Chapter 84: Chapter 83: Forced Confession
Wen Wan tidied herself up and was just about to go out when her mother-in-law came out from the east room and asked what she was doing.
Mrs. Zhou helped explain, "Dear in-law, our family has some matters that need Wan Niang to return for a bit. Can we ask her to temporarily set aside her current tasks?"
Granny Song took a look at Wen Wan and, seeing that she didnât appear coerced, waved her hand, "Go on, come back early."
Wen Wan followed her stepmother back to the Wen Family home. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw Wen Shun kneeling on the ground with his head drooping, exhausted. His small face was red and swollen, with five clear finger marks on it.
The child had already cried himself into hiccups, and when he heard the commotion from Mrs. Zhou, he turned his head but couldnât speak, only letting out a gasp.
Mrs. Zhouâs eyes turned red again, and she hurried over to help her son up.
From the main room came the angry voice of Father Wen, "Let him kneel properly for me, heâs not allowed to get up! Today, no matter who begs, it absolutely wonât do!"
"Mother..."
Wen Shunâs hoarse voice called out, and Mrs. Zhouâs heart broke. She kneeled on the ground, looking toward the main room, "Husband, Shunzi is your own flesh and blood. No matter what great mistake heâs made, youâve already beaten him, punished him, please spare him this once! Shunzi hasnât closed his eyes all night, if he continues kneeling, what if something happens to him..."
Mrs. Zhou hadnât finished speaking when Father Wen had already come out, standing outside the main room. Seeing Wen Wan had arrived, he showed clear surprise, but quickly focused his gaze back on Wen Shun, raising a whip as he pointed at him, "Are you going to tell me or not, who did you sell the item to?"
Wen Shun saw the whip in his fatherâs hand and, thinking of the wounds on his back, shivered all over, kneeling toward his motherâs embrace.
Wen Wan, despite her dislike for her stepmother and this stepbrother, didnât want to see her father being so cruel to a child.
As Father Wen was about to bring the whip down on Wen Shunâs back, Wen Wan stepped forward in time to stop him.
Father Wen looked at his daughterâs hand blocking the whip, frowning, "Wan Niang, donât get involved in this. If I donât properly teach him a lesson, he wonât understand that stealing peopleâs things and selling them for money is illegal!"
Wen Wan used sign language: Heâs already been beaten by you like this and still wonât speak, itâs clear that using force wonât work. Why donât you talk to him nicely!
Mrs. Zhou also lowered her head to persuade her son in her arms, "Shunzi, quickly tell your father, who did you sell the item to? Just tell the truth, and your father wonât hit you anymore."
Wen Shun felt wronged. Wasnât he just idly loosening the soil around the jujube tree and dug out a chest? There were lots of treasures in there, not just a single jade bracelet. Why did his father have to beat him half to death over one jade bracelet? He felt it was unfair! He just wouldnât say it!
Father Wen, out of patience, said, "You wonât tell, huh? Then Iâll send you to see the magistrate."
Mrs. Zhouâs expression drastically changed, "Husband, have you gone mad?"
Father Wen was usually silent and steady, and in all her time being married to him, this was the first time Mrs. Zhou had seen him so enraged, it was as if heâd eaten gunpowder.
She couldnât understand, since the chest was dug out within their own home, whatever was inside belonged to the Wen family. Shunzi was just being childish and took one item out to sell, at most they should just scold him once. Why did he insist on getting to the bottom of it and want to send his own son to see the magistrate?
When Wen Shun heard that his father wanted to send him to the magistrate, he was directly terrified into silence, quivering lips he confessed everything in one go, "Iâll say, Iâll say... it was a wealthy man who bought it for thirty taels of silver. Father, please donât send me to see the magistrate, Iâll take you to find him right now."