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

He didn't know how much time had passed when the guard gently knocked on his office door and reminded him, "Director, it's time to go home. Are you getting ready to leave?" Liu Guangqi was suddenly jolted out of his reverie. As if afraid that the book would be mistreated in his bag, he changed his mind and carefully held it in his hands before packing up his other certificates and belongings and quickly going downstairs.

Outside the diplomatic quarters, Zhao Mengyun had been waiting for a while. Getting into the car, she looked at her husband, a smile playing on her lips: "Why are you so late today? I thought you'd have to let me go home by myself." Liu Guangqi smiled, his voice still carrying a hint of unease: "I was held up by some things."

Who was Zhao Mengyun? Immersed in the diplomatic field for many years, her ability to observe and understand was second nature. She noticed her husband's unusual behavior at a glance. He exuded an irrepressible excitement, and his eyes kept drifting to the book beside him.

"Oh, what rare find did you get?" Zhao Mengyun couldn't help but tease, her eyes sparkling. "Ever since you got on the bus, you seem completely captivated by this book. Let me see it?"

Liu Guangqi's smile deepened as he handed the book over. Zhao Mengyun took it, the distinctive scent of new paper and ink filling her nostrils. She recognized the title on the cover immediately; it was the computer textbook her husband had painstakingly compiled.

"Isn't this the book you edited for the Institute of Computing?" Her tone carried a natural pride. "It's already printed? Let me see just how good our Committee Member Liu's writing skills really are."

She eagerly turned to the title page, expecting to find a rigorous technical preface, but to her surprise, she was greeted by a line of powerful, bold, and vigorous handwriting.

"Using technology to forge national strategic assets, and using knowledge to pave the way for the future!"

She read it aloud almost involuntarily, feeling that this short sentence contained a vast and powerful atmosphere.

"These characters... truly have character! Which leader wrote this inscription for you?" she exclaimed sincerely, her gaze following the characters downwards.

When the three names she had seen countless times in documents and reports at the end of the signature line clearly entered her pupils, she suddenly froze.

The air inside the car seemed to freeze instantly.

Zhao Mengyun's breath hitched slightly. She raised her head, her gaze fixed on Liu Guangqi, her voice trembling with barely perceptible tension: "This...this is..."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly lowered her head again, as if to confirm that she wasn't seeing things. It wasn't until Liu Guangqi slowly and solemnly nodded, his throat dry, that he confirmed, "The distinguished guest the minister asked me to meet after today's commendation meeting was indeed this person."

This one sentence alone explains all his unusual behavior today.

As for Zhao Mengyun, a graduate of the Foreign Affairs University and now working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, her understanding and reverence for everything that name symbolizes are probably far beyond that of ordinary people.

That's more than just a simple title. It's a microcosm of a glorious era, a monument to the spirit of a time.

That's why she understood better than anyone what the elder's handwritten message truly meant.

That was no ordinary encouragement.

That gift of books carried far more than just the words on the pages; it also reflected Liu Guangqi's unreserved appreciation and earnest expectations.

"Who would have thought?" Liu Guangqi's lips curled into a slight smile, his voice filled with emotion. Having lived two lives, this was the first time he had ever seen this high-ranking leader in person, and he had unexpectedly received such a generous gift. The feeling was truly indescribable.

His wife gently took the book from him, her movements as if she were holding a priceless treasure. She clutched the book tightly to her chest, her eyes slightly reddening.

"Guangqi," she whispered, "we must keep this book safe and pass it on to Ruixue and Fengnian in the future... so they will know how highly their father was regarded."

After the pre-New Year commendation ceremony concluded, various ministries began their annual leave. Since his children had already been taken to the General Logistics Department compound by their maternal grandparents, Liu Guangqi wasn't in a hurry to return to his traditional courtyard house. He first went to a state-run store, using his ration coupons to purchase various New Year's gifts, filling the trunk of his Volga sedan with bags and packages. Only then did he have his guard drive him and Zhao Mengyun to his father-in-law's house.

