Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

More than an hour later, Chen Xueru pushed open the door and came in carrying the child. As soon as she stepped across the threshold, He Yuzhu gently took the little one from her arms.

"Oh my, what a lovely little face! Her features are just like mine when I was little..."

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Xueru interrupted with a laugh: "A girl like you? That would really be a worry for someone."

"Who says girls can't be like me? They'll learn to be even more stable and brilliant than me in the future!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was resolute. This was his first child, a daughter, but he didn't hold any of those old-fashioned ideas—that one's own flesh and blood is the apple of one's eye, regardless of gender.

"It says on the household registration book that her name is Chen Zihui."

"Fine, next time you're born, you must take my surname, He!"

"Sure, as long as you're here, you can decide the name."

"Of course I'll be there. Let's not talk about that now—do you have enough stuff for the kids? I brought back a whole big bag this time, it's all piled up in the side room, you can get anything you need anytime."

He carried the baby in one arm and led Chen Xueru and Chen Zihui into the house with the other. In the corner, a wooden stroller was quietly parked—he had seen the style abroad, and after returning, he selected the materials, shaving and waxing it himself. Every mortise and tenon joint was made by hand, making it warm and sturdy. Even the axles were inlaid with soft rubber, so it was very quiet when pushed.

After entering the house, he held his daughter in his arms until the little one's eyelids became heavy and her little mouth slightly open, before gently placing her into the stroller. The mattress was thick, with a three-finger-thick layer of fluffy cotton underneath. In winter, wrapped in a small blanket, it was warm and cozy, and she slept more soundly than in a cradle.

Once Chen Zihui's breathing had evened out, He Yuzhu grinned and moved closer to Chen Xueru, intending to put his arm around her waist and talk to her—after being apart for so long, her gentle and warm nature had become even stronger.

After giving birth, her waistline didn't sag; instead, her figure became more flexible, and her eyes gained a serene light that made her captivating at first glance.

But Chen Xueru wouldn't let him have his way—just now, he only had eyes for his daughter and didn't even hear her ask, "Are you tired?" Now that she was clinging to him, she deliberately turned her face away, twirling her hair with her fingers as if adjusting her collar, not even glancing at him.

Without saying a word, He Yuzhu rolled up his sleeve and pressed it against her shoulder: "Is it stiff here? Let me rub it for you."

The moment her hand touched the ground, the atmosphere in the room changed. Outside the window, the wind was gentle and the clouds were light, but inside, warm, panting breaths gradually rose, as delicate as silkworms eating leaves.

"Sir, we've reviewed all the data overnight, and the conclusion is clear: the technology is genuine and reliable. This new type of phased array radar will significantly enhance our early warning capabilities, placing us among the best in the world..."

The technician's voice was hoarse, his eyes were bloodshot, and two buttons on his shirt collar were undone; he was clearly exhausted.

"And it's not just radar—in other critical areas like microelectronics and chip packaging, if we can get on this train, our industrial foundation will be significantly strengthened..."

The leader nodded, his gaze sweeping over the other man's haggard face, and his tone softened: "Xiao Li, go and rest for two hours. Just leave the report here."

"I understand! I'm just too excited, I really didn't expect this..."

The young man scratched the back of his head, smiled a little embarrassedly, put down the documents, and walked out. He'd been working non-stop for forty-eight hours; if he kept going, he'd probably collapse in his chair.

The leader picked up the report and read it carefully, noting between the lines that if China wants to overtake others in communications infrastructure, it must stick to this technology; otherwise, it will always be chasing after others.

Closing this file, he pulled out another one—He Yuzhu's personal resume. It was filled with densely written information, spanning more than ten pages, even including details about how He Yuzhu had set up a stall selling red bean buns at the entrance of an alley when he was eight years old.

There are also a few gaps: for example, the origin and ingredients of several medicinal herbs he carried with him cannot be found to this day; but the flaws do not detract from the merits. The fact that he helped the country open up overseas procurement channels and brought back key technologies is enough to make a difference.

"Hmm, he's a truly patriotic person..."

He tapped his fingertips on the table. An ordinary person with tens of millions in assets in Hong Kong would have already brought their whole family there to enjoy a comfortable retirement—He Yuzhu and Lou's father certainly had that ability.

But they kept their promise, transporting back truckloads of urgently needed supplies, and finally even brought back this "hardcore seed." What's even more remarkable is that, although they could have started a new washing machine factory on Hong Kong Island, they insisted on having the mainland factory produce the equipment, only exchanging for urgently needed industrial parts.

In earlier years, many factory owners and businessmen quietly left the country. The leaders were aware of this but did not stop them—as long as they did not take secrets or harm the country's foundation, they were allowed to leave.

But He Yuzhu was different. He took root, spread his branches, and devoted his strength to the places in the motherland that were most thirsty.

He gestured with his chin toward his secretary: "Please ask Director Zhang from the Foreign Trade Department to come over."

A few minutes later, Director Zhang strode in, joking with a smile, "The boss summoned me, surely it's about Xiao He's shipment?"

"Exactly. I just heard from the experts that if we miss even one day of this technology, we could be ten years behind. The West has already tested and verified it; we must race against time..."

He flicked his cigarette, and a flame popped up, sending wisps of smoke rising slowly.

"I also glanced at his resume—agricultural breeding, machine tool modification, every single one of which was practical and effective..."

