Chapter 221: Smart Wheelchair Gift for Elderly Mother – Filial Tech Warms Hearts

Zhao Jianguo stepped out of the study as dawn just broke, clutching a thin booklet whose cover bore the words "Smart Wheelchair User Manual". He hadn't slept all night, his eyes were dry, his feet felt like walking on cotton, yet he headed straight for Sha Zhu's house.

Few people were up in the courtyard; only San Daye was sweeping at the gate. Seeing him approach, he asked, "So early, anything going on?"

"A little matter." Zhao Jianguo replied, not breaking stride.

Sha Zhu was squatting at the door scrubbing a pot; he looked up, saw Zhao Jianguo approaching, and paused: "Your complexion looks like you got kicked by a donkey all night."

"Pretty much." Zhao Jianguo handed over the booklet, "The wheelchair is finished; I want your mother to try it."

Sha Zhu froze; the pot brush fell into the water basin, splashing a string of water.

"What did you say? That self-steering wheelchair? Did you really get it working?"

"Tested five times, obstacle avoidance success rate 100%." Zhao Jianguo said, "It can handle slopes, steps, and narrow doors. All that's left is to have someone sit in it and feel how it rides."

Sha Zhu opened his mouth, then lowered his voice: "My mother… she's been paralyzed for ten years, can hardly get out of bed, this machine… is it really reliable?"

"I won't use the elderly as test subjects." Zhao Jianguo looked at him, "I just want her to go out again. Your family has helped others the most these years; it's time someone else did something for you."

Sha Zhu's eyes reddened instantly; he turned to look inside. His mother was leaning on the bed, hearing the movement, she trembled and asked, "Zhuzi, who's come?"

"Zhao Jianguo." Sha Zhu stood up, his voice a little shaky, "He said… there's a wheelchair that can let me push you out to have a look."

The old lady didn't speak, merely lifted her hand to wipe her eye corner.

Zhao Jianguo entered the room; the wheelchair was outside the door, silver-gray body, armrests wrapped in soft leather, wide thick tires. He gently pushed it in and stopped beside the bed.

"Auntie, please place your hand on it to try."

The old lady hesitated, slowly reaching out; her fingertips touched the armrest, then she drew back.

"Will it… move?"

"Yes." Zhao Jianguo pressed the power button; the wheelchair emitted a soft sound, "It senses obstacles and automatically detours, speed adjustable. You just sit, no need to worry."

Sha Zhu helped his mother slowly onto the wheelchair, moving as gently as handling a piece of porcelain. After she sat down, she gripped the armrests tightly with both hands, her back ramrod straight, lips trembling slightly.

"Don't be afraid." Zhao Jianguo crouched, looked up at her, "Let's first make a circle inside the house, okay?"

The old lady nodded.

The wheelchair started slowly, gliding across the floor, turning around the desk corner, and stopped steadily at the doorway. The old lady kept her eyes closed until she heard Zhao Jianguo say "We're here," then slowly opened them.

"It really… turns by itself?"

"Try it outside again."

The two pushed the wheelchair out of the room. A few people had already gathered in the courtyard, drawn by the commotion. As the wheelchair cleared the threshold, three steps lay ahead; the old lady was about to shout when the wheelchair suddenly decelerated, veered right, and slid down the slope.

Someone in the crowd exclaimed "Ay!"

The old lady's hand remained on the armrest, but tears streamed down. She said nothing, merely lowered her head to rub the armrest over and over, her knuckles whitening.

"I've been paralyzed for ten years." Her voice trembled, "Ten years, I haven't even left the courtyard. Today… I can watch the square dance again."

Sha Zhu stood nearby, his nose sour, he suddenly turned and ran back to the kitchen.

Soon after, he emerged holding a plate of steaming hot dumplings, squatting before his mother's wheelchair.

"Mom, chive and egg filling, your favorite." He shoved the chopsticks into her hand, "Tomorrow I'll push you to Tiananmen, let you sit in the square to watch the flag raising, okay?"

The old lady picked up a dumpling, her hand shaking badly; oil from the filling dripped onto her pants, but she didn't wipe it.

"Okay." She nodded, "Let's go."

Zhao Jianguo stood to the side, silent, feeling the suffocation that had built up all night finally dissipate.

At that moment, a prompt sounded in his mind:

【Elderly Care Technology Specialization Unlocked】

【Reward: Family Care Assistance Module】

He paid it no mind, only watching Sha Zhu and his mother. The old lady ate dumplings while smiling, tears still on her face. Sha Zhu kept handing her vegetables, murmuring, "Eat slowly, it's hot."

The sun rose, shining on the wheelchair's metal frame, reflecting light. Children ran over to gawk; a boy reached out and touched the rear seat, asking, "Can this take me to school?"

"Go to your great-uncle's house." Sha Zhu laughed and kicked him.

Zhao Jianguo stepped back two paces, leaning against the wall. He was exhausted, his legs weak from standing too long, but his heart was at ease.

At that moment, Dong Xu came in from outside the courtyard, holding two fried dough sticks in his hand, saw the crowd around the wheelchair, approached and asked, "All set?"

"Just finished testing." Zhao Jianguo took the fried dough stick and took a bite.

"How was the reaction?"

"The old lady cried."

Dong Xu grinned: "Normal. My grandma cried harder than at a funeral the first time she rode a tricycle."

As they were talking, the wheelchair suddenly beeped twice, and the screen lit up red.

Zhao Jianguo frowned and walked over to look.

System Prompt:

【Seat Pressure Abnormal Detected】

【Suggest Adjust Backrest Angle】

He glanced down and saw the old lady sitting too far forward, her waist unsupported; if prolonged, it would surely be uncomfortable.

"Auntie, let me adjust the chair." He reached to press the button.

But the old lady suddenly grabbed his wrist, her grip strong.

"Don't move." She said, "It's fine just like this."

Zhao Jianguo froze.

She gazed ahead, her eyes somewhat distant: "Just like this, tilted, like when I used to hold you, Zhuzi, as a child. Back then he was small, always liked to lie on my arm, feeling heavy."

Upon hearing that, Sha Zhu hastily set down the plate, moved to the back, and gently supported his mother's back.

"Mom, I'm supporting you."

The old lady didn't turn her head, merely lifted her hand and patted the back of her son's hand.

Zhao Jianguo withdrew his hand and didn't touch the control key again.

Sunlight fell on the center of the Siheyuan, the wheelchair sat quietly, its shadow stretching obliquely across the blue‑brick floor. The children circled around; some imitated the machine's "beep beep", others mimicked Sha Zhu's recent kick, drawing amused scoldings from the adults.

Zhao Jianguo leaned against the wall, biting a baked pancake piece by piece. Sesame seeds fell onto his clothes, and he didn't even brush them off.

Jia Dongxu glanced at him and asked, "What next?"

"First, revise the manual," Zhao Jianguo said, "Add a clause—when seated for long periods, it is recommended that family members accompany to support the lower back."

"Is that all?"

"That's it for now."

Jia Dongxu nodded and asked no further.

In the crowd, Sha Zhu suddenly shouted, "Mom, the day after tomorrow we're going to the zoo! To see the elephants!"

The old lady laughed out loud, "Can an elephant be as heavy as you?"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Zhao Jianguo also laughed.

He looked up at the sky; the blue was clear, without a single cloud.