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

Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Beijing.

This is the "face" of China's diplomacy, and also the place where the highest-ranking foreign guests and national heroes are received.

Tonight, Building No. 5 is brightly lit.

Inside the banquet hall, several veteran marshals in military uniforms, each bearing a gold star on their shoulder, sat around a round table. Among them sat Su Zheng, who appeared slightly reserved, but whose eyes remained clear and resolute.

"Good lad!"

A hot-tempered old marshal suddenly slapped Su Zheng on the shoulder, "I've seen the gun you made, and I've seen the steel you forged! Especially that 'Xuanwu'—if our tank crews had had that a few years earlier, how many fewer people would have died on the Korean battlefield!"

A tear glistened in the old marshal's eyes as he raised his glass: "This glass is for those fallen soldiers, a toast to you!"

Su Zheng quickly stood up, raising his glass with both hands: "Commander, I dare not accept this drink. I only did what I should do."

"What do you mean, 'dare not dare'!"

The senior leader smiled and tried to smooth things over, saying, "Comrade Su Zheng, please don't be modest. Besides welcoming you here today, there's another important matter."

The top leader waved his hand.

A confidential secretary came up carrying a tray covered with a red cloth.

The red cloth was lifted.

Inside was a brand-new, crisp Type 62 officer's uniform.

But what's most eye-catching are the epaulets on the military uniform.

Although it lacks a gold star, the unique collar insignia and qualification badges signify the treatment of a senior division-level technical officer.

"Approved by the Central Military Commission."

The senior leader's expression turned serious. "Comrade Su Zheng is hereby appointed as a specially appointed senior technical advisor to the General Logistics Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, enjoying the待遇 of a division commander. At the same time, he will serve as the director of the newly established 'National Defense Science and Technology Commission 001 Research Institute,' with full authority over the 'Spark' program."

"This is your letter of appointment and your upgraded gun license."

Su Zheng looked at the military uniform and took a deep breath.

In this day and age, what does it mean to have the treatment of a full division commander at the age of 22?

This is not just an honor, but also a heavy responsibility. It means that he has the power to mobilize national-level resources, and it also means that he has truly stood at the center of the chessboard called "Great Power Heavy Industry".

"Su Zheng, I obey."

Su Zheng didn't waste any words, but his standard military salute said it all.

Sitting next to her, Ye Xinyi looked at Su Zheng, who was full of vigor at the moment, and her eyes became slightly moist.

She knew that from this moment on, this man was no longer the bullied, eighth-grade fitter. He was a hidden dragon, finally breaking through the abyss and soaring into the heavens.

……

At the same time.

No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, a courtyard house.

The moonlight was hazy tonight, and a cold wind swirled withered leaves in the courtyard. But the central courtyard was bustling with activity, as a general meeting of the entire courtyard was being held.

Although Sha Zhu was arrested and Xu Damao was sent to clean toilets, the "political ecology" of the courtyard is like weeds, which cannot be burned out by wildfire and will grow again with the spring breeze.

At this moment, sitting in the main seat at the eight-immortal table was Liu Haizhong, who had been "revived".

Ever since Yi Zhonghai lost all his prestige and Sha Zhu went to jail, Liu Haizhong felt like he was the chosen one. Although he was also marginalized in the factory, he felt that in the compound, he, as the "second uncle," still had to take charge.

"Cough cough."

Liu Haizhong picked up the teacup and cleared his throat in a pretentious manner.

"I called everyone here today mainly because there's something I need to discuss."

His gaze swept across the entire area, finally settling on Su Zheng's dark room in the backyard.

"As you all have seen, that kid Su Zheng has been in the Northwest for almost two months now. We haven't heard a word from him."

"I heard from the factory's inside sources that the environment there is terrible, and there are often spies causing sabotage. I'm afraid Su Zheng's trip there might be..."

Liu Haizhong paused deliberately, his face showing a pained expression (but actually gloating), "I'm afraid it's more bad than good."

"Huh? Really?"

The neighbors downstairs were in an uproar.

"I've heard that too. It's very tough there; they eat sand and drink saltwater."

"Sigh, what a pity, so young."

"What a pity? I think he was too arrogant, even God couldn't stand it!" Madam Jia cursed viciously in the crowd.

Liu Haizhong gestured for everyone to be quiet.

"Since it's highly likely that the person won't be coming back, we need to talk about the house."

Liu Haizhong's true intentions were revealed: "Our compound already has a housing shortage. The Jia family, a widow and her child, five people crammed into one room. And Teacher Yan's family, their child is about to get married and they have nowhere to live. Su Zheng's two large brick houses, plus the newly renovated side room, are just sitting empty anyway. Isn't this a waste of national resources?"

"Second Uncle is right!"

Yan Bugui was the first to jump in in response. He had long coveted Su Zheng's side room; if he could get it for his eldest son's wedding room, he could save a fortune!

"I think we should report this to the neighborhood committee and have the house temporarily 'managed'," Yan Bugui said, adjusting his glasses as he calculated with his abacus. "We can each contribute some money as rent, and then return it to Su Zheng when he comes back (even though he can't).

