Courtyard House: Starting as an eighth-grade worker, with too many wives.

When asked to speak during meetings, he always had to chime in with "supplementary opinions," as if all the experienced craftsmen present were just decorations. When assigning tasks, even though it was clearly his job as a fitter, Li Jianguo would say something like, "Master Yi is very experienced, you can learn from him throughout the whole process," and send him to move steel.

Move the steel!

He, Yi Zhonghai, an eighth-level fitter, went to move steel.

Thinking of this, the fire in his chest surged up again, burning his throat dry. The smile on his face faded slightly, and he quickly put on a calm expression, as if he hadn't heard the words of praise at all, and that his ears were filled with nothing but air.

"Director Li."

The older engineer pushed up his glasses, a thoughtful look in his eyes behind the lenses, and took two steps forward.

"This next batch of parts requires high precision, and we really need a veteran like Master Yi to handle it." He paused, glancing at the steel piled up beside him. "To be honest, it's not really suitable for him to be doing this kind of rough work right now. Do you think we should transfer him to the workshop?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yi Zhonghai slightly raised his eyelids.

He didn't move, but his gaze, like a snake, silently slithered over and coiled around Li Jianguo's back.

He stared at the back of the man, waiting to see how the young man would respond.

The smugness in my heart was like a gust of wind, suddenly igniting and leaping high into the air.

After all that, Li Jianguo's project still can't do without me, Yi Zhonghai.

He wanted to laugh, but he held it back, suppressing the laughter into his throat, letting it swirl around in his chest several times.

This time, I won't let you get away with it so easily.

I absolutely have to make you pour me tea and apologize in front of all these people!

At the edge of the crowd, Sha Zhu leaned against two stacked steel beams. The two steel beams were not stacked steadily, and when he leaned against them, his whole body swayed, but he seemed not to feel it. He had a blade of grass in his mouth, which he had found from somewhere, and the end of the blade of grass was twitching at the corner of his mouth.

His eyes lit up, and he grinned from ear to ear, revealing two rows of teeth.

This is so interesting.

He spat the grass stems onto the ground, where they landed on the cement, covered in dust, but he didn't care. He raised his voice, high-pitched and loud, as if afraid someone wouldn't hear him: "If you ask me, in our factory, there's only one level eight fitter, Master Yi, right?"

He deliberately dragged out his words, his eyes darting around like two mice fighting in their eye sockets.

"Without his oversight, the stuff Director Li produces... tsk tsk, who would dare use it?"

These words were like a drop of water thrown into a pot of oil, causing a crackling and popping sensation.

Several workers in the project team immediately chimed in, their voices growing increasingly urgent:

"Director Li, actually we've been wanting to say this for the past couple of days—"

"Exactly, exactly. Without Master Yi handling this final step, we really wouldn't be confident. That's precision finishing, not something to be taken lightly."

"I can't guarantee anything will go wrong. What if something goes wrong... then all our hard work these past few days will have been for nothing?"

Li Jianguo finally put down his notebook and turned around.

His gaze passed over the workers who were talking, and over their anxious expressions, and landed directly on Yi Zhonghai's face.

Yi Zhonghai was looking down, still adjusting his gloves. He took off his right glove, put it back on, and took it off again, repeatedly fiddling with it. But the smile on his lips was impossible to hide, like oil stains floating on water, impossible to suppress.

Li Jianguo saw it clearly—he knew exactly what this old man was up to.

Isn't he just taking advantage of the fact that the project needs him as a fitter, deliberately putting on airs and making demands?

Do you want him to admit his mistake?

Do you want him to pour tea or water?

pity--

Li Jianguo lowered his eyes, his eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath them. When he looked up again, his face showed a serious expression of contemplation, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he were considering something important.

He nodded, his tone as calm as if he were having a casual conversation: "Everyone is right."

The people around him quieted down, and all eyes were on him.

