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

"They also proposed a plan to cooperate with our First Ministry of Machine Building to establish a new factory specifically for export business."

At this point, Director Lin's gaze fell on Liu Guangqi's face.

He knew it in his heart.

In this matter, Liu Guangqi was the developer of the heating element, and therefore he is the most qualified to express his opinion.

After a brief pause, Director Lin continued, "The market response to the heating products you are currently developing is beyond doubt."

"But relying solely on these two products is still insufficient to support a new factory."

"So, I'll only ask you one question—do you have any other new ideas in mind? Or products like instant heaters or electric blankets?"

His tone became serious.

"Building a factory is no small matter. If you can develop a few more mature product lines, I'll immediately tell the foreign trade department, 'We'll build this factory!'"

"But if you're not confident, this matter needs careful consideration..."

After saying that, Director Lin handed over the decision-making power entirely to Liu Guangqi.

Liu Guangqi did not answer immediately.

He was well aware of the current situation in that workshop.

Nominally a heating equipment workshop, it was actually just a temporary conversion of a nearly abandoned warehouse within a ministry.

The environment, equipment, and manpower all seemed cramped.

It's all thanks to our technical skills.

They managed to increase production and expand sales by relying on just two heating products.

A new factory set up specifically for its own technology?

This proposal carries too much weight.

For Liu Guangqi, this is not just a factory, but a place where he can fully display his talents.

Thinking of this, he raised his eyes to meet Director Lin's gaze and slowly said, "Director."

"I can agree to their request to build the factory; I'm confident in my ability to do so."

"Tell me more about it?" Director Lin raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Regarding heating products alone, I had at least two ideas back in university that I could immediately put into research and development."

"For example……"

"An induction cooker that can replace a coal stove for cooking, and an electric rice cooker that can replace a wood-fired stove for cooking rice."

Every time Liu Guangqi named a name, Director Lin's eyes lit up a little more.

Director Lin is a sensible person.

Seeing Liu Guangqi's clear-headed expression, he suddenly laughed: "You little rascal, you planned this all along, didn't you?"

This was partly a joke and partly a test.

"I did think about it for a while." Liu Guangqi did not dodge the question and nodded in admission. "I had a lot of ideas in college and always wanted to create more new things."

He paused briefly, his tone growing somber.

"Moreover, the conditions in the heating workshop in the ministry are still a bit rudimentary."

"It might be enough to handle one or two emergency missions and solve our immediate problems, but what will we rely on to take on large orders in the future?"

"Our future foreign exchange market won't just be geared towards the north..."

Liu Guangqi's words were soft, yet they were like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, creating ripples in Director Lin's heart that were difficult to calm down.

The air in the office suddenly froze.

The usual smile on Director Lin's face gradually faded, and his fingers, which had been lightly tapping the table, hovered in mid-air. He raised his eyes, his gaze falling heavily on Liu Guangqi's face. In the depths of his eyes, a hint of surprise flashed first, then turned into sharp scrutiny, and finally, a cluster of scorching fire ignited.

Yes!

Even if the giant bear in the north is still the big brother, can foreign exchange transactions in this land only be maintained through a single channel?

"Good! Well said!"

Director Lin suddenly stood up from his chair and paced back and forth behind his large desk. His composure, cultivated over many years in a high position, was now replaced by a burst of excitement that he could hardly contain.

"Those old gentlemen in the ministry, in meetings they just keep repeating the same two words over and over: 'prudence'!" His voice was unusually impassioned. "How many of them have your vision, daring to put this out in the open?"

He reached out and grabbed the brightly colored telephone receiver from the table.

"Since you possess such insight and courage, what reason do I, as the director, have to hesitate?"

"I'll contact the foreign trade department right away."

"Our First Ministry of Machine Building fully supports the joint establishment of the new factory!"

As he dialed the number, he turned his head and spoke loudly to Liu Guangqi, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet room. The call connected quickly, and he said into the receiver, "Old Chen? It's me, Lin Zhenhua. I have something important to discuss with you..."

