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

After a faint hissing sound, a red indicator light on the control panel suddenly lit up.

The heating element inside the liner changed from dark to bright, emitting a blazing reddish hue. The thermometer needle began to climb steadily, eventually stopping firmly at the preset mark, as still as if frozen.

Precise temperature control.

"good!"

The applause erupted again, even louder than before.

"I have Russian rye bread here!"

Wang Jianguo exclaimed again, handing over a paper bag as if presenting a treasure: "This is perfect for trying!"

Inside the bag were several thick slices of bread, coarse in texture, the kind of staple food that the neighboring country to the north eats every day.

Liu Guangqi took it, a faint smile still playing on his lips. He laid the bread slices flat on the metal grill rack, gently pushed them into the inner pan, and closed the double-layered glass door.

In an instant, everyone crowded around. Dozens of eyes were fixed on the small observation window, and everyone's breathing was low and slow.

Time flowed by in silence.

Through the glass, the surface of the bread slice is quietly transforming—the light brown gradually turns into a uniform golden yellow, and the edges curl slightly.

at last.

"bite--"

The crisp notification sound echoed like a bell.

Liu Guangqi opened the trunk door.

A wave of heat, a mixture of the aroma of caramel and the sweetness of wheat, swept over us and instantly filled the entire space.

The golden, crispy bread slices lay quietly on the baking rack.

It became.

Factory Director Li gripped Liu Guangqi's hands tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, his voice trembling with barely suppressed emotion: "Good... excellent! If this stuff is sent up north, those Russians will fight tooth and nail for it!"

This is more than just a cold, lifeless machine.

Behind it is the entire production line that is about to start roaring into operation, and foreign exchange flowing in like a river!

……

The next morning.

The excitement of the successful electric oven experiment still lingered like a warm mist over the Red Star Factory.

The black telephone in Liu Guangqi's office suddenly shrieked, shattering the morning's tranquility.

He had just put the receiver to his ear.

A familiar voice suddenly came out: "Chief Engineer Liu, this is Xiao Chen from Director Lin's office. The director requests that you come to the ministry immediately."

There was a slight pause on the other end, and the tone became lower.

"It's urgent."

Liu Guangqi's heart skipped a beat, guessing that the news about the electric oven had been sent up.

He didn't dare to delay.

After tidying up, he hurriedly headed to the First Ministry of Machine Building.

Stepping into Director Lin's office, which reeked of ink and old paper, Liu Guangqi paused—there was someone sitting on the sofa.

Director Zhang of the Personnel Department was holding a white enamel mug with a blue rim, sipping his tea at a leisurely pace.

He came in.

Director Zhang merely raised his eyelids slightly, a barely perceptible curve appearing at the corner of his mouth, without uttering a sound, and turned his gaze to Director Lin.

"Good job, kid!"

Director Lin strode out from behind his desk and punched Liu Guangqi squarely in the chest.

"You moved so quickly, you didn't let me down!"

As he spoke, he precisely pulled out a document from a stack of files on the table and handed it over.

"Look, the ministry held a meeting last night, and after it was reported, it was personally approved by the higher-ups."

Liu Guangqi took the document; the pages seemed to still retain the distinctive, slightly pungent smell of the mimeograph machine.

The first few pages were filled with technical specifications and test reports, which he quickly skimmed over before turning directly to the last page.

Several lines of calligraphy were clearly visible, the brushstrokes vigorous and powerful, penetrating the paper.

This product has been verified to meet the needs of the northern and Western markets, and can be put into key production to satisfy diverse demands.

The few words, however, weighed heavily down like a weight.

Liu Guangqi took a slow breath.

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, he smiled and said, "This is all thanks to the hard work of my colleagues in the factory, who have been working around the clock. My abilities alone are limited."

……

The conversation then turned to the pricing of electric ovens.

Obviously.

As a unique new home appliance product.

Once exported, the pricing is entirely in our own hands—after all, there are no other branches right now.

Unless the neighbor to the north doesn't want it!

When it came to this, Liu Guangqi's ideas were much more open than Director Lin's, and the price he proposed was quite aggressive.

