chapter v. usury-contracts

　　"Besides Old Jin, who else can readily come up with so much silver?" Lian Shouren said in disbelief. 　　"That's usury." Lian Shouli, who had been keeping his head down and muffled, said in dismay. 　　It turned out that Old Jin was a loan shark! Man, no matter what era it was, the three words usury were coated with blood and tears. Borrowing from loan sharks is simply all about quenching one's thirst. 　　If it's a case of needing money to save your life and there's no way to borrow from loan sharks, then it's just that. But now the reason why the Lian family wanted to borrow from loan sharks was unacceptable to Lian Man'er. 　　"Father, when you usually speak, you say that you can't get involved with loan sharks. And you've also said quite a few things to our brothers about families breaking up and dying because of borrowing from loan sharks." Lian Shouxin said, "We still have this big family to feed, father, we can't borrow from loan sharks." 　　Lian Shouxin was such an honest person, being able to say such resolute words made Lian Man'er have a new understanding of him. 　　Elder Lian sank his face and didn't say anything. He wasn't willing to borrow from loan sharks either, but ...... 　　Lian Shouren was afraid that Lian Laozi had changed his mind by his two younger brothers, and busily said, "That's a family they can't afford to pay back, and this is different for us, it's just borrowed to save the day. When Hua'er marries into the Sun family, she will be able to pay back the money immediately. Flowers married into the Sun family, and later pull her younger siblings, can say some decent marriage. Later on, I will be an official, I can also carry a few of you, to be an official master, 500 taels of silver is nothing, 5,000, 50,000 is a small amount of money. You guys don't learn the small insights of that banker's family, only look at the immediate, but look farther ahead." 　　Lian Shouren said, but also stretched out an arm and gestured towards the distant far away. 　　"Five hundred taels is a small amount in big brother, but our family sold our house and land, but we can't exchange it for five hundred taels of silver." Lian Shouli said. 　　Lian Man Er nodded, Lian Shou Li said too politely, he should have asked Lian Shou Ren, since five hundred taels is a small amount, how come he didn't take it out directly, but also borrowed usury. 　　"After borrowing this money, in the future Hua'er guarantees that she can pay it back?" Lian Shouyi asked. Borrowing money he didn't care, as long as he didn't have to pay it back. 　　"Master, milk, second uncle, this money I guarantee to pay back." Lian Hua'er busily said. 　　"Then borrow it, just borrow two or three hundred more, Erlang is going to say daughter-in-law." Lian Shouyi said. 　　"Lao Er you shut up." Lian old man listened to the anger, "five hundred is going to die, but also borrow two or three hundred more, you think the silver is the wind blowing." 　　Lian Shouyi was scolded also not angry, smilingly sat to the side. 　　"Father, this money, we need to use it tomorrow, we still need to go and talk to Lao Jin earlier." Lian Shouren said. 　　Elder Lian sighed. 　　"Father, I'm going to go find Lao Jin." Lian Shouren looked at Master Lian's face and saw that he didn't object, so he busily put on his shoes and got off the bed, went out and went to the east end of the village to look for Lao Jin. 　　Lian Hua'er said she wanted to wash her face and also got off the kang, heading to the west house with Gu and Lian Du'er. 　　"Man'er, mother warmed up the noodle lumps for you to eat?" Zhang asked Lian Man'er. 　　Lian Man'er did feel hungry, so she nodded. Zhang's carried Lian Man'er back to the west room and quickly warmed up the noodles and served them to Lian Man'er. 　　"Man'er you eat slowly, mother still has to go make dinner." Zhang said, "Xiao Qi, your brother and your big sister are going to help mother go cook, you stay with your second sister." 　　As Zhang spoke, she brought the Lian family's fifth son and Lian Zhi'er to the upper room to prepare for cooking. 　　Lian Man'er picked up the noodle bowl. Although the noodles were a bit rough and the oil was put in sparingly, it still gave off a natural wheat aroma. 　　"Xiao Qi, you eat with me." Lian Man Er took a bite and realized that Xiao Qi was standing there looking at her, her big eyes flickering. 　　