26: Chapter 26 Was Old Qin actually a hidden master?

Old Master Qin's residence was located in a small, independent courtyard deep within an alley. The yard wasn't large, but it was arranged with extreme elegance: several stalks of emerald bamboo, a corner with a stone table and stools, and a wall covered in Boston ivy that looked serene and peaceful under the setting sun. Chen Fan noticed thick, soft cushions on the stone stools, and the door threshold had been deliberately shaved down, clearly an arrangement to accommodate someone with mobility issues.

Su Qingyue pushed open the unlatched wooden door with practiced ease and called out inside, "Grandpa Qin, we're here!"

"Ah, coming, coming!" An aged but still vigorous voice came from inside the house. A moment later, a white-haired elderly man with a slightly hunched frame emerged, leaning on a dark cane. His face was thin, but his eyes remained sharp and spirited. Dressed in a semi-worn but clean and tidy Zhongshan suit, he possessed an innate air of settled scholarly refinement and majesty.

However, his walking posture was noticeably stiff and slow. Especially when stepping over the threshold, his brow furrowed slightly in an involuntary twitch; Chen Fan guessed it was an instinctive reaction to pain.

"Grandpa Qin, this is Chen Fan," Su Qingyue said, stepping forward quickly to support the old man's other side as she introduced him.

Chen Fan took a step forward and bowed slightly with poise. "Hello, Grandpa Qin. Sorry to disturb you. I am Chen Fan."

Old Master Qin's gaze fell upon Chen Fan, scrutinizing but not offensive. "Qingyue mentions you often, saying you're young and promising. Not bad, you have quite a spirited look about you." He smiled and pointed to the stone stools. "Sit. The house is a mess, don't mind it. Qingyue, go inside and get that tin of Longjing tea to brew."

Su Qingyue complied. Chen Fan helped Old Master Qin sit in the main seat before taking a seat himself to the side.

"I heard from Qingyue that you're starting your own business? Something to do with... materials?" Old Master Qin asked directly, as if making small talk.

"Yes, I've set up a small factory called 'Panshi Foundation.' We mainly try to produce some new types of specialty materials and precision components," Chen Fan answered concisely and pragmatically, without boasting.

"Materials are the foundation of industry." Old Master Qin nodded, appearing somewhat sentimental about the topic. "Many fields are being bottlenecked, and the bottleneck is often the materials. It's good that young people dare to tackle the hard problems and have ideas. However, this path is not an easy one to walk."

"Yes, we are still exploring and have encountered many difficulties." Chen Fan was very humble. Researching new materials might take a typical company vast amounts of time and manpower, but for Chen Fan, who possessed the system, it wasn't actually that difficult.

At that moment, Su Qingyue came out carrying a tea tray and poured hot tea for the two of them. The elegant fragrance of the tea curled upward.

Su Qingyue sat down, her eyes full of concern as she said, "Grandpa Qin, regarding your legs, have they not gotten any better lately?"

Old Master Qin picked up his teacup and blew on it gently, asking seemingly casually, "These old bones of mine have an old ailment. Years of rheumatism have deformed the joints. Western medicine says there's no good solution, and Chinese medical treatments are hit-or-miss."

Su Qingyue looked at Chen Fan somewhat nervously.

Chen Fan set down his teacup, his expression calm. "Old Master Qin, to be honest, I am not a medical professional. However, my field involves the interaction between materials and the human interface, especially biocompatibility and functional materials..."

He chose his words carefully, needing to avoid revealing the system while still sounding technically unique.

"The core of this approach lies in using special microscopic structural designs and surface energy field modulation. This ensures that when the material is in long-term contact with the human body, it is not only absolutely inert, non-toxic, and harmless, but can also actively guide local energy fields—" he used a somewhat mystical term that was nevertheless discussed in some academic circles "—to promote cellular metabolic vitality, inhibit the accumulation of abnormal inflammatory factors, and potentially have a certain... affinity for repairing damaged cartilage matrix."

