In the network of urban and rural areas, roads crisscross each other. One end is connected to the quiet and simple courtyards in the countryside, where the sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard and the gardens are full of fruits and vegetables. The other end leads to the noisy and bustling markets, where crowds of people are surging and the sounds of hawking rise and fall continuously. Old Liu’s electric tricycle is just like a loyal companion, accompanying him to shuttle back and forth between these places for many years. The carriage of the tricycle has been filled with fresh and juicy vegetables from his own fields, exquisitely hand-woven bamboo baskets, and various building materials for house renovation, witnessing every step of his hard work and gains in life. And the 43 shock absorbers installed at the bottom of the vehicle body silently undertake the important task of shock absorption and buffering, just like an unsung hero, safeguarding the smoothness and safety of Old Liu’s rides. The stories behind them are full of twists and turns as well as heartwarming moments.

Old Liu is over fifty years old. He is down-to-earth and diligent. He relies on this tricycle to do some small businesses and transport goods to support his family’s livelihood. He takes extremely good care of his beloved vehicle and is meticulous in daily maintenance. Especially for the 43 shock absorbers, he pays special attention to them. Before setting out each time, he will squat down to carefully check whether there are any signs of deformation or oil leakage on the appearance of the shock absorbers, and press the body of the vehicle to feel the shock absorption effect. Only when he confirms that everything is okay will he set off with peace of mind. In his heart, these shock absorbers are the “stable cornerstone” of the tricycle. Once there is a problem with them, not only will the riding experience decline sharply, but it may also endanger the driving safety. On the bumpy and complicated country roads, if the vehicle loses control due to a little bump, it’s a minor matter if the goods on the vehicle are damaged. But if people fall off, it will be a big trouble.

It was a drizzly spring day. The sky was gloomy, and the road was wet and covered with puddles of different sizes. Old Liu received an urgent job to deliver several bags of cement to a family in the neighboring village. He loaded the heavy cement onto the carriage, put on his raincoat and bamboo hat, and then started the vehicle and set off. At first, the tricycle was moving forward fairly smoothly on the hardened road in the village, and the 43 shock absorbers effectively buffered the vibrations of the vehicle body. However, as soon as he left the village and walked onto the dirt road that had been in disrepair for a long time, trouble came.

After being soaked by rainwater for a long time, the dirt road became soft and muddy, with potholes one after another. The tricycle was like a trapped beast in the mire, bumping violently. Old Liu held the handlebars tightly and carefully controlled the direction, trying to avoid the deepest potholes. Suddenly, the vehicle body sank sharply, and then there was a loud “clang” sound. The vehicle almost lost control and overturned on its side. Old Liu broke out in a cold sweat and quickly stopped the vehicle to check. He saw that the 43 shock absorber at the right rear of the vehicle couldn’t bear the heavy load and actually broke. The spring hung limply outside, and the hydraulic rod was also bent and deformed. Due to the violent shaking, one of the cement bags in the carriage split open, and the white cement spilled all over the ground.

Old Liu’s heart tightened instantly. Looking at the scene in front of him, his face was full of anxiety and helplessness. There was neither a village ahead nor an inn behind. What should he do? If he left the cement here and ignored it, not only would his reputation be damaged, but he would also have to compensate for the losses of others. But if he continued on his way with this “lame” tricycle, aside from the bumps on the road, if something unexpected happened again, the consequences would be unimaginable. He was extremely anxious. Fine beads of sweat oozed out on his forehead, and the rain mixed with sweat slid down his cheeks.

Old Liu decided to try to repair it by himself first. He took out a simple repair tool kit from under the seat, squatted down and got busy. However, the rain wet the tools. His hand slipped, and the screwdriver almost fell into the mud. The wrench didn’t work either. After working for a long time, he made little progress. The remaining cement in the carriage was about to be completely ruined under the scouring of the rainwater. Old Liu was so anxious that he stamped his feet, pacing around like an ant on a hot pan.

Just when he was almost desperate, an agricultural four-wheeled vehicle slowly drove over and stopped beside him. The window was rolled down, and a simple and honest face popped out. The driver asked with concern, “Brother, what’s the matter? You seem so anxious.” Old Liu, as if grasping a life-saving straw, quickly pointed at the broken shock absorber and told him what had happened. Without saying a word, the driver jumped out of the vehicle, took out a jack, a spare 43 shock absorber, and professional repair tools from the vehicle.

It turned out that this driver was also often engaged in transportation and deeply understood the difficulties of vehicle breakdowns on the road. He always kept some commonly used spare parts in the vehicle for emergencies. He skillfully operated the jack to lift the vehicle body, removed the damaged shock absorber, cleaned up the residual mud and sand, quickly replaced it with a new one, tightened the screws, and didn’t forget to check and adjust it. In less than half an hour, the new shock absorber was firmly in place, and the tricycle regained its previous smoothness.

Old Liu’s eyes were red, and his voice choked with emotion. He grasped the driver’s hand tightly and thanked him repeatedly, saying, “Brother, thank you so much! If it weren’t for you, I really wouldn’t know what to do. I’ll remember this kindness.” The driver smiled and waved his hand, saying, “Brother, don’t mention it. We’re all making a living away from home. Who doesn’t have difficulties? It’s just a little effort. You should pay more attention to the road conditions and check the vehicle regularly in the future.”

After the rain stopped and the sky cleared, the sunlight penetrated the clouds and shone on the ground. Old Liu got on the tricycle again and drove steadily towards his destination. After this incident, Old Liu took the utmost care of the 43 shock absorbers. He checked them more carefully before setting out each time, carried out regular cleaning and maintenance, and also prepared spare parts and put them in the vehicle. Since then, the shock absorbers have never had any problems again and have steadily accompanied Old Liu through countless urban and rural roads, witnessing his years of hard work to strive for a living.