Courtyard House: From Deputy Division Commander to Civilian, Progressing All the Way

The vast Northwest, the boundless Golden and Silver Beach.

The headquarters of Project 211 was located in the vast Gobi Desert, where sandstorms raged year-round and the weather was bitterly cold. The biting winds of the Gobi, carrying swirling yellow sand, lashed against the glass windows of the wooden houses, the constant crackling of the wind filling this simple battlefield compound, exuding an atmosphere of desolation and hardship.

Lin Yang, wrapped in a thick cotton overcoat that was washed white and covered in Gobi dust, pushed open the old, loose, creaking wooden door and strode into the house.

The relentless, day-and-night work in the desert had left deep marks of exhaustion on him. His face was gaunt and sunken, his chin was covered in stubble, and his eyes were bloodshot, revealing his weary state. Yet, his deep eyes remained remarkably bright, pulsating with a burning intensity of anxiety, heartache, and an unwavering refusal to yield.

The room was furnished in a very simple and unpretentious manner. On a worn-out solid wood desk, several top-secret documents that had just been transferred from higher authorities were laid out neatly.

On the yellowed, brittle pages, densely packed handwriting clearly records various chaotic phenomena that have occurred in the process of infrastructure construction in various places: the unbalanced pace of grassroots construction, the excessive use of human and material resources for agricultural production, and the sharp decline in grain harvests. These situations are shocking and worrying.

Chief Engineer Shen Zhiyuan sat upright at his desk, his aged fingers trembling slightly as he gently stroked the words on the paper. Heavy sighs escaped his chest, his heart filled with regret and helplessness.

"Foolish, utterly foolish!" Old Shen's chest heaved, his voice trembling with uncontrollable regret. "In many places, in their blind pursuit of construction progress and inflated production figures, they requisitioned iron utensils from the people on a massive scale. Even household iron pots, pans, and farming tools were all collected and melted down. Forests were felled indiscriminately to burn for charcoal, consuming enormous amounts of manpower and resources. In the end, what was produced was all low-quality iron, porous and easily crumbled!"

"These substandard materials completely fail to meet industrial production standards. They can't even be used to manufacture precision equipment, let alone hoes or everyday farm tools! This isn't about steady construction and solid development; it's about needlessly squandering the nation's industrial foundation built up over many years and overdrawing on hard-won development resources!"

He looked up at Lin Yang, his brows furrowed with worry, and said in a very serious tone: "Commander Lin, our base has been facing a severe shortage of supplies for two consecutive months. The shortage of core infrastructure materials such as steel and cement continues to widen, and even the rations for frontline researchers and construction workers have had to be repeatedly reduced."

"If this continues, not only will the research and development of core technologies that the whole country is eagerly anticipating be significantly delayed and brought to a standstill, but the basic needs of thousands of key scientific researchers and front-line construction workers at the base will also be difficult to guarantee!"

Lin Yang stood quietly in front of the wooden table, his back straight as a pine tree, his back to the howling, raging yellow sand outside the window.

He clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his arms bulging, his knuckles turning bluish-white from the excessive force, and his aura was heavy and oppressive, concealing an uncontrollable rage and anxiety.

As the chief commander, he knew better than anyone that the current construction trend, which was detached from reality and characterized by impetuousness and recklessness, would eventually lead to irreversible and serious consequences.

If construction deviations are not corrected in time and the pace of development is not stabilized, not only will the core infrastructure projects that the whole country has devoted its efforts to overcome suffer heavy losses, but the people's livelihood and material foundation of the entire country will also face severe tests.

"Chen Feng!"

Suddenly, Lin Yang spoke, his voice deep and resonant, like a thunderclap, echoing throughout the simple wooden house.

"arrive!"

Upon hearing the sound, confidential secretary Chen Feng immediately pushed open the door and entered, standing upright and solemnly at the doorway, ready to receive instructions at any time.

Lin Yang slowly turned around, his fingertip pointing directly at the urgent briefing on the table. His eyes were sharp and his tone firm and unwavering: "Immediately connect the reporting line to higher authorities! I want to report directly to the leadership truthfully and completely on all the current problems and potential risks in grassroots construction. I will not conceal anything, and I will not falsify anything!"

He reached out and grabbed the red and blue pencils on the table, exerted force suddenly, and with a crisp "crack," the hard pencils were instantly broken in two.

"This impetuous, reckless, and unrealistic trend must be completely stopped! Anyone or anything that dares to damage the foundation of the nation or betray the hard work of the people, I, Lin Yang, will be the first to object!"

