In the area where urban and rural areas are intertwined and filled with a lively atmosphere, the roads are like flexible veins. One end is deeply rooted in the vibrant green fields of the countryside, where the rice ears are shining with golden waves under the sunlight, and the fruits and vegetables are showing their smiles among the vines. The other end blends into the noisy and prosperous marketplaces, where crowds of people are surging like waves, and the sounds of transactions and conversations can be heard endlessly. Old Zhao’s electric and fuel dual-purpose tricycle is just like a close and considerate friend, having been inseparable from him for many years, carrying his expectations and hopes, and shuttling nimbly through streets and alleys. Sometimes, the carriage is filled with fresh fish just caught from his own fishpond, with their scales shining with a silver luster, full of the joy of harvest. Sometimes, it is loaded with exquisitely hand-woven bamboo baskets, with the ingenuity of the craftsmen woven into the textures. Every trip is a vivid portrayal of his struggle for life. And the 130 aluminum brake pads quietly hidden in the key positions are like silent yet dutiful “safety guards”, turning the tide at the moment of braking. The stories behind them are full of twists and turns as well as warm feelings.

Old Zhao is over fifty years old. He is enthusiastic and meticulous in his work. He cherishes the tricycle that has accompanied him for a long time, and his daily maintenance is meticulous, just like taking care of rare treasures. At daybreak, when the morning sun just showed a glimmer of light, Old Zhao got up energetically. He took a soft-bristled brush, a clean rag and carried a small can of special lubricating grease, and then strode towards his beloved vehicle parked at the entrance of the courtyard, starting his daily unshakable “vehicle care action”. First, he bent down to carefully check the power display (in the fuel mode, he would closely monitor the fuel level in the fuel tank) to ensure that the power “source” was abundant and stable. Then he carefully inspected along the wires and fuel pipes, not missing any clues of electricity leakage or fuel leakage, ensuring the smooth transmission of energy. Then he gently turned the wheels and listened attentively, just like an experienced musician capturing subtle notes, accurately identifying whether there were any abnormal sounds in the operation of the bearings, escorting the smooth driving. When his eyes locked on the 130 aluminum brake pads, Old Zhao had a solemn look on his face. He knew very well that they were related to the life and death of braking, as if he were examining the defense line of life, and he dared not slack off in the slightest.

He crouched down and carefully removed the aluminum brake pads. He dipped the brush full of lubricating grease and gently wiped off the grayish-white powder and debris accumulated due to frequent friction. His movements were as gentle as wiping fragile crystals, for fear that a little too much force would damage this crucial “shield”. After cleaning, he slowly rubbed his fingers along the surface of the brake pads to carefully feel the degree of wear, and carefully checked whether there were cracks, grooves or uneven areas, so as to judge the braking efficiency and safety status. In Old Zhao’s heart, these 130 aluminum brake pads were the “magic needle that calms the sea” for the safety of the whole vehicle. Once they malfunctioned, the tricycle would lose control like a runaway wild horse. It would be a minor matter if the precious goods on the vehicle were scattered all over the ground. The real disaster would be endangering the safety of himself and passers-by. The consequences were unimaginable.

It was midsummer. The scorching sun hung high in the sky. The sky seemed to be roasted by fire. The earth was so hot that it could burn the soles of people’s shoes. The air was filled with a sweltering atmosphere. Old Zhao filled a tricycle with bamboo baskets and planned to rush to the market in the neighboring village to grab a good stall in the morning market. He put on a straw hat, hung a towel around his neck, took a big gulp of cold tea, hummed a little tune and started the vehicle, setting off on the journey with great enthusiasm.

At first, the tricycle was running smoothly on the flat brick road in the urban area. In the electric mode, the motor ran smoothly and made a gentle sound. Old Zhao imagined the lively scene of the bamboo baskets being snapped up in the market, and he was in an especially comfortable mood. When he reached the suburbs, the heavy rain the night before had left the road surface pitted, waterlogged, and repeatedly rolled by heavy trucks, with gravel and branches mixed in the mud, and the road conditions were extremely bad. The crisis was quietly lurking.

