Courtyard House: The Cultivation System Takes Me Flying

Overnight, Qin Lindong underwent a complete transformation, ascending from mortal to sainthood and entering the extraordinary realm coveted by countless others. With an extraordinary body, his spiritual sense encompassed ten miles, and his inner spiritual energy flowed endlessly. The path to immortality was within reach. Worldly power, wealth, and status were now as insignificant as fleeting clouds in his eyes. Yet, he maintained his usual routine, neither becoming arrogant nor detached from the mortal world despite his sudden enlightenment. For Qin Lindong now, his work at the steel mill and his life in the courtyard house were merely the most secure cover in the mundane world, the best haven for his low-key cultivation and steady growth.

After a night of consolidating his cultivation, Qin Lindong's aura became increasingly restrained and profound. Despite being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he appeared to be just an ordinary young man with a gentle demeanor and upright posture. Only upon close inspection could one glimpse a trace of otherworldly grace and majesty in his deep, starry eyes. The morning sun shone into the courtyard, and the residual spiritual energy from the upgraded spirit field slowly permeated the air, giving the entire courtyard a refreshing atmosphere. After quickly tidying up, Qin Lindong set off for work at the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill at his usual time.

Along the way, the streets were bustling with pedestrians, vendors' shouts, bicycle bells jingling, and neighbors greeting each other, all blending together to create the most authentic glimpse into the everyday life of the city. Qin Lindong suppressed his extraordinary power, walking steadily through the crowd. His spiritual sense quietly spread out, taking in everything within a ten-mile radius without disturbing anyone. To him, this mundane liveliness and clamor were long gone; his temperament, having broken through his cultivation level, had become as steady as a mountain, undisturbed by any ripples.

Before long, the imposing gates of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill came into view, its chimneys soaring into the clouds. The rumble of machinery echoed from the workshops, and workers in uniform blue overalls poured into the factory in droves, their faces radiating anticipation for life and enthusiasm for their work. As one of the top factories in Beijing, the steel rolling mill was a coveted, highly sought-after job. Every position and every level of authority represented real power, benefits, and prestige; the position of middle management was a height that most workers could never reach in their entire lives.

As soon as Qin Lindong stepped into the factory gate, before he could even head towards the forging workshop, an overly enthusiastic voice came from the side.

"Lin Dong! Lin Dong! Come here quickly!"

The one who called out was Director Wang from the forging workshop. Usually serious and unsmiling in front of the workers, he was all smiles at this moment, his eyes crinkling as he walked briskly toward Qin Lindong. His friendly demeanor stunned several workers passing by, who secretly wondered just how much influence Manager Lin had that Director Wang was so proactive and enthusiastic.

Qin Lin understood immediately. Given his previous abilities and decisiveness at the factory, his composure in handling the cases of Jia Dongxu's false accusations and Yi Zhonghai's favoritism, coupled with his widely recognized prestige throughout the factory, a promotion and raise were only a matter of time. Now that the factory director and the head of the department had approached him, it must be for this reason. He showed no surprise, nor any awkwardness or overwhelm; he simply nodded slightly and calmly followed Director Wang towards the workshop office.

Along the way, many workers stopped in their tracks upon witnessing this scene, their eyes filled with curiosity and awe. Qin Lindong's reputation in the forging workshop was already unparalleled. He was highly skilled, fair in his dealings, and composed. He never bullied his fellow workers, nor did he curry favor with the powerful. Last time, he directly exposed Jia Dongxu's conspiracy, causing the corrupt Yi Zhonghai to lose face and cleansing the workshop of unhealthy practices. In the workers' hearts, he was already the most trustworthy leader.

As Qin Lindong entered the office, his gaze swept across the room and he saw the person sitting in the main seat—it was Director Li of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

The factory director personally waited for him in his office, an extremely high level of treatment in the entire steel rolling mill. Even workshop foremen rarely received such attention from the factory director, let alone ordinary workers. Seeing Qin Lindong enter, Director Li immediately stood up, his face beaming with appreciation, and gestured, "Little Qin's here! Please sit down! Don't be shy!"

