Chapter 55: The Law

The sound of crying and wailing came from the next private room.

Upon hearing the noise, Zhou Qing frowned and turned to look at Zhou Huaishan.

Zhou Huaishan also realized what was happening and quickly stood up, grabbing a cup and rushing to the wall.

He pressed the cup against the wall and leaned his ear in.

Master?

At the very moment that Shen Li’s eyes twitched, Zhou Qing grabbed the cup in front of her and quickly moved to Zhou Huaishan’s side.

The sounds from the next room came through clearly.

In the next private room.

Wang Qiang's father sat there with a dark expression, glaring at Zhou Huaihai as if he wanted to tear him apart.

Zhou Huaihai awkwardly forced a smile.

The one crying loudly was Wang Qiang's mother.

While crying, Wang Qiang’s mother spat at Wang.

A mouthful of spit landed directly on Wang’s arm.

"You shameless thing, always bringing trouble, you heartless wretch, what good does it do you to harm me! Now look, the daughter-in-law I had my eyes on is gone! Are you happy now?"

Wang was disgusted by the spit but didn't dare to react.

Early this morning, Wang Qiang’s parents had gone to the county office to report the matter.

The county magistrate, upon hearing the case, naturally asked for evidence and witnesses.

There was no physical evidence, and as for witnesses...

It was Wang's couple who told them that someone had seen Zhou Qing and Wang Qiang enter the abandoned temple together.

Immediately, the county magistrate sent people to arrest them from Qingyang Village.

When they reached the court, Wang and Zhou Huaishan originally wanted to stay silent, but the intimidating presence of the magistrate made their legs go weak, and they confessed without being asked.

No one had seen Zhou Qing and Wang Qiang enter the abandoned temple, it was all fabricated by them.

Upon hearing this, Wang Qiang's mother almost tore Wang apart in the county office.

If it weren’t for Wang and her husband’s false accusations, they wouldn’t have stormed over to Zhou Qing’s place last night, and the marriage contract wouldn’t have been canceled.

As for Wang Qiang...

Who would have thought that the county magistrate already knew about Wang Qiang.

Wang Qiang had been caught by the county office for committing multiple crimes in Wang Village and was now doing hard labor repairing roads at Shili Pu.

The county magistrate said this was called labor reformation.

Two young men from the same village were also arrested.

Their families had already received the news, but because of their enmity with the Wang family, they didn’t inform Wang Qiang’s parents, leaving them anxious.

As for when Wang Qiang would be released, the county magistrate said it depended on when the road would be finished.

The fastest would be three to five years.

The slowest? Just wait and see.

Thinking of her precious son working as a laborer, Wang Qiang’s mother felt as though a knife had been stabbed into her heart.

But fortunately, Wang Qiang hadn’t died, which was a small consolation amidst the misfortune!

As soon as they left the county office, Wang Qiang’s mother grabbed Wang and demanded them to treat her at the Fushun Restaurant.

Otherwise, she would expose their lies and accusations against Zhou Qing.

In the next room, amidst the cursing and swearing, Zhou Qing and Zhou Huaishan heard everything clearly.

The father and daughter duo sat back at their seats, their faces full of indignation.

"I was worried that the county office’s questioning would delay the competition, but I didn’t expect it to turn out like this!

I knew my elder brother was a scoundrel, but I didn’t expect him to be this bad! Fortunately, the commotion yesterday allowed us to sever ties with them completely.”

Zhou Huaishan, with a face full of anger, picked up a cup from the table and drank some tea.

Zhou Qing was somewhat surprised by Wang Qiang’s fate and looked towards Shen Li.

"Why was Wang Qiang sent to do road work?"

"His Majesty is wise, each state and county is expanding water conservancy and road construction.

But there is a shortage of labor for roadwork.

So, His Majesty decreed that anyone guilty of arson, murder, rape, or similar severe crimes, who did not cause death, would be sent to do roadwork.

Additionally, anyone under fourteen years old guilty of severe crimes would also be sent to roadwork if their crimes were extremely severe."

Hearing the age of fourteen, Zhou Qing’s heart moved.

"How long do they have to work?"

"For life."

"And what about those who are seven or eight years old, or six or seven years old? If they commit such crimes, are they also sent to do roadwork?"

Shen Li nodded.

"As long as the government determines that the crime was committed voluntarily and not instigated by others, it’s the same."

Hearing this, Zhou Qing furrowed her brow, and Shen Li sighed.

"Do you think they are pitiable?"

Zhou Qing pressed her lips together.

Pitiable?

No, they were despicable!

If they were pitiable, then those they harmed, weren't they pitiable too?

In her own time...

Thinking of the never-attainable justice, Zhou Qing felt a heavy heart.

"Three years ago, there was a case in the capital.

The perpetrator was only eight years old when he committed the crime. He climbed over a neighbor's wall when no adults were home, and when he couldn't steal anything, he killed the little girl who lived there.

The methods were brutal, and the case shocked the entire capital.

But because the perpetrator was too young, the authorities only detained him for a year according to the law.

Do you know what he did after being released?"

Zhou Qing's heart tightened, dreading to guess.

Shen Li's story reminded her of similar cases in her own time.

But what were the outcomes...

Zhou Qing's hand, resting on her leg, trembled uncontrollably.

Shen Li sighed.

"After being released, the perpetrator harbored resentment against the little girl's parents. He blamed them for his imprisonment, thinking that if they hadn't reported him, he wouldn't have been detained for a year.

The first thing he did upon release was to take a knife to the little girl's house. Pretending to sincerely apologize, he waited until the parents were off guard, then drew his knife."

Shen Li's tale was interrupted by Zhou Huaishan slapping the table.

"Damn it, that's inhuman!"

Zhou Qing's hand shook violently.

Shen Li continued, "After this case, the imperial law was changed. For serious crimes, those guilty should be punished accordingly, even if they don't deserve death, they'll be sent to roadwork for life, regardless of age."

After a pause, Shen Li took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

"Don't expect bad people to grow up and become good. They only become worse.

To prevent further harm, the best way is to completely isolate them from society."

Zhou Qing listened, feeling conflicted.

Seeing her gloomy expression, Shen Li asked, "Miss Qing, do you feel this is unfair?"

Zhou Qing slowly shook her head.

"I think it's right. That's how it should be!"

Yes, it should be like this!

Otherwise, some laws would become a shield for criminals, making them feel invincible.

And those who need protection would forever lose the chance to be protected, even after death, they wouldn’t get the fairness they deserved.

While they were talking, dishes were being served one by one.

They had clearly ordered three meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, and one soup.

Looking at the table overflowing with dishes and the continuous stream of dishes being served by the waiter,

Zhou Qing and Zhou Huaishan were dumbfounded, their previous anger completely dissipated.

"Wait, isn't this a mistake?" Zhou Qing looked at the waiter in disbelief.

The waiter put down the plate in his hand and smiled politely, "No mistake. This young gentleman ordered all the dishes in our restaurant."

Saying this, the waiter called over the other staff.

"Bring another table here."

One table couldn’t fit all the dishes from Fushun Restaurant.

Of course, they needed two!

Watching as the staff brought in an extra table and continued to place more dishes on the table,

"You ordered all the dishes?"

"I never did this even in my prime!"

In shock, Zhou Qing forgot about Zhou Huaishan’s previous demeanor.

"No, no, this... How much silver will this cost? Are you crazy?"

Zhou Qing stood up and grabbed a young waiter, "Can we return these? We can't finish all this food!"