9: A bittersweet experience (two chapters combined into one, please read and add to your favorites)

The scrapyard offered little cover. When looking up, the sky was vast and wide.

But once the big sun rose, the rolling heat waves made people want to hide away.

Beneath the massive scaffolding, Lin Xiaoyu stood under a machine two stories high, her fair fingers gripping a torque wrench. Both her arms were suspended in the air, and beads of sweat slid down her temples, hanging like a crystalline droplet on her chin.

The manifold, over three meters long, trembled slightly inside the cargo drone's engine bay, resembling a metal python about to break free.

'Don't shake... Please don't shake...' She bit her lower lip, praying inwardly.

Her impressive assets were truly too heavy, trembling with every breath. Constricted by the thick work uniform, the pressure almost made it impossible for her to breathe.

She steadied the end of the manifold with her left hand, switched to a specialized hexagonal wrench in her right, and turned it fifty degrees counterclockwise.

With a soft "click," the last bolt connecting the manifold to the main engine body finally loosened.

The scrapyard owner, Old Zhao, stood on the scaffolding. The knife scar on his face was red from tension, and his gray hair was messy in the wind.

"Be careful! That thing is more fragile than a wrapper!"

Lin Xiaoyu ignored his vulgar analogy, keeping her entire focus on her hands.

'Slower, phew, just a little slower...'

This TC-47 type superconducting manifold was the most valuable component on the used cargo drone. Not only was the craftsmanship top-notch, with integrated cooling micro-pores, but it was also made of rare metal, giving it extremely high value.

But the drawback was also obvious: slightly improper force could deform and scrap it. Before the Tariff War, this item could be imported through official Human Federation channels for just over eight thousand. Now, one in perfect condition could sell for fifty thousand earth federation coin on the market.

The moment the manifold fully detached, Lin Xiaoyu's knees went weak, and she nearly fell off the work ladder.

The three-meter-long metal tube was light as a feather, curving into a perfect arc in her hands. Under the setting sun, it even had a hint of rose gold.

This wasn't because she possessed immense strength; rather, the manifold's total weight was less than five kilograms.

"My god!" Old Zhao was dumbfounded. He surged forward in a rush, not even caring that he had knocked over hydraulic oil.

At that moment, it was impossible to tell he was a seventy-year-old man.

Reaching out and scooping up the manifold, Old Zhao's face was filled with the excitement and pride of having caught a big fish.

"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!" His rough fingers traced the manifold's surface; the anti-corrosion coating didn't have a single scratch.

Lin Xiaoyu wiped the oil off her face with her sleeve, the corner of her mouth curling up involuntarily.

Two days ago, she had discovered this cargo drone, which had been decommissioned by the military. Its exterior was ragged, looking as though it had survived the Third World War, but the engine bay was largely intact.

Old Zhao had promised her that if she could dismantle the manifold intact, he would give her a share of the profits in addition to a high hourly wage.

"Xiaolin, you are the most formidable mechanic I have ever seen!" Old Zhao gave a strong thumbs-up, his tone so forceful that an outsider might think he was about to devour someone.

"That's an exaggeration..." Lin Xiaoyu smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

She compared herself to Jiang Feng in her mind, thinking seriously: 'Perhaps I've already caught up to Brother Feng's skill.'

"The tester! Bring the tester, quick!" Old Zhao roared. The boss's wife from the other end of the scrapyard quickly brought over a portable analyzer.

The analyzer's laser scanned the manifold, and a string of green data appeared on the display screen.

"Conductivity 98.7%, wall thickness deviation 0.0025 millimeters, metal structural deformation rate below 0.8%..."

The plump boss's wife widened her eyes: "Old Zhao, this can be sold as brand new!"

Old Zhao's laughter spilled out. He flashed his wristband and tapped it a few times.

Lin Xiaoyu felt her wristband vibrate, followed by a "ding-dong." [New Message: 3320 earth federation coin has been deposited into your account.]

"I calculated your hourly wage at forty yuan—three hundred twenty for eight hours—plus a three thousand yuan bonus. We'll handle this off the books," Old Zhao explained cheerfully. Lin Xiaoyu could only express her deepest gratitude, secretly rejoicing that her skills were still sharp.

