Chapter 146 City Streets 46

Chapter 146: City Life 46

"Ah?" she gasped.

"Arrest... arrest me?"

Chen Qiaoyun's face instantly went pale with fright. Her hand trembled, and the white gauze she was holding fell to the ground.

Pointing at herself, she said in disbelief, "Me? You're arresting me? Wh-why are you arresting me? I'm innocent, officers! I’ve always lived an honest life—never stolen, never robbed, not even argued with anyone! Why are you arresting me? Could there be some misunderstanding?"

The officers had no patience for her excuses. Grabbing her arm, they began dragging her toward the yamen, saying as they went, "If there’s any misunderstanding, you can explain it to the magistrate at the yamen!"

Turning to his subordinates, the officer in charge ordered:

"You two, bring her baskets along. That's evidence—make sure it doesn't get lost!"

The group of officers had arrived with an authoritative air, and they left just as fiercely, taking her with them.

The two women sitting under the locust tree looked at each other in confusion. Their young grandsons, too frightened to continue playing, huddled into their grandmothers’ arms. Only after the officers had dragged Chen Qiaoyun away did they finally relax.

"...What did she do? Why was she arrested by the officers?"

"I have no idea!"

"Hey, do you think it’s because her Snow Skin Soft Cheese made someone ill? The officers mentioned her Snow Skin Soft Cheese just now!"

"What Snow Skin Soft Cheese! Hers isn’t even real Snow Skin Soft Cheese! My daughter-in-law bought some from Liu's Eatery—that’s the real deal! Soft, chewy, snow-white! Oh, and it’s not just white; there are pink and green varieties too. They look so pretty! My grandson loves them! But they're so expensive!"

"Ah? And she claimed hers was exactly the same as Liu's Eatery’s?"

"How could that be possible? How much does she sell hers for, and how much does Liu's Eatery charge? If they were really the same, would she need to peddle them door-to-door? Tsk... Did you see her expression earlier? Oh, she looked downright pleased!"

"Hey, you’re right!"

The two women continued chatting, but their topic shifted from Liu's Eatery to Chen Qiaoyun, spicing up the story with plenty of embellishments as they spoke.

...

At the yamen, Chen Qiaoyun was shoved into the main hall by the officers.

The woman was quite timid and had never set foot in a yamen before. Now, pushed to the ground, she looked to the left and saw a row of fierce bailiffs holding intimidation rods. Shuddering, she glanced to the right and saw another row of fierce bailiffs holding intimidation rods.

Chen Qiaoyun hunched her shoulders, shrinking down, and knelt on the ground, not daring to look up at the Magistrate seated above.

The Magistrate immediately slammed his gavel and demanded, "Is the accused below Mrs. Chen of the Li family?"

Chen Qiaoyun shrank back, trembling, and began bowing repeatedly.

"Yes, yes... it’s me, it’s me. Your Honor... Your Honor, I’ve been wronged! I... I haven’t done anything!"

The Magistrate slammed his gavel again with a sharp crack, making Chen Qiaoyun jump, her hair standing on end.

"This official hasn’t even said anything yet! Why are you already claiming injustice?"

Chen Qiaoyun’s lips trembled, unsure what to say. She could only keep muttering, "I’ve been wronged... I’ve been wronged..."

Magistrate: "Look at the person beside you. Do you recognize him?"

Following the Magistrate’s words, Chen Qiaoyun looked over and noticed Qin Rongshi standing not far from her.

Qin Rongshi wore a sky-blue robe, standing as straight as a pine tree even in the yamen. He appeared gentle and scholarly, with an air of refined elegance that could easily deceive people. A faint smile played on his lips.

Noticing Chen Qiaoyun’s gaze, he slightly tilted his head, looking down at the woman kneeling on the ground. He gave a slight nod, his dark eyes gleaming.

"Auntie Chen."

Qin Rongshi called out softly, seemingly maintaining a polite tone.

Chen Qiaoyun: "Qin... Qin..."

