Chapter 22

Wang Zhaoyi, who had always defied convention, immediately thought of smuggling fake antiques the moment he heard the Japanese beauty's suggestion. Not only did that kind of business make money fast and feel good because it screwed people over, most importantly, it did not leave him with much guilt about betraying his ancestors or becoming a traitor. But a business requiring such high technical skill and secrecy was not something he could monopolize on his own, so Wang Zhaoyi immediately thought of his "illegitimate father," who specialized in forgery. And so... everyone more or less knew what happened next. Wang Qi only mentioned it briefly and did not elaborate.

Sweating profusely, Wang Zhaoyi avoided his father-in-law's nearly murderous glare and silently cursed Wang Qi for not saying what he should have said while babbling about things he should not have mentioned. Why the hell did he have to describe keeping a mistress in such detail in front of his father-in-law? Was he not beaten badly enough last time?

Zhang Linmo could not agree with Wang Qi's vile habit of enjoying his son's misfortune. As the Zhang Family patriarch and an exemplary father, Zhang Linmo had always believed that children were meant to be pampered. Though the Zhang Family was no less strict in its instruction than any gang in the Old District, aside from that, the Zhang men had always upheld the good habits of communication and leading by example. They never kept illegitimate children outside or neglected their children's upbringing, letting them run wild.

At that thought, Zhang Linmo gave Wang Qi a rather contemptuous look.

The Punishment Hall elder cleared his throat and said, "By the rules of the underworld, gang brothers are forbidden from doing business with Japanese devils, no matter what kind of business it is. In nearly a hundred years of the Old District's existence, no one has violated this iron rule. Now that Elder Wang Qi has been caught red-handed selling fake antiques, he should be subjected to the punishment of three cuts and six dismemberments according to underworld rules."

Everyone was startled. The brothers outside the hall immediately began shouting, "That's not fair! Third Elder's actions weren't treason. He was helping the ancestors of our Old District vent their anger."

"Exactly! Being able to trick Japanese devils into willingly spending money on fake junk is a skill. You couldn't do it, but Third Elder did. He should be rewarded, so how can he be punished?"

"Rules are rules, but the original purpose of those rules was to keep us from forgetting our roots and betraying our country. Third Elder and Boss Wang's actions hardly count as forgetting their roots or betraying the country, do they? Rules are dead, people are alive. We have to consider the circumstances, don't we?"

"Exactly, exactly..."

For a moment, the crowd was fired up, all opposed to the Punishment Hall elder sentencing Wang Qi and Wang Zhaoyi to extreme punishment according to underworld rules.

The bosses inside the hall exchanged silent looks. Every one of them carefully maintained a blank expression, not revealing the smugness in their hearts in the slightest.

The Punishment Hall elder silently surveyed the agitated crowd, then asked the big shots in the hall, "The underworld's rules are as weighty as mountains. But rules are dead, while people are alive. If we handle this according to the rules, it is obvious that no one will accept it. What suggestions do you elders have?"

The many bosses looked at one another before finally turning their gazes toward Zhang Linmo. Given his status and position, if this big shot did not speak first, no one else was qualified to speak.

Zhang Linmo smiled faintly and said, "The people's support matters. Since everyone opposes sentencing Third Elder and his son to extreme punishment, then we bosses must also consider the wishes of the brothers below. But the underworld's rules are as weighty as mountains, and tricking Japanese devils is not an excuse to violate them. The Old District has stood for nearly a hundred years and still commands such great prestige because we uphold rules and value loyalty. Therefore, the underworld's rules cannot be broken. Since they violated the rules, they must be punished, lest others follow their example in the future and cease to take the rules seriously."

The bosses nodded and agreed. "Boss is right."

"Then..." Zhang Linmo said, spreading his hands as he sought everyone's opinion. "Tell me, how should this be handled?"

The author has something to say: There have been too many things going on at home these past few days. Sorry to have kept everyone waiting, meow ╭(╯3╰)╮

Chapter 22

Even before the hall meeting, these big shots had already formed a united front. Now that Zhang Linmo asked, they all began putting on an act. "Righteousness Hall's investigation has confirmed that Wang Qi and his son did not commit treason, but they did violate the rules laid down by our ancestors. They may be spared the death penalty, but they cannot escape punishment. Let it be changed to one hundred heavy strokes, as a warning to others."

