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

Liu Haizhong slammed his lunchbox down and raised his voice: "Who are you calling abusing their privileges? Explain yourself!"

Instead of dodging, the man straightened his neck and raised his voice even louder: "I'm talking about you! Always hitching a ride on government vehicles, isn't it all because your son is the chief engineer?"

The noise in the cafeteria was like a pot of boiling water.

Those few harsh words from the corner were like cold water dripping into a hot oil pan, causing a commotion of whispers.

Did I say something wrong? Everyone, be the judge!

The man suddenly stood up, his finger almost poking the tip of his nose in his bangs:

"If your son hadn't become the chief engineer, would you have gotten this deputy workshop director position?"

"The factory provides him with a car to take you home from get off work every day—what merit do you have? What rank do you hold? Do you deserve to ride in a car?"

Every word is barbed, every sentence is piercing.

Just like his triangular eyes, they're unsettling.

Liu Haizhong trembled all over, his hand pointing at people shaking like a leaf in the wind.

He opened his mouth several times, but no sound came out.

Yes, his promotion to deputy director had an element of luck—the old director had just retired.

But for the past six months, every single day he was the first to arrive at the workshop and the last to leave.

The work team he manages has never had a single minor injury or accident!

Now that this person has yelled at him, it seems like he's only successful because of his son.

"You know nothing!"

A deep shout came crashing down.

Everyone turned their heads and saw an old master chef standing up at the table by the window.

His hair was gray, and his hands were covered with calluses like old tree roots.

He slammed the aluminum lunchbox he was holding onto the table with a loud thud.

That was one of only two level-eight workers in the factory, Master Lei.

He stared at the troublemaker, his eyes like cold steel:

"You're saying Chief Engineer Liu abused his power for personal gain? Did he embezzle a single penny from the factory, or did he steal half a steel billet and take it home?"

"They've been at the factory for less than three months, and their special steel production has tripled!"

"Three times! Do you know what that means?"

Master Lei became more and more excited as he spoke, and the veins on his forehead bulged out:

"Back in the day, to rush a batch of urgent orders, three or four old workers would spend the whole day tinkering with the machine tools, and they'd still end up with mostly scrap!"

"And now? Chief Engineer Liu revised the blueprints and adjusted the process, producing one piece every fifteen minutes, and every single one meets the standards!"

"Is this achievement enough for the factory to provide him with a car?"

He looked around, his voice resolute:

"Forget about being driven around; with this skill, the factory would give him anything!"

These words were like sparks splashed into oil, causing an immediate uproar.

"Master Lei is right!"

"In the six months that Director Liu has been in charge of the workshop, our team has exceeded production targets every month without a single accident!"

"When he was promoted to deputy director, Chief Engineer Liu hadn't even joined the factory yet. What nepotism are you talking about!"

They all spoke at once, each word hitting the troublemaker in the face.

His face was a mix of red and white, like a palette of colors.

His lips moved, but he couldn't utter a single coherent sentence.

Finally, he could only stubbornly force out a muttered word through gritted teeth:

"Well... we can't let his dad hitch a ride with a luxury car every day..."

The voice was thin and sour, like bubbles rising from a gutter.

In the noisy cafeteria, no one responded to his words.

Only a few huddled in the corner, exchanging ambiguous glances.

Rumors are such things—

Some people spit out what they hear, while others secretly take it to heart.

Sunlight streamed in obliquely through the high window, and dust motes swirled in the beams of light.

The kitchen door curtain was hanging down, and the aroma of stewed dishes wafted out.

He Yuzhu was resting on a bench, with a spoon beside him.

If he had heard what was being said outside, he probably would have rushed out with a spoon already.

He would never tolerate anyone slandering his brothers, Guangqi and Guangqi.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds and fell on the slightly mottled gray walls of the steel rolling mill.

As Liu Guangqi slowly stepped out of the black sedan, he was met with his father's taut, ashen face—as if he had just been rolled in the stove, dark red with a hard, straight line at the corner of his mouth.

