Courtyard House: A Leisurely and Contented Life

Chapter 53 Assessment

So everyone was on tenterhooks for this assessment, fearing some new tricks might be introduced. However, they were clearly overthinking it—the assessment team went directly into the workshop for a face-to-face audit, and then randomly selected a few products from the applicant's previous orders to score. The final score was based on a comprehensive evaluation of technical skills, past performance, and product effectiveness.

The news sparked excitement among some and nervousness among others.

Those who are nervous are mostly those who occasionally fill in for others, have their apprentices take over, or barely pass the minimum requirements. Those who are excited are the ones who are strict with themselves, conscientious and responsible in their work, and never compromise.

Li Yaoye, who received the news, was one of them.

"Jianye, it looks like I'm going to get promoted this time!" Li Yaoye said confidently, his face beaming.

He is confident in the work he does every day, and equally confident in his skills.

Yang Jianye nodded in agreement. As the actual person in charge of the workshop, he knew Li Yaoye's past performance best. In the special workshop, there was no such thing as "getting stuck"—if you had eight points of skill, you had to produce work that was at least eight points good. If your skills weren't enough, you could make up for it with patience, meticulousness, and focus. In short, no one could cut corners.

We share the honor, and we share the responsibility. Anyone who doesn't strive for progress but instead tries to hinder the workshop as a whole will not stay.

After waiting all morning without the assessment team arriving, everyone seemed distracted. The assessment was a big deal, so their anxiety was understandable. Even Yang Jianye himself was restless all morning, glancing towards the door every now and then.

After having lunch at the small canteen, Yang Jianye brewed a pot of tea, drank it for a while, and then went out to walk towards the workshop.

Zhang Chao and Qin Huairu were already waiting. Seeing him come out, they immediately followed. Zhang Chao took the teacup from his hand and helped him carry it. Qin Huairu leaned closer and whispered, "He said he'd be coming this afternoon."

The two had gathered a lot of information during their lunch break. The morning's assessment focused on the ordinary workshops; they randomly selected five workshops with no discernible pattern. However, someone overheard Director Yang talking to the assessment team, saying they would first visit the special workshops in the afternoon. Furthermore, the expert leading the team mentioned Yang Jianye's name.

Could it be an acquaintance?

Remembering the renowned expert who had been offered to take him away last time, Yang Jianye guessed that it might be him again. But according to convention, it should be a newcomer this time.

If I can't figure it out, I'll just stop thinking about it. Anyway, the person should be here soon, and we'll know for sure whether it's true or not, so why bother making myself suffer?

As everyone gradually returned, the work bell rang. The enthusiastic voice of Factory Director Yang could also be heard from outside the workshop—

"This is it, please come in, everyone!"

Leading the assessment team into the workshop, Factory Director Yang immediately spotted Yang Jianye: "Jianye, come here for a moment."

Yang Jianye stepped forward to greet them, but did not see the familiar face he expected. The expert leading the team was much younger than the senior expert who had come last time; judging from their appearances alone, the two must be grandfather and grandson.

"Jianye, this is the leader of the assessment team, Expert Liu." Director Yang didn't introduce him much, just gave him a brief greeting.

It's as if there was no introduction at all.

"Hello, Dr. Liu." Yang Jianye extended his hand to greet him.

Expert Liu grasped his hand and smiled, "Comrade Jianye, just call me Comrade Liu. I've heard a lot about Yang Jianye."

Hearing this, Yang Jianye curiously asked, "You hear my name at your workplace?"

Expert Liu smiled gently: "The great expert is my teacher, don't you think?"

Yang Jianye understood; no wonder he said that. With the connection to the expert, their conversation became much easier. However, business couldn't be delayed; the assessment still had to proceed as planned.

"I've always heard my master say how solid your foundation is. Let me see it for myself today and learn from you."

Hearing this, Yang Jianye didn't mince words: "What would Comrade Liu like to see?"

Be polite when you should be, and don't be coy when you shouldn't. We're not some slacker who's just trying to get by; if we're hiding our true abilities, people will think we're afraid.

Looking at his colleagues behind him, Expert Liu said, "Let's talk about the basic points of the components."

First talk, then do the work; the real test.

The assessment team attaches great importance to special workshops. It's not just about the assessment level; other factors are also involved—such as the allocation of resources to the special workshop in the future, the order in which it is registered, the importance of orders obtained, and its ranking. These are all part of the assessment.

