Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

Zhou Feng took the teacup, took a sip, and exclaimed, "Excellent tea!"

He couldn't really tell the difference between good and bad, but Brother Li had already set the tone, so no matter what it tasted like, it was always good to praise it first.

Li Huaide sat down opposite him with a smile, rubbing his fingers together slightly, and looked at Zhou Feng: "Brother, for you to make this trip during the New Year holiday, what's the matter?"

Zhou Feng wasn't in a hurry. He sipped his tea leisurely before saying, "I probably won't be able to go to the steel mill after the New Year."

"Huh? Why? Purchasing doesn't require you to stay in the factory all the time, you..."

Upon hearing Zhou Feng's words, Li Huaide immediately became anxious.

The reason he could communicate with such high-ranking leaders was simply because Zhou Feng worked at the steel rolling mill.

If Zhou Feng had left, Li Huaide was 100% certain that the last phone call he made was his last contact with that leader.

"Brother Li, I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush."

Zhou Feng slowly interrupted Li Huaide, making a joke about 60 years later, but the latter had no intention of joking at all and just stared straight at him.

"Here's the thing, after the New Year I'm going to be the deputy factory manager of a few new factories."

"No, you should go to another factory..."

Li Huaide was speaking when his eyes suddenly widened, his mouth opened, but he couldn't say anything for a long time.

His hand was trembling as he pointed at Zhou Feng, like someone with Parkinson's disease.

Several seconds later, he suddenly slapped his thigh: "Holy crap! Bro, you said you're going to be the deputy factory manager? And for that new factory?"

He didn't hold back this time, and it hurt so much that he grimaced in pain.

Zhou Feng couldn't help but laugh: "Brother Li, are you serious? Aren't you a deputy factory director too?"

"Absolutely! Absolutely!"

Li Huaide stood up excitedly and paced around the room: "My position as deputy factory director is nothing! Brother, you're really taking off! Which of those newly opened factories around Beiping are you going to join?"

"I've heard that some factories there export goods to earn foreign exchange. If that's the case, brother, your future is limitless!"

Watching Li Huaide pacing back and forth excitedly, Zhou Feng pursed his lips and said, "Brother Li, you didn't hear what I said clearly. I said I'd be a deputy director in a few factories. There's a fertilizer plant, a hatchery and breeding farm, a textile factory, a power plant... basically the newly opened ones. I'll just be a figurehead."

...

It is well known that when people are extremely speechless, they will burst out laughing.

At this moment, Li Huaide's lips twitched, and he slumped back onto the sofa.

"So, bro... you're from there, right?"

Li Huaide pointed in one direction, then immediately withdrew his finger.

It was only because Zhou Feng's words were so shocking that he lost his composure and revealed his true feelings.

This is not something you should say. Regardless of whether Zhou Feng came from there or not, he shouldn't ask.

If not, this question is meaningless.

If so, then the situation is even more serious.

Not just anyone is qualified to ask about or participate in what happens there.

"Brother, you're overthinking it! Don't you know? I came from No. 95 Nanluoguxiang."

Hearing Zhou Feng's reply, Li Huaide finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Brother, it's not that I'm being tactless, it's just that your relationship is really shocking."

"In all the years I've been in Beiping, I've never encountered someone as ruthless as you, managing to be the deputy director of several factories, including the newly opened ones..."

"Brother, let's not talk about that. Why don't you ask me what I came here for today?"

Seeing that Li Huaide was getting more and more outrageous, Zhou Feng quickly interrupted him. What if Li Huaide had revealed the truth?

Li Huaide was taken aback: "Yes, what brings you here today?"

If they had just informed him not to go to the steel mill after the New Year, there would have been a document to transfer Zhou Feng's relationship with him. Why bother coming to his door during the New Year?

"There are two main things. First, as you know, I don't have many friends, and Brother Li is my best friend, so I can't keep good news from you. Second, I've never held such a high position in the factory before, so I need to learn from Brother Li."

"Hey! We're brothers, what's all this talk about going to the West? If you need anything, just ask your brother. If he can do it, he'll do it for you; if he can't, he'll at least give you some advice."

Li Huaide's eyes were a little red.

These days, there are plenty of shrewd people, but few genuine ones.

Li Huaide was able to rise to the position of deputy director of the steel rolling mill thanks to his father-in-law.

