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

Otherwise, if the other party looks down on you from the bottom of their heart, how can you expect them to treat you politely?

Why does the Russian bear always look down on China's industrial technology?

Ultimately, it's simply that they believe China's industrial system was established entirely under their guidance.

It wasn't until Liu Guangqi delivered a powerful and compelling argument that the Russian representative finally dropped his dismissive attitude.

The other person patted Liu Guangqi's shoulder forcefully, their tone enthusiastic:

"Comrade Liu, you are truly a rare talent! Our research institute needs experts like you. Should we consider developing in Russia?"

"You can name your price; an apartment and a car will be provided."

Among those present, those who understood Russian language immediately became serious.

The other employees of Hongxing Factory looked at each other blankly, only able to guess the content of their conversation from their expressions.

Consul Yan, who was accompanying the delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, felt a pang of anxiety.

Such a direct invitation from the Russian bear is an opportunity that many people would love to have.

He was about to speak when he saw Liu Guangqi smiling and shaking his head, replying clearly in fluent Russian:

"Thank you for your appreciation, Comrade Mao Xiong, but everything I have is rooted here."

As an experienced diplomat, Counselor Yan has seen far too many people who unconsciously feel inferior in front of the representatives of the Russians.

They often smile before speaking, displaying a humble demeanor.

But Liu Guangqi's performance today made him secretly applaud.

This young man seems to be a natural fit for diplomatic occasions—

Be neither arrogant nor humble, remain calm and composed, and always engage in dialogue with the other party on an equal footing.

The relationship between China and Russia is no longer as close as it once was.

Troop deployment disputes, frozen aid, and mounting debt collection...

Various frictions have led to widespread alienation and even resentment among the public.

However, Liu Guangqi did not let his emotions affect his words and actions in the slightest.

Instead, his solid professional knowledge and calm demeanor earned him genuine respect.

What's even more commendable is that, faced with such an enticing invitation,

He didn't hesitate for a moment.

There was no pretense, nor any wavering or hesitation.

Just a calm "My roots are here,"

It carries more weight than any passionate vow.

Counselor Yan couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

The First Ministry of Machine Building has truly discovered a gem in the rough.

At this moment, the scene was subtly divided into two groups of people—

Members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were surprised that Liu Guangqi could impress the Russian representative in the field of machinery industry;

Although the workers at the Red Star Factory couldn't understand the dialogue, they could see the change in the increasingly serious expression on the Russian representative's face.

It was quite unexpected to see that look of inquiry and approval on the face of the usually tough Russian man.

"It has to be Chief Engineer Liu..." someone murmured with admiration, "He really makes us proud."

Liu Guangqi, who was in the spotlight, seemed completely unaware that he had created any special situation.

No matter how much the other party tried to persuade him or how generous the offer was, he calmly and firmly declined.

He was clear-headed: to travel to Russia at this time would be tantamount to stepping into the deepening twilight.

As the exchanges deepened, the attitude of the Russian delegation underwent a fundamental change—

The earlier arrogance vanished without a trace, replaced by a deep thirst for knowledge and respect.

As the visit drew to a close, their gazes had completely changed.

The Russian delegation suddenly stopped and solemnly grasped Liu Guangqi's hand.

"Liu, today's discussion has been very inspiring." The other party's tone was solemn. "To thank you for your selfless sharing of technology, we will give you a set of the latest Model 2654 precision machine tool - this is a piece of equipment that we just developed and finalized this year."

The moment the translator relayed these words, the entire scene seemed to freeze under an invisible force. No one had anticipated that the Russian representative would suddenly make such a move. A gift of machine tools? And the latest precision machine tools at that? In this day and age, such equipment is practically equivalent to national strategic assets, the foundation of the industrial system. Normally, even purchasing them requires layers of approval and involves watching one's connections; now, it was being casually given as a gift? Those present exchanged bewildered glances, almost wondering if the representative had lost his mind.