"Second sister, I'm not hungry." Lian Xiao Qi said, "I don't like eating noodle lumps." 　　Lian Man Er looked at Lian Xiao Qi's obvious lack of sincerity in her words and felt a little amused. 　　"I can't eat this much, let's both eat together, I won't tell mother." Lian Man'er said. 　　Lian Xiao Qi thought about it and still shook her head. 　　"Second sister, you're injured. You lovely eat the noodle lumps now." 　　After Lian Xiao Qi finished speaking, he was afraid that Lian Man Er would make him eat the noodle lumps again, and he was also afraid that he couldn't help but have a craving, so he busied himself and ran out. 　　After Lian Man Er finished eating the noodle lumps, her heart was thinking about the Lian family's need to borrow usury, so she came out from the west wing. 　　"Second sister." Lian Xiao Qi is squatting on the ground playing with stones, Lian Man Er comes out, busy running over, rubbing her hand on her pants, she grabs Lian Man Er's hand, "Mother asked me to accompany you." 　　"Good." Lian Man Er raised her head, and saw He was leaning against the doorway of the east room across the street getting high on melon seeds, spitting melon seeds peels everywhere. 　　Lian Man Er thought for a moment, then walked over towards He. 　　"Second sister." Lian Xiao Qi pulled Lian Man Er's hand, He's a shrewd and unreasonable person, usually second sister is very afraid of He's, how come she took the initiative to move towards He's side today. 　　"Second elder sister." Lian Man Er walked to He's side. Because Lian Xiao Qi pulled her hand and wouldn't let go, she was also dragged over. 　　He's eyes didn't lift, and she absently agreed. 　　"How come I couldn't understand what was said in master's house just now? Borrowing money later, Sister Hua'er said she'd pay it back." Seeing no one around, Lian Man'er said to He. 　　"Who will return it if not her?" He didn't have the good sense to say, "She's the one who made it happen." 　　"But Sister Hua'er married into the Sun family and is a member of the Sun family. If you want to borrow money today, it's the Lian family that will borrow it. Then when Sister Hua'er leaves and lives inside the mansion, what about the Sun family's right to pay back the money for the Lian family? Our house and land are all here, if people want money, will they look for us, or will they look for Sister Hua'er?" 　　He's eyes rolled. 　　"Great-uncle mother can coax people, she herself does not suffer, always let people suffer." Lian Man'er added. 　　"That's not true, we really need to guard against that little bitch turning her back on us." He's face instantly stretched, turned his head and went into the upper room to pull Lian Shouyi out, the two went into the east room, closed the door to talk. 　　Purpose to achieve, then see the opportunity to act, can not just arrived in this world, lost the place to settle down. Moreover, the sale of her matter, Lian Shouxin husband and wife are at fault, but a few children and she has no say, and can not look at them or sold, or living on the streets to ask for food. 　　Lian Laozi, your property and real estate, let me help you guard it. Lian Maner secretly clenched her fist. 　　"Second sister ......," Lian family's youngest seven tilted her head and looked at Lian Man Er, seemingly having something to say. 　　"Hush ......," Lian Man Er immediately made a silencing gesture to Xiao Qi. 　　"Second sister, I understand, I won't say anything." Xiao Qi immediately said. 　　Lian Man Er carefully sized up Xiao Qi, the little kid was tigerish, and she didn't know what he understood. 　　After about a few hours of tea, Lian Shouren led Lao Jin back. 　　Lian Man Er hurriedly followed into the upper room. 　　"Mr. Xiu Cai said that old brother wants to borrow money, I hurriedly came to listen to old brother's command." Old Jin was wearing a brown cocoon silk straight embellishment, holding a big belly, looking like he was only in his early fifties, entering the door, he smiled and said to Lian Laozi. 　　Smiling and kindly usurious attitude! Lian Man'er thought to herself, I wonder if he still has this face when he collects debts. 　　Elder Lian let Lao Jin take a seat on the kang. 　　