Courtyard House: I fish in the heavens, a professional bird abuser.

The appointment of the "team leader" was like a bombshell, causing a huge uproar in the steel rolling mill.

The name He Yuanchao has completely transformed from a "skilled young man" and an occasionally known "Master He" to a hot new technical star in the factory. Some experienced senior technicians and workshop directors even privately and seriously call him "Engineer He".

In Bawanglei and Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, this title represents not only a position, but also a seniority, an identity, and an overwhelming technical authority.

He no longer needed to stay in that makeshift, somewhat cramped meeting room, but instead moved directly into the most spacious and bright office in the technical department. This office had once been Chief Engineer Zhang's private space, but after his promotion, it had remained vacant, unused by anyone. Now, it had a new owner. The office was spotless, with a desk a size larger than others, covered in green velvet, and a brand-new, adjustable drafting table specifically for drawing blueprints. Sunlight streamed in through the large glass windows, illuminating the room, and dust motes danced merrily in the beams of light.

Sha Zhu also rose to prominence, becoming a legitimate member of the task force. Although he still did menial tasks like delivering blueprints, fetching meals, and cleaning oil stains from machines, his status was now completely different.

He wore a temporary name tag for the task force on his chest, and no one stopped him from entering and leaving the technical department building. Even the technicians who used to be arrogant would nod politely and call him "Comrade He Yuzhu".

He was no longer the cook who was fired for fighting and whose future was uncertain, but a member of the technical department!

The confidence that came with this change made him stand up straighter in the courtyard, and the swaying gait he used to have was much less pronounced, replaced by an indescribable composure.

The renovation project is in full swing.

If the previous appointment had left some people with doubts, He Yuanchao completely shattered everyone's prejudices with his hard work in the following work, demonstrating leadership and technical skills that were far beyond his years.

He's like a sophisticated human computer. Every morning, he arrives at the office half an hour early, breaking down the day's tasks into clear flowcharts and distributing them to the heads of each team. With clear division of labor and efficient scheduling, everyone is accounted for: who's responsible for disassembly, who's responsible for surveying, who's responsible for material analysis, and who's responsible for parts processing. Each task is meticulously arranged, ensuring the entire massive and complex project operates like a well-wound clock, precise and efficient.

Any technical problem seems to be easily solved in his hands.

On the old Russian drawings, a severely worn tolerance mark made even the experienced Chief Engineer Zhang frown. He Yuanchao simply took the drawings, went to the site to take a look at the rusty old machine, deduced for a moment in his mind, and then used a red pen to mark a value accurate to one-thousandth of a millimeter. It was verified later that it was exactly the same.

A new batch of high-strength alloy steel was purchased for the workshop. It was extremely hard, and ordinary lathe tools would be ruined after just a few passes. Several experienced craftsmen took turns trying to cut it, scratching their heads in frustration. However, He Yuanchao remained calm and composed. He adjusted the lathe speed, changed the feed angle, and even personally ground a uniquely shaped lathe tool. Under his hands, the hard alloy steel was easily cut as if it were docile wood.

He could even detect the slightest, almost imperceptible noise from a ball bearing in a high-speed lathe by ear; he could use his seemingly ordinary hands to gently brush across the surface of a freshly machined part and feel extremely minute machining errors that even a micrometer could hardly distinguish.

That incredible "feel" and "sound" transcended the realm of mere technique, bordering on a kind of "Tao." It completely won over all the proud and arrogant master craftsmen in the technical department and workshop. Their gazes toward He Yuanchao gradually shifted from initial scrutiny and doubt to astonishment and admiration, ultimately transforming into pure awe.

The title "Engineer He" has evolved from initially carrying a hint of politeness and observation to now being a heartfelt and unadulterated expression of respect.

A month later, on a sunny afternoon, amidst countless expectant and skeptical gazes, the "Ural" Type III air compressor, which had undergone a complete transformation, was reinstalled next to Blast Furnace No. 3. The brand-new green paint gleamed in the sunlight, like a steel behemoth awakening.

Factory director Lou Zhenhua arrived in person, followed by chief engineer Zhang, workshop directors, and all members of the task force. Everyone gathered around the machine, the atmosphere tense and solemn.

When Lou Zhenhua personally pressed the red start button, everyone held their breath, and even the noise from the blast furnace seemed to quiet down.