Of course, such an important matter cannot be decided by them alone; there will be specialists coming later, and multiple reviews and assessments must be passed. However, the professional opinions of the assessment team are also one of the important indicators of the comprehensive evaluation.

The assessment process is not complicated, but it is tedious. You must complete each requirement set by the assessment team one by one, and your responses must be as concise and clear as possible.

But that's not the hardest part. The hardest part is when the assessment is over, the other party nods and says "not bad," then walks away, leaving you there anxiously wondering whether you passed or failed.

"Jianye, what do you think of my performance just now?" Li Yaoye was currently at this stage. Ever since the assessment team left, he had been agonizing over it, recalling his previous performance, and any slight imperfection or dissatisfaction would be magnified infinitely in his mind.

Seeing his conflicted and anxious expression, Yang Jianye joked, "Go home and find your sister-in-law for comfort; I don't have any here."

Li Yaoye, annoyed by his interruption, chuckled and scolded, "Hey, your mouth is getting more and more sharp."

Yang Jianye replied with a smile, "Otherwise, how could I keep you in check?"

Li Yaoye grinned, feeling less conflicted.

Even on such an important day as the performance review, they still had to work. However, they didn't have much of a workload today, and the orders they received were ones that the regular workshops couldn't finish, so they weren't really busy.

Yang Jianye delegated his tasks to Zhang Chao and Qin Huairu. The two of them took over without a word and immediately got to work. When your mentor assigns you tasks, it's to give you experience; just keep doing it. What you should be wary of are those who never let you be independent, only teaching you theory. In the end, you'll only have a bunch of shoddy knowledge, useless, and you'll be waiting to be eliminated!

Zhang Chao and Qin Huairu have been under immense pressure these past few days. This isn't just because their mentor is undergoing a Level 6 certification exam; more importantly, the lower-level job assessments are scheduled right after the main assessment group, starting immediately after someone leaves. Both of them have applied this time. Level 2 workers are at the bottom of the regular workshop hierarchy, capable of independent work, with some say and choice—far better than the treatment they receive as newly "graduated" laborers.

This mood indirectly affected the work atmosphere in the workshop. Sensing something was amiss, Yang Jianye picked up a wrench and tapped it on the nearby steel rails. Seeing everyone's attention drawn to him, he shouted, "I know the situation is unusual these past few days, and everyone's preoccupied with their own things, including me, wondering when the assessment results will be out. But no matter how worried we are, we have to finish our work properly; that's the most important thing. Let's all focus on safety and get production back on track. After we're done with this busy period, I'll treat everyone to drinks."

Upon hearing that Yang Jianye was going to treat everyone, everyone immediately cheered: "Great, I'll bring two dishes!"

"I brought some meat, so don't try to take it from me!"

"Who's going to take it from you? I had two salted fish at home, I brought those too."

"The liquor, the liquor is mine! Two bottles of sorghum liquor, mine, it's mine!"

With great enthusiasm, they gathered around a table laden with delicious food, and everyone felt a release of their pent-up emotions and frustrations.

When the work bell rang, most of the assigned orders were completed. Carrying his tools towards the bike shed, Yang Jianye was stopped halfway.

"Master Yang, Master Yang, wait a minute!" Yang Jianye stopped when he saw that it was the factory's car driver.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing him running so fast, Yang Jianye chuckled and comforted him, "Don't rush, let's catch our breath first."

After catching his breath with his hands on his knees, the driver looked up and said with a wry smile, "You're quite fast; I chased you all the way from the workshop."

After a lighthearted remark, the driver got down to business: "Factory Director Yang instructed me to inform you to go to the high-ranking leader's house."

"Now?" Yang Jianye was surprised. Why was the big boss suddenly calling him over? He wasn't stupid enough to cook for him or play chess with him to relieve boredom.

"It should be the assessment team," the driver casually remarked, then turned and walked back.

His reminder made Yang Jianye realize the truth. Well, there was no escaping it this time.

In the kitchen, Sha Zhu was carrying a net, heading home. There were quite a few leftover dishes from entertaining the assessment team at noon today, and he planned to take them home for a couple of drinks! If Jianye wasn't busy, he could invite him along; the two of them hadn't had a proper drink in a while.

They thought they were right there, but they were stopped as soon as they got to the door.

"Master He, the factory manager wants you to go to a high-ranking official's house. There's a reception tonight, and we'll need you to cook."

Sha Zhu's initial excitement subsided, and he nodded in agreement. After everyone left, he looked at the lunchbox in his hand and said helplessly, "Looks like this drinking session will have to be postponed again."

