"The county is opening a bank, specifically to lend money to farmers to pay taxes? Good Brother An, are you serious?" Elder Lin was extremely excited: "If there really is a bank willing to lend us money, us farmers can survive."

His family had gone to the bank to borrow money, but both Lin Laoda and Lin Laosan couldn’t even get past the door. Just asking if they could borrow money to pay taxes got them beaten up.

Banks generally wouldn’t lend money to farmers, fearing they wouldn’t be able to repay and would end up losing money. Therefore, most farmers in trouble can only turn to relatives to borrow money or go to gambling houses to do so.

However, the interest demanded by gambling houses is too high for farmers to afford, ultimately leading to selling fields, selling land, selling houses, or even using daughters to pay off debts.

"First Place Gu, is it true the bank is willing to lend us money? What’s the interest rate? It won’t be as high as the gambling houses, right?" Lin Laoda urgently asked Gu Jin’an, the injuries from the beating at the bank’s security were still hurting him.

Gu Jin’an replied, "No, the new bank’s interest is very low, and as long as the interest paid exceeds 20% of the principal, the debt can be settled."

"What does this mean?" Elder Lin, due to his age, didn’t understand.

Lin Laosan replied with an "ah", "Dad, First Place Gu is saying that the new bank is good. We only need to pay the interest, and as long as the interest exceeds 20% of the principal, we won’t need to pay back the money; even the principal won’t need to be repaid to cancel the debt. It’s a wonderful thing, truly a giant blessing!"

Lin Laosan was extremely excited, and Young Master Zhou was equally delighted, saying, "That’s great, if it’s true, we’ll all be able to survive."

Elder Zhou wasn’t happy upon hearing this and questioned Gu Jin’an: "Good Brother An, you’re lying, aren’t you? This old man has lived decades and never seen such a bank. Not having to repay the principal, just cancel the debt by paying enough interest? Ha, you’re trying to fool us, aren’t you?"

Zhou Laoer agreed, "Yes, you must be making this up to avoid lending us money and deceiving us."

He continued, "Good Brother An, we were once fellow villagers who escaped famine together. Over these years, your family became wealthy, yet we never harassed you. Now, out of desperation, we’re here to ask for money, and if you don’t want to lend, so be it. Why deceive us? Do you know Lin Da and the others rushed to the bank upon hearing the Emperor was collecting taxes? Not only did the bank refuse, but they also got beaten. Are you trying to get us beaten too?"

After listening, Gu Jin’an sneered coldly: "Second Uncle Zhou, I’m not deceiving you; believe it or not."

"You, Gu Jin’an, what kind of attitude is this? I’m your elder!" Zhou Laoer was very angry. Back in Niugou Town, due to escaping famine with Gu Jin’an’s family, the people there would call him ’First Place Gu’s Uncle’, which pleased him greatly. But he hadn’t expected that in front of Gu Jin’an, he couldn’t play the elder role.

With a bang, Third Grandpa slammed the table, looking at Elder Zhou and saying, "Brother, the villagers said you came to see me, so I let you in. If you are here to act entitled, you can leave."

This wasn’t a time where they were in need, but rather the Zhou and Lin families were in need. If Elder Zhou continued allowing his son to cause trouble, he wouldn’t be polite.

Gu Dashan had tolerated it for a long time, saying, "Elder Zhou, my Good Brother An has made the list of Scholars, and is already part of a scholarly family. Brother Zhou Two should be more careful with his words to avoid being charged with disrespect, which could get one arrested and beaten by the government."

Zhou Laoer seemed blank with shock upon hearing Gu Dashan’s words; his impression of Gu Dashan was always as a waste, yet the waste was now tough.

Elder Zhou’s face was very grim, but he knew Third Grandpa and Gu Dashan weren’t joking. If they were provoked, it wouldn’t be surprising if the government came to arrest people.

"Old Second, you have no sense of respect! Good Brother An is a Scholar now; it’s not your place to criticize him. Apologize to Good Brother An immediately!"

Zhou Laoer, fearing arrest and beating, quickly saluted and said to Gu Jin’an, "Good Brother An, don’t be mad; it was Uncle’s quick mouth speaking careless words."

Gu Jin’an said, "I’ve made it clear, Silver can’t be loaned to you, but you still have a way out. Wait five days, and the county will open a new bank, then you can borrow money."

Young Master Zhou’s eyes lit up at this, asking, "Is First Place Gu saying the county will open a new bank? The one lending us Silver is not the same bank that beat Uncle Lin?"

Gu Jin’an nodded, "Yes."

Young Master Zhou was overjoyed, telling Elder Zhou, "Grandpa, Second Uncle, did you hear that? We’re saved, in five days we can borrow Silver!"

Zhou Laoer glanced at his nephew with discomfort; this fool, what’s there to be happy about? Borrowing from a bank requires interest, whereas borrowing from the Gu Family incurs no interest, and if delayed for a decade or more, might not even need to repay the principal.

Young Master Zhou saw Elder Zhou and Zhou Laoer silent, feeling sad... Since escaping famine, he’d found Grandpa and Second Uncle had changed. They sought unearned gains, and even allowed bullies to mistreat his eldest sister, leaving her nameless and tag-along with Li Kuihu.

Gu Jin’an glanced at Young Master Zhou, finding him quite pitiful. But if Young Master Zhou didn’t seek to change and continued living with Elder Zhou and Zhou Laoer, there wasn’t much worth helping.

"Elder Lin, remember my words, go back and wait. Once the new bank opens, I’ll immediately send someone to inform you. Then we’ll take you to the new bank, and you can borrow Silver without waiting in line," said Gu Jin’an.

Elder Lin was almost in tears upon hearing Gu Jin’an’s words. Since the Scholar had spoken, the new bank must be a real thing.

"Alright, alright, then I’ll go back and wait... Good Brother An, thank you. Without you, I probably wouldn’t last three days." Elder Lin said choking, having fainted upon learning the Emperor would collect high taxes.

He was too desperate, feeling he’d suffered enough hardship in his life. If he couldn’t borrow Silver to pay taxes, he didn’t want to live anymore.

After all, with one less person, the family would have one less tael of tax.

"Brother Lin, what do you mean? You’re leaving?" Elder Zhou exclaimed, "Our Li Village under Niugou Town is very far from here. It took a night’s walk to get here, and now you’re tired. Can’t you rest for a night before leaving?"

The Gu Family is wealthy, the house is big, even breakfast is egg pancakes, wouldn’t they serve a feast of fish and meat for dinner?

Elder Zhou didn’t want to leave, wishing to stay for a good meal and then plead with Third Grandpa and Third Grandma for Silver.

Zhou Erlang and Zhou Sanlang didn’t want to leave either, remembering the Gu Family had two daughters, and they were bachelors. If they stayed at the Gu Family, they might meet the daughters, then the following matters would naturally proceed accordingly.