27: Chapter 27: Qin Lao's protective gear is complete; factory order signed!

It was already late at night when he returned to "Panshi Foundation," but Chen Fan wasn't sleepy at all. The olive branch extended by Old Master Qin was not just a connection, but a ticket to the truly high-end market. He knew he had to seize it firmly.

The laboratory was brightly lit.

Chen Fan didn't immediately dive into those biomedical documents that he couldn't quite understand. He stood before the workbench, his thoughts clear as he started from the field he was most familiar with: defining requirements!

"Xiao Zhi," he began, "first, we need to clarify our goal: the core objective for the items we're making for Old Master Qin is to 'relieve joint pain and make it more comfortable for the elderly to move.' Right?"

"Goal confirmed: Relieve pain, improve mobility," Xiao Zhi responded.

"Good." Chen Fan nodded. "Then let's work backward from the desired result. You mentioned before that the f-7 material feels warm to the touch, is very comfortable, and is harmless to the human body, right?"

"Yes, Boss. The F-7 formula material has excellent basic biocompatibility, a warm touch, and weak far-infrared radiation characteristics. Theoretically, it could promote local blood circulation."

"Promoting blood circulation... that should help relieve stiffness and pain." Chen Fan captured the key point, understanding it in his own way. "It's like using a hot water bottle in winter to feel better, but we want to make a more advanced, longer-lasting 'hot water bottle.' Ideally, it should 'conform' to the shape of the joint and provide a sort of 'massage' effect during movement, turning uncomfortable 'pressure' into comfortable 'stimulation.'"

He tried his best to describe his ideas in language that sales staff and customers could understand, rather than using technical jargon.

"So, I need this protective gear to: First, be made of a material that is safe, comfortable, and has a natural, gentle warmth. Second, the structure must fit the knee joint snugly without being cumbersome. Third, it should ideally have some 'intelligence'—for example, can the energy generated by the knee bending and straightening while walking be converted into a deeper, relaxing stimulation?"

Chen Fan looked at the sample of f-7 material on the workbench.

"Your requirements can be summarized as: biocompatibility, comfortable fit, and intelligent responsiveness that converts mechanical energy into beneficial biological stimulation," Xiao Zhi summarized. "Based on the existing characteristics of the f-7 material and achievable microstructural designs, the plan is feasible. Should I initiate the material optimization and structural design programs?"

"Initiate! Let's go with that approach," Chen Fan decided. "You handle the technical implementation, and I'll be responsible for the 'feel'."

"Understood. Commencing execution." Xiao Zhi immediately got to work, and complex structural simulation diagrams appeared on the screen.

Next, he followed up on the progress of potential customers over the past few days: "Xiao Zhi, among the samples we sent out, have any companies responded particularly positively, clearly stating they want to buy, and where orders can be negotiated relatively quickly? We urgently need a few successful business cases and actual orders right now; that's more persuasive than anything else."

"Analyzing customer feedback data... Three potential customers with the clearest intentions and likely shortest decision cycles have been screened out." Xiao Zhi quickly listed them, thoughtfully attaching a brief background of the contact person and tips for communication key points.

A product manager from an outdoor brand was full of praise for the lightweight and sturdy nature of "Panshi Alloy" used in trekking pole locking mechanisms; they had directly asked about small-batch pricing and delivery times in their email.

A purchasing manager from an automation equipment factory was very satisfied with the wear resistance and precision of their sample guide rails, hoping for more specifications to test and requesting a quote.

There was also a designer from a consumer electronics brand who was attracted by the unique texture and color of "Panshi Alloy," inquiring if it could be used for the frame of a high-end smartphone. The volume wasn't large, but the requirements for surface treatment and color consistency were extremely high.

"Excellent!" Chen Fan's eyes lit up; this was the battlefield he was familiar with. "Xiao Zhi, prepare the quotation proposals and draft contracts for these three companies. The wording should be professional, but emphasize our advantages: performance data, customization flexibility, and delivery speed. Bee King, coordinate the production lines to prioritize these small orders so they can be produced quickly and well. This is our 'grand opening,' and we must do it right!"

Chen Fan knew well that for a startup, especially one aiming for the high-end market, the success stories and reputation of the first batch of customers were crucial. These few small orders would be his best "stepping stones" to opening up sales.

