Chapter 7: What

Li Mingyuan's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface: "No, Minister. These are my own designs. Although I referenced the advantages of some existing weapons, the overall plan is original."

Zhao Zhiyuan stared into Li Mingyuan's eyes for a few seconds, seemingly judging the truthfulness of his words, and finally nodded: "Good, I believe you."

"You kid have quite a bit of foresight." He patted Li Mingyuan on the shoulder, "Work hard, the country needs talent like you. But remember, learn humbly from the old experts; don't be too sharp and showy."

"I understand, Minister." Li Mingyuan nodded earnestly.

Returning to the laboratory, the atmosphere was already completely different.

The experts, who had originally been arguing until their faces were red, were now all gathered around the blueprints in heated discussion, their faces glowing with excitement.

Some had already begun drawing improvement plans on paper, some were calculating ballistic parameters, and some were even simulating firing motions to verify the ergonomics.

Just like that, Li Mingyuan successfully defused the potential confrontation and won the approval of the old experts.

Seeing everyone's excitement, Zhao Zhiyuan nodded with satisfaction and turned his gaze to Li Mingyuan: "Comrade Li, considering the importance of the project, I will arrange for you to take office officially as soon as possible. The initial goal is to produce the first batch of sample guns for testing within three months."

"Three months?" Lao Chen stood up all at once, "Minister Zhao, is this time too tight? According to the standard process, just the blueprint conversion alone takes half a year!"

Zhao Zhiyuan's expression was serious: "Time waits for no one, Lao Chen. The international situation changes in an instant; we must quicken our pace."

Li Mingyuan stepped forward: "Three months is enough, Minister. If enough manpower and equipment can be provided, it could even be completed ahead of schedule."

"Good lad, you have guts!" Zhou Lao stroked his beard, his eyes flashing with appreciation, "I support it!"

……

After the meeting ended, Li Mingyuan discussed technical details with the experts for another hour, only returning to the guesthouse when the sky had grown dark.

Just as he pushed open the dormitory door, he heard a solemn voice coming from the radio.

"Now broadcasting a message: By decision of the Military Industry Department Party Committee, Comrade Li Mingyuan, who has just returned from studying abroad in Polar Bear, is hereby awarded an individual Second Class Merit for making significant technical contributions in the field of military industry, as an encouragement……"

Li Mingyuan froze in the doorway. A Second Class Merit? This progress was too fast!

Senior Zhang rushed out from inside, his eyes wide as saucers: "Mingyuan! You…… did you hear the broadcast just now? You were awarded a merit? A Second Class Merit! How many days has it been since you returned to the country? What on earth did you do?"

Li Mingyuan scratched his head in embarrassment, and before he could answer, the other students who had studied abroad in the dormitory also crowded around.

"Mingyuan, what kind of trick did you pull? How did you get a merit as soon as you got back?"

"The rest of us are still getting familiar with the environment and haven't even been assigned work, and you already have a Second Class Merit?"

"Speak up, did you bring back some important intelligence? Or steal some blueprints?"

Li Mingyuan was left between laughter and tears by this scene: "No, no, it's just…… I made some suggestions regarding the standardization of weapons, and I didn't expect them to be taken so seriously."

"Just that?" Wang Zheng clearly didn't believe it, "A Second Class Merit for making a suggestion? Who are you trying to fool!"

"It really was just a suggestion, plus a few design drawings……" Li Mingyuan tried his best to be vague.

A student who had studied abroad winked: "I get it, there must be connections. Mingyuan, is your father……?" He made a gesture pointing upward.

"Connections my foot!" Li Mingyuan spat, "I'm an orphan, where would I get connections? It's purely a technical matter."

Everyone talked at once, refusing to believe that a Second Class Merit could be awarded just for making a suggestion, guessing that there must be a "story" behind Li Mingyuan.

After a long commotion, Senior Zhang couldn't watch anymore and chased most of the people away.

"Mingyuan, no matter the reason, it's always a good thing to receive recognition from the organization." Senior Zhang patted him on the shoulder, though his eyes couldn't hide his curiosity.

Li Mingyuan was just about to explain when Group Leader Liu walked in hurriedly: "Comrade Li Mingyuan, pack your bags first thing tomorrow morning, there's a new mission!"

The whole guesthouse was in an uproar again, with everyone craning their necks to look, wanting to know what new move this companion who had suddenly become a "popular figure" had.

……

Early the next morning, just as Li Mingyuan finished breakfast, Group Leader Liu came to pick him up.

