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

But what the tree should do

It never competes with sparrows for superiority, but rather stretches its branches higher to reach the brighter sunlight.

The next day, Liu Guangqi went to the factory as usual.

After the evaluation of the steel rolling mill was completed, he immediately plunged into the busy preparations for the new workshop.

It is already mid-August.

He had to get the first batch of electric kettles and electric blankets ready before the land in the Russian bear region froze solid.

This stuff is meant to be exchanged for foreign currency with our big brother in the north.

As long as the other party is willing to accept it.

The shortage of precision machine tools and urgently needed materials for construction projects in various places were thus resolved.

This is no joke—

It's a stepping stone, a valuable asset that can be exchanged for skills and wealth.

Therefore, Liu Guangqi dared not relax for even a moment.

Finally,

He found a suitable electrical appliance factory among the factories under the Ministry of Machine Building.

then,

The machines were readily available, and the workers and materials were gradually being prepared.

Liu Guangqi then set about leading his men to get started.

"Team Leader Liu,"

An elderly worker from an electronics factory held the thin sample in his hand, his face full of doubt. "This thing... can it really warm people?"

"Look how thin this copper wire is, like a spider's web. It'll break if you apply too much pressure."

"Can it really work?"

Whispers began to rise from all around.

Liu Guangqi didn't say much, but picked up a piece of resistance wire and demonstrated it himself.

"Hands must be steady, and mind must be calm."

"Remember, everyone, what we're dealing with right now isn't just a rope, but a precious tool for the nation's industrial development. The more secure we are with our hands, the stronger the foundation of the nation's industry will become."

His words didn't contain any grand principles, yet every single one resonated deeply within people's hearts.

When people get busy, their days are like a sandbag with a hole in the bottom, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

The new workshop is just starting out, and the most challenging part is passing on the skills.

Therefore, Liu Guangqi spent almost all his time in the workshop.

They leave later than anyone else, but arrive earlier than anyone else.

All the hard work paid off.

As September drew to a close, the first batch of brand-new electric kettles and electric blankets were neatly stacked in the warehouse of the First Ministry of Machinery Industry.

An irrepressible joy filled the entire workshop.

Liu Guangqi casually pulled out an electric blanket and plugged it in.

One point, two points...

The gentle warmth gradually seeped through the blanket, dispelling the slight chill of early autumn.

"It's done!"

I don't know who shouted it first.

In an instant, thunderous applause and cheers erupted in the workshop.

Once the first batch of finished products is out,

The samples were immediately sent to the foreign trade department.

Everyone was on tenterhooks, waiting for the outcome of the negotiations with the Russians.

The message arrived seven days later.

The call went directly to the office of Director Lin of the General Machinery Department of the Ministry of Machine Building.

This usually calm director,

Listening to the report from the foreign trade department on the other end of the line, my hand holding the microphone trembled slightly.

"You mean...it all passed?"

The voice on the phone was filled with barely suppressed excitement:

"The Russian side was very satisfied and signed the first contract on the spot!"

"Yes, Director Lin!" the other party confirmed. "They said... this is a warm magic from the East! The quantity and value of the orders far exceeded expectations!"

Director Lin tightened his grip on the receiver.

The next moment, he slammed his hand on the table, said "Good" three times, and abruptly stood up from his chair. The small office suddenly felt cramped. He paced back and forth, his brow relaxed, and the light in his eyes could no longer be concealed—the long-troubling foreign exchange indicators had finally revealed a solid gap.

The news spread like wildfire.

Before long, the entire office building of the First Ministry of Machine Building was abuzz with excitement because of this announcement.

"Have you heard? That 'hot water heater' that Team Leader Liu from the research department came up with is being treasured by the Russian bears up north!"

"They're more than just treasures; they're selling like hotcakes! The foreign exchange earned from the first order is enough for us to add two new production lines!"

"Good heavens... Team Leader Liu is truly amazing this time, even the Russian bear was stunned. They've given him a name over there, something like..."