To be honest, I don't have many true friends.

Zhou Feng's words truly warmed his heart.

But to say that he would go through fire and water for Zhou Feng's sake would be pure nonsense.

People like Li Huaide are adept at saying one thing to one person and another to someone else; at most, they just assume that Zhou Feng has a higher priority and deserves more of his attention.

Of course, it was definitely because Zhou Feng's words warmed his heart, and it had nothing to do with the fact that the other party was about to take office as the deputy director of several factories!

Zhou Feng smiled and nodded: "Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony with you. Let's make a trip to Donglaishun this noon and call Ma Yingjie from the purchasing department as well."

Li Huaide blinked suspiciously: "Why call him?"

"I'd like to bring him to the new factory to be my assistant, but I don't know if he'll agree. I'll ask him while I'm at it."

"What are you asking? I'll talk to him about this. If he doesn't agree, I'll beat him to a pulp!"

Li Huaide rolled his eyes at Zhou Feng, annoyed: "If I weren't the deputy director of the Third Steel Rolling Mill, I'd want to be your assistant."

No matter how you look at it, following Zhou Feng, who is also the deputy director of several newly built factories, is much better than working at the Third Steel Rolling Mill.

Although there weren't such convenient ways to contact people in those days, Li Huaide knew Ma Yingjie because he had entered the purchasing department of the steel rolling mill, and they had eaten at the canteen together quite a few times.

Now that such a thing has happened, he immediately took on all the responsibility.

The two left Li Huaide's house and went to that man's house immediately, asking him to pass on a message to Ma Yingjie to go to Donglaishun to find them.

Throughout the entire process, Zhou Feng remained silent, letting Li Huaide speak instead, which could be considered as giving him the favor.

In this world of courtyard houses, the human relationships of ordinary people are completely meaningless to Zhou Feng.

It would be better to give it to Li Huaide, so that he can manage the relationship better and then help him in return.

At this time, Ma Yingjie was still busy at home.

After all, this era wasn't as convenient as later times. During the New Year, the whole family had to work together on housework. When people came to find him, he was still rolling up his sleeves, scrubbing the bed sheets in a basin.

"Old Ma, are you still working here? Get up now, you've hit the jackpot!"

"what?"

Ma Yingjie looked up at the person who had arrived, somewhat puzzled, and wanted to scratch his head, but then realized his hands were still covered in foam. He could only ask curiously, "What's going on? How did you get so lucky?"

"Come with me first, we'll talk as we walk, we're going to Donglaishun."

The person pulled Ma Yingjie aside, told him to wipe his hands clean, change his clothes, and then quickly left.

"You know about those new factories that have sprung up on the outskirts of Beiping, right?"

"Of course I know, those are top priorities for the future, who wouldn't know?"

Ma Yingjie clicked his tongue as he spoke.

Even a regular worker in a factory highly valued by the organization would be more sought after than his current position as a purchasing agent.

However, his current connections are with the Third Steel Rolling Mill, making it almost impossible for him to transfer to those new factories, and his backers don't have that much power.

"You've got incredible luck! Those deputy factory directors are short of assistants, and Li Huaide, the deputy director of your steel rolling mill, is bringing him to you."

"Looking for...looking for me? What do you want?"

Ma Yingjie involuntarily swallowed.

That's a very ambiguous statement, as if he were qualified to apply for the assistant position.

"We're looking for you to be our assistant, not our deputy factory manager!"

The man patted him on the shoulder with a smile: "Assistant Ma, don't forget me when you become rich and powerful. We should help each other out in the future!"

"Assistant Ma?"

This title stunned Ma Yingjie, and his breathing became rapid.

He really didn't expect it.

Being able to become the group leader of a group in the purchasing department was already his limit, since it was really difficult to procure supplies these days.

Therefore, given his connections, at most he can guarantee that his position will remain unchanged; as for promotion, he wouldn't even dare to dream of it.

But reality gave him a huge surprise, which almost stunned him.

Is this a windfall?

"What's wrong, Old Ma? You're not happy about it?"

"Pah, pah, pah! You're not happy about that! The leaders are at Donglaishun, right? I'm going there right now!"

Forgetting all about arguing with that person, Ma Yingcai rushed to the entrance of Donglaishun Restaurant as fast as he could, forced himself to take a few deep breaths to calm his breathing before going inside.

