Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

As soon as the figure walked away,

He Yuzhu picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of braised pork knuckle with a good balance of fat and lean meat. He said with a smile, "Let's eat! This is a heartfelt gift from our city comrades—if we just sit here without eating, we'll be letting them down!"

After a satisfying meal, the comforting atmosphere of the state-run restaurant still lingered: the white porcelain bowls were gleaming, the soup was piping hot, the smiles were friendly, and even the rags used to wipe the tables were spotless. The three of them felt relaxed and light on their feet, and their confidence, like a sail just filled with wind, swelled even stronger.

……

The truck drove steadily into the garment factory gate. Things are very different now—opposite the factory, rows of brand-new brick-and-mortar buildings have sprung up, their red tiles and gray walls gleaming warmly in the sunlight. Workers hurry into the factory in twos and threes, their faces beaming with confident smiles; as they pass the truck, their eyes are glued to the furniture inside, some even slowing their pace—if they weren't worried about being late for their shift, they probably would have stopped to ask more questions.

The security guard took the work permit, squinted at it closely, and even wiped the corner of the permit with his sleeve before waving it away curtly: "Go in!"

Deputy Factory Director Li Hongbo had received the call early and was waiting in the open space of the factory area. As soon as He Yuzhu got out of the car, he immediately went up to him, grabbed his hand, and shook it three times: "Old He, it's been so many years, but you're still as energetic as ever!"

He Yuzhu smiled and shook hands in return: "Director Li, you seem to be getting younger with age! Let me introduce you—this is Comrade Su Qiao, the deputy director of the furniture factory. Don't let her young age fool you, her skills and intelligence are among the best in the factory!" He deliberately emphasized the words "deputy director" to avoid belittling the other person while still giving her face—if he had just called her "clerk," a deputy director wouldn't have taken it seriously.

Su Qiaoluo extended her hand generously: "Hello, Director Li! This is my first time stepping into a large factory in the provincial capital, and I am truly impressed by its grandeur—the employees' quarters are bright and cozy, and the workers can open the door to their homes after get off work. This kind of dedication cannot be achieved through mere words on paper." She did not mention the leader in her words, but she subtly placed the credit on the person in charge.

Li Hongbo nodded with a smile: "Director Su, you are indeed a young talent! You're not even eighteen yet, are you?"

Su Qiao smiled frankly: "I just turned eighteen. It's all thanks to the organization providing the platform and my mentor guiding me that I've achieved this little bit of success. The reason I'm visiting today is simply to deliver our factory's latest batch of furniture to our own 'home'—I heard your factory's new building has just been completed. With just one word from Secretary He, we cleared out a set overnight and made a special trip to deliver it. It's a way for all the garment workers in the county to express our gratitude to you!"

By this time, the driver had already opened the cargo box, and several colleagues from the factory quickly unloaded and spread out the goods. Several pieces of furniture were scattered on the open ground, with clear wood grain and warm paint color.

Li Hongbo rubbed his hands together, his tone apologetic: "Oh dear, I got so caught up in talking—have you guys had lunch yet? If not, I'll order the cafeteria to add two more hearty dishes!"

He Yuzhu waved his hand: "I just had something to eat at the restaurant, my stomach is still warm."

Li Hongbo didn't reply, but his eyes swept back and forth among the furniture, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was plotting something.

Su Qiao took a few steps closer and pointed to the wardrobe, saying, "Director Li, look—this double-door wardrobe is suitable for spacious rooms and makes a good impression; for smaller apartments, we also have a single-door version, which takes up little space but has a large capacity. The drawers inside are logically divided, and the bottom has specially made openwork, so you can put a few pairs of frequently worn shoes in there, which is breathable and convenient. Don't let its small size fool you, it has everything you need, but the craftsmanship is exquisite and the materials are solid, so the price is naturally higher; if you're looking for something more affordable, we also have a simpler version, which is just as sturdy and durable."

She then strolled over to the round table and tapped the surface lightly with her fingers: "This round table looks small, but it actually has some clever design features—it's just the right size for four people, and when you pull out the extension panel, eight or nine people can sit around it in no time. It's perfect for holidays or when relatives visit, and the price is very reasonable."

Turning around again, she patted the folding chair: "Look at this! It's a chair during the day, but at night you can pull it out and it instantly becomes a single bed. When guests come over, they don't need to sleep on the floor. It can be folded up and stood in the corner, taking up no space and not getting in the way."

Finally, she squatted down and lifted the lid of a wooden box: "This box is sturdy with mortise and tenon joints and has an inner lining, so you can store money and tickets with peace of mind; the lock is made of brass, small and sturdy, and even the keyhole has a dustproof design—the attention to detail shows how well it is made, making it easy to use."

After describing the main products, Su Qiao straightened up and said sincerely, "Director Li, our furniture factory is a newcomer, but it's firmly rooted—we choose the most reliable materials, adhere to the strictest workmanship rules, and our designs are tailored to the daily lives of our workers: who doesn't have daily necessities, children, and elderly parents? Whose office isn't piled with documents and lacks a good chair? So, the desk has four deep drawers, making it easy to neatly store documents; the base has a double cabinet design, one layer for pens and ink, and the other for documents; this office chair has an ergonomically adjusted lumbar support, so you won't sag your back even after sitting all day; with the soft cushion, the comfort is doubled. The bookshelf looks exquisite, with three shelves and side compartments, it can hold all of our hundred-plus books."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Li Hongbo with a smile: "Director Li, do you think these furnishings are to your liking? If there's anything that's not right, just let us know, and we'll fix it right away."

