Courtyard House: Starting as an engineer, crushing a yard full of poultry

"What are you saying? The old lady thinks Section Chief Li is an official, how can he live in the same compound as us? So she suggested getting him a cadre apartment. Director Yang agreed, and he'll be moving out in a couple of days at most," Yi Zhonghai said smugly.

"It's only because of Lao Yan. I wouldn't have told Lao Liu either, because this matter can't be leaked. Otherwise, Section Chief Li definitely wouldn't have left."

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui smiled and gave a thumbs up: "Great job, you're the best! Otherwise, how could you be an old man?"

"We just let him go like that, without any chance to vent our anger. What a pity!"

Yi Zhonghai chuckled arrogantly, "You're wrong again. He's left, but his girlfriend's family is still here. Hehe, we've got his hands on her family; they'll have to bow down to us later!"

·· ·····Requesting flowers·· ·

Li Xiangdong led Li Huaide and Director Zhao into the main room. The two guards stood at the door and did not come in.

Li Xiangdong invited the two of them to sit down by the stove, where they could warm themselves and talk.

Li Xiangdong lifted the kettle off the plate and casually tossed a handful of chestnuts onto the hot plate. He also tossed a handful of peanuts in their shells onto it, leaving them to rest.

He told Li Huaide to slowly stir it with chopsticks while he went to brew three cups of tea.

"Section Chief Li, the sniper grenade you designed has truly surprised us. We tested it, and its power is immense. If we had this before, fighting would have been so much easier," Director Zhao said with deep feeling.

"If it's useful, that's good, that's good." Li Xiangdong said modestly, "Then I'll continue to design some more weapons in the future!"

“Very good. I came here today to invite you to join our arsenal,” Director Zhao said. “It’s there that you can truly utilize your abilities…”

"Director Zhao, that's not right of you," Li Huaide said hurriedly. "Our steel rolling mill is giving it our all to the tasks assigned to you! You can't poach our workers!"

"Section Chief Li is an important talent in our steel rolling mill, and we can't let him leave."

“Director Zhao, I can design them just as well at the steel rolling mill. Besides, weapons are just a hobby of mine,” Li Xiangdong hurriedly said. “It’s the same at the steel rolling mill.”

"By the way, I'm designing an automatic rifle, and it won't be long before it's ready for manufacturing."

"Great, great. We'll be waiting for your good news. It's a real shame you're not coming to our place! But I respect your choice." Director Zhao said with some regret, "Then we'll send you two guards..."

“No need for that,” Li Xiangdong shook his head. “Having two guards with me would just be telling others what I’m doing.”

... .. ...

"If possible, give me a gun. I handled guns in the army before!"

"Your 50-meter pistol rapid-fire score is excellent!"

Director Zhao nodded and said, "Okay, then we'll send the gun and identification to you tomorrow. Now give me two passport photos!"

"By the way, security needs to be increased in Director Li's and Section Chief Li's offices. Follow confidentiality regulations!"

"Definitely, I'll carry it out tomorrow," Li Huaide said hurriedly.

Li Xiangdong gave the ID photo to Director Zhao, who immediately took his leave. However, he grabbed some piping hot chestnuts and carried them out, turning them upside down in his hands.

"You don't need to deliver it. It would be a waste if that stuff got burnt." Director Zhao left on his own.

"Hehe, these peanuts aren't that rare. I haven't seen chestnuts for two or three years now." Li Huaide peeled a chestnut and said quietly, "Brought from the South, right?"

Luckily, Li Xiangdong had cut a slit in the chestnut with his knife. Otherwise, the chestnut would have already started crackling and popping.

"Yes, I'll take two jin with me later."

There are about thirty tons of chestnuts in the cold storage of the mysterious space. There are also some chestnut trees on the hillside outside.

"Thank you, I deserve a lot of credit this time. Director Yang and Secretary Zhang also benefited from your help," Director Li said. "The higher-ups want to give you more responsibilities."

"It will be announced tomorrow; you will be the deputy factory director in charge of the technical department."

"Promoted to deputy director level, enjoying the same benefits as a director level. Tsk tsk, your rank is soaring."

Li Xiangdong wasn't particularly excited, but he said with gratitude, "Thank you, Director Li. I know you must have intervened. Otherwise... hehe!"

"Let's not talk about that anymore. We're brothers, aren't we?" Li Huaide peeled the pear nimbly.

Li Huaide was quite pleased with himself. Last night he went to the black market. He learned from Wang Laosan that a silver lighter was actually more expensive than a large yellow croaker.

Li Huaide was still grateful for the lighter Li Xiangdong had given him. It was a real treasure.

Li Huaide left with two jin of chestnuts. Only then did Li Xiangdong wash up and go to bed.

The next morning at five o'clock, Li Xiangdong was practicing his boxing at the door. At 5:30, Yu Li walked over.

"Dong-ge, I thought you weren't up yet. I'll go make you breakfast."

Yu Li smiled and said, "You can practice your own boxing."

After having breakfast together, Li Xiangdong pushed his bicycle and went to work with Yu Li.

"Brother Dong, do you have any connections to get some pork?" Yu Li blinked her big eyes and said, "If I can find a big, fat pig, I can get ten catties of meat as a reward this year."

"It's just a pig, I can get it for you," Li Xiangdong said with a smile. "Just send it directly to the factory."

"The New Year is almost here, I wonder how many days off we'll get." Yu Li said with longing, "It will be much easier for me to go to the temple fair this year."

"It's a three-day holiday, I think it starts on the 30th and we come back to work on the 3rd of the new year," Li Xiangdong said.

The two of them chatted and laughed as they arrived at the factory. After getting out of the car, Yu Li skipped to the office like a little deer.

