Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1200: Believe It or Not

"A bank is being opened in the county, aimed at lending funds to farmers for tax payments? Good Brother An, are you telling the truth?" Elder Lin buzzed with thrill: "Should a bank truly step up to loan us money, us farmers might actually pull through."

Members of his household had attempted to borrow from the bank earlier, yet neither Lin Laoda nor Lin Laosan managed to step inside. Simply inquiring about loans for taxes resulted in them getting thrashed.

Banks typically refuse loans to farmers, worried they couldn’t repay and thus suffer losses. As a result, struggling farmers often resort to relatives for loans or head to gambling dens.

Yet the steep interest rates from gambling houses prove unbearable for farmers, forcing them eventually to sell fields, land, homes, or even daughters to settle debts.

"First Place Gu, does the bank really plan to lend to us? What’s the interest? It won’t match the gambling houses’ rates, will it?" Lin Laoda pressed Gu Jin’an desperately, his wounds from the bank guards’ beating still aching sharply.

Gu Jin’an answered, "No, the fresh bank offers very low interest, and once the interest covers over 20% of the principal, the entire debt gets cleared."

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Elder Lin, advanced in years, struggled to grasp it.

Lin Laosan let out an "ah", explaining, "Dad, First Place Gu means the new bank’s fantastic. We just pay interest, and if it tops 20% of the principal, no need to repay the loan—not even the principal. To cancel the debt entirely. It’s amazing, a massive stroke of luck!"

Lin Laosan vibrated with excitement, while Young Master Zhou beamed just as much, declaring, "That’s fantastic; if real, we can all make it."

Elder Zhou frowned deeply at this news and challenged Gu Jin’an: "Good Brother An, you’re fibbing, right? This old timer’s seen decades pass without spotting such a bank. Skip repaying principal, just pay enough interest to wipe the debt? Ha, aiming to trick us old folks?"

Zhou Laoer nodded vigorously, "Yeah, you’re inventing this to dodge lending us silver and fool us all."

He pressed on, "Good Brother An, we fled famine as fellow villagers back then. Your family prospered over years, and we never bothered you. Now desperate, we beg for funds—if you won’t lend, fine. But why the lies? Lin Da and others dashed to the bank hearing of the Emperor’s taxes. Not just denied, they got beaten black and blue. You want us thrashed too?"

Hearing this, Gu Jin’an let out a cold sneer: "Second Uncle Zhou, no tricks here; take it or leave it."

"You there, Gu Jin’an, what’s with that tone? I’m your senior!" Zhou Laoer fumed. In Niugou Town, having fled famine alongside Gu Jin’an’s kin, locals dubbed him ’First Place Gu’s Uncle,’ filling him with pride. Yet facing Gu Jin’an directly, he couldn’t pull rank as elder.

Bang! Third Grandpa pounded the table, glaring at Elder Zhou: "Brother, villagers mentioned you wanted to see me, so I allowed entry. If you’re here throwing weight around, get out."

Times weren’t when they held leverage, but when Zhou and Lin clans desperately needed aid. Should Elder Zhou let his son stir more chaos, Third Grandpa wouldn’t hold back.

Gu Dashan had endured long enough, stating, "Elder Zhou, my Good Brother An earned Scholar status, joining scholarly ranks now. Brother Zhou Two, mind your tongue carefully—disrespect could land charges, leading to arrest and flogging by officials."

Zhou Laoer stared in stunned silence at Gu Dashan’s warning; he’d always viewed Gu Dashan as a pushover, but now the pushover showed spine.

Elder Zhou’s expression darkened severely, yet he realized Third Grandpa and Gu Dashan meant business. Provoking them might summon officials to haul folks away.

"Old Second, show some propriety! Good Brother An’s a Scholar; you’ve no right to rebuke him. Apologize to Good Brother An at once!"

Frightened of arrest and beating, Zhou Laoer bowed hastily and told Gu Jin’an, "Good Brother An, don’t take offense; Uncle’s mouth ran ahead carelessly."

Gu Jin’an declared, "I’ve explained plainly: no silver loans from me, but you’ve got another path. Hold out five days—the county launches a new bank, go borrow there."

Young Master Zhou’s eyes sparkled, querying, "First Place Gu means the county’s starting a fresh bank? The one loaning silver isn’t the same that battered Uncle Lin?"

Gu Jin’an nodded, "Correct."

Young Master Zhou brimmed with joy as he said to Elder Zhou, "Grandpa, Second Uncle, did you catch that? We’re rescued! In just five days, we can borrow Silver!"

Zhou Laoer shot a displeased look at his nephew; this idiot, why celebrate? Loans from banks come with interest, but the Gu Family offers them interest-free, and if postponed for ten years or longer, the principal might never need repaying.

Seeing Elder Zhou and Zhou Laoer stay quiet, Young Master Zhou felt heartbroken... Ever since they fled the famine, he noticed Grandpa and Second Uncle had transformed. They chased easy profits and even let thugs bully his big sister, forcing her to follow Li Kuihu without a proper name or status.

Gu Jin’an looked at Young Master Zhou and pitied him greatly. Yet, unless Young Master Zhou strived for improvement and stopped residing with Elder Zhou and Zhou Laoer, there was little reason to offer aid.

"Elder Lin, heed my words and head home to wait. As soon as the new bank opens, I’ll dispatch someone right away to notify you. We’ll escort you there, letting you borrow Silver without queuing up," Gu Jin’an assured.

Elder Lin nearly wept at Gu Jin’an’s promise. With the Scholar’s endorsement, the new bank had to be legitimate.

"Very well, very well, I’ll return home and wait then... Dear Brother An, my deepest thanks. Without your help, I doubt I’d survive another three days." Elder Lin uttered, voice choked with emotion, for he had collapsed upon hearing of the Emperor’s steep taxes.

Despair gripped him tightly; he believed he’d endured enough suffering already. Unable to secure Silver for taxes, he saw no point in continuing.

In truth, one fewer mouth meant one less tael of tax for the family.

"Brother Lin, what’s this? You’re departing already?" Elder Zhou cried out. "Li Village in Niugou Town lies far away from here. We walked through the night to arrive, and you must be exhausted. Why not rest overnight before going?"

The Gu Family possessed great wealth, their home vast, and even breakfast featured egg pancakes—surely dinner would boast lavish fish and meat dishes?

Elder Zhou refused to depart, hoping to savor a fine meal and later beg Third Grandpa and Third Grandma for Silver.

Zhou Erlang and Zhou Sanlang shared his reluctance, recalling the Gu Family’s two daughters while they remained single men. Lingering at the Gu residence might allow encounters with the girls, paving the way for what followed naturally.