Courtyard House: A Major Power's Heavy Industry, Hand-Crafted Nuclear Fusion

The backyard of Hongxing Courtyard.

On a sunny weekend afternoon, Xu Damao's mood was as gloomy as if it were about to rain.

Since Su Zheng was promoted to level eight and moved into a separate laboratory, the atmosphere in this courtyard has completely changed.

In the past, people would talk about "what kind of lunchbox did Sha Zhu bring this time" or "Xu Damao went to the countryside to show movies again" during their leisure time. Now, all they talk about is "Engineer Su".

Especially yesterday, I heard that the commotion coming from Su Zheng's laboratory even alarmed Director Yang.

"What is this thing... It's just a grinder, what's with the attitude!"

Xu Damao, holding a cornbread bun in his hand, squatted at his doorstep and took a hateful bite.

He was jealous.

Insane jealousy.

Xu Damao, the only projectionist in the factory, used to be quite a figure.

But compared to Su Zhengyi now, he's a complete joke.

Su Zheng ate meat, while he ate cornbread; Su Zheng was fawned over by the factory director, while he had to bow and scrape when he saw Deputy Factory Director Li.

Now we can't even go into a lab for an interview!

Thinking about what happened yesterday, Xu Damao was furious:

Damn it, what's so great about it!

Xu Damao was angry whenever he thought about what happened yesterday.

"Scrap metal collectors here! Bring in any scrap metal, old newspapers, or junk to sell!"

A long, drawn-out shout came from the alley.

An old man wearing a tattered straw hat and pushing a cart walked into the yard.

The old man wore a patched gray cloth dress, and his eyes seemed cloudy, but in the instant he lowered his head, they gleamed with a sharp light as he swept across the entire courtyard.

If Su Zheng were here now and were to open his "Eye of Truth," he would surely discover that this so-called "old man who collects scrap" has skeletal muscles that are far more muscular than those of an ordinary person, and that there are calluses on the base of his thumb from years of holding a gun.

He was "Old Liu's" subordinate, codenamed "Groundhog".

After Lao Liu stole the "top secret blueprints," the organization conducted an analysis overnight.

Although the parameters seemed perfect, just to be on the safe side, the higher-ups instructed that they should further probe the true nature of Su Zheng's laboratory, especially to find out if Su Zheng was building something else.

Xu Damao, a guy whose face screamed "I'm a villain," became their chosen point of attack.

"Go away! There's no junk in this yard!"

Xu Damao was annoyed and waved him away.

"Comrade, don't get so angry."

"Groundhog" stopped the car, grinned, and came closer, lowering his voice:

"Judging from your appearance, you have the makings of an official. What's wrong, are you having some troubles?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao felt slightly relieved, but he was still annoyed:

"He's no fit to be an official; he's always getting bullied in the factory."

"Hey, who dares to bully you?"

While pretending to tidy up the scraps of paper on the cart, the old man said, seemingly casually:

"I was collecting things over at the factory just now, and I overheard some workers saying that laboratory number 001 is always closed, and there's always clanging and banging inside. Someone saw them carrying out scrap material, which is top-quality steel."

Xu Damao's ears perked up: "Top-quality steel?"

"you do not say!"

The old man leaned close to Xu Damao's ear mysteriously, "I've been collecting junk for half my life, so I have a good eye. The quality of that scrap, tsk tsk, it's definitely not leftovers from government work. It looks more like... it's from doing private work!"

"A side job?!"

Xu Damao's eyes lit up instantly, like a hungry wolf that had smelled blood.

In this day and age, using public equipment and materials for private work is a serious offense of "undermining socialism," and is considered speculation and profiteering! At best, one will be dismissed from public office; at worst, one will go to jail!

Are you sure?

Xu Damao grabbed the old man's arm.

"How could I dare to say such a thing?"

The old man shrank back, looking timid and cowardly. "I just listened to what they said. But think about it, if it's official business, why would they keep the doors closed, not even a crack in the window? Isn't it because they're afraid someone will see them?"

