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

The city of Beijing was mostly populated by ordinary people, but it also had some young people from high-ranking families.

They wore brand-new sneakers and their warm-up exercises were particularly flamboyant, making them stand out among the citizens wearing old cloth shoes and cotton shoes. Zhao Mengsheng and his friends did the same—stretching their legs, expanding their chests, and striking some half-baked preparatory poses, as if afraid that others wouldn't realize they had some skill.

Liu Guangqi, however, was simply surrounded by the crowd and did a few simple movements of his joints.

Looking at the group of energetic children from the compound, he secretly shook his head.

A gunshot rang out.

Thousands of participants surged forward like a floodgate opened. Liu Guangqi didn't rush to get ahead; he simply stayed in the middle of the group, adjusting his breathing as he ran, allowing his body to gradually adapt to the rhythm.

Having lived two lives, he has always maintained the habit of exercising. These days, there aren't many forms of entertainment, and being young, he has no intention of settling down or starting a family, so keeping fit has become the best pastime. He was a regular on the sports field in college, and his physical condition is much more solid than those young men from the university compound.

Sure enough, after running for a while, those kids from the compound who had initially rushed to the front, charging forward like carefree foals, lost most of their youthful vigor after passing Xidan. Soon, they were all panting heavily, their faces pale, their arm swings erratic, barely holding on by sheer willpower.

Just then, Liu Guangqi, who had been moving forward at a constant speed, began to accelerate.

His breathing remained steady and orderly, but his pace gradually quickened, like a nimble fish gracefully weaving through the crowded streets. One, two, three… he passed the figures in front of him one after another, his movements swift and agile.

The boy from the compound who was running ahead caught a glimpse of Liu Guangqi overtaking him, and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Hey! Brother Guangqi's here!"

This shout made several young people who were gritting their teeth and enduring the pain turn around.

Liu Guangqi appeared perfectly calm, with only a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. He strolled past them with an air of nonchalance, even nodding at them with a flourish. They could only watch helplessly as his composed figure receded into the distance, eventually merging into the leading group ahead.

The crowd watching from the roadside also noticed Liu Guangqi and burst into cheers: "Look at that young man! He runs so fast!" "Keep it up! Give it your all!"

Zhao Mengyun squeezed into the crowd, her gaze fixed on that familiar figure. The corners of her mouth unconsciously curved upwards, and her eyes sparkled with pride.

When Liu Guangqi crossed the finish line, he finished fifth. The prize was substantial—a brand-new white enamel mug with a line of bright red words printed on it: "Spring Festival City Race Winner Commemorative Gift".

This result might not seem like much to professional athletes, but it's quite remarkable for someone who was pulled in at the last minute. In contrast, those children from privileged backgrounds who initially clamored to participate didn't even crack the top 100, becoming mere bystanders and returning empty-handed.

After receiving the award, Liu Guangqi smiled and handed the enamel mug to Zhao Mengyun, saying, "Here you go, another souvenir for the family." The young people around them looked on with envy.

Back from the competition, Liu Guangqi's back was still damp with sweat, and Zhao Mengyun was carefully wiping it with a towel. The room was heated, and fine beads of sweat also appeared on her nose.

Suddenly, a wave of nausea surged up from my stomach for no apparent reason.

Zhao Mengyun's face suddenly turned pale. She abruptly covered her mouth, arched her body, and gagged.

"Meng Yun!"

Liu Guangqi dropped the towel in his hand, his heart tightened, and he quickly supported her from behind, placing his palm on her cold forehead. "What's wrong? Your face is so pale... Did you catch a chill outside just now?" His voice revealed a panic that he himself was unaware of.

Meanwhile, Wu Shuang, the mother-in-law who was talking to Zhao's father, twitched her ears and heard the commotion outside.

She strode out and immediately saw her daughter's pale face and her son-in-law's helpless expression, and her heart tightened.

Wu Shuang's gaze lingered on her daughter's face for a moment, and then, recalling the subtle signs of the past few days, her tense expression suddenly relaxed, and a knowing smile appeared on her lips.

"Look how panicked you are." She stepped forward and gently pushed Liu Guangqi aside, her tone certain. "This isn't a cold; it's clearly something wrong with our Xiaoyun."

"A sound?" Liu Guangqi's ears were ringing, and he was momentarily stunned.