"Xiu Cai Xianggong said that old brother intends to borrow five hundred taels of silver. It just so happens that I have just recovered an account in my hand, and putting it together, I have exactly that amount. Since he said it's urgent, then I'll cash in the silver in a moment and give it to old brother?" 　　"Old Jin, I've never borrowed money from you before, let me ask you, how do you calculate this interest?" Old Master Lian asked. 　　"I have several kinds of deed paper here, depending on how long old brother wants to borrow. All of them are sitting on the ground to draw one, three to five cents a month of interest. We are country folks, old brother has never opened with me, I only need old brother two points of interest, which has never been." Lao Jin smilingly said business, "If a month up, is the interest, this is the rules of the trade, I can not help. However, if the old brother borrows for a longer period of time, for a year, then it is the lamb's profit, borrow one and pay back two." 　　Lian Man Er heard some staggering. The so-called sitting on the ground to draw one, if you borrow five hundred taels of silver, at that time, the Lian family can only get four hundred and fifty taels, to the head of a month, according to five hundred taels to calculate the principal and interest. Two points of interest, with a month, pay back when you have to pay the whole six hundred two, if the month is not on, the second month head, according to six hundred two counting principal and interest, that is seven hundred and twenty two silver, and so on, that is the profit rolled up, the donkey hit a roll of profit. Lamb's profit borrowed for a year, borrowed to hand four hundred and fifty taels, when you return it, you have to pay back one thousand taels of silver. 　　"Old brother, this five hundred taels is not a small amount, other people, I am only willing to lend him a month, but also take the house and land to mortgage. But old brother you are no harm, I trust you, one year or two years also become. Old brother, what do you plan to do?" Old Jin smiled and said. 　　This account, Lian Maner can calculate, even the old man has been a shopkeeper for decades, in the heart is also clear, the face is naturally not good. 　　"Shouren, this money will take a few months to pay back." Elder Lian asked Lian Shouren. 　　"When the fall harvest is over, the Sun family will come to marry in September, so it will be the New Year's Eve before we can pay it back. Father, let's just borrow for a year." 　　Now is August, to the end of the year is four months, that time to pay back the money, according to the month counting, also need to pay back a thousand have zero silver, so it is better to count a year. 　　"Three months, can't you pay it back?" Elder Lian asked. He was also a careful calculator, if it was three months, he would only need to pay back more than eight hundred taels of silver. 　　"Father, it's better to be lenient for a few more months." Lian Shouren said. 　　Seeing Lian Shouren say this, Elder Lian stopped talking. 　　Old Jin, sensing the words, then drew out the deed paper in duplicate from his bosom. 　　"Xiu Cai Xianggong's meaning, this deed paper says six hundred taels, old brother, you look through it." 　　Elder Lian took the deed paper and looked at it carefully. 　　"Old brother see no problem, let's sign and draw a pledge, Mr. Xiu Cai and I can also go to cash the silver." Old Jin said. 　　"No problem, no problem." Lian Shouren busy saying. 　　Lao Jin then took out another box of sealing clay from and handed it over with a smile. Because he was next to Lian Shouren, that box of seal clay came to Lian Shouren's face first, Lian Shouren was like seeing a snake and scorpion, his body was busy leaning back, but he reached out and clenched his fist to hold Old Jin's hand towards Master Lian. 　　Lian Man'er watched from the side with cold eyes, her heart alerted, Lian Shouren, definitely not trustworthy. To wait for Lian Shouren or Lian Hua'er to return the money, this matter is very pending. 　　Damn, how come He's side hasn't moved yet? 　　"Father, wait." Right at this moment, he saw the door curtain flick open, and He Shouyi and He came in from outside in a hurry. 　　"What is it?" Elder Lian's fingers were already stained with sealing clay, and he raised his head to ask. 　　"Father, this IOU, you have to let Lian Hua'er press the handprint." 　　Lian Man'er pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes slightly.