"That makes sense! Absolutely makes sense!"

Xu Damao slapped his thigh suddenly, the gloom on his face vanishing, replaced by a twisted excitement.

Su Zheng, you always act all high and mighty, but you're just trying to fleece people!

If you were to be convicted of this crime, not even a god could save you, let alone an eighth-grade worker!

"Old man, this information is invaluable!"

Xu Damao took two cents out of his pocket and stuffed it into the old man's hand. "Take this and buy some wine! I have urgent business to attend to, I'm leaving now!"

After saying that, Xu Damao threw down the cornbread in his hand, pushed his bicycle, and rushed out.

Watching Xu Damao's hurried departure, a sinister smile appeared on "Groundhog's" wrinkled face.

……

Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, Deputy Director's Office.

Deputy Factory Director Li was leaning back in his chair, resting with his eyes closed.

Recently, Director Yang has been making headlines in the ministry because of Su Zheng's matter, which has put a lot of pressure on him, the deputy director in charge of logistics and personnel.

He had been working in the factory for many years and thought he could easily outmaneuver Director Yang, but then Su Zheng suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Knock knock knock!"

A rapid knocking interrupted his thoughts.

"Enter!"

Deputy Factory Director Li frowned unhappily.

Xu Damao, covered in sweat, crawled in and slammed the door shut behind him.

"Director Li! Big news! Incredibly good news!"

Xu Damao approached the desk with a fawning expression and lowered his voice, saying:

"I have solid evidence that Su Zheng is doing his own work in the lab! He's undermining the country!"

"What?"

Deputy Factory Director Li suddenly opened his eyes and sat up straight. "Xu Damao, you can't say things like that carelessly. Su Zheng is a rising star in the ministry right now."

"It's precisely because he's famous that no one dares to investigate him!"

Xu Damao said urgently, "Think about it, no one is allowed into his lab except him and his apprentices. Even the security guards are standing guard outside. What he does in there, who knows? I just received news that someone saw him using government-supplied special steel to make personal things! It seems he was even planning to resell them!"

Deputy Factory Director Li squinted, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.

He didn't actually have much personal grudge against Su Zheng, but he needed an opportunity to undermine Director Yang's prestige.

If Su Zheng is indeed doing private work, then it is Director Yang's "unclear personnel selection" and "ineffective supervision".

This is a weakness.

A handle that could allow him to turn the tables.

"Is the news reliable?" Deputy Factory Director Li asked.

"Absolutely reliable! I guarantee it with my life!"

Xu Damao patted his chest confidently, "As long as we go there now and conduct a surprise inspection, we'll catch them red-handed! Then we'll see how that guy surnamed Yang tries to protect him!"

Deputy Factory Director Li pondered for a moment, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

Fortune favors the bold.

"good!"

Deputy Factory Director Li abruptly stood up. "Xu Damao, if you perform well this time, I'll keep your position as deputy head of the propaganda department!"

Xu Damao was overjoyed: "Thank you for your guidance, Factory Director! I'll lead the way right away!"

Deputy Factory Director Li didn't directly call the security department, after all, Section Chief Wang and Su Zheng were in cahoots.

He directly summoned more than a dozen members of the factory's disciplinary team, all of whom were his trusted confidants.

The group marched in a large and imposing manner toward Laboratory 001 in a corner of the factory area.

……

At this moment, inside Laboratory 001.

Su Zhengzheng was intently adjusting the newly assembled miniature device.

Zhao Ming nervously handed over the tools, asking, "Master, will this... will this thing really work?"

Su Zheng didn't speak, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

In his "eye of truth," every part of the machine fits together perfectly, its precision reaching the limits of the time.

Just then, a series of noisy footsteps and arguing sounds came from outside the door.

"Halt! This is a military restricted area! No entry without a pass!" That was the voice of the soldier on guard duty.

"Get out of the way! I am Deputy Factory Director Li! I received a report that someone is stealing state property here! I need to go in and search!" Deputy Factory Director Li's voice was full of official authority.

