Liang Zhuzi and the others did business with the Gu Family. They’d once come to borrow Silver from the Gu Family. The Gu Family hadn’t lent any, but told them to follow Village Chief He to the new bank five days later, and that when the time came they could go straight in through the back door and borrow Silver directly.

The people of Lianghe Village had kept this in mind and came to the entrance of Da Feng Village to wait before dawn.

"Zhuzi, you’re back too." Village Chief He saw that Liang Zhuzi had already slimmed down, and nodded in satisfaction. After suffering losses in Hukang County and getting taught a lesson by Xiao Yu, he really had become honest.

Liang Zhuzi cupped his hands to Village Chief He and said, "Village Chief Uncle, it’s been a long time. You’re looking even more hale and hearty."

Knowing that Village Chief He was most proud of He Jinseng, when he saw He Jinseng he wanted to praise him a bit, but then remembered that He Jinseng had failed the exam this time and hadn’t passed to become a Scholar. He had to swallow the words at his lips and change it to, "I had to come back. The tax this time is too high. There are still more than a dozen households in the village who can’t pay. I’m more familiar with the Gu Family, so I had to come back and help everyone."

The days in Lianghe Village were actually pretty decent, but compared to Da Feng Village where every household had work to do, they were still a bit worse off. And this was only the summer tax; in the tenth month there’d be the autumn tax. The people of Lianghe Village thought it over, afraid the autumn tax would rise again, and decided to borrow money from the bank.

Borrow first and talk later, in case the Silver at the bank got all borrowed out and when the autumn tax came they had no money to pay.

Speaking of taxes, Village Chief He’s old face turned bitter as well. He waved his hand and said, "Let’s not talk about this. Let’s hurry up and go."

"Right."

Under Village Chief He’s lead, the group rode mule carts and ox carts toward the county.

Because Qin San Lang had already given advance notice, Village Chief He and the others didn’t need to line up. After their household registers were checked, they were let in.

When they got to the new bank, the main doors were still shut. It actually wasn’t open yet.

Many villagers gathered around the entrance of the new bank, asking, "Is it this place? Did we come to the wrong place?"

"No mistake, it’s this place. Look at the Protectors guarding the door, and the Military Officers on the street. They’re all here to protect this bank, afraid someone might come rob the money."

"And look at those characters up there. Don’t they look complicated? That’s ’Dou Ou Bank,’ taking the first character from the Dou Family and the Ouyang Family. This is the one, no mistake!"

"Dou Ou Bank? Fight-and-Brawl Bank? What kind of messed-up name is that? Coming up with a name like this is really something."

"Who cares what they call it, as long as they’ll lend us money."

Hearing all this, the expression on Qin San Lang’s face was hard to describe. That fellow Dou Ke was forever this unreliable when it came to naming things.

"Village Chief, come with me." Qin San Lang had been ordered to bring troops to guard the bank, but when he saw Village Chief He, he walked over and said, "I’ll take you in through the back door."

"Oh, it’s San Lang. Good, good, everyone stay close and follow San Lang to the bank." Village Chief He was very happy and also quite proud. Just look at the treatment their Da Feng Village got—enough to make the farmers within ten miles and eight villages green with envy.

Qin San Lang made a shushing gesture, telling them not to speak so loudly, lest others hear and take offense.

Village Chief He and the people of Lianghe Village saw this and hurriedly shut their mouths.

In no time, Qin San Lang brought them to the back door of the bank. After he knocked, Dou Meng personally came to lead them in.

The young Master had stayed up all night working and his head was splitting. At the moment he was collapsed in a Taishi Chair, saying to Gu Jin’an, "Delay opening the doors. I need to sleep for two hours or I’ll die."

Gu Jin’an: "Delay opening for two hours? Do you believe the villagers won’t smash this bank to pieces?"

He himself had been so busy these last few days that he hadn’t had time to sleep. Last night, after returning to the village to see his family, he’d gone straight to the county bank after dinner and worked the whole night with the young Master.

