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

"This is a commendation document specially approved by the institute committee, as well as... a project research and development bonus, totaling 10,000 yuan."

Ten thousand yuan!

The word was like a pebble thrown into still water, creating ripples. All the engineers' eyes immediately focused on the brocade box, their chests rising and falling slightly. In those days, ten thousand was an almost legendary number—enough to support the dreams of many for half a lifetime.

But the next second, everyone’s gaze shifted from the brocade box and they looked at each other.

Excitement, pride, warmth... a heavy sense of collective honor washed over me like a tide, gently lifting up the sudden shock of the money and transforming it into something even more profound.

Because everyone understands—

This is backed by national recognition, which is more precious than any wealth.

Director Hua solemnly accepted the documents, shook hands with the visitors to express his gratitude, and escorted them all the way to the door.

As the door closed again, a restrained uproar erupted in the conference room.

All eyes once again fell on the red box, as if it contained not banknotes, but a gleaming medal.

How should this honor be distributed?

This is both a reward and a weighty test. Proper distribution fosters unity and high morale; any bias could create discord. In this era that values ​​collective honor, no one dares to take it lightly.

Quietly, Director Hua's gaze slowly swept across the entire room, finally landing on a young man.

A hint of a smile played in his eyes as he spoke gently:

"Comrade Liu Guangqi."

The conference room fell silent instantly.

"Come on, let me test you with a word problem."

"The question is about this 10,000 yuan prize money—how do you suggest we allocate it?"

In an instant, all eyes turned to Liu Guangqi, who was standing ramrod straight.

This is not an arithmetic problem; it is clearly a silent tempering process.

Liu Guangqi paused noticeably. He hadn't expected this arduous "test" to fall so directly on his shoulders.

His gaze slowly swept over everyone present: the elderly professor with graying temples, the middle-aged engineer with focused eyes, and those figures who, though not physically present, were omnipresent—the workers on the assembly line, the chefs at the stove, the guards patrolling late at night…

Everyone desires honor;

Everyone needs a reward.

After a moment, Liu Guangqi suddenly smiled slightly.

"Director," he said casually, "this isn't a math problem, it's a problem about human nature."

His words eased the tension slightly before he spoke seriously:

"This 10,000 yuan is more than just money to me."

"It is the nation's recognition of our entire project team and every participant. This honor should not be overlooked by anyone who has shed a drop of sweat."

"Oh?" Director Hua leaned forward slightly.

"I suggest tiering prizes based on contribution, but everyone should receive one. There are three tiers: a special prize of ten yuan, a first prize of five yuan, and a participation prize of three yuan."

"Tell me your thoughts."

"The top prize of ten yuan is awarded to every member of the core R&D team. They are the main force in breaking through technological barriers and deserve the highest recognition."

Several engineers in the room nodded involuntarily.

"The first prize of five yuan will be awarded to all the workers in the collaborating units. Without their meticulous completion of every part, even the best blueprints would be nothing but empty words—this contribution must be remembered."

"The participation bonus of three yuan will be awarded to all colleagues in the logistics positions within the institute. Whether it's the chefs in the canteen or the security guards on duty, without their support, we could not have devoted ourselves wholeheartedly to research and development."

"Just like a computer, hardware and software are both indispensable. If even one screw is missing, the whole machine cannot function."

After he finished speaking, the conference room fell into a brief silence.

Then—

Someone clapped first, and then the applause surged up like a tide, enthusiastic and long-lasting, as if it would break through the roof.

"Well said!" Director Hua nodded with a smile, his eyes full of approval.

Chief Engineer Liu's mind is not only capable of analyzing data, but also of understanding people's hearts.

"I have no objection to this allocation method!"

"No one suffers a loss, and everyone retains their dignity!"

Professor Lu, who was standing nearby, immediately stated, "I fully support Guangqi's plan! It's fair and reasonable, and it also shows human warmth!"

Director Hua's smile finally spread completely.

His gaze toward Liu Guangqi was filled with praise and satisfaction.

"Ranking people based on their contributions, while also balancing fairness and honor—it's practically the perfect balance in a mathematical model!"

"Your approach is far more comprehensive than simply distributing resources equally or prioritizing seniority!"

"I agree!"

Then.

Director Hua took out the first brand-new ten-yuan banknote from the document bag.

The amount is not large.

It could even be said that any computer engineer present would earn a monthly salary far exceeding that figure.

But when the banknote appeared before everyone's eyes, the entire conference room suddenly fell silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on Director Hua's hand.

They weren't concerned with the prize money itself.

It is the honor it embodies!

Director Hua didn't say much. He picked up the top banknote and walked steadily toward Liu Guangqi.

All eyes—

And so it fell upon this young man.

His eyes held admiration, conviction, and a hint of envy...

But more often,

It is a kind of taken-for-granted acceptance.

"Comrade Guangqi!"

"You are the core of the entire second-generation computer research and development team."

Director Hua's voice was not loud.

Yet it clearly permeated every corner of the room:

"You led the technical direction, and the new architecture and algorithms you proposed were key to the project's success."

He took that crisp banknote

With a smile, she handed it to Liu Guangqi: "You deserve this first grand prize. It's not just an honor, but also a heavy responsibility."

Liu Guangqi looked down at the banknotes in his hand.