"Director Li, this was specially approved by Director Yang..."

"Even Factory Director Yang isn't above the law! Charge in! I'll take responsibility if anything happens!"

At a command, the disciplinary team pushed aside the soldiers who tried to stop them and began to ram the door.

In the lab, Zhao Ming's face was deathly pale: "Master, Deputy Factory Director Li has arrived with his men! What do we do? What are we doing here..."

He glanced at the pile of "side jobs" on the table that hadn't been put away yet, and stamped his feet in frustration.

Su Zheng remained calm. He slowly wiped the grease off his hands, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes that he had already anticipated.

"What's the panic?"

Su Zheng said calmly, "Since the guests have arrived, let's open the door and welcome them."

"boom!"

The heavy, soundproof door was kicked open from the outside.

Deputy Factory Director Li took the lead, followed closely by Xu Damao, and more than a dozen inspection team members rushed in like wolves and tigers.

"Don't move! Hands up!"

Relying on his superior numbers, Xu Damao pointed at Su Zheng and shouted, "Su Zheng! You abused your power to embezzle state-owned steel and engage in illicit activities! Caught red-handed, what else do you have to say?!"

Deputy Factory Director Li's gaze swept across the laboratory like a searchlight, finally settling on a pile of oddly shaped, not yet fully assembled metal parts on the workbench.

That is "evidence".

Deputy Factory Director Li sneered, walked in with his hands behind his back, and looked at Su Zheng, who was still sitting motionless in his chair:

"Engineer Su, is this what you call 'secret scientific research'? Explain yourself, what are these things?"

All eyes were on Su Zheng.

Xu Damao wore a smug smile, as if he could already see Su Zheng being handcuffed and taken away.

However, Su Zheng simply dusted off his hands, slowly stood up, and his gaze was frighteningly calm.

He didn't even glance at Xu Damao, but stared directly at Deputy Factory Director Li, his voice cold:

"Deputy Factory Director Li, are you sure you want to see this?"

"Stop talking nonsense! I think you won't learn your lesson until you see the coffin!" Xu Damao shouted, rushing forward to grab the parts on the table. "These must be furniture parts you made, or parts you made for that black market dealer..."

Just as Xu Damao's fingers were about to touch that core component.

Su Zheng suddenly pressed a red button on the table.

"Buzz—hum—"

A faint but extremely high-frequency electrical sound suddenly rang out.

The originally scattered parts on the table instantly began to automatically mesh, flip, and assemble under the drive of some kind of precise hydraulic and electromagnetic structure.

Just three seconds.

A pile of "scrap metal" was transformed in full view of everyone into a precision instrument the size of a shoebox, yet gleaming with a cold, sharp light.

Everyone was stunned.

This is not furniture.

It's not a bicycle part either.

That's a... miniature precision grinding machine!

At the exit of the grinder, a silver needle thinner than a human hair was being slowly pushed out, its tip gleaming with a chilling light under the lamp.

Su Zheng pointed at the needle, looking at the stunned Deputy Factory Director Li and Xu Damao, and slowly spoke:

"Deputy Factory Director Li, is this the side job you were talking about?"

"This is something I just developed—a micron-level vascular suture needle processing center."

"Currently, only the Hans and the United States possess this technology. Domestically, this is the first one."

A deathly silence.

Xu Damao's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, like a comical clown.

A fine layer of cold sweat instantly appeared on Deputy Factory Director Li's forehead.

Just then, a furious roar came from outside the door:

"Li Huaide! What are you doing! Who gave you the audacity to trespass on this important research area?!"

Outside the gate, Director Yang stood there with an elderly man in a Zhongshan suit, exuding an air of authority, his face full of anger.

The old man looked at the scene inside the room, then at the still-operating miniature instrument. His eyes shifted from shock to ecstasy, and finally to thunderous rage as he stared intently at Deputy Factory Director Li.

"Is this how you treat heroes who have contributed to the nation?!"