bookbashuk Chapter 9: No hefty reward accepted.
Chapter 9: No hefty reward accepted.
Chapter Nine: No hefty reward accepted.
First paragraph
In the main hall of the Su family compound, the atmosphere had long since transformed from despair and fear to a room filled with tears of gratitude.
Grandpa Su sat in the main seat, his face still somewhat pale, but his spirits had largely recovered.
He gazed intently at Chen Shanhe below the hall, his eyes filled with respect, yet also concealing a hint of unspeakable guilt.
The calamity of a few days ago was still fresh in everyone's mind; the entire Su family had almost faced annihilation.
If Chen Shanhe hadn't intervened in time to save her, Su Wanjing would have already lost her life, and the reputation and business of the entire Su family would have been dragged into the mire by Wu Yanchou, never to recover.
The old man slowly raised his hand, and the butler behind him immediately bowed and stepped forward, holding a mahogany tray.
The plate was piled high with silver notes, several land deeds for fertile fields in the suburbs, and several shareholding documents for a seafood processing plant stamped with a bright red seal.
The old man cleared his throat; his voice was steady with a slight hoarseness, yet every word was clear and powerful.
"Mr. Chen, you saved Wanjing and our entire Su family. This kindness is heavier than mountains and deeper than the sea."
These silver notes are a small token of the Su family's appreciation. I'm also giving you 30% of the shares in the city's largest seafood processing plant.
"If you feel it's not enough, I'll just transfer the entire factory to your name."
We only ask that you accept it, so that the Su family can have a little more peace of mind.
As soon as he finished speaking, all the elders of the Su family nodded and stepped forward one after another to offer their advice.
They all knew perfectly well that the Wu family was pressing them relentlessly and using ruthless methods. If it weren't for Chen Shanhe's superb medical skills and upright character, the Su family would have been destroyed long ago.
In their view, no amount of money, shares, or even the entire factory could repay this life-saving grace.
Money and property can be earned back, but the lives of family members and the reputation of the family can never be recovered once lost.
The elders all advised Chen Shanhe to accept the generous gift, saying that it was a reward he deserved.
All eyes in the hall were focused on Chen Shanhe, eagerly awaiting his nod of agreement.
Such a generous reward would be hard for anyone to refuse, especially since Chen Shanhe was a lone doctor with no home or job. Accepting the offer would elevate him to a position of great wealth and status.
Chen Shanhe simply stood there quietly, his clothes simple yet his posture upright, his face showing no greed and no wavering whatsoever.
Second paragraph
Chen Shanhe stared calmly at the pile of banknotes, land deeds, and share documents on the table, his expression undisturbed.
He bowed slightly to Old Master Su, his tone sincere yet firm.
"Grandpa Su, elders, thank you for your kindness."
Having practiced medicine for many years and traveled far and wide, I have always remembered my master's teachings: A doctor's duty is solely to save lives, not for money or fame.
"My assistance that day was not out of greed for the Su family's wealth, nor was it for the factory shares."
To stand by and watch someone die is not the act of a doctor; Wan Jing is kind-hearted and should not have suffered this calamity; the Su family has been honest and upright for generations and should not have been harmed by treacherous people.
"I was just doing my duty, and I don't deserve such a generous thanks."
His words were frank and open, without a trace of hypocrisy or pretense, nor any affected air of superiority.
His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness, and every word exuded an awe-inspiring righteousness.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Su was taken aback at first, then his eyes were filled with emotion. Having lived for eighty years, he had seen many people fighting tooth and nail for money, and he had also seen many doctors who took advantage of others' misfortunes to demand exorbitant rewards.
People like Chen Shanhe, who saved his entire family's lives and remained unmoved by generous gifts, are extremely rare.
The elders of the Su family standing nearby were also stunned, and all the words of persuasion they had prepared stuck in their throats and could not be uttered.
They looked at Chen Shanhe and saw that his eyes were clear and his expression was calm. Although his clothes were washed until they were faded, they did not look shabby at all. On the contrary, he had a dignified and awe-inspiring character.
Not being greedy for money or profit, not currying favor or demanding anything—such qualities are especially rare in the world.
The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the gentle sound of the wind outside the window. The gazes of everyone looking at Chen Shanhe had long since changed from gratitude to heartfelt admiration.
