Courtyard House: Primordial Chaos Pearl

Under the clear, crisp autumn sky of Beijing's outskirts, cheers erupted from the construction site of the Red Star United Hardware Factory's staff dormitory—the roof of the last dormitory room had finally been completed. He Yuzhu, wearing a hard hat, was directing workers to unload newly arrived iron beds when he saw Lin Dong and He Yushui approaching. He immediately waved the blueprints in his hand and ran over: "Lin Dong, Yushui, look! The doors and windows of the dormitory are all installed. The workers can move in by the end of the month!"

He Yushui held a thick mechanical manual in her hands, her eyes shining with excitement: "Brother Zhu, thank you for your hard work on the dormitory. The blueprints for our small harvester are finally finalized!" She opened the manual and pointed to the structural diagram, "Combined with the precision shaping of the Chaos Bead, the error of the core engine components can be controlled within 0.003 millimeters. It is more durable than the Soviet-imported models and has 30% lower fuel consumption."

Lin Dong took the blueprints, his fingertips tracing the markings on the engine components—the result of half a month of hard work with He Yushui. Previously, the Agricultural Machinery Bureau had reported that the large harvesters used by farmers were difficult to turn and prone to damaging field ridges, so they had specifically developed a smaller model to suit the small plots of farmland on the North China Plain. "Excellent," Lin Dong decided, "Start sample production immediately. We'll make the parts ourselves, except for the core components; all the minor parts will be outsourced to Jia Dongxu's factory, and he can produce them according to the new precision standards."

When the news reached Jia Dongxu, he was inspecting the newly produced gears in the workshop. In the past six months, his factory, by supplying parts to the Hongxing factory, had not only paid off its debts but also hired five new workers. Jia Zhangshi no longer needed to resort to tantrums to make ends meet; she now cooked for the workers at home every day, and a smile returned to her face. "Don't worry, Director Lin," Jia Dongxu assured him on the phone, "I've already trained the workers on the new precision standards; I guarantee they're even stricter than the blueprints!"

On the fifth day of sample production, a problem suddenly arose—the gearbox gears of the harvester required a high-strength alloy, and the steel available on the market was not hard enough, wearing out in less than three days. He Yushui was so anxious that blisters appeared on her lips: "I checked the information, and this alloy has to be imported. Not only is it expensive, but we also have to wait three months, which means we won't be able to catch up with the agricultural machinery bureau's promotion meeting."

Lin Dong remained calm. He recalled the batch of chromite he had brought back from the mine in the Chaos Space—chromium was a key element in the manufacture of high-strength alloys. "Yu Shui, come with me." He led He Yu Shui into the Chaos Space, pointing to the pile of ore in the corner, "Use this to refine alloys; the hardness can reach twice the required level."

The purification function of the Chaos Pearl came in handy once again, and in less than two hours, a batch of silvery-white chromium steel was produced. He Yushui tested it with a hardness tester and exclaimed on the spot, "Brother Lin Dong, this hardness is even higher than imported alloys! We no longer have to depend on foreigners!" She modified the gear processing parameters overnight and sent the drawings to Jia Dongxu's factory early the next morning.

Just as the entire factory was working at full speed to produce harvester prototypes, Section Chief Li from the regional industrial bureau arrived with two other people. "Factory Director Lin," Section Chief Li said, handing over an official document, "the government is now encouraging local development of agricultural machinery manufacturing. Your small harvester project meets the 'Local Characteristic Industry Support Policy,' and the bureau has approved a special subsidy of 20,000 yuan for you. You'll also have priority in applying for low-interest bank loans!"

The 20,000 yuan subsidy was equivalent to ten years' wages for a worker at the time, and He Yuzhu was so excited he almost dropped the wrench he was holding. Lin Dong, however, was thinking further ahead: "Section Chief Li, could we apply to establish an 'Agricultural Machinery Technology R&D Center'? This would attract more technical talent and allow us to collaborate with agricultural colleges to develop machinery specifically suited to the local area."

Section Chief Li's eyes lit up: "That's a great idea! The bureau is worried about not having a company to lead the research and development of agricultural machinery. If you apply, I will personally help you connect with the agricultural college." That afternoon, the two parties finalized the application plan for the research and development center, and the Industrial Bureau promised to provide an additional 10,000 yuan in research and development funding.

Good things kept happening. A week later, He Yushui's parents arrived from their hometown with bags and packages. He's father, a retired mechanical engineer, immediately perked up when he saw the equipment and blueprints at the Hongxing Factory: "Yushui, you can further optimize this gear structure. I'll draw up a new blueprint for you, which can increase the transmission efficiency by another 15%." He's mother took the initiative to manage the staff canteen, preparing a variety of nutritious meals for the workers every day, which boosted their morale even more.

On the Mid-Autumn Festival, the harvester prototype finally rolled off the production line. Its silver-gray body was compact and agile, and it started up smoothly without any extraneous noise. Director Zhang of the Agricultural Machinery Bureau specially brought a professor from the Agricultural College to inspect it. The professor circled the harvester three times, measured all the data with instruments, and exclaimed, "This model is more advanced than any small harvester I've ever seen; it's perfectly capable of mass production!"

