{{Claim for Compensation}} chapter 5

The Thank – You Letter Has Arrived

Jack had once been in prison for theft. After he was released, he worked in another place. The summer before last year, his father, who he lived with, suddenly suffered from a severe high – blood – pressure attack and was in critical condition. Jack rushed home but unexpectedly encountered a car accident on the way. Then the story of his rescue happened.

When Jack returned to the village, the villagers saw his injured leg and asked what had happened. Jack told them about his rescue and proudly said that the passenger transport company would soon send a thank – you letter to the village. The small village was immediately in an uproar. The villagers changed their view of Jack, and his girlfriend was very proud.

As days passed, the thank – you letter never came. Then rumors spread in the village, saying that Jack’s leg was broken when he was stealing outside!

Later, whenever something was missing in a villager’s house, they would point fingers and scold indirectly, targeting Jack. Under the pressure of public opinion, his girlfriend believed the rumors and finally broke up with Jack.

Jack had once written letters to Mr. Smith asking for the thank – you letter, but all his letters were like stones sinking into the sea. A few days ago, his father was seriously ill. Even in a daze, he still mentioned the thank – you letter. Jack couldn’t bear to let his father die with regret, so he came to find Mr. Smith. As he was talking, Jack’s eyes were wet. “Alas, I didn’t expect Mr. Smith to forget about it! So much time has been wasted. I don’t know if my father can hold on!”

Hearing this, Mr. Smith and the reporter stood up abruptly. They waved to Jack. “Hurry up and go to your home!”

They took a special car and drove day and night. At noon the next day, the group entered the village with gongs and drums. Mr. Smith held the big red thank – you letter with both hands, and the reporter kept taking pictures to create a stir. But just as they reached Jack’s door, they heard crying inside! Jack let out a heart – rending cry of “Dad” and rushed into the house. After just one look at his father’s remains, he fainted.

On his father’s old face, there were cuts all over, horizontal and vertical, and the flesh was blurred. It was impossible to recognize him. His two eyes were wide open, frozen with despair and resentment, which made people’s hair stand on end.

The neighbor who had been taking care of his father complained to Jack. “Why didn’t you come back earlier? Your father told us before he died that he calculated the time. He said that if it was true, you should have come back long ago. He thought you were lying and said he would be ashamed to face people in the underworld. So when there was no one around, he smashed a teacup on the edge of the bed and used the broken glass to cut his own face like this…”

Jack knelt on the ground motionless, with tears streaming down his face. He sobbed uncontrollably. “Dad, Mr. Smith has sent the thank – you letter! Son didn’t steal. I really did a good deed! Let me read the thank – you letter to you…”