Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

The next morning, Zheng Qiushi collapsed in the steel rolling mill office, cigarette butts littering the floor.

His father's scolding from last night still echoed in his ears: "Li Yu is a key technical expert specifically mentioned by the higher-ups, and Longxing is a key military industry project. If you go there, you'll be clinging to someone else's coattails, not living under their roof!"

"Suck up to someone's coattails?" Zheng Qiushi sneered, slamming his fist on the table. He, Zheng Qiushi, had never sucked up to anyone in his life; it was always others sucking up to him. When had he ever not been a man of his word? Go to Longxing to be Li Yu's henchman? He was not willing!

Just as I was getting annoyed, "Ring ring!" The phone on the table suddenly rang.

The ringtone was shrill and piercing, especially eerie in the quiet night. Zheng Qiushi hesitated for a moment, then picked up the receiver.

"Director Zheng?" The voice on the other end of the phone was hoarse and deliberately low. "I heard you're being transferred to Longxing?"

Zheng Qiushi's heart skipped a beat: "Who are you?"

"A person who couldn't stand Li Yu's petty success."

The other party chuckled, "Why should he have such good resources? The technology of man-portable air defense missiles should belong to the country, not to him alone."

"Director Zheng, you've been in the steel rolling mill for many years, you must have some leverage over Longxing, right? Like... the supply channels for raw materials?"

Zheng Qiushi's breathing suddenly became rapid.

His palms were sweaty as he gripped the receiver, and the resentment in his heart grew wildly like weeds.

Yes, no matter how capable Li Yu is, his production line cannot function without the raw material supply from the steel rolling mill.

"What do you want to do?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"It's very simple."

"Help us get the core blueprints for the guidance system, and once it's done, I guarantee you'll be the factory manager of Longxing. Li Yu will naturally find his own place."

Zheng Qiushi fell silent. He recalled Li Yu's spirited appearance, his own frustration in the meeting room, and the punishment he received afterward.

"Okay! I'll do it."

The moment he hung up the phone, Zheng Qiushi seemed to have all his strength drained away, slumping into his chair, but a hint of madness shone in his eyes.

Zheng Qiushi stood in front of the gate of Longxing Industrial for a full ten minutes. He felt an unprecedented sense of humiliation, as a former steel rolling mill director was now working under a former subordinate.

The factory in front of me is no longer the research and development workshop it used to be. A brand-new red brick wall encloses a huge area, and there are two signs at the entrance. One reads "Longxing Industry", and the other, with red background and white lettering, is particularly eye-catching: "Military Industrial Confidential Unit, No Unauthorized Personnel Allowed".

The sentries at the gate were armed soldiers. Zheng Qiushi clutched the crumpled transfer order, swallowed hard, and forced himself to walk over.

"Comrade, register." The sentry stretched out his hand expressionlessly, his voice cold and hard.

Zheng Qiushi handed over the transfer order, his neck stiff, and said, "Zheng Qiushi of the steel rolling mill is being transferred to the position of deputy director."

The sentry glanced at the transfer order, then looked him up and down with a scrutinizing gaze. He picked up the phone next to him and dialed a number: "Duty room? Zheng Qiushi from the steel rolling mill, reporting for duty, deputy factory director."

The sentry put down the receiver and pointed to the guard post next to him: "Someone will come to pick you up in a bit."

It was chilly beside the guard post, with only a long bench. Zheng Qiushi sat there restlessly, watching the workers come and go.

Everyone was wearing work clothes stained with machine oil, walking briskly, their faces full of energy.

Not long after, the people who were supposed to pick him up arrived.

It wasn't Li Huaide or Li Yu who came; it was Old Zhou, the head of the administrative department of Longxing.

Old Zhou was a rough-looking man in his fifties with calloused hands. When he saw Zheng Qiushi, he simply nodded and said, "Deputy Factory Director Zheng, right? Come with me."

