vstars Chapter 8 The Zhou Family
Chapter 8 The Zhou Family
The waiter's initially enthusiastic smile immediately faded by half.
After making more inquiries and learning that the other party had come to repay the loan shark debt in advance, the smile on his face faded by half.
In those days, money lenders liked to borrow money and then collect the debt, but nobody liked to repay the money early.
If the money is repaid in advance, it proves that the debt is settled, so how can the money lender continue to make money?
With a long face, he said "Please wait a moment," turned around, went back to the counter, and went to inform the second manager.
Yang Silang looked around and saw several customers coming and going in the shop, including a scholar and a landlord-like figure dressed in silk. He nodded in satisfaction.
He had scouted the location beforehand and knew that this was when Tongda Money Exchange was busiest.
The current dynasty stipulates that the curfew will be enforced after midnight. The time when the sun has just set is when people are most lively—the rich enjoy themselves, and those who serve them make money.
The guests are so kind.
No matter how ruthless the debt collection methods of any money lender may be after the debtors have defaulted, they cannot stop others from repaying their debts, otherwise they will completely ruin their reputation.
really.
After hearing what the shop assistant said, the second manager called Yang Silang over, asked him about the reason, found the record of this usury in the account book, and then ordered the shop assistant to go to the backyard.
A moment later, a slender figure with one trouser leg rolled up, revealing a tuft of long leg hair that resembled several bird nests coiled on a withered branch, hurriedly walked out from inside.
"It's you, sir? You want to pay back the money early?" the banker exclaimed in surprise. "Didn't you say yesterday that you'd be passing by the bank after work today, and that I wouldn't need to wait at your house, and that you'd just settle today's accounts?"
After Gao Laodao visited that day, he never went back; his underlings ran errands for him.
Yang Silang learned that Gao Laodao seemed to be tied up with something else and had left Gongzhou Prefecture for several days, which was why he decided to repay the money immediately.
We need to act swiftly and decisively, and get it done before that scoundrel Gao Laodao returns, to avoid any trouble.
"Brother..." he said with a smile, "A big job came to the docks today. The boss was so happy that he gave out bonuses in addition to the wages. I found someone to help me out and we just happened to have enough."
"I was thinking of paying it back early, so you wouldn't have to run around every day."
"Helping others is helping yourself."
The man's expression changed, and he was about to explode, but seeing that there were still customers in the shop, he could only hold back. His eyes were filled with anger, but Yang Silang pretended not to see it.
Seeing that his own business had confirmed the transaction, the second manager nodded and proceeded with the transaction.
First, he checked the copper coins in Yang Silang's bag and found that not a single coin was missing. Then, he crossed out the record in the account book with a cinnabar pen, took out the stacks of paper, crossed them out with one stroke, and then divided them into two parts, giving them to Yang Silang.
"Young man... If you borrow and repay promptly, it won't be difficult to borrow again. If you encounter difficulties in the future, you can always come to my Tongda Money Exchange!"
"Our interest rates are low, lending is fast, we have a good reputation, we're a long-established brand, you can rest assured," the second manager said loudly, mainly so that the customers next to him could hear.
Yang Silang took the light piece of paper and examined it carefully.
The original owner had also received some education at a private school in the village, and could recognize a few hundred everyday characters. However, this kind of education only required a few months of study and did not qualify one as a scholar. The tuition fee charged by the teacher was not expensive, only a few hundred coins, and the village would subsidize part of it.
This is an old custom within the Yang clan, and we hope that future generations will not turn a blind eye to it.
Yang Silang saw that the handwriting was clear, the debt was clearly stated, there was no forgery, and it was indeed the money he had borrowed.
His heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, and he felt inexplicably relaxed—there was no going back, and it would be best if he never came back again!
Yang Silang smiled, bent over, and with his long, hairy legs flashing an angry glare, turned and left the money shop.
Once he left the money exchange, his pace quickened until he started running.
Two incense sticks later.
He rushed back to the shantytown courtyard.
Sure enough, half a face appeared behind the door, with one eye blinking anxiously as it stared outside.
Upon seeing Yang Silang, the door creaked open, and Yang Wumei rushed out, clutching the hem of her clothes, tilting her head back, her voice timid.
"Fourth Brother, have you returned it?"
Yang Silang took out the half-stack of papers from his pocket and nodded.
"Ah..." Yang Wumei jumped up, reached out and snatched the book to open it.
She could read, but she hadn't paid for private school. Yang Silang had taught her by hand before, and she would read each word carefully.
Yang Wumei jumped up, grabbed the paper, and rushed into the house.
"Fourth Brother, wait a minute, I'll burn this to add fuel to the fire, and dinner will definitely be delicious tonight!"
The little girl skipped and hopped into the house. Only now did she feel relieved, no longer worried about being resold to human traffickers.
The meal was still just a watery, mixed grain porridge.
The brother and sister, however, ate with gusto.
Yang Wumei interjected with some amusing anecdotes—the Huang family, the master of the house, was in turmoil. Their two concubines had gotten into a fight today, tearing at each other's mouths and pulling at each other's heads, leaving each other's faces covered in blood. Their fighting prowess was terrifying and astonishing.
Yang Silang didn't take it seriously; what was so strange about two women fighting in the inner quarters?
The younger sister shook her head—Brother, you don't understand. The servants say they're fighting over the young master of the mansion.
Yang Silang: "???"
I heard that the eldest son of the Huang family has already come of age.
These two concubines were his father's women.
Wow... You rich people really know how to have fun.
When the concubine was mentioned, the fifth sister's mood sombered. "Brother, I saw the eldest sister a few days ago. She held her hands back and wouldn't let me see her. Her brows were furrowed. I guess she got another beating from that wicked woman."
Yang Silang didn't say anything, slurped down his bowl and chopsticks in two quick bites, stood up and hurriedly walked out.
"Brother... Eldest sister has had a hard time, please don't act impulsively!" Yang Wumei cried out in fear from behind.
Yang Silang waved his hand.
"Don't worry, I know what's important. I'll go tell my older sister that the loan sharking is over, and make her happy..."
In this society, concubines were simply living beings in the household who could talk and bear children. They were not considered human in front of the first wife. Moreover, the eldest sister had given birth to a girl but not a boy, so her status was even lower.
What can Yang Silang use to support his elder sister?
It was common for concubines to be mistreated; a housewife who treated her concubine well was a rare find.
He hurriedly went out, then hurriedly returned, fetched a bucket of water, rinsed himself in the yard, wiped himself down briefly to get rid of the smell of poverty, changed his clothes—his only set of cardigan and shorts—before going out.
First, I went to my neighbor Hong's house next door, and came out after a short while.
After several turns, we arrived at the main street.
Yang Silang felt the copper coins in his bag, returned the loan interest, and still had more than 130 coins left.
He pondered for a moment, then went to a fabric shop and bought a piece of medium-grade silver-patterned cotton. The piece was small, only enough to make a half-length garment.
Yang Silang spent almost half an hour trying to bargain, feeling that even the restoration of the water inscription couldn't keep up with the amount of talk he put in.
Finally, the shopkeeper got fed up and, under a murderous glare, nodded and made the deal.
With only three copper coins left, Yang Silang left the shop and bought a copper ring wooden hairpin and a string of candied hawthorns.
The silver-patterned cotton that he had spent almost all his savings on was for his first wife; if she was in a good mood, his eldest sister's life would be better.
Only a copper ring and a wooden hairpin, these worthless items, could fall smoothly into the eldest sister's hands.
As for the candied hawthorns, those were prepared for my niece.
This is the limit that Yang Silang can currently achieve with his meager resources.