The village chief could not completely believe Zhou's words. But since what happened in their Erlizi Village, as the village chief, he really needed to inquire clearly to avoid anything going wrong in the future. And he looked at this young man, although He was kneeling, but he had his own character, and there was no arrogance or contempt for him. Therefore, he was willing to ask more questions and give the other party a chance.
The summer sun never hesitates to release its fiery heat.
The sun was scorching hot at this time, making the bluestone floor in the center of the patio very hot. Shen Ling knelt on the ground, feeling pain like a spike in his knees. His inner knees were wrapped with thin strips of cloth. It was made by tearing off old clothes. At this time, there was a wet feeling on the cloth strip, which must have been soaked in blood.
But no matter how warm the sun was, or how painful his body was, it couldn't compare to the coldness he felt in his heart.
It is as cold as the dead winter.
"I have never done anything against the laws of nature."
Shen Ling answered the village chief without flinching when looking at Zhou's eyes.
"Huh, if that's the case, what can't be said? If you make it clear, then I won't punish you today!"
Before the village chief could speak again, Mrs. Zhou rushed back and said, "But if you still don't want to say anything, don't blame me for carrying out the family law."
Shen Ling was kneeling on his knees. His gaze, which he had just stared at Mr. Zhou, became silent again. He lowered his head, obviously not wanting to answer any questions.
"Young boy from the Shen family, since you haven't done anything harmful to the world, why don't you say a word?" The village chief frowned slightly.
He felt that this matter was a bit difficult to handle.
Although the two of them were mother and son in name, judging from Zhou's style, they didn't take the eldest son to heart at all. They said they were concerned, but from the looks of it, they looked more like they wanted to deal with it quickly.
The village chief raised his head and glanced lightly at the upper left corner of the main room. He saw the disgust and hatred in Zhou's eyes that could hardly be concealed, and he shook his head inwardly.
After all, Shen Ling was polite. If the village chief asked again, even if he couldn't explain the reason, he still had to answer.
He raised his head and looked in the direction of the village chief.
But he caught a glimpse of Zhuang Keqing standing next to the old man with a worried look on his face.
The girl was wearing a light blue linen shirt, with a rosy complexion and clear eyes. She no longer showed the fragility and trance of yesterday.
It'll be fine if nothing happens.
Shen Ling felt at ease.
His eyes only stayed on the girl for a brief moment, then he turned away and said to the village chief: "Please forgive me, village chief, I really can't talk about this matter." He paused and slightly shook his injured right hand. He shook his hand and felt a tingling sensation in his palm, "But I can guarantee that I have not done anything detrimental to the village."
"this.."
Several elders looked at each other and felt that it was difficult to handle.
This kid doesn't want to tell the truth no matter what.
In fact, they didn't think that this young man could commit any major crime on his own. He just came back with wet clothes and an injured hand. Maybe he accidentally fell into the river out of fun? It's not often that children in the village went to the river to play naughty, and they just came back to ask for help. What's the big deal if a parent slaps you?
The leader, the elderly man surnamed Sun, was about to plead for mercy and ask Mrs. Zhou to let the child get up first, when he heard a "bang".
It turned out that Mrs. Zhou suddenly put down the tea cup in her hand. The movement was too sudden, and the sound she made was crisp and heavy, which shocked the wet nurse Lin standing behind her and her brows jumped.
"I've given you so many opportunities, but I still don't say anything! That's the case, Liu De!" Zhou stared at Shen Ling below with hatred, "Bring it to me!"
"Yes!" Uncle De replied. He took the wooden stick that had been prepared from the servant behind him, walked behind Shen Ling, and raised it to the straight spine.
"etc!"
Just as the village chief was about to speak, someone shouted loudly before him.
Zhou raised her eyelids and saw a girl serving tea next to the village chief. She didn't pay attention. Instead, she leaned back on the chair and chuckled: "Where did this wild girl come from again? When did the Shen family invite us?" Are you here? Why don't you blast me out?"
After saying that, without her needing to give instructions, the two servants standing behind came over and wanted to drag the person out.
Zhuang Keqing didn't wait for anyone to come up behind him, and spoke like a barrage of words: "Although I don't know this young master, I have met him several times. He chops wood in the morning and does laundry in the afternoon. If As Mrs. Zhou said, she treated him more kindly and cared for him more, so how could she do this? Could it be that his status at home is not even as good as that of a servant!"
The rush of words seemed to peel off the fake skin of her loving mother just now, which made Zhou's chest feel tight with anger and her fingertips trembled. She wanted to say something to refute this girl, but she pointed at the other girl with trembling fingers. Unable to speak.
Zhuang Keqing glared fiercely at the two servants behind her who were about to catch her, but the two looked at each other in confusion, not knowing whether they should catch her or not.
Seeing that the situation was getting a little out of control, Uncle De stepped forward to make amends, "Madam, it's just for the eldest son's benefit!"
"In the county town, the eldest son is extremely stubborn and the old man has no children. However, my wife believes that only through hard work and hard work can he change his temper and return to the right path."
Zhuang Keqing almost laughed out loud. Who could believe such an answer? Only Zhou, the leader, slightly loosened his grip on her heart. When she saw the village chief and several gay men lowering their heads, she didn't know what was going on. What were I thinking? Even though I was anxious, I didn't want to be at a disadvantage.
"I am the mistress of the Shen family, so I won't argue with a little girl like you." Mrs. Zhou adjusted her sitting posture, pretending to be reserved, picked up the tea cup that she had just thrown on the short table, opened the lid and lightly He took a sip, covered his lips, and glanced at Uncle De, who was standing behind Shen Ling.
"Since he doesn't want to say that he will be punished by law, let's do it!"
As soon as Zhou finished speaking, the wooden stick in Uncle De's hand carried the wind and hit Shen Ling's back. With just one blow, the young man fell to the ground.
The village chief and the elders frowned and showed unbearable expressions, but they could not find any reason to stop it.
Zhuang Keqing was even more anxious. She opened her mouth and wanted to denounce Zhou's cruelty as she just did, but the village chief grabbed her sleeve.
She looked at Shen Ling again.
The young man's face was pale, but the half of his face that was turned towards him showed neither sadness nor happiness. He only shook his head slightly towards himself, as if to tell her not to speak up for him anymore.
The boy's back was thin. He was kneeling on the ground. The bulges on his spine and the shape of his shoulder blades were clearly visible. He was hit with a wooden stick at this time, but he still managed to hold himself up. The wound on the palm of his right hand was split open and scratched. There was blood seeping from the bandage, but he seemed not to feel it and straightened his back little by little.
"Say or not!" Uncle De asked again. He did not ask Shen Ling to answer, and raised the wooden stick in his hand high.
The boy's silent back naturally answered him.
Uncle De was also a little panicked. It's not like he had never beaten his servants over the years, but none of them started crying and crying before they were beaten.
He raised his head and glanced at Mrs. Zhou above, but found that his mistress had already turned her head to one side, as if she could not see this tragic scene at all.
That being the case, he thought.
Gritting his teeth, he raised the wooden stick in his hand again.