Zheng Qiushi was seething with anger, but dared not vent it. He followed Lao Zhou into the factory area, growing more and more apprehensive with each step.

A newly built steel-structured workshop rose from the ground, with slogans such as "Grasp Revolution and Promote Production" painted on the walls, and the roar of machines could be heard from inside the workshop.

What made him most envious was that several technicians in white coats were discussing a brand-new lathe. The lathe was a precision piece of equipment that the steel rolling mill had been trying to apply for for two years without success.

"Longxing is now a key military industrial unit, and the benefits are much better than those at the steel rolling mill, but there are many more rules and regulations."

Without turning his head, Lao Zhou said, "You have to go through three security checks before you start work. Technical documents are not allowed to be taken out of the factory area and must be returned to the secure room before you leave work. Also, you are the deputy factory director, in charge of logistics and the canteen. You don't need to worry about technical matters."

In charge of logistics and the canteen?

Zheng Qiushi stopped abruptly, his face instantly turning a deep liver color.

He's the factory manager of the steel rolling mill! He's a mechanical engineering graduate! Why put him in charge of logistics and the canteen?

Isn't this a blatant humiliation of him?

"Why?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"The transfer order clearly states that he is assisting Li Huaide in handling production management!"

Old Zhou stopped and turned around, a hint of mockery in his eyes:

"Director Li said that production management requires technical expertise. Deputy Director Zheng has been at the steel rolling mill for so long; I'm afraid he's not familiar with the production line for man-portable air defense missiles. Logistics and the canteen are also crucial. How can production proceed if the hundreds of workers in the factory aren't eating well?"

These words were like a slap in the face, landing hard on Zheng Qiushi's cheek.

He was speechless.

Yes, he doesn't understand the technology of man-portable air defense systems. He's never even heard of the guidance principles or solid fuel formulations.

With a single, casual remark, Li Yu blocked all his attempts to interfere with the technology.

Old Zhou led him to the door of a low brick building and pointed to the sign on the door—Logistics Office.

"This is your office." Old Zhou pushed open the door. Inside, there was only an old desk, two chairs, and not even a thermos.

"Director Li instructed that since you're new here, you should familiarize yourself with the canteen's menu first. Next week, you'll be in charge of providing extra late-night snacks for the night shift workers."

Standing at the door, Zheng Qiushi looked at the simple office and then thought of Li Yu's bright and clean technical room with drawing boards and precision instruments. A sense of humiliation and resentment suddenly rushed to his head.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.

Just then, a hearty laugh came from outside.

Li Yu and Li Huaide walked over side by side, followed by several military region cadres.

Li Yu, dressed in clean work clothes, was holding a blueprint and talking to Li Huaide, a confident smile on his face.

Upon seeing Zheng Qiushi, Li Yu stopped and nodded slightly.

"Deputy Factory Director Zheng, you're here? Welcome. Logistics work is tedious but carries great responsibility. Thank you for your hard work."

The tone was so polite it was almost hypocritical.

Li Huaide patted him on the shoulder with a beaming smile: "Old Zheng, the canteen's affairs are in your hands from now on. The workers are saying the food has been a bit bland lately, so you'll have to put in extra effort."

The surrounding cadres and workers all looked over, their eyes filled with a sense of schadenfreude.

Zheng Qiushi's face flushed red and then turned pale. He wanted to curse and turn around and leave, but he could only grit his teeth and squeeze out a few words: "...Don't worry, I will definitely handle it well."

Li Yu smiled, said nothing more, and turned to follow the military region cadres toward the workshop.

Zheng Qiushi's gaze grew increasingly cold as he watched Li Yu's departing figure.

In the office, Zheng Qiushi slumped in a cold chair.

Outside the window, the roar of the machines was still loud, but he only felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to his heart.

He knew that he, like a tiger, was completely trapped in this small cage by Li Yu.

"Li Huaide! Li Yu! You just wait!"