Three thousand yuan—that was equivalent to half a month's fixed salary in the past.

Lin Xiaoyu's fingers trembled slightly. This unexpected income might be a good start, suggesting that this month's loan interest could still be saved. She exhaled, making a firm decision in her heart.

'Brother Feng nearly threw up eating synthetic paste this morning. Tonight, I'll buy some real food to take back and give him a surprise.'

Just as she was about to pick up the wrench and pack her toolbox, the scrapyard gate was suddenly smashed open, and three modified hoverbikes roared in.

Without exception, the riders were all wearing the signature Iron Gloves!

"Iron Hand Gang!" The boss's wife's face fell: "Xiaoyu, hide quickly!"

Lin Xiaoyu instantly understood the danger. She quickly scrambled under the chassis of a scrapped hovercar. Peeking through the rusted shell, she saw Old Zhao already pressing his hand to his waist, where a large-caliber revolver was holstered.

The boss's wife went back to the office briefly and rushed out carrying a pump-action shotgun, looking fierce.

The leading gang member took off his helmet, revealing a mouth full of gold-inlaid teeth and a face covered in tattoos, looking utterly dangerous.

"Old Zhao! Heard you got a new superconducting flux tube? Hurry up, our boss has been waiting for a while!"

"Where's the money?" Old Zhao was cold and gave them a harsh look.

The Iron Hand Gang guy was silent for a moment, then grinned: "Fine, cash on delivery."

Lin Xiaoyu held her breath, watching Old Zhao hand over a long metal box. The Iron Hand Gang member checked it, then activated his wristband and transferred the money using an underground bank account.

Only after the engine sounds completely disappeared did the boss's wife tap the chassis: "Come out, they're gone."

"Sorry about that, I let you get startled." Old Zhao was full of apologies, handing her a cup of poor-quality synthetic coffee.

"But luckily you hid in time. If those beasts had seen a girl like you, the transaction would have escalated into robbery plus... well, look at me talking. You know what I mean."

His gaze swept over Lin Xiaoyu's slender waist and delicate features, which were not hidden even by the oil stains.

Old Zhao remembered that his own wife had looked just as beautiful back then, but following him had meant a lifetime of hardship and travel.

"Thanks, Boss." Lin Xiaoyu drank the bitter liquid in one gulp, relieved.

"I'll come early tomorrow. There's still an ion thruster to dismantle."

"Sounds good." Old Zhao laughed heartily, then turned to the boss's wife: "Wife, you take her home. Things haven't been peaceful lately."

"Yes, that's true." The boss's wife hurried off to get the car.

The boss's wife drove a modified antique fuel car—one with actual wheels. The windows had been replaced with bulletproof steel plates, relying entirely on honeycomb cameras for external visibility. As they passed the central market, Lin Xiaoyu suddenly spoke.

"Please stop for a moment."

Gritting her teeth, she spent two hundred yuan to buy real vegetables: hydroponic tomatoes and green peppers. She then splurged on half a catty of frozen beef, which was cell-cultured meat and tasted similar to real meat.

Though, she had never actually eaten real meat herself.

Finally, she hesitated for a long time in front of an Old Woman's stall and bought a small jar of greenhouse honey.

No matter how hard life was, a little sweetness was always good.

"It's wonderful to be young." The boss's wife sighed, looking at Lin Xiaoyu's bright eyes.

"Old Zhao and I were like that when we first got married. Half a watermelon could make us happy for days."

When the car stopped below the apartment building, it was completely dark. Lin Xiaoyu watched the car drive away, preparing to go home.

Suddenly, the door of a luxurious hovercar opened, and a silver-haired figure stepped out.

"Xiaoyu, long time no see."

Lin Xiaoyu's muscles instantly tensed up, and she broke out in goosebumps.

A man leaned against the car door, his leather jacket open, revealing a cotton shirt underneath. His silver-white hair looked like an ice-sculpted crown under the streetlights. This man was Han Tianyu, who had been harassing her at the Trade Union for months.

She had heard he was a rich young master whose family ran a small logistics company with a monthly turnover of tens of millions, though she didn't know if that was true.

"Move." She hugged the paper bag containing the food tightly.

Han Tianyu dramatically inhaled, as if smelling a scent from heaven.

