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

"Of course! Just look at who chose this son-in-law!" His voice was loud and proud. "Guangqi isn't just skilled in CNC machine tools; he's also a top talent in researching and developing foreign exchange earning projects! Otherwise, how could he have been elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences the other day?"

The living room fell silent for a moment after he said that.

"Academician?"

Minister Qi's smile faltered. He turned to Zhao's father, his eyes filled with disbelief and astonishment: "Old Zhao, are you... really telling the truth? Your son-in-law is so young, and he's already in the Chinese Academy of Sciences?"

He knew all too well the weight of the words "academician." It was no ordinary honorary title, but the highest academic honor in the country's science and technology field.

"Hahaha--"

Seeing his old comrade's surprised expression, Zhao's father felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction, his shoulders trembling slightly with laughter. He deliberately put on a serious face, but his eyes concealed a hint of pride: "Would I lie about something like this? Do you think I, Old Zhao, am someone who speaks carelessly?"

"You, Old Zhao, you've really hidden him well! You've struck gold with a son-in-law like him!" Minister Qi shook his head and chuckled, his tone full of admiration.

While Zhao's father humbly replied "Not at all," the wrinkles on his face had already smoothed out, and he smiled like a chrysanthemum in full bloom in autumn. His satisfaction and pride were written all over his face.

It's strange, but men, no matter their age, always retain a youthful spirit. This saying is quite fitting for Zhao's father. In the army, he was a strict and unsmiling general; but at home, he was no different from an ordinary elder who doted on his younger relatives. His son's future was still uncertain, but his son-in-law's achievements were real and tangible, enough to bring him great joy and satisfaction.

As dusk deepened, the Zhao family's dining table was already laden with food. The housekeepers brought out dish after dish of freshly cooked food, and when the last dish, sweet and sour fish drizzled with amber sauce, was placed on the table, the fragrant steam burst forth, dominating the entire dining room and whetting everyone's appetite.

This is the Zhao family's meal for tonight. Having a cook and servants at home isn't about pursuing luxury, but rather the expected living conditions for a military officer of that rank. It's unreasonable and unrealistic to expect a founding general, whose shoulder insignia bears the stars of a general and who has risked his life for the country, to have to worry about meals at home after a lifetime of military and national affairs. Having fought and bled for most of his life, it's only natural that he enjoys such comfortable arrangements in his later years. Of course, with the implementation of a salary system, these expenses must also be drawn from his personal salary.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious. My father-in-law, who was usually solemn, surprisingly raised his glass. The hand that had once held a gun and commanded thousands of troops was now steadily holding a white porcelain glass.

"Guangqi," Zhao's father's voice was not loud, but it carried his usual steady strength. He looked at Liu Guangqi with undisguised approval in his eyes, which was quite different from his usual sternness.

"You are very good."

"This glass is for you."

The clinking of glasses echoed softly in the restaurant. At this moment, even though Liu Guangqi wasn't usually a heavy drinker, he was determined to drink with him to the very end. The elder before him was no ordinary family member, but a general who had truly emerged from the flames of war and made outstanding contributions to this land.

He understood this respect.

Liu Guangqi's act of getting his father-in-law to raise his glass first is enough to become a well-known story among the sons-in-law in the General Logistics Department compound.

Anyone with eyes can see it.

Grandpa Zhao is truly enjoying himself today.

After a glass of strong liquor, the estrangement between the father-in-law and son-in-law vanished, and they began to talk more frequently.

"To pay off the debt owed to **..."

"The higher-ups have even prepared the worst-case scenario plan. They plan to use the little bit of grain, oil and other food that people have saved up during famine years to pay off the debts."

The old man put down his chopsticks, his voice filled with the vicissitudes of life.

As a cadre in the General Logistics Department, he knew better than anyone how difficult those days were.

Every fluctuation in the national accounts weighs heavily on the hearts of millions.

"Now look how great it is! All those machine tools and industrial products you brought in have opened up a new avenue for the country to earn foreign exchange!"

