"I'll pay you back."
"But I'm poor, so I'll owe you for now."
Wang Huai had a look of indifference, as if a dead pig wasn't afraid of boiling water.
"Our family is so poor that even mice who enter would shed tears of sympathy and donate a few grains of rice to us."
"Miss Qi is so wealthy, there's no need to quibble with us over two vegetables, right?"
Facing his matter-of-fact gaze, Qi Huan refuted clearly: "First, it's not just two vegetables, but two precious off-season vegetables worth two hundred and fifty copper coins."
"Second, your poverty is not an excuse for stealing."
"Finally, besides stealing the vegetables, you did other disgraceful things that you know well in your heart."
Recalling the damaged greenhouse film, Qi Huan felt even more disgusted with them.
If stealing the vegetables was for eating or selling for money, destroying the greenhouse film was purely out of mischief from these two people.
Punishing them would serve as a deterrent, and they had no one to blame but themselves.
With physical and circumstantial evidence, no matter how Wang Huai and his wife tried to argue, it was futile. If they couldn't afford to pay, then they would be beaten to learn their lesson.
After Chen the county magistrate passed judgment according to the law, Qi Huan nudged Chen Jinyou with her elbow.
Chen Jinyou promptly raised his hand and said, "Father... Sir! Why don't we take them to the vegetable market and have them beaten with boards? The vegetable market is crowded, so others can also learn a lesson and be warned: stealing is unacceptable! Thieves will be beaten!"
After saying that, he continued to wink suggestively.
Chen the county magistrate turned away in disgust but still agreed to his request.
Wang Huai and his wife were taken to the vegetable market and each given ten heavy strokes with a board. Their buttocks were split open, bleeding profusely, and they howled like slaughtered pigs.
If they had only stolen vegetables, it wouldn't have been so severe, but they had also damaged the greenhouse film.
The bystanders began discussing the matter.
"Three-handed people are the most despicable, they deserved it!"
"Those ten strokes will probably keep them bedridden for two or three months. It's truly a case of trying to steal a chicken and losing the rice instead."
"They only stole two vegetables and poked a few holes, was it necessary to beat them so severely?"
"Hey, you're a living Buddha! Go ahead and invite them to steal from your house next time! When they leave, let them poke a few holes in your walls, and see if you still sympathize with them!"
"That's right, what they stole wasn't ordinary vegetables. Miss Qi's vegetables are all precious. In the depths of winter, she grew tomatoes and cucumbers, the only ones in Mo County. They not only stole the vegetables but also damaged some... valuable greenhouse film. Since they can't afford to pay, they have to pay with their flesh, no problem!"
...
Over tea and meals, people liked to gather and chat. The story of Wang Huai and his wife spread far and wide, and everyone knew that Miss Qi's vegetables were not to be stolen.
First, her farm was heavily guarded, and second, she would indeed report them to the authorities. If they couldn't afford the hefty fines, they would be dragged to the vegetable market to be beaten with boards, both painful and humiliating.
The damaged greenhouse film was repaired by Qi Huan with wide tape, and she said to Old Lady Wang behind her, "I hope you learn your lesson and keep a low profile."
"If there's a next time, and you cause trouble with your words, this greenhouse will be given to someone else to tend."
Old Lady Wang regretted it deeply. Thanks to the greenhouse vegetables, her family's living conditions had visibly improved, but due to her vanity and boastful mouth, she had attracted the envy of her sister's son.
She wouldn't dare do it again, not only would she not dare, but she would also share her painful lesson with her neighbors, telling them to keep their mouths shut too.
The neighboring tenant farmers, hearing Qi Huan's words, also shrank their necks in response. They reminded themselves to be cautious with their words and actions, not to cause any trouble for the farm, or else they might be replaced by the landlord and have to return to their poor living conditions. They didn't want that!
After admonishing everyone, Qi Huan said:
"From now on, leave one person on night watch, patrolling once every hour. Anyone willing to take turns on night watch can report to the farm manager. Ten copper coins per night."
Qi Huan also gave them each a bamboo whistle. If they spotted thieves, they should blow the whistle immediately.
With people on night watch, would-be petty thieves would be more deterred. Additionally, they could promptly stop thieves from damaging the greenhouse or stealing vegetables.
The profits from greenhouse vegetables were high, so ten copper coins per night for night watch was worth it for the peace of mind.
While she was dealing with these matters, Li Shuchen was also instructing Yan Wu, "Give those two a warning."
Wang Huai and his wife's crimes were not punishable by death, but they had borne a grudge against Qi Huan. Li Shuchen didn't want them to cause further trouble and vex Qi Huan in the future.
So he sent Yan Wu to give them a stern warning.
Yan Wu obeyed the order.
On his way, he remembered Qi Huan's earlier words about killing a chicken to show the monkeys, so he bought two chickens.
When night fell, Yan Wu changed into his night clothes, covered half his face, and knocked the chickens unconscious.
Arriving at the Wang residence, he found the couple lying in bed, still groaning and cursing Qi Huan in resentment.
He suddenly appeared, drew a dagger, and without much talk, slaughtered the two chickens.
Then he threatened them, "You stole first, and your beating was your own fault. If you try to cause trouble for Miss Qi or curse her behind her back, you'll end up like these chickens, with a single stab to the heart. Understand?"
Wang Huai and Mrs. Wang looked at the chickens on the ground, swallowed their saliva, and wanted to eat them!
But upon seeing the terrifying wounds and the shocking blood, they trembled and replied, "We understand."
Yan Wu nodded in satisfaction, "Remember, be honest people. I'll be watching you in the dark. If you commit any more misdeeds, next time this dagger might not just stab somewhere."
Wang Huai and Mrs. Wang looked at each other, realizing the man in black meant he would be monitoring them?
They covered their mouths, not daring to curse anymore.
Originally, they had planned to spread rumors about Qi Huan and Chen Jinyou after their injuries healed, tarnishing her reputation and venting their anger. But after being frightened by the man in black, the two immediately abandoned that idea.
After they repeatedly promised, Yan Wu wiped his dagger and prepared to return and report.
As he left, he even took the two chickens on the ground with him.
The next morning, the aroma of chicken soup wafted through Qi's small courtyard.
On a cold winter day, eating a bowl of chicken noodle soup warmed the entire body.
During these days, Qi Huan had finished copying a medical book. After breakfast, she brought it to Sun Doctor.
Copying books was not easy, and she didn't want to have to copy it again in the future when needed, so she decided to let Sun Doctor read the copy she had made and have him make his own copy.
As for the copy she had made, she would get it back after Sun Doctor finished copying it. In the future, if she had the opportunity, she would have it printed and sold at an affordable price, earning both money and merits, while also helping more patients.
After arriving at Sun's Medical Hall, Qi Huan explained her purpose.
Sun Doctor's eyes lit up with delight as he held the medical book tenderly, "Qi Huan, you are truly Uncle Sun's benefactor!"
"Sun Doctor, don't be too excited yet. What I want to tell you is that I have regained my status as a commoner, and I will be leaving Mo County after the weather warms up. Before I leave, I will give you a portion of the medicine and arrange for the Yunying Caravan to transport medicinal herbs for you. From then on, you will have to compound many of the medicines yourself."
Sun Doctor flipped through the medical book, brimming with confidence, "Qi Huan, rest assured, I will diligently study all of this content. With my own skills, I will treat the patients of Mo County."
Qi Huan smiled and nodded.
Her smile broadened when she heard the mechanical voice of the system.
