Courtyard House: Primordial Chaos Pearl

Three days later, He Yuzhu rushed into the courtyard excitedly, clutching a crumpled lease agreement in his hand: "Lin Dong, it's done! We've rented a factory in Hongxing Village on the outskirts of the city. It's 200 square meters, only 15 yuan a month, and it even comes with a small warehouse!" He slammed the agreement on the table, which was stamped with the red seal of the village committee. "The village official is my distant cousin, and he specially reserved a discount for me. The water and electricity have all been connected."

Lin Dong took the agreement and examined it closely. The location was next to a highway on the outskirts of Beijing, close to the agricultural machinery station and the radio factory. It was indeed a good place. "Great, Brother Zhu," he said, taking out five hundred yuan from his drawer. "Take two people to buy some wood and tools tomorrow. First, divide the factory into a production area and a rest area. I'll finish up the remaining fuel injectors here, and we'll move in at the end of the month."

Yan Jiecheng, who was perched on the wall, overheard their conversation. He turned and ran back into the house: "Dad, Lin Dong is moving to the suburbs to open a factory, and he even gave me five hundred yuan to buy things!" Yan Bugui was sighing over his abacus when he heard this. He suddenly stood up, pushed up his glasses, and ran to his second uncle's house—he and Liu Haizhong hadn't gotten any benefits from Lin Dong yet, so how could they let this "fat piece of meat" slip away?

"Old Liu, Lin Dong is moving to open a factory. If we don't hurry, we won't even be able to get a decent meal later!" Yan Bugui slapped Liu Haizhong on the table, laying out his calculations. "We couldn't do anything about it when he was producing in the yard, but now that he's moving, he needs to transport equipment and hire workers. We have connections in the neighborhood and the village, so he'll have to ask us for favors!"

Liu Haizhong's eyes lit up, and he immediately made a decision: "I'll go find Director Zhang of the subdistrict office and say that Lin Dong's workshop is considered an 'expansion' and needs to complete the registration procedures; you go to Hongxing Village and find your nephew who is a village cadre, and 'block' the water and electricity for the factory. We'll force him to come to us on his own initiative, and then whether he wants shares or dividends will be up to us!" The two hit it off immediately and split up to act that very day.

They hadn't expected that Lin Dong had already given prior notice through He Yuzhu's cousin. As soon as Liu Haizhong arrived at the subdistrict office, Director Zhang shut him down: "Comrade Lin's handicraft registration has long been upgraded to 'family workshop expansion registration,' all the paperwork is complete, don't cause trouble." Yan Bugui went to Hongxing Village to find his nephew, but was also thoroughly rebuffed: "He's a 'technical talent' introduced by the village collective, the secretary personally received him, don't cause me any trouble."

The two old men, their scheme foiled and seething with anger, turned to find Jia Zhangshi. "Old Jia, Lin Dong is moving away. Haven't you settled your accounts with Dongxu yet?" Liu Haizhong deliberately stirred things up. "He owes you at least two hundred yuan in medical bills and lost wages. If you don't take it now, you'll never get it back once he opens his factory!"

Jia Zhangshi, who already felt sorry for her son working for free every day, was immediately enraged by this instigation. That night, she sat at Lin Dong's door, clutching a stick and wailing, "That heartless Lin Dong! He beat my son so badly his legs are almost broken, forced him to work like a slave, and now he's running away without even paying for his medical expenses! What's the point of my old body living like this?!"

Qin Huairu was also wiping away tears, sobbing to the neighbors who were watching, "Dongxu can't even straighten his back now. If Lin Dong leaves, how will our family survive..." Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong stood in the crowd, fanning the flames: "That's right, people have to have a conscience. They can't forget their roots just because they've made money!" "They have to give at least three hundred yuan in compensation, or they can forget about moving!"

Lin Dong opened the door, looked at the large crowd in the courtyard, and sneered, "Aunt Jia, did your son hurt his leg himself, or did I hit him? I still have the hospital's diagnosis here. He stole ten sets of my transistors, worth five hundred yuan, and worked for me to pay off the debt. There are still three days left until the due date. How did it become that I forced him?" He took out the diagnosis and the "debt settlement agreement" signed by Jia Dongxu and handed them to the surrounding neighbors to read.

When the neighbors saw Jia Dongxu's fingerprint on the agreement, they immediately started talking amongst themselves: "So it was stolen goods to pay off the debt, no wonder Lin Dong did it." "The Jia family steals chickens and dogs every day, they should have been disciplined long ago." Jia Zhangshi's crying stopped abruptly, and Qin Huairu's face turned pale.

Liu Haizhong tried to argue, "Even if it's to settle a debt, he put his production site in the yard, disturbing the neighbors. He should be compensated!" "Second Uncle is wrong," Yi Zhonghai said, walking out of the house with a "Disturbing the Peace Investigation Receipt" from the neighborhood office. "I already asked the neighbors. Lin Dong uses only hand tools for production and has never disturbed anyone. But you, you made a false report against the industry and commerce bureau last time, almost delaying the state-owned factory's order. Director Zhang told me to reflect on my actions."