Over the next three days, Chen Fan followed up on the negotiations and production progress of these three small orders (his previous sales experience made communication easy) while focusing most of his energy on Old Master Qin's protective gear.

The basic structure of the protective gear was quickly produced by equipment controlled by "Bee King": the outer layer was a soft Modified Alloy Mesh providing support; the middle was the f-7 material functional layer; and the lining was skin-friendly Microfiber.

At this moment, the semi-finished knee brace and Wrist Guards sat before Chen Fan. Next was the most critical step—System Amplification.

Chen Fan took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and held a pair of knee brace in his hands. He closed his eyes, concentrating intensely, and clearly transmitted his intent: "Absorb pressure, emit bioelectricity to nourish joints; suppress inflammation and relieve pain; fit like skin."

[Item detected: Semi-finished knee brace. Strong intentional guidance sensed... Requirement analysis: Deep thermal penetration, mechanical energy slow-release conversion, joint maintenance support... Confirm random multiple Amplification?]

"Confirm!"

[500x Amplification, "Composite Biofield Modulated Protective Gear" successfully amplified! Effects: Significantly improved bio-energy field conversion efficiency, significantly improved local microcirculation promotion, significantly improved discomfort relief efficacy, and increased basic protective strength.]

Chen Fan felt a bit exhausted, likely because his focus and intent had been so concentrated.

A layer of extremely gentle luster seemed to flow over the surface of the protective gear (then faded away). Touching it, the temperature felt more "alive," and a reassuring warmth faintly radiated from it.

"It's done!" He felt a sense of certainty. He immediately tried them on himself; a soothing warmth quickly enveloped his knees. After walking a few steps, there was a very subtle, relaxing sense of vibration.

Now that the items were made, Chen Fan didn't send them over immediately. He was afraid that being too efficient would make him seem insincere, and more importantly, he feared people would suspect such an efficiency, as it defied common logic.

So, he carefully wrapped the protective gear first, intending to deliver it in a couple of days.

Just then, Su Qingyue's call came, her voice filled with irrepressible joy: "Chen Fan! Grandpa Qin used the Plaster and Health Tea you gave him, and the results are fantastic!"

"Oh? What did Old Master Qin say?" Chen Fan asked. Those two items were things he had amplified from ordinary Plasters and tea leaves; because it was a random Amplification, the multiplier wasn't high, and the effects were gentle.

Chen Fan had a bit of a hidden motive here. After all, the last time he amplified the ointment for Wang Defu, it cured him with just one application. This time, Chen Fan hadn't channeled such a strong intent during the Amplification. On one hand, he was afraid Old Master Qin would suspect he had some superpower if a single patch cured an ailment he'd had for years—that would indeed be quite far-fetched. On the other hand, if the effect was slower, it would allow him to maintain a relationship with Old Master Qin.

"Grandpa Qin said the Plaster doesn't feel burning hot; it's a very comfortable warmth that slowly seeps in. After wearing it for two days, the soreness in his knees has lessened significantly, and he's even sleeping better at night. He drinks the Health Tea every day and says his stomach feels warm, his body feels relaxed, and he's in better spirits!" Su Qingyue's tone was full of gratitude. "Chen Fan, thank you so much. Grandpa Qin hasn't been this relaxed in a long time. He even praised you today for being sincere and providing useful things."

Hearing Su Qingyue so happy and knowing Old Master Qin's condition had indeed improved made Chen Fan feel warm inside, even happier than if he had made money. "As long as it's useful. I'm happy for Old Master Qin too."

"On Sunday, I'll bring the protective gear over to Old Master Qin," Chen Fan said.

"You finished it so quickly?" Su Qingyue was shocked by Chen Fan's efficiency.

"I've been working overtime because I wanted to finish it early so Grandpa Qin's pain could be relieved sooner."

"Then you must also take care of your health," Su Qingyue said with heartfelt concern.

"Okay, I got it!" Chen Fan replied.

Taking advantage of the free time over the next few days, Chen Fan focused on finalizing the orders. All three small orders were officially signed, and the advance payments had arrived! Although the amount wasn't large, the significance was extraordinary.