Chapter 32: One Person, Ten Battles

The warm atmosphere was short-lived; Lin Zhixiang’s next words nearly sent Lin Chuyi bolting for the door.

"Although this matter involved some misunderstanding, taking things without asking is never acceptable," Lin Zhixiang stated sternly. "You two shall each receive five strikes of the rod. As my children, you have failed to set a proper example, so add another five. Administer the punishment."

"Father!" Lin Chuyi shrieked, ducking behind Lin Qiyue.

Oh, this was too cruel! Ten strikes? What would become of her backside?

Lin Qiyue, by contrast, remained composed; he had clearly anticipated a penalty. "Sir, Yiyi is a young lady. Let me take her punishment instead."

"Hmph, why didn't she consider the consequences before she acted? Proceed," Lin Zhixiang retorted, looking utterly heartless.

"Sir..." Seeing that Lin Zhixiang was not joking, Aunt Seven panicked. She was about to plead for mercy when she was cut off.

"No one is to intercede, or they shall be considered guilty of the same offense."

With that, the villagers who had been itching to speak up finally fell silent, not daring to utter a word.

"Ah!" Lin Chuyi screamed as she was grabbed and hauled onto a long wooden bench, terrified out of her wits.

Lin Qiyue was placed on another bench. He glanced helplessly at Lin Chuyi, struggling to suppress a smile. How could they possibly use real force? It was amusing to see her so frightened.

***

"Yiyi!" Seeing the bailiff actually raise the wooden rod, Dahan finally could not hold back; he rushed in, limping as he went.

"Stop him!"

Before the command had even faded, a bailiff had already grabbed Dahan by the arm.

The punishment had begun. At the sound of the rod whistling through the air, Lin Chuyi shrieked instinctively. The bailiff, caught off guard by her cry, felt a mix of exasperation and amusement—he hadn't even brought the rod down yet.

Stifling a laugh, he finally brought it down ‘heavily.’

"Ah!" Another shriek, and tears welled up in Lin Chuyi's eyes.

But... it didn't actually hurt? Was she already numb?

For the remaining nine strikes, Lin Chuyi let out heart-wrenching screams each time, leaving the onlookers bewildered. Anyone could see that the rod was barely brushing her, not even displacing a fold of her clothing.

"Yiyi!" Of everyone present, Dahan was the only one whose concern had clouded his judgment. Watching from the sidelines, he was on the verge of tears. He glared at the bailiff: "Shuzi, why are you hitting her so hard? How could a girl like Yiyi withstand such a beating?"

Shuzi, the bailiff, felt both awkward and amused.

***

By the fourth strike, Lin Zhixiang had already turned his head away. A grown young woman, carrying on like this... it was truly embarrassing. Yet, despite his thoughts, hearing his daughter’s wails still tugged at his heart.

"Ah..." As the final strike landed, Lin Chuyi’s voice grew weak, and tears streamed down her face.

Seeing Lin Qiyue standing up, Lin Chuyi asked indignantly, "Little Seven, is my backside ruined?"

Just as Lin Qiyue was about to reply, Lin Zhixiang cleared his throat. "Ahem. Everyone, disperse."

With the Magistrate having spoken, the villagers had no choice but to leave, though each of them couldn't help but glance at Lin Chuyi with a smile as they departed. Only Dahan kept looking back with every step, as if he wished he could glue his eyes to her.

Once the crowd had cleared, Lin Qiyue sighed. "Since you already asked the question yourself, why do you need me to tell you the answer?"

"Waaah, so it is ruined!" she wailed. After a moment, she looked around with her large, watery eyes and finally spotted Mo Yu in the corner.