Director Zhang nodded in agreement, "When he first came to discuss cooperation, I wondered if the Lou family wanted to withdraw. But then I thought, if they really wanted to leave, why would they bother contacting me? They wouldn't even need to say hello. That's why I decided to support him—and unexpectedly, it actually worked out!"

In fact, the Ministry of Foreign Trade hardly got involved. Even the washing machines used in the exchange were designed and tested by He Yuzhu himself.

The leader suddenly asked, "Has this batch of frozen meat arrived?"

"We've arrived! Thirteen thousand tons, all chilled fresh pork with a perfect balance of lean and fat. Leader, this year, the soldiers will be able to eat braised pork for the Spring Festival, and the workers will be able to make big dumplings. It's going to be another truly bountiful year!"

Director Zhang's brows relaxed as he spoke—with the granaries nearly empty, this 13,000 tons of meat was like a timely snowfall.

"Sure! But after looking at Xiao He's materials, I'm in a bit of a dilemma—his contributions are so great that I don't know what to give him. How about... you go and ask him directly what he really wants? He's a national hero; we can't be stingy and discourage people!"

The leader said loudly. It is only right to reward those who have made contributions; not to mention that this time more than 13,000 tons of pork were transported back, along with a complete set of cold storage and transportation technology—they have truly given us a discount. If we don't even make a sound, where will we put our face?

"Okay, I'll ask when I have time."

Leader Zhang agreed, a smirk playing on his lips, and added, "Leader, I'll bring Xiao He to see you another day. It's no exaggeration to say that even his stir-fried potato shreds have a special charm—crisp, tender, smooth, and perfectly seasoned. I've never had anything more authentic in my life."

"Oh? Now that you mention it, I'm actually getting a little hungry—hahaha!"

For the first three days after returning to Beijing, He Yuzhu didn't even step into the steel rolling mill. Instead, he made a special trip to visit each of them: he kowtowed to his master Li Yuanguo, spent half an afternoon at Bai Danyu's house, and even went to Li Wangcai's house—all to sort out the matter of the last few medicinal herbs.

These days, exchanging ginseng for antiques is becoming increasingly difficult. Either the other party has plenty of ginseng, or they don't have any genuine antiques at all. Li Wangcai had made a series of misjudgments recently, which made him very anxious, until he finally stopped his spree with He Yuzhu.

Moreover, he was extremely cautious when exchanging goods, specifically targeting those who had shops, registered residences, and couldn't run away, so that he could trace them back to their homes afterward.

Seeing that he could no longer sell the antiques, he considered ending the deal.

As for gold, jewelry, and cash? He Yuzhu really wasn't interested at the moment.

"Xiao He, please have a seat!"

As soon as the man entered, Leader Zhang immediately stood up to make tea. He Yuzhu quickly waved his hand to stop him, saying, "Leader, please don't, please don't! I'll do it myself, I'll do it myself!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already picked up the tea mug and shaken it. Seeing that there was still water inside, he picked up the thermos and steadily poured a cup of boiling water.

After he sat down, Leader Zhang smiled and said, "The technical team reviewed that document overnight—it's all solid, practical information on military, agriculture, and light industry! Your visit has truly solved our urgent problem."

"The leader had heard about it long ago, praised it three times, and even specifically instructed me: 'You have to ask Xiao He what he wants?' The merits are there for all to see, and if we don't express our appreciation, our conscience won't allow it..."

"Boss, how could I dare to claim credit for such a small matter?"

"Hey—that's not right! If you don't reward those who have done good, half the rules will collapse; besides, you and Mr. Lou have only been in Hong Kong for less than two years, and you've already brought back tens of millions of kilograms of supplies. We still owe you tens of thousands of washing machine core components! If it weren't for Mr. Lou's help in selling a few new machine tools, this debt would still be weighing heavily on our books!"

Leader Zhang shook his head, his tone resolute—taking things for free and pretending nothing happened? That's not being kind, that's being shameless.

"Then...could the leader please inscribe a calligraphy piece for me?"

He Yuzhu scratched the back of his head, a little shyly: "I know a little wood carving. Old Wang from the courtyard house was skilled but had no job, so I learned from him for a while. Later, I became more skilled and carved a lot of figures. The most popular ones were portraits of leaders—I still have a bust at home, which is the most lifelike… I used to be afraid of breaking taboos, so I didn't dare to display too many."

"Hahaha! Sell with confidence! There are plenty of people across the country who make a living with their craftsmanship, what's yours? But I really want to see that bust—if it can fetch a good price, the craftsmanship must be top-notch!"

Leader Zhang laughed heartily, offered a few words of comfort, and then asked, "Is this your only wish? I'll pass on the message for you. Whatever the leader decides, I'll tell you immediately."

He Yuzhu nodded decisively: "Just this one thing. I am Chinese, and the strength of our country is our lifeline; this little thing is really nothing—compared to those sweating on the front lines and those pulling all-nighters in the lab, we've been too lucky."

"Okay! I'll pass on the message right away."

Leader Zhang patted him on the shoulder with a smile, his eyes full of approval.

They chatted for a while longer, and he asked if he was still going to Hong Kong Island. He Yuzhu scratched his head and told the truth—his parents were urging him to have a grandson, and he probably wouldn't be able to leave for the next six months.

After finishing their casual conversation, Leader Zhang didn't have anyone take him home; instead, he sent a car directly back to the steel rolling mill.