"The county is opening a bank, specifically to lend money to farmers to pay taxes? Good Brother An, are you serious?" Elder Lin was extremely excited: "If there really is a bank willing to lend us money, us farmers can survive."
His family had gone to the bank to borrow money, but both Lin Laoda and Lin Laosan couldnât even get past the door. Just asking if they could borrow money to pay taxes got them beaten up.
Banks generally wouldnât lend money to farmers, fearing they wouldnât be able to repay and would end up losing money. Therefore, most farmers in trouble can only turn to relatives to borrow money or go to gambling houses to do so.
However, the interest demanded by gambling houses is too high for farmers to afford, ultimately leading to selling fields, selling land, selling houses, or even using daughters to pay off debts.
"First Place Gu, is it true the bank is willing to lend us money? Whatâs the interest rate? It wonât be as high as the gambling houses, right?" Lin Laoda urgently asked Gu Jinâan, the injuries from the beating at the bankâs security were still hurting him.
Gu Jinâan replied, "No, the new bankâs interest is very low, and as long as the interest paid exceeds 20% of the principal, the debt can be settled."
"What does this mean?" Elder Lin, due to his age, didnât understand.
Lin Laosan replied with an "ah", "Dad, First Place Gu is saying that the new bank is good. We only need to pay the interest, and as long as the interest exceeds 20% of the principal, we wonât need to pay back the money; even the principal wonât need to be repaid to cancel the debt. Itâs a wonderful thing, truly a giant blessing!"
Lin Laosan was extremely excited, and Young Master Zhou was equally delighted, saying, "Thatâs great, if itâs true, weâll all be able to survive."
Elder Zhou wasnât happy upon hearing this and questioned Gu Jinâan: "Good Brother An, youâre lying, arenât you? This old man has lived decades and never seen such a bank. Not having to repay the principal, just cancel the debt by paying enough interest? Ha, youâre trying to fool us, arenât you?"
Zhou Laoer agreed, "Yes, you must be making this up to avoid lending us money and deceiving us."
He continued, "Good Brother An, we were once fellow villagers who escaped famine together. Over these years, your family became wealthy, yet we never harassed you. Now, out of desperation, weâre here to ask for money, and if you donât want to lend, so be it. Why deceive us? Do you know Lin Da and the others rushed to the bank upon hearing the Emperor was collecting taxes? Not only did the bank refuse, but they also got beaten. Are you trying to get us beaten too?"
After listening, Gu Jinâan sneered coldly: "Second Uncle Zhou, Iâm not deceiving you; believe it or not."
"You, Gu Jinâan, what kind of attitude is this? Iâm your elder!" Zhou Laoer was very angry. Back in Niugou Town, due to escaping famine with Gu Jinâanâs family, the people there would call him âFirst Place Guâs Uncleâ, which pleased him greatly. But he hadnât expected that in front of Gu Jinâan, he couldnât play the elder role.
With a bang, Third Grandpa slammed the table, looking at Elder Zhou and saying, "Brother, the villagers said you came to see me, so I let you in. If you are here to act entitled, you can leave."
This wasnât a time where they were in need, but rather the Zhou and Lin families were in need. If Elder Zhou continued allowing his son to cause trouble, he wouldnât be polite.
Gu Dashan had tolerated it for a long time, saying, "Elder Zhou, my Good Brother An has made the list of Scholars, and is already part of a scholarly family. Brother Zhou Two should be more careful with his words to avoid being charged with disrespect, which could get one arrested and beaten by the government."
Zhou Laoer seemed blank with shock upon hearing Gu Dashanâs words; his impression of Gu Dashan was always as a waste, yet the waste was now tough.
Elder Zhouâs face was very grim, but he knew Third Grandpa and Gu Dashan werenât joking. If they were provoked, it wouldnât be surprising if the government came to arrest people.
"Old Second, you have no sense of respect! Good Brother An is a Scholar now; itâs not your place to criticize him. Apologize to Good Brother An immediately!"
Zhou Laoer, fearing arrest and beating, quickly saluted and said to Gu Jinâan, "Good Brother An, donât be mad; it was Uncleâs quick mouth speaking careless words."
Gu Jinâan said, "Iâve made it clear, Silver canât be loaned to you, but you still have a way out. Wait five days, and the county will open a new bank, then you can borrow money."
Young Master Zhouâs eyes lit up at this, asking, "Is First Place Gu saying the county will open a new bank? The one lending us Silver is not the same bank that beat Uncle Lin?"
Gu Jinâan nodded, "Yes."
Young Master Zhou was overjoyed, telling Elder Zhou, "Grandpa, Second Uncle, did you hear that? Weâre saved, in five days we can borrow Silver!"
Zhou Laoer glanced at his nephew with discomfort; this fool, whatâs there to be happy about? Borrowing from a bank requires interest, whereas borrowing from the Gu Family incurs no interest, and if delayed for a decade or more, might not even need to repay the principal.
Young Master Zhou saw Elder Zhou and Zhou Laoer silent, feeling sad... Since escaping famine, heâd found Grandpa and Second Uncle had changed. They sought unearned gains, and even allowed bullies to mistreat his eldest sister, leaving her nameless and tag-along with Li Kuihu.
Gu Jinâan glanced at Young Master Zhou, finding him quite pitiful. But if Young Master Zhou didnât seek to change and continued living with Elder Zhou and Zhou Laoer, there wasnât much worth helping.
"Elder Lin, remember my words, go back and wait. Once the new bank opens, Iâll immediately send someone to inform you. Then weâll take you to the new bank, and you can borrow Silver without waiting in line," said Gu Jinâan.
Elder Lin was almost in tears upon hearing Gu Jinâanâs words. Since the Scholar had spoken, the new bank must be a real thing.
"Alright, alright, then Iâll go back and wait... Good Brother An, thank you. Without you, I probably wouldnât last three days." Elder Lin said choking, having fainted upon learning the Emperor would collect high taxes.
He was too desperate, feeling heâd suffered enough hardship in his life. If he couldnât borrow Silver to pay taxes, he didnât want to live anymore.
After all, with one less person, the family would have one less tael of tax.
"Brother Lin, what do you mean? Youâre leaving?" Elder Zhou exclaimed, "Our Li Village under Niugou Town is very far from here. It took a nightâs walk to get here, and now youâre tired. Canât you rest for a night before leaving?"
The Gu Family is wealthy, the house is big, even breakfast is egg pancakes, wouldnât they serve a feast of fish and meat for dinner?
Elder Zhou didnât want to leave, wishing to stay for a good meal and then plead with Third Grandpa and Third Grandma for Silver.
Zhou Erlang and Zhou Sanlang didnât want to leave either, remembering the Gu Family had two daughters, and they were bachelors. If they stayed at the Gu Family, they might meet the daughters, then the following matters would naturally proceed accordingly.