Chen Fan had made detailed preparations over the last two days, looking up a lot of relevant information. What he said was half-true; the true parts were conjectures from the frontiers of material science and some principles provided by the system, while the false part was that this technology currently had no mature application at all. However, with the support of the 'Myriad Things Amplification System,' as long as he could create the basic carrier, he could turn it into reality.

The reason he spoke so professionally was to lead the conversation toward his own factory.

As Old Master Qin listened, his casual demeanor gradually faded, replaced by focus. He came from a background as a high-level intellectual; although his specialty was different, his power of comprehension far exceeded that of ordinary people. Chen Fan's description stepped outside the conventional bounds of medicine or physical therapy and touched upon a cross-disciplinary field. It didn't sound like a fairy tale; rather, it had the flavor of frontier exploration.

"Are you referring to something in the category of 'bioactive materials' or 'tissue engineering'?" Old Master Qin accurately pinpointed the related fields.

"There are commonalities, but it leans more toward indirectly regulating the physiological environment through physical microstructures and field effects, rather than directly providing active cells or growth factors," Chen Fan explained. "It's safer and more durable. Of course, this is currently only in the theoretical and preliminary experimental validation stage."

"Interesting." Old Master Qin gently tapped his cane with his finger. "So, your suggestion is?"

"I was thinking that perhaps I could try to customize a pair of... protective gear for you," Chen Fan proposed his plan. "Targeting your most painfully affected knee and wrist joints. We would use that specially treated material as a lining to fit against the joints. It doesn't 'cure' the disease, but it aims to create a local micro-environment better suited for the joints' own repair, alleviating pain, inhibiting the progression of inflammation, and perhaps... slowing further joint deformation and improving mobility."

He didn't promise a cure, only alleviation and improvement. He knew Old Master Qin was well-versed; boasting would only make the man think he was bragging. This approach was actually more credible.

Old Master Qin was silent for a moment, his gaze toward Chen Fan becoming a bit more piercing. "Customized? For this kind of frontier stuff that isn't on the market yet, aren't you afraid of risks, or... that it won't have any effect?"

"Regarding risks, I can provide the strictest data from biocompatibility tests of the material itself to guarantee it is absolutely safe for the human body. As for the effect..." Chen Fan said candidly, "As I said, this is an exploration. But I have confidence in its underlying principles. If you are willing to try it, I can provide the first batch of customized products for free; you would simply be participating in a frontier experience. If it works, that's best; if not, you won't lose anything, nor will it interfere with any of your current treatments."

His attitude was poised; he had technical confidence while fully respecting the other party's wishes, taking the risks and responsibilities upon himself.

Su Qingyue listened from the side, her heart surging. She hadn't expected Chen Fan to propose such a specific and technically sophisticated plan, and she was even more moved by his earnestness and sense of responsibility. Naturally, she was also touched that Chen Fan had taken her request so seriously.

Old Master Qin pondered for another moment before suddenly laughing. That smile contained an open-mindedness that had seen through the world and a long-lost trace of sharpness. "These old bones of mine have been through all sorts of storms; why would I fear one attempt? Qingyue trusts you so much that she brought you here; I trust her judgment. Furthermore..." He paused. "You, young man, have a methodical way of speaking and acting without being flamboyant. You're a bit like the promising youngsters I used to mentor. Fine, I'll be your 'experimental subject' for once!"

"Grandpa Qin!" Su Qingyue said in pleasant surprise.

"Old Master Qin, thank you for your trust," Chen Fan said solemnly. "I will prepare the materials and preliminary designs as quickly as possible to come and measure your specific dimensions."

"No rush, no rush." Old Master Qin waved his hand, but then his tone shifted. "However, Little Chen, this old man can't just take advantage of you for nothing. You're doing materials and you're a startup; the hardest part probably isn't the technology, but finding a market and applications, right? Especially high-end, reliable markets."