"I agree!" Jia Zhangshi shrieked. "My son is all grown up and we really need a house! That main room must belong to us!"

Yi Zhonghai sat in the corner, puffing on his cigarette without saying a word.

Although he also felt that Su Zheng wouldn't be coming back, he was smarter than Liu Haizhong. He knew that the house was a "key protected property," and Director Wang wouldn't be easily fooled.

"Old Liu, shouldn't we ask the factory about this first?" Yi Zhonghai tentatively suggested.

"Why are you asking about the factory?"

Liu Haizhong glared at him. "The factory director has been replaced (not really), who still remembers Su Zheng? Besides, we're doing this to solve the people's problems, it's a good deed! As long as the whole institute signs and fingerprints it, how can the street office be unreasonable?"

Liu Haizhong's hair is now completely out of style.

He took out a pre-written petition and slammed it on the table.

"Come on, everyone, sign! Those who sign will have priority in housing allocation later!"

The birds stared at the piece of paper, their greed overriding their reason.

This is human nature.

When the tigers are around, they are docile sheep. When the tigers are gone, they become hyenas fighting over carrion.

"I'll sign!" Jia Zhangshi was the first to rush forward and press her fingerprint.

"I'll sign too!" Yan Bugui followed closely behind.

Just as everyone was scrambling to divide up Su Zheng's "inheritance".

Sudden.

A blinding beam of light shone in from the alley entrance.

The light was so bright, like a sharp sword, that it instantly pierced the darkness of the courtyard, making everyone unable to open their eyes.

"What are you doing?!"

Liu Haizhong's eyes watered from the bright light, and he roared angrily, "Who's blind enough to shine a flashlight on your uncle?!"

No one answered.

His response was a deep, majestic roar of an engine.

It's not one car.

It's a car team.

Immediately following was a series of synchronized footsteps.

"Click, click, click!"

That was the sound of leather boots stepping on bluestone slabs, carrying a suffocating sense of oppression.

Everyone in the hospital was terrified. They instinctively stepped aside, making way for each other.

Two rows of heavily armed soldiers rushed in through the front gate. They were wearing brand-new uniforms, and the Type 56 assault rifles in their hands gleamed coldly under the lights.

The soldiers quickly dispersed and took control of all the exits from the courtyard.

"What... what's going on?"

Liu Haizhong was so frightened that his legs went weak, and the teacup in his hand fell to the ground with a "clang".

Jia Zhangshi shrank under the table, trembling all over: "My God, are they here to arrest spies? This has nothing to do with me!"

Under the terrified gaze of the birds.

Two guards dressed in Zhongshan suits walked in and stood on either side of the gate.

Then.

A young man, dressed in a crisp officer's uniform (Type 62), with distinctive collar insignia but no gold stars on his shoulders, walked in with steady steps.

He was tall and handsome.

Although his face showed signs of fatigue from the long journey, his eyes were surprisingly bright.

Beside him was a stunningly beautiful woman in a beige coat, with a cool and noble demeanor like a queen.

"Su...Su Zheng?!"

Yan Bugui rubbed his eyes and let out a scream like a rooster being choked.

"What? Su Zheng?!"

Jia Zhangshi, who was under the table, peeked out, then rolled her eyes in fright and almost fainted.

Is that still Su Zheng?

This aura, this pomp, this outfit… this is no ordinary fitter they know! This is clearly a high-ranking official from a magazine!

Su Zheng walked into the Intermediate People's Court and stopped.

His gaze swept over the eight-immortal table, over the "room allocation petition" covered with handprints, and finally landed on Liu Haizhong, who was standing by the table trembling.

Su Zheng smiled.

His laughter was cold.

"Second Uncle".

Su Zheng's voice wasn't loud, but in the deathly silent courtyard, it was like a thunderclap.

"I heard you're holding a memorial service for me?"

"I heard you're going to divide my house among your properties?"

"thump!"

Liu Haizhong could no longer hold on, his knees buckled, and he knelt directly on the ground.

"Misunderstanding... Commander Su... This is all a misunderstanding!"

Liu Haizhong kowtowed incoherently, "We...we're helping you look at the house! Yes! We were worried the house would fall into disrepair if it was left empty, so we wanted to help you maintain it..."

"maintain?"

Su Zheng stepped forward, picked up the petition, and glanced at it.

"The Jia family wants the main house, and the Yan family wants the side house... Ha, they've divided it quite evenly."

"Rip—"

Su Zheng casually tore the paper to shreds, the fragments falling like snowflakes onto Liu Haizhong's face.

"Liu Haizhong".

Su Zheng looked down at him condescendingly. "Do you think that once I leave, this courtyard house will be yours?"

"No! No!" Liu Haizhong was so scared he peed himself. A foul stench filled the air.

Su Zheng frowned in disgust and took a half step back.

At this moment, Ye Xinyi stepped forward.

She took a document stamped with the bright red national emblem from her briefcase and showed it to everyone.

"I am Ye Xinyi, Comrade Su Zheng's confidential secretary."

Her voice was cold and clear, exuding an unquestionable authority.

"Now we will read out the appointment documents from the Central Military Commission and the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense."