"Not only did we avoid consuming the people's food supply, but the debt was also paid off ahead of schedule!"

"Just thinking about it is invigorating!"

Zhao's father himself was a man who had survived a hail of bullets.

During the years of war, he understood all too well what a mouthful of food meant to ordinary people.

Now, her son-in-law—

With their exceptional skills, they used industrial exports to offset agricultural debts, allowing millions of people to no longer have to endure hunger and hardship.

How could he not feel proud!

"Enough! Enough!"

"You can't stop talking about the national affairs at the dinner table!"

Finally, Wu Shuang, the mother-in-law, couldn't take it anymore. She slammed her chopsticks against the edge of the bowl, cutting off Zhao's father's endless rambling.

"Don't you even know what kind of occasion this is?"

"My dear son-in-law rarely comes home for a meal, and instead of letting me enjoy a hot meal, you just lecture me!"

"Are you planning to turn your home into a war room?"

As she spoke, she deftly placed a large piece of glistening, tender braised pork into Liu Guangqi's bowl.

"Guangqi, eat more!"

"You've lost weight lately. Doing research takes a lot of mental energy, you need to nourish your body."

Wu Shuang looked at her son-in-law and grew happier with each glance.

In the past, some people might have thought that it was a waste for the Zhao family's daughter to marry Liu Guangqi.

So now—

Everyone thought the Zhao family had struck gold.

The undisguised envy in their voices when they met made everything clear.

How can this be considered marrying down?

It's clear that my daughter has good taste; she set her sights on a gold mine early on!

Wu Shuang thought to herself.

Given Guangqi's current achievements and influence, it's questionable whether his daughter would be a good match for him nowadays.

Not to mention that now they have a pair of lovely grandchildren, Ruixue and Fengnian.

Dinner was in full swing—

Suddenly, Zhao Mengsheng, carrying a bowl, crouched down and quietly crept up to Liu Guangqi's side.

He lowered his voice, his tone carrying the excitement and trepidation typical of a young man:

"Brother-in-law!"

"Can I talk to you about something?"

The boy is only fifteen this year, but he has grown quite tall, and his eyebrows and eyes resemble those of his father, Zhao.

But he didn't learn any of the serious and upright demeanor of soldiers; instead, he exuded the unique vitality of a young person.

"What's going on, all this way, so sneaking around?"

Liu Guangqi smiled and casually picked the largest piece of sweet and sour pork rib from the plate and put it into his bowl: "Tell me about it? I'll answer if I can."

Liu Guangqi genuinely liked his brother-in-law.

Not only because he was the character in "Garland at the Foot of the Mountain," but also because if it weren't for his secret help at several crucial moments, it would have been much more difficult for him to marry Zhao Mengyun.

Upon hearing Liu Guangqi's words, Zhao Mengsheng's eyes lit up.

He excitedly put his bowl and chopsticks on the table, forgetting all about eating, and stared at Liu Guangqi with bright eyes.

"Brother-in-law!"

"My dad forces me to memorize some kind of 'Military Drill Regulations' every day, and he even has his bodyguards watch me practice marching and standing at attention!"

"I don't like it at all!"

The boy seemed to have finally found an outlet, and poured out all the pent-up frustration in his heart.

He paused, as if gathering all his courage, and said clearly, word by word:

"Brother-in-law, I don't want to join the army! I want to be like you, study mechanics, do research, pursue mechanical engineering, and become an engineer!"

"Do you think I'm suitable?"

Upon hearing this, the previously lively dinner table suddenly fell silent.

Wu Shuang's chopsticks, which were holding food, hovered in mid-air, and the smile on her face froze.

Ruixue and Fengnian, the two little ones, also looked up and stared blankly at their uncle.

Zhao Mengsheng didn't understand what kind of ferocious beast the other party was referring to as the "siege lion".

Is it even more ferocious than a tiger in the mountains?

He ignored the stares from the other people at the table, his eyes fixed on his brother-in-law.