Another boss frowned. "With the strength of the Punishment Hall brothers, one hundred strokes would cripple a man. In our line of work, if a man is crippled, how is that any different from death?"

"Third Elder Wang Qi has served the gang for many years. Even if he has no great merits, he has certainly worked hard. Besides, while this act of forging and selling antiques was not exactly presentable, it did help our Old District vent some anger. Considering that alone... his crime does not warrant death!"

Fifth Elder Lin Jiahe, known for always smoothing things over, immediately said, "A small punishment should serve as a grave warning. Change it to fifty strokes!"

Wang Zhaoyi, who had been quietly kneeling in the center of the hall, looked at his white-haired father on the elders' seats, whose age was already showing, and said in a low voice, "No matter how many strokes there are, I am young and strong. Let me take Uncle's share as well."

After a pause, Wang Zhaoyi added, "After all, I was the one who started this. I should bear the responsibility alone."

The bosses could not help smiling at his words. Just moments ago, he had looked as though he was ready to fight to the death. Now he had turned into a filial son. This kid really was like a stubborn mule—he would not move when led, but would back away when beaten.

Wang Qi unconsciously curled his lips into a smile. He knew there had always been a knot between him and Wang Zhaoyi that could not be untied, but seeing his son willing to do this still made him very happy.

Wang Ran, standing among the crowd, curled his lip disdainfully when he saw Wang Qi's moved expression. Zhang Xianyang noticed this resentment from the Wang Family's legitimate son and secretly found it amusing.

Feng Daoxin, who was rather fond of his son-in-law, sighed and said, "Strictly speaking, I should not say anything about today's matter. But Mianmian is my only daughter, and he is my only troublemaking son-in-law. I cannot just watch him suffer without doing anything—"

Punishment Hall elder Sun Yanhe interrupted Feng Daoxin's rambling and said stiffly, "If Boss Feng has something to say, say it directly. Do not waste time."

Feng Daoxin was choked speechless by Sun Yanhe's remark. After a long silence, he finally said awkwardly, "Since Wang Zhaoyi is willing to take Elder Wang's punishment for him, if we still impose fifty heavy strokes per person, Wang Zhaoyi will receive one hundred strokes himself and still be beaten half-crippled. Could it be reduced further? After all, Zhaoyi merely acted impulsively without thinking things through. His intentions were good!"

According to the Old District brothers, no matter what methods were used, as long as Japanese devils suffered losses, it was a good thing.

Watching everyone below haggle as though they were buying vegetables at a market, Zhang Linmo finally lost patience and waved a hand. "Then Wang Zhaoyi will receive fifty heavy strokes as a warning to others. As for Elder Wang... he is advanced in years and should not undergo corporal punishment. Write a ten-thousand-word letter of repentance and burn it before the ancestral tablets to show remorse."

The moment Zhang Linmo said this, the bosses who had been enthusiastically pretending to debate immediately stopped and echoed their agreement. Wang Zhaoyi, who had been immersed in the feeling of being abandoned, finally caught on. Realizing that everyone was putting on an act for his sake, he quickly went along with it. "I was the one who broke the rules first. I am willing to accept punishment."

Sun Yanhe, the Punishment Hall elder who had long been waiting impatiently at the side, immediately ordered his subordinates to bring a long bench and large paddles into the hall. Wang Zhaoyi lay facedown on it somewhat awkwardly. Fortunately, the Punishment Hall elder did not have the perverse hobby of pulling down people's pants to spank them. The two brothers carrying out the punishment gave Wang Zhaoyi fifty solid strokes. Wang Zhaoyi stubbornly did not cry out once, but judging by his ashen face and sweat-soaked brow, the beating was truly not light. Once all fifty strokes were finished, Wang Zhaoyi did not even have the strength to crawl to his feet. The two brothers had to carry him out.