As soon as Li Xiangdong returned to his office, he saw a security guard standing there with a gun on his back in front of Li Xiangdong's office door.

Li Xiangdong knew this was sent by Li Huaide, but he didn't know when the pistol would arrive! Yes.

Chapter Sixty-Six: The Deaf Old Woman's Viciousness (Seeking Flowers and Votes!)

He nodded to the security guard, and Li Xiangdong opened the office door and walked in.

Just as I poured myself a cup of tea, Li Huaide and Director Zhao walked in. Behind them followed a group of people carrying cabinets and other items.

"Section Chief Li, I've replaced these cabinets for you," Li Huaide said with a smile. "These are filing cabinets made of steel plates. And this is a safe!"

"The important things are all kept here. I'll leave you a wooden cabinet to put some ordinary things in."

Li Xiangdong poured tea for the two of them. The guards quickly set up the metal cabinet and safe and left.

"Section Chief Li, here is your gun license, and here is your service pistol!"

Director Zhao took out his identification and a holster. Inside the holster was the famous Black Star pistol.

"Um, I want to make one myself. This thing is a bit too big! And it has a lot of drawbacks." Li Xiangdong raised an eyebrow and said, "I designed my own pistol!"

Li Xiangdong brought a pistol blueprint this morning and is now going to manufacture it. As for materials, the classified workshop doesn't have many, but it's enough.

Li Xiangdong handed the blueprints to Director Zhao.

Director Zhao didn't even look at it before having someone send the drawings back.

"Wait, and bring me a few gun barrels to get chrome plated while you're at it," Li Xiangdong said. "Never mind, you guys send the blueprints back first, then come back for the gun barrels."

The chrome plating process is not available in the factory.

Factory Director Li and Section Chief Zhao followed Li Xiangdong to the classified workshop, where the renovations were in their final stages. It looked like they would be back in production in just a few days.

Li Xiangdong quickly made five gun barrels and had them taken to the arsenal for chrome plating. By the time he finished making five gun mounts, it was already 11 a.m.

"Let's go eat," Li Huaide said with a smile. "I just asked Shazhu to make chicken stew with mushrooms. His cooking skills are truly superb."

"Okay, I'll be going now." Li Xiangdong said, putting down the piece of wood in his hand.

Li Xiangdong found a piece of old mahogany at the "323" woodworking shop. He used this piece of wood to make the non-slip part of the handle. If this were to be mass-produced, plastic would definitely be used instead. Or it would be easier to use steel directly.

Factory Director Yang and Secretary Zhang also attended lunch. Since it was lunchtime, they couldn't drink alcohol. Four dishes and a soup were served, but the portions were enough for the five of them.

Besides the braised chicken with mushrooms, there was also stir-fried twice-cooked pork, minced pork and tofu, and a plate of hot and sour shredded potatoes. The soup was seaweed and egg drop soup.

A large bowl of steamed buns was also placed on the table.

"Come on, Sha Zhu's chicken stew with mushrooms is absolutely amazing." Factory Director Li said with a smile, "Hehe, it wasn't easy for me to get my hands on a five-pound rooster!"

Li Xiangdong smiled faintly and ate lunch with them. He could tell that the chicken was missing quite a bit of something.

But we can't say it in front of Director Yang. Sha Zhu is Director Yang's man, so if we're going to mess with Sha Zhu, we should get Li Huaide to handle it.

"Section Chief Li, let's announce your promotion over the loudspeaker before the end of the workday this afternoon. What do you think?" Factory Director Yang asked.

"Thank you, Director Yang. We'll proceed as usual," Li Xiangdong said politely.

Li Xiangdong was very polite to Director Yang, but a sense of distance still came through.

"Alright, I'll make an announcement before we leave work." Factory Director Yang gave a somewhat bitter smile. He knew why Li Xiangdong was distancing himself from him—it was all because of Yi Zhonghai.

When Director Yang was first transferred to the steel rolling mill, he was just a deputy director in charge of logistics. It was only thanks to Yi Zhonghai and his team's support that Director Yang was able to establish himself in the factory.

Of course, Yi Zhonghai listened to the deaf old woman. Otherwise, why would he have sided with Factory Director Yang? However, Yi Zhonghai had already received enough in return.

“Okay, you can arrange it as you see fit!” Li Xiangdong nodded.

"Section Chief Li, I have something I want to talk to you about!" Factory Director Yang pondered for a moment and then said, "Tonight, I'd like to invite you and Yi Zhonghai for a couple of drinks. Yi Zhonghai was in the wrong regarding what happened between you two. How about having him apologize to you?"

"Director Yang, what are you saying? Who is Yi Zhonghai?" Li Xiangdong shook his head and said, "He's just a level seven worker. How can you give him such a big face? He can't handle it."

Factory Director Yang opened his mouth but then fell silent. Everyone present was quick-witted; how could they not understand what Li Xiangdong meant?

Who is Yi Zhonghai anyway? How could Li Xiangdong possibly give him such a big favor?

"Section Chief Li, the higher-ups mean that since you're the chief engineer of the steel rolling mill, and also the deputy director in charge of technology, you'll be responsible for employee certification exams and such from now on," Secretary Zhang said matter-of-factly.

"You don't need our approval for the reassessment you requested. It's within your authority. You can make the decision yourself. Of course, try not to affect production!"

Li Xiangdong nodded and said, "That's for sure, it definitely won't affect production."

The assessment that Li Xiangdong proposed was only conducted once. Then there was no further news. Of course, Factory Director Yang was stalling. Factory Director Yang was afraid that Li Xiangdong would use the assessment as an excuse to punish his people.