Siheyuan: At the beginning, I can integrate everything!

The harsh winter is finally over.

On the bluestone slabs of Nanluoguxiang, the remaining snow melted into water, seeping into the soil along the cracks between the bricks.

The old locust tree in the front yard, which had been barren all winter, quietly sprouted several tender green buds on its branches.

The wind picked up, but it no longer cut like a knife; instead, it carried the sweet, slightly fishy smell of spring mud.

The atmosphere in the Hongxing Courtyard was unusually relaxed.

Outside the door of the east wing.

Yan Bugui was holding a chipped iron basin and was wiping the dust off the threshold with a rag.

He had specially changed into a slightly neater blue cotton jacket today, and his gold-rimmed glasses were polished to a shine.

"Uncle, you're here for volunteer work again so early in the morning?"

Sha Zhu walked over from the central courtyard, yawning, carrying a dripping net bag containing a large, lively grass carp.

"Get out of here! What voluntary labor? This is called sharing in the joy!"

Yan Bugui glared at Sha Zhu, lowered his voice, and leaned closer mysteriously.

"Zhu Zi, have you forgotten? Today is Huai Min's sixth birthday!"

Sha Zhu slapped his thigh. "Oh my god! I almost forgot the important thing! I bought this fish specifically for Brother Huaimin at the morning market!"

He looked happily into the east wing.

In this compound, everyone knows that Zhang Huaimin is a "living ancestor" who is not to be trifled with.

Anyone with a brain would be thinking about how to get close to this child prodigy.

"Squeak—"

The wooden door to the east wing was pushed open.

Zhang Huaimin was wearing a thin white shirt with a newly made vest over it, and his delicate, pretty face had a hint of languor from just waking up.

Although he was only six years old, his composure made him seem more authoritative than the adults in the compound.

Happy birthday, Huaimin!

Yan Bugui quickly threw away the rag, grinned like an old chrysanthemum, and pulled a red paper packet from his pocket.

"Uncle doesn't have anything good. Here's two yuan for New Year's money. Keep it to buy candy."

Two dollars?

Sha Zhu, who was listening nearby, just kept grimacing.

That old man Yan is a real miser, but he's plucked far too little.

Zhang Huaimin didn't mind at all, and accepted the red envelope with a smile: "Thank you, Uncle San."

He knew in his heart that although Yan Bugui was a scheming man, he was quite useful as a doorman who didn't cost him any money, as long as he was subdued.

"Brother Huaimin, look what good stuff Uncle Zhuzi got for you!"

Sha Zhu picked up the big grass carp as if presenting it as a treasure.

"Uncle will cook you a proper braised carp for lunch, and also stir-fry two of his signature dishes. Let's have a good time!"

"Thank you, Uncle Zhu."

Zhang Huaimin nodded.

Although life in this compound was chaotic, after he cleaned it up, it now has a bit of the warmth and community spirit of neighbors.

Just then.

A low, rumbling car engine sound suddenly came from the alley entrance.

Immediately afterwards, a military green Beijing Jeep came to a steady stop at the entrance of the courtyard house.

The car door opened.

Old Chen, wearing his faded white overcoat, strode in.

Two guards followed behind him to help carry his things.

"Huaimin! Grandpa has come to see you!"

Old Chen grinned from ear to ear and strode into the front yard.

When Yan Bugui and Sha Zhu saw this leading figure in the scientific community, they quickly and respectfully made way for him.

"Grandpa Chen, what brings you here?" Zhang Huaimin asked, somewhat surprised.

"It's your sixth birthday, how could I not come?"

Old Chen walked up to Zhang Huaimin and patted his head.

"The equipment at the research institute has been debugged, and I specifically asked for half a day off today."

He turned around, took a heavy wooden box from the guard, and handed it to Zhang Huaimin.

"Open it and take a look."

Zhang Huaimin took the box, opened it, and took a look.

Inside lay a set of extremely precise miniature mechanical assembly models.

The gears, bearings, and connecting rods are all hand-polished from special alloy materials, radiating a captivating metallic luster.

This is no ordinary toy.

This is a set of teaching aids that can demonstrate basic physical transmission principles!

In the 1960s, this was an absolutely unique item that money couldn't buy.

"I had the workshop's master craftsman, an eighth-level expert, work overnight to polish this for you using scraps."

Old Chen looked at Zhang Huaimin with hopeful eyes.

"Your little head is full of profound things. Grandpa hopes that you can not only make great inventions, but also use your hands more often and not waste this talent."

"Thank you, Grandpa Chen, I really like this gift."

Zhang Huaimin genuinely liked this model.

Although he had countless high-tech blueprints in his mind, the beauty of this purely handmade mechanical device still fascinated him.

Just as everyone was admiring the model...

"drop--"

Another black sedan pulled up at the gate.

Secretary Song, carrying a briefcase, strode into the courtyard.

"Secretary Song? What brings you here?" Old Chen asked, somewhat surprised.

Secretary Song adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and looked at Zhang Huaimin with a smile.

"The leader has a very important meeting today and can't get away."

"He specifically instructed me to personally deliver this 'gift' to Comrade Huaimin."

As he spoke, Secretary Song took out a brown paper envelope stamped with a red seal from his briefcase and solemnly handed it to Zhang Huaimin.

Yan Bugui and Sha Zhu stared wide-eyed at the scene.

The leader sent his secretary to personally deliver the gift?

This is absolutely amazing!

Zhang Huaimin took the envelope, opened it, glanced at it, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

It doesn't contain money or any rare treasures.

It was a handwritten note.

There is only one short line of text above:

[Comrade Zhang Huaimin has made outstanding contributions to scientific research and technological innovation. He is hereby granted special permission to independently apply for civilian technology transfer experiments outside of the confidential laboratory at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. All departments are required to cooperate.]

The signature at the end was several bold, penetrating marks.

"A civilian technology transfer experiment?"

Old Chen leaned over for a look, somewhat puzzled.

"Huaimin, what does the leader mean by this? We haven't even finished our military projects yet, why are we getting involved in civilian projects?"

Zhang Huaimin carefully put away the approval slip, raised his head, and a deep glint flashed in his clear eyes.

"Grandpa Chen, we build generators and bulletproof steel plates so that our country can stand tall and not be bullied."

He turned around and looked at his neighbors in the courtyard, who, although they didn't go hungry, still wore patched clothes and used old furniture.

"but."

"Ordinary people still have to rely on pots and pans, food, clothing, shelter and transportation to make a living."

Zhang Huaimin's voice wasn't loud, but it conveyed a grand vision beyond his years.

I want to give it a try.

"Could we use our technology to make everyone's lives a little more comfortable?"

These words were spoken.

Not only Old Chen and Secretary Song, but even Sha Zhu and Yan Bugui standing to the side were stunned.

Looking at the child who had just turned six, they were suddenly filled with an indescribable sense of emotion and awe.

This child's mind is not only filled with national affairs, but also with the daily necessities of ordinary people like them!

"Good! Well said!"

Old Chen slapped his thigh suddenly, his face turning red with excitement.

"Science and technology should serve the people; that's the original intention behind our research!"

The spring breeze in the courtyard seemed to blow even warmer.

At this time.

The Jia family of the Intermediate People's Court.

Qin Huairu peered through the crack in the door at the lively and warm scene in the front yard, her jealousy almost making her grind her teeth to dust.

She looked at her mother-in-law, who was paralyzed on the kang (a heated brick bed), and her son, who had become mentally impaired, and a deep despair overwhelmed her.

She knew that in this lifetime, the Jia family would never catch up with that five-and-a-half-year-old prodigy.