In the urban-rural fringe filled with a lively atmosphere, the roads are like flexible silk ribbons, connecting the livelihoods and dreams of ordinary families one after another. Afu’s electric tricycle with a canopy is his capable vehicle for chasing a better life. Under the canopy, there have been piles of fresh and tender vegetables, exquisitely hand-woven bamboo baskets, and all kinds of seasonal groceries. It carries his full expectations and shuttles through the bustling streets and alleys. And that small yet practical stylish single-head onboard special fan is just like a cool elf in the sweltering summer, quietly dispelling the stuffy heat for Afu. The stories behind it are full of the joys and sorrows of life.

Afu is fifty years old. He is optimistic and open-minded by nature. Relying on this tricycle with a canopy, he goes from street to street to do some small businesses to support the living expenses of his whole family. In the scorching summer, the sun is shining with all its might, baking the earth until it’s boiling hot. The inside of the canopy is like a steamer. The hot air wraps around Afu. After a trip, his clothes are often soaked with sweat, feeling sticky and uncomfortable. Seeing that his peers installed onboard fans to relieve the heat, Afu gritted his teeth and also added this stylish single-head onboard special fan to his beloved vehicle.

This fan has a unique shape. Its streamlined outer shell, combined with a bright metallic luster, shows a fashionable style. Its wind power is quite strong. The first gear has a gentle breeze gently blowing on the face, and the second gear has a strong wind blowing with a whooshing sound, which can quickly dispel the summer heat in the vehicle. Afu regards it as a precious treasure. Before setting out, he must wipe it carefully, check whether the wires are damaged and whether the plugs are stable. He will also try to run it to make sure it’s working properly before he can set off with peace of mind.

One afternoon, Afu filled his tricycle with freshly picked green beans and planned to rush to the market to grab a late-market stall. At that time, the sky was as blue as if it had just been washed, but it allowed the scorching sun to show off its power without any obstruction. The heat was rising from the road surface, and from a distance, it seemed as if there were layers of ripples. Afu got into the stuffy canopy, started the vehicle and turned on the fan at the same time, adjusting it to the second gear. Immediately, a strong cool wind blew into the vehicle, and the sweltering feeling subsided a little. He hummed a little tune and drove towards the market full of anticipation.

When he reached a bumpy section on the outskirts of the city, the road surface had been made pitted and uneven by heavy trucks. Afu slowed down and carefully avoided the big and small potholes. Suddenly, the vehicle body shook violently, and then there was a strange “creaking” sound. The fan stopped abruptly, the cool wind dissipated, and the stuffy heat rushed back like a tide. Afu’s heart tightened, and he quickly stopped the vehicle to check. He saw that the fan was tilted, and there was a break in the base, probably caused by the violent jolt just now. Afu was full of helplessness. He reached out to try to straighten the fan, but the break made it impossible for it to stand firmly. Well, there was still a long way to go for the rest of the journey. Without the fan, how could he endure the stuffy heat?

Afu was extremely anxious. Fine beads of sweat oozed out on his forehead. He crouched down and took out a simple repair tool kit from under the seat, planning to reinforce it by himself as an emergency measure. However, the tool kit hadn’t been used for a long time. The screwdriver was rusty and stuck, and the size of the wrench didn’t quite match the screws. Afu tried his best, but the screws didn’t move at all. It became even stuffier inside the canopy, and the green beans gradually lost their luster under the high temperature. Afu was so anxious that he stamped his feet. The sweat slid down his cheeks and dropped onto the hot vehicle board, evaporating instantly.

Just when Afu was in a terrible fix and felt helpless, an agricultural four-wheeled vehicle slowly stopped beside him. The window was rolled down, and a simple and honest uncle with dark skin stuck his head out and asked with concern, “Brother, what’s going on? You’re sweating all over with anxiety.” Afu pointed at the broken fan and told him all about his encounter. The uncle gave a hearty laugh and said, “Don’t worry. I always keep some repair items in my vehicle. Maybe they can be of help.” With that, the uncle jumped out of the vehicle and took out strong glue, metal patches and suitable screws and nuts from the carriage.

The uncle was quite skillful. First, he used the glue to stick the broken part together, then pasted the metal patch to reinforce it, and finally tightened the screws and nuts to firmly fix the fan. It took just over ten minutes, and the fan came back to life. Afu’s eyes were red, and he grasped the uncle’s hand excitedly, saying, “Brother, thank you so much. Without you, I would have suffered a lot on this journey!” The uncle waved his hand and said, “It’s a piece of cake. We who are engaged in transportation will inevitably encounter some troubles on the road. It’s only right to help each other.”

Afu restarted the fan, and the cool wind blew again. He let out a long sigh of relief and continued on his way with warmth in his heart. After this incident, Afu took even better care of this single-head onboard special fan. He regularly cleaned the dust on the fan blades, added lubricating oil to the rotating shaft, and deliberately wrapped several circles of soft cloth around the base to cushion the bumps. Since then, the fan has never had any problems again and has steadily accompanied Afu through the unbearably hot summers, witnessing his busy figure as he worked hard for a living.