Chapter 226: Silver‑Hair Technology Team Established·Elderly Tech Revives Spring

Zhao Jianguo gently moves the third kid's hand away from the hem of his shirt; the little fellow hums and falls back asleep. Standing Up, he looks at Su Qing on the bed—her breathing is steady, her brows relaxed, finally able to sleep soundly. He doesn't touch the communicator again, just slides it into the drawer and snaps the lid shut.

Dawn is just breaking, and there's already movement in the Courtyard. San Daye squats at the Courtyard Gate brushing his teeth, rinsing his mouth while muttering, "These days even the lights can obey people's words; I tried three times yesterday and still didn't dare shout 'On'."

Zhao Jianguo walks over, hands a cup of hot water, "What are you afraid of? At worst you'll just waste a free turn."

"It's not fear, it's unfamiliarity." San Daye wipes his mouth, "Back in our day, flipping a switch took half a thought, worried about wasting electricity. Now it's just a word."

Zhao Jianguo smiles, "So I thought of something."

"What?"

"Let's form a technology team in the Courtyard, letting you old residents be the main force. No complicated stuff, just some handy little gadgets to make life more comfortable."

San Daye squints, "You're not just trying to amuse me, are you? I can't even operate a calculator."

"No one is born knowing it." Zhao Jianguo pulls out a blueprint, "Look at this—presbyopic glasses with a Magnifying Glass, flip them and you can read without constantly lowering your head for spectacles. This is a sketch by Li Nainai, revised to a second version last night."

San Daye takes the paper, his finger slowly traces it, "She can even draw this?"

"She also said she wants a medication‑reminder wristband." Zhao Jianguo says, "Someone has to lead, otherwise nobody dares to start."

San Daye is silent for a moment, folds the blueprint and stuffs it into his pocket, "Alright, I'll give it a try. But if it blows up, don't make fun of me."

"If I'm going to laugh, you hit me with your cane."

While the two are talking, Li Nainai leans on her stick and steps out of the house, hears the last sentence and interjects, "Then count me in! I heard on the broadcast yesterday that the city has seniors learning programming; we can't fall behind, right?"

"You can hear the broadcast?" Zhao Jianguo is a bit surprised.

"Turn the volume up and I can hear it!" Li Nainai taps the radio, "I just keep forgetting to turn it off; once it's on it runs all night. I want to make something that can shut off on a timer, to save power."

"Good idea." Zhao Jianguo nods, "Let's just set up a table, put up a sign next week, call it 'Silver‑Hair Technology Team', and you two will be the elders."

"Sounds like a senior choir," San Daye grins.

"Stronger than that, this is work." Zhao Jianguo pats his shoulder, "I'll figure out the materials, you just keep the ideas coming."

News spreads fast; in less than three days, seven or eight seniors in the Courtyard have signed up. Some want to modify the radio, some want motion‑sensing lights, and others wonder if they can make an automatic page‑turning bookshelf. Zhao Jianguo clears a side room as a workshop, moves several Desks, hooks up power, and the walls are covered with hand‑drawn design sketches.

On the day of the sign‑up, the sun is perfect, a table is set in the Courtyard, a red banner reads "Silver‑Hair Technology Team Inauguration Meeting". San Daye wears a freshly laundered Zhongshan suit, Li Nainai changes into a Blue Cloth, her hair combed meticulously.

Zhao Jianguo stands at the front, clears his throat, "Today I won't lecture on grand principles, just one sentence—technology isn't a young‑people's patent. Everyone has the right to live more conveniently."

Some people below clap, and some youngsters join the fun shouting, "San Daye is going to build a robot?"

San Daye glares, "I'll take your head off first and use it as a part!"

Laughter erupts.

Zhao Jianguo signals for quiet, "Now, please have Li Nainai demonstrate a function on the spot."

Li Nainai Standing Up, a bit nervous, steadies herself on the edge of the Desk. Zhao Jianguo places the communicator on the Desk and activates voice recognition.

"Just say 'Xiao Zhao, buy me an egg‑boiler' and that's enough."

Li Nainai takes a deep breath and says to the machine, "Xiao Zhao, buy me an egg‑boiler."

Ten seconds later, the printer spits out a receipt, clearly listing the order details, with the delivery address as Siheyuan No. 3.

The crowd erupts.

"Did it really happen?"

"She didn't press anything, just spoke and it worked?"

Li Nainai herself is stunned, looks up at Zhao Jianguo, "So… it's already bought?"

