On the edge of the small town, the boundary between urban and rural areas gradually blurred. The roads here were like the ties woven by time. One end was connected to the quiet rural countryside, where there were wheat waves swaying in the wind and orchards filled with the fragrance of fruits. The other end was linked to the bustling streets in the town, full of crowds of people and the noisy sounds of hawking. Old Zhang’s electric tricycle was his capable assistant in making a living and also a “bridge” connecting the two aspects of life. The carriage had carried fresh vegetables freshly picked from his own fields and transported them to the market for sale. It had also carried neighbors who were on the way and helped them solve the problem of getting around. Moreover, it had loaded the building materials for renovating the old house, witnessing his efforts to safeguard his home. And the 60V battery charger quietly sitting in the corner was just like a loyal “energy steward”, replenishing power for the tricycle at any time. However, the stories behind it were full of thrills and warmth.

Old Zhang was nearly sixty years old. He was optimistic and open-minded by nature. Relying on this tricycle, he took on some odd jobs around to earn a little money to support his family’s living expenses. He had always maintained the vehicle very well. Checking the tire pressure and the sensitivity of the brakes before setting out was his routine operation. And he took even more care of the 60V battery charger. Every time he charged the battery, Old Zhang was as careful as if he were handling a rare treasure. He gently inserted the plug and stared closely at the indicator light. Only after confirming that it was charging normally would he feel at ease to go and do other household chores. In his heart, this charger was the “life-saving artifact” for the tricycle. If it broke down and the vehicle ran out of power, it would be impossible to move an inch, and the lives of the whole family would be affected.

It was midsummer, and the scorching sun was like fire. The ground was baked hot, and the air was filled with the burning heat waves. Old Zhang received a big order to deliver several large boxes of tableware to a newly opened restaurant in the town. The time was tight, but the remuneration was quite generous. He happily loaded the boxes onto the vehicle, drank a big cup of herbal tea, put on a straw hat, and then started the vehicle and set off.

At first, the tricycle was speeding briskly on the flat asphalt road. Old Zhang hummed a little tune, and he was in an especially good mood. However, unexpectedly, when he reached a suburban path that was under renovation, trouble came quietly. The road surface had been dug up and was bumpy, with gravel and sand scattered all over the ground. The vehicle bumped violently all the way, and the body kept shaking. Suddenly, the power indicator light on the dashboard flashed sharply. The vehicle’s speed dropped instantly, and then with a few “creaking” sounds, the vehicle came to a complete stop. Old Zhang’s heart tightened, and he quickly got off the vehicle to check. After a test, he found that the battery power had been completely used up.

Looking at the long road ahead and still having a long distance from the destination, Old Zhang was extremely worried. Big beads of sweat oozed out on his forehead, and the back of his clothes was instantly soaked with sweat. He gritted his teeth and decided to go home first to charge the battery and then rush back to deliver the goods. Otherwise, if he missed the auspicious time for the opening of the restaurant, this business would be ruined.

Old Zhang rushed back home in a hurry and went straight to where the charger was. However, the scene in front of him made his heart sink. The outer shell of the charger was scalding hot and there were several cracks on it. When he got closer and smelled it carefully, a pungent burnt smell hit his nose. Old Zhang panicked and picked up the charger in a flurry, trying to insert the plug into the socket. But the charger didn’t respond at all, and the indicator light didn’t light up at all.

Watching the time passing by bit by bit while the restaurant was still waiting for the goods, Old Zhang was so anxious that he stamped his feet, pacing around like an ant on a hot pan. Trembling, he took out the toolbox, planning to take apart the charger by himself to see if he could repair it in an emergency. However, the screwdriver just wouldn’t listen to his trembling hands. It took him a lot of effort to unscrew a few screws. The circuits inside were complicated and intertwined, and there were also some black and sticky unknown substances adhered to them. Old Zhang was instantly at a loss and didn’t know where to start at all.

Just when Old Zhang was full of despair and felt helpless, a knock on the door broke the silence in the room. When he opened the door, he saw Xiao Li, a young electrician from the same village. With a concerned look on his face, he asked, “Uncle Zhang, you seem so anxious. What’s going on?” Old Zhang, as if grasping a life-saving straw, pointed at the broken 60V battery charger and told him all about his encounter. Without saying a word, Xiao Li turned around and ran back to his own home. He brought a brand-new 60V battery charger and also brought a professional electrician’s tool kit, which included a multimeter, an electric soldering iron, insulating tape and so on.

It turned out that Xiao Li was always enthusiastic about helping others and was proficient in repairing all kinds of electrical appliances. He often kept some commonly used electrical appliance accessories at home in case the neighbors needed them. He skillfully used the multimeter to test Old Zhang’s broken charger. After a thorough inspection, he found that a rectifier diode inside had been broken down, causing a short circuit and making the charger stop working. While comforting Old Zhang not to worry, Xiao Li neatly replaced the diode with a new one using the electric soldering iron. He carefully cleaned the adhered circuits, cut off the burnt parts, wrapped them with insulating tape, and also straightened the deformed plug. In less than half an hour, the charger was restored to its original state. When it was connected to the battery, the indicator light lit up steadily and the current flowed smoothly.

Old Zhang’s eyes were red, and his voice choked with emotion. He grasped Xiao Li’s hand tightly and thanked him repeatedly, saying, “Good boy, thank you so much! If it weren’t for your timely appearance, this business of mine would have been ruined. I’ll remember this kindness!” Xiao Li smiled and waved his hand, saying, “Uncle Zhang, don’t mention it. We’re all villagers. Who doesn’t have difficulties? It’s just a piece of cake. You should pay more attention to the charger in the future and try not to let it be bumped, knocked, overheated or overloaded.”

Old Zhang restarted the vehicle and drove steadily towards the restaurant. After this incident, Old Zhang took meticulous care of the 60V battery charger. Every time after using it, he would carefully put it away and place it in a ventilated and cool place. He also regularly wiped the outer shell and checked whether there were any damages or signs of aging in the circuits. Since then, the charger had never had any problems again and steadily accompanied Old Zhang as he shuttled between urban and rural roads, helping him complete the transportation tasks smoothly time after time and safeguarding the stability and hope in the ordinary life of his family.