Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots
Chapter 203 - 203 203 Sentencing_1

Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Sentencing_1 Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Sentencing_1 In the Government Office, the authoritative voice was dull and heavy, and the crowd of onlookers found it extraordinary.

After so many years, this was the first time the county magistrate had opened court to hear a case in the afternoon!

Li Chang straightened his official robes.

Even though it was early autumn, he was beginning to sweat.

Looking down at the man kneeling in the courtroom, and at Xia Zheng standing beside him, Li Chang immediately felt a surge of pity for the man.

There was no need to hear the case, Lin Dashuan’s abduction and trafficking of the young girl from a good family were irrefutably proven, and, according to the laws of the dynasty, sufficient to incarcerate him for several years.

With a strike of the awe-inspiring wooden hammer, Li Chang bellowed, “Lin Dashuan, you trafficked a child, and the evidence is irrefutable.

What do you have to say for yourself?”

Lin Dashuan, kneeling on both knees, shuddered at the sound of the wooden hammer, only now fully sobering up from his drunken stupor, realizing his fantasy had been shattered.

Without needing to look up, he knew that the girl standing by his side was Little Disaster Star, Lin Yuan.

While Lin Dashuan inwardly cursed himself for not fleeing far away with the silver as soon as he got it, he also resentfully cursed at Little Disaster Star.

Seeing that he hadn’t spoken for a long time, Li Chang struck with the wooden hammer again, causing Lin Dashuan to shudder once more before he gathered his thoughts and stammered quietly, “I…

I have nothing to say.”

What else could be said?

The brothel’s madam had also been brought forward, who pointed out in person that it was Lin Dashuan who sold Xiao Linshuang to her.

Moreover, with Xiao Linshuang having been rescued from Lichun Pavilion in front of everyone, the evidence, both human and material, was now complete.

Sentencing was inevitable.

Li Chang secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, stealing glances at Xia Zheng, who stood with his arms crossed in silence, feeling fortunate that Lin Dashuan had the wisdom not to quibble, which would have caused him much trouble.

“Lin Dashuan trafficked a young girl from a good family, the evidence is irrefutable, and according to the laws of the current dynasty, this official sentences you to prison for three…”

“Cough, cough.” Xia Zheng, who had been silent until now, suddenly coughed, nearly startling Li Chang into hitting his own fingers with the wooden hammer.

Knowing that Young Master Xia was not satisfied with the three-year prison sentence, Li Chang clenched his right fist, covered his mouth, and cleared his throat, “Five?”

Xia Zheng coughed again.

Li Chang, sweating, uncertainly suggested another number, “Seven?”

This time, Young Master Xia finally did not cough but instead rubbed his handsome nose.

Li Chang understood this as a sign of satisfaction.

“Cough, cough.

Lin Dashuan trafficked a young girl from a good family into a brothel, with irrefutable evidence and, considering the severity of the circumstances and the vile impact, should be severely punished.

Now, this official sentences you to seven years in prison, to be carried out immediately!

Officers, make the record!”

Lin Yuan did not fully understand the laws of the dynasty, but she did know that although many blatant cases of selling children occurred in ancient times, the trafficking of children and women was explicitly prohibited.

One could avoid detection, but if discovered, the punishment was either imprisonment or execution.

That’s why she didn’t give in to the temptation to beat Lin Dashuan when he was caught, because a prison is such a place where a year could torture a person beyond recognition, let alone seven years!

However, while Lin Dashuan was now dealt with, there was still the matter of Lichun Pavilion.

To be honest, Lin Yuan did not have a particular distaste for brothels, after all, they were also unfortunate, only earning money in a different way.

However, Lichun Pavilion had condoned the abduction of children and purchased them at a high price, and this she could not tolerate.

Today it’s Xiao Linshuang, tomorrow who will it be?

Moreover, one can tell at a glance that the madam of Lichun Pavilion is no good person.

Who knows how many young women in her brothel were abducted and sold!

Such places, if allowed to exist, are nothing but a blight!

Lin Yuan’s look of disdain was seen by Xia Zheng, who knew that she had also included Lichun Pavilion in her contempt.

Immediately, he feigned a bow to Li Chang, who was seated on the dais, and said, “Your Honor, as for the Lichun Pavilion, what should be done with it?”

Li Chang, already as uneasy as if sitting on pins and needles, almost wet himself again when Xia Zheng gave him such a salute.

However, he wasn’t foolish and realized that Xia Zheng did not want to expose his own identity, so he quickly smoothed his chest and coughed before barking at the old procuress below, “Madam of Lichun Pavilion, involved in the abduction and sale of respectable young girls, with clear evidence against you, you shall be taken to the prison to await trial.

As for Lichun Pavilion…”

Casting a sidelong glance at Xia Zheng, Li Chang twisted his mouth in pain.

He really loathed to give up the young and beautiful girls of Lichun Pavilion.

“As for Lichun Pavilion, effective immediately, it will be sealed up.

The girls inside may decide freely whether to stay or leave.

Additionally, if any other brothels are found guilty of the same heinous act of abducting and selling respectable women, they shall be punished similarly!”

That was more like it.

Xia Zheng’s lips curved in a slight grin, and he was about to bow again.

Li Chang quickly waved his hand: “This young sir has performed a great service by rescuing the commonfolk’s daughters and exposing such villainy.

He is truly a Lucky Star for Zhuma Town, and on behalf of all its residents, I express our gratitude to you.”

Li Chang’s flattery was impeccable, and the onlookers all looked gratefully at Xia Zheng.

After all, brothels were places only accessible to the wealthy.

For these ordinary folk, it was a pit of fire that swallowed up the futures of respectable women.

If their own household wasn’t in dire straits, who would willingly send their daughters there to suffer?

And as for those who abducted people to sell for silver, Lin Dashuan and Lichun Pavilion had committed a great taboo against the common people.

The old procuress was wailing loudly as the government officials dragged her out, and Lin Dashuan was also put in shackles and led towards the prison, his face spit upon by onlookers as they left the courtroom.

At the entrance to the main hall, having heard the news and come quickly, Lin Ershuan, Third Aunt, and Sister-in-law Guizhi looked on coldly as he passed by, none exhibiting the slightest bit of sympathy or sorrow.

Indeed, Lin Dashuan had gone so far as to abduct his own nephew, and didn’t care whether he lived or died, stripping him naked and leaving him in the wilderness.

Did he not fear that, had no one come to save him, Xiao Shitou might have frozen to death or been killed by wild dogs?

By now, Lin Ershuan felt no brotherly affection for his elder brother.

Sister-in-law Guizhi was even more furious, hatred gleaming from her swollen red eyes.

As Lin Dashuan walked past her, she couldn’t hold back and slapped him several times, hissing, “Call yourself a father?

You’re nothing but a beast!

A beast!”

Third Aunt silently closed her eyes and turned her head away.

Next to Lin Ershuan and his wife stood none other than Lin Dashuan’s wife, Lady Chen.

With her husband about to be imprisoned for seven years, Lady Chen showed not a trace of sadness; instead, she observed with aloof detachment.

“You wretched woman!

Behave yourself while I’m inside, and wait obediently for my return!” Lin Dashuan snapped viciously at Lady Chen, threatening her.

Lady Chen let out a cold laugh and, for the first time in many years, she looked him directly in the eyes as she spoke slowly, yet resolutely: “Wait until you have the ability to get out, then come and teach me a lesson!”

Lin Dashuan was livid and tried to strike her, but his shackles stopped him, and he could only fume silently, glowering at Lady Chen as the government officials pulled him away, cursing under his breath.