Chapter 41: If I didn't know your background, I would have arrested you on the spot

Factory Lou Changzhang gasped, "Automated system? Chief Engineer Li, are you saying... a machine tool with automatic control?"

"That's right," Li Mingyuan nodded, "A machine tool controlled entirely by an electronic system; it requires no manual intervention, only the input of parameters to automatically complete the processing."

This concept was simply like a fantasy to those present.

Li Shouzheng's hands were shaking, "Xiao Li, this... this is already in the realm of theory!"

Chen Dezhong was so excited he couldn't stand still, "Chief Engineer Li, if we can really make this kind of machine tool, then our production efficiency... my God, it's unimaginable!"

Li Mingyuan smiled, "That is why I need these materials. Elder Li, can you help me apply for them from the Military Industry Department?"

Although Li Shouzheng did not understand how these scattered materials could form such advanced equipment, his trust in Li Mingyuan had already transcended rational judgment.

He nodded firmly, "I will contact the Military Industry Department immediately! Even if I have to search the whole country, I will find these things!"

Factory Lou Changzhang also patted his chest in guarantee, "All resources in the factory will cooperate fully! Chief Engineer Li, rest assured, we will definitely modify the existing machine tools according to your blueprints immediately!"

The atmosphere in the conference room became exceptionally heated; everyone's enthusiasm had been ignited by Li Mingyuan's design.

Li Mingyuan watched the excited crowd and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

With this set of Semi-automatic Machine Tools, production speed would increase significantly.

And once the Numerical Control System was successfully developed, it would completely change the entire industrial production landscape.

"Alright, everyone," Li Mingyuan clapped his hands, "Time is tight, let's take action immediately!"

The crowd seemed to wake from a dream and immediately sprang into action.

Factory Lou Changzhang went to organize the Technical Backbone to study the blueprints; Li Shouzheng took the list and headed straight for the telephone, preparing to contact the Military Industry Department.

Chen Dezhong took the workers and began preparing the materials and tools needed for the modification.

The office suddenly emptied, leaving only Li Mingyuan.

He stood by the window, watching the busy workshop, silently calculating the time in his heart.

"I hope it's in time," he whispered to himself.

At the same time, on the other side of the Siheyuan, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui were huddled secretively in that cramped room of the Yan family, both of them wearing the smiles of a conspiracy fulfilled.

"Old Yan, let's go to the Street Office today and report that Li Mingyuan for corrupt living!" Liu Haizhong clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with jealousy,

"As a mere engineer, how does he justify eating big fish and meat every day?"

Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses and said mysteriously:

"I've already found out clearly that Director Han at our Street Office hates this kind of extravagant and wasteful behavior the most. If we go and report him today, it's guaranteed to make Li Mingyuan suffer!"

Liu Haizhong's eyes lit up: "Let's go, let's go now! Let him taste what it's like to be denounced too!"

The two hurried to the Street Office, and as it happened, Director Han was in his office.

Director Han was a middle-aged man in his forties with a stern face and high prestige in the neighborhood.

"Director Han, we have an important situation to report." Yan Bugui spoke first, his tone sincere and his face full of righteous indignation.

Director Han looked up at them and gestured for them to sit down: "What is it? Speak."

Liu Haizhong cleared his throat and raised his voice a few notches: "It's like this, there's someone in our courtyard named Li Mingyuan; on the surface, he's an engineer at the Rolling Mill, but in private, his life is extremely corrupt and extravagant!"

Yan Bugui immediately chimed in: "That's right! He eats big fish and meat every day, his home is never without meat, and he often brings women of unknown identity home in the middle of the night..."

"He also deliberately pushes out old workers, forms cliques, and creates small factions!" Liu Haizhong added fuel to the fire, getting more and more worked up as he spoke.

Director Han frowned slightly and set down his teacup: "Are you talking about Chief Engineer Li Mingyuan of the Rolling Mill?"

"Yes, yes, yes, that's him!" the two replied in unison, secretly happy in their hearts; it seemed Director Han knew this person too.

Director Han's expression suddenly darkened, and his gaze swept over the two like a knife: "Do you know who Comrade Li Mingyuan is?"

Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui were stunned, looked at each other, and shook their heads.

"Comrade Li Mingyuan is a key national scientific research talent personally dispatched by the higher-ups!" Director Han's voice rose sharply as he slammed the table and stood up,

"The project he is participating in concerns national defense security, and the special treatment he enjoys is arranged by the organization!"

The two were instantly dumbfounded, the smiles on their faces frozen as if a basin of ice water had been poured over them from head to toe.

"You dare to spread rumors and falsely accuse key national talent?" Director Han's eyes were spitting fire, "If it weren't for the fact that I happen to know your background, I would have you arrested as active counter-revolutionaries right now!"

Liu Haizhong's legs were trembling: "Di-Director Han, we didn't know..."

"Get out!" Director Han roared, "If I hear you spreading this kind of talk again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

The two felt as if they had been granted amnesty; they scrambled out of the Street Office and ran all the way back to the Siheyuan, not even daring to catch their breath.

Yi Zhonghai stood in the center of the courtyard, checking the time from time to time, waiting anxiously.

According to the plan, the people from the Street Office should have arrived at the Siheyuan by now to take Li Mingyuan away.

But in the blink of an eye, it was already evening, and there was still no movement.

"What's going on?" Yi Zhonghai felt secretly anxious; seeing Yan Bugui walk into the courtyard looking dejected, he hurriedly pretended to approach him casually,

"Teacher Yan, your complexion isn't very good today; did you run into something?"

Yan Bugui's face turned pale, his eyes shifting: "No, nothing."

"Is that so?" Yi Zhonghai feigned concern, "I saw you and Liu Haizhong go out just now; where did you go?"

Yan Bugui looked left and right, and only after confirming no one was around did he say in a low voice: "Don't mention it, we almost caused a huge disaster!"

"What huge disaster?" Yi Zhonghai feigned surprise.

Yan Bugui stammered and recounted their experience at the Street Office; when he mentioned Director Han's anger, he still felt lingering fear:

"Master Yi, this Li Mingyuan is no ordinary person; his background is incredibly deep!"

Yi Zhonghai comforted him on the surface: "It's alright, it's alright; you were acting out of good intentions anyway."

But inwardly, he was secretly annoyed; he hadn't expected a small fry like Li Mingyuan to have such connections.

Returning to his room, Yi Zhonghai immediately told the news to Long Laotai. After hearing it, Long Laotai frowned and pondered: "I didn't expect this kid to have such a solid backing; it seems a head-on collision won't work."

"Then what should we do?" Yi Zhonghai asked anxiously, "Are we just going to let it go like this?"

Long Laotai narrowed her eyes and gave a sinister laugh: "Since the hard approach won't work, then we'll try the soft one."

"The soft one?" Yi Zhonghai was puzzled.

"No matter how capable Li Mingyuan is, he is still made of flesh and blood when it comes down to it," Long Laotai sneered, "Cast a long line to catch a big fish; we will show goodwill first, and once he lets his guard down, we will strike slowly."

Yi Zhonghai nodded thoughtfully: "Old lady, you are brilliant. I will find a way to approach him right away."

Long Laotai leaned on her cane and slowly stood up: "There is always someone better, and there is always a heaven above the heaven. Li Mingyuan, do you think you can walk sideways just because someone is backing you? Hehe, let's wait and see!"