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

"Honey, come inside quickly! The eggs are fried, and the wine is ready. This is a joyous occasion that absolutely must be celebrated!"

The woman pulled him by the arm and led him into the house, her face beaming with joy. As they walked, she murmured:

"Our family is finally going to be successful—our eldest son is a high-ranking official in the ministry, and you've been promoted at the factory. Our lives are finally going to be truly exciting!"

As he spoke, he brought out a plate of golden, glistening scrambled eggs, and then took out a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) from the cabinet, filling a glass to the brim.

Liu Haizhong took a sip of wine, picked up a piece of egg, and felt a warm feeling seep into his entire body. But before the effects of the wine had worn off, his thoughts suddenly shifted—

If I really become the deputy director of the workshop next week, I'll have to give a speech at the conference.

This made him worried.

He only had a few years of primary school education; he's got plenty of academic knowledge, but absolutely no writing skills. What will he say when he stands on the stage?

You can't just awkwardly say, "Thank you, Deputy Factory Director Li, thank you, Director Deng," can you?

That would make everyone in the factory laugh their heads off!

...How come I never noticed before that there are such thresholds to becoming an official?

Anxiety crept into my heart like ants.

It's a pity the eldest brother moved out; otherwise, we could have easily gotten through to him. That kid is quick-witted and has a sharp mind. Last year, during his speech at the school, not a single leader in the audience didn't nod in approval.

With the eldest brother absent, Liu Hai's heart stirred, and he thought of the second brother, Liu Guangtian. He turned to his wife and asked:

"By the way, where's Guangtian?"

"Didn't that kid just finish his middle school entrance exam? He's at least had some education. Call him over and have him come and help his dad with something!"

The woman hurriedly called Liu Guangtian over. Liu Haizhong explained the situation, and Liu Guangtian immediately patted his chest in assurance:

"Father, don't worry! Leave it to me!"

Seeing his father ask for his help for the first time, Liu Guangtian was both surprised and delighted, and confidently laid out paper and picked up his pen.

But when he brought over the completed manuscript, Liu Haizhong only glanced at it before his brows furrowed into a knot.

The words on the paper were exactly the kind of application a student would use for class officer, not a single word of which had anything to do with the actual work in the forging workshop.

Liu Haizhong suddenly felt a surge of anger.

"Snapped!"

He slapped the manuscript paper onto Liu Guangtian's forehead, spitting all over the other man's face:

"What the hell did you write? How did such a blockhead like you grow in my bangs?!"

"Look at your older brother! And look at you!"

He was trembling with rage, pointing at the paper and cursing:

"Your dad's going to be the deputy workshop director! Doesn't that mean I have to talk about how to manage production, how to control people, and how to improve the forging workshop's efficiency? Huh?"

"And you, with all this, you give me this?"

"What does 'Studying is the lamp, effort is the oil, and you must add oil to make the lamp shine' mean?"

"I'll add a leg! My bicycle chain is more profitable than this piece of junk you've got!"

Liu Guangtian shrank back as he was scolded, his face full of grievance, muttering under his breath:

"Dad, that's how the teacher taught us. That's all I can write."

Liu Haizhong was speechless for a moment.

Seeing that his second brother was unreliable, he thought it over and decided to go to the ministry compound to find his eldest brother, Liu Guangqi.

I'd like to ask the boss for some pointers, and also learn from him how to be a good official.

……

Before long, Liu Haizhong arrived at the dormitory building in the ministry compound, carrying a bottle of wine.

The guards on duty stood at the sentry post. He glanced at them and sighed inwardly: This is indeed the place where cadres live. Every time I come here, I feel that it is very impressive.

Today, the access pass I'd been carrying around for so long finally came in handy. The security guard glanced at the pass, nodded, and gave a salute.

This simple action brought a sense of comfort to Liu Hai, who unconsciously straightened his back and strode inside.

He knew the way well and found his way to Building 5, where he knocked on his eldest son's door.

"Who is it?"

Zhao Mengyun's voice came from inside. The door opened quickly.

"Dad? What brings you here!"

