Chapter 42 The Unavoidable Flogging

Chapter 42: Can't Escape the Rod

Seeing the suspicion in Lei Ding's eyes fade after he gave his name, replaced by blazing fury, Wu Peng felt a surge of satisfaction, his smile widening. "Rare indeed. To see someone as unflappable as you in such a towering rage."

Lei Ding stood up, gripping the bars before him with such force it seemed he might shatter the restraints. His hands trembled slightly from the strain as he barely suppressed his anger, glaring at Wu Peng. "I have no grievance with you, we've never even met. Why do you repeatedly scheme against me? The leg of the young Liu boy—was that also your doing, a plot from behind the scenes, and now you've come to the authorities to frame us?"

Wu Peng stared at him, the smile vanishing from his face, and softly repeated Lei Ding's words. "No grievance? Indeed, you are the revered and beloved physician of the people, in Yongning City even the officials give you some deference. Naturally, you wouldn't know the taste of poverty, nor would you care about a rustic folk healer like me. Fine, I won't bother arguing with you. After all, you're already a dead man walking. I'll let you die knowing why."

He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing slowly before the cell door, speaking leisurely as if recounting a story unrelated to himself. "Going too far back would be tedious, so let's start from when I arrived in Yongning City. I originally intended to go to Hedong Circuit, to the site of the Tuo River breach, to follow the refugees—I might as well be frank with you now—to profit from them. When I reached the Yongning area, I changed my mind. Since many displaced people had gathered here too, I decided to stay. Those refugees were riddled with injuries and illnesses, and many local residents had also contracted strange ailments from them. It was the perfect opportunity for me to make a fortune."

The cell was dark, with only a few small window grates letting in dusty shafts of light. The lantern hanging on the cell door held but a thin, feeble candle. Wu Peng stopped under the lamplight, his entire face shrouded in shadow, only his eyes gleaming with venomous light. "At first, medicinal herbs were in short supply in the city. A merchant from Jiangnan, carrying herbs for treating wounds and dysentery, was staying here temporarily. Back then, a single plant of such herbs could fetch a high price. I found him first and negotiated to buy his stock for twenty taels of silver. At the time, several pharmacies were also buying from him. I promised him additional benefits, so he agreed to give me three days to raise the money. I was only short five taels. With those herbs, I could have made a huge profit."

His voice grew louder, the anger on his face becoming more pronounced. "I spent two days persuading an old woman from Dayou Village to buy my charm water for five taels of silver! But you! You just *had* to stick your nose in!! Your clinic's people chose that very day to hold a free medical consultation in Dayou Village! The authorities hadn't even issued an order yet, why did you go privately to treat the villagers? Fine, let's say you're kind-hearted, you want to aid the common people, you had to go, I couldn't stop you. But that woman's family clearly hadn't invited you for a consultation; she hadn't even asked you about her condition! You just passed by her door, saw her complexion, and casually gave her a few pills! When the old woman got medicine for free, why would she spend five taels of silver? By the time I went, she shut the door in my face. I failed to raise the money, and the merchant sold the herbs to a pharmacy instead."

Lei Ding stared at him in disbelief. "You profiteered by reselling medicine at high prices—medicine that was meant to save people's lives. Using it for personal gain like that, if reported to the authorities, would land you in prison for years. Instead of feeling ashamed, you take pride in it? For such ill-gotten gains, you harbor resentment and resort to vicious schemes for revenge?"

Wu Peng looked up at him. "Haven't you heard 'cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents'? Naturally, you don't lack silver. How could you understand my situation? I was willing to sell at a high price because there were people willing to buy. A willing buyer and a willing seller, what's wrong with that? And also—" He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a prominent scar on his wrist. "Since I didn't get those herbs, I had no choice but to go up the mountain to gather more. I fell and was cut by sharp rocks, severing the tendons in my hand. Not only did I fail to make money, but I also spent all the money I had left to treat the injury. I couldn't even afford to return home, and my hand is crippled."

The wound on his hand had healed, but the hand appeared weak, hanging somewhat twistedly.

Wu Peng took two deep breaths, reining in his earlier anger. His face once again showed no trace of emotion, appearing cold and detached. "Because of your meddling, I lost my silver and became a cripple. How could I not hate you? You pride yourself on accumulating virtue and doing good deeds. The people compare you to a Bodhisattva. Fine, fine, you have the heart of a Bodhisattva. But you've ruined my entire life."

Hearing his words, Lei Ding knew further reasoning with him was futile. Wu Peng would never admit his own wrongdoing. This stirred a surge of furious indignation in Lei Ding's heart. He roared, "Your deception failed, and in your shame and anger, you harmed Liu Yu, then used him to harm me. You—"

Wu Peng cut him off. "Liu Yu's leg is his own fault. I didn't make him break it. However, when I heard he was treated at your clinic, I certainly fanned the flames. I've been lying low in the Liu household for over a month, waiting for this very opportunity. How could I miss it? I told him that since he's young, his injury would naturally heal faster than others'. I coaxed him into going out to fool around before his leg was fully healed, and he really did end up a cripple. How would he dare tell his parents the truth?"

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper in Lei Ding's ear. "I taught him a method: boil and roast the fir splint until it warps, then take it to the authorities. With five hundred taels of silver delivered to the Prefect, how could he not arrest you?"

He burst into laughter. "Perhaps once my vengeance is complete, I might even kindly perform some rites to ease your passage, so your whole family can reunite in the underworld."