Outside, a fierce wind, carrying a cloud of yellow sand, relentlessly battered the wooden doors and windows, its howling sound echoing his resounding and powerful vow.

……

In the Great Northwest, at the Golden and Silver Beach, the wind and sand have not ceased, and the chill is growing stronger.

The fierce wind whipped up coarse yellow sand, like thousands of fine files, endlessly scraping against the wooden walls of the command post. The screeching sound was incessant, adding to the desolate and bleak atmosphere of this barren Gobi Desert.

Inside the wooden cabin, a red-cased telephone sat quietly on the table, solemn and dignified. Lin Yang's hand was pressed tightly against the cold receiver, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, enough to reveal the turmoil and heaviness in his heart at this moment.

On the other end of the phone was the command headquarters, thousands of miles away.

"Old Chief." After days and nights of hard work and exhaustion, Lin Yang's voice was particularly dry and hoarse. His Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty as he spoke earnestly and solemnly, "At present, the construction atmosphere in some areas has seriously deviated from the pragmatic track. The steel production capacity and grain harvest data reported by various places are extremely inflated, and there are serious problems of exaggeration and false reporting."

"All the iron household items and farming tools in people's homes were confiscated and melted down, consuming enormous amounts of manpower, material resources, and financial resources, only to produce industrial waste with no practical value. If this continues, the industrial base that the country has painstakingly built up over decades will gradually be destroyed, and millions of ordinary people will eventually face the problem of food and clothing!"

A long, suffocating silence fell on the other end of the phone.

A full half minute later, the old leader's steady voice slowly came through the receiver, with a unique accent, devoid of its usual forceful tone, leaving only an undisguised weariness and heaviness.

"Lin Yang, I am fully aware of everything you have reported. My anxiety is no less than yours." The old commander sighed deeply, filled with endless helplessness. "But the current overall construction situation is no longer something that can be easily reversed by one person alone. This reckless momentum is too strong, carrying an irresistible inertia. Anyone who rashly steps forward to stop and correct it will inevitably be devoured by this torrent and pay an unbearable price."

Lin Yang clenched his teeth, his nails digging deep into his palms. The excruciating pain couldn't suppress the anxiety and resentment in his heart: "Are we just supposed to stand by and watch this chaotic progress at the grassroots level squander the hard-won achievements of our nation's development?"

"Hold your ground!"

The old leader's tone suddenly became stern and resolute, carrying a weighty weight that brooked no dissent.

"Your primary task right now is to stabilize the base, eliminate all external interference, and go all out to overcome difficulties and build a core weapon that will make our country proud and independent! This project is the nation's trump card and hope, and we absolutely cannot allow it to be affected by the restless atmosphere of the outside world or disrupt the established construction schedule!"

"This is a special authority granted to you by your superiors, and it's also a direct order from me! I will be responsible for coordinating and systematically addressing the chaos in the outside world. At next month's special work seminar, I will truthfully report all the issues and analyze them one by one. No matter how turbulent the road ahead may be, I will speak up for the country's development and for the people at the grassroots level!"

"Sir, please take good care of yourself."

Lin Yang's heart sank suddenly, a wave of bitterness washing over him. He knew that behind his old commander's promise to step forward lay unimaginable pressure and hardship. But in the grand torrent of the times, individual strength was ultimately insignificant and limited, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.

After hanging up the call, Lin Yang looked out the window.

The sky was shrouded in yellow sand, and the Qilian Mountains appeared and disappeared in the rolling sandstorm, hazy and desolate. He could do his best to protect the country's vital infrastructure and core strength on the Gobi Desert, but he was powerless to stop the wave of impetuous construction sweeping across the country from the outside world.

……

South of the city, Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

Night had fallen, but the entire factory area was brightly lit, as bright as day. The factory's loudspeakers played rousing construction music on a loop, the loud sound echoing in every corner of the factory, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

Outside the gate of the No. 1 open-hearth furnace workshop, factory director Lin Fan stood tall and straight like an iron tower, his face ashen and solemn, not yielding an inch.

Opposite him was Ma Yue, a cadre recently transferred from the city to oversee industrial production. Young and impulsive, he was driven by a desire for quick results and a tendency to act rashly. Behind him followed more than ten factory patrol members, a group that appeared aggressive and intimidating.

"Comrade Lin Fan, this is my final, serious warning to you: clear the way immediately!" Ma Yue pointed at Lin Fan, his tone arrogant and impatient. "The city's steel production target for this month is still 30,000 tons short! Today, all the old, idle machine tools in Workshop Two must be put into open-hearth furnaces for smelting! This is a mandatory production task, concerning the overall construction of the city. No one can afford to be held accountable for delays!"

