The wind made the bamboo joints sway slightly.
Chen Hao looked up at the crooked showerhead, reached out to straighten it, but couldn't, so he simply patted the stand. "It doesn't look good anyway, as long as it works."
Nana stood below, and the optical mirror swept across the connection of the device. "The structural stability has been improved by 12 percent, but there are still stress concentration points."
“I don’t understand anything you’re saying.” Chen Hao climbed down from the roof, placed his foot on the last rung of the wooden ladder, and jumped down. “But I know one thing—having water to shower is the first step, and taking a hot shower is life.”
He wiped the dust off his face and walked towards the supplies area. "Next, let's get heating done."
Nana followed half a step behind him. "Under current energy conditions, the most feasible solution is a solar thermal system. Databases show that this technology does not require external power supply, has low maintenance costs, and is compatible with local solar cycles."
"I knew you could do it." Chen Hao grinned. "Your brain isn't filled with code, it's an encyclopedia."
"It's just data categorization."
"Stop being modest, just tell me, how are we going to do it?"
Nana brought up a projection diagram, and a planar structure composed of metal plates and pipes appeared in the air. "Basic principle: black metal absorbs heat, and water flows through the heated pipes to increase its temperature. A heat collection panel needs to be built to connect the water source and the nozzles to form a closed loop."
Chen Hao stared at the diagram for three seconds, then shook his head. "Too complicated. Speak plainly."
"Use sheet metal to sunbathe and boil water."
"That solves it!" He slapped his thigh. "It would have been so much better if you had said so earlier."
The two men inventoried the materials. There were five scrap metal plates of varying lengths; three sections of old pipe with worn joints; several rolls of rusty wire; and a pile of loose screws.
"Is this enough?" Chen Hao squatted on the ground, turning the items over and over.
“The theory is usable, but it needs to be modified manually.” Nana pulled out a metal plate. “The edges are sharp and need to be polished.”
"I'll do it." Chen Hao grabbed some gravel, sat down on the ground, and began grinding the edges.
He used too much force on the first stroke, the metal scraping against the stone with a screeching sound, making his palm numb. He shook his hand, "This thing is more tiring than working out."
"It is recommended to use a uniform pressure application method to reduce vibration."
"You seem to have it easy, talking without any sense of the pain."
He continued grinding, round and round, sweat trickling down his forehead to his chin, dripping onto the metal plate and evaporating instantly. A cut appeared on his calloused fingers, oozing blood. He glanced down, tore off a strip of cloth, wrapped it around his hand, and continued working.
“You don’t need to do it yourself,” Nana said. “I can do all the cutting and polishing.”
"Then should I even call for help?" Chen Hao asked, panting. "You've already taken care of everything, and I'm supposed to just stand by and applaud?"
"Your participation will not affect the efficiency assessment."
"It can affect my mood." He smiled. "Besides, if I can't even handle this little bit of work, how will I face even more difficult tasks in the future?"
Nana didn't say anything more, but simply adjusted her position, blocking him from the sunlight and casting a small shadow.
After processing the metal plates, Chen Hao began assembling the frame. He put two plates together and tightened them with wire, but they came loose at the slightest touch. "This connection method is too primitive," he muttered.
“Temporary fixation is sufficient.” Nana took the wire and precisely tightened it with the robotic arm. “It will be replaced with a welded structure later.”
"You're still planning to weld? Where are we going to get the electricity?"
"When conditions permit in the future."
“You’re living in the future.” Chen Hao shook his head. “Right now, I just want this thing to be steaming tomorrow.”
Pipe alignment became a new challenge. The pipe diameters didn't match, the joints were crooked, and they couldn't get them aligned even after three attempts.
"This will definitely leak." Chen Hao squatted down and examined it for a long time. "Do you have any glue?"
“We’ve run out of regular sealant.” Nana took out a small jar of dark paste. “A mixture of plant-based adhesive and fine clay can be used as a temporary filler.”
It smells like rotten leaves.
"The ingredients include humus, bark extract and clay."
"That sounds even more disgusting." But he still took it, smeared it around the joint, and pressed it firmly, "hopefully it won't explode when the water boils."
The whole assembly was crooked and messy, like a bird's nest blown down by the wind, but it was finally put together as a whole.
"Next step, installation location." Chen Hao stood with his hands on his hips, looking up at the roof.