After leaving the director's office, Liu Guangqi did not linger and walked straight towards the new workshop.

Silent all the way.

The director's final instructions regarding the construction of the new factory lingered in his mind, but he didn't let those thoughts wander. One must eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time. Things weren't settled yet; worrying too much beforehand would only be a waste of energy. Right now, the most practical thing was to do the work at hand well.

"Boom!"

As soon as he stepped into the new workshop, the familiar and continuous roar of machines enveloped him. Clearly, the equipment had been running almost non-stop for some time, bearing a load close to its limit.

Just then, the whistle signaling the lunch break echoed throughout the factory.

The workers gradually stopped what they were doing, wiping the sweat from their brows, and headed towards the canteen in groups. Liu Guangqi, however, was in no hurry to eat. He rolled up his sleeves, grabbed a wrench and an oil-soaked cotton cloth from the side, and walked towards the machine tool that had just stopped running. For him, this was a break from "feeding" and maintaining his steel partners.

Just as he was halfway inside the machine, intently tightening a bolt, Wang Jianguo, clutching several documents, hurried over.

"Comrade Guangqi!"

"The approval for the heating workshop production line has been granted..." Wang Jianguo stopped mid-sentence when he saw Liu Guangqi's back, almost buried in the machine tool.

Liu Guangqi didn't turn around. His clear voice came from inside the machine, drowning out the remaining noise in the workshop: "Understood, team leader. Please tell everyone this so they can rest assured. The new production line will be in place soon, and we can go all out."

"Okay, I'll go inform them right away!" Wang Jianguo paused for a moment, then nodded vigorously, turned around and walked away quickly.

The situation seemed somewhat unusual at first glance. As the team leader, he was now naturally performing coordination work similar to that of a deputy, and Wang Jianguo felt no resentment about it.

The reason is simply "convince".

……

In the research lab, everyone was already used to this scene.

Liu Guangqi's work style has long been deeply admired. His colleagues have nothing but respect and approval for him.

"Speaking of which..." someone in the research lab sighed softly, "At this rate, it feels like Comrade Guangqi is almost becoming our de facto leader."

Liu Guangqi was already the deputy head of the research group, and now he has also gained high recognition from the Ministry of Foreign Trade. To be honest, even if he were appointed to a more important position someday, probably no one would be surprised.

Liu Guangqi hadn't heard these discussions firsthand, but he had to admit that the image he had cultivated early on was indeed quite helpful. Because of this, whether it was a potential promotion or other awards, most of his colleagues were accepting or even happy about it, and there was rarely any unnecessary jealousy.

"I heard that the commendation document from the ministry is already being drafted."

"Isn't it obvious? The Ministry of Foreign Trade has praised our Team Leader Liu highly. With this kind of achievement, a promotion to section chief should be a sure thing, right?"

"To be honest, it's only natural!"

"Haven't you heard the workers in the new workshop say that they feel very confident working under Team Leader Liu?"

Although Liu Guangqi hadn't personally overheard these conversations in the research lab, he could roughly guess what they entailed. Establishing a reliable reputation was indeed a highly effective way to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Having lived two lives, he deeply understands one ironclad rule: to succeed within the system, one must first establish a solid foundation.

Once your persona is established, most of the obstacles ahead will naturally be reduced.

When it came time for promotion and awards, the surrounding gazes held less jealousy and more natural praise, even genuine joy for him.

This is exactly what he has painstakingly cultivated.

In the new workshop—

It was less a production site and more a front line in the fight against foreign exchange shortages. Liu Guangqi was the commander of this place.

All the machine tools, personally adjusted by him, were like tireless steel backbones, roaring and running day and night without ceasing.

Just then—

"Sizzle!"

The loudspeaker on the top of the workshop suddenly blared, the sharp crackling of electricity causing everyone to freeze in their tracks.

A clear, melodious female voice then rang out, penetrating every corner of the machine department:

"Joint announcement now being broadcast!"