"Factory Director, Director," Qin Lindong greeted them respectfully, then calmly sat down in the chair opposite them. His posture was upright and his demeanor composed, showing neither the timidity of a nobody nor the slightest arrogance. This composed attitude earned the admiration of Factory Director Li and Director Wang.

Teacups and documents sat on the office desk, the atmosphere relaxed yet solemn. Director Li looked at the promising young man, Qin Lindong, and cut to the chase, his tone full of affirmation and high regard: "Little Qin, I've called you here today to announce some great news. All the factory leaders have witnessed your performance in the forging workshop recently. You're hardworking and conscientious, possess top-notch technical skills, and handle matters fairly and impartially. More importantly, you have principles, confidence, and a sense of responsibility. Last time, in the case of Jia Dongxu's false accusation and Yi Zhonghai's favoritism, you handled it cleanly and efficiently, upholding factory rules and stabilizing morale in the workshop. You've impressed us all."

After a pause, Director Li's smile widened, and he formally announced, "After collective discussion and decision by the factory leadership, you are officially appointed as the deputy director of the forging workshop, in charge of the workshop's daily production, quality control, and personnel scheduling. At the same time, your salary will be increased by two levels, and your benefits will be in accordance with the standards for middle-level management!"

After he finished speaking, the office fell into a solemn atmosphere.

The deputy director of the forging workshop is no ordinary team leader or junior manager; he is a full-fledged mid-level leader in the steel rolling mill, wielding real power and overseeing hundreds of workers in the forging workshop. He is responsible for core production matters and has a significant say. In a large factory like Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, countless people would fight tooth and nail for this position, using every means possible—gifts, connections, flattery—but often to no avail. Yet, Qin Lindong, young and without any connections, secured this coveted position solely through his ability and prestige, a meteoric rise indeed.

Director Wang added with a smile, "Lin Dong, the factory director has high hopes for you. From now on, the heavy responsibility of production in the forging workshop will fall on your shoulders. We believe you can do a great job!"

Qin Lindong felt no excitement whatsoever. To him, the position of deputy workshop director and the two-level salary increase were merely icing on the cake in the mortal world. He was already an extraordinary cultivator; money and power were external things, their only purpose being to make his status in the mortal world more legitimate and stable. He rose slightly, his attitude respectful but not servile, and calmly said, "Thank you for your trust and high regard, factory director and supervisor. I will certainly fulfill my duties and do my job well, and will never let the factory down."

Calm and composed, steady and reliable—this answer pleased Factory Director Li, who nodded repeatedly in satisfaction. He patted Qin Lindong on the shoulder and laughed, "Good, good! With your words, I'm completely relieved! From now on, the forging workshop is in your hands. Go for it! The factory will back you up!"

After a brief conversation, the appointment was officially finalized. Qin Lindong rose from an ordinary workshop supervisor to the deputy director of the forging workshop, becoming one of the youngest middle-level leaders in the steel rolling mill, with a bright future ahead of him.

Stepping out of the office, the news spread like wildfire throughout the forging workshop and even the entire steel rolling mill. The workers, upon learning of Qin Lindong's promotion to deputy director, were all overjoyed. They put down their work and gathered around, their faces filled with sincere congratulations and awe.

Congratulations, Deputy Director Qin!

"Deputy Director Qin is young and promising; our workshop finally has a good leader!"

"From now on, we'll work under Deputy Director Qin; that gives us peace of mind!"

Cheers and congratulations rose and fell, devoid of any jealousy, all stemming from heartfelt recognition. Qin Lindong was highly respected in the workshop, known for his fairness and sincerity; his promotion brought genuine joy to the workers.

Upon hearing the news, He Yuzhu was so excited that he ran over and patted Qin Lindong on the shoulder, his face full of pride and excitement: "Brother! You're amazing! Deputy workshop director! And your salary has increased by two levels! From now on, no one in the steel rolling mill will dare to mess with us, we can walk sideways without any problem!" He Yuzhu was already close to Qin Lindong, and now that Qin Lindong held a high position, he felt genuinely proud.

Qin Lindong smiled faintly and nodded slightly, without saying much. To him, all this excitement and adulation was nothing more than mundane worldly matters; he accepted it calmly but did not indulge in it.

