Ji Chenghe smiled and said, "Very well. Since that is the case, you may return. There is no need to try this case where you accuse Hongshu Village."
"Why?!" the people of Qianfei Village were extremely puzzled.
Ji Chenghe stood up and said slowly, "You have just stated that your child unwarrantedly pulled off someone else's pants and insulted them with abusive language, which indeed deserved a beating.
However, this afternoon, your child committed the same mistake as this child, rudely pulling off Tianya's pants and wantonly spewing vile curses at him. Tell me, does your child deserve a beating? If so, what reason do you have to accuse others?"
The villagers of Qianfei Village were left speechless.
After a long pause, someone said, "But these children were beaten too severely. Even if they made mistakes, a few words of instruction would have sufficed. They didn't deserve to be beaten like this; my child's arm was broken."
Another woman shrieked, "Moreover, the Madam of the Dong family also slapped my son twice. How could she, an adult, bother with a child!"
"Why did she slap your son?" Ji Chenghe asked, narrowing his eyes.
The woman flinched slightly. "Wasn't it because he just said a few nasty things to her adopted boy?"
"How dare you bring that up!" Ji Chenghe snorted. "How old is your son?"
"Twelve," the woman replied with a sullen face.
Ji Chenghe gave a cold smile. "As a young man, he is already twelve years old and still doesn't know how to behave, spewing insults at others without reason. Doesn't he deserve a beating?
A father's fault if the upbringing is lacking!
Madam Lu was merely helping you educate your child. In the future, if you parents do not properly teach your children how to conduct themselves, more people will slap them!"
"But no matter what, our children's injuries cannot be let go like this! We have no money to treat them! You officials cannot only protect the wealthy!" someone shouted from the crowd.
"That's right!" the people of Qianfei Village all agreed.
At this moment, Bai Sheng stepped forward and said loudly, "I promise to treat your children's injuries.
However, please understand that this is not something we owe you, but a condition of exchange.
From now on, none of you are to mention Tianya's name again, nor are you to spread rumors outside. If I find out, I will cut off your tongues! This Madam—means—what—she—says!
If you cannot agree to this, then take your injured children and get out the way you came.
With justice on our side, this Madam fears no false accusations from you!"
Ji Chenghe looked at the stunned people of Qianfei Village. "Do you agree?"
What else could they do if they didn't agree? Their children's arms needed to be reconnected.
The villagers of Qianfei Village all nodded in silence.
Bai Sheng gazed at them coldly and emphasized again, "Remember, you are not to mention a single word about Tianya to anyone, or your tongues will be cut off!"
This woman is truly too cruel! The people of Qianfei Village felt a cold sweat break out on their bodies.
Tong and Tie led the injured children to Granny Wu for treatment. Ji Chenghe ordered the new village head of Qianfei Village to be summoned.
"Village Head Sun, do you know why I named your village 'Qianfei' (Former Non-existent)?" Ji Chenghe asked Village Head Sun with sharp eyes.
Village Head Sun wiped the cold sweat from his brow and bowed, "Lord Ji hopes that the people of this village will regret their past mistakes and become new people."
"But have you achieved that?" Lord Ji slapped the table.
Village Head Sun, startled, immediately knelt down. "Today, I went to the town yamen to verify household registrations and returned very late. I beg Lord Ji's forgiveness."
Lord Ji's expression softened. He bent down to help him up, patted his shoulder, and said earnestly, "If the beam above is crooked, the beam below will also be crooked. The moral education and atmosphere of a village have a great deal to do with the village head in charge.
Managing a village is like managing a country. Establish good rules, govern people with rules, reward and punish justly, cultivate virtue and self-discipline, and permeate this over time. Gradually, the village's customs will undergo great changes.
If that doesn't work, then learn from Hongshu Village! I hope Village Head Sun does not disappoint my expectations."
Village Head Sun immediately replied respectfully, "Lord Ji, rest assured, I will do my best to manage Qianfei Village well."
Ji Chenghe nodded. "Later, take all the villagers back. You should be well aware of how to handle them."
"Yes," Village Head Sun bowed.
After returning to her room, Bai Sheng took out several medical books, wanting to find other methods to treat Tianya.
The child is still young, and the earlier the treatment, the greater the possibility of restoring function. However, finding the living corpse worm is truly difficult.
Lu Ye walked over, placed his hand on her shoulder, and gently massaged it. "Still worried about Tianya?"
Bai Sheng nestled into Lu Ye's embrace, deep in thought. "Husband, tell me, what if I find a fresh little penis to transplant to Tianya?"
"Transplant?" Lu Ye had never heard of such a treatment method.
Bai Sheng grabbed one of his fingers and explained, "For example, if your finger was cut off and gone, I could reattach a fresh finger. Although its function wouldn't be as good as the original, it could still be used."
Lu Ye chuckled. "That method is acceptable, but where would one get a fresh little... penis? We can't just find a child and cut it off, can we?"
Bai Sheng sighed deeply. "That's the most difficult part. Moreover, even if it were reattached, if its function is not good, it would still be a shadow in Tianya's heart. Alas, this child... is too pitiful. Who would be so cruel to lay such a heavy hand on a child?"
Lu Ye embraced her again. "If this is Tianya's fate, he must bravely accept and face it."
Bai Sheng closed her eyes, trying to dispel the suffocating feeling pressing down on her chest.
Time flew by, and it was the day before the full moon banquet for the fourth cub.
After breakfast, Lu Ye gathered everyone in the household, as well as all members of the security team and the special surveillance team responsible for identifying faces and other characteristics.
Prince Yu also called his dozens of guards and held a meeting with Lu Ye's household staff.
After the previous assassin incident, the Empress and the Crown Prince would surely have more plans, and tomorrow's full moon banquet would be the perfect opportunity for an attack.
Seeing everyone seated, Lu Ye said loudly, "Tomorrow is the full moon banquet for my fourth treasure. The entire village will be invited, and there will be a large number of guests, with a mixed crowd. To ensure everyone's safety, all of you must keep your eyes and ears open, and be vigilant about any suspicious people or matters.
The kitchen, wells, warehouses—anything that enters must have dedicated personnel watching to prevent poisoning; the outskirts of Hongshu Village will have patrols to prevent suspicious individuals from entering the village. Ma San, Yang Ming, you are responsible for the deployment of personnel in these areas."
"Yes, Master!" the two replied respectfully.