Nana started the scan, and the optical mirror flashed several times. "The best area to receive light is the northwest roof slope, with an inclination angle of 37 degrees and an average daily direct sunlight duration of more than six hours."
"Then leave it there."
“Working at heights carries a risk factor of 1.8.”
"How many?"
"The probability of a slight fall is relatively high."
"Then don't stop me." Chen Hao moved a wooden ladder over, leaned it against the wall, and tested its stability. "I may be fat, but I still have a good sense of balance."
He climbed up to the roof step by step, the wooden ladder creaked twice, and then stopped.
“If you fall, I’ll catch you,” Nana said from below.
"You can't float if you're two meters off the ground, stop bragging."
"Calculations show that the impact force exceeded my load-bearing capacity by 43 percent."
"Then why did you say you could accept it?"
“Sentences for emotional reassurance.”
"You've learned this trick too?"
He carried the device onto the roof, found a good spot, and began securing the support frame. The sun was so strong that the sheet metal was scorching hot, and even his gloves couldn't block the heat. As he tightened the screws, he cursed, "This isn't making a water heater; it's building my own crematorium."
Nana remotely guided, "Move 15 centimeters to the east to avoid obstructing the drainage channel."
"How come you worry about things more than my mother?"
"Only ensure the safety of the project."
"If I listened to you, I probably wouldn't even dare to lie down in bed anywhere."
The support frame was finally in place. He connected one end of the pipe to the main water supply system and the other end towards the sprinkler head. The moment the connection was complete, he slumped back against the chimney, panting.
"It's done."
Nana scanned the pipeline route and reported, "The current system is in a closed state with no signs of leakage. Pressure simulation is normal."
"You mean, you can give it a try?"
"Heating tests have not yet been conducted."
“I know.” Chen Hao raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight, looking at his shadow cast on the sheet metal. “When the sun comes out tomorrow, we’ll know whether this pile of scrap metal can actually boil water.”
"Theoretically feasible."
"Theory can't save someone whose backside is frozen."
He came down from the roof and stood under the device, looking up. The sheet metal was slightly shiny from the sun, with some edges curling up like a piece of paper that had been baked and wrinkled.
"How many days do you think it can last?" he asked.
"Unless damaged by external forces, it should maintain its function for at least three months."
"What about three months later?"
"It depends on the subsequent maintenance."
"By then I might have lost weight and be able to squeeze into the maintenance tunnel to fix it myself."
"Low probability."
"You're putting me down again."
"State the facts."
He smiled, walked to the bucket and sat down, untied the strip of cloth and looked at the injury on his hand, "I didn't work very fast today, but at least I didn't stop working."
Nana stood beside him, saying, "The progress is in line with expectations."
Do you know what I like most about you right now?
Please explain.
“You don’t always say ‘impossible’ anymore.” He looked up. “Before, when I said I wanted to take a shower, you said there weren’t enough resources; when I wanted to drink water, you said the water quality was dangerous; now when I say I want hot water, you don’t stop me, but instead help me find a solution.”
"The rationality of the objectives has been improved."
“You’ve learned to be more subtle now.” He smiled, his eyes narrowing. “But I can still tell you’re rolling your eyes inside.”
Nana's optical glasses flickered slightly. "I don't have eyelid structure."
"What a pity." He patted his pants and stood up. "Let's go, let's see if it can really emit heat at this time tomorrow."
He turned to leave, then stopped and looked back at the device on the roof.
"By the way, let's give it a name."
"unnecessary."
"How about we call it 'Old Iron'? It's made of metal, sturdy, and tough."
"The naming has no practical significance."
“But I need a name for it,” he insisted. “Otherwise, it’s too much trouble to keep saying ‘that heated thing’ every time.”
"what ever."
"Then let's call him 'Old Iron'." He raised his hand and waved. "See you tomorrow, Old Iron."
Nana scanned the system status one last time. "All components are in place, awaiting activation by the sun."
Chen Hao nodded, took a step forward, then turned back and squatted down next to the device to check the last connector.
The screw was a little crooked, so he took out a wrench and tightened it again. As he tightened it for the last bit, his hand slipped, and the tool hit his foot.
He took a breath, said nothing, and simply picked up the wrench and put it into his tool bag.
Nana looked at him.
He patted his knees and stood up. "It's nothing, just a minor bump."
He took one last look at the device to make sure it wasn't loose.
The sunlight shone on the metal sheet, reflecting a blinding light.
He raised his hand to block it.
Then he stood still and didn't move.
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