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

Liu Guangqi remained focused on the design drawings, his pen never stopping, only responding calmly:

"This is not surprising. Those who can enter the research departments of ministries are all outstanding talents. They have a solid foundation and are capable; what they lack is practical experience. As long as we give you a push and break through that barrier, your growth will come naturally."

Most of the technicians under his command have already obtained level 10 or 11 professional titles. The next step is assistant engineer, and with enough experience in CNC machine tool projects, reaching even higher titles in the future is not out of the question. Right now, they are accumulating experience by accelerating assembly, and the day when they can work independently will eventually come.

This was Liu Guangqi's true plan.

One month later, as Liu Guangqi sat down at his desk one morning, a technician delivered a progress report.

"Director, this is a summary of this month's work." The visitor's tone carried a hint of excitement. "The progress is going very smoothly."

Two newly assembled CNC machine tools in the workshop had just been debugged, their metal casings gleaming coldly under the fluorescent lights. The technician in charge of the progress report wiped the thin layer of sweat from his brow and handed the logbook to Liu Guangqi: "Director Liu, both of these machines have passed inspection. What's the next step?"

Liu Guangqi took the booklet and glanced at it, not answering immediately. Instead, he looked around the already somewhat crowded laboratory. Three massive machine tools were arranged in a triangular formation, leaving only a narrow passage for one person to squeeze through sideways. "In the lab," he gestured vaguely in the air with his finger, "is there no room for a fourth machine?"

The technician paused for a moment, then frowned and began to calculate: "If we really have to squeeze in... maybe we can still make some room. We plan to..."

"We can't force it," Liu Guangqi interrupted him crisply, tapping his fingertips lightly on the edge of the notebook. "Precision machine tools must maintain a safe distance. The current distance is already at its limit. Any closer, and the vibrations and heat radiation generated during operation will interfere with each other." He closed the notebook, his tone revealing some practical considerations. "But it's even more wasteful to leave finished machines idle and rust."

"Yes," the technician said with a troubled expression, lowering his voice, "the new workshop at Hongxing Factory is not yet completed. If we allocate both of these machines, their capacity will be saturated. If we only allocate one, it's really difficult to decide which of the ministries in metallurgy and light industry to give it to."

"Difficult to weigh?" A faint smile appeared on Liu Guangqi's lips, as if he already had the answer. "Then give it to the Second Ministry of Machine Building."

"The Second Ministry of Machine Building?" The technician was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "I understand! The section chief is indeed very thoughtful."

This move was indeed ingenious. No one had anticipated that the guests from the north would show such keen interest in CNC machine tools, even offering some crucial technology in exchange. Now, the Second Ministry of Machine Building had acquired new aircraft and armor blueprints, precisely when it needed advanced processing equipment to support its research and development. Sending this extra machine tool there would not only solve the immediate problem but also align with the overarching principle of prioritizing national defense. Even though the other ministries were anxious, they couldn't argue with this logical move.

After the technician left, Liu Guangqi picked up the phone on the table and dialed Director Lin's number. After a few busy tones, the call was answered. Without any pleasantries, he succinctly explained the situation: "...Yes, we currently have an extra batch of complete five-axis CNC machine tools. Their precision and stability have undergone rigorous testing. Would you consider allocating them to the Second Ministry of Machine Building as a priority?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Director Lin's deep, cheerful laughter rang out: "Good! National defense is of paramount importance, I fully support this arrangement! Here you go, today! I'll contact the Second Ministry of Machine Building immediately and have them send a car to pick you up! Hurry!"

The order was delivered swiftly. That afternoon, three military-green Liberation brand trucks roared into the First Ministry of Machine Building compound, attracting many curious glances. A gray-haired elderly engineer jumped out of the passenger seat of the lead truck. He strode up to Liu Guangqi, grasped Liu's hands tightly, and shook them vigorously. His grip was strong, and his palms had a rough texture from years of contact with metal and oil.

"Comrade Guangqi!" The old engineer's voice trembled slightly with excitement. "On behalf of all the comrades working on equipment at the front, thank you! This support is so timely!"

