Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

As soon as three tractors adorned with red ribbons and decorations appeared, cheers erupted. Firecrackers were immediately lit, their sparks crackling and exploding, while drums pounded until hearts trembled. Children took off running after them, and the drivers, smiling, slammed on the brakes, bent down, picked up a few of the younger ones, and placed them beside the cab before slowly driving into the commune compound—the spectacle was that of triumphant soldiers receiving the warmest salute from the villagers.

In the tractor factory office, Yu Bo and Gu Yun sat side by side by the window, the tea freshly brewed and steaming.

Yu Bo: "This trip to the provincial capital has really opened up sales channels! Four or five surrounding provinces are vying to order our small tractors. This is an order signed on the spot by the province—we no longer have to sit in the factory worrying about not being able to sell them!" As he spoke, he pushed a thick stack of contracts in front of Gu Yun.

Gu Yun ran her fingertips over the pages, her eyes shining: "This is so timely! Everyone in the factory is hoping for orders; we're just worried that if the machines keep running too fast, the goods will just pile up in the warehouse and get moldy."

Yu Bo nodded with a smile: "It was Secretary He who reminded me—to let us demonstrate the tractor's 'two-in-one' function in public: it's an iron ox when plowing and a pack animal when hauling goods. After testing it on the spot, even the provincial leaders gathered around to touch the chassis and check the steering. It plows faster than ten oxen, and it's also agile, easily navigating gullies and slopes; the price is less than a third of a large tractor, which really solves the problem of everyone being short of money and unable to afford one."

Gu Yun pondered for a moment: "Then...should we recruit a new batch of workers?"

Yu Bo waved his hand: "No rush. Let these apprentices graduate and take over their positions first. We can expand later once the orders are secured. As long as the commune finds this batch of goods useful, orders will come in like snowflakes."

After Yu Bo left, Gu Yun immediately convened a factory-wide meeting and explained the good news word by word: the factory is stable, orders are coming in, and our jobs are secure—everyone can focus on their work, don't overthink things, don't ask around, just put all your effort into moving forward!

Furniture factory

Wang Xiulan: "Director Lou, congratulations on the furniture factory officially starting production! I've been so busy these past few days that I haven't had a chance to visit you. I really have to thank you for guiding and teaching Ting'er so patiently!"

Lou Xiao'e: "Ting'er is a child who is willing to delve into things, ask questions, and revise—she doesn't mind revising the blueprints three times and making the sample five times without complaining. I can sleep soundly with her around."

Wang Xiulan: "How could I not know her background? If it weren't for Director Lou patiently explaining things to her, repeatedly showing her the wood grain, measuring the mortise and tenon joints, and adjusting the glue ratio, she wouldn't have this kind of energy and spirit today. Who knows, she might still be gluing cardboard boxes in some factory!"

Lou Xiao'e smiled and shook her head: "You're too modest. This girl is now methodical in her actions and tactful in her speech. When you meet her, I guarantee you'll be impressed."

The two then began to chat about the ins and outs of mentoring apprentices—how to manage one's temper, how to suppress arrogance, and how to turn brute force into real skill. The more they talked, the more they clicked, and their laughter came in waves, making even the wind outside the window feel lighter.

……

Two days later, He Yuzhu was hunched over his desk reviewing documents when the phone rang crisply.

He Yuzhu: "Hello, this is He Yuzhu."

Su Qiao: "Hello, Secretary He, I am Su Qiao, assistant to Factory Director Lou. Factory Director Lou asked me to contact you and would like to ask you to take me to the provincial capital to discuss the promotion and cooperation of our furniture."

He Yuzhu: "Okay, no problem. When do you set off?"

Su Qiao: "We are all ready and can depart at any time. We are just waiting for your convenience."

He Yuzhu: "Then I'll come right away. I also need to take care of some things in the provincial capital."

This morning, Lou Xiao'e had already coordinated the transportation fleet. A whole truckload of newly made furniture was neatly stacked. Su Qiao took the sample book, quality inspection report and several sets of the main styles and headed straight to the provincial capital—not only to sell the goods, but also to let people see for themselves: how smooth the wood is, how tight the mortise and tenon joints are, and whether the chair is comfortable to sit on.

He Yuzhu had the driver take him straight to the furniture factory, and then instructed him to stay at the factory and listen to Lou Xiao'e's instructions—in case he couldn't make it back that day, Lou Xiao'e could also get a ride back.

As they were talking, Su Qiao walked over quickly.

"Secretary He, shall we set off now?"

"It's always better to leave early, let's get going."

The two jumped onto the truck, and the driver stepped on the gas, sending the truck bumping towards the provincial capital. The road just outside the county town was full of potholes and ditches, the wheels making a screeching sound as they rolled over them. Su Qiao gripped the side of the truck and frowned – last time she had ridden a smooth green train, but this time she was really suffering.

He Yuzhu gazed at the yellow dust rising outside the window, his eyes sweeping over the dirt road repeatedly eroded by tires, and wondered: When will it be paved with asphalt? Once the road is smooth, people can walk more easily, goods can be transported more easily, and villagers will no longer have to endure the bumpy ride to go to the market, for children to go to school, or for patients to be transferred to other hospitals.

He turned his head and asked, "Comrade Su Qiao, how old are you this year?"

"Just turned eighteen."

"You're in the prime of your life! Which grade are you in?"

"I dropped out of junior high school and went back to the village to farm. Later, Director Lou saw that I was quick and efficient at the brick factory, so he brought me in to work there."

