readytorunbook Chapter 158 Jiang Chen writes IOUs to villagers
Chapter 158 Jiang Chen writes IOUs to villagers
Lin Xueqing has returned to the village. Jiang's mother scolded her for acting on her own and not knowing how to save money. She actually rented a horse carriage to come back. When did this little hoof become so precious?
Lin Xueqing didn't bother to listen to her scolding. It was already this time, and she was still fussing over these trivial matters?
"Brother Jiang has something to say, let's go inside and talk."
"What can't be said outside? There's nothing shameful in our family."
Jiang's mother was domineering and couldn't stand this little bitch using Jiang Chen as a raft. Who allowed her to enter the city?
Lin Xueqing has been very confident since she met Yang Lingzhao. If she can't stay in the Jiang family anymore, she can just go to the capital city to find the young master and still be his maid. Why should she endure this?
"Mother, the villagers sold their land to help Brother Jiang pay off his debts. Do you think this matter can be discussed? Village Chief Jiang escaped death, and he will not let our family go."
Mother Jiang was silent for a moment, and Father Jiang said, "Go back to the house, and all the daughters-in-law go out."
Leaving only the sons to discuss the matter, only to be met with contempt from their wives, who would want to listen?
But the concubine Lin Xueqing also went in, which made them even more dissatisfied. This little girl was really cunning and bold. She even dared to go into the city to find her brother-in-law. They had to be more careful with him in the future.
Jiang Xun rolled his eyes, winked at Jiang Ke, went around to the back of the house, and eavesdropped under the window.
At first they talked about Village Chief Jiang. Jiang Chen even sent the village chief a last meal, thinking that he would not survive. Unexpectedly, he was saved by Shen Nanzhi. As long as he was alive, his family would feel bad.
Jiang's mother was in a panic: "What should we do now? You two are such idiots, why wait for him to commit suicide? Why don't you just kill him directly?"
Lin Xueqing: “…”
Her mother-in-law is cruel. It's true that women have the most vicious hearts.
Father Jiang scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about? The fourth brother is also doing this for the good of the village. The things the village chief did, he should be punished at least for his crimes. It wasn't the fourth brother who asked him to dig up people's ancestral graves, so what does it have to do with us?"
Lin Xueqing: "The most important thing now is the matter of the six hundred taels of silver. The village chief will start from here."
Boss Jiang was unhappy: "That was given voluntarily by the villagers, there is no reason to take it back!
Our family is not easy to mess with. We have no money but our lives. If they dare to target our family now, I will teach them a lesson after my fourth brother passes the imperial examination."
Jiang Lao Er: "That's right, my fourth brother is a scholar. The unruly people in the village only wanted their land because my fourth brother gave them face. When my fourth brother passes the imperial examination, they won't be able to curry favor with him."
I have the same idea as Jiang Laosan, but I feel a little listless. I don’t know what happened to me recently, my beard has not grown and my chin is completely bald. I don’t even need to shave.
My wife is dissatisfied. She is not old yet, so why can't she do it?
Jiang Laosi had just gotten married and had no son yet, which was even more serious, but he didn’t dare tell his family because all men have to have dignity.
This matter has been weighing on my mind and I have no interest in anything else.
"What's the point of discussing this? Let's see what the village chief does. If he's not stupid, he can't just turn against us, right?"
Mr. and Mrs. Jiang breathed a sigh of relief. What he said made sense.
But they underestimated the hatred of the village chief. Shen Nanzhi's move was a wise one. For someone who had experienced death and betrayal, it was like being reborn. It would be strange if he could forgive Jiang Chen.
"The bell is ringing at the entrance of the village. It means we are going to have a meeting. Let's go quickly."
"What does the village chief want to do?"
The villagers were puzzled and gathered in groups of three or five. Village chief Jiang smoked his pipe and squatted on the big stone mill, waiting with a sullen face. When everyone was together, the village chief stood up, tapped his pipe, and said, "I asked everyone to come here today to talk about the sale of the land."
More than ten families were dissatisfied, but they were suppressed by Village Chief Jiang, so they could only admit that they had lost. Now that the village chief brought up the matter again, they all asked happily, "What does the village chief mean?"
Village Chief Jiang said: "I was not thoughtful before. I thought that Jiang Chen was the only scholar in our village. If he passed the imperial examination in the future, our village would also benefit. It was only right for me to help him.
Afterwards, when these things happened, I felt that everyone was in trouble. Whose land was not passed down from their ancestors? They were all family assets. Only the prodigal sons would sell the land. Jiang Chen might not be willing for everyone to sacrifice so much.
What I mean is that Jiang Chen's family will write you an IOU, and when he passes the imperial examination and becomes rich, he will return it to you. This will always give him hope, and it will also let him know that he owes you a favor."
"That's good, it should be so."
More than ten families' eyes lit up. It was not realistic to ask Jiang Chen to pay back the money now, so it would be better to do him a favor and pave the way for their children in the future.
Jiang's mother scolded directly: "No, why write an IOU? You are willing to give it to my family, we are not forcing you, why?"
"Hey, Jiang Wangshi, what you said is wrong. Who would be willing to give it to your family? If he wasn't a scholar, I wouldn't lend him a grain of rice if he didn't kneel down and kowtow to me."
"You're taking advantage of us, aren't you? You have to pay us back if you owe us anything. You still have a house and land, why don't you sell them to pay off the debt?"
"That's right, Village Chief. It was you who proposed it in the first place. Why don't you sell his land?"
Isn’t the village chief regretting this?
The village chief said earnestly: "Jiang Wangshi, you are trampling on everyone's kindness by saying this. Who will dare to help your family in the future?"
Jiang's mother had no choice but to give in: "That's not what I meant."
"Women, please stand aside. Jiang Sancai, tell me, do you acknowledge this debt?"
Jiang Sancai is the name of Jiang Chen’s father. No one has called him by his name for many years. It felt a little strange for a moment. Is he calling me?
"We have to wait until my fourth son comes back to discuss this matter. Don't worry, we are neighbors from the same village, and our Jiang family will not do anything ungrateful."
The village chief said, "Since you remember the favor, is it difficult for you to write a letter of acknowledgement? Or do you want your son, a scholar, to be known as someone who doesn't pay back his debts? He is taking the imperial examination..."
Because of their bad reputation, they cannot even pass the imperial examinations. Village chief Jiang will also know what their family is thinking and think that they can pass the imperial examinations and pay off the village's debt first.
Otherwise, he should not have passed the exam. Village Chief Jiang does not have such big ambitions and no sense of honor. No matter how big the exam is, it will belong to Jiang Chen's family, not his.
Jiang Chen is so cruel. If he really becomes rich, can he give back to the village?
Village Chief Jiang has lost hope. He might as well reverse the bad reputation he has gained recently. Why should he be criticized for Jiang Chen's good deeds?
People, once they wake up, will discover many problems. Village Chief Jiang is particularly sober now.
Father Jiang was forced into a corner and had to write an IOU to the village. Although he did not get any money, more than ten families were very happy to have an IOU. The future scholar owed him money, and this was a favor.
"Let's all go our separate ways. My family will farm Chen Hu's ten acres of land and I'll pay him rent. If anyone wants to buy his house, come find me."
Village chief Jiang doesn't have the money to buy so much land, but he can rent it. It would be a pity to leave ten acres of land idle.
I don't know what he was thinking. He planted radishes and cabbages on ten acres of land. It's too late to plant crops now, and there are no sweet potatoes from Shen Nanzhi. He can only plant cabbage and radishes and harvest a crop of autumn vegetables.