"Dad," Liu Guangqi said with a slight smile, his tone casually teasing, "what evil wind blew you into this state? You look like you swallowed a firecracker."

Liu Haizhong grabbed his son's arm, dragged him to the wall, and, in a low voice, poured out all the gossip circulating in the cafeteria. Finally, his Adam's apple bobbed a few times, his voice tinged with anxiety: "...They say you treat the government vehicle like your own. Guangqi, you can't let that reputation get tainted."

After listening, Liu Guangqi simply smiled faintly.

"I thought it was something big." He brushed off non-existent dust from his cuffs and looked at the towering chimneys in the distance. "The truck was approved by the Ministry of Metallurgy, along with the official documents stamped in black and white. It has nothing to do with the steel mill's assets. Let some people gossip—it'll also show the higher-ups just how high the 'consciousness' of some of our comrades is."

He turned his head and patted his father's tense shoulders and back.

"Don't take it to heart. Arguing with someone like that is beneath you. Let's settle things with our skills; that's more effective than any words."

These words, though spoken in a plain tone, carried the weight of a steel ingot, landing with real substance.

Sure enough, within half a day, the rumors reached the ears of Li Huaide, the deputy factory director.

Li Huaide was holding the porcelain cup lid, gently scraping the tea foam from the rim. After his secretary finished her report in a low voice, his hand trembled, and most of the scalding tea spilled onto the back of his hand, but he didn't feel any pain.

"Nonsense!" He abruptly stood up, the bottom of his porcelain cup slamming against the table with a dull thud. "Chief Engineer Liu is a bodhisattva personally invited by Director Tian from the First Ministry of Machine Building! Who dares to throw dirty water on a Buddha's head?"

He knew all too well how important Liu Guangqi was—nowadays, even Director Yang had to step back from Liu Guangqi in this steel rolling mill.

At 3 p.m., a series of static noises from an electrical disturbance came over the loudspeaker, followed by a clear and forceful announcement from the announcer:

"Attention all employees: Under the leadership of our Chief Engineer Liu Guangqi, the daily output of special steel has exceeded fifty tons, with a 100% finished product rate, setting a new record since the factory's establishment."

The sound echoed through the empty factory area, like a pebble thrown into a still pond.

There was a brief moment of silence, followed by exclamations that erupted from every corner.

"Fifty tons?! That's special steel!"

"At this time last year, we had to beg and plead to get thirty tons..."

"What kind of magical fire did Chief Engineer Liu ignite?"

Those whispers huddled in the corners of the cafeteria, those sidelong glances hidden behind the smoke, suddenly seemed light and airy in the face of these solid data, like dried coal dust that would dissipate with a gust of wind.

The voice on the radio suddenly switched to Li Huaide himself—with an undeniable solemnity:

"The following is an official factory notice: Recent rumors regarding Comrade Liu Guangqi's misuse of official vehicles have been verified to be fabricated. His official vehicle was specially allocated by the Ministry of Metallurgy for emergency commuting during technical research. The relevant approvals have been posted on the bulletin board. We welcome all employees to supervise."

As soon as he finished speaking, the only sound left in the factory area was the wind whistling through the iron frames, a mournful sound that sent chills down one's spine.

The air in the workshop seemed to freeze for a moment.

The workers who had been whispering amongst themselves moments before now had faces that looked like a spilled paint palette, a mix of red and blue. When the words "Ministry of Metallurgy" rang out heavily from the loudspeaker, all the whispers ceased abruptly. It was no longer just idle gossip within the factory, but a definitive statement from a higher level.

Then, an even harsher voice shattered the silence:

"Employees Zhang Qiang and others spread false information, causing a negative impact."

"In accordance with relevant regulations, the following actions have been taken: the employee's job grade has been downgraded by one level, and salary has been adjusted accordingly for a period of six months; the employee has been publicly criticized throughout the factory; the employee has been sent to a 30-day ideological study session starting immediately; the employee has been disqualified from all performance evaluations and awards for the year, and all welfare benefits for the year have been suspended."