Her son often said Qin Rongshi was exceptional—he ranked first in the county-level imperial exams and was well-liked by all the teachers and the academy director at the school. Even the Education Commissioner held him in high regard.

Chen Qiaoyun didn’t believe it, thinking Qin Rongshi was merely good-looking and studious, which was why the teachers favored him. How old is he? How could he be as remarkable as they claimed?

But now, meeting Qin Rongshi’s downward gaze, his eyes dark and bright, still appearing gentle and kind, yet possessing a mysterious power—like two black mirrors that could see right through her.

Magistrate sternly said, "It seems you do recognize him. Scholar Qin has accused you of the crime of producing and selling shoddy and inferior goods. Do you plead guilty?"

Chen Qiaoyun didn’t understand the term; she found it hard to understand. But she knew she couldn’t admit guilt and quickly bowed repeatedly, pleading, "I haven’t done it! I haven’t done it! Your Honor, please investigate! I... I’ve never even heard of such a thing..."

The Magistrate ignored her and instead looked at the officer who had arrested her, silently questioning him with his eyes.

The officer immediately cupped his hands and replied, "Reporting to Your Honor, I already questioned her earlier!"

"This woman admitted that what she sells is 'Snow Skin Soft Cheese' and also admitted that her 'Snow Skin Soft Cheese' is exactly the same as that from Liu's Eatery! She hadn’t sold all her stock, so I brought everything back."

The Magistrate nodded and immediately ordered the items to be brought forward for comparison with the Snow Skin Soft Cheese Qin Rongshi had brought.

Qin Rongshi’s items were in small baskets, including both the counterfeit goods purchased from Chen Qiaoyun and the authentic Snow Skin Soft Cheese made by Liu Guyu from the eatery.

Four pieces of Snow Skin Soft Cheese were placed in oil-paper boxes—round, soft, and chewy. Some were white, some pink, and some were dusted with sparkling white sugar powder or light green tea powder, looking quite beautiful.

In contrast, Chen Qiaoyun’s "Snow Skin Soft Cheese" was entirely different.

Claimed to be Snow Skin Soft Cheese, it was actually just sweet-filled glutinous rice balls. They were chewy and came in various flavors, like red bean paste and sweet potato filling.

But compared to the other box of Snow Skin Soft Cheese, they were less refined, not as snow-white or perfectly round—the difference was immediately obvious.

Belatedly, Chen Qiaoyun realized that the trouble was caused by the Snow Skin Soft Cheese she was selling.

"Your Honor... I... I..."

Chen Qiaoyun was at a loss for words.

The Magistrate slammed his gavel and demanded once more, "Mrs. Chen! Are these on this official’s desk the 'Snow Skin Soft Cheese' you were selling? Did you claim that the 'Snow Skin Soft Cheese' you made was exactly the same as that from Liu's Eatery?"

What could Chen Qiaoyun say?

These items had been taken from her baskets. As for whether they were exactly the same as Liu Guyu’s Snow Skin Soft Cheese, the officer had already asked her earlier, and she couldn’t deny it now!

What else could she say?

"I... I..."

The Magistrate slammed his gavel heavily again, shouting sternly, "Answer me: yes or no!"

Terrified, Chen Qiaoyun nearly burst into tears. She bowed repeatedly and said, "Yes... I did say that... But... I was just talking nonsense, just nonsense..."

The Magistrate asked again, "Do you know what the crime of 'producing and selling shoddy and inferior goods' means?"

Chen Qiaoyun shook her head in denial.

The Magistrate was very patient as he explained it to her again.

Upon understanding, Chen Qiaoyun turned pale with fear, her face drained of color, breaking into a cold sweat.

"Your Honor! I ... I didn't know! Your Honor!"

"I've never studied, I can't even read! I'm just a useless woman, how could I understand such things? Please spare me, Your Honor!"

"I won't sell them anymore! I'll never sell them again!"

At this point, she glanced at Qin Rongshi, timidly tugging at his sleeve and whispering, "Sec—ahem, Scholar Qin, please put in a word for me. Your mother and I used to be so close. For her sake, say something on my behalf."