Zhao Mengyun was also stunned. Her hand, which had been covering her lips, slowly fell, her eyes blank. Then, a surge of joy welled up inside her, and a blush rose to her cheeks: "Mom…you mean, I…I…"

"It's almost certainly true!" Wu Shuang's eyes crinkled with laughter as she held her daughter's hand. "When I was pregnant with you, I was in the same situation."

Hearing the noise, Zhao's father came out from the inner room. His usually stern face was now filled with excitement: "What are you standing there for? Go to the clinic in the yard and see!"

Without hesitation, Wu Shuang led the way, holding Zhao Mengyun's hand, with Liu Guangqi following behind in a daze. Zhao's father, wearing a coat, also went out the door. The group hurried to the General Logistics Department's compound clinic.

It was the third day of the Lunar New Year, and the clinic was deserted, with only one nurse on duty dozing off at her desk. This small matter was no challenge for Wu Shuang. She went straight to the phone, picked up the receiver, dialed a number, and said succinctly, "It's me, Wu Shuang. Come to the clinic now."

No more than five minutes after the phone call ended, an elderly doctor with graying temples, wearing a white coat, rushed over. "Political Commissar Wu, why did you come in person?" The man, who belonged to the General Logistics Department of the Ministry of Health, recognized Wu Shuang and treated him with great respect.

"Hurry up and let my daughter see it."

The old doctor didn't dare delay and immediately asked Zhao Mengyun to sit down, gently placing three fingers on her wrist to check her pulse. The examination room was extremely quiet; you could almost hear the dust settling down. Liu Guangqi held her breath, her eyes fixed on the old doctor's face, not daring to miss the slightest change in expression.

After a moment, the old doctor released his grip and stood up with a broad smile.

"Congratulations, Political Commissar Wu! It's definitely a positive pregnancy test, no doubt about it! The baby is about a month along, the pulse is steady and strong, and the baby is growing just right."

Zhao Mengyun's eyes suddenly reddened. She turned to Liu Guangqi beside her, her eyes brimming with surprise, shyness, and an overwhelming tenderness. Liu Guangqi had long lost his usual composure, gripping her hand tightly, his palms sweaty, his voice trembling slightly: "Mengyun...we're going to have our own child."

Looking at the young couple, Wu Shuang smiled with satisfaction and walked over to give Liu Guangqi a firm pat on the shoulder.

"Guangqi, from now on you are a father, and the responsibility on your shoulders is not light. But I believe in you, and I will definitely protect Xiaoyun well."

"Mom, don't worry!" Liu Guangqi nodded solemnly.

Having lived two lives, he often talked about "a wife, children, and a warm bed," but it was just a joke. Only now did the real weight of those words truly settle in his heart.

***

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the General Logistics Department compound still held a faint festive atmosphere. Liu Guangqi was due to return to his unit to report for duty.

The Zhao family's living room was warm and inviting, yet shrouded in a thin mist of farewell. Liu Guangqi was talking to his father-in-law when the old man patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, "The new year should bring a fresh start. Work hard. Xiaoyun and the children are important, but the public affairs you're handling are equally important."

On the other side, Wu Shuang pulled Zhao Mengyun aside and gave her some detailed advice. Zhao Mengyun smiled and responded, gently stroking her still flat stomach, her gaze soft: "Mom, I understand, it's not that precious."

After saying goodbye to the elderly couple, the two got into the car. The Volga sedan slowly drove out of the compound gate. The sentry on duty saluted the young couple, a simple smile spreading across his face: "Comrades, Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!" Liu Guangqi rolled down the car window and returned the greeting with a smile.

As the car merged into the main road, Zhao Mengyun leaned back in her seat and let out a soft sigh: "Mom was so nervous, it made me anxious too."

Liu Guangqi smiled upon hearing this: "Mom loves you. But let's not make this public for now, let's wait until the pregnancy is more stable before talking about it."

"I know," Zhao Mengyun nodded. "My colleagues at work are very observant, so I'll keep it a secret carefully."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs building was silhouetted against the morning light, bustling with people as people went to work.

As soon as the car came to a stop, a familiar voice drifted over.

"Oh, isn't this Meng Yun?"

As Zhao Mengyun got out of the car, several colleagues gathered around her with smiles.

Happy New Year! Where did you spend the Spring Festival?