Factory Director Li was the first to recover from his shock. He didn't have time to consider whether the other party was acting impulsively; there was no reason to let such an opportunity slip by. He strode forward, tightly grasping the bear representative's other hand, and exclaimed repeatedly, "This is far too generous! Such a wonderful gift, we..."

However, the Russian representative subtly withdrew his hand, his gaze remaining fixed on Liu Guangqi, his expression gentle.

"Director Li, you may have misunderstood," he said calmly. "This precision machine tool is not a gift to your factory."

The joy on Director Li's face suddenly froze.

Was it not for the factory? Then what did you mean by those words just now?

The Russian representative then continued, "This is a gift for Comrade Liu personally."

These words instantly replaced the previous silence with deeper shock. Factory Director Li's expression shifted from astonishment to bewilderment—a personal gift? A precision machine tool? When did the Russians become so extravagant?

The Russian delegation paid no attention to the reactions around them; they stared at Liu Guangqi with clear expectation in their eyes.

"We believe that with Comrade Liu's expertise in the industrial field, and with this equipment, he will definitely be able to develop a higher-precision machine tool that completely solves the problems of 'tool deflection and vibration'," the representative said slowly. "At that time, I'm sure you would be willing to share the results with us, wouldn't you?"

This was their true intention: to exchange a prototype for the possibility of future technological breakthroughs. They weren't worried that Liu Guangqi would go back on his word—even if he himself was unwilling to share, there would always be people in this land willing to communicate.

"Thank you for your trust, Comrade Mao Xiong." Liu Guangqi smiled and nodded. "I will make this machine tool a powerful bridge for technological dialogue between our two countries."

It must be said that Russia's move was like a timely rain. In fact, after completing the design of the electric oven, Liu Guangqi was already planning to build a truly high-precision CNC machine tool for this land from scratch. As a former PhD in mechanical engineering, he understood better than anyone what a high-precision CNC machine tool meant in an era when the industrial base was almost non-existent. Once successful, the entire industrial system would achieve leapfrog development—like suddenly starting to run while everyone else was walking slowly.

The impact of CNC machine tools will extend to countless fields.

Liu Guangqi hadn't expected that the Russians would unexpectedly provide assistance. Although their motives might not be pure, Liu Guangqi didn't care. Since the other party's intentions weren't entirely innocent, his own plans weren't entirely honest either. It was simply a matter of each getting what they needed.

The road ahead must be traveled step by step; there are no shortcuts in the machinery industry. It requires the persistent efforts of generations, building from nothing to something, from zero to one, constantly forging ahead. Liu Guangqi is confident in accumulating experience from one to a hundred, but the breakthrough from zero to one is far more difficult than the subsequent hundred steps—especially in an era when the industrial foundation was extremely weak. Just envisioning the journey from scratch is daunting enough. He is determined to take that first step, but it is destined to require a long time and a great deal of effort.

Now, the Russian delegation has voluntarily donated this advanced machine tool, which has undoubtedly saved him a lot of time and effort in the early stages of exploration.

Soon, the visit of the Russian delegation came to a turbulent end.

As the diplomatic corps' convoy gradually disappeared from sight at the Red Star Factory, the invisible tension within the factory area finally dissipated.

After the reception was over, Wang Jianguo patted Liu Guangqi on the shoulder forcefully, his voice still brimming with excitement: "Guangqi, today's event was truly inspiring! Those guys were initially looking down on everyone, but you managed to convince them with just a few words."

Liu Guangqi smiled faintly, but his heart was in turmoil. He looked at the distant outlines of the factories and thought to himself: "Our technology may still lag behind now, but one day, China's machinery industry will stand at the forefront of the world."

Factory Director Li nodded emphatically, "That makes sense! As long as we grit our teeth and keep pushing forward with research and development, surpassing them is only a matter of time."

Within half a day, a message had swept through the entire Hongxing Factory like a whirlwind, and then spread to the First Ministry of Machine Building and various related ministries—

The Russian delegation presented a high-precision machine tool as a gift, directly to Liu Guangqi, the chief engineer of the Red Star Factory.

