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

"I can drive." Liu Guangqi nodded. "I touched the steering wheel at the technical school, and later I also did two short trips with the transportation team."

"Alright!" Factory Manager Li made the final decision. "It's settled then. Come pick up the truck early on the 6th. The factory will take care of the rest."

Liu Guangqi let out a long sigh of relief. The restlessness that had been simmering in his heart suddenly found a solid foundation. He looked at the two of them and said very seriously:

"Thanks."

"What are you thanking me for!" Wang Jianguo waved his hand. "Who drew the blueprints for the electric oven? Who adjusted the production line? If you want to thank someone, all the workers in the factory should line up to thank you."

Factory Director Li smiled and pushed him towards the office building:

"Alright, if we stand here any longer, it'll get dark. Guangqi, hurry back and get ready. Weddings are a lot of complicated things."

The three of them walked up the steps side by side. Their blurry figures were reflected in the glass door. Volga stood quietly in the twilight, like a lurking beast.

Liu Guangqi looked back one last time.

The car's luster was lost in the deepening night, yet he seemed to already see it—that early morning, it drove along Chang'an Avenue, passed through the imposing gate of the General Logistics Department compound, and came to a steady stop in front of that familiar building.

And his bride was standing in the morning light, waiting for him.

"The 6th is next month?"

Factory Director Li and Wang Jianguo exchanged a glance, both initially somewhat stunned. Then, almost simultaneously, the corners of their mouths turned up, revealing expressions of sudden realization.

"You little rascal!"

Wang Jianguo strode up to Liu Guangqi, patted him lightly on the shoulder, and chuckled, "Why did you go through all that trouble with us?"

"Such a big event as a wedding, and they kept it so well hidden?"

His voice was loud and clear, conveying familiarity and cheerfulness:

"Forget about borrowing a car—I'll just arrange a driver for you, busy from morning till night, making sure your wedding is a grand and impressive affair!"

Factory Director Li approached with a smile.

As the factory's main person in charge, his words carried more weight and exuded more authority:

"Guangqi, you can rest assured."

"On the 6th of next month, this Volga will be yours to use exclusively. No amount of pleading will work; it will be reserved for you without a doubt!"

At this point, Director Li became even more enthusiastic, and waved his arm:

"If you think one car isn't impressive enough, I'm willing to swallow my pride and go talk to those old guys in the foreign trade department!"

"We'll have to arrange a few more cars for you, to make sure the scene is properly organized!"

Hearing the two vying to make arrangements for him, Liu Guangqi felt a warmth in his heart. He smiled and waved his hand, saying:

"No need for such trouble, and no need to be too ostentatious."

"This one is enough. I'll drive it myself, use it for a day, and then return it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent for a moment.

Wang Jianguo's smile faltered, and he raised his hand to touch his ear, as if he hadn't heard clearly:

"Guangqi, what did you say? You're going to drive it yourself?"

Factory Director Li's eyes widened as he looked Liu Guangqi up and down: "This is no joke. This is a metal-clad-flesh thing. You know how to handle it?"

"I just glanced at it a few times and thought about it in my mind. It should be able to work."

Liu Guangqi spoke casually.

But to the two factory directors, these words were utterly unbelievable.

This is a toy car!

Is driving a car something you can learn just by thinking about it?

Good grief, this isn't a bicycle, you can just hang the chain back on and pedal!

"No, no!"

Wang Jianguo shook his head vigorously, "That's absolutely impossible, too risky!"

Factory Director Li's expression also turned serious.

A minor bump or scratch on the car is a small matter, but Liu Guangqi is a key figure in the factory. What if something goes wrong? How will he explain it?

You know, these days, being a driver is a very desirable profession.

Putting everything else aside, in terms of popularity alone, it's definitely one of the best.

In terms of compensation, even a newly promoted deputy level 5 driver earns a salary that is almost comparable to that of a mid-level worker.

Especially for long-distance transport workers, the daily allowance for a short trip to a nearby location is 60 cents, while a trip to another province can earn them 1 yuan. If they get a long-distance assignment that lasts for a month, their income is almost at the level of a seventh-grade worker.

That's why ordinary people who want to learn to drive have to find connections and find a mentor.

