered his head slightly, catching a glimpse of her fair nape and her wide, surprised eyes. Zhao Mengyun nestled into his warm embrace, watching the shirt tumbling leisurely in the drum, a gentle smile unconsciously spreading across her lips.

"My man is really capable."

Her voice radiated an undisguised pride:

"They can manufacture such sophisticated machine tools, and they can even operate a washing machine so clearly."

Liu Guangqi chuckled softly, his breath brushing against her ear: "This is nothing. There will be many more things that will save you trouble and effort in the future."

Moonlight filtered through the gauze curtains, spilling onto the gleaming surface of the washing machine, reflecting a pair of figures leaning against each other, spreading a warm and peaceful tranquility in the ordinary night.

The next morning, as soon as Liu Guangqi stepped into the research office, a scorching heat hit him—not from the temperature, but from the vibrant energy that permeated the area.

Watching the busy figures of everyone, Liu Guangqi's lips curled into a slight smile. This was exactly the kind of atmosphere he wanted.

A while ago, the five-axis CNC center was sent to the Northwest, and he personally went there again. He was overwhelmed with all sorts of miscellaneous tasks, which almost turned him, the head of the research department, into a logistics coordinator. Now he can finally free himself up and refocus his energy on the main research and development line.

He walked into the office and patted it lightly twice.

The crisp sound of clapping brought the entire research office to a sudden silence, as dozens of eyes turned to them.

"Let's put aside what we're doing for now and have a brief chat."

Liu Guangqi turned and walked to the blackboard by the wall, picked up half a piece of chalk, and with a light flick of his wrist, wrote several powerful characters in a flowing, graceful manner.

Seven-axis, five-linkage CNC machine tool!

As dust settled, those few words seemed to possess a magnetic force, instantly capturing everyone's attention.

"You all have already thoroughly mastered the five-axis linkage technology, and you've figured it out inside and out."

Liu Guangqi tapped the blackboard with his finger, making a clear tapping sound:

"The fire is burning brightly right now, let's add fuel to the fire and tackle this tough nut of a seven-axis machine."

His gaze swept across the crowd and landed precisely on Lao Zhang, who was in charge of scheduling and arrangements.

"Old Zhang, what are Groups One and Two, who were working on the five-axis project last time, up to now?"

Old Zhang quickly flipped through his schedule, speaking rapidly yet steadily:

"One team is providing technical support at the Shencheng Machine Tool Factory, and the other team is following up on the debugging of the washing machine production line at the Hongxing Factory."

"Bring them back."

Liu Guangqi tapped the blackboard lightly with his fingertip: "Group One is most familiar with five-axis mechanical structures, and Group Two is proficient in linkage algorithms. These two groups need to be pulled back to participate in the seven-axis R&D and share the core tasks. Their work will be handed over to other groups. Old Wang will send a few experienced people to fill in at the Red Star Factory, and I will supplement the technical guidance materials in Shencheng."

"Understood!" Old Zhang responded immediately, his eyes shining. "Director, everyone has been looking forward to a new project. With you back, we can finally push towards the seventh axis."

Old Zhou also stepped forward, holding a gear sample in his hand: