Courtyard House: I'm an engineer, and a fairy godmother transferred me to a different position.

The next morning, the area in front of the Hongxing Chuanghui Machinery Factory was bustling with activity.

A long line of jeeps and bicycles blocked the open space in front of the factory. Dongfeng, Bohai, Xinhua... various brands were prominently painted on the vehicles. The factory directors from the Ministry of Light Industry, deviating from their usual practice, personally led the teams, followed by the factory's top technical staff. Everyone was clutching thick kraft paper bags, some even bringing out samples of the factory's best electrical appliances—demonstrating the importance they attached to this visit to the Hongxing Factory.

Liu Guangqi had just parked his bicycle in front of the office building when he suddenly heard a clear and familiar voice calling from behind him:

"Liu Guangqi?"

A voice called out from behind, and Liu Guangqi turned around.

What came into view was a fair, round face, still bearing a hint of childishness, yet already a mature woman. The familiar features of her eyebrows and eyes made him pause slightly, and memories flooded back.

"Fang Lili?"

It was the girl he had been introduced to half a year ago, the one who had repeatedly said she wanted him to marry into the Fang family.

In just six months, she seemed to have grown taller, appearing even more slender and graceful. The black briefcase in her hand was quite eye-catching, with the factory name clearly printed on it—Bohai Electric Appliance Factory.

It seems she didn't just wander around the Red Star Factory randomly.

The thought flashed through Liu Guangqi's mind and quickly became clear. If he remembered correctly, "Bohai Electrical Appliance Factory" was the new name of that old light industrial electrical appliance factory in Tianjin after its restructuring. When they first met, this Miss Fang kept mentioning "my father is the deputy factory director," as if afraid he wouldn't understand the significance of that.

It wasn't that he had any particular impression of the girl, but rather that her argument that "marrying into a family can save you decades of struggle," along with the undisguised sense of superiority in her words, was unforgettable.

At that time, we felt that our personalities were not very compatible, so we did not pursue the relationship further.

Unexpectedly, we met again here today.

Judging from the situation, her proud father, the deputy factory director, had probably come specifically to seek cooperation. And coincidentally, she herself held the power to decide on this cooperation.

The twists and turns of life can sometimes be quite intriguing.

Fang Lili was unaware of the subtle implications at this moment. She strode forward, her eyes brimming with undisguised joy, her gaze fixed intently on Liu Guangqi's face.

"It really is you, Guangqi! I was afraid I had mistaken you for someone else."

Her voice carried the intimacy of reuniting with an old friend, and a hint of her own smugness. It was a subtle air of "How have you been? I'm not the same person I used to be."

Liu Guangqi remained calm and composed.

Upon unexpectedly meeting an old acquaintance, he felt no sense of "the wheel of fortune turning." Their differences stemmed merely from differing philosophies on marriage; there was no real grudge or entanglement. Frankly speaking, the fact that she had been attracted to his appearance and demeanor, and had so persistently offered advice, at least proved he had his merits. From beginning to end, he felt no displeasure, and naturally, there was no need for him to put on a show of triumph upon their reunion.

So he simply nodded calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Comrade Fang, it's been a long time. Are you here to discuss cooperation?"

The address "Comrade Fang" subtly created an appropriate distance. And the use of the word "you" was also quite natural.

Fang Lili's smile paused almost imperceptibly, then blossomed into an even brighter one. She took a small half-step forward, her voice softening, revealing a girl's unique tenderness.

"Yes. I currently work in the publicity department of Bohai Electric Factory. I came here with my father this time, hoping to secure an opportunity to collaborate with Hongxing Factory."

As she spoke, her gaze subtly swept over Liu Guangqi's white shirt—still so plain and simple, yet it made him appear exceptionally refined. He simply stood there quietly, exuding a calm and composed air, as if he had everything under control.

Upon seeing him again, Fang Lili couldn't help but sigh inwardly: this man was even more charming and intriguing than before. If only she had known this earlier, why had she insisted so much…

"And you? How have you been?" She took two more steps closer, gazing at that captivating face, a flicker of resentment resurfacing in her heart. If she could marry him, whether or not she became his son-in-law seemed less important.

"Everything is fine." Liu Guangqi did not meet her gaze, but only smiled faintly.

