CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 111: KILL ONE TO WARN A HUNDRED

I am the Evil Woman of the Li family, do you fear me?

Her words exuded dominance, and with Long Yue stepping on a troublemaker’s belly, the scene was utterly imposing. Though they didn’t know what the "Evil Woman of the Li family" meant, anyone titled as an "evil woman" surely wasn’t easy to deal with.

"Afraid, we are afraid..."

"Spare us..."

The troublemakers were already scared witless after Long Yue had clubbed them dizzy, leaving them with bruises, and they could only beg for mercy, crying out for their parents.

But how could Long Yue easily let them go? With a sharp order, she directly commanded to have them taken away.

The government office was short on people now, but they had money. As long as one was willing to spend, someone would surely be willing to work for them!

Thus, Long Yue, leading a group of hired hands, rampaged through Gaoyang County, arresting all the troublemakers, causing streetwide panic as everyone feared being accidentally caught.

It’s not that they were cowards, it’s that this woman was too fierce, with high combat power; they couldn’t beat her!

"Is this woman insane? So many arrests, can the cells hold them all?"

"Exactly, we have to feed them too. I can’t believe she’ll still be this arrogant later!"

A few clever ones sensed danger and immediately hid, observing from the shadows while slandering.

"Hmph, she’ll have her time to cry!"

They thought feeding a group of freeloaders would be troublesome, so they snickered smugly, disappearing into the darkness...

At the government office, Elder Qin looked at the long line of people, his face turning ashen with fear, and hurriedly ran to find Li Qingmu.

"Young Master, the Young Madam brought a lot of people, the cells probably can’t hold them all..."

He worriedly looked at his young master, only to find him daydreaming with his chin propped.

Ah, Young Master, what do you mean by this?

Li Qingmu wasn’t daydreaming; he was contemplating the upcoming matters. After the old servant sighed multiple times, he slowly turned his eyes to look over.

"Elder Qin, don’t worry. The solution is simple."

"Young Master, this old servant doesn’t understand..."

Li Qingmu chuckled, "Elder Qin, we don’t keep freeloading wastes around here!"

Uh?

Elder Qin was stunned for a moment, watching as the young master got up and walked toward the main gate.

He arrived in front of the troublemakers, his expression indifferent, saying, "I know you were incited to gather and cause trouble, but causing trouble is still a crime, and you must be punished!"

He saw some showing disdainful expressions, seemingly thinking imprisonment wasn’t a big deal, and even looking forward to the free prison meals. How delightful?

Li Qingmu sneered, thinking these people were overly optimistic.

"Rewards for merit, punishment for crime. We don’t keep idlers in the cells. From today, you shall go to Canye Village to help them cultivate mulberry and raise silkworms, and transport goods!"

What?

Upon hearing this, everyone widened their eyes. Is he forcing them into labor?

Where did you get that idea?

"I won’t go; I’d rather stay in jail than work over there!"

"Exactly, my parents at home never let me do heavy work. How dare you make us carry things for others? Forget it!"

"Not going, definitely not going!"

"..."

They protested fiercely; some even thought of resisting again. Li Qingmu’s gaze turned icy, and he said coldly, "Those who dare not go will be executed!"

"How dare you! We are all innocent citizens; you wouldn’t dare kill us?"

"Exactly, there’s no severe crime; you can’t take lives!"

"Oh? You think your wrongdoings aren’t serious enough for me to wield the blade?"

In barren mountains and treacherous waters arise crafty folks, and this saying indeed fits. Gaoyang County was rather remote, and people here seemed not to respect the government office, leading to collusions with bandits!

"Seems you wish to test the sharpness of my blade? Alright, come, take these two out to the Meridian Gate for execution!"

"What?"

The two looked up, faces shocked. Is this real?

"You... you can’t kill me. This is reckless slaughter..."

"No, save me..."

"Breaking into homes, bullying men and women, these crimes are deserving of death!"

Li Qingmu coldly watched as Qian Er and Sun San dragged the two troublemakers out, then shifted his eyes to the others: "Who else wants to test the sharpness of my blade?"

These people lowered their heads under Li Qingmu’s gaze, completely intimidated.

The Liang Family wouldn’t let their true direct descendants stir trouble; those causing havoc were either hired local rascals or unimportant members of the Liang Family, and naturally, these people wouldn’t sacrifice their lives for the Liang Family’s interests, so they all chickened out.

Li Qingmu knew their nature very well; did they want to fight him? They were still too inexperienced!

"To Canye Village!"

Due to the Qin Family’s reopening, people in Canye Village had resumed their old occupation, but with so much work needing to be done at the start, the villagers were overwhelmed. This group of rascals became a workforce for them.

Long Yue accompanied Li Qingmu, overseeing the group of troublemakers as they arrived at Canye Village to supervise them in helping the villagers with work.

With Long Yue present, these people dared not cause trouble; though dissatisfied with being labors, they still worked.

"Put on the shackles!"

Li Qingmu observed and felt if they were left free, it might trouble the villagers, so these people, suffering ill fate, were shackled while they worked.

"I sentence you to three years of imprisonment. During these three years, you’ll work here during the day and return to your cells at night. Those who work hard can reduce their sentence, but those causing trouble will serve their full term!"

"Sir, I have a seventy-year-old mother at home... I can’t leave her uncared for..."

"Sir, I have children and a wife who can’t be without me..."

"Sir, sir..."

Upon hearing they’d be sentenced to three years and still have to work here, the troublemakers all wailed, their previous aggressive demeanor gone, kneeling before Li Qingmu and crying bitterly.

Li Qingmu kept a stern face, as Long Yue stepped forward and said, "You have relatives you wish to support, but what about others? Do others not have children or elders? When you harm others, did you consider their families crying and grieving?

Remember the saying—Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. Li Qing also mentioned, if you perform well, your sentence may be shortened, so work diligently!"

These people showed faces full of sorrow, thinking of resisting, but eventually gave up.

"Mr. Li, if we work well, can we really go home sooner?"

Someone cautiously raised their head, asking with a hopeful look.

Once a fact was accepted as immutable, they would seek ways to turn it to their advantage.

Thus, this group initially called for Li Qingmu’s downfall, but now, one by one, they began to beg him.

The quick change was baffling, and Li Qingmu gave them a glance and said, "Yes! So work hard!"