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

He instinctively hid behind Yi Zhonghai, shrinking his neck like a frightened quail.

Factory Director Yang stared at him and said, word by word:

"You'll never be able to go back to the cafeteria for the rest of your life!"

He pointed to the pile of steel outside, his finger poking at it like a nail.

"Stay put in your position and do your job properly! If you can't even do this job well, then you can quit! The factory doesn't tolerate idlers!"

Sha Zhu stood there, stunned, as if struck by lightning. He didn't move an inch, not even his eyes moved.

He never imagined that a single sentence he uttered would leave him with no way out.

That escape route was completely blocked, leaving not even a crack.

"Director Yang..."

His voice was trembling with tears, and he was almost in tears.

"Please don't do this... I promise I'll work hard... In the future... could you let me continue working in the cafeteria? I promise I'll work hard and never slack off again..."

"Silly Zhu!"

Someone in the crowd shouted. The voice was sharp and bright, like the sound of a gong.

"Even if the factory manager asked you to work in the canteen, none of us would be happy! Who would dare eat the food you cook?"

These words immediately resonated with many.

"Exactly! What right does that guy who fell into the latrine have to cook for us?! Just thinking about it makes me sick!"

"Now, every time I see him, I'm reminded of that awful smell! I have no appetite for anything!"

"You can't even lift a steel plate properly, and you're asking to cook? Aren't you afraid of being poisoned?! What if you spit in the pot?"

People's eyes are sharp.

The words that come out are naturally quite venomous.

Every word was like a knife, stabbing into Sha Zhu's heart.

Sha Zhu was completely dumbfounded.

He knew he was no longer qualified to be a head chef in the cafeteria.

He collapsed to the ground with a thud, his legs giving way, and he lay there limp. His eyes were glazed over, as if he had lost his soul. He was completely lost, like a headless fly.

Yi Zhonghai stood to the side, feeling a growing sense of dread. That dread crawled inside him like a worm.

He took a cautious step forward and tentatively began to speak.

"Director Yang... I don't know what happened today..."

He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"My leg isn't feeling well... I accidentally fell... It really wasn't on purpose..."

He reluctantly came up with a reason for himself, a reason that even he didn't believe.

I hope Director Yang will consider his injury and not pursue the matter too much. Please let him off the hook, considering his old face.

But he himself knew that the steel here was collective property. It was the property of the state and the property of the people.

The damage is so severe now that it will not only affect the project but also disrupt normal production schedules. The impact will be enormous.

The mistake he made was too serious.

It was so serious that he himself dared not even imagine it.

Factory Director Yang stared at him.

That gaze seemed to see right through his face. From his forehead to his chin, from his eyes to the corners of his mouth.

"you--"

He pointed at Yi Zhonghai, his fingers trembling. The trembling traveled from his fingers to his arm, and from his arm to his shoulder.

"Master Yi, you!"

He let out a long sigh, utterly helpless. The sigh was drawn out, like a long thread.

"How could someone as experienced as you make such a mistake?! You've been doing this your whole life, and you're getting worse at it?"

He found what was happening before his eyes utterly unbelievable.

"Tell me, what should I say about you?"

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. The breath went in, swirled in his chest, and then he exhaled.

"Such a major oversight cannot be simply brushed aside. If we just let it go, who will take rules and regulations seriously in the future?"

He pondered for a moment and then announced the final decision.

"Alright, find a way to salvage this batch of steel. We absolutely cannot delay production. Sort what needs to be sorted, and remelt what needs to be remelted."

His gaze fell on Yi Zhonghai's face. That gaze was like an awl, piercing and painful.

"As for Master Yi—"

He paused, as if carefully choosing his words.

"From now on, I'll work as a level 5 worker and receive level 5 worker benefits."

In a word.

It's dropped again.

From level 8 to level 7, and from level 7 to level 5.

Two levels.

Yi Zhonghai stood there, stunned, unable to recover for a long time.

His lips trembled, and his voice was so hoarse it didn't sound like his own. The sound was squeezed out of his throat, like a broken bellows.

"Director Yang..."

His tone was pleading, like a dog wagging its tail for mercy.

"Over the years, I've worked hard in this factory, if not made any great contributions... How many years have I worked here? Twenty years! A full twenty years! You can't be so cruel just because of one accident..."

His eyes reddened, and tears welled up in them.

"I've been a level eight worker for so many years... You say my skill level isn't that high enough, and you demote me to level seven, I accept that... That's a technical issue, I accept that. But now you've demoted me to level five... This..."

"How dare you say that?!"

Factory Director Yang's voice came like a knife, hitting me hard.

"I've already shown you extraordinary leniency by not firing you both for causing such huge losses to the factory! Do you know how much this batch of steel is worth? Do you know the consequences of delaying production?"

He glared at Yi Zhonghai, his eyes blazing with fury.

"If you don't want to, get out now! The factory doesn't need someone like you!"

Upon hearing the word "expulsion," Yi Zhonghai swallowed all his words.

Those two words were like two stones stuck in my throat.

He dared not utter another sound. He shrank his neck, like a frightened old dog.

Sha Zhu also got up from the ground, patted the dust off his butt, and stood to the side with his neck hunched.

Seeing that Director Yang was angry, Li Jianguo spoke up at the right time.

"Director Yang."

His voice was calm, like a stagnant pool.

"It's not worth getting angry over these two people. It'll only ruin your health."

He pointed into the workshop, gesturing in that direction.