But then he thought about all the good things that had happened recently, and Sha Zhu was happy again. Tomorrow he was going to get his marriage certificate with Teacher Ran, and the date for the wedding banquet was set for this week. He could also have a good drink with Yang Jianye then.

Walking towards the big boss's house, he saw a pair of old-fashioned bicycles propped up at the door. Sha Zhu was a little curious and went up to take a look at the steel stamp: "Hey~" He had just felt it was a pity, but it turned out that he was here to be the big boss's cook, with wine and food served to him.

In the living room, the high-ranking leader, Expert Liu, and Yang Jianye were chatting animatedly about all sorts of things. This meal was specially prepared to entertain Expert Liu; no one else was present.

"Jianye, even in front of the big leaders, I still have to give you a few words of advice." The expert Liu, who had become quite familiar with him, was again trying to persuade him to leave the steel rolling mill. With his abilities, he shouldn't stay here; the family business had more important undertakings that needed someone like him.

Expert Liu left him speechless. How could he say that this major issue concerning people's livelihood was unimportant? Besides, he was a pure scholar and technical talent. When it came to talking, even if Yang Jianye hadn't been influenced by the "information explosion," he would still have been rendered speechless by his words, given his grassroots work where he would have to deal with all sorts of people.

The expert's skills are excellent, and their education is high. But precisely because of this, they lack access to real-world issues, easily leading to empty rhetoric and grandiose pronouncements. If you ask a pampered son living in a billionaire's circle to imagine the lives and needs of the poor, can he truly grasp them? Even if he has some experience and empathy, life changes, and so do needs; there will always be a gap.

Therefore, only by immersing oneself in the grassroots can one truly understand the grassroots.

After in-depth discussions with expert Liu, he became even more convinced that his choice was correct.

Neither of them convinced the other over the meal, but they developed a mutual respect and admiration, recognizing each other as remarkable individuals. They also learned from each other what they lacked. Expert Liu was detached from reality, focusing on grand schemes; Yang Jianye was grounded, concerned with people's livelihoods and their aspirations for a better life. Together, they seemed like a perfect match.

The most pleased person had to be the big boss. He enjoyed the meal immensely, except for a few drinks—his wife stopped him from getting slightly tipsy.

"Jianye, if I had met you sooner, I would have recommended you to study abroad with me." In Liu's view, it was his limited knowledge that restricted his thinking.

Pushing the cart home, Yang Jianye shook his head with a wry smile. This man is still too young.

"Jianye, Jianye!"

Looking back, he saw Sha Zhu running up from behind, carrying a row of lunchboxes. Once he was up, he started complaining, "Jianye, that's not fair!"

Yang Jianye stared at him without saying a word. Sha Zhu continued, "Knowing I was the one cooking, you didn't even wait to give me a ride."

Yang Jianye patted the car and laughed, "It's right here!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu realized that he had deliberately pushed the cart while waiting for him.

"Hey, I knew our relationship was a no-go!" Silly Zhu chuckled, picking up his lunchbox. "Look at all this good food! Shall we grab a drink tomorrow?"

"We'll see."

"I'm getting my marriage certificate with Teacher Ran tomorrow. Is that reason enough for a drink?"

After hearing what he said, Yang Jianye had no reason to refuse. It was a great thing, worth having a drink with.

"Come on, let's go. We'll have a drink at your place tomorrow." Yang Jianye got into his car and waited.

Sha Zhu slumped into the back seat, smugly saying, "Hey~ that's more like it, we'll have to have a good drink tomorrow."

When they got home, Sha Zhu carried the lunchbox back into his house. Yingzi, who had heard the noise, came out as well. Seeing him walking back inside, she asked curiously, "Did you two come back together?"

"Yes, the big boss asked me to cook this." Yang Jianye took off his coat, and Yingzi took it and hung it up for him.

"The big boss values him highly, but Zhu Zi's craftsmanship is excellent."

"Hmm." Yang Jianye didn't say anything, but stepped forward, hugged his wife, rested his chin on her shoulder, and just stayed there quietly.

Yingzi was curious; he seemed to have something on his mind, but she didn't ask anything, simply offering herself as a source of support. Sometimes, a man's burdens don't need to be shared by a woman; all he needs is a warm, comforting presence.

He stood there for a long time, then Yang Jianye suddenly spoke: "Wife."

"Mmm," Yingzi replied softly.

Yang Jianye's tender, affectionate voice reached my ears: "It's so good to have you."