Zhao Mengyun was taken aback when she saw Liu Haizhong carrying a wine bottle, then laughed and stepped aside to let him pass.

"Come in and have a seat!"

"Guangqi and I were discussing it, and we're planning to take some time these next couple of days to go back to the hospital to visit you and Mom."

Zhao Mengyun was quick and efficient. As she spoke, she picked up the lunchbox and food coupons on the table: "Dad, please sit down and rest for a while. I'll go to the canteen to get some dishes. You and Guangqi can have a couple of drinks."

Before the words were even finished, the person had already walked out the door like a gentle breeze.

Just as Liu Haizhong was about to get up to stop him, the study door suddenly opened.

Liu Guangqi came out from inside, a gentle smile on his face: "Dad, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

He waved to Zhao Mengyun, then turned to his father and said, "It's alright, it's just that it's been a long time since we've sat down for a drink together."

These words warmed Liu Hai's heart.

The eldest son is definitely different – ​​he's successful and still cares about his family.

This is the good son he raised with his bangs!

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Liu Haizhong remembered the important matter and hurriedly told them that the factory was going to promote him to deputy workshop director, also repeating the "worker-in-training" arrangement word for word. His tone was both cautious and couldn't hide a hint of smugness.

Just then, Zhao Mengyun returned carrying a net bag and lunchbox.

Braised pork belly, stir-fried liver tips, stir-fried vegetables, and a dish of peanuts were all laid out on the table by her. She smiled and said, "Dad, the cafeteria just happened to have braised pork belly today, so I got an extra portion. You and Guangqi can enjoy yours."

Looking at the glistening dishes on the table, Liu Haizhong sighed inwardly: This is indeed the canteen of a ministry compound; even in this situation, there is still such a feast.

He unscrewed the bottle and poured a glass for both his son and himself.

After a few drinks, Liu Haizhong somewhat embarrassedly brought up the matter of speaking at the workshop meeting:

"Guangqi, your dad didn't go to school for many years. I'm good at bragging, but in formal occasions... I'm afraid I'll make a mistake and lose face. That's why I wanted to ask you for advice."

Liu Guangqi took the piece of paper his younger brother had written, glanced at it twice, and then smiled:

"Dad, your speech doesn't need to be too fancy, just be practical. Just tell us how you plan to improve quality and maintain production, and make a commitment so that everyone feels you are reliable."

He picked up his pen, thought for a moment, and began to write, finishing in no time.

Liu Haizhong leaned over to take a look, and immediately beamed with joy, nodding repeatedly: "Great, it's really well written! Dad will read it aloud from here!"

The father and son chatted about everyday things for a while, then Liu Guangqi suddenly became serious:

"Dad, there's something I need to warn you about beforehand. Don't get too close to Li Huaide. He probably made you deputy director because he wants to use my connections to get into the ministry. It's fine to benefit a little, but don't incur any favors in the process—"

He paused, then lowered his voice:

"Some debts are easy to borrow but difficult to repay. If something happens to him one day, you'll probably be the first one to be implicated."

Liu Haizhong was taken aback, and the effects of the alcohol dissipated almost completely.

He was so happy before that he hadn't thought of this at all. Now, when his son pointed at him, he felt a chill run down his spine.

He tentatively asked, "Then... I should just focus on my work at the factory and try to avoid dealing with him as much as possible?"

His tone already betrayed a hint of unease.

"Yes," Liu Guangqi nodded, picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his father's bowl, "You should just do your job and not get involved in those troubles. Although half of your position is thanks to me, the other half is what you earned yourself—who in the factory doesn't recognize your level seven forging skills? Which of your apprentices doesn't respect you? Just based on these qualifications, no one can touch you."

"As long as you work steadily and achieve tangible results, the 'work-for-job' program will come naturally sooner or later, and you won't need to worry about anyone else's opinion."

These words were both a reminder and a comfort.

After listening, Liu Haizhong's expression gradually softened, as if he had swallowed a reassuring pill.

"Dad understands!" He slapped his knee suddenly, as if he had made up his mind. "From now on, I'll listen to you! I'll be a good deputy director and won't get involved no matter who tries to win me over!"