The destination was the General Logistics Department compound in the western suburbs. Several military compounds were situated in this area, with well-known compounds belonging to the General Logistics Department, the Navy, and the Signal Corps located side-by-side, exuding an air of solemnity. Due to its special geographical location, the wide road in front of the compound had a commonly accepted name.

The Volga drove smoothly along the winter road, the distant outlines of the courtyards solemn and silent. As it approached the gate, the sentry on duty recognized the license plate from afar, his posture instantly straightening—in this compound dominated by angular Jeeps, this black sedan with a ministry-issued license plate had long been a conspicuous landmark.

The vehicle didn't stop, but the sentry saluted crisply and quickly let it through—the process was much faster than usual for checking other vehicles. Liu Guangqi rolled down the window a crack, letting in some cool air. He turned to Zhao Mengyun and smiled, "It's almost Chinese New Year, even the security at your compound has been relaxed?"

"Dream on," Zhao Mengyun glanced at him. "It's not that you've become lax in your discipline, it's that you recognize your car and know you're here to see your in-laws."

Liu Guangqi raised an eyebrow and looked around. Sure enough, most of the cars parked in the yard were Jeeps, and he understood immediately. The courtyard was well-ordered, with simple two-story buildings scattered around. The pine and cypress trees along the road stood tall and strong even in the cold winter, exuding order and solemnity everywhere.

Several teenagers in military overcoats were fiddling with slingshots by the roadside when they all turned around upon hearing the engine.

"Hey, isn't that Brother-in-law Zhao's car?" The speaker was the staff officer's son, known in the courtyard as Stone, a fearless troublemaker. But at this moment, he stuffed his slingshot into his pocket and jogged over to meet him.

As soon as the car came to a stop, he called out loudly into the car, "Hello, Sister Xiaoyun!" Before he finished speaking, he had already moved to the back door, a warm smile on his face, and reached out to open the car door.

"Brother-in-law! You're here! Are the ministries on holiday too?" His eagerness was as if he were seeing a long-lost relative.

With Shi Tou leading the way, the other teenagers quickly surrounded the car and completely blocked the door.

"Hello, brother-in-law!"

"Is your brother-in-law spending the Spring Festival in the compound this year?"

Greetings rose and fell, and pairs of bright eyes were fixed on Liu Guangqi, their gazes filled with undisguised admiration and affection. These children, all from prominent families, were now crowding around the car, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Having grown accustomed to the high-ranking elders in the family, children gradually develop an arrogance that is not common among children from ordinary families, looking down on everyone with a sense of superiority.

however--

When they got to Liu Guangqi, their self-righteous arrogance was as insignificant as a speck of dust.

Everyone behaved themselves very well.

For no other reason than that.

The name "Liu Guangqi" has long been a benchmark for them to look up to.

Despite his young age, he single-handedly filled the gap in the country's weakest sector, the machine tool industry, and propelled the nation to the forefront of the world.

This incident even made the front page of the People's Daily.

And his status as a level six engineer—

If placed in the military, that would be a rank equivalent to a deputy division commander.

Moreover, every single technology that Liu Guangqi studied was closely related to the overall national defense strategy.

In the hearts of these children from the compound who grew up listening to stories of war heroes, Liu Guangqi is a living legend.

Aside from heartfelt admiration, I felt no other emotion.

Surrounded by this group of young people, Liu Guangqi felt both helpless and amused.

He shook his head, letting several children of officials rush to open the car door for him before stepping out of the car.

He smiled and nodded to everyone, then turned to retrieve the New Year's gifts he had prepared from the trunk.

The moment it moved, the nearest stone rushed forward.

"Brother-in-law!"

"This is such a small matter, how could I let you do it! I'll do it!"

Before she could finish speaking, another figure squeezed in from the side: "Go away, I'm closer, it's my turn to help my brother-in-law carry it!"

The two of them were arguing over such a trivial matter—

"That's enough!"

Zhao Mengyun finally couldn't stand it anymore.

