Chapter 155 - 153: Designing a Dryer

Words : 1173 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

When Chen Xin was pulling his hair out trying to design a drying box for grains, Li Wensheng delivered the two sets of aquaponics equipment he wanted, exchanging them for the ground source heat pump equipment that Chen Xin had promised him. Initially, Chen Xin said he could install it on-site, but Li Wensheng did not get to enjoy Chen Xin’s on-site installation service. Because when he came to pick up the goods from Chen Xin, he encountered Li Yulong, who was also there to see Chen Xin. This wealthy second-generation heir, upon learning about this matter, exchanged an Iberian ham and a box of canned tuna for the drilling equipment from Chen Xin, becoming the designated installer. Originally, Chen Xin didn’t want to do this, but Li Yulong’s persuasion convinced him. "I think, Brother Chen, you’re being too bold. Don’t get me wrong, but if someone plans to deceive you into leaving the shelter under the guise of installation and then tries to rob or even kill you, what would you do?" Although Li Yulong was using the worst-case scenario to assess others, he still felt that Chen Xin was being somewhat too generous. After hearing Li Yulong’s advice, Chen Xin considered it and agreed to Li Yulong’s request to take over the installation of the ground source heat pump. After all, if Chen Xin were to do the installation himself without spending survival points, it would still be a troublesome task. Moreover, the key point is that Chen Xin also found Li Yulong’s reasoning sound. Although he had a gun, generally speaking, it wouldn’t lead to trouble. But if someone deceived him and launched a surprise attack, it could still prove fatal. Perhaps Chen Xin had been unguarded before because those who came to see him were acquaintances, and people like Qin Lan and Mo Qingyan were indeed trustworthy, so he subconsciously overlooked this issue. But now that Li Yulong mentioned it, Chen Xin felt he should keep this matter at heart and pay more attention to personal safety. This incident was considered an episode; nevertheless, although Li Yulong helped Li Wensheng install the ground source heat pump, it still brought Chen Xin an income of four hundred survival points and an increase of four survival points per day. As for Li Yulong, he successfully reached a partnership with Chen Xin. It’s indisputable that he’s one of the city’s prominent businessmen. After convincing his father, during the days Chen Xin was with the SWAT team, Li Yulong’s father had already made connections with the city government to obtain a business permit. The city government allowed Li Yulong to run market operations and farming ventures, but correspondingly, taxes still had to be paid as before, and regulatory personnel would be dispatched. But having obtained the permit was enough for Li Yulong, as it meant he could carry out his business expansion plans. And there’s no doubt that Chen Xin is a particularly crucial part of his business landscape, as both the market and farms require Chen Xin’s ground source heat pumps. Although for Li Yulong, having connections with the city government made obtaining other heating equipment not difficult, as a wealthy second-generation heir, he always chooses the best. After cross-comparing various options, Li Yulong confirmed that Chen Xin’s ground source heat pump is the most efficient heating equipment and can provide self-sufficiency. This point is precisely the most important in the current era. Regardless of coal or fuel, the city relies on external inputs, transported by rail. If the railway encounters a malfunction causing supplies not to arrive timely, it could easily impact market and farm operations. Thus, a ground source heat pump capable of better self-maintenance became Li Yulong’s first choice. It was precisely for this reason that he personally approached Chen Xin twice, bringing along what are now considered extremely valuable meats to make the transaction, aiming to secure the opportunity to collaborate with Chen Xin. After comprehensive consideration, Chen Xin did not reject Li Yulong; instead, he agreed to invest with ground source heat pump equipment for a twenty percent stake. For the whole market and farm project, Li Yulong himself took fifty percent of the shares, Chen Xin received twenty percent, and the remaining thirty percent was divided, with ten percent for taxes, ten percent to the city government, and ten percent allocated to the SWAT team. Chen Xin had no objections to this distribution plan. Getting a twenty percent stake was sufficient. As for separating city government and taxes, it made Chen Xin admire Li Yulong’s business acumen. The portion given to the SWAT team was also appropriate, since current law and order are maintained by the SWAT team after all. So after the transaction intention was reached, Chen Xin accepted the resources Li Yulong had delivered without any hesitation. Even before the disaster, Iberian ham was a rare item, and Chen Xin had only bought a small packet to taste the flavor. A whole ham cost at least tens of thousands, and that’s before the disaster. In this post-apocalyptic world, such a piece of pork leg is a definite luxury and rarity, a hard currency for trading whatever one wishes. However, Chen Xin had no thoughts of trading this and hung it along with the Jinhua ham he previously received, planning to savor them slowly himself. These two hams, if eaten carefully, could last him a year or two. After reaching the transaction intention with Li Yulong, Chen Xin also handed him a list of supplies he needed, explaining to him how his share dividends would be converted into these supplies. Being aware of Li Yulong’s plans, Chen Xin guessed that he and the city government would likely introduce some certificates as general equivalents for market transactions. Yet, such certificates to Chen Xin were far less beneficial than actual supplies. If he wanted supplies, he’d have to exchange for them, so he directly asked for supplies. As for how to procure these supplies, that was what Li Yulong needed to worry about, while Chen Xin kept his head down in designing his grain-drying oven. Chen Xin had considered making it like his mother’s home dryer, resembling a round steamer with layered structures, but after sketching the design, he dismissed this idea and decided to create a big cabinet filled with layered trays. Although the round structure was good, the segmented layered grid design was quite complex. A drawer-style large cabinet was comparatively simpler. A large cabinet made of metal, with drawer-style trays forming layered intervals inside, this was Chen Xin’s envisioned drying machine. Just by laying the grains on the trays and continually blowing hot air into the cabinet, he could dry the harvested grains and remove moisture. Yet, Chen Xin still hesitated over the form of the trays. Although they would be drawer-style trays, they were undoubtedly large trays. The bottom of the trays—should they be made of impermeable metal sheets or breathable mesh? Looking at his drafted design, Chen Xin fell into hesitation.

Chapter 155 - 153: Designing a Dryer

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