Chapter 586: Chapter 586, Lamentation (1 more)
Someone collapsed at the entrance of the inn, weeping and pleading, causing quite a stir, followed by others approaching.
“I want to see Lord Meng, my sister…”
“My older sister…”
Several more people came out in succession, all for the sake of their family members.
They too wanted to seek the truth, to find out if their sisters had truly been abducted by bandits, and whether they could return.
Town Chief Meng looked at Xie Zhinuan, “Miss Xie, what do you think…”
“You go out to meet them, and after meeting them, tell them whether their relatives are willing to come back or prefer to stay in the bandit stronghold, or perhaps…”
Xie Zhinuan left these people with an option, which was to take them in.
How innocent they were, their bodies ruined because they were taken by the bandits, trapped in the stronghold, reduced to objects, to childbearing tools.
Many people probably didn’t want to return.
Even if they did return, how many families would accept them?
And then there were the children…
Xie Zhinuan and Town Chief Meng discussed how to proceed, agreeing that the bandits must be punished, but that the harm to the women had to be minimized.
“Miss, are you also going into the mountains?” Chunyu exclaimed.
“Mm, I want to have a look!” Xie Zhinuan replied softly.
As for those bandits, Xie Zhinuan didn’t say another word.
Four guards stepped up, severed their Achilles tendons, and let someone from the Governor’s Office drag them out like dead dogs.
“My daughter!”
“My poor daughter!”
“You murderous scoundrels, why don’t you just die!”
“Beasts, animals!”
People came forward to beat them and throw rotten leaves at them. Chen He and the others had already fainted from pain, only to be awakened by the beatings again. Among these common people, some recognized them, others were strangers; they wouldn’t ask for reasons, nor care if their daughters or sisters had been abducted by Chen He and his lot. All the blame was to be laid on them.
The scene at the inn’s entrance turned chaotic, with cries, thumping sounds, and wails.
Xie Zhinuan stood at the door, watching impassively.
“…”
Since ancient times, the trafficking of women and children has been rampant. No matter what era, apart from being careful oneself and not easily trusting strangers, there’s really no way to eradicate it completely.
In modern times, many people are still trafficked and abducted, not to mention in the ancient times when transportation was inconvenient and information blockaded.
Many probably have never ventured outside their small towns to see what it’s like.
“Miss Xie, what do you think…” Town Chief Meng asked softly.
“Have them stop and lock the culprits in the jail,” Xie Zhinuan instructed warmly.
She didn’t intend to involve herself in this affair since her reach was extending a bit too far, but seeing how hesitant the Town Chief was and that he dared not take over, she felt compelled to act.
Being a woman, she felt the need to do something for women.
Having intervened, she needed to follow through to prevent the women from escaping the wolf’s den only to fall into the tiger’s maw.
Having stayed many days in the stronghold, even if they returned home, they would be pointed at and discussed. That feeling might be more embarrassing than staying in the bandits’ den, making them wish for death.
Therefore, she wanted to provide these women with a place to live with dignity. As it happened, her residence was big enough; she would need people for her food business anyway, and whether she purchased servants or hired these women, the arrangement would be just right.
“Yes!” Town Chief Meng hurriedly replied, his respectful demeanor drawing many sidelong glances.
Someone knelt down, “Please, my lord, deliver justice for my unfortunate daughter!”
Town Chief Meng looked at the person, took a deep breath, and said, “Please get up. Regarding this matter, I…” Town Chief Meng turned his head to look at Xie Zhinuan, mustered his courage, and declared, “As an official, I will handle this properly!”