Qin Rongshi did not respond, nor did he even look down at her. He simply pulled his sleeve free from her grasp.

"Silence!"

The Magistrate shouted again.

"Chen Shi, do you know that Liu's Eatery was vandalized by troublemakers today, its shop smashed, and people were injured? It all started because you were selling counterfeit soft cheese!"

"Today, it is Scholar Qin who is accusing you! You've harmed his family, and yet you expect the victim to show you kindness and speak for you?"

"Chen Shi! You have committed fraud by selling counterfeit goods, violating the law against inferior and deceptive products. According to the law, you should be sentenced to thirty lashes or public humiliation in the cangue. Considering your ignorance and your frail condition as a woman, I will spare you the lashes and sentence you to public humiliation in the cangue."

"Public humiliation in the cangue" was not as simple as it sounded.

Chen Qiaoyun had seen prisoners subjected to this punishment before—they were forced to wear thin prison garments, a wooden cangue around their necks, shackles on their feet, and parade barefoot through the streets.

Jiangyang Prefecture was large, and the parade would cover every street and alley, lasting an entire day. On that day, almost everyone with free time would come to watch, and by the next day, the entire city would know. It was a shame one could never live down.

Chen Qiaoyun was so terrified she slumped to the ground. It was only when the bailiffs grabbed her arms that she snapped back to reality, once again kowtowing and begging for mercy.

The Magistrate wasn't wrong to call her ignorant. Chen Qiaoyun truly had no idea that what she did was illegal. She had only wanted to take advantage of the situation to earn a little extra money!

There was a shop on Zhoukou Street selling soup cakes, claiming their recipe was passed down from the imperial palace, but the owner and his family were from the countryside—wasn't that also a lie?

And what about the wine shop in Babao Alley? They shortchanged customers and diluted their wine with water! Wasn't that also fraud? Why weren't they being arrested? Why only her?

Chen Qiaoyun was both frantic and terrified, truly afraid of being dragged through the streets. She was a proud woman—such humiliation would be worse than death!

In her panic, she grabbed Qin Rongshi and cursed him.

"You! This is your fault! How can a scholar be so vicious?"

The Magistrate was also furious, seeing her as a troublesome commoner causing a scene. He slammed his gavel repeatedly and shouted, "Quick! Tie up this shrew, gag her, and throw her in jail! Tomorrow, parade her through the streets!"

Listen to what she was saying! Why was it acceptable for others to sell fake wine, but not for her to sell simple pastries?

As if he were showing favoritism!

The Magistrate was seething!

In truth, the crime of selling inferior goods could be handled leniently or severely. It was often ignored unless someone brought a complaint. But hadn't she been reported to the authorities?

If she had evidence and the means, she could have reported others too!

Chen Qiaoyun was quickly subdued, her hands bound with rope, and a rag stuffed into her mouth.

Tears streamed from her eyes, her face flushed red with frustration as she shook her head in agony.

At that moment, Qin Rongshi, who was standing beside her, suddenly raised his hand and bowed respectfully, saying:

"Your Honor, since ancient times, there have been tales of filial piety, such as 'Ti Ying Saving Her Father.' The legal codes also record instances of children taking punishment on behalf of their parents. Chen Shi has a son who is over twenty."

"She may be ignorant, but her son is a scholar, having passed the imperial examination at the county level and now studying at Xiangshan Academy. While Chen Shi may be illiterate and unaware of the law, Scholar Li is not."

"If a parent errs, and the child fails to advise them, allowing them to commit a grave mistake, is that not a great lack of filial piety?"

"Your Honor, I have a request."

"This woman is declining with age and truly ignorant of the law. Why not have her son take the punishment on her behalf?"

Chen Qiaoyun understood—this young man was targeting her son. She immediately became agitated, struggling violently, twisting her body like an enraged loach, her eyes glaring furiously at Qin Rongshi, who had just spoken.