Liu Haizhong's face turned pale and then red, and he could no longer speak. Yan Bugui tried to slip away, but Lin Dong stopped him: "Third Uncle, shouldn't you return the salt and soy sauce you borrowed from me last time, and the hammer that Jie Cheng 'borrowed'? I've kept track of everything." He took out a small notebook, on which everything was clearly written. Yan Bugui coughed awkwardly twice, turned around, and ran back into the house.

Seeing that no one was there to help her, Jia Zhangshi tried to throw a tantrum again, but Lin Dong coldly interrupted her: "If you keep making a scene, I'll expose your son's theft of parts and sabotage of production to his factory, and see if he can keep his secure job." Jia Dongxu was so frightened that he quickly grabbed his mother: "Mom, stop it, I was wrong!"

Lin Dong looked at the Jia family mother and son, his tone softening slightly: "I know your family is struggling, but poverty is no excuse for stealing. After you finish these three days of work, I'll give you twenty yuan as a temporary help. From now on, work hard and don't get any more crooked ideas." Jia Dongxu was stunned, not expecting Lin Dong to pay him. He quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Brother Lin Dong. I'll never do it again."

Having resolved the Jia family's troubles, Lin Dong accelerated preparations for moving the factory. He used the Chaos Pearl to finish producing the remaining fuel injectors and also manufactured a batch of core radio parts, filling three large boxes. He Yuzhu also tidied up the factory and hired two reliable young men from the countryside as workers, both recommended by his cousin, whom he knew well.

On the day of the factory move, Boss Li specially sent a truck to help. As the workers loaded the assembly tables and parts boxes onto the truck, everyone in the yard stood at the gate watching with complicated expressions. Yi Zhonghai handed over a cloth bag: "Lin Dong, this is fifty yuan I've saved. You'll need it when you start your factory. Remember, no matter how big your business gets, you must always be an honest person."

Lin Dong took the cloth bag, feeling somewhat moved: "Thank you, sir. I'll remember that. If you ever have any difficulties in the future, feel free to contact me." Yi Zhonghai nodded, turned around, and went back into the house—he knew that once Lin Dong left, he would no longer be a young man in the courtyard, but a boss who could stand on his own.

Jia Zhangshi stood at the door, clutching the twenty yuan Lin Dong had given her, too embarrassed to approach. Qin Huairu, holding her child, watched the truck disappear into the distance, her eyes filled with complex emotions—jealousy, resentment, but mostly a sense of relief. Third Uncle Yan Bugui hid inside, frantically clicking the abacus, seemingly calculating something. Second Uncle Liu Haizhong stood at the courtyard gate, hands behind his back, his face grim. He knew that without Lin Dong as his "target," his authority in the courtyard had diminished further.

As the truck drove away from the courtyard house, He Yuzhu excitedly shouted, "Finally, we're leaving that wretched place! We'll never have to put up with those people's attitudes again!" Lin Dong smiled and nodded, glancing back at the receding courtyard house. He felt no lingering attachment, only relief. This place, filled with scheming and strife, bore the original owner's humiliation and also witnessed his rise.

Upon arriving at the new factory, Lin Dong and He Yuzhu led the workers to set up the equipment. The factory was spacious and bright, with clear divisions between the production area, rest area, and warehouse, making it much more comfortable than the courtyard house. Lin Dong installed the small machine tool he had taken from the chaotic space—it was crafted by him using refined iron and chaotic power, making it more precise and easier to operate than machine tools on the market.

That afternoon, Station Chief Wang from the agricultural machinery station arrived with an order: "Boss Lin, your fuel injectors are fantastic! Our station has ordered another hundred, and several surrounding communes also want to order, for a total of three hundred. Can you make them before the autumn harvest?"

"No problem," Lin Dong assured, patting his chest. "My new factory has the equipment and workers, and I can deliver in twenty days." Station Master Wang said happily, "Great! I've already brought the payment; I'll pay half as a deposit first." He took out a thousand yuan. "From now on, we'll cooperate long-term. If your workshop can be upgraded to a factory, our agricultural machinery station will be your long-term customer."

After seeing Station Master Wang off, Boss Li called and said that the radio factory wanted to expand production and wanted to sign a long-term OEM agreement with Lin Dong to produce 200 radios per month. He also promised to help him apply for "collective enterprise affiliation" so that the workshop could be fully formalized.

That evening, Lin Dong and He Yuzhu celebrated at a small restaurant next to the factory. After a few drinks, He Yuzhu, his eyes red-rimmed, said, "Lin Dong, I always thought I'd be stuck working in the canteen my whole life. I never imagined that following you, I could open my own factory. From now on, wherever you point, I'll go, no questions asked!"