"Let's go inside and take a look at the latest research findings. There's a high probability we can build the model today."

Factory Director Yang was taken aback.

Then, his eyes lit up. The light shone like a light bulb in his eyes.

"real?"

His voice was filled with barely suppressed surprise, like a child seeing candy.

"You actually made a model of the engine?"

"Of course it's real, how could it be fake?" Li Jianguo smiled faintly. "There are a few key parts that I'll make in a bit. Then we can assemble the model and start testing."

The engine blueprints were readily available.

Making a model is actually not difficult.

Previously, the issue was stuck on the materials.

They've finished making the materials in the last couple of days.

The next step is to make samples and conduct tests.

This is not a difficult thing for them.

It can be done today.

"Then what are you waiting for?!"

Factory Director Yang grabbed Li Jianguo's arm tightly, as if grasping at a lifeline.

"Hurry up, let's go! Let's go take a look together! Let's try to finish it today! I'm waiting to hear good news!"

A group of people hurried into the workshop. Their footsteps were chaotic, like a surging tide.

Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai stood there, forgotten in the corner.

They didn't know what they were supposed to do.

But they were unwilling to leave just like that.

I simply followed behind and entered the workshop as well. Like two tails, I quietly followed behind.

In the workshop, Li Jianguo started getting busy.

His movements were quick and precise, like a sophisticated machine.

Before long, several key components were produced.

Everyone started assembling.

welding.

debug.

A while later.

A model of an engine appeared before everyone.

The model wasn't large, but it was as exquisite as a work of art. Every part shone brightly, and every joint fit perfectly.

The workshop was quiet for a few seconds.

It was so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat.

Then, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted.

The cheers came like a tide, wave after wave.

"Director Li is really awesome!"

Xu Damao is definitely Li's number one fan. His voice is the loudest and clearest.

He looked at the engine model in front of him, showering it with compliments like they were free.

"One person can build an engine! That's top-tier in the whole country! No, it's number one!"

"Director Li has achieved so much at such a young age; he's truly unique among young people! Unprecedented and likely to remain so!"

"This engine is so beautiful! I think it's even better than what those foreigners make! Those foreign devils will be dumbfounded when they see it!"

Such words usually make people uncomfortable; it's too obvious flattery.

But today, Xu Damao's words have won everyone's approval.

"That's right! Xu Damao is correct this time!"

"The engine that Director Li made is quite advanced, even on an international scale! It's no worse than those foreign products!"

The expert next to him couldn't help but speak up. He pushed up his glasses, and his eyes behind the lenses gleamed.

The engine is something that has been holding them back for years.

The first truck developed domestically used an engine that was a copy of a German-made one. Without our own technology, we're always at a disadvantage.

It can be said that before the birth of this engine, there was not a single engine in the country that was truly independently developed and produced.

Moreover, this engine is top-of-the-line in terms of both performance and materials. It uses the latest aluminum alloy materials.

"I need to report this news immediately!"

Factory Director Yang's eyes reddened. The redness spread from around his eyes, as if they were dyed.

He was so excited. His voice was trembling.

"Our project team hasn't been established for very long, yet we've already achieved such a huge breakthrough! All of this is thanks to Director Li! Without Director Li, we wouldn't be where we are today!"

His voice was choked up, as if something was blocking it.

"Director Li must accept this credit! No one can take it away from him!"

Li Jianguo waved his hand, which swayed in the air.

"Don't rush, test it first, just in case something goes wrong. It's too early to be happy if there are any problems."

He knew in his heart that there was nothing wrong with the model.

But these words cannot be said aloud.

The necessary procedures still need to be followed.

Soon, a specialist began the inspection. The person used various instruments to measure each item one by one.

"no problem!"

The person conducting the inspection looked up, a look of surprise on their face. That surprise shone like sunshine.

"Based on the current situation, this engine is qualified! All indicators meet the standards!"

He paused, as if carefully choosing his words.

"As for other performance aspects, we still need to conduct comprehensive testing. The results won't be available for a while, but I think there shouldn't be any problems. Based on my experience, this engine is definitely reliable."

At the very back of the crowd, Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai stood there.

Both of them were stunned by what they saw.

That idiocy, like a piece of wood, spread from his face to his entire body.

They never expected this—

Li Jianguo really did it.

"today!"

Director Yang's voice rang out, like the ringing of a bell.

"Everyone's eating in the cafeteria! This is such great news, we have to have a celebration party!"

He waved his hand, which drew an arc in the air.

"Let's treat all the heroes who have contributed to this project! Eat as much as you want today!"

"Very good!"

"Finally, I can have a decent meal! I'm exhausted these past few days!"

"This meal absolutely has to have meat to make it a proper meal! It has to have braised pork!"

"Don't worry, there's plenty tonight! We'll give everyone a good meal! Lots of meat and plenty of alcohol!"

Factory Director Yang was overjoyed. He was as happy as a child celebrating the New Year.

A group of people were making a lively and cheerful way to the cafeteria. They were chatting and laughing.

Then--

They saw Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai still standing there.

Factory Director Yang's expression changed instantly. The change was as fast as turning the pages of a book, from sunny to cloudy.

"What are you two doing still here?"

Yi Zhonghai took a step forward, forcing a fawning smile onto his face. The smile was more unsightly than a grimace.

"Factory manager...you didn't assign us both any work...we'll continue..."

Factory Director Yang was taken aback.