Chapter 14: Do You Not Have to Pay Back the Loan?
widened in astonishment. The more he read, the more shocked and amazed he became.For a moment, he excitedly put down his paper and stood up with enthusiasm."I'm going to make paper now!"If such paper..."Oh no! They couldn't be here to rob us, could they"
Xiao Jiu hurriedly spread her arms and stood in front of Yang Lin.
That innocent little face, especially strong. Even with her own life, she would stop these people!
Yang Lin chuckled and patted the little girl's head. "What are you thinking about"
Soon, the villagers arrived before the small courtyard, their eager eyes fixed on Yang Lin, but no one spoke.
Wang Gui ran over, gasping for breath. He lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry, Yang Lin, I told everyone about you lending me money. Everyone is here to borrow money from you."
Wang Gui's eyes were red, and she felt especially guilty.
"Uncle Wang has gotten you into trouble."
After a while, the imperial court began to collect summer taxes, and landlords also started settling accounts. This period is the most difficult time for the poor peasants.
Those who lack money to pay taxes and debts must sell their land.
Without land, one can only sell their children, daughters, or wives!
There are many people as unfortunate as Wang Gui in the village.
Today he went to Liu the landlord's house to repay his debt, and unexpectedly took out three hundred wen. Not only did Liu the landlord not expect it, but also those villagers who were unable to pay their debts and begged Liu the landlord for a few more days of grace were particularly surprised.
As everyone knows, Wang Gui's family is too poor and they are also newcomers. It's hard for them to borrow money, let alone come up with so much money all at once
Someone came looking for Wang Gui.
Wang Gu knew that revealing the truth would cause trouble for Yang Lin, but the other party pleaded desperately. As they were both unfortunate people who shared a similar plight, Wang Gu couldn't bear to see him suffer and revealed that he had borrowed money from Yang Lin.
Word got around quickly among the indebted villagers that Yang Lin was lending money. They saw him as their savior and flocked to him for loans.
When Wang Gui learned of this, he rushed over to stop them, but the villagers had nowhere to go. How could he possibly stop them
At this moment, he only felt sorry for Yang Lin.
Yang Lin did him such a great favor, but he 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. I need your help to 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 house doesn't have money to pay the summer tax, Yang Lin, please help this old woman."
The villagers jostled and surged forward, clamoring to speak, a chaotic throng.
Wang Gu became increasingly anxious and hurriedly shouted: "Alright, everyone stop pushing! Yang Lin isn't a Bodhisattva, with so many people here, how can he possibly help everyone"
After finishing his words, he hung his head and looked at Yang Lin helplessly.
Actually, when Yang Lin saw Wang Gui, he had already guessed the intentions of these villagers.
Right now, everyone is asking to borrow money, and Yang Lin didn't hesitate, nodding directly: "Sure."
Perhaps he agreed too readily, and the villagers were stunned for a moment.
When they reacted, everyone looked at Yang Lin in astonishment.
"Yang Lin, you promised to lend me money"
"Bah, Yang Lin promised me!"
It was I who was right. Just as I finished speaking, Yang Lin agreed.
The villagers started arguing again.
Wang Gui quickly maintained order: "Everyone, please calm 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 money, there's bound to be some who can't lend it. Lending money is a favor, and if someone can't lend it, no one can blame them."
"Wang Gui is right, Yang Lin isn't a bodhisattva and can't help everyone. Who he lends to and who he doesn't, everyone has to accept their fate!"
Looking at the expectant eyes of the villagers, Yang Lin's heart ached once more.
There are three or four hundred households in Koushan Village. Although most of them are not wealthy, they are not starving.
But some who encountered misfortune sold their land and became tenant farmers, barely scraping by. They grew increasingly impoverished, accumulating more and more debt, ultimately selling everything they had left. They were either forced into servitude or starved to death!
"Aunt, when I was little, you held me."
Yang Lin said to the woman in front of him. Hearing Yang Lin say this, the rest of the people cast envious glances at her.
The woman was overjoyed. Was Yang Lin saying this to agree to lend 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 also felt a surge of excitement upon hearing this.
"There's also Uncle Liu, Uncle Li, Aunt Zhao, and my great-uncle…"
Yang Lin glanced over everyone and said, "We're all neighbors and friends. Everyone, you tell me, could I refuse anyone"
Everyone was taken aback.
Yang Lin's words mean...
Could it be, he doesn't lend to anyone
Perhaps this is the only way to avoid offending anyone.
Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but lower their heads, feeling a pang of disappointment in their hearts.
Thinking about having to sell their land because they couldn't afford the taxes, and thinking about being forced into labor service for unpaid summer taxes, many people burst into tears.
"So, I'll borrow everything!"
Yang Lin said.
"Xiao Jiu, go get the ledger and prepare to record."
Everyone stared in disbelief, their eyes wide with shock. They couldn't believe what they were hearing, thinking 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.
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 astonishment.
"Yang Lin, how much interest do you want"
Someone asked.
Under normal circumstances, they have no right to bargain with the landlord over interest rates. The landlord sets the interest rate, and they have to pay it.
But now, Yang Lin said that all of it was borrowed, and many people couldn't help but worry, would Yang Lin have set a high interest rate they couldn't afford
Yang Lin smiled and said, "I don't want interest."
"What"
Villagers were once again astonished.
"Yang Lin, are you serious"
"Where can you borrow money without interest"
"Yeah, we'd be so grateful if you could lend us some money. We already owe you a lot, and not charging interest would just make things too difficult for us."
The villagers were very honest. In their usual understanding, borrowing money meant paying interest, and as long as the interest wasn't 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 the money either.
As soon as these words left his mouth, everyone looked at Yang Lin as if he were an idiot.
Even some people think Yang Lin is messing with them.
"Need not to return"
"Yang Lin, don't joke around."
"That's right. If you have money to lend to everyone, they'll be grateful to you; if you don't, they won't blame you. But don't use everyone for your own amusement."
Then, everyone started chattering and speculating, utterly confused about what Yang Lin was up to.
Li Yuyao heard the commotion outside and came out. Hearing Yang Lin was going to lend money to everyone, not charging interest, and not even requiring repayment, she couldn't help but frown slightly. after arriving in Jianghe County, those corrupt officials and bureaucrats arrested me and sent me to the countryside to be chosen as a wife by someone!!"Recalling the humiliation of the past, Li Yuny...