"Group Leader, what exactly is the mission? Where are we going?" Li Mingyuan carried his simple luggage and followed Group Leader Liu into a military jeep.

Group Leader Liu handed him a document: "This is your new appointment: Technical Chief Engineer of the Hongxing Rolling Mill, responsible for the sample trial production of the Type Weapon System."

"Rolling Mill?" Li Mingyuan was a bit puzzled, "Shouldn't it be at an arsenal?"

Group Leader Liu smiled: "The major arsenals all have their own research and development tasks now and can't spare the manpower. This Hongxing Rolling Mill was donated to the country by a patriotic businessman a few days ago; it has complete equipment, and we just took it over. It's perfect to serve as your testing base."

"Hongxing Rolling Mill?" Li Mingyuan's heart stirred; why did this name sound so familiar?

"It's right over in Nanluoguxiang, which is convenient for contacting the Military Industry Department." Group Leader Liu added, "For the sake of work, we've also arranged a place for you to stay nearby, at 95 Hao Siheyuan. Quite a few engineering and technical personnel already live there, which is convenient for management."

Li Mingyuan's eyes widened abruptly: "95 Hao Siheyuan? Nanluoguxiang?"

"That's right, what's wrong?" Group Leader Liu looked at him strangely.

A boom went off in Li Mingyuan's brain, as if struck by lightning. Hongxing Rolling Mill, 95 Hao Siheyuan, Nanluoguxiang…… aren't these the settings from that household-name TV series "Siheyuan"?

Could it be…… that he hadn't just transmigrated into history, but into the world of a TV series?

Li Mingyuan's brain was buzzing, and a strange feeling welled up.

Seeing Li Mingyuan frozen there, Group Leader Liu reached out and waved in front of his eyes, "What's wrong, Xiao Li, are you not satisfied with the arrangement?"

Li Mingyuan came back to his senses and waved his hands quickly, "No, no, I just thought the name sounded a bit familiar."

But inside, he was frantically complaining: Are they really making me neighbors with Yi Zhonghai and that bunch?

"Don't worry, we've just screened this courtyard, it's very safe. Many engineering and technical personnel live in this area, which is convenient for unified management." Group Leader Liu thought he was worried about safety and patted him on the shoulder, "And it's close to the factory; it only takes a few minutes by bicycle."

The car drove through the streets of Jingcheng, and Li Mingyuan looked at the scenery outside the window, recalling the Siheyuan full of human drama from the TV series.

The most famous was none other than the "Moral Heavenly Venerable" Yi Zhonghai, who acted one way to people's faces and another behind their backs, preaching equality while taking every advantage, and stopping at nothing to ensure his retirement—truly the benchmark for old professors in the film and television circle.

Thinking of the "all talk and no action" Liu Haizhong, Li Mingyuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

That guy was obsessed with officialdom but could only talk big; he couldn't do anything right, was number one at speculation and profiteering, and would beat his sons at the drop of a hat.

And then there was the "Necromancer" Jia Zhangshi, who would never let a point go, would stir up trouble even when she was wrong, and would keep the courtyard in constant turmoil; when she couldn't win an argument, she would summon spirits in the courtyard and call out for Lao Jia.

Of course, one couldn't forget the "Abacus Expert" Yan Bugui, who was so stingy it was infuriating, calculating even his own farts to see if they were worth a few copper coins. I really don't know what old Yan was like when he was young; I wonder if he was less stingy then.

The "First Blood Master" Xu Damao? He should still be a youth now; I wonder if that streak of evil was there from childhood. Li Mingyuan shook his head; this guy who specialized in persecuting "simps" was truly disgusting in the original show.

Speaking of simps, the "Simp God of War" He Yuzhu was absolutely a textbook-level example.

For the sake of the white lotus Qin Huairu, he was utterly devoted, doing things he knew were wrong, and in the end, he was sold out by others and still helped them count the money.

But He Yuzhu should still be a little brat right now, right?

The "blood-sucking white lotus" Qin Huairu is also famous for being selfish and calculating.

Right now, she probably hasn't married Jia Dongxu yet.

As for the "Heaven-mandated Saint of Thieves" Bang Geng, he is a natural-born expert at pilfering, not even sparing chicken coops, let alone other people's food stamps and money.

However, at this moment, Bang Geng should not have been born yet.

The current point in time is more than a decade earlier than the timeline of the TV series.

These people might still be very young, and some characters might not even have appeared yet.

"We've arrived; this is the Red Star Rolling Mill," Liu Zuzhang said, pointing to a brick-red factory building outside the window.