CHAPTER 336: CHAPTER 336: LIFE IN PRISON SUITS YOU BETTER

When Wang Lintao was being dragged out by the government officials, he still believed there would be a turnaround; the County Magistrate must be doing this to show fairness. Maybe, those colleagues responsible for beating wouldn’t exert much force.

Thinking this, he felt relieved and looked at those colleagues.

"You know what to do."

The colleagues said nothing, and he assumed they acquiesced until the rod truly hit him, and he felt the unbearable pain.

Unexpectedly, there was no holding back at all.

No, it must be that this government official is too young and doesn’t know the rules.

County Magistrate Hu then shifted his gaze to Pei Shu’er. Normally, this girl was also at fault, and not lightly at that.

But when he saw her looks beneath the veil, such a beautiful face scarred from burns precisely because she saved his wife and son.

He then didn’t say anything about punishing Pei Shu’er.

As a result, Pei Shu’er immediately spoke up voluntarily, "This matter, I’m also at fault."

She didn’t want to make County Magistrate Hu feel troubled. If he felt troubled now and let her go.

Then he might think he had repaid the favor, and if the favor was repaid in one go.

Then later, if Wang Lintao caused trouble again, County Magistrate Hu might not necessarily take her side. Although she rescued people due to kindness, she also wanted a bargaining chip for herself.

County Magistrate Hu said, "Come, give Mrs. Pei ten strikes with the rod."

Only when the government official was about to drag Pei Shu’er away, County Magistrate Hu coughed lightly twice.

The government official looked up, saw County Magistrate Hu’s expression, and understood how the punishment should be administered.

Pei Shu’er noticed that while the ten strikes with the rod sounded loud, they did not hurt.

Yet, she acted very earnestly.

But Wang Lintao, having been in the government office for so long, surely knew the ropes.

He felt that today’s events were too disillusioning.

Why did County Magistrate Hu want to protect such a woman?

Could it be because there was an affair with her?

He suddenly thought of the reason for County Magistrate Hu’s change in attitude—it was because Mrs. Hu called him over for a talk, so County Magistrate Hu was biased toward Pei Shu’er.

But Mrs. Hu wasn’t like that; she rarely involved herself in government affairs.

What kind of spell did this woman cast on Mrs. Hu for her to be so protective?

Wang Lintao quickly stopped thinking about it as the pain was unbearable.

Liu Hongwang was beaten to the point of breathing more in than out; he could not withstand it, and later, he didn’t even have the strength to scream, lying like a dead dog on the bench.

But the flogging kept going.

As for the elderly couple, they also felt the pain intensely, constantly regretting in their hearts why they didn’t run farther away and got caught by Liu Hongwang.

Besides, they certainly were complicit. If this Miss Pei were a bit weaker, they would lose the fifty taels, and the house would be gone, too.

Once everyone had been beaten, they were dragged back to the courtroom, where County Magistrate Hu continued to pronounce judgment.

"Liu Hongwang’s crimes are grave and repetitive. He will be imprisoned for ten years."

Liu Hongwang’s face turned ashen; the conditions in the dungeon were so poor. He had stayed there briefly before, and just for a short while, he found it unbearable.

If he stayed there for ten years, it wasn’t even certain if he could live that long.

He kowtowed to the magistrate, "Mr. Hu, I was wrong. I don’t want to be locked up, please show mercy."

County Magistrate Hu showed no expression. Liu Hongwang then turned his gaze to Pei Shu’er.

Initially, he wanted to threaten, but upon seeing Pei Shu’er’s cold expression, he shivered slightly and immediately started to beg, kneeling before Pei Shu’er.

"Miss Pei, please withdraw the lawsuit. I don’t want to spend my life in the dungeon."

He cried pathetically, with tears and snot streaming down his face, looking pitiful.

Pei Shu’er still smiled gently, yet the gleam in her eyes was so unsettling that Liu Hongwang dared not look directly.

This was a gaze belonging to someone of high status.

Her voice was soft and light, but her words were spoken mercilessly, one by one.

"I think life in prison, perhaps, suits you better."

After saying this, Pei Shu’er no longer paid attention to Liu Hongwang’s pleas.

The elderly couple looked at Liu Hongwang with satisfaction.

Even though they were beaten, they were finally free from the claws of this nephew.

They kowtowed to Pei Shu’er, thanking her, but she stepped aside to avoid it.

Pei Shu’er no longer wanted any entanglements with such people.

It was initially thought the trial would end here.

However, County Magistrate Hu then said, "Wang Lintao abetted wrongdoers, his salary will be reduced for half a year, and he is removed from his position as a government official."

With these words, Wang Lintao was stunned, thinking he had misheard.

He looked toward County Magistrate Hu, whose serious demeanor left no hint of a joke.

Wang Lintao quickly knelt on the ground, "Sir, sir, I know I was wrong; please revoke the order."

County Magistrate Hu remained unmoved. He then looked towards the corner at Mrs. Hu, whose previously stern face now wore a smile, and his expression softened slightly.

"Wang Lintao, for all these years you have been a government official, I won’t even mention how many times you’ve oppressed the people. This time, you abused your power and committed such wrongdoing, and our office will no longer accommodate you."

Wang Lintao continued to plead, but with a cold glance from County Magistrate Hu, he immediately fell silent.

County Magistrate Hu proclaimed, "This house will henceforth belong to Mrs. Pei, and no one should use this as an excuse to cause trouble."

He struck the gavel.

"Court dismissed."

With these words, he walked to the back of the courtroom, looking at Mrs. Hu.

"Are you satisfied now? I’ve punished my valuable subordinate."

Mrs. Hu pouted, "Barely satisfied. Keeping subordinates like Wang Lintao around will only cause bigger troubles for you later. It’s better to deal with it now."

County Magistrate Hu nodded, "You’re absolutely right, my dear."

Mrs. Hu continued, "Later on, have someone bring Mrs. Pei to our home to check on Yun’er’s condition. Yun’er has been coughing continuously, and some wounds have turned pale."

She distinctly remembered that Mrs. Pei was an excellent doctor.

The ointment Mrs. Pei provided for burns had been used, and the effects were remarkable, not only alleviating pain but also showing signs of scarring.

But recently, Hu Yun often had delirious talks at night and ran fevers from time to time.

After everyone had left and Pei Shu’er was about to leave, Wang Lintao suddenly walked over, glaring at Pei Shu’er with a resentful gaze.

"When did you meet Mrs. Hu?"

Pei Shu’er gave him a bland look, too lazy to respond.

This, in turn, infuriated Wang Lintao.

"Just you wait. Don’t think you can flaunt your connection with Mrs. Hu. I won’t let you have it easy."

He lost such an important job due to Pei Shu’er’s scheming, so how could he let her go easily?

Wang Lintao wanted to curse her a few more times, but then a maid came running over.

She said respectfully, "Miss Pei, our lady invites you."

Pei Shu’er nodded with a smile and, as she passed by Wang Lintao, she smiled again.

"It’s okay, feel free to come at me, but first, it depends on whether Mrs. Hu will let me have it easy."