RPAGF Chapter 174 Foolish Filial Piety
Chapter 174 Foolish Filial Piety
Cui Zhihao instructed someone to prepare some tea for Miss Shi. "Miss Shi, there's no need to get upset over these ignorant people. Please sit down! This case is rather troublesome today. What are your thoughts, Miss Shi?"
Cui Zhihao sat in the main hall, waiting for the others. It was still some distance from Chenjia Village, and waiting like this wasn't a long-term solution.
The sharp sound of the gavel snapped everyone in the hall back to reality.
"Guards, there is insufficient evidence of witnesses in this case. These people will be temporarily detained and imprisoned until the witnesses arrive, at which point the court will proceed."
The constables immediately obeyed the order and escorted all the people in the courtroom away.
Cui Zhihao then stood up and stretched his slightly numb arms. His gaze swept over Magistrate Wang, who was staring intently at Miss Shi, and he cleared his throat.
The cough brought Magistrate Wang back to his senses, and he was about to bow and leave when Cui Zhihao called out to him, "Brother Wang, please wait. What do you think should be the verdict in this case?"
County Magistrate Wang was flattered and momentarily at a loss for words. After repeatedly observing the official's expression, he finally spoke his opinion.
"Your Excellency, in my humble opinion, although the actions of the elderly Chen couple were contrary to common sense and etiquette, it is truly outrageous that their son, Old Man Chen, beat his own brother to the point of injury for money."
"Chen Lao Er's actions are indeed contrary to the way of brothers. Therefore, I believe that since ancient times, a father should not speak of his son's virtues, and a son should not speak of his father's faults."
“His words and actions are indeed inappropriate. Confucius said: When children serve their parents, if the parents have made mistakes, they should gently and tactfully remonstrate with them, expressing their own intentions. If the parents do not listen, they should still be respectful and not disobey them. They should wait for an opportunity to remonstrate again. Even though they have to worry and toil in this way, they should not resent their parents.”
"Therefore, I believe that Chen Lao Er's behavior is indeed a crime of disobedience. He is unfilial and disrespectful to his brothers. I beg Your Excellency to punish him severely."
Cui Zhihao nodded in satisfaction; what he said was indeed correct. But this Chen Lao Er was also a man of misfortune, except that the old Chen couple were his parents.
As the saying goes: When parents err, one should humbly and gently remonstrate. If the remonstrance is ignored, one should still show respect and filial piety, and if they listen, one should remonstrate again; if they still do not listen, it is better to remonstrate than to offend the villagers and the community. If parents are angry, do not listen, and even beat one until one bleeds, one should not harbor resentment, but should instead show respect and filial piety.
Chen Lao Er was too impulsive. How could he beat his elder brother and take his own parents to court? If word gets out, his reputation will be ruined. After all, who would accept such an unfilial and disrespectful person?
Shi Wanxia, standing nearby, had differing opinions after hearing their words. One shouldn't blindly listen to the parents' arguments!
Shi Wanxia disagreed with their remarks and expressed her thoughts: "Chen Lao Er shouldn't have hit people, but he was forced into it by his own relatives. He has never received genuine care and love in this family, only endless accusations and insults. His heart is already riddled with holes, which is why he did such a thing in a moment of impulse."
Both of them fell into deep thought after hearing Shi Wanxia's words. At this moment, Cui Zhigao looked at Shi Wanxia and raised his hand to signal her to continue.
“Miss Shi, it’s alright. There’s no one else here. You can share your thoughts.”
Shi Wanxia thought that the laws of ancient times were all based on some feudal etiquette of Confucianism. Even though Chen Lao Er was the victim in this case, the perpetrators were his own parents. Regardless of whether he won or lost the case, he was destined to be disgraced. After all, he had no choice but to wear the big hat of being unfilial.
"Please forgive me, sir. I am only speaking from the perspective of an outsider. Filial piety towards elders is undoubtedly a virtue, but blind filial piety will only harm both oneself and others."
Magistrate Wang disagreed, saying, “Though the world is vast, it cannot tolerate a rebellious clan. I believe that Chen Lao Er has committed a grave crime of rebellion, which is intolerable to worldly customs and laws, and should be sentenced to hanging.”
Shi Wanxia disagreed, because Confucius also said that filial piety is not just about being obedient, but about offering tactful advice to one's parents on the basis of following the rites.
Confucius believed that if parents are wrong, children can offer their opinions, but they must adhere to certain principles, such as speaking in a tactful tone, being gentle in attitude, and obeying even after repeated persuasion has failed.
Just as I was about to refute, the head constable led the village head and elders of Chenjia Village to the court, along with Chen Laoda, who was carried in on a door plank.
Cui Zhihao frowned, slammed his gavel down with a "smack," and shouted, "Who is kneeling before me? Why are you not kneeling down now that you have seen me?"
The men below were so frightened that they immediately knelt down and paid their respects to the magistrate. "This humble subject greets Your Excellency."
Knowing that the witnesses had arrived, Cui Zhihao slammed his gavel. "Bring in the elderly Chen couple, Chen Lao Er, and their two wives."
Soon, the constables brought the entire Chen family to the courtroom. Seeing the clan head and village chief arrive, Old Man Chen felt emboldened and cried out, "Your Honor, you must do justice for me! That unfilial son, Chen the Second, not only disrespects us but also injured his elder brother!"
The clan chief and the village headman both looked extremely grim after hearing Old Man Chen's words. They never expected that Chen Lao Er would do such a thing.
Chen Lao Er stood to the side, head bowed, saying nothing. He knew he had gotten himself into serious trouble, but he didn't regret it. He felt his parents and brothers had gone too far; they had been bullying him all along, and he had reached his limit.
At this moment, the county magistrate spoke up: "Chen Lao Er, do you have anything to say?" Chen Lao Er raised his head, looked at the county magistrate, then at his parents and elder brother, and said: "Sir, I admit that I injured my elder brother, but I was forced to do so! My parents and elder brother have been bullying me all along, and I really couldn't bear it any longer."
The magistrate frowned slightly upon hearing Chen Lao Er's words, and then said, "Chen Lao Er, I sympathize with your plight, but you cannot harm your brother because of it! What you are doing is illegal." Chen Lao Er lowered his head and remained silent.
Upon hearing this, Chen Lao Er collapsed to the ground, his face ashen. He never imagined that his impulsive act would have such dire consequences. He was filled with remorse, and tears streamed down his face.
However, the law is merciless. Magistrate Wang's verdict was supported by the crowd, and Chen Lao Er was escorted to the execution ground. Chen Lao Er looked at the sky, his heart filled with despair and regret.
Shi Wanxia felt she had to speak her mind, so she stood up and stopped them, saying, "Wait, sir. In this case, while Chen Lao Er may have made a mistake, are the Chen couple also innocent? And is Chen Lao Da, the elder brother, also innocent?"
"Forcibly taking your brother's wife is against ethics and morality. How could you, as his parents, dare to do such a shameless thing? You are biased towards the eldest son and cannot treat him fairly, causing your close brothers to turn against each other. Isn't this your fault?"
The village head and the clan elders were displeased and began to criticize the ignorant woman. In an instant, foul language filled the entire courtroom.