Many eyes turned to him. Liu Guangqi remained calm, his words carrying his usual composure: "This is what we should do. Industrial development should serve the modernization of national defense. Only when you are strong can the nation truly stand tall."

The loading process proceeded with extreme caution. Workers operated cranes to slowly lift the machine tools covered with dust cloths and smoothly move them into the truck bed, which was equipped with shock-absorbing pads. Liu Guangqi specifically instructed the accompanying technician from the Second Ministry of Machine Building to take the complete set of operation manuals, maintenance guidelines, and backup data of core parameters with him.

Watching the truck kick up dust as it drove out of the compound, Director Lin, who had been standing to the side, smiled and stepped forward, patting Liu Guangqi on the arm: "You rascal, you've handled things perfectly on the surface. You know what? The leaders of the Second Ministry of Machine Building just called, saying they've reported this as a model case, and the higher-ups even gave special praise to our First Ministry of Machine Building for its overall awareness."

Liu Guangqi simply smiled, his gaze still following the direction the truck had gone, without saying a word.

The weekend arrived in the blink of an eye. With the newly added machine tools operating at full capacity, production efficiency had increased significantly, and the manufacturing cycle for many key components had been considerably shortened. At this pace, completing the quarterly production target of ten machine tools was no longer a problem. With the pressure slightly reduced, Liu Guangqi took the opportunity to cancel the mandatory weekend overtime in the research lab. Director Lin also agreed, saying that if the task could be completed, there was no need to be too stressed.

Of course, the deeper reason is that the new workshop ordered by the Red Star Factory is not yet fully ready. After working continuously for so long, everyone needs to catch their breath.

This Saturday morning, unusually, no drawings were spread out on Liu Guangqi's desk. He changed into a neat Zhongshan suit and gently held his wife Zhao Mengyun's hand: "The weather is nice today, let's go for a walk and see if there's anything you need."

Zhao Mengyun's abdomen was still flat, showing no signs of change, but Liu Guangqi had already begun to pay attention. The two walked side by side out of the residential compound, heading towards the state-run department store at the street corner.

The store was still bustling with activity, the glass counters gleaming, and the sales clerks stood behind them, their expressions as indifferent as ever. Zhao Mengyun's gaze lingered on the fabric counter, finally settling on a light blue dress hanging there. She took it down; the fabric was soft cotton, and the cut was looser than usual. She walked to the slightly worn dressing mirror on the wall, held the dress against her body, then turned around, a gentle smile spreading across her eyes, and looked at Liu Guangqi, who stood quietly to the side:

"Do you think this suits me?"

Liu Guangqi leaned against the counter, somewhat dazed. His wife's simple clothes, wrapped around her body, exuded a refined charm reminiscent of a landscape painting, making it impossible to look away.

"She looks good in anything."

Hearing the sound, he snapped out of his daze, walked closer, examined it for a moment, and then added earnestly, "It's just a bit plain."

Zhao Mengyun lowered her head and straightened her clothes; they were indeed too simple.

Liu Guangqi suddenly rubbed his knuckles: "Go back and find a good piece of cloth, and sew a pocket here?" He gestured with his palm above the hem of her clothes, "It can hold snacks, and also fit two comic books."

"Nonsense!" Zhao Mengyun laughed, lightly punching his shoulder with her fist, but her eyes rippled with warm affection.

Several women picking out goods by the counter saw this and covered their mouths with laughter, their eyes filled with familiar warmth.

After the laughter subsided, Liu Guangqi turned directly to the sales clerk: "Comrade, I'll take both this one and the beige one from before."

After leaving the department store, the two went into a state-run restaurant for a hot meal before heading home as dusk fell.

The brief period of leisure was like light slipping through his fingers; Monday arrived in the blink of an eye. Liu Guangqi was once again submerged in the wave of blueprints and parts.

The calendar on the wall is getting thinner and thinner with each tear; the original three-month construction period is already more than halfway over, with less than sixty days remaining. The machine tool assembly team is making great strides—with the experience of the first three machines, the assembly of the fourth CNC machine tool is nearing completion, and it will be powered on and tested this week. The target of six and a half machines is being rapidly devoured.

