jdhmnovel Chapter 148 Whipping
Chapter 148 Whipping
Chapter 148 Whipping
Under Wang Wenzhou's guidance, Zhao Fengmin completed Nianxia's surgery. Afterwards, the two went their separate ways; Zhao Fengmin and the aspiring doctor went to direct the medical team in treating the wounded. Wang Wenzhou arrived at the entrance of the Hanshan County government office.
The night watchman had announced the event the previous night, stating that a public trial would be held here today. Although the people were confused, many still came to watch.
Wang Wenzhou cupped his hands to the onlookers and said, "During yesterday's riot, an outrageous incident occurred in our Hanshan County. Therefore, today, I have specially convened this public trial to let those lawless criminals see how the government will deal with them if they dare to commit evil again! Men, bring the criminals forward."
Two constables escorted Sheng Liang over.
"Ah...isn't this Lord Wang's nephew?"
"What has Young Master Sheng done wrong?"
"What happened?"
The onlookers were astonished. Many knew Sheng Liang, Lord Wang's nephew. They couldn't understand what heinous crime Sheng Liang had committed. Was Lord Wang going to uphold justice even at the cost of his own family?
Wang Wenzhou asked sternly, "Sheng Liang, do you know your crime?"
Our little racing prodigy from Hanshan immediately knelt down and said righteously, "My lord, I did nothing wrong!"
"You scoundrel! You forced yourself on a girl yesterday, and you're not guilty?" Wang Wenzhou asked.
Sheng Liang said in a serious tone, "Sir, it's normal for me to sleep with that girl because I like her! When a man likes a pretty girl, isn't it all about sleeping with her? Would anyone marry their beloved girl and then treat her like a god of wealth instead of sleeping with her?"
"Haha..." The onlookers burst into laughter. Hmm? Why does that sound familiar? Right, Lord Wang seems to have said something similar.
"Ahem!" Wang Wenzhou coughed awkwardly a few times, then shouted sternly, "Sheng Liang, you shameless scoundrel, you raped a woman and you still have the nerve to talk back! Guards, give him twenty lashes!"
Sheng Liang turned around and winked at Geng San.
Geng San quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Sir, whipping is against the rules!"
"What's wrong with the rules?" Wang Wenzhou asked coldly.
Geng San quickly said, "Sir, how can you conduct a trial like this? There is no plaintiff, and even if you wanted to punish the offender, there is no such thing as whipping."
Geng San was Wang Wenzhou's good follower, and his speaking out was, of course, arranged by Wang Wenzhou beforehand.
Wang Wenzhou bowed to the onlookers and explained, "Fellow elders of Hanshan, I have no choice but to conduct this trial. The plaintiff is a young woman who was raped. If she were to file a complaint in court, wouldn't her reputation be ruined? How could she possibly survive?"
"Yes! Any girl whose chastity has been ruined would be too ashamed to show her face to anyone."
"Young Master Sheng has done something absolutely outrageous!"
"No wonder Wang Qingtian was willing to sacrifice his own family for the greater good."
The people were talking a lot.
Wang Wenzhou waved his hand and said, "Therefore, I hereby stipulate that in the future, in order to protect the privacy of the victims, such cases will not be tried in public. This public trial is to punish the offenders and serve as a warning to others. As for the caning, it is a new punishment added by me. From now on, all offenders will be subject to caning."
"Those who do evil deserve to be beaten!"
"That's right. Some people will continue to do evil if you don't teach them a lesson they won't learn."
"Wang Qingtian is wise!"
The people expressed their support.
Wang Wenzhou smiled slightly, waved to Li Hechen, and said, "Men, take him away and give him twenty strokes of the cane."
"Yes!" Li Hechen quickly led two constables to tie Sheng Liang to the wooden post that had been prepared beforehand.
Wang Wenzhou commanded, "Execute them!"
"Crack crack crack..." The whip lashed out.