They simply couldn't believe that Liu Guangqi could drive the car after only a few glances.

Seeing the disbelief on their faces, Liu Guangqi didn't argue further. Actions speak louder than words.

He turned to the driver who hadn't gone far and smiled, extending his hand: "Sir, can I borrow your keys?"

"I'll walk around this courtyard and show it to them."

The driver was taken aback and subconsciously looked at Director Li.

Seeing this, Factory Director Li could only smile helplessly and nod, saying, "Give the keys to Chief Engineer Liu!"

After saying that, he added, "And...you sit over there and keep an eye on things!"

"Yes, Factory Manager!"

The driver handed over the keys, thinking to himself: This Chief Engineer Liu is really bold.

Liu Guangqi took the keys, thanked him, opened the car door, and nimbly got into the driver's seat.

**, lever, steering wheel...

His movements were fluid and natural, without the slightest hint of awkwardness or hesitation, showing that he was a skilled practitioner.

It's worth noting that the Volga sedan at this time did not have a traditional manual transmission, so there was no concept of shifting gears. Its forward and reverse movements were achieved through a steering mechanism on the steering wheel; the driver needed to turn the chrome ring on the steering wheel to change direction.

Liu Guangqi was initially a little unfamiliar with the operation, but quickly adapted to it.

hum-

With a deep engine roar, the Volga glided smoothly forward.

The next moment, the expressions on the faces of Factory Director Li and Wang Jianguo froze.

The black sedan drew a smooth arc in the open space in front of the factory office building, turning, accelerating, and moving slowly as freely as a fish swimming in deep water.

What happened next made everyone present almost hold their breath.

Liu Guangqi gripped the steering wheel and, between the two parked trucks, gently steered it to the left and then slightly back to the right. The car body then reversed into the designated position in a precise curve, with the tires perfectly aligned with the white lines on the ground, as if measured with a ruler.

This technique is more than just skillful—it's even more composed and calm than the factory's veteran drivers who have been working for years.

The car door opened, Liu Guangqi stepped out, and tossed the keys back to the driver who was still standing there in a daze.

"The car is easy to drive."

The area in front of the building was quiet for a moment.

Factory Director Li's lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing. Finally, Wang Jianguo slowly exhaled, his eyes filled with complex emotions as he looked at Liu Guangqi:

"How many more skills do you have that we don't know about?"

As the steel rolling mill closes for the day, the bell rings through the factory buildings.

Workers poured out of the workshops like a tide, looking tired, chatting and laughing about trivial matters, and converged on the gate.

Liu Haizhong walked among the crowd, with Yi Zhonghai, Jia Dongxu, and Sha Zhu beside him. His steps were unusually light today, and his back was straighter than usual.

As soon as we arrived at the factory gate, the security officers standing there greeted us with smiles:

"Master Liu, are you off work?"

"Yes, let's go home."

"By the way, Mr. Liu, a car drove out of the factory this afternoon. Do you know who was in it?"

When the security personnel struck up a conversation, Liu Haizhong's face lit up. It seemed that his son's trip today had also boosted his own prestige.

He stopped in his tracks: "I was busy in the workshop, I didn't see you. Who was it?"

"Who else could it be but your Guangqi!" Another person patted him on the shoulder, his tone tinged with envy. "In our factory, only the leaders are allowed to travel in cars. This is the first time your son has ever done so."

"Guangqi left in a car?" Liu Haizhong's eyes lit up, and a smile instantly spread across his face—it was already quite a show of praise from Director Yang, but he never expected his son to receive such treatment.

This is quite a show of power.

Sha Zhu, Yi Zhonghai, and Jia Dongxu were also taken aback.

The group exchanged glances, all seeing the astonishment on each other's faces.

Yi Zhonghai sighed inwardly: Liu's eldest son is really rising higher and higher; he'll probably be even more remarkable in the future. Now he can even ride in a car; his future is immeasurable.

Jia Dongxu was filled with envy. His greatest hope in life was simply to work his way up through the years, pass the technical exams, and eventually become a level eight worker. But compared to Liu Guangqi, his own aspirations seemed utterly pathetic.

You can never truly compare yourself to others.

