Chapter 43 Compensation Amount: 140,000

The police arrived ten minutes later; they were from the local police station.

As soon as the police entered, the middle-aged woman rushed up to them, pointing at Chen Zetian, her speech so rapid that the sentences were almost unintelligible.

The gist was that this child had intentionally poked her son's eye with a pencil, constituting intentional injury, and since the school could not handle it, she wanted to pursue legal action.

She wiped away tears as she spoke.

Subsequently, the Dean of Students briefly explained the surveillance footage, confirming that it was a scuffle between two children that had escalated, and that Chen Zetian had poked the other boy's eye with a pencil during the conflict.

Teacher Li added that the other boy had started it, and that Chen Zetian was initially trying to stop him from bullying another classmate.

The police did not listen to just one side, but recorded everyone's statements.

Then they asked, "How is the injury?"

The middle-aged woman spoke up: "The hospital said the preliminary diagnosis is corneal leukoma. The specific results depend on further assessment."

The police officer asked the Dean of Students again: "What is the school's opinion?"

The Dean of Students rubbed his hands together: "The school naturally hopes that both sides can negotiate a settlement. After all, it is a matter between children; making a big deal out of it is not good for anyone."

The police nodded and turned to Chen Ang and Wen Huilin: "Then let's wait for the official hospital assessment report. Pay what needs to be paid, and apologize where necessary. It is all for the sake of the children; try your best not to escalate this to the station."

Wen Huilin stood beside Chen Ang, her face pale, her hands fidgeting, nodding repeatedly: "Okay, we will definitely cooperate."

Chen Ang did not speak, just gave a slight nod.

The middle-aged woman was not having it: "Wait for what? Didn't the results already come out? Corneal leukoma, a Level 10 disability."

Clearly, someone had told her the consequences after the hospital results were released.

Chen Ang lifted his eyelids to look at her, asking in a calm tone: "How do you want to resolve this?"

"Two hundred thousand." The middle-aged woman did not soften her stance at all: "Medical expenses, follow-up treatment costs, disability compensation, mental distress compensation—not a single cent less than two hundred thousand."

"Two hundred thousand?" Hearing this number, the previously silent Wen Huilin suddenly spoke up, as if someone had grabbed her by the throat: "Aren't you just extorting us? It was just children playing; how could it be two hundred thousand?"

She was full of shock, unable to believe that for such a minor matter, a compensation figure of two hundred thousand had been proposed, especially since the child was not even blind.

"Extortion? Your son poked my son's eye like this, and you call it extortion?" The middle-aged woman's eyes turned red again: "Then let me have my son poke your son with a pencil, and I will compensate you two hundred thousand. Would you do it?"

Wen Huilin's lips trembled with anger, her face turning pale and then flushed. Just as she was about to speak again, Chen Ang raised his hand to stop her.

"Let's talk at the station." Seeing the significant disagreement between the two sides, the police officer nearby spoke up: "Since there is a dispute over the compensation amount, let's follow the standard procedure. The hospital will provide an official assessment, and we will issue a mediation opinion."

And so, the group followed them to the police station and sat down in the mediation room.

After waiting for nearly an hour, the hospital's assessment report arrived, and with it came that child and his father.

The police officer took it, opened it to look, and then looked up at both parties.

The middle-aged woman clenched her fists nervously, her lips trembling slightly.

Wen Huilin was even more nervous; thinking that she might have to pay out a large sum of money, she felt weak all over, leaning back in the chair and taking deep breaths involuntarily.

Only Chen Ang acted as if nothing was wrong, occasionally patting Chen Zetian's head, comforting him not to be afraid, and that his mom and dad would handle whatever happened.

"The assessment results are out." The police officer placed the report on the table: "Traumatic corneal leukoma in the right eye, classified as a Level 10 disability. Although it does not affect vision, there will be a white spot on the eyeball, which affects appearance."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman's tears fell again, and she hugged her son's shoulder tightly.

