A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

"You're also from the comprehensive machinery factory?"

The leading soldier glanced at the work uniforms Liu Haizhong and the others were wearing, then waved his hand to interrupt the soldiers' actions.

Hmm? Why did you say "also"?

"Hey! Right, let me wish Xiao Jiang a Happy New Year!" Liu Haizhong didn't have time to think. He nodded, took out his work ID, and also pulled out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes.

The lead soldier glanced at him, politely declined, and then raised his hand in a salute.

"Comrade, seeing Xiao Jiang is no problem at all!"

"However, there are too many people in the courtyard, it's a bit crowded. I'll go in and let Xiao Jiang know right away. Please wait there for a while!"

As he spoke, the soldier pointed to the corner of the wall, where several small stools were placed.

Liu Haizhong and his son nodded in agreement as they carried their bags to the small stool.

But they found that someone was already sitting on the row of small stools.

"An... an old man?"

What are you doing here!

The third son of the Liu family pointed at the man and exclaimed in surprise.

Oh! No wonder that chef was showing off so much in the courtyard, while this old man didn't show up. Turns out, he'd been waiting here all along!

The third son of the Liu family suddenly felt that he was very foolish and naive...

Yi Zhonghai blushed and simply stuffed the things he was carrying under the small stool.

Unfortunately, this move was useless, because the bag was a bright red!

Yes, the bear rejected the red cloth because of the bloodstains on it!

Thanks to the current friendly relationship between the machinery factory and the textile factory, the textile factory originally planned to exchange a batch of red cloth returned by the alliance as defective products for the machinery factory's employees.

However, there weren't many available, because everyone wanted this kind of red cloth, and Yang Youning, driven to desperation, simply waved his hand.

"It's almost Chinese New Year, let's make these into bags! We can use these bags to hold welfare items, and no one will be able to steal them!"

This bizarre solution drew fierce criticism from some employees who called Yang Youning's solution pointless, while others praised it highly.

Of course, the employees being praised are all young people, and all of them have previously performed maintenance work at the textile factory.

Why?

Now that I've said all that, can't you see it?

Think about it, making bags from cloth requires people to do it, and the female workers in the textile factory even worked overtime for this. As a result, the general machinery factory paid an extra price—most of a frozen whale.

Yes, it was a gift from a high-ranking naval officer.

This time, however, it wasn't a fin whale, but a plump killer whale. There were big ones and small ones; Jiang Xia guessed this unfortunate family had been wiped out by the "sea swarm"...

We've gone off on a tangent, let's get back on track.

(Hey, I can do pulling and tugging too, though I'm a bit clumsy...)

"Oh, Yi Zhonghai, are you here to thank Xiao Jiang for being lenient and not sending you to the police station?"

Looking at Yi Zhonghai's inexplicably gray hair, Liu Haizhong sighed.

He also kicked his third son, who was about to speak, to the side.

You little brat, don't blame your dad for kicking you. The moment you stick your ass out, I know you're not going to spout anything good.

Liu Haizhong, whose ideological awareness had improved, felt that he had done the right thing!

I feel a bit inexplicably sad...

Liu Haizhong recalled Yi Zhonghai's various schemes in the courtyard house, "Sigh, all his scheming and plotting has come to nothing. Old Yi, everyone knows what you're thinking, you're just afraid no one will take care of you in your old age!"

"You didn't know about the retirement regulations that Secretary Liu just announced yesterday, did you?"

"Guangqi, what does that retirement regulation say?"

Liu Guangqi put down what he was holding, rubbed his wrist, and smiled at Yi Zhonghai:

"Hey, this retirement regulation was promulgated 51 years ago. What Secretary Liu is talking about is a supplementary clause!"

“本企业工龄5~10年的发放本人工资的50％，5~15年的60％，15年以上的70%，另外对于特殊工种的部分工作岗位，工龄可以折算。”

"The specific calculation method seems to be that for heavy physical labor or special jobs, like yours, Dad, one year of service will be counted as one year and three months. That way, Dad, you can retire in five years!"