"Buzz—"

There was none of the deafening roar and violent shaking that one might expect when an old machine starts up. Instead, there was a steady, deep, and rhythmic sound! The sound was deep and powerful, like a giant beast breathing evenly, full of strength and a sense of security.

All eyes instantly focused on the instrument panel on the side of the machine.

The pointer on the pressure gauge climbed steadily and firmly from zero, finally pointing precisely to the red line of the rated value, and then remained motionless! It was as if it had been nailed there!

A suppressed gasp erupted from the crowd.

The readings on the energy consumption monitor made Chief Engineer Zhang and several heads of the technical department standing next to Lou Zhenhua stare in disbelief – the fluctuating numbers, after stabilizing, clearly showed a reduction of 30% compared to before the renovation!

Thirty percent!

This is not just about saving electricity; it means a significant reduction in costs, a surge in profit margins, and, more importantly, a major step forward in the technological competitiveness of steel rolling mills within the industry!

"It's a success!"

Someone shouted out, and those three words were like a fuse being lit.

"It really worked!"

"My God! That voice! That demeanor! So steady!"

"He Gong is awesome!"

The silence was instantly shattered. The immense joy brought by the unprecedented success transformed into thunderous applause and cheers that echoed around the No. 3 blast furnace for a long time!

The news caused an uproar throughout the factory!

The factory held an awards ceremony overnight. The brightly lit auditorium was filled with red flags and every seat was taken.

As the person who made the greatest contribution, He Yuanchao was personally awarded the honorary title of "Technological Innovation Pioneer" by the factory director, Lou Zhenhua, under the envious gaze of all the factory workers, and a big red flower was pinned to his chest. The bonus—three hundred yuan! A thick envelope containing a brand-new stack of "big unity" notes was handed to him, heavy with gratitude.

Three hundred yuan! That's equivalent to more than half a year's salary for an eighth-grade fitter!

But it's not over yet.

Immediately afterwards, the factory director announced to the public that, after deliberation by the factory committee, Comrade He Yuanchao had been promoted and officially appointed as the youngest engineer in the steel rolling mill's technical department, a promotion that would take effect immediately, and that he would enjoy cadre benefits!

Engineers! Cadres!

The audience erupted in cheers. This was a height that countless people might not be able to reach even after a lifetime of hard work!

The grand finale of the reward left everyone breathless. The best-located, sunniest, south-facing two-bedroom apartment in the newly built staff housing near the factory, which had been vacant for a long time, was officially allocated to He Yuan-chao as a "special talent reward"!

Lou Zhenhua personally handed him the key with a smile. The brass key gleamed golden under the light, as if it were opening not a door, but a whole new world.

These bombshell announcements, like thunderclaps on a summer afternoon, struck one after another with immense force, leaving the entire courtyard in utter chaos and deathly silence.

Engineer? Managerial benefits? A three-hundred-yuan bonus?

While these things were impressive, they remained merely conceptual for the residents of the courtyard house.

The worst part is... that two-bedroom apartment in the cadre housing!

It comes with a separate kitchen and bathroom!

What does that mean?

In an era where every household still struggles to share a single water tap and queues for public toilets, owning a kitchen means being able to cook behind closed doors, free from the prying eyes of neighbors and the intrusion of cooking fumes. Owning a bathroom means saying goodbye to cold, smelly public toilets and enjoying the dignity and privacy of modern civilization.

That was a paradise that no one in this compound dared to even dream of! It was an unattainable Eden that completely separated them from their social classes!

"The...cadre building?"

Uncle Liu Haizhong had just returned from an awards ceremony at the factory. He was feeling suffocated. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he was surrounded by Aunt Er and several neighbors who were waiting at the door. Hearing the same news that had been repeatedly discussed, he felt dizzy and his blood rushed to his head. He stumbled and almost lost his balance, but luckily Aunt Er caught him.

He has worked hard all his life, bowing and scraping to the leaders at the factory, and putting on airs and lecturing people when he returns to his courtyard. Now he is still crammed into a dilapidated room of a dozen square meters, and has not even managed to become a decent seventh-rank official.

He Yuanchao, a young man in his early twenties, a junior whom he once looked down upon and even wanted to manipulate, has suddenly risen to the top and moved into the cadre building.

Where does this leave the face of the "second uncle" in charge of the courtyard?

He felt that his pitiful official prestige, which he had built up by his seniority and loud voice, had been completely crushed into powder by that two-bedroom apartment and that shiny brass key, leaving not even ashes.