"Comrade Su Zheng is appointed as the Director of the 001 Research Institute, enjoying the待遇 of a full colonel. His residence and family members will be under the highest level of security protection."

"Any attempt to seize or damage Comrade Su Zheng's property shall be regarded as the crime of stealing state secrets and the crime of sabotaging national defense construction."

"hiss--"

A collective gasp filled the entire hospital.

A division-level officer?!

What kind of official is that? He's someone who can do whatever he wants in the military! He's several levels higher than Director Yang!

Yan Bugui's hands were trembling; he felt his heart was about to stop. Good heavens, he had actually tried to claim a "division commander's" house? If this were investigated, he might not even be allowed to leave with a complete corpse!

Yi Zhonghai hid at the very back of the crowd, his face ashen.

It’s over.

It's completely over.

He knew that from this moment on, Su Zheng had completely transcended the level of this courtyard house. He was no longer the junior who could be morally blackmailed, but a lofty and unapproachable dragon.

These so-called "big shots" are not even as good as ants in front of Su Zheng.

Su Zheng ignored the fear of the crowd.

He turned around and looked at the stick-like creature hiding in the corner.

The notorious thief who used to steal chickens and dogs was now looking at him with eyes full of hatred and fear.

"Jia Geng".

Su Zheng called out.

Banggeng was startled and instinctively tried to run away, but was blocked by two soldiers.

"Looks like you haven't learned your lesson from the power grid incident yet," Su Zheng said calmly. "I heard you threw quite a few stones into my yard while I was away?"

"No...no!" Bang Geng retorted evasively.

Whether it is or not, you know it in your heart.

Su Zheng didn't want to argue with a child, but he had to nip it in the bud.

"Secretary Ye." Su Zheng turned his head.

"exist."

"Notify the subdistrict office and police station. Given Jia Geng's repeated offenses of stealing and damaging military family facilities, and his incorrigible behavior, it is recommended that he be sent to a juvenile detention center for a three-year period of re-education through labor."

"In addition, Jia Zhangshi instigated minors to commit crimes, and it is recommended that she be sent back to her rural hometown to receive re-education from poor and lower-middle peasants."

"Yes!" Ye Xinyi took out her notebook and took notes carefully.

"No!!!"

Madam Jia let out a piercing scream, crawled out from under the table, and tried to pounce on Su Zheng. "You can't do this! You're forcing us, a widow and her children, to our deaths! Old Jia! Dongxu! Please show your power and take this demon away!"

"Pull her away."

Su Zheng didn't even glance at her.

Two soldiers stepped forward and dragged Jia Zhangshi out like a dead dog.

Qin Huairu stood to the side, tears streaming down her face. She looked at Su Zheng, her eyes filled with regret and pleading.

"Su Zheng...for the sake of being neighbors..."

"Neighbor?"

Su Zheng coldly interrupted her, "Qin Huairu, when your mother-in-law wanted to divide my house, why didn't you remember that we were neighbors? When your son stole my things, why didn't you remember that we were neighbors?"

"You chose this path yourself."

"I gave you chances. You just didn't want them."

After Su Zheng finished speaking, he ignored everyone else.

He took Ye Xinyi's hand and, in full view of everyone, walked through the crowd towards the backyard.

That was his home.

Behind me, there was only deathly silence.

Liu Haizhong remained kneeling on the ground, his trousers soaking wet. Yan Bugui leaned against the wall, his legs trembling. Yi Zhonghai lowered his head, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

They knew that the world in the courtyard had changed.

The orphan they once had at their mercy has now become the king of this city. And they are destined to only look up at his retreating figure in regret and fear.

……

Back in the familiar house.

Su Zheng turned on the light.

Everything in the room remained exactly as it was, even the table was spotless—thanks to his apprentice Zhao Ming's daily cleaning.

"call--"

Su Zheng let out a long breath and relaxed completely.

"What? Are you tired already?"

Ye Xinyi helped him take off his coat and hang it on the hanger, her movements as natural as a young wife's.

I'm mentally exhausted.

Su Zheng sat in his chair, rubbing his temples. "Fighting these people is more tiring than building an atomic bomb. But thankfully, this time it's finally peaceful."

"Making an example of someone to scare others worked well," Ye Xinyi commented. "From now on, they'll probably have to take a detour when they see you."

Su Zheng smiled, took Ye Xinyi's hand, and asked her to sit next to him.

"I like it."

"Um?"

"The courtyard house matter is settled. Now, let's get down to business."

A fire reignited in Su Zheng's eyes. "Tomorrow morning, go to the 001 Research Institute to select a site. I want to build the carbon fiber laboratory within three months."

"So urgent?"

"Time waits for no one."

Su Zheng looked out the window.

A shooting star streaked across the night sky.

"The US's U-2 reconnaissance planes are already flying over our heads. The Russian army's armored forces are also gathering on the border."

"We must hurry."

"I want this 'star of war' to not only hang on my shoulder, but also... in outer space."

Ye Xinyi looked at him and then gripped his hand tightly.

"Okay. I'll go with you."

"I'll go to heaven or hell with you."

Under the lamplight, their shadows overlapped, creating a warm and resolute image on this cold winter night.

……