I knocked on the door.
"Please come in."
A calm and capable female voice came from inside.
Su Wei pushed open the door and went in.
The office wasn't big, but the filing cabinets were crammed full.
A middle-aged woman in a business suit and wire-rimmed glasses was sitting behind a desk; she was the woman named Jennifer from the phone call.
She looked up and sized Su Wei up and down.
"Mr. Su Wei -Yang?"
"It's me."
"Please sit down." Jennifer gestured to the chair opposite her, her tone businesslike and devoid of any extra emotion.
Su Wei sat down and placed his backpack at his feet.
Jennifer pulled a thick folder from a stack of documents and pushed it in front of him.
"This is the final settlement agreement regarding the accident compensation for your parents, David Sue and Ms. Weili Yang. You can take a look at it first."
Su Wei opened the folder.
It was filled with densely packed English terms and conditions.
"Let me explain briefly," Jennifer said matter-of-factly. "The agreement is mainly divided into three parts."
She pointed to the document with her finger.
"First, basic crew personal accident insurance. According to the latest standards of the Anchorage Maritime Court, it is US$800,000 per person, totaling US$1.6 million."
Su Wei had heard this number once before.
But now that it's presented in black and white, the impact is still enormous.
"Second, personal commercial life and accident insurance. The coverage amount for this part is not high, totaling US$200,000 for both policies."
Jennifer's speaking speed remained unchanged, as if she were reciting a shopping list.
"The final part."
Her finger landed on the last page of the document, where the title was highlighted in bold: "Punitive Damages Agreement for Gross Negligence".
To avoid a jury trial and further damage to its reputation, the fishing company agreed to the punitive damages offer proposed by its legal team.
"Based on the black box recording evidence, it is proven that the fleet was forcibly ordered to set sail by company management under the pretext of withholding bonuses after receiving a storm warning."
Jennifer's narration was devoid of any emotion, yet it made Su Wei feel as if her heart was being tightly gripped.
That cold, metal box recorded the capitalists' final act of greed.
It also documented the parents' final journey.
"Punitive damages, totaling US$1.2 million."
Su Wei's breathing almost stopped.
Jennifer continued, her voice clear and somewhat jarring in the quiet office.
"In addition to the funeral allowance, family emotional distress compensation, and one-time grants for families in dire need provided by the Fisheries Union under State of Alaska law..."
She picked up the calculator and quickly pressed a few buttons.
"The total compensation amount is US$3,480,000."
"After deducting the legal team's 1.5% fee, the total is US$51,120."
"Further deducting the 9.4% related taxes stipulated by State of Alaska law..."
She paused for a moment, as if doing the final calculations.
The only sound in the office was the crisp click-clack of the calculator keys.
Su Wei felt that his heartbeat was louder than the sound of the buttons being pressed.
Finally, Jennifer put down the calculator.
She looked up and calmly announced the final number.
The final amount received was €€€€
Three million two hundred and fifty-seven thousand four hundred US dollars.
Even though I was prepared.
But the reappearance of this number still left Su Wei's mind blank.
He paused breathing briefly, and it took him a moment to regain his senses.
this is true.
For the past few months, he has been fighting for his life in the wilderness and struggling to survive in the snowstorm in order to pay off his $160,000 debt.
Every time he hunted or gathered, he walked on the edge of a knife.
And now.
Three million two hundred and fifty-seven thousand four hundred US dollars.
This number has exceeded all his initial expectations for solving the problem.
He felt his breathing become difficult, his throat was dry, and he couldn't utter a single word.
Jennifer looked at him, seemingly having anticipated his reaction.
She had seen far too many people lose their composure in this moment, crying or laughing hysterically.
But the Su Wei did not.
He remained silent, turning the pages of the document in his hands one by one.
He calmed himself down and went to look at the complicated legal provisions, checking every number and every decimal point.
This isn't money.
This was bought with the lives of my parents.
Time ticked by, second by second.
Jennifer didn't urge him; she just watched him quietly.
This young man displayed a calmness and focus far beyond his years when faced with a huge sum of money that would provide him with a worry-free life.
She was beginning to admire him.
Finally, Su Wei turned to the last page.
That's the signature area.
He picked up the pen on the table; the nib felt a bit heavy.
Without hesitation, he wrote his name clearly, stroke by stroke.
Su Wei Yang.
As the last letter fell, he felt completely relaxed.
"Alright." Jennifer took back the document, carefully checked the signature, and then nodded in satisfaction.
"This agreement is effective immediately. The payment will be transferred to your provided bank account in a lump sum within three business days of signing this agreement."
She handed one of the copies to Su Wei.
"This is your copy, please keep it safe."
Su Wei took the document and stood up.
"Thanks."
He turned and walked out of the office.
When he stood outside the Fisheries Union building again, the sun shone brightly on the snow, reflecting a dazzling light.
He instinctively raised his hand to cover his face.
On the street, vehicles and pedestrians came and went, and everything was no different from half an hour ago.
But he is different now.
Su Wei stood on the street, his mind blank.
He took out his phone and habitually opened the banking app he checked countless times every day.
On the screen, that bright red negative number still hung there conspicuously.
$160,000.
This money once left him breathless.
And now, it looks... so small, even somewhat ridiculous.
The money is here.
He has so much that he can buy all the barren mountains surrounding his land, build the most luxurious villa, and buy the most advanced agricultural machinery.