Two bailiffs stood on either side, restraining Chen Qiaoyun's arms, but they underestimated her, thinking her just a woman. It was this underestimation that allowed Chen Qiaoyun to break free. Even with her hands bound, she twisted her head and charged fiercely at Qin Rongshi.

But Qin Rongshi sidestepped, and Chen Qiaoyun, with all her momentum, slammed headfirst into a red-lacquered pillar in the hall. If the two bailiffs hadn't snapped out of it and rushed to pull her back, the impact might have caused serious injury.

Though they managed to restrain her in time, Chen Qiaoyun still hit the pillar hard. Fueled by rage and hatred, she had used all her strength, holding nothing back. The impact immediately drew blood, leaving a large gash on her forehead.

The Magistrate was so angry he was practically frothing at the mouth, slamming his gavel repeatedly and shouting, "What are you all doing? You can't even restrain a woman? Hold her down now! Outrageous, utterly outrageous! How dare she cause a scene in the courtroom, showing no respect for this court!"

Initially, the Magistrate had felt pity for Chen Qiaoyun, thinking her ignorant and misguided. But after hearing Qin Rongshi's words and learning that her son was a scholar, his anger flared anew!

Even if the woman was ignorant, her son had passed the imperial exams and must have studied the law. How could he not know these rules? Knowing yet failing to advise or stop her was unfilial!

As he was pondering this, Chen Qiaoyun caused another commotion, further enraging him.

The Magistrate said angrily, "Constable Liu, take men to Guozixiang and bring her son here!"

*

In Guozixiang, Li Youliang had just returned home.

He entered to find the house empty, with no one around.

"Dad!"

"Mom!"

He called out twice, but there was no response. Only the dog next door in the Qin family's yard heard him and barked twice.

"...Damn animal!"

Li Youliang cursed, then trudged dejectedly into the house. He checked the main room and the kitchen—both were empty.

"Tch, did Dad go to Licuo Village again?"

"And where's Mom? Shouldn't she be home cooking? Where did she go?"

Li Youliang was hungry and in a foul mood. He smacked his lips and went into the kitchen to see if there was any food. There was rice and flour, but Li Youliang didn't know how to cook. He only looked for leftovers like steamed buns or pastries to fill his stomach.

But he found nothing. His mood worsened, and he slammed the pot lid down angrily before storming out of the kitchen. He drank a large amount of water to stave off his hunger, then went into the main room to look for money, planning to eat out.

His mother had recently mentioned that Sweet Oil Balls were selling well again, so she must have made some money.

He found the money and pocketed it. Too hungry to care, he didn't even lock the door. As he passed the Qin family's yard next door, he paused for a moment.

He snorted loudly at the Qin family's gate, then lifted his chin and continued walking. After a few steps, everything suddenly went dark as a large, fat rat fell onto his face before dropping to the ground at his feet.

The fat rat squeaked twice, the length of a chopstick, its tail smacking against his cheek, its claws hooking as it tried to climb onto Li Youliang's head, but in its panic, it fell.

"Ahhh!"

Li Youliang stumbled back in fright, landing hard at the foot of the wall, his eyes wide as he watched the giant rat dart toward him.

"Meow—"

A soft, drawn-out meow sounded right above Li Youliang.

He looked up, dazed, just in time to see a sleek, tricolored cat standing on the eaves of the courtyard wall. It shot Li Youliang a disdainful look, then leaped down lightly, snatched up the large rat that had accidentally fallen, and using Li Youliang as a stepping stone, climbed back onto the eaves. It then nimbly jumped into the cherry tree and vanished from sight in moments.

Li Youliang: "..."

"Ahhh—"

He tried to collect himself for a moment but found it impossible, and screamed even louder instead.

Just as he was screaming, Constable Liu arrived with his men.

"Are you Li Youliang?"

The terrified Li Youliang nodded blankly, and then he was dragged away by Constable Liu and his men.

It wasn’t until they reached the yamen that Li Youliang snapped out of it and understood what was happening.