"Good heavens!" Sha Zhu's loud voice couldn't hold back his words. "Second Uncle, what level is Guang Qi at now? He even comes in a car for his inspection... This entourage is terrifying!"

Surrounded by people, Liu Haizhong was practically bursting with smugness. He deliberately cleared his throat and spoke in a calm tone:

"It's all for work, nothing to be surprised about."

Despite saying that, she couldn't hide the smile on her face, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepened.

After this incident, Liu Guangqi has already arranged with the factory to let him use the car for one day on the 6th of next month.

He was always cautious in his work and did not want to give others cause for criticism in this day and age, so he specially drafted an application and submitted it to the department according to procedure.

Strangely, several days after the report was submitted, it seemed to have sunk without a trace, receiving no response whatsoever.

Director Lin neither approved nor rejected it.

That's strange.

Based on Liu Guangqi's understanding of this leader, he was always decisive and efficient. If something was not in accordance with the rules, he would have called to reprimand him long ago, and would never have hesitated to speak up.

The ministry's ambiguous and noncommittal stance only adds to the confusion.

Liu Guangqi picked up the enamel mug, the tea leaves floating on the surface being brushed away by his breath. As the warm liquid slid down his throat, the knot in his chest seemed to sink away as well.

That's it.

Ultimately, the sky won't fall.

The most pressing issue right now is the electric oven production line—the gears, conveyor belts, and assembly processes are currently on paper, waiting to be completed. As for borrowing a car on the wedding day, that's ultimately a personal matter and not worth dwelling on with uncertain thoughts. If it works out, great; if not, there are always other options.

"I don't want to think about it anymore."

"Once the work is done, let the rest go."

He shook his head, lifted the research plan sheet on the desk, paused for a moment on the paper, and then pointed to the First Electrical Appliance Factory under the Ministry of Light Industry.

When the call connected, a cheerful voice came through the receiver.

"Chief Engineer Liu! The ministry just sent a notice; I was just about to contact you," Factory Director Cui said quickly and forcefully. "We've already increased the production capacity of heating elements for rice cookers by 10%—now it all depends on your demand for electric ovens!"

Liu Guangqi smiled and said, "That's perfect. I'll come over with Director Li and the others tomorrow to take a look, and we can discuss the specific details in person."

"We're ready to assist you anytime! We'll cooperate fully."

……

Over the next seven days, Liu Guangqi's footprints covered almost all the factories directly under the four ministries. He left early and returned late, but a clear-eyed light always lingered in his eyes.

This proves the old saying: When people are united, they can move mountains.

With the technical backbone of the four departments, the existing workshops, and the material reserves all gathered under the same blueprint, the progress of the electric oven was so fast it was almost dizzying. Compared to the twists and turns in the previous development of induction cookers and rice cookers, this time it was as smooth as a boat sailing with the current.

The planning and installation of the production line proceeded simultaneously, and the workshop was filled with the sounds of metal clashing and people moving around day and night.

On the first day of July, the usual monotonous sound of machines in the factory of Hongxing Chuanghui Machinery Factory was mixed with an unusual noise.

"Stay calm—just a few more steps! Be careful!"

"Keep your spirits up, don't mess things up at this crucial moment!"

Wang Jianguo's shout pierced through the buzzing background noise. He was nearly forty years old, but at this moment his back was taut and his eyes were surprisingly bright.

In the workshop, everyone's eyes were fixed on the nascent silver-gray box. It was undergoing final assembly.

Liu Guangqi stepped forward personally. His gaze was calm, and his fingertips moved steadily without the slightest tremor. As the last piece of the outer shell was tightly fastened—

"Click."

The crisp sound of the screw being turned in clearly echoed as it hit the ground.

Someone shouted it out first:

"It's done!"

The entire workshop suddenly erupted in cheers, which were like an explosion.

"We actually made it! Our electric oven!"

"Old Wang, stop yelling, we haven't even tested it yet!"

"Everything Chief Engineer Liu handles turns out perfectly. I'm confident it will succeed."

"Turn on the power."

Liu Guangqi's voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the surroundings.

The technician nodded emphatically, took a breath, and pushed the plug into the socket.

"Buzz—"