Play the Game of Life
Ryan Petersen's Blog

The next day, its time to head to the police station with my lawyer to put this bike accident behind me. I knew again that this was going to be an enlightening look into the Chinese legal system when my lawyer told me that I should buy a basket of fruit to give to the lady's family. This will give you face and make them look like they are just out to get you, the good natured foreigner. My foreign friends insist this is ridiculous, but I think its too funny to be overlooked.

So fruitbasket in hand, we proceed to the police station where the head doctor from the hospital (who you'll recall is the old lady's son-in-law), greets us with a handful of new bills incurred over night. As it turns out, she is going to need three days in the hospital to recover from the accident now. The foreign friends accompanying me are noticeably angered by this blatant act of deceipt on behalf of the hospital itself. Personally it still strikes me as rather humorous to get upset.

I let my lawyer do all the talking, and just sit back and do my best to listen with genuine empathy as the doctor talks about her medical needs. The total bill I'm presented with comes to about $100 U.S., and after I have my lawyer ensure that my liability is capped at that amount, I agree to pay right there on the spot and be done with it. After my lawyer writes up the contract, he hands it to the lady's son to sign it. He's so nervous at the sight of this high-powered attorney and the stack of money greater than he has likely seen at one time in his whole life, he can't remember what year it is, much less what month or day. With a little assistance from our side, he gets the paperwork signed and walks off his 800 RMB and a basket of fruit so large he can't carry it home on his cheap electric scooter. Poor guy.

Meanwhile I head off with my lawyer to the police inpound lot to recover my mountain bike. It's in good shape, except they painted the date of the accident right onto the frame. They aren't much for respecting private property over here, but actually I am pretty stoked to have that infamous date immortalized right on her frame.

So off I ride, excited to have the whole thing behind as I head for home. Ten minutes later, as I cross a street, a car comes racing around through a red light and slams into the side of my bike. In a bit of shock at first, I quickly manage to get back to my feet and take inventory of the situation. I'm fine, I see. Just a couple bruises on my legs, about the same as the lady the day before actually. Realizing this, I turn my attention to the bike. It's okay too, nothing they won't fix for free at the bike shop.

I get back on my feet, say goodbye to the driver and ride off. So it is that I left two Chinese people feeling like they hit the jackpot in two days...

Labels: china, China traffic