Courtyard House: Starting as an eighth-grade worker, with too many wives.

His own face was reflected in the glass, along with the faces behind him still buried in the blueprints and parts.

He turned around and saw that the men all had expressions of lingering enjoyment on their faces. Some were still clutching parts in their hands, while others had their eyes glued to the blueprints, showing no intention of stopping.

"I say to you all..."

Li Jianguo smiled helplessly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

Aren't you guys hungry?

No sooner had he finished speaking than several muffled thunderous sounds erupted from the crowd.

Several young men instinctively clutched their stomachs, their faces breaking into awkward smiles. They glanced at each other, then quickly looked away.

"This...this time flies by too fast."

"I didn't feel hungry at all until Director Li said so."

"My stomach is rumbling at the worst possible time."

Someone patted their belly, chuckled twice, and revealed a set of white teeth.

"Time flies by today, it's already this late in the blink of an eye."

"I heard the cafeteria has prepared a big feast; we're in for a treat."

Just then, footsteps came from the workshop door, approaching from afar, making a rustling sound as they stepped on the crunching debris on the ground.

Factory Director Yang stepped in with a smile on his face. His gaze swept over everyone before finally settling on Li Jianguo.

"You bunch of people."

He walked up to Li Jianguo and patted him on the arm.

"You've really gone to great lengths. The canteen has prepared everything, just waiting for you, the main guests. As the factory manager, I had no choice but to come and invite you in person."

Li Jianguo rubbed his hands together somewhat embarrassedly, his fingertips still covered in metallic powder that glittered under the light.

"Factory manager, I'm really sorry, I got so busy that I forgot about the time."

"Forget what?"

Factory Director Yang waved his hand, his gesture carrying an undeniable air of decisiveness.

"You're working hard for the country and the factory. I don't understand the technical aspects, but all I can do is provide you with logistical support."

He turned around and waved to the group of workers who were still standing there, stunned.

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and get ready to go to the cafeteria. If you're late, don't blame us for the meat being snatched up by others."

Director Yang spoke in a very approachable and unpretentious manner, as if he were talking to a family member.

Everyone present felt a warmth in their hearts, and their smiles became more relaxed, with most of their restraint dissipating.

"That won't do! Today is our victory celebration; we can't let others steal the meat!"

"That's right, that's right, factory manager, you can't be biased."

"Everyone in our factory knows that Director Yang is the fairest; he'll definitely save some for us."

Factory Director Yang laughed heartily, the sound echoing through the workshop, making the light bulbs overhead sway.

"Don't worry, eat as much as you want today. I've approved some funds from the project budget to give everyone a good meal."

Li Jianguo stood aside, watching as Director Yang quickly became one of the group with these people, and nodded inwardly.

No wonder he's in this position.

The timing and the sense of proportion were just right.

He waved his hand, his voice a few decibels louder than before.

"Alright, stop dawdling. If you don't understand something, we can talk about it tomorrow. Let's go eat first."

The group of people then put down what they were carrying and followed behind, laughing and joking.

The footsteps became chaotic, and some people jogged forward.

"I'm really craving braised pork belly, I wonder if they have it today?"

"have!"

Director Yang's voice came back from the front, loud and clear like a bell.

"Enough for everyone!"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the crowd.

The footsteps quickened, and some people even jogged forward, their shoes hitting the ground with a thud.

Before we even reached the cafeteria entrance, the rich aroma of meat wafted over, forcefully penetrating everyone's nostrils, traveling down their trachea, and causing a spasm in their stomachs.

"Braised pork belly! It absolutely tastes like braised pork belly!"

After that shout, the rest of the people didn't care about their image anymore and rushed into the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was brightly lit, with more than a dozen light bulbs illuminating every corner.

A dozen or so tables were pushed together, piled high with bowls and chopsticks, the white porcelain rims gleaming under the light. In the center of the table were several large bowls of braised pork, glistening with oil, the thick, dark brown broth clinging to the chopsticks. The skin was amber, the fat jiggling, the lean meat distinct and separate, all steaming hot as they soaked in the broth.

Next to it was a whole fish, fried to a golden brown and crispy, drizzled with sweet and sour sauce, its aroma filling the air. The fish was sprinkled with vibrant green scallions, making its golden color even more enticing.

The project team members gradually took their seats, their laughter and conversations blending together like a swarm of bees returning to their hive.

Tonight's celebration banquet is specially prepared for the project team. Everyone who has contributed to the engine project is included in the invitation.

The hot dishes had just been served, and the steam was still rising when someone muttered something in the corner.

The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of several people.

"Master Yi and Sha Zhu, shouldn't they be considered part of our project team? They've carried ore and moved materials before, shouldn't we invite them to the celebration banquet?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the lively atmosphere suddenly fell silent for a moment.

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, some frowning, others pursing their lips.

"The two of them?"

Someone scoffed, their voice filled with undisguised contempt.

"They don't seem to help much, but they're quite good at causing trouble."

"Why did you call them here? To disgust me?"

"Exactly, those two bastards don't even deserve to sit here!"

Li Jianguo sat in the main seat, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and as the tea moistened his throat, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

He raised his hand, a casual gesture that gradually silenced the surrounding chatter.

"That's not how you say it."

His tone was unhurried, as if he were having a casual chat.

"They were all comrades, and they did indeed contribute."

He couldn't wait for those two people to come.

Let them sit in the corner, watching the feast unfold before them, watching these heroes being surrounded and toasted by everyone—that disparity is sometimes more painful than a direct slap in the face. The slow, dull cut is the most agonizing.

"You should call it that."

