Chapter 476: Compensate Me
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
After leaving Chu Xiaotang’s house, Chu Qingyan hurried back home, dropped off her makeup box, and excitedly ran towards the bakery, shouting, “Mom, Mom, I earned some silver…”
Hearing this, Li Qingyu came out of the bakery and asked, “What silver did you earn?”
Chu Qingyan took out the silver and placed it in Li Qingyu’s hand, excitedly explaining, “I did the bridal makeup for Xiaotang sister, and this is the payment she gave me.”
Li Qingyu examined the silver, somewhat incredulous at how easily her daughter had earned money. “You got this much for just one makeup session?”
Chu Qingyan raised her chin and said smugly, “Mother, makeup is very expensive. This is considered a cheap price.”
Li Qingyu rubbed his daughter’s head and was gratified. “My little daughter has also grown up.”
“Hehe, I’m good, right, Mom?”
“Very good. My daughters are all capable.”
Chu Qingyan beamed with happiness.
At that moment, a villager approached them, “Qingyu, someone’s looking for you at home. You better go check.”
“Thank you,” Li Qingyu quickly headed home with Chu Qingyan.
Wang Ximing had been waiting for Chu Qingzhi to discuss taking Chu Qingyan as his disciple. However, Chu Qingzhi was busy, so he decided to visit in person.
“Master!” Chu Qingyan ran to Wang Ximing happily.
Wang Ximing, fond of his talented and hardworking prospective disciple, asked, “Qingyan, have you spoken to your sister about becoming my disciple?”
Chu Qingyan suddenly remembered, “Oh! Master, I forgot to tell her.”
Wang Ximing chuckled, “You scatterbrain, I’ve been waiting for your reply.”
Scratching her head, Chu Qingyan apologized, “Sorry, Master, I didn’t mean to forget.”
Wang Ximing smiled, “It’s fine. Is your sister home? We can talk now.”
Chu Qingyan shook her head, “She’s not here. She’s preparing for the food festival in the county and won’t be back until the evening.”
“Evening?” Wang Ximing pondered, “Then I’ll come back later.”
Chu Qingyan waved goodbye, “Take care, Master.”
Li Qingyu bid farewell, “Take care, Master Wang.”
She wasn’t very familiar with him, so she didn’t say much.
Wang Ximing nodded and left.
On the road outside the village.
“Ah—”
Zhou Da let out a loud cry of pain. Blood quickly soaked through his leg, creating a frightening sight.
“Chu Rong, Chu Rong…” Villagers shouted for Chu Rong, who was working nearby, “Someone is injured.”
Chu Rong’s face changed. He immediately dropped his tools and ran over to carry the injured man towards the county, “Hang in there; we’re almost at the county.”
Since Chu Qingzhi and Chu Qingning were in the county, he had no choice but to seek medical help there.
Upon reaching the county and learning about the free medical service, he carried the man to the clinic spot, “Doctor, his leg is broken. Please help.”
Fan Yuru and Rong Shiyu stepped forward to assist, helping the man onto a nearby bench.
Seeing Chu Rong, Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang approached, “Uncle Chu.” “Ah, you’re here?” Chu Rong was pleasantly surprised, recognizing familiar faces, “Hongjun, Linjiang, his leg was crushed by a bluestone slab. Please check him.”
A medical apprentice immediately brought a medical kit.
Yuan Hongjun knelt down to examine the injury…
Fan Yuru and Rong Shiyu stepped aside, finding the bloody wound unsettling.
Chu Rong asked worriedly, “Is his leg badly injured?”
“Some of the bones are cracked. It’s fine. They can grow back.” Yuan Hongjun treated the wound with alcohol. It was so painful that Zhou Da gasped. Then, his bones were fixed and bandaged. It could be said that he had suffered a lot.
After the ordeal, Zhou Da wiped his forehead with his sleeve, relieved that it was over.
“Thank you,” Chu Rong gratefully said.
Bao Linjiang offered Chu Rong a seat, “Uncle Chu, rest here for a while. I’ve already sent someone to notify my master. She’ll be here soon.”
“Thank you.” Chu Rong was unsure how to proceed next and decided to wait for Chu Qingzhi’s advice.
Chu Qingzhi arrived shortly, “Dad.”
Chu Rong took her aside and quietly explained, “He injured his leg while working on the road. We’ve treated the wound, but what should we do next?”
Accidents during heavy labor were common, and Chu Qingzhi didn’t find it suspicious. “Send him home to recover. Give him two taels of silver to buy something to nourish his body, and tell him to come to our house in a few days for a checkup. That should be enough.”
Chu Rong nodded, “I understand.”
After Chu Qingzhi left for Guangxi Garden to prepare for the opening ceremony, Chu Rong carried Zhou Da back to his village and delivered him home.
Chu Rong didn’t have the silver on him, so he went back home to get it. “Here’s some silver. Buy something good to eat. Come to our house in a few days for a checkup. I have other things to attend to, so I’ll be going now.”
Zhou Da, looking at the two taels of silver, was puzzled. “Chu Rong, did you give me the wrong amount?”
Chu Rong turned around, puzzled, “No, it’s two taels.”
Zhou Da argued, “Others got compensated fifty taels. Why am I only getting two?”
Chu Rong explained, “The two taels are for you to buy nourishing food to eat, not a compensation. Those fifty taels were for someone who got seriously injured while working for my family.”
Zhou Da angrily demanded, “Aren’t I working for your family too? Why don’t you compensate me?”
Chu Rong insisted, “We don’t earn a penny from the road work; it’s for everyone’s benefit. Why should we compensate you?”
Zhou Da was only after the money and wasn’t going to give up this opportunity easily. “The road repair was proposed by your family, and now that I’m injured, your family should pay compensation.”
Chu Rong’s face changed color. “Exactly because the road is being repaired by our family, we are responsible for treating your injury and have given you two taels. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have bothered giving you a penny.”
Zhou Da stood his ground, “No matter what, your family must compensate me fifty taels of silver!”
Chu Rong was equally firm, “That’s impossible.”
When Zhou Da’s family returned from the fields and saw his injury, they immediately demanded compensation from Chu Rong, just like Zhou Da.
Chu Rong stated clearly that if he said no compensation, then there would be no compensation, regardless of what anyone said.
Zhou Da’s wife said, “Let’s go and find the village chief of the Chu Village. We can’t let this matter rest just like this.”
The Zhou family made a scene in front of the village chief of the Chu Village.
Zhou Da’s wife pleaded, “Village chief, please be fair. Why won’t the Chu family pay? My husband’s leg is broken, and it will affect him for life. They’re so wealthy; what difference does a little silver make to them?”
After understanding the whole situation, the village chief said, “The road repair is for the benefit of everyone, not just for the Chu family. Treating the injury is enough; there’s no need for further compensation..”