Chen Fan's heart stirred; he knew the critical moment had arrived. "Old Master Qin is perceptive. That is indeed the case. Good materials also need to meet people who recognize their worth and find application scenarios where their value can be realized."

Old Master Qin nodded, set down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice. "As for me, I spent most of my life working in the National Defense Science and Technology System before retiring. Although I've retired, a few of my old subordinates and students are still doing things in related fields. Those material properties you mentioned... high strength, lightweight, good biocompatibility, and even some special 'field effects'?" A glint flashed in his eyes. "This stuff might be useful for more than just my old bones."

Chen Fan's heart skipped a beat. The National Defense Science and Technology System! This was a much higher level than the "some connections" he had anticipated!

"Old Master Qin, you mean...?"

"I have a student who is currently leading a project team at an Aerospace Materials Research Institute. They recently seem to be struggling with lightweight structural materials and sensor substrates for special environments for a new type of unmanned vehicle. There's another one in the medical device field, working on high-end implantable instruments, which requires extremely high biocompatibility and long-term stability," Old Master Qin said slowly. "If the specific performance data of what you're making is truly as you say, perhaps I can let them take a look. Of course, whether it succeeds depends on your true ability; at most, I'm just making an introduction and putting in a word."

Making an introduction and putting in a word! This was already an immense help! It was equivalent to pushing Panshi Foundation's products directly in front of the country's top and most discerning potential customers! Once this opening was created, the significance and the brand endorsement it brought would be far beyond what ordinary commercial orders could compare to.

Chen Fan took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and his attitude became even more sincere. "Old Master Qin, I cannot thank you enough for such a great favor. Regarding the performance data, I will definitely produce reports that can withstand the strictest scrutiny. I won't let you lose face."

"Losing face is secondary." Old Master Qin looked at him with a profound gaze. "I truly feel that the path you are taking might be interesting. Our country needs people who can settle down and make real breakthroughs in these foundational fields. To me, you don't look like someone who only knows how to brag and paint empty promises."

This was extremely high praise.

"I will certainly do my best," Chen Fan promised solemnly.

In the conversation that followed, the atmosphere became even more harmonious. Old Master Qin asked about the specific situation of Chen Fan's factory, and Chen Fan shared what he could, introducing some of the general superior properties of 'Panshi Alloy' (avoiding the Amplification core), which made Old Master Qin nod repeatedly.

"Grandpa Qin, I have a few medicinal patches and health teas here. Try using them first; if they work well, let Qingyue know." Chen Fan handed the prepared patches and health tea to Old Master Qin.

"Alright, thank you for your kindness," Old Master Qin said in appreciation.

As the sky grew dark, Chen Fan and Su Qingyue rose to take their leave. Old Master Qin insisted on walking them to the courtyard gate.

"Little Chen, get those protective gears made as soon as possible so I can try them." Old Master Qin shook Chen Fan's hand firmly. "I'll be waiting. As for those two leads, once your items are ready and the data is solid, I'll ask for you."

"Definitely! Old Master Qin, please stay inside and take care of yourself," Chen Fan said gratefully.

Leaving the courtyard and walking through the dim, quiet alley, Su Qingyue couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Chen Fan, can you really make that kind of material?"

Chen Fan looked at the starlight reflected in her eyes and smiled slightly. "Do you believe me?"

Su Qingyue nodded without hesitation. "Of course I believe you!"

"Then that's enough," Chen Fan said softly. Tonight's harvest far exceeded his expectations. Not only had he made Su Qingyue happy, but he had also unexpectedly knocked on the great door that was Old Master Qin.

The prerequisite for all of this was that he had to quickly use the system and the factory to turn the "theoretical" special protective material into a reality!

"Qingyue, I might be busy for another while," Chen Fan said somewhat apologetically. During this period, he would have to spend a lot of time and effort on business expansion and the mold design for Old Master Qin.

"I know." Su Qingyue smiled understandingly and touched the pendant around her neck. "Whenever you need my help, just say the word."