On his first day in office, Qin Lindong demonstrated management skills far exceeding those of ordinary people. He used his spiritual sense to survey the entire workshop, revealing the operational status of every machine, the operational details of every worker, and the loopholes in every production process. He quickly adjusted production schedules, optimized operating procedures, corrected non-standard work methods, and strictly controlled product quality. In just one morning, the production efficiency of the forging workshop increased significantly, the defect rate dropped to a historic low, and output soared.

Upon learning the news, Factory Director Li was overjoyed and his regard for Qin Lindong increased even further. He repeatedly praised the forging workshop at factory-wide meetings, commending Qin Lindong for his outstanding abilities and competence. The workers in the workshop were completely convinced of Qin Lindong's abilities and dared not slack off in the slightest. They all devoted themselves to their work diligently, and the atmosphere in the entire forging workshop was transformed, making it a model workshop for the entire factory.

After getting off work in the afternoon, Qin Lindong returned to the courtyard house.

News of the promotion had already spread throughout the courtyard. When all the neighbors learned that Qin Lindong had become the deputy director of the steel rolling mill workshop, with a two-level salary increase, they were all astonished. Their gazes towards Qin Lindong were now filled with awe and even more admiration. It's important to understand that in this small courtyard, a mid-level manager in the steel rolling mill was already the highest position one could hope for. Even Yi Zhonghai, who was once known as an eighth-grade fitter, despite his high prestige, was just an old worker and had never reached the position of deputy director. Qin Lindong, at such a young age, had achieved a height that was unattainable for most, making him arguably the most successful person in the courtyard.

"Deputy Director Lin is back! Congratulations!"

"Manager Lin has a bright future ahead of him; a big shot has emerged from our compound!"

The neighbors all came forward to greet him, their attitude extremely respectful. Even Yan Bugui, who was usually shrewd and calculating, came up with a big smile and chatted with him, a complete change from his usual stingy self. Liu Haizhong looked at Qin Lindong with mixed feelings, a mixture of envy, jealousy, and deep respect. He no longer dared to put on airs of seniority.

The Jia family courtyard remained lifeless and desolate.

Upon learning of Qin Lindong's promotion to deputy workshop director, the last trace of resentment and bitterness in Jia Dongxu, Qin Huairu, and Jia Zhangshi's hearts vanished completely. Previously, Jia Dongxu could still maintain the airs of an old worker in front of Qin Lindong, and Qin Huairu had even harbored thoughts of currying favor with him. But now, Qin Lindong had soared to great heights, becoming someone they could only look up to with difficulty. The gap between them was like an insurmountable chasm, one they could never cross in this lifetime.

Qin Huairu sighed silently, looking down at the rotten vegetable leaves she had picked up in the bamboo basket. She no longer harbored any unrealistic fantasies; she only wanted to raise her children and support her family peacefully. Jia Dongxu smoked his pipe in silence, his face numb. Jia Zhangshi huddled on the kang (heated brick bed), too exhausted even to complain. The Jia family had been completely reduced to the lowest rung of the courtyard house, no longer able to cause any trouble.

Just as Qin Lindong had firmly secured his position as deputy workshop director and his mortal reputation reached its peak, a crisp system notification sounded in his mind right on time:

[Ding! The host has successfully been promoted to deputy director of the forging workshop in the steel rolling mill, reaching the pinnacle of status, power, and prestige in the mortal realm!]

[Reward: Foundation Establishment Realm Level 1 cultivation progress +15%, current progress 45%!]

[Reward: System points +1000, current total points 1560!]

A gentle surge of spiritual energy flowed into his body, and Qin Lindong's cultivation level steadily improved once again, bringing him one step closer to the perfect first level of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Standing in the courtyard of the traditional courtyard house, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, Qin Lindong remained calm, his gaze distant.

In the mortal world, he already possessed power, wealth, prestige, and status, becoming a top figure in the eyes of ordinary people; on the path to transcendence, his realm was stable, his cultivation was advanced, his resources were abundant, and his future was bright.

Stable, smooth, powerful, invincible.

His life had already reached heights unattainable by ordinary people. The warmth of the courtyard house and his work at the steel mill were his haven in the mundane world; but the vast path of cultivation and the wider world were his true journey.

Qin Lindong gently raised his eyes, gazing at the distant horizon, a faint smile curving his lips.