The boy kept his head down, his right eye covered with gauze, and a few drops of dried blood stained the front of his school uniform.

The police officer continued: "According to the standards for personal injury compensation, the disability compensation for a Level 10 disability, medical expenses, etc., all added together, generally fall between one hundred thousand and one hundred fifty thousand."

After a pause, he continued: "But considering that the injured party is a minor, the compensation for mental distress can be increased at our discretion."

The police officer then looked at the victim's family: "The two hundred thousand you proposed is on the high side. Why don't both sides take a step back and negotiate a number that you can both accept? That way, I can issue the mediation agreement for you."

The middle-aged woman's sobbing did not stop; she wiped away her tears again, sat up straight, and gritted her teeth: "At least one hundred eighty thousand."

"One hundred eighty thousand?" Wen Huilin's voice turned shrill again: "Where would I get one hundred eighty thousand? You are asking for my life here..."

Wen Huilin already understood that she could not rely on Chen Ang, and the situation with Tu Yuandong was also an unknown; the only thing she could grasp was the money in her hands.

At this moment, whoever asked her for money was asking for her life.

Seeing her miserable appearance, Chen Ang felt incomparably refreshed. He thought for a moment, looked at the middle-aged woman, and asked: "We will pay the money. Give us a real number; arguing is pointless."

The middle-aged woman was taken aback, probably not expecting Chen Ang to be so straightforward.

At this moment, the man beside her interjected: "It is fortunate the child is okay. How about... one hundred sixty thousand."

Wen Huilin dug her thumbnail into her palm, looking at Chen Ang. At this moment, she desperately wished Chen Ang would use the eloquence he used when confronting her.

Chen Ang leaned back in his chair, looking over with a calm gaze, not responding immediately.

He had used his phone to check relevant cases while at the school, and now it would come in handy.

"If the corneal leukoma is not directly in the center of the pupil, it doesn't have much impact on vision. The degree of damage depends on the specific location and healing situation. A Level 10 disability is the mildest classification, and the compensation standard is based on the location of the court where the case is heard..."

Chen Ang's voice was not loud, his pace not fast, as he recited a string of numbers.

Subsequently, he opened his phone, found the previous search results, and handed it over, signaling for the other party to look.

After the other party looked for a few moments, he added: "There is a specific apportionment ratio for Level 10 disability compensation. I just checked corresponding cases, and the total compensation amount is generally around one hundred ten thousand."

Without waiting for the other party to speak, he continued: "How about this: all expenses included, one hundred forty thousand. If you agree, we can sign the mediation agreement now."

The mediation room was silent for two seconds.

Everyone's gaze toward Chen Ang changed.

Chen Ang haggling down twenty thousand was naturally because he did not want to leave any grounds for future trouble; it was reasonable compensation, after all.

The middle-aged woman was even more stunned; this man had been emotionally stable from the very beginning, speaking flawlessly, and with logic and evidence.

Seeing her hesitate, Chen Ang added: "If you feel it is not enough, then we can go to litigation, but lawyer fees are not cheap. Besides, fighting a lawsuit is time-consuming and exhausting, which is not conducive to your child's recovery."

The middle-aged woman bit her lip and remained silent for a while, then looked down at her son beside her, finally exchanged a look with her husband, and made a decision.

"Fine." She turned to the police officer and said: "One hundred forty thousand, sign it now."

Wen Huilin, standing to the side, heard the number one hundred forty thousand, and felt as if someone had slapped her across the face.

She turned to look at Chen Ang, her lips moving, wanting to say something but unable to. The look in her eyes meant: Are you crazy? One hundred forty thousand? Where are you getting the money?

Chen Ang felt amused; I don't have money, but you do.

This number was basically not much different from what a court would have ruled.

Chen Ang was acting as a good guy for once, letting everyone suffer less and saving them from arguing here.

After both sides reached an agreement, the police officer immediately went to the next room to print the mediation agreement.

After the door closed, Wen Huilin grabbed Chen Ang's arm and pulled him into a corner.