He knew his mother had been selling Snow Skin Soft Cheese under the pretense that it was "exactly the same as Liu's Eatery," and he was also aware of the crime of selling fraudulent goods.

But he thought, if others could do it, why couldn’t his family? It wasn’t as if they were the only ones selling fakes! There were plenty of others selling fake wine and counterfeit ceramics, making even more money. Theirs was just a small business—surely they wouldn’t be so unlucky.

But once he entered the yamen and saw Qin Rongshi, Li Youliang knew it was over.

"Y-Your Honor!"

The Magistrate said, "Li Youliang! Do you confess? Your mother falsely sold Snow Skin Soft Cheese, and as her son, you failed to admonish her. Your guilt is even greater!"

Li Youliang trembled, unsure how to defend himself.

Chen Qiaoyun was kneeling again, her hands still bound, the blood on her forehead half-dried and gruesomely caked, with a layer of dull green herbal medicine applied to the wound.

The Magistrate, seeing her head injury and unsure of its severity but aware that head wounds were serious, had sent the court physician to tend to her briefly, fearing she might die in the county office.

The rag in Chen Qiaoyun’s mouth had been removed, and now she could only kowtow repeatedly.

"Your Honor! Your Honor, we’ve been wronged! My son is a scholar, devoted to his studies—he has nothing to do with household matters! He knew nothing; I kept it all from him! Your Honor, we’ve been wronged!"

Li Youliang also looked pained, holding Chen Qiaoyun as he stared at her. "Mother... you, your head..."

Chen Qiaoyun hugged her son and wailed, as if deeply aggrieved. "My son! We’re so pitiful, mother and son—we’ve been ruined by them!"

"Chen Qiaoyun!" The Magistrate slammed the gavel angrily, shouting sternly, "You will speak reasonably! Who in this court has harmed you? Surely you don’t mean I have harmed you?"

Chen Qiaoyun shrank back, too afraid to speak further.

The Magistrate knew well that Chen Qiaoyun’s excuses were likely false, but without evidence, he couldn’t pin any blame on Li Youliang. He could only sentence him to take the punishment on his mother’s behalf.

When Li Youliang heard he was to be paraded through the streets in a cangue, his face paled.

He was a scholar—if he were publicly paraded, how could he ever hold his head up again? He wouldn’t be able to face anyone at the academy!

He kowtowed to the ground, pleading, "Your Honor! This student is willing to take the cane instead! Please punish me with caning!"

Thirty strokes... just thirty strokes... He was young... he could endure it!

Li Youliang thought this, though inwardly he was deeply uncertain.

The Magistrate granted his request, waving for the bailiffs to seize him. A long, wide punishment bench was set up outside the court, and Li Youliang was tied to it.

"Youliang! Youliang! My son!"

"Your Honor! Your Honor, spare him! This has nothing to do with him! Let me be paraded—or cane me instead!"

"My son is a scholar! He still has to study, to take exams—he can’t be caned! He mustn’t be caned!"

Chen Qiaoyun’s eyes were red from crying, her voice hoarse from screaming. She could no longer maintain her usual facade of gentleness, forced to watch as the cane fell stroke after stroke, listening to Li Youliang’s agonized cries.

Thirty strokes—the copper-tipped wooden cane striking his buttocks and thighs.

Chen Qiaoyun’s crime wasn’t severe, and Li Youliang was taking the punishment for her, so there was no need to beat him to death. Experienced bailiffs knew their trade: thirty strokes could inflict only superficial wounds, or they could cripple or kill a man.

The bailiffs held back, avoiding his lower back.

But Li Youliang had clearly overestimated himself. He was a weak scholar, accustomed to being waited on hand and foot at home. Even physical training at the academy felt like hardship to him, and he often feigned illness or injury to skip it. His greatest daily exertion was probably the walk uphill to school.

How could he endure caning?

He screamed through the first seven or eight strokes, but after that, he fell silent. By the seventeenth stroke, he had passed out.

The bailiffs stopped and reported, "Your Honor, he’s unconscious."