On his own desk, layers upon layers of blueprints were piled up. CNC milling machines, CNC grinding machines... a series of technical solutions for general-purpose machine tools gradually took shape, each page soaked with traces of lamp oil from late nights. The weight of these machines was in no way inferior to that of the lathe, which was the first to be mastered.

Liu Guangqi leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath. A heavy sense of fulfillment spread through his chest.

He reached out and pulled out the top volume, the assembly drawing of a CNC milling machine. His gaze swept over the intricate lines and dense data labels, and he could already picture the whirling cutterhead and the cascading metal filings. The CNC lathe was just the first cornerstone. Only when milling machines, grinding machines, and even more precise five-axis machining centers were built one by one would the industrial network he envisioned truly stand tall.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the workshop of the Research Department of the First Ministry of Machine Building, two CNC machine tools that had already been delivered were humming away. The fourth machine had just completed its final calibration, and a young technician, clutching the test report, strode in, his voice brimming with excitement:

"Director! The fourth unit has met all standards—the accuracy is all excellent!"

Liu Guangqi took the report, his gaze sweeping over the impressive numbers, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

It's done. From the initial stumbling blocks that took three months to assemble the first unit, to the current smooth workflow achieved by the various teams—from the precision machining of parts to the assembly and debugging of the entire machine, the cycle has been compressed to just over ten days. The initial target of ten units in three months now seems more than achievable.

News always travels faster than people can walk. The moment word got out that the fourth unit was being taken offline, the phones started ringing one after another in the offices of several other ministries.

The first two units were kept for our own speed-up purposes, and no one objected; the third unit was given to the Second Ministry of Machine Building, which was responsible for national defense, which was also considered in the best interests of the country. But no one wanted to wait for the fourth unit.

The phone on Liu Guangqi's desk rang first, and the clear, resonant voice of Director Guo from the Ministry of Light Industry came through the receiver:

"Comrade Guangqi! When can we pick up our machine tool? It was right to give the third one to the Second Ministry of Machine Building, so shouldn't the fourth one be our turn?... What? It was already ordered for us? Good! Good!"

Just as he hung up the phone, it rang again as if on cue. This time it was Director Tian from the Ministry of Metallurgy, his voice slow but urgent:

"Comrade Guangqi..."

As the CNC machine tool project reached a critical stage, a sudden piece of news spread among several major ministries—in addition to the already finalized models, the research department had simultaneously begun the initial research and development of a new generation of precision CNC lathes. This news was like water dripping into hot oil, instantly making the already turbulent situation even more boiling.

"You've got some serious ambition! Besides the current model, you're even eyeing the next generation?" The representative from the metallurgical department spoke loudly on the phone, his tone a mix of resentment and forced acceptance. "Fine, I, Old Li, won't compete with Old Guo for this fourth machine! But we have a deal: the first trial slot for that new CNC lathe must go to our metallurgical department!"

The following morning, just as dawn was breaking, a brand-new Jiefang truck bearing a Ministry of Light Industry license plate steadily drove into the courtyard of the Research Department of the First Ministry of Machine Building. Director Guo, who personally escorted the truck, was beaming with joy, as if his family had celebrated a momentous occasion. Not only had he come in person, but he had also specially prepared a striking banner, red silk with gold trim, embroidered with eight large characters: "Technology Leading, Industry Foundation."

The meticulous Director Guo even took double precautions—the night before, he sent two of his capable subordinates, wrapped in thick military overcoats, like two silent sentinels, to guard the entrance and exit of the assembly workshop in case any possible "accidents" occurred.

At the hoisting site, Director Guo personally supervised the operation, his shouts still clearly audible amidst the din of machinery in the workshop. Liu Guangqi stood under the porch of the research lab, his gaze following the carefully escorted machine tools onto the trucks, a quiet, indescribable sense of peace and satisfaction welling up within him.

"Be careful! This is the last set of equipment; we can't afford any mistakes!"