Chapter 235

San Daye's saying "Even old-timers can do something new" still floated in the courtyard, Zhao Jianguo heard a clinking sound from the East Room. He went over and saw Xu Da Mao squatting at the gate welding a piece of iron sheet, his face smeared with dust, his hair messed up by the wind.

The robot had already been fitted with wheels; its shell was modified from an old refrigerator door, a camera mounted on top, and two mechanical arms extended from each side. Xu Da Mao wiped his sweat and said, "We can try it tomorrow."

Zhao Jianguo nodded: "The environmental sanitation bureau staff will come in the morning."

Xu Da Mao's Wrench paused in his hand, and he said nothing. He lowered his head to turn the screws, moving slowly, as if afraid of making a mistake.

Early the next morning, a temporary test stand was set up at the Siheyuan gate. Several residents stood aside to watch, someone crossed their arms and sneered, "Can this thing tell plastic bags from waste paper? Don't try to fool us again."

As soon as the words fell, the robot started up. It slowly moved to the Garbage Rule heap, its camera scanning over a pile of mixed waste. A few seconds later, the left mechanical arm picked up an aluminum can and placed it into the metal box; the right arm plucked a plastic bottle and tossed it into the plastic area, while the cardboard was pushed to another corner.

The whole process was clean and neat, and no one spoke.

Ten minutes later, sorting was complete. Zhao Jianguo opened the record sheet; the accuracy rate was ninety-eight percent.

At that moment, a green Jeep pulled up to the gate; the environmental sanitation bureau chief got out and walked over. He wore dark blue work clothes, an environmental protection badge on his shoulder, walked around the robot, and patted its shell: "This machine has low energy consumption, a simple structure, and is suitable for promotion."

He turned to Xu Da Mao: "Are you the person in charge?"

Xu Da Mao nodded, his voice a little tight: "I made it."

The bureau chief extended his hand: "Your invention is great—it can reduce the processing of several hundred tons of polluted garbage each year. We plan to pilot it in three districts first."

As they shook hands, applause broke out around them. The person who had sneered earlier quietly stepped back two steps and slipped into the crowd.

Zhao Jianguo took out a red paper award certificate from his bag, which read "Reform Case Award."

In front of everyone, he handed it to Xu Da Mao: "This is for you."

Xu Da Mao took the award certificate, his finger trembling. He stared at the words for a long time, his lips moving: "I... can I really be considered a useful person?"

Zhao Jianguo said: "You're not only useful, you're stronger than many people. This robot is entirely made from scrap, costs less than two hundred, saves electricity and is durable. That's genuine ability."

In the crowd, a child asked his mother: "Didn't he used to always take advantage?"

The mother whispered: "Now it's different."

Xu Da Mao folded the award certificate and slipped it into his chest pocket. He lifted his head to look at the sky; the sun shone on his face, warm and cozy.

After the ceremony ended, people gradually dispersed. Zhao Jianguo went back to the house to organize his files, but Xu Da Mao didn't leave. He stayed alone in the courtyard, pushing the robot into the small storage.

Past eight in the evening, the lights were still on.

He wiped the robot's shell with a damp cloth bit by bit, smoothing the burrs on the weld seams. The camera was slightly askew; he adjusted it repeatedly with a screwdriver. After that, he opened the control box and checked the circuit connections.

"Tomorrow people from the East District will come to see the effect." He muttered to himself, "It can't jam."

The robot suddenly spoke: "Operator emotions stable, mission ready."

Xu Da Mao froze for a moment, then laughed. He reached out and patted the robot's "shoulder," just like patting an old friend.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a diagonal shadow on the floor. He sat on a small stool, his legs a little sore, but he didn't want to leave.

He knew he still had to go to the site for a demonstration tomorrow, so he needed to ensure the sensors were sensitive, the battery full, and the wheels not stuck. He wrote these down in his notebook, each stroke careful and deliberate.

Zhao Jianguo passed by the window, saw the lights inside were on. He stood there a while, didn't go in, then turned and left.

At eleven at night, the Siheyuan quieted down. From next door came the sound of windows being shut, a Dog Bark twice, then fell silent.