Li Jianguo put down his teacup and tapped the bottom of it lightly on the table.

"They've helped carry ore and steel before. It wouldn't be right not to ask for their help now."

He turned his head and his gaze fell on Xu Damao beside him.

"Xu Damao, could you please make this trip and bring those two over as well?"

Xu Damao was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with a smile. He jumped up, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a screeching sound.

"Okay, Director Li! You wait here, I'll go right away and bring the person over."

He skipped out of the cafeteria, his smile impossible to hide, and he wobbled along like a mouse stealing oil.

Inside the stone storage room, Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai were packing up their things to get ready to leave work.

After a day's work, the two men were covered in dust, with a fine layer of stone dust on their hair, shoulders, and cuffs. Their faces showed undeniable fatigue, their eyes were sunken, and their lips were chapped.

When Xu Damao pushed the door open and came in, he couldn't hide the gloating smile on his face.

"Oh, you're still here?"

He walked up to the two of them, raised his chin, and his posture carried an undisguised condescension.

"Silly Zhu, Uncle, Director Li asked me to invite you two to the cafeteria for a celebration banquet."

Sha Zhu froze for a moment, almost dropping the tools in his hand. He and Yi Zhonghai exchanged a glance, their brows furrowing into a knot.

"Did Li Jianguo invite us?"

"Director Li said it himself, how could it be false?"

Sha Zhu frowned, feeling unsure, and unconsciously tightened his grip on the wrench.

"This...could there be some kind of trap?"

Yi Zhonghai remained silent for a moment, put down the tools in his hand, and patted the dust off his sleeves.

"go."

His voice was deep, as if it were squeezed out of his chest.

"Why not go if there's food? It'll be a good opportunity to see what he's up to."

The two men, still somewhat skeptical, followed Xu Damao outside.

An afternoon of physical labor had left them exhausted. Their backs ached, their legs were weak, and their stomachs were empty and churning with acid. They were both tired and hungry, and a good meal would certainly be a welcome relief.

When they arrived at the cafeteria entrance, they were both stunned.

The long table was piled high with chicken, duck, fish, and meat. The braised pork glistened with oil, the whole fish was fried to a golden brown and crispy, and there were several other dishes that Sha Zhu had never even seen before in all his years working in the canteen.

"How much...how much will this cost?"

Sha Zhu muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the pot of braised pork, his throat bobbing.

In an era when you needed ration coupons to buy anything, Director Yang managed to use his connections to get a sum of money from the project budget to prepare this lavish feast.

For these workers, this meal was worth half a month's wages.

Sha Zhu stared at the pot of braised pork, his Adam's apple bobbing, almost drooling. He subconsciously licked his lips, his fingers clenching and unclenching.

The two found a corner to sit down, and as soon as they settled in, they heard Director Yang's voice.

"Everyone, please be quiet."

He stood up, holding his wine glass, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. The light shone on his face, making the wrinkles on his face appear particularly deep.

"Today's celebration banquet is to celebrate Director Li and his project team for successfully overcoming technical difficulties and independently developing an engine that belongs to our country."

He paused, then raised his voice a few decibels, echoing through the cafeteria.

"This is a groundbreaking feat! On behalf of the factory, I thank each and every one of you. Special thanks to Director Li—"

Li Jianguo stood up at the right moment, bowed slightly, and his movements were just the right amount of humility.

"Director Yang, you flatter me."

His tone was unhurried, and his gaze slowly swept across the faces of the people around him.

"Without everyone's help, I couldn't have accomplished anything by myself. This credit belongs to everyone in our project team."

"Director Li's words make us feel ashamed."

An elderly expert standing nearby chimed in, took off his glasses, wiped them, and put them back on.

"From beginning to end, you set the plan and pointed out the direction; we were just there to assist you."

"That's right."

The other person echoed, nodding vigorously.

"Director Li deserves the most credit for the success of this project."

"We should be thanking Director Li. It was you who led us to accomplish this great task."

One compliment after another rose and fell, surging in like a tide.

As Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai listened to these words, their expressions grew increasingly grim.

Sha Zhu picked up the enamel mug, took a sip of water, and muttered something in a low voice, but he couldn't hide the sour taste.

"It's as if he did everything by himself."

Yi Zhonghai didn't say anything, but he gripped the chopsticks in his hand tightly until his knuckles turned white.

"These people are such big talkers."

Sha Zhu lowered his voice, his tone so sour it was almost dripping with jealousy, his eyes practically overflowing with envy.

Yi Zhonghai glanced at him, his eyes warning him to keep quiet.

At the main table, Director Yang raised his glass, the liquid inside swirling and reflecting the overhead light.

"Alright, stop flattering each other. Look at all this delicious food in front of you, can you resist? I can't."

He laughed heartily and announced loudly.

"Let's eat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire cafeteria instantly became lively.

The chopsticks rose and fell, the bowls and plates clattered, and the sounds of chewing and satisfied sighs blended together, like a chaotic yet joyful symphony.

Today, Nan Yi is in charge of cooking.

His cooking skills are far superior to Sha Zhu's; the same ingredients, when cooked by him, taste completely different.

The braised pork belly was rich yet not greasy, melting in your mouth. The skin had a slightly charred aroma, the fat melted on your tongue, and the lean meat was tender and flavorful. The fish was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the skin fried to a crispy perfection, making a satisfying crunch when you bit into it, while the flesh inside was as tender as tofu. Dipped in sweet and sour sauce, it was perfectly balanced. Even the simplest stir-fried vegetables had a fresh and vibrant quality, the leaves bright green, the stems crisp, and the cooking time was just right.