For a moment, I didn't know how to describe my feelings.

to be frank,

He has received countless bonuses from ministries, research institutes, and other organizations.

This time, it was undoubtedly the smallest amount ever.

Ten yuan,

Compared to the hundreds of yuan he used to receive when he participated in the research and development of foreign exchange electrical appliances at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, this is a significant improvement.

It's utterly insignificant.

But the significance of this ten yuan is completely different from any other time before.

In fact,

When Director Hua handed him the difficult task of allocation...

He simply referred to past precedents for rewards in major scientific research projects and offered what he considered to be the most appropriate solution.

He never imagined he would win an award.

They never expected that this first grand prize would fall into their laps.

It feels... somewhat subtle.

Did the plan you devised ultimately make you the biggest beneficiary?

A bizarre thought flashed through Liu Guangqi's mind.

This is not being pretentious—

For the researchers present, the honor symbolized by this first bonus was far too great.

Liu Guangqi initially wanted to decline,

But meeting Director Hua's smiling gaze and the composed expressions of everyone around him, he understood that his humility at this moment would only appear hypocritical.

"Thank you, Director. Thank you everyone."

He solemnly accepted the banknotes without saying another word.

that's it,

Liu Guangqi had not expected that he had come to meet with Director Hua.

Unexpectedly, he received the smallest but most significant research and development bonus of his life.

Ten yuan.

Afterwards, Director Hua continued to present bonuses to the engineers present one by one.

Everyone's face was radiant.

This money is not only a material reward for them, but also a high recognition of their years of hard work.

As for the Institute of Computing Technology's logistics and security personnel,

And the workers in the cooperating factories,

The project team will then discuss and arrange the follow-up to ensure that every effort is remembered.

After the noise and joy gradually subsided,

Professor Lu suddenly pulled out a banknote, intending to hand it to Director Hua:

"Director, you presented awards to everyone, but how come you forgot to mention yourself?"

"As the founder of the Institute of Computing Technology, you personally assembled the second-generation computer research and development team, and even Comrade Guangqi was invited to join by your own name."

"How can this achievement not be acknowledged?"

Director Hua smiled and waved his hand, his fingertips lightly touching the envelope Professor Lu handed him, the force gentle yet unwavering: "You know it too."

"I devoted most of my energy to the Institute of Mathematics this year."

"I didn't contribute much to the Institute of Computing Technology."

"All I've done is set up a stage; the real performers are you. No matter how exquisite the stage is, if no one steps up to sing, it's just an empty shell."

His gaze slowly swept over the crowd, his eyes holding a warm light:

"This bonus should belong to you, to all the comrades who stayed up all night and sweated for the second-generation computer. They—are far more deserving than I am."

That's all for this.

Director Hua concluded without room for argument: "That's enough for now. I still have a lot of things to report to the Academy Committee."

"The successful development of the second-generation transistor computer is only the first step; there is still a long way to go."

He spoke calmly, his smile undiminished.

The tasks on my mind were already plentiful: I needed to urgently coordinate with the Northwest region to prioritize the needs of the defense project, and then arrange for a special person to escort the machinery there.

As for how to continue the publicity, that needs to be considered—after all, this is the second-generation transistor computer produced on our own land, a remarkable milestone in the long march of science and technology.

The broadcast announcement during the previous National Day holiday,

The purpose was to make it clear to the other side of the ocean and Western countries that blockades and barriers cannot bind the hands and feet of this land.

We can still create what you have with our own hands.

When the vast majority of Western countries had not yet crossed the threshold we are in today,

Who still has the right to call us a backward, rural country?

……

The group of people received their awards and left one after another.

The meeting room gradually emptied out, until only Liu Guangqi, Professor Lu, and Director Hua remained.

At this point, Professor Lu mentioned the numerous letters that had recently flooded in from various universities—all ostensibly for "technical exchange," but in reality, they were all trying to find out the truth.

The letters on his desk had piled up into a small mountain, leaving almost no room to put them.

Director Hua's response was unsurprising: he refused all offers.

"The Institute of Computing Technology is not an ordinary industrial sector."

"Unless the technology has been made public, all details must be strictly kept confidential."

He turned and pointed towards the room where the computer's core components were stored, his voice solemn:

"The second-generation transistor computer embodies the hard work of many people and is an important pillar of future defense projects."

"We cannot relax our efforts in maintaining secrecy, not even in the slightest."

"Now that some people are starting to think about 'exchange,' the existing 30-man guard force in the institute is probably not enough."

Professor Lu wholeheartedly agreed:

"It's time to step up our efforts. I haven't been sleeping well these past few nights; I keep dreaming about making mistakes."

"You set the number, and I'll apply for it immediately."

"Add another 20 people to form a 50-person guard team, with three shifts in key areas, and they will be on duty 24 hours a day."

Director Hua patted Professor Lu on the shoulder heavily, and the decision was finalized.

The Institute of Computing, here

Since the advent of the second-generation transistor computer, it has quietly swirled from a mere research institute into the center of a storm.

Human nature is unpredictable, and it's hard to guarantee that there aren't eyes watching from the shadows.

The number of guards increased from thirty to fifty, adding not only twenty more armbands, but also a heavy layer of protection.

Liu Guangqi remained silent throughout.

He was like a bystander who had wandered into a theater by mistake.

Listening silently to their conversation, a strange ripple stirred within me—

All these upheavals seem to have originated from him.