"Take it. It can refresh you, clear your head, and cure the headache from staying up all night." Gu Jin’an handed him a pill.

The young Master took it and frowned, asking, "What is this? It’s not Poison, is it?"

Gu Jin’an: "An awakening pill. My little sister and Doctor Wu made it. It works pretty well, but if you’re scared, you don’t have to take it."

With a gulp, the young Master swallowed it in one go. "Would I, this young Master, be scared?"

And what do you know, this awakening pill really was something. In less than a quarter of an hour, the young Master was clear-headed and his headache was gone. He glared at Gu Jin’an and complained, "With something this good, why didn’t you take it out earlier?"

These past few days, aside from running around on their own errands, the two of them would also go to Master Ouyang’s Family to meet up, report, and discuss all sorts of matters regarding setting up the new bank.

Gu Jin’an: "I didn’t have any before. I only got the medicine when I went home last night."

"Young Master, Company Commander Qin has brought the people of Da Feng Village." Dou Meng called.

"Company Commander Qin is here!" The young Master sprang up from the Taishi Chair in excitement, rushed to the door and craned his neck, asking, "Where is he? Where is he?"

Gu Jin’an followed him out, and seeing the young Master’s manner, said in a cold, creepy tone, "My brother‑in‑law’s here. What are you getting so worked up about?"

He’s not your brother‑in‑law.

"Hmph, can’t I, this young Master, worship soldiers?" the young Master said, then reined in his excitement and went up to greet Qin San Lang: "Company Commander Qin, good morning. Have you eaten? There’s some breakfast inside. Come in and eat together."

How could the Young Marquis be allowed to go hungry?

Qin San Lang: "No need. The villagers are all waiting to borrow money for the tax. I’ve brought the Village Chief and the people of Lianghe Village. Young Master Dou, have your clerks use them to practice first. Once they’re familiar with the process, please open the doors at once to help the villagers handle their loans."

Moved— the Young Marquis was still just like when he was young, upright and kind!

The young Master thumped his chest and said, "Rest easy, Company Commander Qin. I’ll have someone handle their loans right away."

As he spoke, he shouted toward the courtyard, "Dou Zhi, Dou Zhi, hurry over and take them to the front shop to handle their loan business."

"Yes, Young Master." Dou Zhi quickly came in, gave everyone a bow, then looked at Village Chief He. "You must be Village Chief He, right? Please come with this slave to the front shop. The clerks will help you with the loan procedures."

"Oh, oh, oh, thank you, miss." Village Chief He was very happy and led the villagers away, but left He Jinseng behind. He quietly told him, "Jin Sheng, that young Master Dou is a mountain of gold. You mustn’t waste this opportunity. Stay and have a good talk with him."

He Jinseng was quite helpless, but thinking that his grandfather meant well, he could only stay.

The young Master had no time to bother with He Jinseng and even found him an eyesore. He grabbed him and dragged him off to the side, then looked at Qin San Lang, his eyes curving as he smiled. "Company Commander Qin, someone is already taking Village Chief He and the others to handle their loans. Please come inside for some tea and take a load off."

Up at the crack of dawn and busy already— the Young Marquis was truly pitiful!

Qin San Lang shook his head. "No. There are more and more villagers outside. I need to go out and watch, in case something happens."

Huh?

Not coming in to eat something?

Working on an empty stomach isn’t good.

The young Master was very regretful, but hurriedly said, "Company Commander Qin, wait a moment."

He ran back inside, packed all kinds of breakfast and tea that Dou Zhi had prepared for him into a food box, then asked Gu Jin’an, "Give me a few awakening pills. I’ll give them to Company Commander Qin. He must be like us and have stayed up all night too."

Gu Jin’an glanced at him, folded his hands before him, and said, "The awakening pill was made by his fiancée who hasn’t married in yet. Do you think he wouldn’t have any?"