"At this stage of the project, we really need a highly skilled master craftsman to oversee it." He paused, glancing around at the surroundings. "Actually, I had already considered this matter and was planning to invite Master Yi to the workshop in a couple of days."

Everyone nodded in agreement, finding the statement reasonable. Some hummed in agreement, while others whispered among themselves, saying that Director Li had quite a few ideas.

"I attach great importance to this project." Li Jianguo took a step forward, raising his voice a few decibels, making it particularly clear in the workshop. "I hope that experienced craftsmen like Master Yi can participate in the entire process and play their greatest role - so I arranged for him to follow up on every step from the beginning, including the early smelting and material preparation."

He stopped, his gaze slowly sweeping across the faces of the crowd, like a searchlight sweeping across the sea.

"But now it seems... Master Yi isn't quite satisfied with my arrangements."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of those around him changed.

The person who initially thought Li Jianguo was deliberately suppressing Master Yi suddenly felt a jolt in their mind, as if someone had plucked a string hard in their head.

Yup!

Director Li wanted Master Yi to be involved from beginning to end, so that he would naturally share in the credit once the project was successful! The initial work might be tiring, but it's still part of the project. Without the initial work, how can there be a proper sequel?

This is for Master Yi's own good!

Someone couldn't help but speak up, their voice carrying a hint of sudden realization: "Director Li is thinking of Master Yi's best interests; we can all see that. The preliminary work may be a bit tough, but it's laying the foundation."

"Master Yi will definitely appreciate it. He's an experienced craftsman; he knows what he's doing."

"Exactly, exactly. The fact that the leader arranged it this way shows they value you. Others might not even get this treatment."

Yi Zhonghai's expression changed, and the smile on his lips froze, as if it had been frozen.

Li Jianguo's lips curled slightly, a smile that flashed by so quickly it seemed like a trick of the eye.

He turned to Yi Zhonghai, his voice crisp and decisive, like a knife slicing a radish: "Alright, since everyone has brought it up, let's make the adjustment today—Master Yi will be transferred to the workshop starting today to take charge of fitter work, so that everyone can see your true skills."

In short, they wanted to transfer him to the workshop.

Yi Zhonghai's smile froze completely. The smile was like a mask stuck to his face, impossible to remove, but cracks had already appeared beneath.

But he quickly recovered, chuckled twice, his laughter dry and cracked like sun-dried wood. He spoke slowly, his voice unhurried, as if chatting casually: "Director Li, didn't you just say—whatever we do is a contribution to the country and an effort for the project?"

He pointed to the steel at his feet, tapping his finger in the air, his tone unhurried, as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.

"I think my current job is pretty good. Moving steel is just physical labor, why should I be picky?"

Li Jianguo's brow twitched almost imperceptibly, like a pebble thrown into water, creating ripples.

Yi Zhonghai continued, his smile lines deepening as if etched by a knife: "I've been a worker my whole life, and this is the first time someone has told me I haven't done my job properly. I'm stubborn and inflexible. Since the leader says I haven't done it well, then I have to do this job to the best of my ability, until I'm satisfied with it."

He waved his hand, his attitude as firm and unyielding as a rock, hard and cold.

"I won't go to the workshop. You should find someone else."

Several workers nearby became anxious and rushed forward to persuade him, with one even tugging at Yi Zhonghai's sleeve.

"Master Yi, with your skill level, it's a shame you're not working in the factory! Wouldn't that be a waste of your talent?"

"The project really needs you, don't get upset with yourself. Why argue with the boss?"

"Exactly, exactly. Your skills can only be truly utilized in the workshop. Using them to move steel here is a waste of your talents! People will feel sorry for you if word gets out."

Yi Zhonghai didn't even lift his eyelids, as if he hadn't heard a thing. He slowly and methodically adjusted his gloves, stretching each finger out, his voice still unhurried, like a dull knife cutting flesh: "What's the difference what kind of work you do? I think it's fine here. Moving steel is also contributing to the country."

He looked up and met Li Jianguo's gaze.