Watching Wang Zhaoyi being carried away with his legs dragging across the floor, Zhang Xianyang grew suspicious. He had thought this beating was merely an act put on by the big shots for the brothers below. But seeing Wang Zhaoyi in his current state, those fifty strokes must have been very real. He probably would not be able to get out of bed for at least a month...

As Zhang Xianyang pondered this suspicion, his gaze happened to sweep over Feng Daoxin's secretly smug face, and he suddenly understood.

Well, getting exposed for keeping a mistress and fooling around in front of one's father-in-law really did deserve punishment!

No one paid attention to Zhang Xianyang's gloating. After punishing Wang Qi and Wang Zhaoyi for violating underworld rules, Zhang Linmo ordered the hall cleared, sending away the gang brothers who had gathered outside to watch. Only the direct descendants of each family's big shots remained to sit in on the proceedings. Then he said, "I called everyone here today for two reasons. First, to punish Wang Qi and Wang Zhaoyi for breaking the rules. Second, to discuss the current situation in our Old District."

At this point, Zhang Linmo paused briefly, silently organizing his thoughts before continuing. "Since the fall of the Qing Dynasty, for more than a hundred years since the Old District was founded, what we have valued has been nothing more than ancestral laws and underworld rules. Respecting rules, valuing loyalty, and following ancestral laws have become an inseparable part of our Old District. Thus, outsiders see the Old District as rigid, conservative, decayed, and backward. Those outside see us as bandits, and we maintain an extremely strong vigilance against the outside world. We refuse to accept outside forces and ideas because we fear being changed, fear being assimilated, and fear that any change will break the Old District's existing balance. Because we know that in the Old District, where gang factions are intricately intertwined, any uncertain factor could bring enormous upheaval. That is not something we wish to see."

As Zhang Linmo spoke, the brothers inside and outside the hall all grew solemn.

Zhang Linmo sighed and said somewhat helplessly, "If possible, I would not want to change either. But in recent years, those outside have been paying more and more attention to the Old District's activities. The spies and informants within the Old District have also become increasingly active. Reliable intelligence confirms that Yanjing has already begun making moves. Having Wang Qi's crime of selling antiques exposed before Xianyang in hopes of interfering in the Old District's internal affairs was only the beginning. As the Old District reform plan proceeds, they will have more moves to come. We cannot simply watch them disrupt the Old District's situation and do nothing. That is also why I summoned everyone here today."

As he spoke, Zhang Linmo beckoned. The well-prepared Zhang Xianyang immediately distributed the materials he had prepared in secret to the bosses present. Watching the many bosses lower their heads and carefully study the contents, Zhang Linmo sighed. "An old saying goes: water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize one. At present, our Old District ship is too conspicuous—so conspicuous that it has become an eyesore. If we are to better ride the wind and break the waves, we can only hide beneath the water for now and wait for the right opportunity."

Zhang Linmo said this because of the people from Yanjing's intelligence bureau, and also because Gu Zhaohuan had privately revealed that certain forces in the capital were actively preparing to make a move.

Ever since Gu Zhaohuan submitted the Old District reform plan to Yanjing, Yanjing's big shots had begun paying close attention to this reform proposal, whose importance was no less than "peaceful evolution." Behind the proposal, they saw hope for peacefully taking over the Old District's complete governing power. Thus, Gu Zhaohuan, the current mayor of the Old District who had successfully persuaded the Old District Zhang Family to accept and implement the plan, and the Gu Family behind him naturally became the focus of everyone's attention. To ensure the plan proceeded smoothly, Yanjing spared no expense in increasing fiscal appropriations, granting favorable policies, and coordinating with Gu Zhaohuan's actions on multiple fronts.

That was why, less than two months after Zhang Linmo submitted the reform plan to the government, Gu Zhaohuan had been able to secure sufficient funding to restore the Old District's cultural historic sites as a whole, as well as substantial preferential policies for attracting investment. In order to win over and appease the local forces in the Old District, Gu Zhaohuan had even been granted the authority to assess outstanding local individuals and bring them into the system. After all, from the perspective of the nation and the greater good of the people, Yanjing and the Old District did not have irreconcilable conflicts. Seeking common ground while setting aside differences and developing together was the best possible outcome.