Greetings may be costly

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SHOUTING a friendly greeting could be expensive now after a Jiangxi court ordered a man Tuesday to pay almost 20,000 yuan (US$2,500) for causing a friend to fall off his bicycle and hurt himself. Li Zhiwang, 34, a villager in Yugan County, was ordered to pay 18,880 yuan in compensation to 31-year-old Zhang Ping, one of his acquaintances, because his friendly greeting sent Zhang to hospital. Li came across Zhang on a bicycle with a large load of vegetables Aug. 26 and said hello to him by calling Zhang’s name. Zhang turned his head to respond and lost control of his bike, falling to the ground, and fracturing a wrist, which cost him 23,600 yuan in medical fees. Zhang then brought Li to court for compensation.