Lei Ding's eyes reddened, his roar nearly tearing his voice. Wu Peng laughed even harder, doubling over with mirth until tears streamed down his face. "The taste of despair when my hand couldn't be cured—now you finally get to experience it too. Not only can you not save yourself, you'll also cause the death of your beloved husband and children. Pitiful, truly pitiful!"

He didn't look back, still laughing maniacally as he walked away. Though he left, that deranged laughter seemed to linger and echo in the cell, churning Lei Ding's insides. He lowered his head, released his tight grip on the bars, staggered back two steps, and slowly slumped against the wall to sit on the ground.

Wu Peng was right about one thing: if he died, Wu Qiu's body probably couldn't withstand it.

Perhaps from shouting too much earlier, his throat felt uncomfortable. He coughed twice and tasted a metallic tang. Wu Peng's words—"Not only can you not save yourself, you'll also cause the death of your beloved husband and children"—had agitated his qi, causing it to rebel and his blood to stray from its channels. If he didn't calm down soon, he might truly vomit blood. Lei Ding forced himself to regulate his breathing, managing not to drive himself to death in the prison right then. Yet, his body felt as if drained of sinew and bone, a profound weariness washing over him, leaving him unable to stand again.

Five hundred taels of silver—more than enough to buy the life of a commoner physician.

For the first time in his thirty years, Lei Ding felt so utterly at a loss, so utterly hopeless.

Back at the clinic, many people had already gathered. Almost all of Lei family's close friends were there. Wu Qiu refused to return to his room to rest. After drinking a bowl of fetal stabilizing medicine, his face pale and eyes red, he sat with the others in the main hall to discuss. Everyone knew that forcing him to wait anxiously alone in his room would only make him more distressed. Besides, his pulse was still relatively stable, so they agreed to let him stay.

Yu Yuan and Sun Xun, another sworn brother of Lei Ding, had each sent some of their subordinates to gather information while discussing with everyone. Yu Yuan spoke first. "Given the situation, let's all stay calm for now. We certainly can't storm the prison to rescue Lord Lei and Liang Ye. Everything must wait until the Prefect's judgment tomorrow. Since the Liu family has filed a complaint, they must have already engaged in some underhanded dealings with the authorities, likely having greased the palms of everyone in the yamen with shiny silver. But we have public sentiment on our side. The people of Yongning City have always supported the Lei family. If we gather more evidence and appeal for justice, perhaps the Prefect won't dare to actually sentence them to execution or exile."

Sun Xun nodded and continued. "But without some punishment, it would be hard to placate the Liu family. So there will definitely be some penalty, either court-ordered caning or regular beatings—in any case, they'll suffer some physical pain. But there's a trick to this. Don't underestimate those bailiffs; they rely on this for a living and have skills. For example, with caning, the blows can be light or heavy. Light ones sound loud but only leave the recipient's back red and swollen for a few days. Heavy blows fall quietly but can damage sinews and bones, or even injure internal organs—"

He originally meant to say that it could even kill on the spot, but seeing Wu Qiu sitting nearby with his pregnant belly, he feared scaring him. The words turned on his tongue, and he didn't voice them, instead continuing, "In short, life and death likely lie in the hands of those executing the punishment."

Cui Nanshan frowned. "The Liu family isn't new to dealing with the authorities; they naturally understand this well. Since they've bribed the yamen, wouldn't they also buy off these bailiffs? Wouldn't that mean…"

Yu Yuan thought for a moment. "Not necessarily. Most of these bailiffs are martial artists; they usually pride themselves on being brothers of the jianghu and often want to show some chivalrous spirit. Besides, they're essentially commoners too—who among them hasn't received help from the clinic? The Liu family has always been arrogant and domineering. I don't know about others, but the head bailiff, a fellow named Li, is honest and upright. He probably looks down on the Liu family's actions. If we appeal to his emotions and reason with him, we might still have a chance."

Upon hearing this, Lei Tan wiped his tears. "In that case, let's go beg him! Let me go, I'm sure I can beg him to save big brother's life!"

Cui Nanshan pulled him close and used a handkerchief to wipe his tears. "You're just a child. With so many of us from the clinic, sending a child to plead might make him feel slighted. It's better if I go."

Before Yu Yuan could speak, Wu Qiu, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up. "Let me go. Prepare some silver too. I'll go talk to him."

Cui Nanshan quickly stopped him. "That won't do. How can your body withstand such strain? Absolutely not. That bailiff is a rough martial artist after all. How can we let you go?"

Sun Xun, however, spoke up. "Actually, I also think Mr. Wu can do it. Dealing with these people, silver alone isn't enough. Letting him go, though it carries some risk, is precisely the way to show our utmost sincerity. We'll all wait outside, prepare a carriage and the necessary fetal-calming medicine. With so many physicians present, it should be relatively safe."

At this moment, there were no tears in Wu Qiu's eyes, only a look of firm determination. He held Cui Nanshan's hand. "Father, this concerns my husband's life. I must do everything I can to try. I know my limits. Didn't you just check me and say the baby is fine? My husband saved my life. If today I cannot exhaust every effort to save him, I would have no face to see him again in the future. Father, please let me go."

Yu Yuan urged from the side. "This matter should be done sooner rather than later. If we delay, there might be more complications. Please decide quickly, sir."

Cui Nanshan and Yang Shu exchanged a glance. Yang Shu, tears in her eyes, nodded solemnly. Cui Nanshan gritted his teeth and finally said, "Alright, then it's settled. Tan'er, lead everyone to prepare the carriage. Yue'er, go gather all the ready cash we have at home. I'll prepare the medicine. We set off immediately."

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