Director Zhang signed a purchase contract for one hundred units on the spot and promised to help Hongxing Factory connect with agricultural machinery stations in surrounding provinces: "Your models must be exhibited at the National Agricultural Machinery Expo next month, and I will personally recommend you!"

At the celebration banquet, Yan Bugui suddenly arrived with Yan Jiecheng. This time, he didn't mention finding a job. He stood awkwardly at the door, carrying a basket of apples he had grown himself. "Lin Dong, I'm here to thank you. With the twenty yuan you gave me last time, I enrolled Jiecheng in a hardware craft training course. He's now an apprentice in a factory in the city and earns eighteen yuan a month."

Lin Dong quickly invited him in and poured a glass of wine for the father and son. Yan Jiecheng blushed and said, "Brother Lin Dong, I was ignorant before. I will learn the craft properly from now on and never cheat again." Yan Bugui looked at his son with eyes full of satisfaction. After scheming and plotting all his life, he finally understood that hard work was the right path.

Jia Dongxu also arrived with his wife. His wife was carrying a cloth bag, which, when opened, revealed a newly made cotton-padded coat: "Director Lin, this is for you and Yushui. It's getting cold, so don't get cold while you're busy at the factory." Jia Dongxu then handed over a production capacity report: "Our factory has added three new machine tools, and now we can produce two thousand sets of parts per month. No matter how much Hongxing Factory needs in the future, we can supply it."

Halfway through the banquet, Yi Zhonghai had a jar of aged wine delivered—he had heard that the Red Star Factory had developed a harvester, so he specially asked his relatives in the countryside to brew it. A note was attached to the wine jar: "A promising young man, with a bright future ahead"—eight simple words, yet they revealed the elder's sincerity.

Night had fallen, the celebration banquet was over, and Lin Dong stood at the factory gate, looking at the harvester prototype under the moonlight. He Yushui stood beside him, clutching the application receipt from the R&D center. "Brother Lin Dong," He Yushui said softly, "our model will definitely be a hit at the agricultural machinery expo next month."

"It's not just about fire," Lin Dong said, gazing at the distant lights. "We also want to build our own agricultural machinery production line so that farmers all over the country can use our products. In the future, we will also develop tractors and seeders to form a complete agricultural machinery industry chain." His eyes were full of determination—the Chaos Pearl gave him a starting point, but he wanted to rely on his own hands to create a real world in this era.

The next morning, the bank loan was approved—a low-interest loan of 50,000 yuan with a term of three years. Lin Dong immediately used the money to order ten large machine tools and recruited three mechanical engineering graduates from the agricultural college. The research and development center was officially established, with He's father serving as the technical consultant and He Yushui as the research and development director.

Good news also came from Jia Dongxu's factory: his parts passed the national quality certification and he obtained the "Qualified Supplier" certificate. This meant he could not only supply Hongxing Factory but also receive orders from other agricultural machinery factories. Jia Dongxu specially came to thank Lin Dong: "Director Lin, if you hadn't given me a hand back then, I don't know what I'd be doing now."

In mid-October, Lin Dong took samples of small harvesters to the National Agricultural Machinery Expo. At the booth, the Hongxing Factory's models, with their small size, low fuel consumption, and affordable price, immediately attracted the attention of agricultural machinery stations from all over the country. In just three days, orders for 500 units were signed, totaling over 100,000 yuan.

After the expo ended, Lin Dong had just returned to the factory when he received a call from the Beijing Machinery Industry Bureau: "Director Lin, we are preparing to include your small harvesters in the 'National Agricultural Machinery Promotion Catalog.' From now on, your products will not only enjoy tax breaks but also receive national-level sales channel support!"

The news spread like wildfire, causing a sensation throughout the outskirts of Beijing. The small workshop, once looked down upon, had now become a key enterprise supported by the state. Even the neighborhood committee where the courtyard house was located sent a banner that read "A Benchmark for Youth Entrepreneurship." Liu Haizhong stood in the crowd, looking at the words on the banner, his heart filled with mixed emotions—all his scheming and calculations had ultimately left Lin Dong far behind.

At the end of the year, Hongxing United Hardware Factory was officially renamed "Hongxing Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing Factory". The factory area expanded to 500 square meters, and the number of workers increased from the initial two to fifty. The technical school next to the staff dormitory also opened, recruiting twenty rural youths in the first batch. He Yushui and his father taught the classes themselves to cultivate their own technical talents.

On New Year's Eve, Lin Dong, He Yushui, He Yuzhu's family, and Jia Dongxu and his wife had a reunion dinner in the factory canteen. Firecrackers went off outside the window, and He's mother served steaming dumplings: "We're celebrating the New Year at the factory this year. Next year, we'll build staff housing so that everyone can settle down in the suburbs of Beijing."

Lin Dong raised his glass and addressed the crowd, saying, "Thank you all for your support this year. In the new year, let's increase the production capacity of harvesters, develop new types of tractors, and make the name of Hongxing Agricultural Machinery known throughout China!"

The clinking of glasses was crisp and clear, reflecting the smiles on everyone's faces. Lin Dong stood by the window, watching the dazzling fireworks in the night sky, his heart filled with hope. He knew this was just the beginning. In this era full of opportunities, with the help of the Chaos Pearl and the support of those around him, his future was destined to be even more dazzling than the fireworks.