That distant indifference left Fang Lili feeling empty for a moment. Somewhat unwilling to accept it, she pressed on, "You work here?"

Liu Guangqi nodded, not trying to hide anything: "Yes, I'm temporarily seconded here for a while."

Fang Lili felt increasingly uncomfortable hearing his tone. Her gaze finally fell upon the work ID pinned to his lapel.

Fang Lili's gaze froze on the paper.

Who is the technical head of Hongxing Machinery Factory?

She almost doubted whether her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Technical lead?

The person in front of me is actually the technical director of Hongxing Machinery Factory?

to be frank.

The words of the neighborhood committee representative from last year, a mixture of coaxing and persuasion, still ring in my ears.

It took her a lot of effort to accept the fact that her blind date was an engineer from the Ministry of Industry.

But how much time has passed?

This person actually went from being an ordinary engineer in the Ministry of Industry to becoming the technical head of the Red Star Factory?

Reading this far.

A deeper sense of regret welled up in Fang Lili's heart, and she blurted out involuntarily, "Guangqi, are you married now?"

"Yes, we're preparing for the wedding."

Liu Guangqi vaguely sensed that something was wrong. The other person's gaze was filled with too many complex emotions, as if it contained unspoken meanings.

"Comrade Fang!"

"The technical department is about to hold a coordination meeting, I have to go there first."

He glanced at his watch and gave a polite smile.

We will no longer discuss personal matters.

He turned and walked towards the administration building: "The selection process will be explained in the conference room at nine o'clock. You can just go there to register."

Watching his departing figure, Fang Lili felt a surge of regret.

Engineer from the Ministry of Industry!

The technical director of Hongxing Machinery Factory!

Regardless of which identity he holds, he is enough to attract the attention of many girls.

And what about her back then?

They even considered having the other party marry into their family!

……

Not far away.

Wang Jianguo, who had just parked his car, happened to witness this scene.

He strode closer, his tone slightly teasing: "Comrade, is there something you need from our General Manager Liu?"

Fang Lili turned around upon hearing the sound.

Seeing that he was a middle-aged man dressed in cadre attire, and hearing the passing workers call him "factory manager," he immediately adjusted his expression and explained with a smile:

"It's nothing important, I just happened to run into Comrade Liu Guangqi and wanted to say hello."

Wang Jianguo understood, but he didn't say anything.

He simply pointed towards the conference room and said, "Then you'd better hurry up and register, or you'll have to queue up when it gets crowded."

"Just a heads-up."

"Our General Manager Liu is very particular about rules and regulations. Personal relationships don't work with him. It's better to show the factory's true capabilities."

After saying that, Wang Jianguo nodded to her and said nothing more.

He walked straight to the administration building.

Fang Lili stood there, her face turning red and white.

Wang Jianguo's words, though polite in every word, felt like a silent slap in the face, making her cheeks burn.

Those secret thoughts I had just been harboring have probably already been seen through by others.

……

Liu Guangqi had just stepped into the technical department's office.

Then Wang Jianguo followed in with a smile: "Well done, Guangqi, old acquaintances have even come to the factory gate?"

Wang Jianguo sat down opposite him.

She poured herself a glass of water: "Was that the girl you casually mentioned on the blind date last time? Judging from her expression, she hasn't gotten over you yet."

You're overthinking it.

"We only met once, so it's not a question of letting go or not letting go."

Liu Guangqi shook his head, unwilling to discuss the details further.

He didn't even look up.

I simply picked up the technical standards document drafted last night:

"Let's not dwell on these trivial matters. The selection meeting this morning is crucial. We need to double-check the review process to ensure nothing goes wrong."

Seeing that he had no intention of continuing the conversation, Wang Jianguo tacitly changed the subject.

An accidental encounter with Fang Lili.

For Liu Guangqi, it was just a minor interlude in his busy schedule.

Soon, he devoted all his energy to the selection and preparation of downstream cooperative factories.

What he has to do.

It's not just about selecting qualified production partners, but also about establishing principles of prioritizing technology and adhering to standards for the domestic home appliance industry.

It was exactly 9:00 AM.

The selection meeting for downstream cooperative factories was held on time in the main conference room of Hongxing Machinery Factory.

