Chapter 1025: Punishment Standards

When Chengqie saw his meal—a large bowl of white rice he had never seen before, along with two very exquisite dishes—he still found it hard to believe, because such dishes were truly only something he had seen on his father's dining table.

"Chengqie, the situation is as it is now. As you can see, fresh vegetables are hard to find here, so we can only find some wild vegetables to cook for you. Meat is also provided to you as a priority. We guarantee at least two dishes every day, with three meals a day. Breakfast is simple white porridge, and lunch and dinner are like this. When you arrive in Huaxia, everything will be normal."

"However, my status in Huaxia is far from high enough, so I don't know exactly what kind of treatment you will be given, but it certainly won't be worse than this; it should be said that it will be much better than this."

Chengqie didn't quite know what to say, so he could only say a bit blankly: "Oh, okay, that will do."

Immediately, Chengqie began to hold the bowl and eat. Back at the Suiren Tribe, he had been forced by Baoxi to practice with chopsticks for several days. Baoxi taught him personally and even had several people from Huaxia teach him, but because he harbored resistance, he didn't put his heart into it at all, and naturally, he didn't learn. Moreover, Baoxi himself couldn't use them well and struggled greatly, yet Baoxi still insisted on using chopsticks.

During the time Chengqie was on the road, it was even more impossible for him to use chopsticks, so he had forgotten completely how to use them. His dishes were not like those of ordinary people, which could be eaten with a wooden spoon. Fortunately, Huaxia had long considered this point and had still prepared a fork for Chengqie, which allowed him to eat his meal smoothly.

However, halfway through the meal, Chengqie realized that the bowl and plate he was eating from had a very unusual texture. Upon closer inspection, he was surprised to find they were made of porcelain. In the Suiren Tribe, only his father possessed a set, and they were precious indeed.

Every day after eating, they had to be carefully washed by the Huaxia cooks, dried, and then placed in a box lined with dry Grass and animal skins. Chengqie did not know how many of these things there were in Huaxia, but since his father treasured them so much, they must be very valuable.

"Is this kind of porcelain plate something only I can use?"

Seeing that Chengqie had asked about the Porcelain, the Company Commander had to explain truthfully: "Porcelain is not rare in Huaxia, but there are good and bad kinds. You are able to be assigned the best kind of porcelain, but porcelain breaks easily, so we generally do not bring porcelain out under these circumstances."

"Therefore, only you can use porcelain right now. The rest of us are all using woodenware or Pottery to eat. Woodenware doesn't break when dropped and isn't afraid of bumps."

With this explanation, Chengqie's mood improved even more, because this showed that his status was indeed higher. The corners of his mouth couldn't help but reveal a smile, and this was exactly the effect the Company Commander wanted. The initial show of force had already been given, and now he could flatter him a little. This strong contrast was the only way to create the greatest emotional disparity for Chengqie; some inconspicuous little things and small privileges could make Chengqie feel a greater sense of superiority.

Shisi and all the other Leaders had already finished eating. They didn't know what to do now, but seeing that Chengqie was still eating, they could only stand silently behind Chengqie, not saying a word, not daring to speak. Their boldness just now had indeed been great enough.

As soon as Chengqie finished eating, he wiped his mouth, turned his head, and saw a group of people standing behind him. His expression darkened instantly, and he didn't want to say a word. These Leaders were only now feeling lingering fear.

The Company Commander also said at the right time: "Chengqie, logically speaking, before you arrive in Huaxia, these people are still under your jurisdiction. Only now should they be under mine. They do not respect their superiors, and even kidnapped their superior; they need to be punished."

Shisi and the others looked at the Company Commander in disbelief, their eyes saying: "Hey buddy, we helped you subdue our Leader, and now you are turning around and treating us like this? Is this appropriate?"

Chengqie turned his head and asked the Company Commander: "What, this can still be punished? Then how should they be punished? Will you punish them, or should I?"

"Strictly speaking, it should be punished by the Ministry of Justice, but there is no Ministry of Justice here now, so it should be decided by me. The crimes these Leaders have committed should be dealt with, but because they acted out of necessity, they should be punished lightly."

"Plus, they still have to work and travel. Shisi? That is the name, right? They still have to transport supplies across the river, so the punishment should be reduced again."

"However, Chengqie, you were tied up and threatened by your subordinates; they really should be punished. How about this, I suggest implementing a whipping punishment of two lashes for each of them. What do you think?"

Chengqie was puzzled: "What is a whipping punishment?"

The Company Commander carried a long whip on his person. He untied it directly and handed it to Chengqie: "Come, take a look. This is our Huaxia whip. For most crimes, we also impose a whipping punishment instead of killing them directly."

"Whipping can both make them feel pain and will not affect their ability to work; it won't cause a laborer to be scrapped. Therefore, whipping is the best choice."

"Chengqie, you can do it yourself. Give each of them two lashes on their buttocks to punish them."

Chengqie looked at the whip in the Company Commander's hand, slightly dissatisfied: "Just hitting them two lashes? I'm afraid this punishment is too light. People like them, in the Suiren Tribe, should be killed and then used to sacrifice to the ancestors of the Suiren Tribe."

As soon as Chengqie finished saying this, several Leaders were so scared that they immediately knelt on the ground. Company Commander, hey, you didn't say that this matter could be settled after the fact! We helped you; why are you harming us again? If we had known, we wouldn't have bothered with anything. Are we going to lose our lives now?

Seeing that some Leaders had been frightened, the Company Commander could only persuade him again: "Chengqie, you also said that was in the Suiren Tribe. Now, the Suiren Tribe still exists, but the management is according to Huaxia. That set of punishment methods of yours won't work; it must be done according to Huaxia's. Therefore, killing people casually is not allowed."

"Even our Prince does not have the power to kill people casually, but you, right now, have the power to punish them with a whip."

The Company Commander handed the whip over again, wanting Chengqie to choose. Taking the whip meant accepting Huaxia's punishment standards and accepting Huaxia's rule and management. If he didn't take it, that meant he was unwilling to identify with Huaxia, still rejected Huaxia, and still maintained that heart of his own Suiren Tribe, maintaining his own Suiren Tribe's barbaric thinking.

It would also mean that the Company Commander's operation just now had not been of much use. Chengqie was stubborn and incorrigible. Whether Chengqie could be cultivated in the future, and whether it was worth cultivating him, would have to be marked with a question mark. Furthermore, on this journey, the supervision of Chengqie would have to be strengthened so he wouldn't cause any more trouble.