Chapter 14: Can You Borrow Money and Not Pay It Back?
f seven or eight, with a mouth full of oily food, his big, sparkling eyes shining with excitement, asked eagerly."Yes, this is pork. My father used to eat it often back in the day. He's had his fill...."Oh no! They couldn't be here to rob us, could they"
Little Jiu hurriedly opened her arms and stood in front of Yang Lin.
That innocent little face, especially strong, even if she risked her life, she would stop these people!
Yang Lin smiled and patted the little girl's head. "What are you thinking about"
Soon, the villagers arrived at the small courtyard. Pairs of eager eyes looked towards Yang Lin, but none of them spoke.
Wang Gui gasped and ran over, lowering his head and saying, "I'm sorry, Yang Lin. I told everyone about you lending me money, and now everyone is coming to you to borrow money."
Wang Gui's eyes were red with guilt. He felt especially remorseful.
"Wang Shu, you've caused me trouble."
After some time, the imperial court began to collect summer taxes, and landlords also started settling accounts. This period is the most difficult time for the poor people.
Those who have no money to pay taxes and debts must sell their land.
Without land, one can only sell their children, wives, and daughters!
There are many people like Wang Gui who are so unfortunate in the village.
Today he went to Liu the landlord's house to repay his debts, and he actually took out three hundred wen. Not only did Liu the landlord not expect it, but those villagers who couldn't pay back their debts and begged Liu the landlord for a few more days of grace were also particularly surprised.
As everyone knows, Wang Gui's family is too poor and they are also newcomers. It's hard to borrow money, let alone come up with so much at once
Someone is looking for Wang Gui.
Wang Gui knew that revealing the truth would cause trouble for Yang Lin, but the other party pleaded desperately. As they were both unfortunate souls suffering from the same plight, Wang Gui couldn't bear to refuse and told him about borrowing money from Yang Lin.
Word quickly spread among the indebted villagers, and they saw Yang Lin as their savior. They flocked to him, seeking loans.
Wang Gui hurried over to stop them, but the villagers with no way out, how could he possibly stop them
At this moment, he only felt that he owed Yang Lin.
Yang Lin had done him such a great favor, yet he had brought trouble to Yang Lin. Therefore, when facing Yang Lin, he felt guilty and couldn't look up.
"Nephew, could you lend me some money"
"Lend me a hand, please. Help your aunt get through this difficult time."
"Yang Lin, I owe Landlord Liu two hundred wen. If I can't pay it back, I'll have to sell the land."
"My family doesn't have money to pay the summer tax, Yang Lin, please help this old lady."
The villagers jostled and pushed, clamoring to speak and get closer, the scene quickly becoming chaotic.
Wang Gui was getting increasingly agitated, and hurriedly shouted: "Alright everyone, stop pushing! Yang Lin isn't a Bodhisattva, with so many people, how could he possibly help everyone"
After finishing his words, he hung his head low and looked at Yang Lin helplessly.
Actually, when Yang Lin saw Wang Gui, he had already guessed the intentions of these villagers.
Right now, as everyone was asking to borrow money, Yang Lin didn't hesitate and readily agreed, "Sure."
Perhaps he agreed too readily, and the villagers were still stunned.
When they reacted, they all looked at Yang Lin in astonishment.
"Yang Lin, you promised to lend me money"
"Bah, Yang Lin promised me!"
“It was me who was right. I just finished speaking, and Yang Lin only agreed after that.”
The villagers argued again.
Wang Gui hurriedly maintained order: "Everyone, please quiet down, let's hear what Yang Lin has to say!"
Everyone fell silent.
"Yeah, let Yang Lin choose on his own. Since so many of us are asking him for loans, there's bound to be some we can't get from him. Borrowing money is a favor, and if someone can't lend it, we can't blame them."
"What Wang Gui said is right, Yang Lin isn't a Bodhisattva, he can't help everyone. Who he lends to and who he doesn't, everyone has to accept it!"
Looking at the expectant eyes of the villagers, Yang Lin felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
Kaoshanyuan village has three or four hundred households. Although most are not wealthy, they don't go hungry.
But some who encountered misfortune sold their land and became tenants, barely scraping by. They grew poorer and poorer, owing more and more money until they eventually sold everything. They were left with no choice but to become slaves or starve to death!
"Auntie, when I was little, you even held me."
Yang Lin said to the woman in front of him. Upon hearing Yang Lin's words, the rest of the people cast envious glances at him.
The woman's heart pounded with excitement. Was Yang Lin saying yes to lending her money
However, after Yang Lin finished speaking, his gaze shifted to the man beside him.
"Zhang Gege, when my family ran out of food half a year ago, you still sent me half a bowl of sorghum."
The burly man, upon hearing this, was also filled with excitement.
“And also Uncle Liu, Uncle Li, Aunt Zhao, and Third Grandpa…”
Yang Lin glanced at everyone and said, "We're all neighbors and friends. Who could I possibly refuse"
Everyone was slightly taken aback.
Yang Lin's words mean...
Could it be that he won't lend to anyone
Perhaps this is the only way to avoid offending anyone.
Upon thinking this, everyone involuntarily bowed their heads, a feeling of dejection washing over them.
Thinking about having to sell their land because they couldn't afford the payments; thinking about being forced into labor service due to inability to pay the summer tax, many people's tears streamed down their faces.
"So, I'll borrow them all!"
Yang Lin said.
"Xiao Jiu, go get the ledger and prepare to record the accounts."
Everyone's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what they were hearing, as if they had misheard.
"Yang Lin, what are you saying"
Someone couldn't help but ask.
"I said, I'll borrow it all!"
Yang Lin repeated himself again.
The villagers were dumbfounded and couldn't believe their eyes.
All borrowed
Is Yang Lin crazy Does he have so much money
Wang Gui also looked at Yang Lin in shock, his eyes full of surprise.
"Yang Lin, how much interest do you want"
Someone asked.
Generally, they have no bargaining power with the landlord. The landlord sets the interest rate, and that's what they have to pay.
But now, Yang Lin said all of it was borrowed, and many people couldn't help but worry that Yang Lin would have set an interest rate they couldn't afford.
Yang Lin smiled and said, "I don't want any interest."
"What"
The villagers were shocked again.
"Yang Lin, you're not joking, are you"
"Where can you borrow money without interest"
"Yes, we're already very grateful that you'd lend us money. If you didn't charge interest, we'd owe you too much."
The villagers were all very honest and straightforward. In their usual understanding, borrowing money meant paying interest, and even if the interest was too high, they would still be grateful to Yang Lin.
"I don't want any interest, and you don't need to pay me back this money either."
As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at Yang Lin as if he were an idiot.
Even some people think Yang Lin is playing with them.
"Need it back"
"Yang Lin, don't joke around."
“That’s right, if you have money to lend to everyone, they will be grateful to you; if you don’t have money, they won’t blame you either, but don’t use others for your own amusement.”
A buzz of discussion filled the air as everyone tried to guess what Yang Lin was up to. They were all baffled by his intentions.
Li Yuyao heard the noise outside and came out. Hearing that Yang Lin was going to lend money to everyone, not charging any interest, and not even requiring repayment, she couldn't help but frown slightly.n explained to them that it was a building material.But they still couldn't understand.Building materials are either bricks, stones, or sand and soil.And this cement, has never even heard of it."It's...