The Magistrate stood up, taken aback that Li Youliang had fainted so quickly. Having witnessed many punishments, he could tell the bailiffs had gone easy on him. Yet the man had still passed out before thirty strokes were completed.

After all, he was a scholar—killing him would cause complications.

The Magistrate felt somewhat conflicted.

Chen Qiaoyun wept and pleaded, "Your Honor! Your Honor! All the fault is mine alone! I was blinded by greed—punish me! Punish me alone! Caning, parading—I deserve it all!"

The Magistrate glanced at her, his mind already made up. But since Qin Rongshi was the victim in this case, he looked toward him and tentatively asked, "This man is utterly useless—he’s already unconscious, but he has shown filial piety. Perhaps we should have Chen Qiaoyun paraded instead? Having taken seventeen strokes, it counts as half the punishment. We can exempt her from going barefoot, wearing prison clothes, shackles, and the cangue—just have her paraded."

The Magistrate’s words made it clear he had already decided. Qin Rongshi could only agree, as this aligned with what he had expected.

"Your Honor is wise. Chen Qiaoyun is but a weak woman, and it is deep winter. If we were to make her parade in thin clothing, she might freeze before halfway."

The Magistrate smiled faintly, satisfied that the case could now be concluded.

He issued the order for Chen Qiaoyun to be paraded and instructed that Li Youliang be carried home.

Chen Qiaoyun, worried about her son, tried to rush to him but was dragged back by the bailiffs.

"Chen Qiaoyun! You’re to be paraded tomorrow! You’ll spend the night in jail!"

Chen Qiaoyun pleaded again, "Your Honor! My son is so badly injured—how can a mother not worry? I beg you, let me go home to care for him! I won’t run away!"

The Magistrate glared and slammed the gavel. "The state has its laws, the family its rules! This court is not yours to command! I have already shown mercy by not administering the remaining thirteen strokes! Do not overstep!"

A bailiff added, "Where is your husband? Is there no one else at home to care for him? Must it be you?"

Chen Qiaoyun trembled again, too afraid to say more under the Magistrate’s fury, worried he might order her son dragged back to receive the remaining strokes.

She remembered that when she left home in the morning, her man was still home, so Li Youliang would be looked after upon returning home.

Feeling somewhat reassured, she allowed the constables to drag her away. She spent the entire night in the jail unable to sleep, cried so much her eyes were nearly swollen shut.

The next day, she emerged from the government office with eyes swollen like peach pits, escorted by constables to be paraded through the streets.

From morning until afternoon, she walked without a crumb to eat or a drop of water, she was completely drained of spirit.

She was a woman who cared about her reputation and initially tried to cover her face, afraid of being recognized by acquaintances. But eventually, she stopped caring, like a broken pot ready to be shattered.

"Hey, what'd she do? Why is she being paraded around?"

"Oh, you haven't heard? Let me tell you, let me tell you..."

...

It wasn't until late afternoon, as the sky began to darken, that Chen Qiaoyun was finally released and allowed to return home.

Worried sick about her son, she rushed back. As she passed the Qin residence, she overheard voices inside.

"Gu Yu, how are you? Does your foot still hurt?"

"Today, I specially stewed pig's feet for you—they say it helps what hurts by eating what matches!"

"Mom, this is a human foot."

"Hey, you little rascal! You think I'd stew a human foot for you?"

"Ugh… Mom, don’t say such scary stuff."

...

Next door, the family was lively, chatting and laughing. Chen Qiaoyun heard it all, and her eyes flashed with deep hatred. But her greatest concern was still Li Youliang, so she strode on.

As she stepped into the courtyard, she noticed the main door was unlocked, and the yard was dead quiet. She got a bad feeling, and she rushed inside.

"Aiya—Li Youliang—my boy—!"

"What in heaven's name happened?!"

"Li Dacai! You fucking bastard! Plague-ridden coward! Death-deserving scum! Where'd you run off to this time?!"

-----------------------

Author's note: Constable Liu: How many times did the magistrate bang the gavel today?

(Read for now, typos not yet corrected.)