At that moment, Zhou Feng was chatting with Li Huaide when Ma Yingjie walked in, stood next to the table, and looked very reserved.

"What's this? You've come to Donglaishun to work as a waiter? Have a seat!"

Li Huaide glanced at him and couldn't help but ask a question with a smile.

"You're joking. I just happened to see the two leaders! I should thank Director Li for speaking up for me."

As he spoke, Ma Yingjie sat down and made a gesture of thanks to Li Huaide.

"Hey! This has nothing to do with me. Stop calling me Director Li. From now on, you'll have to call me Director Zhou."

???

Ma Yingjie turned to look at Zhou Feng, who had risen to a higher position in the steel rolling mill.

It wasn't that he couldn't understand the meaning conveyed by the seating arrangement between the two, but rather that Zhou Feng was too young!

He preferred to believe that Zhou Feng had successfully become the deputy director of the steel rolling mill, rather than believe that he could become the deputy director of those newly built factories.

"Alright, stop overthinking it. Zhou Feng is going to be the deputy factory manager of a few new factories in the suburbs after the New Year, and he needs an assistant to handle his miscellaneous tasks. I think you're quite clever; would you like to go with him?"

"Yes, sir! I'd go through fire and water for you!"

Having mentally prepared himself, Ma Yingjie quickly expressed his loyalty.

"Alright, alright, I just asked you to be my assistant. Why are you going to all this trouble?"

Zhou Feng waved his hand helplessly.

"Eat something first, and relax a bit. You'll be working with me for a long time to come, so working hard is the most important thing."

"Alright! Factory manager, don't worry, I'll handle things perfectly for you. Just watch my performance!"

Ma Yingjie didn't hesitate either, downing a glass of baijiu in one gulp without turning red or pale, which made Zhou Feng nod in approval.

This person is good!

At least I can take him to future drinking parties; he can at least help me avoid drinking too much.

The three of them ate and chatted, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

After his initial restraint, Ma Yingjie quickly regained his composure and became eloquent, chatting about all sorts of things and praising Zhou Feng to the skies.

Li Huaide also chimed in from the sidelines, occasionally offering a few words of agreement, but every word he said was spot on, and his praise of Zhou Feng was just right.

"Brother Li, I'm not sure what authority I have right now. The only people I want to get into the factory are Yingjie as my assistant and another woman. She doesn't need any special position; she can just be a regular worker at the hatchery. Could you tell me how to do that?"

Li Huaide was still eating mutton when he heard this and immediately raised an eyebrow.

"Brother, arranging for people to enter the factory is a small matter, very simple, but you must be careful, they can't be near you! And it's best to rent an extra house outside, otherwise if Comrade Bai Ling finds out, you might be in big trouble!"

These are his heartfelt words. As a son-in-law, although he likes to have affairs outside, his wife has never found out!

Zhou Feng's face darkened, and he glared at Li Huaide with annoyance: "Brother Li, I'm not into that kind of thing. I'm just helping out a friend."

"whispering sound…"

If someone else said this, they might believe him, but if you said it to Li Huaide, he wouldn't believe that there could be any ordinary friends between a man and a woman, let alone someone who would do such a big favor!

Seeing Li Huaide's pout, Zhou Feng hesitated for a moment and didn't continue to refute.

On the one hand, it's not really convenient to discuss this kind of thing in this setting, and on the other hand...

He seemed to have kneaded the dough twice as well, so strictly speaking, they weren't exactly ordinary friends.

Li Huaide naturally noticed Zhou Feng's state, so he immediately cleared his throat and changed the subject.

"Actually, with your position as deputy factory director, it wouldn't be difficult to arrange for both of them to be included."

"After all, the factory is newly built, and the organization will definitely have recruitment quotas. You can just put that ordinary friend on the list."

"As for Yingjie, you can write an application to support the construction of the new factory or allocate resources, and send it directly to the Third Steel Rolling Mill. I will approve it for you."

"However, you'll have to handle the background check and physical examination yourself. Yingjie getting into our steel mill is definitely no problem. If your friend has any issues, I can help find someone."

Li Huaide had done his best, and Zhou Feng nodded in agreement: "There shouldn't be any problems on her end. Even if there are, it's her own responsibility."

Zhou Feng had already done more than enough by arranging a position for her. If Yu Li really had a problem, that was her own business, and no one else was to blame.