Uncle Yan Bugui was happily drying the dried fish that He Yuanchao had given him a few days ago in his yard, showcasing his proudest "return on investment." Upon hearing this news, the largest dried fish he was holding fell to the ground with a "thud," covered in dust.

He was first shocked, his mouth agape wide enough to fit an egg, and then, a look of wild joy burst forth from his wrinkled old face!

"Engineers! Cadre housing! Oh my god! Our institute... our institute has produced a golden phoenix!" He was so excited that his old face turned red. He didn't even bother to pick up the dried fish. He rubbed his hands together and spun around in circles like a child who had received candy. "I knew it! I knew that Yuanchao was no ordinary person! My judgment, Old Yan's judgment, was right! Right indeed!"

His gaze as he looked towards the backyard was filled with a sense of pride and a more resolute and fervent determination to "invest." He was already planning whether his wife should make some dumplings tomorrow and deliver them to "Engineer He" who had just moved in.

Xu Damao had just returned from showing movies in the countryside. He pushed his bicycle into the yard, beaming with pride, a plump hen, a gift from a fellow villager, still hanging on the handlebars. He was about to boast to his neighbors about how he had been treated like royalty in the countryside and how many delicious things he had eaten.

As soon as he entered the door, he heard the news that struck him like a thunderbolt.

The smile on his face froze instantly, then crumbled inch by inch, finally becoming more unsightly than crying. The hen's clucking sounded particularly jarring at that moment.

Cadre Building? He Yuanchao?

He subconsciously recalled his worries about marrying Lou Xiao'e, Lou Zhenhua's increasingly cold and even scrutinizing attitude towards him, and He Yuanchao's meteoric rise in his career. A tremendous, unprecedented sense of crisis and resentment, like countless cold, venomous snakes, bit into his heart. He felt his entire world teetering on the brink of collapse in the face of this news.

Meanwhile, Sha Zhu, in the technical department's office, personally overheard He Yuanchao's appointment and reward.

He stood in the corner, watching the young figure surrounded by everyone, calmly accepting the leader's commendation and colleagues' congratulations. He felt a mix of emotions, like a spice shop had been overturned.

Once upon a time, Sha Zhu was one of the most prominent people in this courtyard and factory. In terms of cooking skills, even the factory manager had to give him some respect; in terms of fighting, no one in the entire courtyard could beat him; and in terms of popularity, everyone in the compound had to ask him for help with weddings and funerals.

But now… he looked at his own hands, covered in grease, burn scars, and thick calluses—hands that could only toss the wok and knead dough. Then he looked at He Yuanchao’s hands, with their distinct joints, clean and slender—hands that could draw masterpieces and write astonishing calligraphy.

For the first time, an indescribable and profound sense of frustration welled up in my heart so clearly.

Perhaps… my sister He Yushui is right, I really am just a fool. A fool who only knows how to swing his fists and a spatula, but can’t see the times or even himself.

The news spread like wildfire to the Jia family.

Qin Huairu was feeding Banggeng medicine. The bowl of Chinese medicine was dark and emitted a bitter smell.

Banggeng's leg recovered very slowly, and he could only lie on the kang (a heated brick bed) all day, sighing. His former cleverness and liveliness were long gone, replaced by an increasingly irritable and gloomy temper.

When a gossipy neighbor deliberately raised her voice outside the window, gloating and eager to see what would happen, and announced that He Yuanchao had been assigned to the cadre building, Qin Huairu's hand holding the medicine bowl suddenly trembled, spilling half of the brown medicine onto her clothes, but she didn't notice.

She froze, her face turning deathly pale in an instant, her eyes staring blankly at the gray sky outside the window, as if her soul had been ripped away.

Cadre housing... two-bedroom apartment... with a separate kitchen and bathroom...

These words, like sharp knives, repeatedly and deeply pierced her heart.

That was her most beautiful fantasy about the future when she was young. She also dreamed of living in such a house with her man, having a little home of her own, and no longer having to endure her mother-in-law's nagging and the trivial matters in the yard.

But now, all of this belongs to the man she pushed away and whom she considered a "backup plan".

She was trapped in this low, damp, dilapidated house, filled with the smell of medicine and despair, with a paralyzed mother-in-law, a lame son, and a future that seemed endless.

Intense regret and sorrow, like the most potent poison, instantly eroded her internal organs. The bitterness surged from the depths of her heart to her throat, choking her and making it hard to breathe.

