The Wall

Old Li was gone, suddenly gone, just because he'd exchanged a few words with his neighbor, young Wang.

The court ruled: Wang was to compensate Li's family 50,000 yuan. Wang clutched the judgment, his hands trembling, his heart filled with a bitter injustice. All he'd done was complain that Old Li's radio was too loud, maybe said a few harsh words. Who could have known that Old Li would have a heart attack, collapse, and never get up again?

Fifty thousand yuan was no small sum for Wang. He earned just over 3,000 yuan a month, his wife didn't work, and their child was in elementary school, a time when money was tight. But he resented paying this compensation.

The neighborhood was abuzz with gossip. Some said Wang was unlucky, saddled with such a "scamming" old man. Others said Old Li was always looking for a handout, and this time, well, he'd "taken" himself out.

Wang paid the compensation, but life had to go on. He told his wife about it. She said nothing, silently selling everything of value in the house to raise the 50,000 yuan.

Wang looked at his empty house, his heart even heavier. He went to the balcony, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag. Next door, Old Li's house was silent, the radio no longer playing.

Wang suddenly remembered that on the day Old Li died, he thought he'd heard him shouting something. He'd been so angry at the time, he hadn't made it out. Now, thinking back, had Old Li been calling for help?

The thought gnawed at Wang. He decided to visit Old Li's house.

Old Li's son greeted him, his face etched with grief. Wang asked, "What exactly did your father say that day?"

Old Li's son sighed. "My father had a heart attack that day. He was trying to reach his medicine, but the bottle fell to the floor, out of his reach. He shouted 'Help,' but... no one heard him."

Wang was stunned. He remembered that a wall separated Old Li's house from his. A wall that Old Li himself had built, supposedly for soundproofing.

Wang had even argued with Old Li about building the wall, complaining that it encroached on the common area. Now, he realized that the wall had not only blocked sound, but also a life.

Wang left Old Li's house, his mind reeling. He looked at the wall and suddenly understood something.

He returned home to find his wife packing.

"Honey, let's move," Wang said.

"Move? Where to? We don't have any money left," his wife replied, confused.

"Anywhere, as long as... there are no walls," Wang said, his voice choked with emotion.

He walked to the wall, picked up a hammer, and struck it with all his might.

The wall crumbled.

Sunlight streamed in.

It turned out that there had originally been no wall between Wang's and Old Li's homes. Old Li had secretly built it himself to prevent the noise from Wang's child from disturbing him. When Old Li built the wall, he deliberately left a small hole, saying it was for ventilation.

In the small hole, there was a crumpled piece of paper.

Wang picked up the paper and unfolded it. On it were a few scrawled words:

"Xiao Wang, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have argued with you. I have a bad heart. If anything happens to me one day, break down the wall and save me..."

Wang collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down his face.

The wall wasn't a soundproofing wall, but a... wall for help.

And the 50,000 yuan wasn't compensation, but... the price of a life.

Only, the truth had come too late.