Consequences of Kindness
by Huina Zheng
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Table of Contents parts 1, 2, 3 |
3: The Boss
conclusion
Teacher Yang only learned about the situation after the police had left, when Human Resources manager Ling told him what had happened. Although everyone respectfully called him Teacher Yang, he wasn’t actually a teacher. He was the founder of this English training institution, an educator by profession, which is why both subordinates and clients addressed him as “teacher.”
Yang listened expressionlessly as Ling described how the situation had been coordinated. It was fine as long as the matter was resolved and hadn’t caused any negative impact. It was summer vacation — the peak recruitment period for their institution — and they couldn’t afford for Ming’s issue to make clients think there were problems with the company.
For the last three years, Ming had been an excellent employee, dedicated and responsible in his teaching. Before he worked for his institution, he had plenty of tutoring experience from his university days. Most importantly, he was honest and loyal. In this industry, the greatest fear was that employees would accumulate experience and a reputation, only to strike out on their own, or secretly tutor students while working here, charging lower prices than the institution. When Teacher Yang decided to rely heavily on Ming, it was because he valued Ming’s integrity.
But helping an elderly woman who had fallen on the roadside? Teacher Yang shook his head at the thought. Every action had two sides. Kindness, too, was a double-edged sword, and Ming was still too young and naive.
The next day, as Teacher Yang was holding a meeting in the conference room, a commotion erupted outside. He heard someone shouting Ming’s name, “Zhang Ming!” He frowned.
Ling stood up. “Teacher Yang, it’s probably those two troublemakers from yesterday. I’ll go handle it.”
Ming, his face flushed, walked up to him. “I’m sorry for causing trouble for the company. I’ll go take care of it right away.”
Teacher Yang nodded. Ming followed Ling out of the conference room.
It was clear that their goal was to extort money. Even if they called the police again, they would return the next day to make trouble, continuing until Ming agreed to compensate them. What they wanted was for Ming to buckle under pressure and compromise. But if money could solve a problem, was it really a problem? Ming’s family was of modest means, which limited his thinking and made him reluctant to spend money. Teacher Yang would have to talk to him.
After the police and the mother-son duo left, Teacher Yang gestured for Ming to come into his office.
Ming, dressed in a plain white T-shirt and light blue jeans, looked like a college student. He stood in front of the desk without sitting down.
“They’ll definitely come back tomorrow,” Teacher Yang said, knowing that Ming understood who he was referring to. “I trust your character, and I’m sure it wasn’t you who knocked down that old lady. But others don’t know you like I do. We are educators: if parents or students get the wrong idea that you hit an elderly person and then shirked responsibility, how will they view you? How will they view our institution?”
“I’m sorry.”
“You did nothing wrong; you were just being kind, helping an elderly person who had fallen.” Teacher Yang walked over and patted Ming’s shoulder. “But you have to resolve this. The solution is simple: agree to their compensation request.”
“No, I can’t do that, Teacher Yang.”
“Why not? If you don’t spend the money now, you’ll end up paying a greater price for your stinginess later.”
“Because I didn’t knock down that old lady. If I agree to compensate them, I’m admitting fault, admitting that I lied, bribed the police, and tried to avoid responsibility. This is a matter of principle.”
“And when they come back tomorrow, are you going to explain that to them? Keep calling the police over and over?”
Ming lowered his head, avoiding Teacher Yang’s gaze.
“They’re coming here day after day, and with this heat, what if she gets heatstroke in our company? Or has a stroke in a fit of anger? Then your responsibility will be even greater.”
Ming’s shoulders trembled slightly.
“Even if you compensate them, no one will think it’s because you actually knocked her over. A man must be flexible.” Teacher Yang placed his hand on Ming’s shoulder. He didn’t want to put more pressure on the young man; the situation had already been stressful enough for him. Ming was a valuable employee, and Teacher Yang didn’t want to lose him over this.
“You’re a reasonable person. I trust you’ll handle this well.” With that, he let Ming return to his duties.
As Teacher Yang predicted, they came back the next day. Just like the previous two times, Ling called the police, and the same two officers arrived to mediate in the conference room.
“Officers, this is the third time they’ve come to our company to make trouble,” Ming said. “Doesn’t this kind of behavior constitute disturbing the peace? Can’t you fine them or detain them?”
“The granny is over 70,” said the older officer. It was clear that they were tired of repeatedly dealing with this dispute.
“But the traffic police have issued an official document proving I didn’t—”
“It was you! Don’t think you can wriggle out of this!” the man’s voice grew louder.
“Exactly, it was you!” the old lady shouted as well.
Teacher Yang walked in. “Hello, my name is Yang Hua. I’m Zhang’s boss, the owner of this company.”
The elderly woman and the man eyed him warily.
“Zhang, this is not the right way to speak to the elderly,” Teacher Yang said before turning to smile at the old lady. “Ma’am, I apologize on Zhang’s behalf. He’s young and inexperienced, and he doesn’t know the importance of respecting the elderly.”
“Mr. Yang, you’re the sensible one,” the old lady said, gripping his hand. “He refuses to admit he hit me, and you can imagine how angry that makes me.”
“Of course, how could anyone not be upset? I’ll make sure to teach him better in the future,” Teacher Yang patted the old lady’s hand. “Please don’t be too angry; it’s bad for your health. You’ve been running back and forth every day, which must be exhausting. How about this, I’ll have Zhang offer you 1,000 yuan as a token of apology for your trouble, and he’ll formally apologize to you as well. Does that sound good?”
“No way! He knocked my mother over, and you think 1,000 yuan is enough?” the man said.
“It is indeed a small amount. But Zhang is freshly graduated, and he’s under a lot of mental pressure these past few days, worrying that this situation might negatively impact the company. Last night, he even talked about resigning, but I persuaded him to stay,” Teacher Yang said, glancing at Ming, signaling him not to contradict him. “If he quits and leaves, where will you find him? Then you won’t even get the 1,000 yuan.”
The man looked conflicted.
“I understand 1,000 yuan isn’t much, but it’s the most Zhang can afford right now.”
The man and the old lady exchanged glances but said nothing.
After a minute of silence, Teacher Yang said, “How about this, I’ll personally add 2,000 yuan for Granny’s health and nutrition, making it a total of 3,000 yuan.”
“Mr. Yang, we’re only agreeing to this because of you,” the old lady said.
“Thank you, thank you. You’re a kind and understanding person,” Teacher Yang said with a smile.
Copyright © 2024 by Huina Zheng
