Chapter 358: Beheading
Translator: Henyee Translations , Editor: Henyee Translations
County Magistrate Shen, who had returned to his post, rolled his eyes. “You reminded me. Those two, go to the mine now. This unruly person can’t be taught. Let her catch up on her lessons in the prison. Also, it’s almost noon. What are you waiting for?”
Old Madam Ning immediately trembled uncontrollably. “I-I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die! Please let me go. I don’t want to die!”
County Magistrate Shen clicked his tongue. “If you knew that this would happen, you wouldn’t have done it. Does the Ning Family’s first wife want to die? Does your second son want to die? Does the young mistress of the General’s Residence, who was almost killed by you last year, want to die? You don’t show mercy when you kill people, but you know how to be afraid now?” These crimes were each more terrifying than the last. They also clearly let the surrounding commoners know what kind of character Old Madam Ning had. It was already good enough that they didn’t throw rotten eggs at her, let alone defend her.
As she was thinking, a pile of rotten vegetables, leaves, and rotten eggs suddenly flew over and smashed into Old Madam Ning’s face.
“Oh my, the heavens have finally opened their eyes. They’re finally going to take you in, you horrible old woman!”
Looking at the beautifully dressed woman in front of him, Ning Fengman almost didn’t recognize her.
The former Second Aunt Ning was now Miss Cuihua. Her lips were bright red and she was wearing a bright dress. She was dressed especially festively as she waved her handkerchief at the crowd. “Hello, everyone. I was once the daughter-in-law of the Ning Family’s old residence. Now, I’m working at Huaman Brothel on South City Street. If anyone throws vegetables at this old woman today, I’ll accompany him for a night for free!”
Oh my, the commoners hurriedly covered their children’s eyes and ears and sighed at how immoral she was.
Second Aunt Ning acted as if she couldn’t hear them. She explained her grudge with the Ning Family’s old residence at the top of her voice, making Old Sir Ning want to find a hole to hide in.
Before he was pulled away by the officials, he looked at Ning Fengman with hope. “I’m your biological father!”
Ning Fengnian sighed, knelt on both knees, and kowtowed to him three times.
“Not anymore.”
Old Sir Ning wanted to say more, but Ning Fengnian had already stood up. -There’s something you and Third Brother might not know. If I sue further, your crimes won’t be sent to the mines, but…
He pointed at the execution platform. Old Sir Ning’s knees went weak and he almost knelt down.
They wished they could leave as soon as possible, but County Magistrate Shen changed his mind. “Since you’re already here, you three can watch the execution first.”
W-watch what? Old Sir Ning, Third Brother Ning, and Little Aunt Ning looked at the execution platform shakily. Could it be…
Shen Congjun narrowed his eyes and patted Ning Ansheng. Did you call that woman over?”
Ning Ansheng looked down and didn’t admit or deny it.
The people in the old residence were thick-skinned, so they needed someone with even thicker skin than them to suppress them. After this commotion, he did not believe that those people would dare to cause trouble in the future.
Oh, they didn’t have a chance anyway.
“It’s time!” The muscular executioner took a sip of wine and sprayed it at the blade. Every time the cold saber landed, it created a scene of blood splattering. Little Aunt Ning screamed and fainted. Although Third Brother Ning was still conscious, he and Old Sir Ning emitted an embarrassing stench at the same time-they were so frightened that they lost control of their bowels.
Seeing this from below the stage, Old Madam Ning, who was experiencing the threat of death at close range, rolled her eyes and fainted.
The bailiff on the execution ground asked with a look County Magistrate Shen waved his hand. “Kill the others first.”
This was not preferential treatment. Old Madam Ning woke up halfway, but the moment she opened her eyes, she saw a head fall to the ground again. She was so frightened that her soul almost left her body. This feeling of knowing that she would die but not knowing when was too torturous. She trembled and felt that every day felt like a year. She felt that it was better to die early and reincarnate.
The longer it took, the more terrifying Old Madam Ning felt. Old Sir Ning, Third Brother Ning, and Little Aunt Ning trembled even more.
They were all native farmers. In their lives, they would usually tremble in fear when they heard about it, let alone watch people beheaded. After today, they would have nightmares for who knew how long!
Hence, when the executioner called Old Madam Ning’s name, they actually had a strange feeling that they were about to be released from their torture. Old Madam Ning wanted to die but didn’t want to at the same time. She fainted again after being picked up. County Magistrate Shen ordered calmly, “Wake her up with water.”
“It’s only right and proper for you to pay with your life. There’s no reason for the person you killed to die innocently, but you can die in ignorance. Wouldn’t that be very unfair to the dead?”
The surrounding commoners agreed. Second Aunt Ning even took the lead and shouted, “The county magistrate is wise!”
A bucket of cold water was poured over her head. Old Madam Ning couldn’t continue to faint even if she wanted to. County Magistrate Shen just wanted her to be executed awake and had no intention of torturing her. Therefore, the executioner ended her life with a slash. County Magistrate Shen looked at Ning Fengnian’s expression and said, “Brother Ning, why don’t you go back and rest first? I’ll disturb you another day. I’ll talk to my junior brother first today.” Ning Fengnian must have mixed feelings now. It wasn’t appropriate for him to come and freeload at this time. However, he had serious matters to attend to and couldn’t delay. Hence, he pulled Ning Ansheng to “So It’s You” and ordered a bunch of food with familiarity. He only asked him after he was half full.
“Have you chosen the location of your fields?
“Do you mind if I help you choose?”
“If you’ve chosen, do you mind changing it?
Ning Ansheng:…
Ning Fengnian, who had returned home, thought that he would be a little disappointed or guilty for a while. However, when he saw his wife, whose abdomen was slightly protruding, watering the flowers and plants in the courtyard with a kettle, he realized that his heart was filled with relief. Hearing her husband’s voice, Madam Song turned around. “How is it? Is it troublesome?”
Ning Fengnian strode forward and hugged his wife. “It’s all settled. Let’s live our lives in peace in the future. We’ll raise the baby and take care of the children. In the future, when we have nothing to do, we’ll give birth to a few more brats.”
Madam Song blushed and spat at him.
From the looks of it, the matter should have been resolved. “Where’s Ansheng?” Ning Fengnian told her, “He left with County Magistrate Shen. Oh, I forgot to tell you that County Magistrate Shen is back and is still the county magistrate of Xijiang County. He is going to plant new rice seeds in Xijiang County.” Madam Song was surprised. “In Xijiang County? Are your lands also in Xijiang County?”
Ning Fengnian slapped his head. “Oh right, what a coincidence!”
It was not a “coincidence”. Even if he did not choose the best quality land in Xijiang County, County Magistrate Shen would persuade him to change it. Because County Magistrate Shen needed a farmer to help with the planting of new rice seeds, he thought of Ning Fengnian at once.
It was true that Ning Fengnian was wasted in the old residence, but it was also true that he had trained his farming skills.
He was not like others who started to complain and slacked off after being thrown a lot of work. Even if the old residence was filled with lazy people who left all the work in the fields to him, he had never thought of casually dealing with them. He was a diligent and humble person. If some old people nagged at him about some tricks to farm, he would listen carefully, unlike others who were not bothered to listen.
The more he was willing to listen, the happier the older generation was to teach him. After this exchange, he really learned his skills..