Only such a person can be called a true gentleman, and only such a person deserves the title of "a doctor with a benevolent heart".
Paragraph
Chen Shanhe's refusal was clean and decisive, without any hesitation.
He cupped his hands in greeting again, his tone still calm and resolute.
"Grandpa, elders, I appreciate your kind intentions, but I absolutely cannot accept these assets and shares."
I practice medicine to save lives, seeking only a clear conscience. If I were to accept these things, I would be going against my conscience and tarnishing my duty as a doctor.
"If the Su family ever faces difficulties again, I will certainly not stand idly by as long as it is within my power. However, please take back the gifts you have offered as a token of my gratitude."
After saying that, he took a step back, stood aside and said no more, his attitude clear and his stance firm.
Grandpa Su looked at him, sighed deeply, and nodded repeatedly, his admiration for him growing even stronger.
"Excellent! What a kind and compassionate doctor! What a selfless person! Mr. Chen's character is truly something to be ashamed of."
Today, my entire Su family has truly witnessed what the conduct of a gentleman is.
The elders of the Su family around him also praised him, their eyes filled with respect and admiration as they looked at Chen Shanhe.
They had previously worried that Chen Shanhe would make exorbitant demands or use the opportunity to blackmail the Su family, but now they realized that they had been judging a gentleman by their own petty standards.
The young doctor before me is not only highly skilled in medicine and able to resolve crises, but also of noble character, unmoved by external things, incorruptible, and upright in his conduct.
Standing in the crowd, Su Wanjing silently gazed at Chen Shanhe, her eyes brimming with affection, her love growing ever stronger.
From her initial gratitude at being rescued, to her admiration for his medical skills and courage, and now to her heartache at seeing him refuse a large sum of money and stay true to himself, Su Wanjing's heart has long been firmly tied to him.
Looking at the tall, straight-backed man with clear eyes, she felt that no amount of beautiful words in the world could be used to describe him.
Compared to the treacherous and cunning Wu family father and son, Chen Shanhe is like a bright moon, clean and clear, making people want to get closer and cherish him.
fourth paragraph
Su Wanjing's gaze never left Chen Shanhe; the affection in her eyes was already impossible to hide.
All of this was seen and remembered by Su Mingyuan, his grandfather, and his wife.
The old man looked at his granddaughter, then at Chen Shanhe below the hall, a gratified smile on his face.
Su Mingyuan, who had just regained consciousness, slowly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of weak emotion.
"Wanjing has excellent taste; it's her good fortune to have chosen someone like Mr. Chen."
The old lady nodded repeatedly, her face full of satisfaction. In the eyes of the Su family, Chen Shanhe was a man of upright character, superb medical skills, and integrity, a good man worthy of entrusting one's life to.
Compared to the infamous, treacherous, and vicious Wu family, the two were worlds apart.
After a brief discussion, the Su family members reached a complete consensus without any hesitation: from now on, Su Wanjing's lifelong happiness would belong to Chen Shanhe.
At the same time, the Su family made a firm decision to sever all ties with the Wu Yanchou family and have no further involvement whatsoever.
When Wu Yanchou was down on his luck, it was the Su family who gave him a way out. They were so grateful for his life-saving grace that they gave him shares in a seafood processing plant for free.
Who would have thought that this person would repay kindness with enmity, repeatedly trying to kill three generations of the Su family.
Old Master Su immediately and solemnly ordered: "All the shares given to Wu Yanchou back then shall be reclaimed from this day forward, and the contract shall be void!"
From this day forward, no member of the Su family is permitted to have any dealings with the Wu family whatsoever; business ties are completely severed, and all personal favors are to be disregarded.
"If the Wu family dares to come knocking again, cause trouble, or provoke us, we will not hesitate to drive them away without hesitation!"
At this point, the Su family completely severed ties with the Wu family, thanks to Chen Shanhe's protection of his family and his understanding of human nature.
Chen Shanhe's incorruptible and upright character left a deep impression on every member of the Su family.
Looking at his tall and straight back, Su Wanjing secretly made up her mind: she would marry no one but him in this life, and only wished to stay by his side, to live up to her feelings and to cherish their encounter.