"Retire my ass! I'm going to work for another twenty years!"

As he spoke, Liu Haizhong wanted to kick him again, but when he saw that it was his eldest son in front of him, he reluctantly put his foot down.

“Old Yi, don’t worry about no one supporting you! The country has you covered! You didn’t know about this policy before, but now you should…”

"I know!"

Three words interrupted Liu Haizhong's official tone, and Yi Zhonghai's indifferent gaze left Liu Haizhong stunned.

"You know? If you know, then why did you..."

"I'm here to thank Xiao Jiang for recommending me to the Academy of Sciences as a technical advisor..."

As Yi Zhonghai spoke, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a red booklet.

"An appointment letter! And from the Academy of Sciences! You..."

Liu Haizhong's finger, pointing at Yi Zhonghai, trembled slightly.

"Hehe." Seeing Liu Haizhong's surprised look, Yi Zhonghai's mood, which had been depressed for a while because of the death of the Jia family's son, inexplicably improved.

But, recalling Liu Haizhong's clumsy way of expressing goodwill, Yi Zhonghai sighed softly.

"Old Liu, your path is longer than mine. I'll be very busy when I go to the Academy of Sciences. Otherwise, how about we let you take over the job of one of the old men there?"

Yi Zhonghai shuddered as he recalled the scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences working so hard. He realized that he probably wouldn't have the chance to slack off anymore!

But think about it, how can you get your blood pumping?

Burning oneself for the motherland? That sounds pretty exciting!

Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, Liu Guangqi was taken aback and immediately looked at his father with concern.

He knew how obsessed his father was with "leadership positions," but Dad, please don't...

"Pah! You, Yi Zhonghai, I was trying to give you some advice, and you're just trying to hold me back! I was ignorant before, but now, what are these 'Grandpa' and 'Grandpa' titles? They're not legitimate positions! You're just a frog in a well!"

"Look what this is! Let me tell you, once I finish this course, you'll be calling me a college student!"

"I also want to teach apprentices, a hundred, a thousand! I want them all to become advanced workers and go to the meeting hall to receive awards from the elders!" Liu Haizhong pointed at Yi Zhonghai's nose and couldn't help but jump up and down, uttering the above words as if making a vow.

Whew... Hearing Liu Haizhong say that, Liu Guangqi felt relieved.

My own father seems to have really changed!

That's rare!

When did it change?

"Clap clap clap..."

Before Liu Guangqi could think further, a round of applause broke out.

Looking back, he saw a group of soldiers wearing badges surrounding a young man.

They stood under the lights in the courtyard, smiling and clapping at themselves!

Hey, isn't this Jiang, the engineer who showed up during the assessment?

Xiao Jiang clapped at me?

How virtuous and capable am I?

Liu Guangqi grinned foolishly.

Snapped……

A giant potsticker flew over...

e=(′o｀*))) Huh? My dad hit me?

Liu Guangqi, who had been shoveled away, touched his head with an incredulous look on his face.

"Hey! Brother Guangqi, you're blocking your dad's way! What, you think everyone's applauding you?"

A bewildered Liu Guangqi looked at the horse-faced man who had somehow appeared beside him.

"Da Mao?"

"Hehe, it wasn't me."

"What are you here for?"

"None of your business!"

Xu Damao's face hardened, as if he wanted to provoke him. But after thinking about it, he put on a smile again.

"Hey, Guangqi, let's put aside what I'm here for now."

"I have something to discuss with you?"

"Huh?" Liu Guangqi watched as his father and Yi Zhonghai excitedly stepped forward to shake hands with Jiang Xia, and absentmindedly replied.

“They don’t want to be the old men in the courtyard house anymore, look, let’s go be them!”

"I'm the eldest uncle, and you're the second eldest uncle?"

"Xu Damao, you should change your surname to Ma!"

"what?"

"The horse doesn't know its face is long!"