"Oh dear, I heard you and Jiang Feng both lost your jobs? The Tariff War really hurts people."

He took a step forward. The scent of his expensive cologne was overwhelming; his seductive masculinity was truly unappetizing.

Lin Xiaoyu took a step back, becoming more vigilant. She shook her wristband and sent an emergency message.

"I can help. My family's warehouse needs a manager, salary eighteen thousand a month, all you have to do is..."

Han Tianyu pressed his advantage, closing in further, his smile becoming increasingly vulgar: "...come to work alone."

The tomatoes in the paper bag were crushed out of shape by Lin Xiaoyu's grip: "Get lost!" she shrieked.

Upstairs, the curtain in Room 303 was pulled aside. A figure froze for less than a second before rushing out the door.

"Don't reject me so quickly." Han Tianyu tried to grab her wrist, saying urgently: "Jiang Feng can barely take care of himself. How is he going to support you? If you come with me, you won't have to be a trash picker at the old scrapyard anymore... You'll have endless hot dogs to eat every day!"

Lin Xiaoyu struggled to dodge him, ripping the paper bag in the process.

A tomato smashed onto Han Tianyu's polished leather shoe, bursting open with a "splat," like a pool of blood.

"I warned you not to touch me!" Her voice echoed in the empty parking lot.

"I told you at the Trade Union, and I'll say it again—how I live my life is none of your business!"

Han Tianyu's smile vanished. He slowly wiped the tomato juice off his shoe.

"What do you think you are?" His voice suddenly turned cold: "You're just a whore who dismantles trash!"

"Wait and see how that trash Jiang Feng protects you. Before long, you won't even have the chance to speak while kneeling!"

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Feng had already rushed downstairs.

He held a cast iron pipe, limping as he walked between the two, shielding Lin Xiaoyu. His gaze was knife-sharp.

"Who is this?" Han Tianyu sneered, casually tossing the paper towel used to wipe the tomato juice onto Jiang Feng's chest.

"Isn't this Jiang Feng? What's wrong, can't even walk properly anymore? I heard you lost your job recently, too..."

Several passersby stopped. Some whispered, some shook their heads and sighed, and some clenched their fists, but they were stopped by an old man nearby who shook his head: "Don't help Jiang Feng. Look at that man's car!"

No one came to help; everything depended on himself.

Jiang Feng gritted his teeth, suppressing his rage, and said flatly: "Leave immediately."

Han Tianyu sneered: "Or what? What can you possibly do to me?"

Jiang Feng was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "I can make sure you never enter Sector 032 again."

"Haha!" Han Tianyu burst out laughing: "With just you?"

"With the fact that I haven't started yet."

Jiang Feng's tone was calm, yet a ruthless intensity shone in his eyes, like the tusk of a vicious wolf, dripping blood.

Han Tianyu's smile froze. He had seen how Jiang Feng handled accidents at the mining factory—that quiet, yet decisive and forceful gaze made him instinctively feel a trace of unease.

He took a step back and coldly snorted: "You're tough, Jiang Feng! But remember, this world isn't about surviving just by holding on. When the day comes that you truly can't hold on anymore, don't blame me for not giving you a chance!"

Only after the hovercar's taillights disappeared around the corner did Lin Xiaoyu realize her legs were shaking.

But when she looked at the back of the figure in front of her, all her worries, all her unhappiness, scattered like a wisp of smoke caught by the wind.

Jiang Feng looked in the direction he had left, his fists clenched tightly, his fingernails nearly digging into his palms.

Lin Xiaoyu wiped away the tears she hadn't realized were falling, put on a smile, gently took his hand, and said softly.

"Don't be angry, he's not worth it."

"I'm fine," Jiang Feng said, looking back at her, his voice low.

"But I must have money, and not just money, but the ability to protect you."

He looked up at the starry sky, a decision already made in his heart.

The Cybrex Warforge cannot be wasted. Since he currently lacked the strength to protect his family, he should simply find a way to manufacture robots, whether for police use or combat purposes. This family needed a strong tree to shield it from the wind and rain!

Also, he must contact Zhao Mingyuan immediately!

Once he earned his first pot of gold, he would seize every opportunity in the storm of this trade war to lift his entire family out of poverty.