"The supply‑and‑marketing cooperative is online; it'll be delivered tomorrow morning." Zhao Jianguo smiles, handing over the receipt, "Whenever you want to buy something, just say the word."

San Daye leans on his cane, Standing Up, walks to the front. He holds a black stick with a small lamp at the top.

"This is my creation." He says, "It can send an alarm when you fall, the light automatically lights up when you walk at night, and it can locate people."

Someone asks, "How does it locate?"

San Daye presses the side button, and the Speaker in the room suddenly blares, "San Daye at the Courtyard Gate needs assistance."

The whole venue falls silent for a beat, then applause bursts forth.

"We old relics can also spin new tech!" San Daye's voice booms, "I used to think aging was a burden, now I know we can get our hands dirty and solve problems."

Zhao Jianguo looks at him, and suddenly a "ding" sounds in his mind.

【Detected collective self‑actualization need satisfied, activating "Elderly Psychology Specialization"】

A string of data models flashes before his eyes, all about seniors' learning motivation, cognitive rhythm, and encouragement methods. He doesn't rush to read them, just notes a few keywords silently: slowed rhythm, visualized results, peer motivation.

He's about to ponder when San Daye hands over his cane, "Can you check why this light sometimes reacts slowly?"

Zhao Jianguo takes the cane, unscrews the bottom cover, inspects the wiring, "Probably the sensor got damp; just replace the seal ring."

"Will you teach me how to replace it?"

"Of course." Zhao Jianguo nods, "We'll cover that in the next training session."

An elderly lady beside him raises her hand, "Can I make a device that reminds me to water the plants? I keep forgetting."

"Sure."

"Then I'd like to add a music function, playing 'Jasmine Flower' after I finish watering."

"Okay, we'll draft a plan."

More and more people gather, questions come one after another. Zhao Jianguo writes each on his notebook, while San Daye stands at the side, occasionally interjecting, "This is simple, just use a timer switch."

Li Nainai grabs his sleeve, "Xiao Zhao, next time can you teach us that… video call thing? I want to see my grandson."

"Sure, we'll schedule it for next week."

The sun moves to the center of the Courtyard, light spots scattering over the crooked design sketches on the table. Some show desk lamps, some show medicine boxes, and someone drew a self‑folding clothes rack; the lines are messy, but every corner is labeled with its function.

Zhao Jianguo flips through his notebook, looks up and asks, "Can we hold a new‑product showcase once a month, okay?"

"Okay!" San Daye is the first to answer, "I also want to upgrade this cane, add a thermometer."

"Then I'll make a voice diary." Li Nainai says, "Speak a segment each day, store it, and listen back."

The crowd buzzes with discussion, some propose adding a tiny Speaker, others suggest extra battery endurance. Zhao Jianguo sits in the middle, listening to each idea sprout like spring buds, pushing outward.

He lowered his head to look at the electronic cane in his hand; the sensor's position was indeed a bit off, prone to accidental activation. He was about to speak when San Daye suddenly reached out, "Hand it over."

Zhao Jianguo handed it over.

San Daye pulled out a screwdriver, ripped open the case, and muttered, "The wiring here is a mess, needs tidying. And this battery compartment—its design is unreasonable; replacing it once requires taking apart half the side."

Zhao Jianguo was stunned, "You understand this?"

"I worked twenty years at the instrument factory, assembly workshop foreman." San Daye didn't even lift his head, "Then the factory shut down, and the craft was set aside."

He skillfully adjusted the wiring, re‑secured the module, his movements steady. After reassembling, he pressed the switch and the light lit up instantly.

"Give it a try."

Zhao Jianguo took it, gave it a shake, and the sensor responded normally.

"At your level, being a technical consultant wouldn't be excessive."

"Don't be modest." San Daye waved his hand, "I'm just one—don't treat us like students to teach, treat us as partners."

Zhao Jianguo laughed, "Alright, partners."

Li Nainai leaned in, "Does our group have a name? Just calling it 'Silver‑haired Technical Group' sounds like a TV program."

"Call it 'Old Guys Innovation Squad'?" someone suggested.

"Too arrogant."

"'Sunset Red Technology Team'?"

"Too much like a travel group."

San Daye thought for a moment, "Let's just call it 'Practical School'. Not for looks, only for usefulness."

"Fine, call it Practical School!" Zhao Jianguo decided decisively.

The crowd was lively when Footsteps came from outside the door.

A skinny, tall figure stood in the doorway, wearing a worn gray jacket, holding a Cloth Bundle, smiling, eyes a little timid.

"Zhao… Zhao Jianguo, may I come in?"