She got out of the car, both amused and annoyed, grabbed Shi Tou by the back of his collar and pulled him back, then glared at the others around her.

"Stop making a scene here, everyone disperse. Aren't you afraid of getting cold in this freezing weather?"

Hearing her say that, the group of young people immediately became obedient, chuckling awkwardly as they took a few steps back.

"Okay, okay, okay!"

"Brother-in-law, Sister Xiaoyun, then we won't disturb you any longer!"

"We'll go find Mengsheng and my brother-in-law to play later!"

Before leaving, someone leaned closer, lowered their voice, and mysteriously added:

"Oh, right, brother-in-law!"

"I just passed by your yard and heard Uncle Qi playing chess with Uncle Zhao inside—"

He winked, a playful hint in his voice: "They've been talking about you for ages!"

Liu Guangqi finally breathed a sigh of relief after seeing off the overly enthusiastic group of children from the compound.

Pushing open the Zhao family's door, a warm, cozy atmosphere filled with the aroma of food wafted towards you.

"A timely snowfall promises a bountiful harvest!"

"Look who's back!"

Wu Shuang's mother-in-law's voice came from the living room. She was dressed in a neat military uniform, her back straight, and her expression exuded a stern air.

But this imposing aura instantly transformed into gentle ripples when she saw little Ruixue running unsteadily beside her knees.

The loving gaze in her eyes was no different from that of an ordinary grandmother who dotes on her grandchildren.

Little Ruixue broke free from her grandmother's hand at some point and ran over like a little cannonball, grabbing Liu Guangqi's leg.

"dad!"

Her soft voice was full of affection.

Liu Guangqi smiled, bent down to put the gifts in his hands by the door, and hugged his daughter tightly, kissing her chubby cheek.

"Were you being naughty again?"

He held the child in his arms, looked up at his mother-in-law, and smiled:

"Mom, we've come to see you and Dad. Are the two little ones alright?"

Wu Shuang reached out and gently tapped Xiao Ruixue's nose, pretending to be serious: "She doesn't make a fuss, but she's always asking for her dad, mom, grandpa, and grandma—"

"It's like they can't keep people here with my grandparents!"

Liu Guangqi couldn't help but chuckle: "We'll kiss after a couple more days."

Just then, a crisp "snap" sound came from the inner room.

"Has Guangqi arrived?"

The father-in-law Zhao's voice was deep and powerful, coming from the chessboard.

He was playing chess with an old man. Hearing the sound, he didn't look up, but simply raised his hand to wave.

"Come and sit down. I was just talking about you with your Uncle Qi."

He paused, then seemed to suddenly remember something, and his tone became more amused.

The voice in the living room suddenly rose, its undisguised joy rushing towards the other side: "Old Qi! Look, this is my son-in-law, Liu Guangqi!"

The triumph in those words almost solidified, permeating the air.

Liu Guangqi gently put down his daughter and walked towards his father-in-law. He knew it was impolite to constantly hold a child in front of elders; he understood this basic etiquette.

They greeted each other upon meeting.

With a smile, Father-in-law Zhao introduced him to the person beside him: "Guangqi, this is Minister Qi of the General Logistics Department. You should call him Uncle Qi."

A smile appeared on Liu Guangqi's face. He took a step forward and greeted him respectfully, "Uncle Qi, hello, I am Liu Guangqi."

Upon hearing this, the military officer addressed as Minister Qi gently put down the chess piece he was holding. He raised his head, his gaze calm yet subtly scrutinizing Liu Guangqi for a moment.

"Guangqi," Minister Qi said with a smile, standing up. "Old Zhao has been talking about you a lot, praising you to the skies. Today I finally get to meet you in person!"

He nodded, his eyes showing appreciation: "You look energetic, the kind of person who can get things done. No wonder even the top leaders in the institute mentioned your name in meetings."

Liu Guangqi was slightly taken aback, but said nothing on the surface.

Zhao's father, who had been unable to contain himself any longer, took over the conversation, his chest puffing out unconsciously, his eyebrows and eyes radiating a triumphant spirit.