"You must keep learning! The knowledge in books is like flowing water; the more you read, the wider your horizons become, and your perspective won't narrow. The county party school is in full swing with its new enrollment; register as soon as you get back. Didn't Director Lou process your party membership application?"

"I was officially promoted last month. Director Lou had already written the letter of introduction for me from the Party School, so I can start attending classes as soon as I get back."

"Good! Director Lou has thought this through very well. Study hard, and in the future you will not only be able to illuminate your own path, but also help many more people brighten their lives."

"Thank you for your guidance, Secretary He."

After exchanging a few more words, He Yuzhu leaned back against the carriage wall and closed his eyes to rest. As the carriage entered the provincial capital, the driver asked softly, "Secretary He, which way do we turn next?"

He opened his eyes, raised his hand to wipe his face, and said, "Let's fill our stomachs first. The factory closed early, we'll go visit them first thing tomorrow morning."

The car stopped in front of the state-run restaurant, and the three of them filed in.

The sharp-eyed salesperson at the counter immediately spotted the neatly stacked new wooden furniture in the truck bed—the varnish was still wet, the wood grain was bright, and the edges were distinct.

In today's provincial capital, even ordinary families with ample funds rarely buy an entire set of furniture at once. Some, however, are more frugal and frequent flea markets, searching for old items. But many of those pieces, even those in near-new condition, date back to the Republican era. While they might be considered antiques decades later, they're now considered outdated—the wood is dull, the carvings are plastered, and they look neither vibrant nor presentable in the home.

On the contrary, this new piece of furniture, smelling of pine resin and wood chips, looks clean, sturdy, and durable, and exudes a fresh vibe. But this new furniture is in high demand: it requires tickets, and the tickets are precious, with only a few available each month. Some people hold onto their tickets for half a year, only to buy a square table; want a five-drawer chest? You have to wait until the day of your wedding; some families can't even get tickets after setting the wedding date.

So even this restaurant waiter, who usually looked down on people with raised eyebrows, lowered his eyelids a bit when he saw the car full of new furniture. He immediately became certain that these three must have powerful connections!

Back then, having money in your pocket wasn't a skill; being able to bypass numerous obstacles and get your hands on scarce, desirable items was what truly showed skill.

The waiter greeted us briskly, his smile perfectly timed: "Hello, sir! What would you like to order? By the way, where did you find this furniture? What paperwork do we need to place an order with you?"

She had barely put on a smiling face when she immediately started asking questions—she was afraid that the person would leave as soon as the meal was over, and the clues would be completely wiped out.

Driver Liu was too busy wiping the steering wheel to listen to what was being said.

Su Qiao glanced at He Yuzhu discreetly, and seeing him nod slightly, she smiled gracefully: "This is the first time we've delivered goods from our own factory to the provincial capital."

The waiter's eyes lit up, and his voice rose a beat: "Oh my! Someone from the furniture factory? I've never seen you before!"

"The Dongli County Furniture Factory has only been established for a short time, and this is its first time trying to get orders."

The waiter didn't care about who was around; as long as he could make a connection, he immediately moved a chair next to Su Qiao and sat down, lowering his voice: "Comrade, a few of us sisters are thinking of buying some things... Could you lend us a hand? We have plenty of money and coupons!"

Su Qiao's mind raced: those who can get a secure job in a state-run restaurant probably have connections and resources that might come in handy in the future.

She smiled and nodded, "It's fate that we met today. You can make a list, and we'll prepare the goods according to the list and deliver them directly to your door."

The waiter was surprised by her quick agreement and his eyes crinkled with a smile: "Okay! It's a deal!"

Before he could finish speaking, the waiters, chefs, and accountants from the next few tables all crowded around: "What about us? We'd like to book too!"

"Don't push, don't push, everyone please get in line!"

Su Qiao remained amiable: "Please write down what you want first, and I'll arrange production as soon as I get back to the factory. However, our factory has strict rules—we don't accept individual orders. If you can place the order under the restaurant's name, we'll handle the invoicing, accounting, and shipping efficiently."

The waiter slapped his thigh and said, "That's it! Let's do it this way!" He then took out a pen and paper and insisted on exchanging contact information.

Su Qiao neatly wrote down the factory's phone number and address and handed it over; the other party readily copied down the restaurant's switchboard number and gave it to her. Clutching the slip of paper, she turned and went back to the kitchen, a group of girls chasing after her asking, "How did it go? Did it work out?"

In the kitchen, amidst the clanging of spatulas, a few crisp laughs rang out.

Before long, the waiter came out carrying a large bowl of braised pork, glistening with oil, trembling slightly, and emitting a wonderful aroma: "Comrade, the head chef added extra seasonings to this, please try it! It's on the restaurant's treat!"

Actually, it was a group of over ten people in the kitchen who pooled their money and money to buy one meal. The reason is simple: you can't be indebted to someone who pays your way, and you can't refuse to accept their payment. The worst thing is that these three people will forget about it as soon as they turn around and deny it.

He Yuzhu lowered his head and took a bite of meat, sighing inwardly: These days, people will serve you hot meat after just one meeting, a few words, and a few pieces of paper—that sincerity is so genuine it warms your heart.

Su Qiao smiled and said cheerfully, "Thank you so much! Next time we come, we'll bring some of our signature dishes so you can taste the warmth and flavor of our country kitchen."

The waiter grinned and waved his hand, "Hey, don't be shy! Go on, eat while it's hot. We need to enjoy this meal properly and comfortably!"