Chapter 23 Advanced Wheelchair Techniques

[Exchange Successful!]

The price indeed increased by 10 points with each draw, just like when drawing literary works, so it became 40 points.

Lu Zhixing was mentally prepared and wasn't surprised anymore. Right now, what he cared more about was what kind of life skill he would draw.

[Life Skill: Advanced Nursing Knowledge]

"Hmm? Nice stuff!"

Lu Zhixing could feel a flood of nursing-related knowledge rapidly filling his mind, all of it essential professional skills that nurses in hospitals must master.

Things like the three shorts and six cleans, the four constants of blood pressure measurement, the five constants and one keep of emergency items, and the ten understandings of a patient's condition, etc.—knowledge that nursing students would spend years learning—poured into Lu Zhixing's mind as if it was being instilled from above.

At this point, Lu Zhixing's level was no different from that of ordinary nurses responsible for patient care in hospitals.

"At least it's a professional skill, not bad, the points spent were worth it!"

"I should look for a nursing job in someone's home later, do some temp work, and that should also significantly progress my worker role-play."

Although Lu Zhixing now had a professional skill, he lacked the professional title of a nurse, and naturally, he couldn't work with a certification. Of course, Lu Zhixing didn't plan to actually work with a certification since he was only role-playing, needing the ability to disengage at any time.

After the auspicious beginnings with the literary works and life skills drawings, Lu Zhixing felt his luck was good and tapped to draw again.

[Exchange Successful!]

[Life Skill: Advanced Wheelchair Usage Skills]

[Exchange Successful!]

[Life Skill: Knowledge of Barrier-Free Travel]

"Eh? Could these be life skills specially tailored for wheelchair users?"

A vast array of knowledge and muscle memory flowed into Lu Zhixing's mind. The wheelchair usage skills enabled him to operate a wheelchair smoothly and effortlessly, whether turning, moving up and down slopes, or crossing thresholds.

This level of bodily control could even rival many Paralympic athletes or acrobats, although, of course, he still wasn't as physically fit.

As for the knowledge of barrier-free travel, it was as if an entire map had been implanted into Lu Zhixing's mind.

Whenever he wanted to know, he could instantly access all nearby barrier-free information.

For instance, where in the subway station there was an accessible elevator, which nearby shopping mall had accessible bathrooms, which bus lines could accommodate a wheelchair, and which streets had incomplete barrier-free facilities that should be avoided, and so on.

With this knowledge of barrier-free travel and his masterful wheelchair usage skills, Lu Zhixing had now become a 360-degree, no-dead-angle wheelchair user, achieving a state of complete unity between himself and the wheelchair.

"Damn it, had I known such skills would come up, I would have drawn earlier!"

Lu Zhixing recalled the unbearable past experiences of traveling in a wheelchair and felt like crying without tears.

It was like grinding through a video game, painstakingly killing a boss with a small knife over three days, only to discover a divine weapon designed specifically for that boss hidden behind the throne after the fight.

"But getting the skill now isn't too late, since I still haven't completed my role-play as a paralytic patient. Role-playing now should yield twice the result with half the effort."

With these skills in hand, Lu Zhixing was brimming with confidence.

He was even looking forward to traveling in a wheelchair, albeit fully geared up to prevent social death.

However, after some thought, Lu Zhixing still took out his phone and searched for "nursing" on the city's platform.

The role-play as a paralytic patient should be easier for him now, and afterward, by spending some time roaming around in a wheelchair, visiting a few new places, he should be able to complete the role-play.

Acting as a Campus Superstar wasn't bad either. As long as he continued with the orientation evening, the role-play for this identity would inevitably be completed sooner or later.

Only the progress of acting as a worker needed to speed up. Now that he had the nursing skill, he could make a quick effort to accelerate the progress.

After looking for a long time on the city app, Lu Zhixing didn't find anything suitable.

Most of the listings were for nursing the elderly or caring for newborns. Although Lu Zhixing was capable of doing these jobs, the typical employers often required older women for these roles, and maternity nurses or child-care nurses needed various professional certificates.

Moreover, these jobs were generally long-term, with the shortest contracts being one month, and Lu Zhixing was only role-playing and didn't have that much time to actually work as a caregiver.

After searching for a while and almost ready to give up, a new listing suddenly caught Lu Zhixing's eye.

Looking for a caregiver, male only, no other requirements!

As for the care recipient, it was a second-grade boy from elementary school who was disabled in both legs due to a car accident. Because his father had to travel for work, he would be away for three days and was hoping to find a responsible caregiver to help look after his son.

"But why is it limited to males?

"Never mind that for now, I'll just take the job first."

Such condition-fitting caregivers were hard to find. Firstly, the short duration of the job discouraged many caregivers, and secondly, there was the restriction for males. But this all just happened to fit Lu Zhixing's situation.

Lu Zhixing immediately dialed the number provided and introduced himself briefly.