She could no longer hold back, and she abruptly covered her mouth, trying to suppress her sobs, but broken, wounded animal-like whimpers still escaped through her fingers. Tears streamed down her face, burning her cheeks and the backs of her hands.

……

The day we moved was a bright and sunny autumn day, with clear skies and a refreshing breeze.

He Yuanchao didn't have many things: a wooden box filled with books and blueprints, a neatly folded quilt, and a few changes of clothes.

But the Yan family father and son treated it like a daughter's wedding, mobilizing the entire family and making the move a grand affair.

Uncle Yan Bugui stood with his hands behind his back, like a big leader, in charge of overall command, sometimes shouting "Slow down, slow down" and sometimes reminding people to "Be careful of bumps and knocks".

The brothers Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang took turns carrying boxes and moving things, their enthusiasm and inexhaustible energy making them work a hundred times harder than when they were working for their own family.

The three aunties served tea and water, showing concern and warmth, calling him "Yuanchao" (meaning "support Korea") more affectionately than they would their own sons.

Yan Jie regarded He Yuanchao's brand-new Peony brand television set as a priceless treasure. He found a brand-new red cloth, carefully wrapped it around his arm, and then held it gently in his arms, more cautiously than if he were holding a newborn baby. He walked very slowly, swaying with every step, as if afraid that the slightest bump would damage this precious object.

The entire moving process became a public "pilgrimage" within the courtyard house.

The residents in the courtyard stood silently at their doorsteps or leaned against their windows, watching this scene with complex expressions.

Envy, jealousy, bitterness... all sorts of emotions intertwined, forming an invisible, oppressive net that enveloped the entire courtyard.

Liu Haizhong, his face dark, hid in the house, staring intently through the gap in the curtains at the television set wrapped in red cloth, which Yan Jiecheng carried out of the courtyard step by step. His heart felt like it was being scratched by countless cat claws, both itchy and painful, extremely uncomfortable.

Xu Damao was humming a little tune in the yard in a sarcastic tone, not too loud or too soft, just loud enough for passersby to hear: "Wow, this move is really grand! If you didn't know better, you'd think it was some big leader moving to a new house!" His words were laced with a sour, jealous tone.

Sha Zhu leaned against his doorframe, silently smoking, one cigarette after another. In the swirling smoke, his eyes stared blankly at He Yuanchao's busy back, watching his belongings being moved out of the yard one by one, without uttering a word, like a silent statue.

Qin Huairu kept the door tightly shut and the curtains drawn tightly, as if this would shut out the glaring light outside and the even more heart-wrenching reality.

As He Yuanchao pushed his bicycle out of the small side room where he had lived for many years for the last time, he stopped and looked back.

This low, damp house witnessed his initial distress and confusion upon his transmigration, as well as his awakening to the system and the first turning point in his life.

And this courtyard, filled with neighborly scheming, human jealousy, and the filth of life, will eventually be left behind by him.

He was no longer the poor apprentice who could be manipulated and schemed against at will.

Starting today, he will move into a spacious and bright cadre building with his own private space, and his life will step into a completely new world.

"Brother Yuanchao! Let's go! The truck is all loaded!" Yan Jiecheng urged from the entrance of the hanging flower gate, his voice filled with barely suppressed joy.

He Yuanchao withdrew his gaze, a faint smile curving his lips.

Goodbye, Qinman Courtyard.

No, perhaps it's not goodbye.

Because he knew that as long as he remained in the steel mill, as long as these human weaknesses existed, the tug-of-war with these beasts would never truly end.

But the next time, when he re-examines this compound and its inhabitants as a "resident of the cadre building" and "Engineer He," his mindset will be completely different.

That would be... a dimensional reduction attack.

Just as He Yuanchao was about to walk out of the hanging flower gate and bid farewell to this place filled with oppressive memories, a slender figure in a light yellow dress appeared at the courtyard gate, like a ray of bright sunshine, instantly dispelling the gloom in the courtyard.

It's Lou Xiao'e.

She carried an exquisite wicker basket, which seemed to be filled with fruit and pastries. A gentle smile graced her fair face, and her bright eyes, like two pools of autumn water, were fixed on him.

"Mr. He," her voice was clear and crisp, like the tinkling of a wind chime, carrying a hint of...excitement that she herself didn't even realize. "I heard you're moving to your new home today, and I...I'm here on behalf of my father, and on behalf of myself, to congratulate you."