Those eyes held an undisguised provocation. That gaze was like a small knife, scraping across Li Jianguo's face, igniting a fire in his heart.

Young people are young people after all.

Want to fight him?

Still too inexperienced.

He has the skills, the experience, and the prestige built up over decades. Throughout the entire steel rolling mill, everyone who mentions Yi Zhonghai gives him a thumbs up.

Do you want him to help out in the workshop?

Okay, first bow your head and admit your mistake, pour tea and water, and apologize to him in front of everyone. Then put away that arrogant attitude and respectfully call him "Master Yi".

Otherwise, not a chance.

Li Jianguo's face darkened, like a dark cloud looming overhead.

He stared at Yi Zhonghai, his voice turning colder, like a gust of wind in the dead of winter: "Master Yi, are you throwing a tantrum?"

"Oh dear, how could I dare—"

Yi Zhonghai smiled amiably, though the wrinkles around his eyes were deeply knitted, his voice hard and unyielding, like a stone striking another stone, "You're the director, how could I dare to object to the work you assigned?"

He paused, patted the steel beside him, and his hand landed on the steel plate with a dull thud: "Isn't the work I'm doing now something you personally arranged? You're right, if the work isn't done properly, I have to do it well and keep going. As for the workshop... I won't participate anymore. You should find someone else."

Li Jianguo sneered, the laughter coming from his nasal cavity, carrying a chilling aura.

"It seems Master Yi has quite a temper." He took a step forward, looking down at Yi Zhonghai with a gaze as sharp as an awl. "Are you deliberately trying to sabotage the project and prevent it from proceeding smoothly?"

Yi Zhonghai was overjoyed. His smugness was like boiling water, bubbling and bubbling out.

He waved his hand in feigned panic, making a few gestures in the air as if he were afraid: "Oh dear, please don't put such a big accusation on me. My little body can't bear it."

He shrank his neck and shrugged, looking like a turtle hiding its head, but there was a clear smile in his eyes, like a cat looking at a mouse under its paws.

You little brat, let's see what you do now.

I'm the only level eight fitter in the factory.

If I don't do it, where are you going to find someone else?

He knew perfectly well—these days, a level-eight fitter was a rare breed, maybe only one or two in a factory. If he wouldn't do it, Li Jianguo would have to borrow one from another factory. But which factory would let someone go so easily? Borrowing a master craftsman—how many favors would that require? How many connections would you need to pull? Why would anyone lend you their prized possession?

He waited to see Li Jianguo jump up and down in a panic. He waited to see him sweating, waited to see him caught in a dilemma, and finally obediently bow his head.

But Li Jianguo just looked at him, his gaze as calm as a stagnant pool, and asked again in a serious tone, "Master Yi, are you sure you don't want to go to the workshop?"

Yi Zhonghai also adopted a serious expression, his wrinkles tightening: "I'm sure. I just want to do my job well, until the leaders are satisfied."

He met Li Jianguo's gaze with a smile in his eyes.

But I was secretly laughing.

This time, I'll force you to admit your mistake in public.

Li Jianguo stared at his smug face, then glanced at the disapproving expressions on the faces of the surrounding workers. Their faces showed anxiety, confusion, and a bias towards the veteran worker.

He nodded slightly.

It's almost done.

At this point, workers from other workshops, unable to bear the sight any longer, squeezed forward to try and persuade them. Some peeked out from behind the crowd, while others stood on tiptoe, their voices filled with anxiety:

"Master Yi, this project is crucial to national development. You can't abandon it because of your personal feelings! It's a major national undertaking!"

"Yes, Master Yi, you're the only level eight fitter in the factory. If you don't do it, how can this project move forward? Who will be responsible if the schedule is delayed?"

"Why don't you go help out in the workshop? Don't argue with the supervisor. It's all for work, what's so hard about that?"

The more people tried to persuade him, the more Yi Zhonghai shook his head. He shook his head vigorously, his expression becoming increasingly resolute.