"The Ministry of Foreign Trade and the First Ministry of Machine Building have jointly decided to establish the 'Red Star Foreign Exchange Earning Machinery Factory' in order to expand foreign exchange exports, effective immediately!"

"...jointly establish the 'Red Star Foreign Exchange Machinery Factory'!"

The announcement was repeated three times, each word rolling like thunder.

New factory!

It's a foreign exchange earning project jointly undertaken by two ministries!

The Ministry of Machine Building was instantly abuzz with excitement.

What does this mean?

This means that the First Ministry of Machine Building helped the Ministry of Foreign Trade secure a long-term contract with the northern neighbor.

This means that countless new jobs are about to emerge;

This also means that Liu Guangqi—the inventor of that core component—will have another significant achievement.

Inside the heating workshop,

All the workers who had been seconded to the company blushed.

They knew better than anyone else about the origins of this new factory.

"Great! Building a factory here is a good idea!"

"With more production lines, we have more opportunities to put our energy to good use!"

All eyes were fixed on Liu Guangqi with fervor, their reverence and passion burning brightly in their eyes.

no doubt,

This Hongxing Chuanghui Machinery Factory, which appeared out of nowhere,

It is this small workshop that has generated value day and night.

The echoes of the broadcast still reverberate.

Liu Guangqi, however, had already bent down to inject oil into an old machine tool.

He didn't care at all that oil stains had gotten onto his sleeves.

"Team Leader Liu, did you hear that?"

Several workers gathered around, their eyes shining with anticipation. "Red Star Innovation Machinery Factory! What a resounding name!"

"Once the new factory is built, will we be able to use the latest machines?"

"You'll get your share," Liu Guangqi straightened up, wiped his hands, and smiled. "But this batch of goods needs to be delivered safely first."

Amidst the laughter and conversation, the workshop entrance suddenly fell silent.

Director Lin led a group of people in, with the middle-aged man at the head wearing a badge from the Ministry of Foreign Trade pinned to his lapel.

His gaze, behind the glasses, swept across the entire room.

Finally, the camera focused on Liu Guangqi, and he approached with a smile:

"This must be Comrade Liu Guangqi! It's great to meet you!"

He extended his hands, his smile revealing sincerity:

"I am Chen Lin from the General Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, and I have come here specifically to thank you, the creator of this 'Oriental Miracle'!"

Liu Guangqi was slightly taken aback.

I subconsciously wiped my hands on the side of my pants before reaching out to shake theirs.

"Director Chen, you flatter me. It's just my duty."

"Just part of my job?" Director Chen laughed heartily. "To have a client from the north so eager to place their order that they've lowered their guard—that's no ordinary job!"

"Everyone in the department says that it's all thanks to Comrade Guangqi's two treasures that the other party's attitude changed drastically, and they're now chasing us for more orders every day!"

"Our foreign trade department's ability to stand tall this time is largely thanks to you!"

The workers' proud laughter rang out all around, each of them standing tall with their chests puffed out.

A smile appeared on Liu Guangqi's lips, but his heart was as clear as a mirror.

No sooner had the ministry's broadcast ended than the director of the Ministry of Foreign Trade personally arrived—

This situation is probably more complex than just expressing gratitude.

really,

Director Chen's smile vanished, and he looked at him with a serious expression, his gaze sharp and piercing.

Comrade Chen Guangqi, I'll get straight to the point.

As you probably already know, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the First Ministry of Machine Building jointly established the Hongxing Foreign Exchange Earning Machinery Factory with a clear goal: to gain a foothold in the international market. As Director Chen spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Liu Guangqi, his eyes practically overflowing with admiration, as if he had discovered a rare gem and wished he could immediately recruit him. Therefore, Comrade Guangqi, how about considering working for our Ministry of Foreign Trade?

"Old Chen, that's not fair of you!" Director Lin was immediately indignant upon hearing this. He had just said he was here to express his gratitude, so how could he be poaching people right in front of him? This is unacceptable! He was counting on Liu Guangqi to continue developing the subsequent heating product series. If he were transferred, wouldn't the rice cooker and induction cooker projects be put on hold?