He knew perfectly well what was going on.

In this day and age, families with limited resources are often hesitant to negotiate prices.

He, however, did not have this concern.

Don't be afraid to be a little more aggressive with your asking price.

Even if the north doesn't accept it, there's still a market waiting in the west.

The Canton Fair is just a few months away, so there's no need to worry about finding sales channels.

As we talked, the sun outside the window had already begun to set in the west.

Seeing that the discussion was almost over, Liu Guangqi glanced at his watch, got up, and prepared to leave.

"Two leaders."

"It's getting late, and I still have some things to take care of at the factory, so I'll head back now."

He had just reached the door.

Director Zhang, who had been silent for almost the entire afternoon, gently put down his teacup and called out to him.

"Comrade Guangqi, please wait a moment."

"Don't rush off."

Director Zhang's voice wasn't loud, but it made Liu Guangqi stop in his tracks.

"Throughout these past few days."

"You were seconded to Hongxing Chuanghui Machinery Factory, where you started from scratch and developed induction cookers, rice cookers, and now electric ovens, earning the country a considerable amount of hard currency for several months in a row..."

"These achievements have been noticed by the ministry."

"Now, your reward from the department has officially been issued."

As they were talking.

Director Zhang calmly took another document from his worn briefcase and handed it to Liu Guangqi.

The document, written in black and white, is a notice of appointment or removal of a cadre.

[After deliberation by the relevant ministries, Comrade Liu Guangqi's administrative rank has been adjusted from level 16 to level 15, and he has been appointed as the Deputy Director of the Research Department of the First Ministry of Machine Building (concurrently the Chief Technical Engineer of Hongxing Chuanghui Machinery Plant)]

"Level 15?"

Liu Guangqi felt a buzzing in his ears: "Deputy Director of the Research Department?"

He was genuinely surprised—

The secondment isn't even over yet, and they've already taken another step up?

At this time.

Director Lin walked over.

A large hand landed heavily on his shoulder, his eyes full of approval:

"This electric oven you developed isn't just about earning foreign exchange for the country. It's a crucial move to break free from the economic stranglehold imposed by the north!"

"The leaders in the ministry are all watching!"

Director Lin smiled knowingly: "Do you know why that application has been delayed for so long? We've been waiting for the right opportunity."

He slowly rose, his gaze falling on the other person: "From today onwards, your administrative rank is set at level fifteen, and you will assume the position of Deputy Director of the Research Department. In accordance with the corresponding benefits, you will be provided with a dedicated car for travel, and you will no longer need to request permission for such matters."

As the words were spoken, many fragmented clues suddenly connected into a clear narrative. It turned out that the application, submitted long ago, hadn't been ignored, but rather intentionally postponed. Only now did the true purpose of all the arrangements become clear. This meticulous and long-term consideration was far more touching than a simple promotion.

"Thank you for the organization's trust and cultivation."

Liu Guangqi bowed deeply, his posture solemn and earnest. This time, his bow was devoid of any formality or perfunctoriness, only heartfelt gratitude. He wasn't sure if this transfer was directly related to his earlier application, but the generous gift bestowed upon him by the two directors was truly a weight on his shoulders.

—Deputy Director of the Research Division of the Ministry of Machinery Industry.

He silently recited the title in his heart, each word carrying immense weight.

Once upon a time, Wang Jianguo had worked tirelessly within this department, dreaming of this very position, but ultimately failed to achieve it. Now, it has firmly fallen into the hands of Liu Guangqi. Moreover, he also retains the responsibilities of the Chief Engineer of Hongxing Chuanghui Machinery Factory: participating in technical direction planning within the ministry while simultaneously driving production and foreign exchange earnings on the front lines. Holding both hands, he wields real power.

More importantly, his administrative rank has officially entered the deputy director level.

This timely promotion undoubtedly gave him more confidence for his upcoming marriage. From now on, he no longer needed to worry about the subtle differences in social standing between the two families.

"No need for such formalities."

Director Lin offered a helping hand, shaking his head with a smile. Director Zhang, standing beside him, also nodded slightly, his eyes showing approval.

