From Folly to Fortune：I Rewrite My Life After Rebirth!-Chapter 900 - 896: Borrowing Usury (Second Update)
This sister-in-law, Mrs. Lin has always been envious and jealous.
None of the daughters-in-law who married into the Old Mu Family had a good time under the old lady’s watchful eyes.
They could only use what the men in the family left behind for food and clothing.
If they slightly displeased the old lady, they would get a severe beating.
But because the eldest sister-in-law’s family had some status and wasn’t just farmers, she never had to cook a meal for the family from the day she entered the house.
She could arrange her own food and clothing.
"Xiaozao, I just told you, you really don’t remember things with your head. If you don’t bring enough money, how will Dade eat and stay warm on the road?"
"What if we run into a high official in the Capital and need connections? If we have no money, would they bother with us?"
"People always say, ’Only with effort comes reward’. If you don’t put in the effort, where will the reward come from?"
Mrs. Jin’s words were every inch a gem, leaving Mrs. Lin speechless.
"Dad, what should we do? I followed Wang Banxian’s advice, and heading to the Capital, a hundred taels still feels a bit shabby..."
Mr. Mu grabbed his pipe, taking five swift puffs.
A hundred taels of silver, even if the Old Mu Family sold their fields, land, sons, and daughters, they couldn’t gather it all.
"Dad, why not ask the third brother? Doesn’t his family have a tavern?" Mrs. Lin whispered as a reminder.
At this, everyone felt a spark of hope.
The tavern in town must be worth a hundred taels of silver.
But how could that troublesome girl give it up?
So, this plan wouldn’t work.
Seeing Mr. Mu hesitate, Mrs. Jin said again, "How about this, Dad, Dade is my husband, and in my family, he’s a good son-in-law, practically half a son.
If you provide this travel expense, my parents should contribute too. I’ll go back and have them prepare fifty taels, then our Old Mu Family would only need to come up with fifty taels. How about that?"
This generous gesture from Mrs. Jin put her in the right no matter where the conversation went.
And she would be praised by everyone.
But even fifty taels were beyond the reach of the Old Mu Family.
This time, Mrs. Jin fell silent, waiting for Mr. Mu’s answer.
After a long pause, Mr. Mu let out a long sigh and said, "Let’s go to Gao Village and borrow from Gao Tiezhu. We’ll borrow a hundred taels, and when Dade becomes the Champion Scholar, we’ll return it with interest."
As soon as Mr. Mu finished speaking, not only did Old Mrs. Mu’s face change, but even the young Mu Dazhong and Mu Danian’s faces changed.
Everyone around Niuwei Mountain knew what Gao Tiezhu was up to.
To put it nicely, he lent money to help people through tough times, but his interest was heavier than the court’s oppressive taxes and miscellaneous fees.
They heard that the last time, he even forced a widow in their village to death.
Just for borrowing eight hundred wen from him.
Borrowing eight hundred became eighty taels when repaying.
It increased a hundredfold.
"Dad, have you lost your mind? Borrowing fifty taels from Gao Tiezhu, just the interest would cost our Old Mu Family everything," Mu Dazhong yelled.
"What else can we do?" Mr. Mu asked angrily. "Do we really have to sell the fields and land?"
Mr. Mu wasn’t foolish; the current situation was that by the time the eldest became Champion Scholar, it would be around the New Year.
During this long time, the Old Mu Family with a dozen or twenty people couldn’t go without eating.
The fields couldn’t be sold!
But the eldest’s imperial exam couldn’t be delayed, so what to do?
Borrowing was the only option.
"Selling the fields and land is better than being pushed to death by Gao Tiezhu. Dad, you know what kind of person Gao Tiezhu is," Mrs. Lin complained.
In her heart, Mrs. Lin was already wavering.
She, Lin Xiaozao, married into the Old Mu Family but hadn’t enjoyed life yet. If they wanted her to risk her life, she wouldn’t have it.
If it came to it... well, then she wouldn’t enjoy the good fortune from the eldest’s family anymore.
The land from Old Mu Family would be divided in half between their second house.
As expected with couples, Mu Dazhong thought the same way.
Enjoyment was important, but life was more important.
Besides, it was still uncertain whether the eldest would pass the exam.
Even a cooked duck could fly away.
Moreover, his elder brother was like that, a duck with even its feathers still on.
"Alright, it’s the New Year, so keep your mouth clean. I spit, spit, spit, the eldest will definitely become the Champion Scholar, and our Old Mu Family will definitely all go to the Capital to enjoy good fortune."
First, Old Mrs. Mu scolded Mu Dazhong thoroughly, then she fantasized a bit about her own future.
Happiness was so close, she had to seize it.
"Eldest daughter-in-law, borrowing money might not be resolved quickly today. Go tell Dade not to go to the Capital tomorrow.
Three days later is a good day. We’ll have the whole village send the eldest off, nice and lively, sending him to take the exam!"
Old Mrs. Mu was truly worried and had her hands full with this son taking the imperial exam.
She spoke more logically than ever.
As for the postponement, Mrs. Jin didn’t mind, they could just call for a fast horse and rest less on the road for two days.
And they could still get fifty more taels of silver, why not?
But she still needed to put on a show.
"Dad, Mom, put aside the borrowing for now, I’ll go ask Dade. If he’s willing to eat poorly on the way, we won’t be put in a difficult position.
Before she finished her sentence, Old Mrs. Mu scolded her.
"What nonsense are you spouting? My son is a top scholar; how can he eat what even pigs wouldn’t? If you want to eat that yourself, don’t drag my son with you."
The other Lin sisters, hearing Old Mrs. Mu’s words, pouted their lips high.
In their hearts, they cursed Old Mrs. Mu: What pigs wouldn’t eat, hasn’t she been eating it herself?
"Alright, since everyone is fine, let’s disperse. Do what you need to. Second one, since you already know about Da Lang and Bi Taowang Laoda, there’s no need to hide it from them anymore.
Let them know, let them be happy too, and when your elder brother goes to the Capital, let them stand by, soak in the good fortune, understand?"
Mu Dazhong naturally agreed wholeheartedly.
Once everyone dispersed, he went to find Mu Dalang and told him everything about the family meeting.
After Mu Dazhong finished speaking, he went to lie down and sleep on the kang.
Mu Dalang secretly went to the third branch and told them all the news discussed by the Old Mu Family.
Mu Dashan was so shocked he jumped straight from his chair.
"You said your grandpa is going to borrow money from Gao Tiezhu?" Mu Dashan exclaimed.
"Yes, and wants to borrow fifty taels, even my grandma agreed," Mu Dalang said.
Beside him, Mu Shuangshuang, seeing how agitated Mu Dashan was, couldn’t help but ask, "Dad, what exactly is going on? Who is this Gao Tiezhu?"
Mu Dashan let out a long sigh before explaining who Gao Tiezhu was.
After hearing everything, Mu Shuangshuang’s mouth opened wide.
She gasped and blurted out, "Isn’t this borrowing money to solve a problem just usury?"
"What lending?" Mu Dashan asked.
"Just like you said, Gao Tiezhu lends money to others, charges high interest, interest getting compounded. The longer it takes, the more to repay.
If you can’t repay, this loan can ruin a person’s family and life."
