Chapter 134: Compensation

When Chen Liang brought Guo the Lopsided into the security office, the Widow Qin was sitting in a chair, wiping away tears and playing the victim. With the young and beautiful Qin Jingru by her side, the two sisters looked like rain-drenched pear blossoms—a sight that would stir pity in anyone’s heart.

Chen Liang kicked Guo. "Go stand against the wall."

He then walked over to the Widow Qin. "Stop crying! Qin Huairu, I’m asking you now: what is your stance on this? Do you want to handle this through official channels, or do you want to settle it privately?"

Chen Liang turned his head, stole a fleeting glance at the main cafeteria in front of him, and then addressed Qin Jingru with a stern expression. "You’re Qin Jingru? The widow’s cousin?"

"Yes, sir! I am," Qin Jingru replied, her voice hoarse from her red-rimmed eyes.

Qin Jingru was in the prime of her youth, undeniably beautiful. It was a pity that while the girl had everything going for her, she had the brain of a pig. She was hopelessly naive, the type who would help a swindler count the money they’d just cheated her out of.

"You are the victim here. Tell me, what do you want? Do you want to go to the authorities, or do you want compensation?"

Chen Liang’s cold face was intimidating. His icy demeanor made poor Qin Jingru’s heart flutter with fear. Not knowing his name, the naive country girl gritted her teeth. "Sir! I want him to marry me. Is that possible?"

*Damn it, why are you telling me? Go tell that to Guo the Lopsided!*

Speechless, Chen Liang rolled his eyes at the country girl and beckoned to Guo, who was still standing against the wall.

"Speak up, Guo. What’s your take? Are you willing to marry her?"

Guo looked deeply troubled. "Sir, that condition really won't work. Let’s choose another. I’m willing to offer compensation. How about three hundred yuan?"

It wasn't that Guo couldn't bear to leave his own "yellow-faced" wife; he would have dumped her in a heartbeat to marry the beautiful Qin Jingru. But that was something he could only dream about. Guo’s status in the Red Star Steel Works relied entirely on his two troublesome brothers and his four brothers-in-law. If he lost the clout of being the eldest brother-in-law, he’d be cornered and stabbed by those four the moment he stepped out of the factory gates.

"No!" Both sisters shouted in unison the moment Guo finished speaking.

Qin Jingru refused because if Guo wouldn't marry her, she would be ruined. The news of her lost virtue had already spread throughout the factory. If she couldn't marry him, her only options were to see him face the firing squad while she hanged herself—a path of mutual destruction. Therefore, she was dead set against a private settlement for money. If she was already doomed, why would she want cash? She’d rather drag him down with her.

As for the Widow Qin’s "no," Chen Liang found it intriguing. "Widow Qin, tell me, what do you mean? If you won't settle privately, are you insisting on the authorities?"

"No, Section Chief Chen, I mean three hundred is too little; it doesn't cover my sister's loss! If we are to settle privately, the amount must be increased!"

"Sister! How... how can you say that? Why would you agree to a private settlement?" Qin Jingru stared at her sister in disbelief, her eyes filled with despair.

"Woe is me, my poor sister!" The Widow Qin hugged her and began to wail. "Jingru, you’re so young, how could you think of ending it all? If we take the money, and we can’t stay here anymore, we’ll go back to the countryside. Life has to go on, doesn't it? Think about it—if you die, how heartbroken will our aunt and uncle be?"

The simple-minded Qin Jingru was easily swayed by her sister’s words. The fierce desire for mutual destruction vanished, and she began to weep along with her.

Chen Liang felt a headache coming on. He kicked Guo again, telling him to get back against the wall. "Stop crying! You’ve decided against the authorities, right? Let’s talk about compensation."

At the mention of money, the Widow Qin’s tears vanished. She wiped her eyes and sniffled. "Section Chief Chen, please help us. My sister depends on this compensation to survive!"

*Heh.* Chen Liang sneered inwardly. That line might work on a naive country girl, but trying to act in front of him? She wasn't nearly skilled enough to play him. *What a fool.*

"As for the compensation, I’ll take the initiative and raise it to one thousand. Are you satisfied with that?"

Chen Liang took it upon himself to triple the amount Guo had offered. He didn't think it would be difficult for Guo to pay. Guo was the deputy director of the first production workshop, earning over sixty yuan a month, and with his little side operations, he surely brought in another hundred or so. Asking him to cough up a thousand wasn't unreasonable—after all, it was his life-saving money.

"That much?" The Widow Qin’s eyes lit up. She had introduced her cousin to Guo specifically to fleece him. She had expected to get three or four hundred; she hadn't expected to pull a gold bar out of the sheep. Qin Jingru was truly the cash cow she had hoped for.

"Good. Are you satisfied with the amount? If you have no objections, come sign and put your thumbprint here." After they pressed their prints on the settlement agreement, Chen Liang sent them off to an empty conference room to rest.

He turned to Guo. "You heard it. One thousand yuan for your life. Any problems?"

"Sir! Where would I even get a thousand yuan? You could sell me off and I still wouldn't have that much!" Guo wasn't stupid; he didn't want to be a sucker. Why pay a thousand when three hundred would do? *Damn it, is this Chen Liang here to help me, or what?* Aside from scamming and kicking him, he showed no sign of being on his side.

"What? You have an objection to my decision? I’ll give you three seconds to think. If you go over three seconds, I’ll treat this settlement as if it were never signed, and we’ll handle this officially!"

"Three..."

"Two..."

Before he could reach the final count, Guo saw Chen Liang preparing to tear up the agreement and nodded frantically. "I agree! I agree! Sir, I’m willing to pay the thousand. Please, have mercy! Don’t, please don’t tear it up!"

"Damn it, you’re really a glutton for punishment," Chen Liang said, kicking him to the floor.