Facial Branding and Walk of Shame
The Su family was completely terrified upon hearing that corporal punishment would be used!
Carving characters on the face is a lifelong disgrace; no matter where one goes, people will know this person has committed a great crime just by seeing the branded words on their face.
Old Su collapsed weakly on the ground, crying and begging, "Village Chief, I know I was wrong! Please don't use corporal punishment! If my old face is branded, how will I live?"
Su Daqi also wailed, "Don't carve characters on my face! I'll accept any other punishment, just don't brand me!"
Old Su scrambled over to Su Sanyun's feet, "Third Brother, please speak up and plead for me! They can't brand my face! Once the characters are carved, it's a lifetime of shame!"
Su Sanyun looked at Old Su with mixed feelings. His heart softened instinctively, but then he glanced at his wife and the nearly lost Su Lanxiang, and resolutely shook his head, "Father, what if you kidnap another child in the future? If your face is branded, others will be wary of you and won't let you near children. This is also to protect others."
Old Su cried with snot and tears, still begging Su Sanyun, but the village chief said, "Stop begging Third Brother, it's useless. You have violated the village rules. The village has its regulations, and now the village people will punish you. This has nothing to do with Su Sanyun."
The village chief called four strong men to drag Old Su over, pressing him face-up on a large board, with the village butcher personally holding the knife.
The butcher was burly and rough-faced, holding a small knife. As he approached Old Su, Old Su trembled all over, his eyes rolling back.
"Carry out the sentence," the village chief ordered. Old Su suddenly struggled fiercely, but the four strong men forced him down firmly on the board.
The butcher's grip was like an iron fist, his palm clamped Old Su's chin, rendering his head immobile.
With his other hand holding the knife, the butcher began carving characters on one side of Old Su's cheek.
Old Su cried out in pain, letting out a desperate scream like a slaughtered pig. Nearby, Su Daqi was so scared by Old Su's suffering that his body trembled and he lost control of his bladder.
The butcher paid no attention to Old Su's struggles. He insisted on finishing carving the character "刑" (punishment) and then stood up, reporting to the village chief, "Village Chief, it's done."
The village chief walked over, looked at the deep wound on Old Su's face, and nodded, "The depth is just right. When it heals, the scar will serve as a warning to future generations."
Then it was Su Daqi's turn.
Su Daqi was already so scared he was limp; he was easily pinned down. The butcher carved the characters again, and after finishing, Su Daqi's legs trembled so much he could barely stand.
First, the corporal punishment with branding, then the public shaming parade.
The villagers tied the two men up with ropes, hung nooses around their necks, and tied them to a donkey. The village chief rode the donkey, cracking his whip, and the donkey walked forward, dragging Old Su and his son along.
The village chief rode the donkey, shouting, "Come see the kidnappers! Look closely at their faces, don't let them near the children!"
The entire village, old and young, followed behind, watching the two Su men parade through the streets.
Zhao Shi chased after them, crying miserably.
The village chief saw Zhao Shi and immediately thought of Su Shimao. He shouted to the villagers, "When we catch Su Shimao, he’ll get the same corporal punishment and parade. Not a single one will be spared!"
Zhao Shi immediately shouted at the top of her lungs, "No, you can't use corporal punishment on Shimao! Shimao is a scholar. If his face is branded, how can he take the imperial exams? His whole life will be ruined!"
The village chief spat, "What exams? He can't even behave properly. If he becomes an official, he’ll only bring disaster to the region. This corporal punishment is definitely what Su Shimao deserves!"