Representatives from more than a dozen electrical appliance factories under the Light Industry Bureau filled the meeting room.

Fang Lili and her father were also present.

However, because they were from small local factories in Tianjin, their positions were relatively low.

Deputy Factory Director Fang, dressed in a dark Zhongshan suit, clutched a thick folder of documents tightly in his hand, his expression revealing caution.

Fang Lili's gaze kept drifting forward.

Her gaze involuntarily fell upon Liu Guangqi, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Just as she expected.

In this selection of partners, Liu Guangqi, the technical director, held the decisive judging power.

Then.

Liu Guangqi then instructed the technical staff to distribute the cooperation access details to the representatives of each factory.

The core requirements can be summarized into four aspects.

The final click of the door shut out the footsteps and whispers outside. Wang Jianguo leaned back in his chair, letting out a long sigh of relief as his tense shoulders finally relaxed. He turned slightly towards Liu Guangqi, a lingering smile in his eyes, his voice low and eager: "You really nailed that. That performance just now—you set the rules firmly, and your words were so convincing. You gave them face in Tianjin, but you didn't compromise on our own bottom line an inch."

Liu Guangqi's gaze remained fixed on the pages of agreements spread out on the table, and he merely smiled faintly upon hearing this. The edges of the pages gleamed slightly in the sunlight streaming through the window, and the names of the selected manufacturers were written in still-wet black ink. "The purpose of choosing partners is to get things done and earn foreign exchange." He lightly tapped the words "Dongfeng Electric Factory" with his fingertip. "Personal relationships are one thing, but there can be no ambiguity in official matters. The Bohai Factory is sincere, but their machines are new, their staff are inexperienced, and their skills aren't quite there yet. Leaving them a word, leaving them a door open, is to give them something to strive for, and also to leave them a way out for the future. Technology can be caught up with. It's not too late to come back when they've caught up."

Wang Jianguo listened, nodded slowly, and said nothing more. The faint sounds of commotion from the courtyard below drifted in from outside the window. The representatives who had secured the cooperation were walking out in small groups, their laughter carrying over several floors, indistinct yet vivid. Someone was speaking loudly, their voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement; then came more echoing laughter, the sound of footsteps rapid and forceful, gradually fading into the distance. The voices carried a certainty about the future, as if they had grasped a tangible hope.

On the other side, at the corner of the stairs, the people from Bohai Factory walked a little slower. Deputy Factory Director Fang led the way, his steps slow yet steady, his back ramrod straight. Fang Lili beside him remained silent, simply following. Just as they were about to exit the main gate, Deputy Factory Director Fang suddenly stopped, glancing back at the row of tightly closed windows upstairs. His face didn't show the ashen defeat of someone who had lost; instead, it seemed as if something had ignited within him, a heavy determination gathering in the wrinkles around his eyes. He raised his hand, patted his daughter's shoulder forcefully, said nothing, and turned to push open the glass door. A gust of wind rushed in, ruffling his half-gray sideburns. His back looked as if he were holding his breath, determined to make a name for himself.

The upstairs conference room fell silent again. Sunlight slanted across the surface, casting a bright line across the polished table. Liu Guangqi began leisurely tidying the documents, the soft rustling of papers the only sound. Wang Jianguo also rose, pushing his scattered chair back into its place. An unspoken understanding flowed between them—the matter was nearing its end, but the real work was perhaps just beginning. Outside the window, the sky was high, the clouds moved slowly—perfect weather for getting focused and on the task at hand.

Wang Jianguo savored the taste in his mouth, slowly figuring out what it meant.

Liu Guangqi's arrangement—

The rules were followed, people were given face, and even a way out was laid out perfectly. There wasn't a single flaw.

"Your head is full of twists and turns, more numerous than the eyes in a lotus root."

Wang Jianguo made a sarcastic remark with a smile.

Liu Guangqi laughed along with him.

He leaned back in his chair, his tone suddenly becoming serious: "However, to be fair, Tianjin's light industrial base is indeed not to be underestimated."

"There are several electronics factories over there, and they are all quite strong."

"Take the Tianjin Radio Factory for example; they successfully trial-produced the first television set in China last year!"