7: Chapter 7: Modifying Tools to Gain Wang Defu's Trust!

Early in the morning, Chen Fan packed his things; a simple packing job, and a suitcase and a backpack were all it took.

Zhang Ya had taken the opportunity while Chen Fan was away to pack and take her own things, though some small items were still left behind.

Chen Fan took a photo and sent it via WeChat, "Pick these things up when you have time, I'm moving."

"I don't want them, just throw them away," Zhang Ya replied coldly.

Chen Fan threw the items into a trash bag. When he picked up their photo together, he paused for a moment; five years of their time together had become unrecognizable under the crushing weight of reality.

"Let it be." He threw the photo into the trash can as well. Since things had come to this, what was there left to miss? Chen Fan had completely let go of someone who wasn't worth it.

Chen Fan placed the key on the table. The moment he closed the door, he was cutting ties with the past.

Chen Fan took a taxi to Wang Defu's recycling station.

"Little Fan, you're here. I've tidied up the room again and changed the sheets and quilt covers to new ones," Wang Defu said.

"Thanks, Uncle Wang." Chen Fan went into the room and set down his luggage.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the dancing dust in the room. Although the conditions weren't great, he felt refreshed.

The effects of the Gene Optimization Milk were still ongoing. He felt as if he had endless strength, and his mind was exceptionally clear.

When he went downstairs, Wang Defu had already started his busy day, laboriously moving bundles of scrap cardboard onto a dilapidated tricycle.

The old man's silhouette appeared somewhat hunched in the morning light, with fine beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"Uncle Wang, morning! Let me help you!" Chen Fan stepped forward quickly, effortlessly taking the heavy bundle of cardboard from Wang Defu and placing it easily onto the vehicle.

Wang Defu looked at Chen Fan in surprise. This bundle of cardboard wasn't light; he struggled to move it himself, yet this young man had quite a bit of strength.

"It's fine, it's fine, I can do it myself. Don't get your clothes dirty," Wang Defu said hurriedly.

"It's okay." Chen Fan smiled and nimbly helped move the remaining bundles onto the vehicle.

He looked at the tricycle, which rattled everywhere except for the bell, and then at the old, worn-out thread gloves on Grandpa Wang's hands, which were covered in callouses and small wounds; he formed a plan in his mind.

Repaying kindness was his bottom line. Seeing him in such a wretched state, Grandpa Wang had rented him the room so cheaply, so he naturally had to return the favor.

He saw a pair of tattered work gloves on the ground and picked them up.

[Item detected: A pair of tattered work gloves. Proceed with Amplification?]

"Confirm!"

[Ding! Triggered 100x Amplification. Resulting in [Ultra-Wear-Resistant Cut-Resistant Gloves]. Although it's only a 100x Amplification, these gloves are exceptionally tough and more than sufficient for use.]

"Uncle Wang, your gloves are worn out. I have a new pair here, why don't you try them?" Chen Fan handed them to Wang Defu.

"This... I couldn't possibly." Wang Defu declined politely.

"Just take them, they're not worth much." Chen Fan shoved the gloves directly into Grandpa Wang's hands. "And your tricycle, let me see if I can help you fix it up a bit to make it easier to ride."

Without waiting for Grandpa Wang's response, Chen Fan crouched down, pretending to inspect the tricycle's chain and bearings. He secretly picked up a small section of discarded bicycle chain and a few rusty bearings from the ground, holding them in his hand.

[Items detected: Waste bicycle chain and rusty bearings. Proceed with Amplification?]

Chen Fan was thinking it would be great if they could be amplified into a wear-resistant chain and ultra-smooth bearings. Just then, the system's Amplification was complete.

[Command received. Triggered 150x performance Amplification. Obtained "High-Strength Wear-Resistant Chain" and "Ultra-Smooth Ball Bearings."]

Using his body as cover, Chen Fan quickly replaced the most worn-out original parts of the tricycle with the amplified components. The entire process was seamless, taking only a few minutes.

"All done, Uncle Wang, give it a try." Chen Fan stood up and clapped his hands.

Wang Defu climbed onto the tricycle skeptically and gave it a light pedal.

"Eh?" he exclaimed in surprise.

The vehicle moved forward with extraordinary lightness and stability. The previous sluggishness and "creaking" sounds had vanished, as if it had turned into a new bike! He instinctively squeezed the brakes, and the response was much more sensitive.

"Little Chen, you... your skills are impressive!" Wang Defu got off the bike and walked around it twice, his face full of disbelief. He put on the new gloves; they felt comfortable, and the material seemed particularly sturdy.

"Just a few small tricks." Chen Fan smiled modestly. "Grandpa Wang, I see your sorting mainly relies on manual labor? It's a bit inefficient and easy to hurt your hands."

"Isn't that the truth," Wang Defu sighed. "That's just how our line of work is—dirty and tiring. Young people nowadays aren't willing to do it anymore."

Chen Fan's gaze swept across the yard, landing on an ancient Platform Scale in the corner with a slightly crooked needle, as well as several Plastic Bottle Compressors that required manual pressing.