"Brother-in-law! The newspaper says—the machines you make and the industrial products you research not only earn foreign money for the country, but you can also manufacture parts for airplanes and artillery!"

"This is much more interesting than practicing drills under the sun all day long!"

"You even made the front page of the *Minzhong Daily*! How impressive and prestigious!"

"Brother-in-law, I want to be like you when I grow up!"

The boy's admiration was undisguised, his eyes burning with a longing for another kind of life.

Liu Guangqi was stunned for a moment.

He never expected that he would become a role model in the boy's heart.

Should I study mechanical engineering with him?

This kid has the makings of a general. Don't let his current appearance as a high-ranking official's son who resists military service and craves comfort fool you. He even trains passively to try and transfer out of the army and looks down on the simple life of soldiers.

But once the soldier's spirit awakens in his bones, he becomes a ruthless character who dares to charge into a bunker with a gun and fight the enemy to the last moment.

This future rising star is now clamoring to work with him on industrial projects?

This is utterly absurd.

"Nonsense!"

Zhao's father slammed down his chopsticks with a "bang," his voice suddenly rising, causing the enamel bowl on the table to tremble slightly.

He stared at his son, his brow furrowed, his voice filled with the sternness of a soldier:

"You are the root of my Zhao family! Your grandfather was a soldier, your father was a soldier, and you were born in the Yimeng old revolutionary base area... You were born to defend our country! This is the path you should take, the only path!"

Zhao Mengsheng shrank back, intimidated by his father's imposing aura, but the boy's stubbornness prevented him from backing down. He retorted in a low voice, his neck stiff:

"Why should you be soldiers, but I have to be one?"

"My brother-in-law's mechanical skills are so good, even the top leaders in the institute praise him! Shouldn't we learn from him?"

Liu Guangqi remained silent.

"You dare talk back?"

Commander Zhao's temper flared up instantly, and he raised his large, fan-like hand sharply—

"Old Zhao!"

The mother-in-law, Wu Shuang, acted swiftly, grabbing her husband's wrist and urgently admonishing, "How old is the child? Can't you talk things out? Do you really have to resort to violence?"

She pressed down on her husband's arm, turned to look at her only son, her expression softened, and her voice became gentler.

"Mengsheng! Mom knows you admire your brother-in-law and think he's very capable. But there are many paths in the army; you don't have to carry a gun and go to the front lines."

"If you don't want to stay on the front lines... after graduating from military academy, you can become a commander or do political work. You can contribute to the troops just as well by writing, isn't that good too?"

Despite saying that, Wu Shuang's words clearly showed that she was determined to make her son wear this military uniform.

In her view, her daughter's entry into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was a last resort—after all, female generals were too few and far between these days. But there was absolutely no reason for the only son in the Zhao family to leave the military.

But Zhao Mengsheng wouldn't listen to a word.

He turned his face away, his expression stubborn:

"I didn't like military life. I just love cameras and equipment. I want to be like my brother-in-law!"

"Then you could be a photography officer in the military!"

"I'm not going!"

"you……"

Zhao's father was about to explode in anger again, but his wife stopped him.

The air at the dinner table suddenly froze.

In the silence, Liu Guangqi first poured a glass of wine for his father-in-law, then placed a piece of fish in Zhao Mengsheng's bowl before putting down his chopsticks and slowly speaking:

"Mengsheng, you want to be an engineer because you think that using technology can help the country, right?"

Zhao Mengsheng nodded immediately:

"Yes! Brother-in-law, you manufactured machine tools, which allowed the country to pay off its foreign debt much sooner without having to exchange grain for foreign exchange. That's amazing!"

Liu Guangqi smiled and asked again:

"So, do you think I could have conducted my research peacefully back when I was working on machine tools, without security officers protecting my findings and soldiers guarding the border?"

Zhao Mengsheng was stunned.

His lips moved, but he didn't utter a single word.

Liu Guangqi's voice remained steady, yet carried a heavy weight: