The next morning.
The clock hand had just pointed to seven o'clock sharp.
Lu You opened his eyes.
There wasn't the slightest hint of sleepiness or fatigue.
He only felt an unprecedented sense of refreshment.
Every cell was filled with vitality, and even his thoughts became exceptionally clear.
Sitting up from the bed, he gave a long, deep stretch.
His joints let out a series of crisp "crackling" sounds.
"Refreshing!"
"As expected of a bed exchanged for 90,000 business points. This money was well spent!" Lu You couldn't help but marvel.
He stepped barefoot onto the warm, smooth floor.
The smart home system had already adjusted the indoor temperature to a most comfortable 26 degrees.
Xiao Bai had already placed breakfast on the dining table by now.
"Xiao Bai, your service is getting more and more on point." Lu You walked toward the dining room.
He didn't forget to add afterward: "I won't give you a raise even if you perform well! Hahaha!"
The sumptuous breakfast emitted an enticing aroma.
He began to feast without any ceremony.
Nowadays, he was no longer that 'lay flat' youth who worried about where his next meal was coming from.
He held nearly a billion in cash flow.
And behind him was an omnipotent system.
His quality of life was soaring at the speed of a rocket.
After enjoying this breakfast that could be called luxurious,
Lu You changed into a set of decent yet casual custom-made clothes.
He tidied his hair; the young man in the mirror looked heroic and spirited.
"Let's go, time for business!"
He arrived at the front hall of the Hardware Store.
At the shop entrance, Lin Feng was standing straight as a poker.
His expression was as serious as ever.
But behind him, it wasn't just a few accompanying staff members.
Instead, it was an "inspection team" consisting of more than ten people.
Although these people were all wearing casual clothes, trying to blend in with ordinary citizens,
the unique aura of competence and composure they possessed couldn't be hidden.
Every one of them had eyes as sharp as eagles and stood as straight as pines.
"It seems yesterday's helmet gave them quite a shock," Lu You thought to himself.
System-produced goods are indeed top-quality.
For other corporate representatives who were desperately trying to cooperate with him,
he could leave them hanging for a few days, letting them experience what it means to have the composure of the 'Client Dad.'
But for the Military Affairs Department, an important component of the state machine,
necessary respect and priority handling were a must.
This wasn't just a business consideration, but a basic awareness of being a citizen.
With a "click," Lu You opened the main door of the Hardware Store.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone. Please, come in." He greeted them actively with a warm smile on his face.
"Boss Lu, we arrived early and disturbed you." Seeing Lu You open the door, Lin Feng's expression softened slightly as he responded politely.
The people behind him also nodded to Lu You one after another.
However, their gazes were filled with curiosity.
They really couldn't associate the young man before them, who looked to be in his early twenties,
with the "military industry tycoon" who could produce epoch-making high-tech equipment.
The sense of contrast was simply too strong.
Lu You led the group to the VIP reception room.
After everyone was seated, Lu You personally brewed Dahongpao tea for them.
The aroma of the tea filled the air, instantly relaxing the atmosphere of the entire reception room.
Without excessive pleasantries, Lin Feng got straight to the point.
He took out a neatly bound report from his briefcase.
He placed it gently on the coffee table and pushed it toward Lu You.
His eyes carried an irrepressible sense of admiration.
"Boss Lu, to be direct, regarding that tactical helmet you provided yesterday, we organized top technical experts to conduct a comprehensive performance test."
Lin Feng's voice was steady and powerful, every word carrying weight.
"The test results... how should I put it, were simply... earth-shattering!"
Hearing such high praise, Lu You only smiled modestly.
He picked up his teacup and took a light sip, looking completely unruffled.
"Look at what you're saying, that's too much of an exaggeration." He waved his hand, speaking in a half-joking tone.
"My little shop mainly serves military enthusiasts, outdoor explorers, and those hardcore survival game players."
"You know, people play quite 'wildly' nowadays and have high requirements for equipment."
"I'm just catering to their interests, making some high-end replicas and enthusiast-level stuff so everyone can have fun and be safe. Being recognized by the experts is purely a stroke of luck, pure luck."
Lu You's heart was as clear as a mirror.
He naturally knew how awesome this system-produced stuff was.
Never mind the fourth generation, even the fifth and sixth generations were available in the System Shop.
But he absolutely could not admit these were genuine military supplies.
Are you kidding? Show his cards now?
How could he, an ordinary Hardware Store owner, suddenly produce world-leading military products? How would he explain that?
Could he say, "I have a system, I can exchange for anything"?
He'd probably be invited to some secret base for comprehensive "scientific research" on the spot.
Hold back, don't get cocky!
Developing quietly is the way to go!
Only when the equipment he could provide was advanced enough to leave the entire world in the dust, advanced enough to become the country's unshakeable trump card, would he have the qualification and the confidence to reveal everything.
Until then, he had to play the role of a Hardware Store owner who "specifically serves high-end enthusiasts."
Hearing Lu You's explanation, Lin Feng and the others couldn't help but look at each other.
Expressions of being caught between laughter and tears appeared on their faces.
Military enthusiasts?
Enthusiast-level?
Brother, you call this enthusiast-level?
Then wouldn't the things developed by the experts in our research institute become children's toys?
Is the competition among enthusiasts so fierce now? This is ridiculous!
But on second thought,
Lu You's explanation was actually logical.
After all, who would have thought that the dignified Liaoning Provincial Military Affairs Department would lower itself to come to such a corner Hardware Store to place an order?
It's not like Lu You could have foreknowledge, right?
So he prepared these top-tier pieces of equipment for military enthusiasts,
and they, the rightful users, just happened to stumble upon them by accident.
This sounds... like there's nothing wrong with it.
"Ahem," Lin Feng coughed lightly.
He didn't intend to dwell on this topic at all.
Facts speak louder than words; they knew exactly how good the items were.
Worrying about the source and motivation was far less important than seizing the opportunity to firmly grasp these cutting-edge technologies in their own hands.
"Boss Lu's hobbies are truly... unique, beyond admiration," Lin Feng said half-teasingly and half-seriously.
Then the smile on his face vanished, and his expression became incredibly solemn.
He took out another thicker file from his briefcase and handed it over with both hands.
"Boss Lu, the matter of the helmet is just the beginning. Don't worry, the real show for today is still to come." A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Lin Feng's eyes.
"This is an emergency procurement list we've drafted based on current needs and an initial assessment of your capabilities. Please take a look."
Lu You took the heavy file.
As soon as he turned to the first page, he was drawn in by the contents.
["High-strength Lightweight Individual Exoskeleton": Requires a load-bearing capacity of no less than 150 kg, a battery life of no less than 72 hours, a donning time of less than 3 minutes, noise levels below 20 decibels, and basic NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection capabilities...
"Hive-type Drone Coordination System": Includes at least 12 miniature drones, each with a 30-minute flight time and autonomous formation capabilities...]