After a few lashes, the little racer's clothes were torn to shreds, and each lash left a bloody welt, which looked quite astonishing.
"I did nothing wrong! How could it be wrong to sleep with the girl I love!" Sheng Liang said through gritted teeth, his righteous indignation evident.
Wang Wenzhou smiled slightly. "This little rascal's acting is pretty good!"
Sheng Liang's explanation was all part of the plan, and Li Hechen certainly wouldn't use his full strength; he held back. The beating looked brutal, but it only resulted in superficial injuries.
Wang Wenzhou tilted his head and looked over. Li Yajing supported Sheng Lan and stood aside to watch the execution.
Li Yajing wore a worried expression, her heart filled with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow.
Wang Wenzhou walked over and said softly, "Jingjing, Xiaoliang really likes you. He's just young and full of vigor. He drank a little and did some things he shouldn't have, which is forgivable. Look, he's already beaten up like this, and he still won't admit his mistake."
Sheng Lan frowned, gave Wang Wenzhou a resentful look, and complained, "That brat deserves to be beaten! He deserves to be beaten to death!"
"Lazy Blue, things have come to this point, why don't we let Jingjing marry Xiaoliang? What if Xiaoliang succeeds in conceiving? We can't let his son be born without a father and only a mother, can we?" Wang Wenzhou wanted to arrange for Li Yajing to marry Sheng Liang.
"Ya Jing, what do you think?" Sheng Lan asked Li Ya Jing.
Li Yajing's face turned red to her neck. She pouted and silently watched Sheng Liang being whipped without saying a word.
Wang Wenzhou chuckled to himself; things were probably looking promising. Some people have sex because of love, and of course, some people love because of sex. Although Wang Wenzhou believed in Platonic love, he still thought, if you love someone, why not have sex? It's like having a toilet but not using it!
“I did nothing wrong! I slept with the girl I love, and I will definitely marry her! So what if I drove before we were married? Driving without a license is a moral issue, not a legal one.” Sheng Liang recited Wang Wenzhou’s words to him with righteous indignation.
"Young Master Sheng is a true man! Whose daughter is she? She should marry Young Master Sheng!"
"Under Lord Wang's tutelage, Young Master Sheng is proficient in both literature and martial arts, making him an excellent choice for a son-in-law."
Among the onlookers, many were planted, and they stepped forward at opportune moments to speak on Sheng Liang's behalf.
In no time, the whipping was over.
Wang Wenzhou bowed to the crowd and said loudly, "Sheng Liang refuses to confess, but I have already investigated the case thoroughly. To protect the privacy of the victim, the details of the case will not be announced here. I hereby sentence Sheng Liang to four years of re-education through labor in a labor camp. Guards, take him to the labor camp."
“My beloved girl, you must not marry anyone else. You must wait for me to come back. I will marry you when I return in four years!” Sheng Liang shouted as he was dragged along by two constables.
"Ha ha!"
"Young Master Sheng is mighty!"
"Young Master Sheng is deeply in love!"
The shills in the crowd were laughing and making various suggestive remarks.
Sheng Lan glanced at Li Yajing and said softly, "Yajing, let's go. I also have something I want to tell you. Let's talk as we walk."
"Okay!" Li Yajing nodded and helped Sheng Lan back to Zuihualou.
Sheng Lan realized that Sheng Liang's behavior today was definitely instigated by Wang Wenzhou. It's even possible that Wang Wenzhou was behind Sheng Liang's attempt to force himself on Li Yajing.
Sheng Lan deeply loves Wang Wenzhou, and since Wang Wenzhou wants to play matchmaker, she will naturally help. After all, Sheng Liang is her nephew, and he is of marriageable age.
Sheng Lan glanced back at Wang Wenzhou, a bitter smile playing on her lips. She truly didn't know whether letting Xiao Liang stay by the adults' side was a good thing or a bad thing. And Xiao Liang, really, instead of learning the adults' good qualities, he only learned their lecherousness!