"You deserve all of this." Director Lin pressed his shoulder, his tone gentle yet firm: "If it weren't for the rice cooker you developed breaking into the overseas market, the results of the electric oven alone wouldn't have been enough to earn such a heavy trust from the ministry."

He paused briefly, his expression turning solemn: "If you really want to thank us, then complete the foreign exchange earning task of the electric oven perfectly. This product is different from the rice cooker—the rice cooker is ultimately limited to the Asia-Pacific food circle, while the electric oven is the key to unlocking the entire Western market."

Director Zhang put down his teacup and took over the conversation in a deep, slow voice:

"Comrade Guangqi, there are some things I can tell you. You should be aware of the amount of foreign debt the country is carrying. The higher-ups hope to rely on these kinds of foreign exchange-earning products to repay a considerable proportion of the debt in the future. Electric ovens are a crucial step in this game."

He stared intently at Liu Guangqi, his gaze piercing:

"This responsibility is now entrusted to you."

In just a few words, the significance of the electric oven has been elevated from a single product to a matter of national policy. While the rice cooker market is vast, it ultimately has its limitations; bread, roast meat, and pastries, however, are staples on Western tables. In this era, the purchasing power of Western markets is a crucial support for accumulating foreign exchange and repaying debts.

Liu Guangqi straightened his back and responded seriously:

"Please rest assured, both directors. I will do my utmost to coordinate the affairs of the Research Department and the Hongxing Factory, and I will never let the organization down."

This appointment goes far beyond a typical promotion. It is a heavy military order, weighing heavily on our shoulders, and also a spark, quietly burning on the road ahead.

The office door closed gently behind me.

The light in the corridor was dim, and the afternoon drowsiness was creeping onto everyone's brows. Just then, the loudspeakers throughout the building suddenly crackled to life with a short, sharp electrical hum, startling several dozing employees who sat bolt upright.

Immediately afterwards, the announcer's steady and clear voice came through the loudspeaker:

"We are now announcing a personnel change—"

As soon as he finished speaking, many ears that had been perking up started to perk up.

"With the approval of the relevant ministries and higher authorities, Comrade Liu Guangqi of the Research Division of the General Machinery Department has been transferred from the 16th to the 15th administrative rank. Effective immediately, he will serve as the Deputy Director of the Research Division of the Ministry of Machinery Industry and concurrently as the Chief Technical Engineer of the Hongxing Chuanghui Machinery Plant."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

The broadcast paused briefly, then resumed with a slightly stronger tone:

"This comrade made significant contributions to export projects such as induction cookers, rice cookers, and electric ovens, and played an important role in the technological advancement of the country's foreign trade and electrical appliance industry. This is hereby notified."

After the broadcast ended, the building fell into a brief silence, followed by a buzzing sound like a honeycomb exploding.

"Level 15? Deputy Division Chief?"

"Liu Guangqi? How old is he?"

"Age doesn't matter. The key is that he started with a real position—Deputy Director of the Research Department!"

In the archives, an elderly man who was drinking tea suddenly spilled tea all over himself, scalding him so much that he had to shake his hand repeatedly, his face filled with disbelief.

"Old Li has been toiling away for almost five years, and he's reached level 15, but he hasn't even gotten close to the position of deputy director!"

"But they're lucky; as soon as they got promoted, their position followed immediately."

The soft sound of a pen slipping from fingertips could be clearly heard in several offices.

Everyone knows that in this building, rank and position are two completely different things.

There are only so many seats, but the line of people waiting to get them is incredibly long. Reaching a certain rank only gets you an entry ticket; the real power in a position requires opportunity, connections, and years of waiting. Even those with seniority at level fourteen in departments like logistics and general affairs are still just section chiefs, aren't they?

Deputy division chief level is never the same as deputy division chief level.

This is a rule that everyone tacitly understands.

That's why Wang Jianguo chose to transfer to Hongxing Factory—he was just a group leader in the research department there, but over there he became the deputy factory director in name and in fact.

Now, Liu Guangqi has not only passed the level 15 threshold, but has also directly taken up the position of deputy director of the research department.