Chapter 122 - 114: Severe Punishment of 20 Planks

Chapter 122: Chapter 114: Severe Punishment of 20 Planks

Old Mrs. Bai was terrified. "S-Sir, we truly only meant to play a joke on Zhao Lan and Bai Zhi. We had no ill intent. Please forgive this old woman for her ignorance."

"Can a few words make the crime you’ve committed simply vanish? If so, what’s the point of this government office? What if I were to kill you with my sword right now, then turn to your family and say, ’My apologies, my hand slipped’? Would your family calmly forgive me and pretend it never happened?"

Meng Nan snorted coldly and said to the two constables at his side, "The principal offender, Old Mrs. Bai, will receive twenty heavy strokes of the paddle. The accomplices will each receive ten. Carry it out immediately."

The constables immediately stepped forward and ordered Old Mrs. Bai to lie down on the ground. She desperately begged for mercy, "Sir, I’m already old! If I take these twenty strokes, I’m afraid I won’t survive! I beg you, Sir, please show mercy!"

Meng Nan’s eyes swept over the terrified faces of the Bai family members. He raised an eyebrow and said, "You have a point. At your age, your body probably can’t handle twenty strokes of the paddle. Very well. I’ll give you a chance. If any member of your Bai family is willing to take ten strokes for you, I’ll reduce your sentence by ten. How about it?"

Old Mrs. Bai nodded hastily. Ten fewer strokes was better than nothing.

She turned her head to look at her two sons. Bai Dazhu immediately whipped his head away, pretending not to have seen his mother’s gaze.

Seeing this, Bai Erzhu thought, ’When there are benefits to be had at home, it’s never my turn. But now that someone has to take the paddle, you think of me?’

Bai Erzhu also turned his head to look away. Bai Dabao went a step further and hid directly behind Liu. Although Bai Xiaofeng didn’t move, he had no intention of speaking up. Bai Fugui, on the other hand, felt a pang of pity and was about to speak, but a sharp glare from Bai Erzhu stopped him, forbidding him to say a word.

Old Mrs. Bai was getting anxious. Her gaze fell upon Liu. "Guihua, you take the ten strokes for Mother. You’re still young, you can definitely handle it."

Liu truly hadn’t expected her to ask. ’We’re both women,’ she thought, ’how could she have the gall to say that? Her own sons are the apples of her eye, so is another woman’s daughter just rotten meat?’

Her face pale, Liu said, "Mother, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help, but you know my constitution. I can’t even handle ten strokes, let alone twenty. You should ask Erzhu. He’s young and a man, strong and sturdy. He can definitely take it."

Before Old Mrs. Bai could say anything, Bai Erzhu exploded. "Sister-in-law, have a conscience! When there are benefits to be had, your first branch takes everything. Now that it’s time to take a beating for Mother, you think of our second branch? Why don’t you have Big Brother take these ten strokes for her?"

Liu quickly replied, "Your big brother is injured! His hands still haven’t healed. How could he take those twenty strokes?"

Bai Erzhu’s gaze landed on Bai Dabao. "Then you could ask Da Bao," he said. "He’s the one who’s truly young and strong. Even if he gets beaten badly, he’ll heal faster than us old-timers."

Liu frantically waved her hands. "No, no, not Da Bao! Let Fugui do it."

While the two were arguing, the constable ready to administer the punishment grew impatient. "If you don’t come to a decision, every single one of you will get twenty strokes of the paddle."

Bai Xiaofeng, who hadn’t said a word, was already furious about having to be beaten in the first place. Hearing that he might get ten more strokes made him even more incensed. He yelled, "Dad! Why don’t you and Second Uncle just help Grandma and each take five strokes? Wouldn’t that be fair?"

Liu had always been one to do whatever Bai Xiaofeng said. The moment she heard his suggestion, she clapped her hands. "Yes, yes! Let’s do that! Wouldn’t that be fair?"