Xu Da Mao was still busy. He disassembled one mechanical arm, found the bearing a bit loose, and immediately replaced it with a new one. After reinstalling and running a test loop, the robot turned smoothly and its sorting motion was fluid.

He exhaled and leaned against the wall to rest.

The phone rang; it was his daughter calling.

"Dad, I heard your robot succeeded?"

"Hmm."

"They... aren't laughing at you anymore?"

"No." He paused, "They all applauded."

The other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds, then softly said: "Dad, you're really impressive."

His eye sockets warmed, he quickly lowered his head and coughed twice to hide it.

After hanging up, he stood up to continue working. He sorted and neatly placed the spare parts, labeled them, and everything was arranged tidily.

Finally he stood before the robot and said softly: "Let's see the real thing tomorrow."

The robot's red light flashed once, and it responded: "System normal, on standby at any time."

He smiled, turned off the light, went out, and glanced back at the now-dark storage.

When inserting the key into the lock, his hand was very steady.

Next morning at 5:30, Xu Da Mao rode his bicycle out. The rear seat was tied with a Toolbox, the handlebars hung a Meal Ticket box. He wore a clean shirt, the collar ironed flat.

Arrived at the East District garbage transfer station, the staff were already waiting. The pilot person in charge asked: "Did you bring the machine?"

"Brought it." He untied the rope and moved the robot down.

The sun had just risen, shining on the silver-gray shell and reflecting light.

After the test began, the robot worked continuously for two hours, sorting over three thousand kilograms of garbage, with only six errors. The person in charge immediately called to report the situation, his tone excited.

At noon mealtime, the environmental sanitation bureau chief personally came over, holding a boxed meal, and sat beside Xu Da Mao.

"Old Xu," he said, "We plan to include this set of equipment in the annual environmental promotion project. Would you like to come to the bureau as a technical instructor?"

Xu Da Mao almost choked, hurriedly wiped his mouth: "I... I can do it?"

"Why not?" the bureau chief laughed, "You've made something, still afraid you can't explain it?"

Several nearby workers also gathered: "Master Xu, teach us later, this thing really saves effort."

Xu Da Mao lowered his head to eat rice, his face a bit red. He nodded: "Okay, I'll teach."

At 3 p. m., the signing ceremony took place. Xu Da Mao signed his name on the agreement, his hand still slightly trembling.

Zhao Jianguo stood in the back rows watching, received a System Prompt:

"Social reform degree reached standard, unlock the 'Wayward Son Returns' training manual."

He didn't rush to check the function, just silently put away his phone.

On the evening Go Home way, Xu Da Mao deliberately detoured to the hardware store, bought a new waterproof cover and spare battery. He also ordered a set of small solar panels, hoping to let the robot charge itself during the day.

The shop owner asked him: "Old Xu, you're still pretty busy, huh?"

"Busy." He smiled, "Lots of things, but all legitimate."

Back home, he first pushed the robot into the warehouse and covered it with a dust cover. Then he sat at the small table writing the manual, page by page in detail, even marking "Avoid long operation in rain."

By the time he finished, it was late at night. He got up, turned off the light, and before leaving, glanced back.

The robot stood silently in the corner, its camera shut, as if asleep.

He gently closed the door.

The next morning, Zhao Jianguo saw Xu Da Mao fixing his bicycle in the courtyard. The chain had come off; he crouched on the ground to reattach it, his hands covered in grease.

"The east area still needs the machine today." He said, "I have to hurry over."

Zhao Jianguo handed him a towel: "You're already a technician now."

Xu Da Mao wiped his hands, looked up and smiled: "I still want to learn programming so the robot can recognize more types."

Sure.

Then could you help me find a book?

Okay.

He nodded, got on his bike and left.

The wind lifted his shirt hem, the wheels spinning fast.

Upon reaching the site, the robot had already been delivered. He turned on the power and checked each module's status.

Everything was normal.

He pressed the start button.

The robot opened its eyes, a red light flashed, and it moved forward slowly.

Xu Da Mao stood behind, hands in his pockets, watching its back.

Sunlight shone down, and the robot's shadow stretched long.