Suddenly, a flustered domestic chicken rushed out in front. Reacting instinctively, Old Zhao slammed on the brakes. In an instant, a sharp “squeak” sound cut through the sweltering and stuffy air. The body of the vehicle shook and trembled violently, but the vehicle didn’t stop steadily as expected. Instead, it slid forward for several meters. The bamboo baskets in the carriage collided with each other. Several bamboo baskets toppled over, with their bamboo strips broken and the weaving loosened, making a mess. Still in shock, Old Zhao quickly stopped the vehicle to check. His heart seemed to fall into an ice cellar. It turned out that there was something wrong with the 130 aluminum brake pads. It was found that the brake pads were severely worn, and many parts were almost worn flat. The remaining thickness was hardly enough to provide sufficient friction. Moreover, they were covered with mud and debris, and the braking effect was greatly reduced. In this unbearably hot and bad road condition situation, the damaged aluminum brake pads were like a “time bomb”. If it was necessary to brake urgently again, the vehicle would probably be difficult to stop and was very likely to slide into the ditches beside the road or hit the electric poles. The terrible consequences were unimaginable.

At that time, all around were empty fields, and the green rice seedlings were drooping listlessly under the scorching sun. On the road, except for the occasional engineering vehicles that raised dust as they passed by, there were hardly any people in sight. Old Zhao’s tricycle carrying the “injured” aluminum brake pads was like a lonely boat drifting in the rough sea full of raging waves and hidden reefs, in a very dangerous situation. He was extremely anxious. Fine beads of sweat immediately oozed out on his forehead. The back of his clothes was instantly soaked through by sweat and clung tightly to his back. He quickly moved the vehicle to a mound beside the road and tried to remedy the situation in a flustered manner.

Old Zhao tremblingly took out a simple repair tool kit from under the seat of the vehicle, took out tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers, and tried to clean the debris and replace the brake pads. However, the heat waves were rolling in, sweat blurred his eyes, his fingers were weak, and he couldn’t hold the tools steadily. When using the screwdriver to turn the screws, it slipped and lost its force, and the wrench could hardly tighten the nuts. After repeated attempts, the problem remained stubborn. Helplessness and anxiety were intertwined in his heart. The feelings of heat, frustration were churning and boiling in his heart, and he was almost desperate.

Just when he was full of worry and felt helpless, a passing agricultural tricycle motorcycle slowly stopped. The window was rolled down, and a kind-faced, dark-skinned and simple and honest uncle stuck his head out and asked with concern, “Brother, what’s going on? It’s unbearably hot today. Is there something wrong with your vehicle?” Old Zhao hurriedly pointed at the 130 aluminum brake pads and told him what had happened. Without saying a word, the uncle took a jack, professional repair tools and spare 130 aluminum brake pads from his vehicle. It turned out that the uncle ran a large orchard by himself. He often drove to transport agricultural materials and knew the hardships of the road well. He was used to keeping emergency items in the vehicle to prepare for unexpected needs.

The uncle got out of the vehicle and walked to Old Zhao’s vehicle. First, he handed Old Zhao a bottle of ice water to help him quench his thirst, cool down and calm his nervousness. Then he skillfully operated the jack to lift the vehicle body, removed the damaged aluminum brake pads. He skillfully cleaned the residual debris, installed the new brake pads, calibrated the clearance, tightened the screws, and gently stepped on the brake pedal to test. With the clear and crisp “creaking” sounds, the brakes regained their previous sensitivity and steadily “returned to their positions and fulfilled their duties”, giving the tricycle reliable braking guarantee again, which finally put Old Zhao’s hanging heart at ease.

Old Zhao’s eyes were red, and his voice choked with emotion. He grasped the uncle’s hands tightly and thanked him repeatedly. He insisted on giving the uncle several bamboo baskets. The uncle couldn’t refuse and took them. Then he smiled and told Old Zhao, “Brother, you should be more careful when driving on these bad roads in the future. This aluminum brake pad is related to the safety of the whole vehicle. You can’t be careless at all!” Old Zhao nodded vigorously, keeping it firmly in mind.

After this incident, Old Zhao’s care for the 130 aluminum brake pads reached an extreme level. Before setting out each time, he would conduct a detailed and comprehensive inspection, not only examining the appearance and measuring the thickness, but also simulating emergency braking situations to check the braking effect. After returning the vehicle, he would wipe and maintain it with a dry cloth, regularly check the tightness of the screws and reinforce the connection of the components. Since then, the aluminum brake pads have never had any problems again and have steadily accompanied Old Zhao as he continued to be busy shuttling between urban and rural areas, witnessing his years of working hard for a living.