Li Huaide acted with astonishing speed. The broadcast was still faintly echoing between the beams of the factory building, and the disciplinary notice, stamped with the scarlet factory seal, had already been posted in the most conspicuous position on the bulletin board.

As soon as the work bell rang, the bulletin board was instantly surrounded by a dense crowd.

The two official documents posted side by side seemed like a silent judgment.

The document on the left is the disciplinary decision, with Zhang Qiang and others' names clearly written in black and white, embedded in the description of "spreading rumors and causing trouble." The document on the right has the solemn words "Ministry of Metallurgical Industry" prominently printed at the top, followed by the official approval document for the requisition of vehicles for Comrade Liu Guangqi's use. The ministry's large seal is bright red and eye-catching, exuding a dignified authority.

Everything is self-evident.

"I told you long ago, Chief Engineer Liu isn't that kind of person!"

"Zhang Qiang is in trouble now. He's still doing the work of a level four worker, but he'll only be paid the salary of a level five worker, and he'll lose all his benefits."

"He brought it on himself! Who told him to gossip and spread rumors?"

"Does he even consider the consequences? Is Chief Engineer Liu someone he can fabricate?"

……

At the heart of the incident, Liu Guangqi himself seemed to be in another quiet space and time.

The noisy broadcast did not stir the slightest ripple in his heart. All his attention was focused on the old machine tool in front of him, his fingers running over the cold metal casing, his mind flowing with precise plans to modify it.

The scene in the canteen was nothing more than a speck of dust stirred up in a corner to him. A few bitter mutters, a few incoherent accusations—what could they possibly shake? That would be a huge joke. He knew that as long as Li Huaide and the factory leaders were still clear-headed, they would know how to end this farce. In fact, Li Huaide knew better than anyone whether Liu Guangqi had taken advantage of the factory in the slightest.

At his level, if he wanted to put a few restless individuals in check, he no longer needed to personally roll up his sleeves. Sometimes, a subtle glance or a tacit statement was enough for someone to understand and handle everything flawlessly.

That's why he didn't take this little incident to heart.

Amidst the faint smell of engine oil, Li Huaide walked in with a broad smile.

"Comrade Guangqi, are you busy?" He rubbed his hands together, his tone a mix of appropriate apology and familiarity. "This whole mess today has really upset you. I've already had the broadcasting room issue a notice. The people below are just being ignorant and stirring up trouble. Please don't take it to heart."

He naturally stood beside Liu Guangqi and set the tone: "Giving your father a ride home from get off work is no big deal!" Then, he changed the subject, with a hint of compensation: "Don't worry, the factory will definitely not let you suffer any injustice. They will definitely show you the proper treatment."

"Director Li, you're too kind. It's a small matter, no need for compensation." Liu Guangqi's lips curled into a knowing smile, his hands continuing their work. "This is nothing special, it's not worth your special trip. Is there anything else you need?"

"Haha, nothing escapes your notice." Li Huaide's smile became even more genuine after being exposed, even carrying a hint of subtle flattery. "It's like this, next Monday, Director Tian from the ministry is coming to inspect, and he specifically asked to see our technological innovation achievements. Do you think... we could adjust the time so he could come over in the morning?"

That was the real purpose of his trip.

"No problem." Liu Guangqi answered crisply and decisively, striking the perfect balance in terms of interpersonal relationships. "Director Li, rest assured, our cooperation has been going on for quite some time. With Director Tian here, as the person in charge of technology, it is only natural that I should report to him in person."

He spoke the words "reporting on work" calmly and naturally, which put Li Huaide's mind at ease.

Their eyes met, and they smiled knowingly at each other. The low hum of the machines in the workshop seemed to be the testament to their understanding.

A tacit understanding needs no words; it speaks volumes in silence.

Seeing that his intentions were clear, Li Huaide didn't waste any more of Liu Guangqi's time. After a few polite words, he got up and left. But as he turned and stepped out of the technical department and back into the bright factory director's office, the smile that had been on his face vanished instantly, as if it had never existed. In its place was a somber, cold expression, like a lake surface covered with a thin layer of frost.