"The warm magic of the East!"

This praise, tinged with a peculiar flavor, traveled back home on the radio. The Ministry of Foreign Trade's office fell silent for a moment, then erupted in low laughter. They weren't laughing at the slightly exaggerated title, but at the Russian bear's drastically different attitude this time—no longer the condescending, incessantly critical arrogance of the past, but rather a near-eager decisiveness.

"That's right, the 1,000 immersion heaters and 1,000 electric blankets we brought were all accepted without exception! And... the order size has already exceeded that of canned fruit."

Suddenly, the office erupted in discussion.

"You want them all? You didn't pick a single one?" someone repeated in disbelief.

"Have those big-nosed people changed their ways? Selling canned goods to them used to be more troublesome than serving our ancestors!" An elderly comrade with gray hair blushed with excitement and couldn't help but slap his knee. "That's right! For that little bit of foreign exchange, how picky were they about our canned goods? Too big, no good; too small, no good; too sour, no good; they had to have that perfect middle ground! Because of their pickiness, so many good raw materials from the factory were wasted!"

These words instantly struck a chord with everyone. In those years of scarcity, even the factory workers producing canned goods might not be able to afford to open a single can of peaches after a year of hard work. Yet, in order to earn precious foreign exchange, they had to endure the almost harsh criticism of the other party. That kind of unspeakable frustration, weighing heavily on their chests, was something everyone on the foreign trade front understood most deeply.

Now, things have changed.

The emergence of electric kettles and electric blankets, almost abruptly, blazed open a path that had once been fraught with difficulties. It was no longer merely a matter of commodity exchange; it became a necessity, a dependence.

Almost overnight, along with the Russian assessment and the huge order, the name Liu Guangqi spread. Not only in the Ministry of Machine Building, but also in the corridors of several ministries—foreign trade, industry… people began mentioning him. Everyone knew that Russia was a powerful nation, and its pickiness and strictness regarding foreign goods were well-known. In its early years, China relied on canned fruit to earn foreign exchange, from oranges, peaches, and pickles, to later expansions into meat, vegetables, poultry, eggs, and seafood. Although the variety increased year by year, Russian orders always adhered to standards as fine as a hair.

Think about it, in this era of scarcity—

The locals who make the canned peaches rarely get to eat them themselves. Ordinary families might only get a spoonful of canned yellow peaches during the Lunar New Year, and it's uncertain whether they'll even remember the sweetness after so long. On one side, people eagerly await their taste, while on the other, they face all sorts of pickiness and obstacles.

The flavors within are so complex.

But now, things are different.

Once Liu Guangqi's "warm magic from the East" was unveiled, the Russians didn't hesitate to open their pockets. In fact, the first thousand samples they brought were all kept without hesitation, and not a single one was returned.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door to the director's office, a familiar scent of honeysuckle wafted out, carrying a slightly bitter, herbal aroma—Director Lin had a particular fondness for it.

The afternoon sun streamed in obliquely through the old-fashioned window, casting a bright patch of light on the dark red desk, where an open document lay. Liu Guangqi, with his sharp eyes, spotted the words "foreign trade," "Russian bear," and "order."

"You're here?" Director Lin looked up from his documents, a smile he couldn't hide on his face. He gestured towards the old wooden chair opposite him. "Sit down. The tea is freshly brewed, have a taste."

Liu Guangqi sat down as instructed, accepting the warm enamel cup with both hands. The warmth emanating from the cup confirmed his vague suspicions. He had heard rumors about the commotion those two little creatures had caused in the north these past two days, but he hadn't expected it to escalate to the point that the director personally summoned him for a talk.

"Director, what brings you here..." He started to say, his eyes falling on the document.

Director Lin didn't immediately respond; instead, he chuckled, the wrinkles around his eyes smoothing out. "You rascal, you've really made our First Ministry of Machine Building proud this time." He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing some incredible secret, "Do you know what they call your two treasures over there?"

