Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 465 - 423: Countersuit

As Sun Wulin’s wife and the others approached, they realized there were not just two government officers, but four.

Among them, two had gone to Qi Lizheng’s house to look for Qi Lizheng.

The government officer beside Qi Lizheng, Cui Dacheng, asked Jiang Han, "Why is there a woman here? Did women also join in the fight?"

Jiang Han cursed and said, "What are you talking about, that Jiang Dingcai is lying, saying the Sun Family came to them because of a verbal argument and started a fight. It’s not like that at all. That crippled son of the Jiang Family blocked the Sun Family’s daughter on the road. How could they not beat him up?"

"Wow, that Jiang Haifu looks as weak as a chick, yet he dares to do such a thing? What kind of people do these officers hate the most?"

It’s undoubtedly people like Jiang Haifu who harass virtuous women.

At this time, a woman’s reputation was more important than life itself. Losing it would often drive them to seek death.

Not to mention, every year our government processes the population registry, and the number of women who commit suicide due to shame is shocking.

Every family has women, whether it’s mothers or daughters. Having served as government officials for many years, encountering such cases made them feel, when considering it from a different perspective, that a woman’s life was indeed pitiable.

Some, with slightly thicker skin, would choose not to die but escape far away to an unfamiliar place to live in obscurity.

There were also those thin-skinned women who, having accidentally seen a man urinate by the roadside, felt so ashamed that they hanged themselves after returning home.

"The Jiang father and son dare to twist the truth before the government; when it’s time for a beating, let me handle it! I will teach him a proper lesson!" Cui Dacheng was rubbing his hands with anticipation.

Jiang Han knew that Cui Dacheng’s cousin had committed suicide out of shame after being harassed at a festival, so whenever there was a case of harassment, Cui Dacheng insisted on executing the punishment himself.

He didn’t mind letting Cui Dacheng handle the beating duty, but he said, "I’m afraid there won’t be any beatings today."

"Why?" Cui Dacheng was puzzled. Wasn’t the usual punishment to give thirty strikes and then have the offender compensate the humiliated woman?

As they walked, Jiang Han explained, "Did you not see the new laws we posted this morning?"

"Well, there were too many words. How could I read each one? I just glanced over them. What’s changed? Are beatings not allowed anymore?"

Cui Dacheng frowned, thinking if beatings were no longer a punishment, harassment would only increase?

"Yes, they changed it. No more beatings; for someone like Jiang Haifu, who tore half a girl’s sleeve, it’s straight to execution by hanging!"

Jiang Han kindly explained the new laws concerning harassment to Cui Dacheng.

Cui Dacheng was delighted, "So those who lay hands on others are hanged, and verbal harassers get sixty-seven strikes?"

"Exactly!" Jiang Han hadn’t expected that the new emperor would impose such severe penalties.

"Oh! The Emperor is wise!" Cui Dacheng exclaimed loudly!

"The Emperor is wise!" The people following the officers from the Sun Family beamed with smiles.

"It seems what Sister Xiaolian said is true; the laws have really changed!" Sun Wulin’s wife excitedly grabbed Sun Manyue’s hand, "Sister Yue, don’t be afraid. The government is on your side, and so is heaven!"

After relaying Su Jingchen’s message to Qi Lizheng, Cao Gen went to the Yu Family and did not accompany the Sun Family to the county government.

Jiang Han led the Sun Family promptly to the Luocheng County Government.

When they arrived at the court, the Jiang Family was nowhere to be seen.

The plaintiff was absent? What kind of case could be tried like this?

Min Fengyi immediately sent someone to find the Jiang father and son, only to hear from the clinic that they read the new laws this morning and then left, saying they were dropping the charges.

Perplexed, Min Fengyi was soon enlightened when Jiang Han whispered the situation to him.

Min Fengyi looked at the Sun Family, the implication clear: the Jiang Family might have dropped their case, but you can file a counterclaim against them. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The Sun Family initially thought to let it go, having already broken Jiang Haifu’s leg and knocked out his teeth; they felt the punishment was sufficient.

However, Qi Lizheng spoke up, advocating that the Sun Family should counter-sue the Jiang Family.

Min Fengyi also subtly encouraged the Sun Family to file a counterclaim against the Jiang Family.

A new official needed to make a strong impression, after all.

Was execution by hanging appropriate?

Under the persuasion of Qi Lizheng and Min Fengyi, Sun Wulin’s wife resolutely decided to counter-sue the Jiang Family, reasoning that her daughter’s reputation was already tarnished, and the loss couldn’t get much worse since they were about to leave Luocheng anyway.