That evening, another piece of good news arrived: the factory awarded certificates to the QC team. Zhang Shulan nearly smashed the dilapidated wooden door of the team's activity room with her fists. Holding up the certificate with the big red stamp, her voice was so loud it could be heard from one end of the workshop to the other:

"Look, everyone! Look, everyone! Our group has been recognized as an advanced unit in the factory! We all worked on this together!"

The other members of the group—lathe operator Li, fitter Zhao, and several young men and women—all swarmed around, touching and examining the items, their faces beaming with joy. Although it was just a small honor within the factory, it was the first time they had been recognized as a team, and the feeling was truly unique.

"If you ask me, it's Sister Liu Li who led the way the best!" Little Li scratched his head and chuckled. "That idea to improve the fixture was brilliant!"

"Stop flattering me," Liu Li said with a laugh, playfully punching him, but her heart was warmed. "That's all thanks to everyone working together to measure the data and test it repeatedly. Without you guys staying up all night to help with the adjustments, what could I have done by myself?"

Looking at the group of young and energetic faces before her, she recalled the early days of the team. Back then, they often clashed and disagreed, sometimes arguing heatedly over data. But now, that same drive had coalesced into a powerful force.

Zhang Shulan carefully pasted the certificate in the most conspicuous place on the wall, admired it for a long time with her hands on her hips, then turned around and winked at Liu Li: "Hey, team leader, although the bonus this time isn't much, shouldn't we... give her a little something?"

Everyone laughed when they heard that and joined in the commotion: "That's right! The team leader is treating! He'll buy candy!"

Liu Li laughed and waved her hand, "Okay! I'll go to the convenience store this afternoon and buy some fruit candies. Our group will celebrate by ourselves!"

"Oh—!" came a cheer.

After the initial excitement subsided, everyone returned to their workstations, but the atmosphere was noticeably different. Before, it might have felt like just a task to be completed and forgotten. Now, however, if anyone noticed a potential problem in any环节 (link/step), they would immediately start thinking about it without Liu Li even needing to say anything. During breaks, they would gather together, and their conversations would inevitably revolve around coming up with some brilliant idea.

As the fitter, Xiao Zhao, sharpened his tools, he muttered to the person next to him, "Hey, do you think we could optimize the positioning method we changed before? I always feel that the clamping process could be a bit faster."

The red stamp of the award certificate was still brightly affixed to the wall, and the sweetness of the fruit candy seemed to linger on the teeth. The excitement of being recognized in the group had not yet completely subsided when the news that Liu Li was going to leave temporarily was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in the QC group.

Zhang Shulan was the first to hear the news from an acquaintance in the factory director's office. She rushed into the activity room, not even bothering to knock on the door, grabbed Liu Li who was checking data, and exclaimed with wide eyes, "Lili! Is it true? The ministry has sent a transfer order to second you to participate in a big project?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the activity room fell silent. The lathe operator, Xiao Li, forgot to put down the wrench in his hand, and the fitter, Xiao Zhao, peeked out from behind the machine tool. Several pairs of eyes focused on Liu Li.

Looking at her close companions, Liu Li nodded, trying to keep her tone calm: "Yes, I just received official notification. I'll be going for a while."

After a brief silence, things erupted.

"Wow! A big project from the department! Sister Liu Li, you're about to get promoted!" Xiao Li exclaimed first, her face beaming with pride.

"Go away, go away, what promotion? Go learn, go work." Liu Li corrected him with a smile, but her heart was warmed by the undisguised envy and pride of her friends.

Zhang Shulan patted Liu Li's shoulder forcefully, her voice still loud and clear: "I knew it! Gold shines wherever it is! Our group just won the advanced award, and the group leader has been noticed by the department. What does that mean? It means that we have good feng shui here, producing talented people!" Her words made everyone laugh, and the slight melancholy brought by the parting earlier was also dispelled a lot.

But after the laughter subsided, a sense of reluctance still surfaced. Xiao Zhao scratched his head and said earnestly, "Sister Liu Li, what will happen to our group now that you're gone? We're counting on you to make so many decisions."

This question hit the nail on the head. Liu Li looked around at the young faces filled with reliance and trust, and straightened her expression: "I'm leaving, but the team is still here. Shulan is experienced, so she'll take charge temporarily. Xiao Li is now sensitive to data, and Xiao Zhao, you have strong hands-on skills; wasn't it you who independently completed that fine-tuning of the fixture?" She pointed to each of them one by one, "Our team was able to win the advanced award because everyone has their own unique skill, and we all work together towards the same goal. Even without me, you can still do it, maybe even better. When I come back, give me a surprise!"

Her words carried encouragement and unwavering trust. The group members exchanged glances, their uncertainty gradually replaced by a sense of responsibility to "not let their group leader down."