Li Hongbo's eyes lit up as he listened, nodding repeatedly: "Wow, this is truly an eye-opener! In my fifty-plus years of life, this is the first time I've known furniture could be so 'living'—one thing that can support the entire family!"

He paused for a moment, then slapped his thigh: "Alright, I can't make the decision for the whole factory, but I'll pay for it myself and order one set first! The furniture can be displayed in the lobby for now, and I'll call the management team to discuss it later—but most importantly, we need to hear what the workers have to say! The sooner this set is delivered, the better. I'll have a meeting with the factory manager this afternoon to finalize this!"

Su Qiao immediately took out a small rosewood tea table model from her cloth bag and handed it over with both hands: "Director Li, this is a sample made by our factory's master craftsman. The wood grain is natural, and it wasn't coated with any chemical paint—consider it a small gift, and please give me your feedback!"

Li Hongbo was overjoyed and escorted the two men to the car, waving on tiptoe until the truck turned past the old locust tree at the factory gate. Only then did he turn around and walk quickly towards the office building.

As soon as they drove out of the factory gate, Su Qiao turned her head and asked, "Secretary He, where are we going next?"

He Yuzhu looked at the main road ahead and said firmly, "The steel mill. They just called, they're urging me urgently, saying they have something important to discuss with me in person."

As soon as He Yuzhu and his group turned to leave, Li Hongbo rushed into the factory director's office with lightning speed. In less than five minutes, he had invited the entire factory leadership team to the hall where furniture was piled up.

He refined the story Su Qiao had given him, adding details and weight, making it sound eloquent and vivid. The leaders listened, nodding frequently with shining eyes; even Director Gao couldn't help but straighten up, his brows relaxing.

Factory Director Gao waved his hand with a smile: "Comrade Hongbo, your presentation is certainly impressive, but the key is in the accounts—what's the price? Can our workers afford it?"

Li Hongbo was confident: "I've already spoken with Factory Director Su. We'll place the orders under the name of the garment factory, which will significantly reduce costs. The goods on the market not only require invoices, but they're also just for show and don't last long. Our batch from Dongli County, on the other hand, doesn't require invoices, is durable, and can withstand bumps and knocks. I've searched all over the three towns and eight factories, and none of them are as honest as this one!"

Factory Director Gao's eyes lit up: "Have they softened their stance on office furniture? Have they offered any discounts?"

Li Hongbo slapped his thigh: "It's all settled! Send this batch over for trial first. If it works, we'll sign the contract; if not, oh well—they said they trust our factory's reputation."

Factory Director Gao immediately nodded: "Okay, quickly pick out a set that you like and send it to my office."

The rest of the staff walked around the furniture, touching the texture, testing its load-bearing capacity, and comparing its dimensions, all with smiles on their faces. The meeting was swift and efficient, with a decision made on the spot; if the frontline workers were allowed to come and take a look, sit down, and discuss it before the end of the workday, the decision would likely be finalized in nine out of ten cases.

……

No sooner had He Yuzhu stepped into the steel mill than Xu Changshun rushed forward, stretched out his arm, and firmly grasped his wrist.

Xu Changshun lowered his voice: "Secretary He, your 'Homestead Plan' for the garment factory has really set our steel mill on fire! The workers see those new buildings rising up over there every day, and although they don't say it, they're burning with rage—they're clamoring for their own family housing! But we can't even find a patch of empty land in front of our factory. If you don't take responsibility for this, you're not leaving the factory today!"

He Yuzhu quickly waved his hand: "Minister Xu, don't worry, there is a solution, but I have to say something in advance: the bricks used for building the house must be produced by our Dongli County Kiln."

Xu Changshun was taken aback, then slapped his thigh: "Okay! As long as the price is the same as the garment factory, tell me quickly, how do we do it?"

He Yuzhu countered, "Aren't you all still living in the old factory-assigned staff housing?"

"you do not say!"

Have you visited the garment factory in person?

"I went twice. The larger ones have two households per floor, and the smaller ones have six rooms on three floors. It's all very clear."

"That makes things much easier—tear down the old buildings and rebuild! As for the land shortage, the factory will coordinate with the city to buy it; the first phase will consist of building a few simple dormitories to address the immediate needs and accommodate temporary workers; once things are stable here, we'll immediately launch the employee housing project. One step at a time, completely plugging the housing gap!"

Xu Changshun lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up: "Great! Let's do it this way! Everyone grit your teeth and hold on for two months. At the speed of the garment factory, the production schedule is guaranteed to be on time—Secretary He, you're really quick-witted! Oh dear, I was in too much of a rush just now. Is this your daughter?"

He Yuzhu laughed loudly: "This is Comrade Su Qiao, the deputy director of our county furniture factory."

Xu Changshun hurriedly smiled apologetically, "My apologies, my apologies, it was a slip of the tongue!"

Su Qiao smiled generously: "It's alright. Minister Xu, we just sent a set of samples to the garment factory, and the response was excellent. If it's convenient for you, why don't you go take a look now? Order it early so you don't miss out on the queue later—the furniture from our factory is really hard to find on the market."