The workers in the first workshop temporarily put down their work and all looked towards the technical office, their voices rising and falling in discussion:

"Chief Engineer Liu's abilities are truly amazing. Not only did he make the Russian representative bow down, but he also managed to salvage such a treasure?"

"What does 'lao' mean? It means someone willingly gives it to you!"

"That's right, everyone says this is to express gratitude for Chief Engineer Liu's technical exchange; it's a proper exchange of courtesy!"

"Who cares how it came to be, the machine tool is definitely in the factory—Chief Engineer Liu is truly capable!"

In the office of the director of the First Ministry of Machine Building, Director Lin looked at Liu Guangqi with deep smile lines at the corners of his eyes: "Comrade Guangqi, you've really made our ministry proud this time!"

Director Chen of the Ministry of Foreign Trade laughed heartily, "If this machine tool were purchased through procurement, it would cost at least a million foreign exchange. Now that they've delivered it to us on their own initiative, it's like sending charcoal in snowy weather."

"It's more than just a timely help," Director Lin continued. "With it, we can get a clear picture of the Russians' technical capabilities, and we'll have a better chance of developing our own machine tools in the future."

Standing to the side, Counselor Yan looked at the excited crowd, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. He stepped forward and gently patted Liu Guangqi's arm: "Comrade Guangqi, this reception mission was completed beautifully; you deserve much credit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will formally express its gratitude to you and the Red Star Factory."

Liu Guangqi remained humble: "It's the result of everyone's cooperation; I just did my job."

At this moment, Counselor Yan's regret about "poaching" Liu Guangqi had vanished. After this encounter, he fully understood that keeping industrial backbones like Liu Guangqi on the front lines of technology was a greater contribution to the country. While the diplomatic arena certainly needs talented individuals, those who can impress their opponents in their professional fields are an indispensable cornerstone of this era.

He put aside his emotions and solemnly said to Liu Guangqi, "Work hard, we're all waiting to see you create more surprises."

After the Russian delegation left, the Hongxing Chuanghui Machinery Factory, like a giant machine that had been re-energized, quickly returned to high-speed operation.

In this era where everything revolves around production, orders are the clarion call to arms, and output is the medal. Moreover, having just won respect in front of foreign guests, the enthusiasm surging throughout the factory is even more intense than the flames raging in the furnace.

Workers take turns working in shifts, and the machines run day and night. The workshop lights are always on, and the clanging of metal and the resounding work chants intertwine to create a never-ending roar.

It's mid-July, and the year-end settlement is fast approaching. Not only Hongxing Factory, but all downstream partners are also on high alert, preparing to deliver a solid performance report to the relevant ministries.

This naturally includes the third steel rolling mill.

In an office at the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, Li Huaide stood before a large desk, holding a report in his hand, and gave a presentation.

"Director, our factory has made phased progress regarding the supply of stainless steel needed for the electric oven project."

He calmly handed over the report and continued, "We strictly followed the technical specifications previously proposed by Chief Engineer Liu and adjusted the rolling and annealing processes. The first batch of twenty tons of food-grade stainless steel plates was urgently delivered to the Hongxing plant yesterday."

"Here are detailed production data for your review."

Normally, he wouldn't need to come to the department in person to report on this level of production plan.

However, the situation is special.

This electric oven project involves collaboration among multiple ministries and is of extraordinary significance.

Li Huaide naturally dared not be negligent in the slightest.

By the way.

Today, Li Huaide is no longer the logistics director of the steel rolling mill. Through his father-in-law's connections, he has been promoted to deputy director of the steel rolling mill, in charge of production and logistics.

His power was indeed considerable.

As the deputy director of a department-level unit, his administrative rank is already at the deputy department level.

Even compared to Director Tian, ​​he is only one rank lower.

Director Tian accepted the report with a smile, his gaze sweeping across the paper—

"Ring ring—"

The red telephone on the desk suddenly rang out in a shrill voice.

The ringtone was urgent and piercing.

Li Huaide's heart also tightened suddenly.