That morning, Liu Li was huddled in a corner of the technical department, struggling with the circuit diagram of an old instrument. The dense, intricate wiring made her dizzy. The department head came in from outside, holding a manila envelope in his hand. His expression was a mix of seriousness and excitement that was hard to define.

“Liu Li,” he walked to her desk and placed the envelope in front of her, “It was just delivered from the factory, it’s urgent.”

Liu Li's heart skipped a beat. She put down the soldering iron and wiped her hands. The envelope was plain, just bearing the factory's official red letterhead. She opened it, pulled out the letter inside, and her eyes swept over the first few striking words—"Ministry of Light Industry Document"—and her heart felt as if it had been struck by something.

She read through the official documents quickly, until her eyes were fixed on the last paragraph:

"...After deliberation, it has been decided to select Comrade Liu Li from your unit to participate in the 'New Textile Machinery Technology Breakthrough Team,' serving as a key technical member of the team. Please report to the First Machinery Industry Bureau of Huzhou City, Jiangnan Province before December 15th..."

The check-in instructions and a hard sleeper train ticket were also attached.

Liu Li held the thin sheet of paper in her hand, her fingers slightly cold, her mind buzzing. It really came, so quickly. Before, the factory director had only hinted at it, but seeing the transfer order in black and white right in front of her felt completely different.

"How is it?" the section chief asked in a low voice as he leaned closer. The other people in the department also pricked up their ears and looked over.

Liu Li handed him the transfer order, her throat a little dry: "It's for me to go to... Huzhou to participate in the ministry's textile machinery research project."

"Whoa!" The section chief slapped his thigh, his voice barely audible, drawing everyone's attention. "It really is! It's settled! Liu Li, this is fantastic news!"

The office erupted in chaos.

"Engineer Liu! You're amazing! The department specifically requested your name!"

"Huzhou? What a great place! I've heard that winters there aren't as cold as here!"

"How long will you be gone? Will you be able to come back for the Chinese New Year?"

Everyone chimed in with their own opinions: some were envious, some offered congratulations, and some were curious. Surrounded by people, Liu Li felt embarrassed and flustered, her mind a jumbled mess.

Happy? Somewhat. After all, she'd been recognized and could see the world on a higher level. But mostly, she was uncertain. What kind of project was it? What kind of talented people were involved? Could this self-taught "homegrown expert" keep up?

She subconsciously turned her head to look at Fu Jingchen's seat. He was in a meeting in the city today and wasn't there. He probably didn't know about this yet.

In the afternoon, the news spread like wildfire throughout the entire factory.

Liu Li went to the workshop to pick up a part, and everyone she met along the way greeted her.

"Engineer Liu, I heard you're going to work on a big project at the ministry? You'll bring honor to our factory!"

"Lily, go out there and do a good job. Let them see that the people from our Red Star Factory are not to be underestimated!"

"When are you leaving? I'll see you off then!"

Master Wang Jianguo was still the same as always, squatting next to his old bed and sharpening rack. When he saw Liu Li coming over, he raised his eyelids and asked, "The transfer order has been issued?"

"Okay, I'm logging off." Liu Li squatted down next to him.

"What date are you leaving?"

"Before the 15th."

Master Wang grunted in agreement and continued sharpening his tool holder, the grinding wheel making a sizzling sound. After a while, he stopped, looked at the sparks flying from the grinding wheel, and said slowly, "When you get there, observe more, listen more, and show off less. There are many talented people there, but it's also a mixed bag. Show off your real skills, that's better than anything else."

"I know, Master." Liu Li's nose felt a little sore.

"Don't worry about things at home. I'll take care of things at the factory for you." After saying that, Master Wang lowered his head again and started grinding away.

When Fu Jingchen returned from the city after get off work, he went straight to the workshop to find her. He had obviously heard about it, as there was still a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead from his journey.

"Did you receive the transfer order?" he asked, his eyes shining.

Liu Li nodded and took out the slightly crumpled transfer order from her pocket to show him.

Fu Jingchen looked it over carefully, let out a long sigh of relief, and his face was filled with undisguised pride and excitement: "That's great! Liu Li, this platform is fantastic! You'll definitely be able to make a name for yourself over there!" He paused, looking into her eyes, "It's just... this separation will probably last quite a while."

"Hmm," Liu Li lowered her head, kicking at the pebbles at her feet, "I just got this mess in the factory sorted out, it's a bit..."

“Don’t be reluctant,” Fu Jingchen interrupted her, his voice gentle yet firm. “This is a rare opportunity. The factory can function without anyone, but this kind of national-level project is gone if you miss it.” As if remembering something, he took out a brand-new leather notebook and a pen from his satchel and handed them to her. “Take these. You’ll definitely need them over there.”

As Liu Li touched the smooth cover of the notebook, the hesitation and reluctance in her heart seemed to be suppressed by this thing.

“By the way,” Fu Jingchen added, “I’ve heard that there are a few experts in that project team who graduated from Tsinghua and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. They have a strong theoretical foundation. If you go there, it will be good for you to fill in that gap. You’re good at practical work, and once you’ve sorted out the theoretical system, then you’ll really…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but Liu Li understood what he meant.

Lying in her dormitory bed that night, Liu Li tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The bright moonlight outside the window illuminated the familiar furnishings in the room. Zhang Shulan was fast asleep on the bed next to her, occasionally grinding her teeth.

She recalled sleeping in this large dormitory when she first joined the factory, where eight people were crammed together and it was difficult to even turn over; she recalled the excitement she felt when she produced the first qualified part independently; she recalled the sleepless night repairing the gantry plane; she recalled the smiling faces of everyone in the QC team when they received their award certificates... Every little detail flashed through her mind.

I really can't bear to part with it.

But the sound of "chemical fiber equipment" on the radio, the bright red stamp on the transfer order, the new notebook that Fu Jingchen handed her, and Master Wang's words "watch and listen more" were like small whips gently lashing at her from behind.

A new journey has begun, the bugle has sounded. It's time for her little boat, which has been practicing in the small harbor of the Red Star Factory, to sound its horn and set sail for the great rivers and lakes.

She rolled over, facing the wall, and quietly clenched her fists. The initial panic in her heart slowly subsided, and a mix of tension, anticipation, and eagerness suddenly flared up like a small flame.

Let's go! We'll brave any danger, even the most dangerous ones!