"That's utter nonsense!" Lin Fan's eyes were bloodshot as he abruptly slapped away the other person's fingers, his stance firm and unyielding. "These old machine tools are all backup core production equipment reserved by the factory, and their components are all made of high-quality stainless steel!"

"Forcibly melting down perfectly usable industrial equipment will only waste high-quality steel and produce a pile of useless scrap iron and slag! This is not promoting production and construction; it is wantonly destroying the country's precious industrial assets accumulated over many years!"

"This is blatant defiance of the superiors' production plans!" Ma Yue sneered, casually labeling him, his tone sharp and intimidating. "I think you're just conservative and rigid in your thinking, deliberately hindering industrial production and slowing down local development! Men, forcibly remove him!"

Several officers on duty immediately swarmed forward aggressively. Lin Fan had previously worked as a security guard in the factory area. He was agile and physically strong, but ultimately, he was no match for the crowd. After several struggles, he was pinned down on the cold, hard cement ground by the group.

"I'd like to see who dares to touch a single piece of equipment or material in this factory! I am the factory manager of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. Without my signature and approval, not a single blade of grass or tree in the factory area may be moved or damaged without authorization!"

Lin Fan was suppressed and struggled desperately, roaring and screaming. His voice was hoarse and cracked, and the veins on his neck bulged. His eyes were full of resentment and anger.

"From now on, you are no longer the factory manager."

Ma Yue looked down at Lin Fan on the ground with a smug expression. He slowly took out an official document with an official seal from his pocket and displayed it in front of everyone.

"Following a special investigation by the Municipal Bureau of Industry, it has been decided that Comrade Lin Fan is outdated and conservative in his thinking, refuses to cooperate with the production breakthrough efforts, and seriously hinders the progress of factory construction. Effective immediately, he is removed from his position as director of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill and handed over to a special working group for isolation, verification, and serious disciplinary action!"

……

In the dead of night, the news eventually reached No. 95 Nanluoguxiang.

The night was still and the courtyard was silent. Ding Qiunan sat on the sofa in the main room, holding her four-year-old son, Xiao Jianguo. Her face was pale and haggard, and her brows were furrowed with worry. The child in her arms was fast asleep, but his little brows were slightly furrowed, as if he had sensed his mother's unease and anxiety.

Inside the house, He Yuzhu, dressed in a police uniform, paced anxiously back and forth in the living room. His heavy footsteps thudded on the wooden floor, and he was filled with anxiety and helplessness.

"Sister-in-law! These people are far too arrogant and arbitrary! Brother Lin has been working diligently and tirelessly at the steel rolling mill for years, devoting himself entirely to production and construction without ever slacking off! They dismissed Brother Lin from his post based solely on one-sided statements and forcibly took him away for quarantine and investigation!"

He Yuzhu clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, his eyes blazing with anger, his tone filled with resentment, "I'm going to the branch office right now to find my old comrades, take some men and rush to the work group. We must rescue Brother Lin safely, no matter what!"

"Pillar, stop right there!"

Ding Qiunan suddenly stood up. Although her voice trembled slightly, it was unusually calm and firm, instantly stopping the impulsive He Yuzhu.

Having weathered years of trials and tribulations, and witnessed countless hardships alongside the Lin brothers, Lin Fan and Lin Yang, she had long since shed her former weakness and timidity, becoming calm, insightful, and measured in handling matters. She knew perfectly well that in the current special situation, acting impulsively and rashly would only make the situation worse.

To rashly lead a group to rush in and forcibly rescue people is tantamount to openly defying the organization's plans. Not only will it fail to rescue Lin Fan, who is trapped in a predicament, but it will also completely ruin He Yuzhu's future and even implicate Lin Yang, who is far away in the Northwest and shoulders the core responsibility of the country, thus delaying the nationally important research and development of key technologies.

Ding Qiunan strode to the table, picked up a pen and laid out paper, quickly wrote several lines of neat handwriting, then carefully folded them neatly and handed them to He Yuzhu.

"Go to the telegraph office immediately and send this urgent telegram to Brother Lin Yang, who is far away in the Northwest. Right now, he is the only one with the ability and qualifications to investigate this matter and rescue Lin Fan."

He Yuzhu solemnly accepted the telegram, nodded heavily, and carefully tucked it into his inner garment, his eyes exceptionally firm: "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I'll rush there tonight and guarantee the telegram will be sent safely and on time, without the slightest delay!"