Liu Guangqi knew what was going on; the news had already spread throughout the ministry. Sure enough, Director Lin spoke with the tone of recounting an amusing anecdote: "'The warm magic of the East!' Those people over there have been mentioning that phrase over and over again in the ** (likely referring to a document or document), saying that while canned fruit could be omitted, this 'magic' was indispensable—listen to that, their tone is completely different from how they used to pick and choose our exports!"

As he spoke, he pushed over a copy of a document on the table, the handwriting of which was somewhat messy. The words "East," "warmth," and "necessity" appeared with striking frequency on the paper, showing just how excited the person who took the notes was.

Liu Guangqi looked at the words and couldn't help but smile. It was only in those days, when heating relied on shivering and electricity was scarce, that these two little gadgets were so highly regarded. In his time, the power grid was extensive, yet these two things were still winter essentials in countless dormitories and rented rooms. But in the land of the Russian bear to the north, winters were far harsher, and their attitude towards things that could directly provide warmth was predictable. More importantly, the core heating technology, which was supposed to be several years away from being available, had been brought out ahead of time, making it a unique product. Given the situation there, it would be strange if they weren't envious.

"So," Director Lin said, putting away the materials, his tone becoming more serious, "the Ministry of Foreign Trade called. A new order from Russia is on its way, and the amount... is not small. I called you here to ask if your workshop can handle it right now?"

Here comes the important part. Liu Guangqi composed himself, gently placed the teacup back on the table, and said earnestly, "Director, since you asked, I will tell you the truth. The new workshop has only been up and running for a little over a month, and its current production capacity is indeed limited. The factory workers have just finished training, and most of them are novices. The products they make need to be checked repeatedly, and the pass rate will have to be improved slowly."

Liu Guangqi gently put down the report in his hand, his tone calm yet weighty: "It's not an excuse, we really do need a break-in period. But please believe me, everyone in the workshop is very motivated. Give us another half month, and we'll definitely be able to break through the bottleneck in production capacity."

Director Lin nodded slightly, his knuckles unconsciously tapping softly on the wooden table. "I understand the situation with the new production line." He paused, his expression turning serious. "But Comrade Guangqi, this opportunity is different from the past—you and I both know the temperament of those people in the north. To have them urge delivery and disregard details is unprecedented. The comrades in the Foreign Trade Department have already designated these two products under your charge as strategic-level foreign exchange earning projects."

He leaned forward, his voice lowered slightly: "This isn't just about economics; it's about seizing the opponent's Achilles' heel and gaining the upper hand in international trade." Director Lin raised his gaze, his eyes fixed intently on Liu Guangqi's face. "Therefore, production capacity must ramp up. Any difficulties—manpower, equipment, raw materials—report them directly to me, and I'll coordinate everything." He gestured with his right hand in the air, "If necessary, other projects can make way for you."

These words stirred a surge of emotion in Liu Guangqi's chest. He knew all too well the weighty meaning behind the words "strategic foreign exchange earnings"—a level that countless agricultural and sideline product export projects had been scrambling to reach in the past few years.

After a brief silence, several production management solutions commonly used in later generations flashed through Liu Guangqi's mind. "If we need to save time, I suggest adopting a three-shift system," he stated calmly. "The machines run 24 hours a day, with workers working eight-hour shifts, maximizing equipment utilization. Secondly, we need to expand the production workshop; the current space can only accommodate a maximum of three production lines. Equipment shortages can be addressed by allocating from idle workshops, and in emergencies, we can apply for special procurement approvals. Finally, there's personnel training—" He paused briefly, "We'll have experienced masters mentor newcomers one-on-one, and those who pass the assessment will be immediately added to the work teams. This will ensure process standards while rapidly expanding the workforce."

After outlining the three plans in one go, Liu Guangqi met Director Lin's gaze: "With these three approaches combined, I guarantee that production will double within thirty days."