Liu Guangqi smiled and didn't say anything more.

Some things are best left unsaid.

The wine glasses clinked lightly, producing a crisp sound.

He looked up at his father, his voice calm:

"Dad, things aren't that complicated. Li Huaide knows what's going on; he'll understand if you don't respond."

"If they really come knocking, just turn them down. If you really can't turn them down..."

He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice.

"Just tell them I have arrangements made here."

The meal was eaten slowly.

The broth from the braised pork was soaked up completely by the steamed buns, and even the last piece of stir-fried liver tip disappeared.

The old man leaned back in his chair, let out a satisfied sigh, his cheeks flushed with the rosy glow of alcohol, and his eyes radiating a warm contentment.

The sky outside the window was already dark, and even the sounds of children playing as they returned home late had faded away.

While clearing away the dishes, Zhao Mengyun softly suggested:

"Dad, it's getting late, why don't you stay here? The guest room is all set up, and the blankets were aired out this morning; they're fluffy and warm."

Liu Haizhong had already stood up and waved his hand:

"No, I'd rather go back to the courtyard. It's nice here, but I don't feel comfortable living here."

"Your mother is still waiting at home; we can't let her wait in vain."

These words made the young couple exchange a smile.

The old man usually grumbles and scolds his son, but he cares deeply for his wife.

She clearly wanted to come and see her son's new place, but she wouldn't even stay a night longer. It was both awkward and heartwarming.

As he reached the door, Liu Guangqi suddenly called out to him:

"Dad, wait a moment."

He turned around, grabbed a brown paper bag, and pulled out two packs of cigarettes.

The plain white paper had no extra patterns, only two small vermilion characters printed on it – “**”.

Those two words seemed to carry some kind of weight.

Liu Haizhong's gaze sharpened, and his breathing paused.

This is something you rarely see these days. My son usually gives me a pack or two occasionally, but this time it's two whole packs.

He quickly raised his hand to block:

"How can that be! It's meant for social occasions. It's a waste for a blacksmith like me to use this!"

Liu Guangqi shoved it directly into his arms:

"Take it. I don't smoke often, it'll just gather dust anyway."

He paused, then added with a smile:

"You usually don't come even when we invite you, but you've come today, so how can we let you go empty-handed?"

If the people in the courtyard find out, they'll say I'm not a good son.

These words struck right at the heart of Liu Hai's feelings.

A father is naturally proud when his son is successful.

He squeezed the paper bag; the sturdy cigarette box conveyed a solid tactile sensation through the paper.

No longer refusing, he carefully tucked it into his inner pocket, patted it gently, and then grinned, his wrinkles smoothing out a bit.

"Alright! Dad will accept it!"

"Just focus on your work. Your mom and I are here at home, don't worry about us!"

When they turned around, their steps became lighter, as if they had unloaded a burden.

When he reached the stairwell, he turned back, his voice louder:

"Guangqi, work is important, but don't forget—your mother and I are waiting to hold our grandson!"

Liu Guangqi nodded with a smile.

The door closed gently.

Liu Guangqi leaned against the door panel and looked at Zhao Mengyun who was approaching.

"Dad seems quite happy today." She straightened his collar.

He took her hand, lowered his head, and whispered in her ear, his voice slightly hoarse:

"I heard more than just that."

"He's been urging us... to give him a grandson soon."

Zhao Mengyun's ears burned.

Even after their marriage, she still couldn't resist his words.

The next second, her body suddenly felt light as he picked her up and strode towards the bedroom.

Night was falling.

The solid wood bed frame makes a soft, rhythmic creak, like a lingering nocturne.

In the days that followed, Liu Guangqi's life was compressed into a simple cycle:

Between work, factory, and home, he goes back and forth between these three places.

The assembly line at Hongxing Electric Factory is running at full speed.

The assembly line production of electric ovens has been fully launched, and the production workshops for induction cookers and rice cookers are equally busy, with the numbers on the daily reports continuing to climb.

It is worth mentioning that the young technicians recruited from Tsinghua University have now grown into the core backbone of the factory.