If you can't make it on Xianyu (a second-hand marketplace), you'll end up losing your whol

Chapter 28 The Constable Makes an Example

The broom of cakes was quickly distributed by the constables.

Those who are extremely hungry will pick it up and start eating immediately.

But there are always some people who become ecstatic when given a little encouragement and will jump on any bandwagon when given a challenge.

One of the prisoners suddenly stood up and shouted at the guards, "Is this edible? You can't even bite into it. It's more like a stone."

When someone takes the lead, others follow, and still others help to spread the seedlings.

"Exactly! Just like the stones on the ground."

"You've made hot soup, can't you at least give me some hot soup to soak the flatbread in?"

"They also have grilled fish!"

"Why are we being fed this! Ugh... Pfft..." A spoiled brat, his face full of resentment, spat out a piece of bread.

"Thud." He even threw the cake directly at the constable's feet.

This angered the servants who were distributing meals. They stopped what they were doing and stared coldly at the troublemaking spoiled brat.

Thinking to himself that today's scenes started a bit early, they hadn't even had enough to eat and drink before the filming began, it was all because of that wretched rich kid.

I just said we shouldn't waste food, and you've already forgotten it completely. You really deserve a beating.

From the group of supervisors standing nearby, a burly leader stepped forward. Holding a rattan whip, he strode up to the spoiled brat, slowly circled him, and coldly spoke.

"You think you're so great just because I give you face! Wasting food, looks like you're not hungry, huh?"

The leader beckoned to the soldiers not far away, "Guys, find a place to spar with him."

The prisoners around who heard this dared not breathe. They lowered their heads and silently ate their biscuits, grinding their teeth.

"Da da da......"

Several tall, burly soldiers strode menacingly into the prisoner's quarters, grabbed the spoiled brat by the collar, dragged him to the riverbank, and in the ensuing scuffle, threw him into the river.

"Splash, splat..."

In the quiet night, the sound was exceptionally clear.

"If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to drink the penalty shot. Go stay in the river and sober up."

"They've all been exiled, yet they still can't see reality."

"If you don't want pancakes but want fish, go catch it yourself."

"If they arrest more people, it will save us trouble."

Hahahaha!

A group of officials laughed and joked incessantly.

The spoiled brat was thrown into the river, terrified and stumbling. After struggling to get close to the shore, the soldiers on the bank showed no mercy and kicked him again. This happened several times, but the spoiled brat could not climb out no matter what he did.

"Catch fish! What are you dawdling for? If you don't catch enough and want to come ashore, no way."

"Hahahaha!"

"Do you even know who my father is?! If I get into trouble, you'll all be in big trouble!"

"Hey, you don't even know who your dad is? How are we supposed to find out? That's hilarious!"

"Haha, he can even ask such a stupid question."

Even after all this, the spoiled brat still didn't understand the situation and angrily slapped the water and shouted.

"Just wait for me."

A middle-aged man with a square face, not far from the shore, shook his head and sighed, "That kid is really ignorant. Alas!"

He turned to his family and instructed them, "You've all seen it, so watch your temper!"

"Father, we understand."

"That Chen Zishuo is stupid, soaking in water more often is good for you..."

A woman next to the middle-aged man quickly interrupted their conversation: "Eat your pancakes, don't talk."

The family looked at each other, silently picked up the cakes in their hands, opened their mouths to bite, and chewed hard. As long as it could fill their stomachs, it was considered food.

On the riverbank, several soldiers were still making fun of that spoiled brat. It started with one kick from you, then another, and it escalated to one whip from you, then another.

The young master's screams echoed through the night, frightening the nearby prisoners so much that they dared not even look, fearing they would get into trouble.

The constable's tactic of making an example of someone to scare others made everyone realize the reality.

If the prisoners want to reach their place of exile safely, they must always remember their current status and obey the orders of the guards. Anyone who displeases the guards will suffer a terrible fate! The one in the river is a perfect example.

Having just finished eating and drinking, Zhu Chongba walked slowly along the riverbank with his hands behind his back, his eyes glancing towards the prisoners.

He could spot the Wen family's circle at a glance. The family was really easy to find; even the prisoners knew to stay away from them, as the Wen family's circle was quite far from other people's.

Lord Zhu pondered for a while, then asked his attendants, "Has anyone from the Wen family made any requests?"

The attendant shrugged and replied, "No."

Zhu Chongba raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

This family consists mostly of women and young children. No one can predict what dangers they will encounter on the road, or how many of them will make it to the end.

He glanced at the Wen family members, then turned to look at the prisoner in the river, and ordered, "That's enough for the one over there."

The attendant chuckled and replied, "Understood, sir. I'll go find Cheng Tou and the others."

Lao Cheng, Cheng Chongshan, was the leader of the soldiers escorting this time. He was a general from the southern barracks and was temporarily assigned to the escort team.

The constable ran to the riverbank, found Lao Cheng among the soldiers, and honestly delivered the message.

"Chengtou, Lord Zhu said that this is about enough."

Cheng Chongshan paused for a moment without speaking, squinted at the direction where Zhu Chongba was standing, and shouted loudly to the riverbank, "Brothers, let's eat!"

Upon hearing their leader's shout, the soldiers on the riverbank mumbled a few words, scooped up the spoiled brat, threw him onto the bank, and drove away.

The second-generation rich kid, whose real name is Chen Zishuo, is the orphan of a fallen noble family in the capital. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by the old Marquis Chen. He is eccentric, short-tempered, and idle. Before his death, the old Marquis used his connections to find him a job guarding the treasury. As he worked, Chen Zishuo became a seasoned veteran. This time, he was accused of embezzling military funds and was exiled to the frontier.

He lay on the shore, soaking wet, looking almost unconscious. If it weren't for the rise and fall of his chest, one would have thought he was already dead.

The cool breeze of early autumn nights continues to blow, bringing a chill.

Lord Zhu ordered people to light a torch in each of the four cardinal directions around the prisoner, which dispelled much of the chill.

A gentle breeze blew across Chen Zishuo's body, causing him to tremble. At this moment, his arrogance had already drifted away with the river.

After catching his breath, he sat up, crossed his arms, and slowly approached the group of prisoners.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he sat down next to the square-faced middle-aged man and his family.

He stared blankly at the fire, then lowered his head, pulled his clothes closer, hugged his shoulders, and buried his head in his knees.

Suddenly, half a pancake appeared in front of him.

Chen Zishuo slowly raised his head and followed the pancake to see the person in front of him.

Chen Hailin, a clerk in the Ministry of Personnel, was a close friend of the old Marquis despite their age difference. Chen Zishuo and the second son of the Chen family were about the same age, and they had fought and idled around together since childhood. Over time, their families became very close. Out of respect for the old Marquis, Chen Hailin repeatedly helped and guided him, and he also contributed to the work of guarding the storeroom.

Seeing the Chen family here at this moment, could it be that I have committed a crime that has implicated them?

At this moment, Chen Zishuo felt a sense of guilt for the first time.

Lord Chen secretly slipped the cake into his hand: "Eat it."

"Uncle Chen, I..."

The youngest son of the Chen family glanced at him and gritted his teeth, saying, "Eat the pancake, then take a nap."

Chen Zishuo was pale and silently swallowed the biscuit.

This scene next door was witnessed by many people.

Wenwen is one of them.

She also heard many suppressed cries around her, which added to the desolation of the quiet night.

The nights here are filled with stars; if you look up in the open space, you can almost see the Milky Way.