"I went home and spent a few days with my parents," Zhao Mengyun replied with a smile.

The outspoken Sister Wang caught a glimpse of the Volga that hadn't yet driven away, and the figure in the driver's seat, and immediately raised her voice:

"Wow, Meng Yun is amazing! She even has a chauffeur-driven car now!"

"Your husband is so considerate, taking a detour to bring you here so early in the morning. We're all envious."

A slightly younger colleague next to him joined in with a laugh:

"Sister Mengyun, you must teach us where we can find a good match like Director Liu?"

Zhao Mengyun's face flushed slightly, but a warmth welled up inside her. She waved to the people in the car, "Don't laugh at me, he's just going to the Ministry of Machine Building on his way."

Liu Guangqi nodded to everyone through the window before gently saying to Zhao Mengyun, "Go inside, I'll pick you up this evening."

"Okay, be careful on the road."

Only after watching her figure disappear into the building did Liu Guangqi slowly start the car.

Thinking of the life quietly growing in Zhao Mengyun's womb, and then of the several major plans that the Ministry of Machine Building would be launching after the New Year, he felt as if a fire was burning in his chest.

What a man seeks in this world is nothing more than a stable family and a successful career.

Now, he will hold both of them firmly in his hands.

The festive atmosphere in the courtyard of the First Ministry of Machine Building had not yet dissipated, and the faint smell of gunpowder lingered in the air.

The first thing my colleagues said when we met was "Happy New Year".

Even in difficult times, the Spring Festival, like a shot in the arm, still brings smiles to everyone's faces.

According to past practice, ministries and their subordinate factories do not arrange production on the first day after the Spring Festival. Instead, they hold meetings first to finalize the framework of the annual plan.

After returning the vehicle and registering the usage record, Liu Guangqi slowly walked towards the research office building.

He arrived a little late, but the office was already bright and clean, and several new technicians were gathered together chatting quietly about their holiday experiences.

Upon seeing him enter, the group immediately stood up and greeted him in unison, "Good morning, Director!"

"You all had a good New Year, right?" Liu Guangqi nodded with a smile.

"Thanks to you, everything is fine!"

After a few brief pleasantries, Liu Guangqi went into his office and made himself a cup of tea. The warm, cozy atmosphere made him feel relaxed.

He didn't sit idly; he immediately asked someone to bring him the assembly schedule for the second CNC machine tool. His eyes scanned the schedule line by line, his expression sometimes relaxed, sometimes solemn.

Mass production of CNC machine tools is the top priority for the research department this year, and it is also the foundation upon which he, as the deputy director, has established his position.

The tea had just been brewed when the red telephone on the table rang.

Director Lin's secretary called to inform him: "Director Liu, please attend a meeting in the large conference room on the third floor. All heads of departments within the bureau are required to be present."

"Understood, this will be over soon."

After putting down the microphone, Liu Guangqi set the schedule aside, straightened his clothes, and got up to walk towards the conference room.

At this time last year, he was still a section chief buried in technology in the workshop, and he was not qualified to attend an opening meeting of this scale.

Things are different now. Previously, the Research Division was overseen by Director Lin, without a director or deputy director; now that he has been promoted to deputy director, he naturally becomes a member of the General Machinery Division's annual meeting.

Pushing open the heavy conference room door, I found it already mostly occupied. Whispers mingled with the light clinking of cup lids.

Liu Guangqi caught a glimpse of several familiar faces from the Logistics Department, General Affairs Department, and Housing Management Department—they were sitting side by side, puffing on cigarettes.

He walked over with a smile and sat down in the empty seat next to the two of them.

"Comrade Guangqi is here." The logistics director stubbed out his cigarette and greeted him with a smile. The two were already familiar with each other due to their frequent official business dealings.

"Happy New Year to both section chiefs."

"Okay, all is well, we all share the same interests."

"Comrade Guangqi, is this your first time attending the plenary meeting at the beginning of the year?"

"Yes."

Liu Guangqi smiled and nodded.

While organizing the materials at hand, the head of the general affairs department said, "This meeting today is going to be quite long; it might go on until noon."

Liu Guangqi had already anticipated this, but he still went along with it and asked, "Will it take that long?"

"You just don't understand."

The head of the housing management office leaned closer to him, speaking in a low voice, with the knowing wisdom of someone who had been through it all.