"Brother Zhu, we're brothers," Lin Dong raised his glass. "This is just the beginning. Once we've stabilized our business in agricultural machinery parts and radios, we'll hire more workers, expand production, and eventually not only make parts but also complete machines, and create our own brand!"

Back at the factory, Lin Dong entered the Chaos Space. The vegetables in the space were growing vigorously. He used the money he had earned to build a larger production workshop in the space and also dug a cellar to store the refined metal raw materials. He took out the rare ores he had brought back from the mine and used the Chaos Pearl to purify them—these were all the "capital" for future development.

While cultivating the "Chaotic Body Refining Technique," Lin Dong discovered that the chaotic power within his body showed signs of another breakthrough. Following the incantation of the technique, he circulated the chaotic power within his body forty-nine times, attempting to break through to the fourth level. This breakthrough was even smoother than before; the chaotic power surged through his meridians like a tidal wave, and his bones and muscles received unprecedented strengthening.

The next morning, Lin Dong opened his eyes, feeling an explosive surge of power coursing through his body. He slammed his fist into the steel base of the machine tool, leaving a clear fist imprint. He had mastered the fourth level of the Chaos Body Refining Technique! Now, he could easily subdue even thugs wielding weapons.

In the days that followed, Lin Dong and He Yuzhu led their workers in a full-fledged production effort. Lin Dong was responsible for the manufacturing of core components and providing technical guidance, while He Yuzhu managed the workers and handled order coordination; the two worked together seamlessly. With the precision equipment crafted from the Chaos Pearl and Lin Dong's technical guidance, the workers quickly got up to speed, and production efficiency increased steadily.

Twenty days later, three hundred fuel injectors were delivered on time. Station Master Wang brought his technicians to inspect them, and after testing, he praised them highly: "Boss Lin, the quality of your fuel injectors is getting better and better, even more durable than the products from state-owned factories!" He signed a long-term cooperation agreement on the spot and recommended Lin Dong's workshop to the regional agricultural machinery bureau.

Radio production was also progressing smoothly. After the first batch of two hundred radios was delivered, Boss Li specially brought the factory manager to visit. Upon seeing Lin Dong's production equipment and technology, the factory manager exclaimed in surprise, "Boss Lin, your technology and equipment are fully capable of upgrading to a regular factory. Our factory can form a joint venture with you to jointly develop new products."

Lin Dong was intrigued. The joint venture would not only provide financial support but also allow him to leverage the radio factory's distribution channels and qualifications to bring his products to market more quickly. He and the factory manager reached a preliminary agreement and scheduled to discuss the details in a few days.

That day, Lin Dong was instructing the workers on production in the factory when he suddenly heard someone calling him from the doorway. He went out to see who it was, and it turned out to be He Yushui, the younger sister of Shazhu, his neighbor in the courtyard. She had been admitted to a university in Beijing and was visiting her family for the holidays.

"Brother Lin Dong, my brother said you opened a factory, so he came to see you." He Yushui said with a smile, "I studied mechanical engineering in school, so maybe I can help you in the future."

Lin Dong said happily, "That's great! We're in dire need of skilled workers like you. If you're interested, you can come to the factory for an internship during your holidays, and I'll pay you a salary."

He Yushui readily agreed: "No problem! I just want to put the theoretical knowledge I've learned into practice."

With He Yushui joining the company, Lin Dong's workshop was greatly enhanced. He Yushui used her professional knowledge to optimize the production process and designed several new parts drawings, which raised the quality and efficiency of the products to a new level.

A month later, Lin Dong's workshop was officially affiliated with the radio factory and upgraded to "Hongxing Hardware Processing Factory". Lin Dong served as the factory manager, He Yuzhu as the deputy factory manager, and He Yushui was in charge of technology research and development. On the opening day, Director Zhang from the street office, Station Chief Wang from the agricultural machinery station, and the factory manager from the radio factory all came to cut the ribbon, making it a very lively scene.

Standing beneath the brand-new factory sign, Lin Dong watched the workers coming and going and the endless stream of customers, feeling a surge of accomplishment. He knew this was just the beginning of a new chapter in his career. With the Chaos Pearl as his magic weapon, reliable partners like He Yuzhu and He Yushui, and a stable customer base and orders, his future was destined to be bright.

Occasionally, he would think of the people in the Hongxing Courtyard. He heard that Jia Dongxu had been recognized as an advanced individual by the factory for his hard work; Yan Bugui was still calculating the cost of daily necessities; and Liu Haizhong had been dismissed from his position as group leader because of his mediocre performance at the street office.

Lin Dong never went back. That scheming little circle was no longer worthy of his vision. His gaze had long since turned to a wider world. He knew that as long as he stayed true to himself, worked diligently, and relied on his own abilities and the help of the Chaos Pearl, he would surely create his own glory in this special era.