"Little Lu, is it? Alright then, I was worrying that no one wanted to take on such a job. A talented student from Jinghai University, huh? Well, that's even better, but isn't it a bit of overkill for my pay, which isn't that high…"

"Alright, alright, as long as you don't mind, then when do you have time to come over? I have to go on a business trip the day after tomorrow, and we also need to leave some time to get accustomed to each other. The kid is a bit peculiar now; if you two don't hit it off, it's going to be troublesome."

Lu Zhixing asked, "May I be so bold as to ask why you specified a male caregiver?"

There was a sigh on the other end of the phone. "Ah, it's like this... Some time ago, he and his mother were involved in a car accident, and his mother passed away. His legs also became disabled.

"Since then, he hasn't been able to get over it. He doesn't want to use the wheelchair, go to school, or let the aunties take care of him. He's particularly repulsed by the older caretakers and yells and screams at them.

"I have to work during the day; I can only leave him alone at home, but luckily, my work hours are pretty stable, so I can take care of his meals. But this time, I have an important task that requires me to go on a business trip for three days; I really can't get out of it, so I have to see if there is a caregiver who can take care of him for a while."

Lu Zhixing was silent for a moment. "I understand, Uncle, please accept my condolences. It's too late today; let's plan for tomorrow morning for me to come over."

After a brief chat, confirming the time and address, Lu Zhixing hung up the phone.

He then looked at his wheelchair, deep in thought.

...

...

The next morning, fully equipped, Lu Zhixing arrived at the house of his employer, Cheng, in his wheelchair.

On the way, Lu Zhixing tested the two skills he had acquired earlier.

The proficient wheelchair skills now made it possible for him to cross any obstacles without worry; he could even speed along on some deserted flat surfaces.

The knowledge of barrier-free travel allowed him to clearly know where all the nearby accessible facilities were.

He mainly relied on the subway for this trip, as the accessibility facilities at subway stations are much more complete than on buses.

Although some subway stations had elevators for people with disabilities that were set up somewhat inconveniently, requiring a detour, he still managed to make the journey safely and without incident.

Lu Zhixing wore a mask and occasionally used the "I Am A Tree" skill. However, as he traveled more frequently, he gradually got used to it and no longer felt the initial sense of naked shame.

This trip also provided Lu Zhixing with some progress and points for his role-playing, albeit not much. But as they say, every little bit helps, and in order to complete the role as quickly as possible, every second counted.

This was a formal community on the northwest side of Jinghai. Before entering, one had to register with security and the lobby of the community was also nicely decorated.

Living in such a place, it seemed that Cheng's financial situation must be quite good.

"Building 3, Unit 1002, yes, this is it."

Lu Zhixing pressed the doorbell and after a moment, a middle-aged man with a slightly plump figure opened the door; this was the employer, Cheng.

"You must be Little Lu, right? Come on in. Huh? This is..."

He looked down at Lu Zhixing in the wheelchair and momentarily lost his words.

His expression seemed to say, "You never mentioned you were disabled yourself!"

How can a disabled person be a caregiver!

However, the very next second, he witnessed a medical miracle right before his eyes.

Lu Zhixing stood up from the wheelchair!

Seeing the shock on Cheng's face, Lu Zhixing coughed lightly, "Uncle, this wheelchair, I have a great use for it. Don't ask anything; just trust me."

Cheng nodded and, after welcoming Lu Zhixing to the living room, called toward the second bedroom, "Little Ting, the uncle we talked about yesterday has arrived, come out and say hello."

However, an impatient voice came from the second bedroom, "How many times do I have to tell you, I don't need anyone to take care of me!"

Cheng looked a bit embarrassed and said to Lu Zhixing, "It's okay, this child is just temperamental; I'll go and talk to him."

Lu Zhixing raised his hand to stop him, "It's fine, Uncle. Let me handle this."

After that, Lu Zhixing and Cheng went to the second bedroom together. They saw the young boy named Cheng Ting playing a game, his back turned to them, with both legs of his pants empty from the knees down and a wheelchair beside him.

Logically, he could have simply sat in the wheelchair to play his game, but he chose not to, which seemed to suggest his aversion to using the wheelchair.

Lu Zhixing then directed his gaze to the computer screen.

It was a survival FPS game; Cheng Ting was skillfully exploring the map and scavenging for resources with a gun in his hands.

Cheng shook his head slightly with a hint of helplessness.

While expertly scavenging the map, Cheng Ting complained, "I told you before, you should've bought me the latest fifth-generation VR headset, but you just won't buy it. I still have to play these outdated computer games. You have the spare money to hire a caregiver, why not buy the headset for me?"

Cheng didn't respond, but Lu Zhixing could guess the reason.

Clearly, Cheng was very worried about his son's condition. Although his legs were disabled, his life had just begun, and Cheng still hoped he would go to school normally, work normally, and have a skill to rely on.

But if he bought the VR headset now, his son might really immerse himself in the omnipotent virtual world and never want to come out.

If it were a mature adult, escaping into the virtual world to avoid reality could be acceptable, but for a child in the midst of development, both physically and mentally, who had suddenly encountered a major tragedy, this risk was significant, and any parent would worry.

Lu Zhixing watched in silence and then suddenly said, "There's someone at your ten o'clock."