"Uncle Wang, if you trust me, I'll help you modify the tools here a bit. It should make things easier for you," Chen Fan said.

"Modify?" Wang Defu looked at Chen Fan, liking this young man more and more.

"Uncle Wang, you go ahead and get busy. Just leave the rest to me." Chen Fan wanted to use this to build a good relationship with Wang Defu, making it easier for his future actions.

After watching Uncle Wang leave, Chen Fan got straight to work. His gaze quickly swept across the yard, locking onto several small tools that Wang Defu used daily but which had many issues.

First, he walked over to a pile of junk and picked up an old Utility Knife with a chipped blade and a loose handle.

[Triggered 200x performance Amplification. Obtained "High-Strength Alloy Cutting Knife"!]

The old cutting knife emitted a cold, sharp glint. The chipped edge became straight and razor-sharp, and the loose handle was firmly fixed; the whole thing looked brand new.

Next, he picked up a Manual Pressure Sprayer that was severely clogged and difficult to use (originally used for spraying disinfectant or dust suppression). "This sprayer's water flow is way too sluggish!"

[Triggered 120x efficiency Amplification. Obtained "High-Pressure Fine Atomizing Sprayer"!]

The clogs inside the sprayer were cleared instantly, and the structure was optimized. Holding it, he could feel the ample pressure, and pressing it required much less effort.

Finally, he saw an old Bristle Brush Wang Defu used to clean up debris; most of the bristles were gone. "This brush needs replacing too."

[Triggered 100x material Amplification. Obtained "High-Efficiency Cleaning Stiff-Bristle Brush"!]

The balding bristles were replaced by dense and elastic new bristles, looking extremely durable.

To prevent Wang Defu from becoming suspicious, he deliberately wore down and aged the surfaces of the amplified items. Before his relationship with Wang Defu was close enough, he didn't want anyone to know about his system. If someone with ill intentions found out, he wouldn't be able to protect himself with his current abilities and would fall into a dangerous situation.

When Wang Defu returned from his work, Chen Fan handed the "brand new" tools to him. "Uncle Wang, try these. I've worked on them a bit, they should be easier to use than before."

"Amazing! Truly amazing!" Wang Defu's eyes lit up when he saw the items. He grabbed Chen Fan's arm, his voice trembling slightly. "Little Chen, you... you're truly a talented man! Even old craftsmen aren't as good as you; you've truly turned trash into treasure."

He looked at Chen Fan with eyes full of gratitude and admiration, no longer viewing him as a down-and-out young man.

"Little Fan, this recycling station is your home from now on!" Wang Defu was indeed a simple and honest man; even a small favor from Chen Fan made him incredibly grateful.

"Uncle Wang, there's a long road ahead of us. We'll help each other out." Chen Fan smiled.

The base was initially established, and he had officially gained Uncle Wang's trust; future operations would be much easier to carry out.

In the evening, Wang Defu warmly invited Chen Fan to have a simple home-cooked meal in his small room on the first floor. Though the food was simple, the atmosphere was warm. Wang Defu turned on the old television and tuned it to the city's news broadcast.

"...News from this station: recently, the influenza virus has been spreading in some areas of our city. The CDC reminds citizens to take precautions, especially the elderly and children. If symptoms such as fever or cough appear, please seek medical attention promptly. Currently, community hospitals and designated medical institutions have increased their intake capacity..."

The news anchor's voice on TV made Chen Fan's hand holding the water cup pause slightly. A flu outbreak? Community hospitals under pressure?

In his mind, the image of Su Qingyue in her nurse's uniform, gentle and meticulous, instantly appeared. Working at a community hospital, she was bound to be on the front lines. Such places were crowded with patients, and the risk of cross-infection was extremely high... A vague sense of worry, like tiny vines, quietly coiled around his heart. When he was at his lowest and sick, she was the one who provided medicine and care. Now that Su Qingyue faced potential risk, how could he sit by and do nothing when he had the ability to help?

Then he thought of the [Lingyun Orchid]; it had the effects of purifying the air and calming the mind. Perhaps it could help her boost her resistance and improve her resting environment.

"Uncle Wang, I have something to do tomorrow morning, so I'll be going out for a bit." Chen Fan said.

"The flu is so serious right now, why are you running around outside?" Wang Defu asked out of concern.

"To thank a friend." Chen Fan looked out the window, his gaze seeming to penetrate the night. "She helped me before. And... with the flu being so bad lately, she works as a nurse and is at high risk. I'm going to see if there's anything I can do to help."

Wang Defu nodded approvingly. "As you should! Repaying kindness, good lad! Wear a mask when you go out and stay safe."

Chen Fan nodded.

"Little Fan, don't you think the air today is exceptionally fresh?" Wang Defu had no way of knowing this was all thanks to the "Lingyun Orchid."

Tomorrow Chen Fan was going to give the Lingyun Orchid to Su Qingyue. He didn't want Wang Defu to know about the orchid's existence, so he replied evasively, "Um... really? I just got here, so I wouldn't know."