18: Chapter 18 Planning

"Niu Gui, what's going on? Didn't you say Elder Ye's family was so poor they couldn't even put food on the table?"

Duan Peng questioned coldly after leaving Ye Jing's house.

Niu Gui was also full of confusion. He shook his head and said, "Brother-in-law, I don't know either. That old man Ye must have had some dog-shit luck to suddenly pay off the tax silver!"

Duan Peng was dismissive. He waved his hand and said, "Enough! I have official business; I don't have time to waste here with you!"

With that, he turned and left.

Niu Gui did not leave; he stood not far from Ye Jing's house.

Facing Ye Jing's house, he spat out an angry curse: "Motherfucker! Where did that old geezer get so much silver!"

He had wanted to use his brother-in-law's official authority to make Ye Jing obediently sell the land to him, but he hadn't expected Ye Jing to actually pay the tax silver in full.

Once Duan Peng saw the silver was in hand, he slipped away like his feet were greased.

But how could Niu Gui let his plan fall through?

Niu Gui's heart was itching with curiosity. Ye Jing's family was so poor, yet they suddenly had money for taxes; it must be that that piece of land produced good rice.

Although Niu Gui had heard that Ye Jing earned quite a bit from hunting in the mountains, in Niu Gui's mind, how much could hunting really earn? Grain was what was truly valuable.

He had previously discussed it with the Great Wealthy Zhang—Ye Jing's land was very valuable, worth at least fifteen taels of silver!

No matter what, he had to get his hands on Ye Jing's land!

Niu Gui was anxiously pondering a plan when an old man in tattered clothes staggered over from not far away. His face was gray and defeated, his eyes were bloodshot, and his balding head was covered in scarred scabs.

"Yo! Isn't this Huang Silang! How's your luck been lately?"

Niu Gui stepped forward to block the old man's path, asking with feigned warmth.

This person was none other than Huang Silang, the younger brother of Ye Jing's wife, Huang Taohua. He was Ye Jing's brother-in-law, a man in his sixties who lived in even worse poverty than Ye Jing's family.

This Huang Silang originally had land, a wife, and children, but unfortunately, he fell into gambling in his early years. To pay off his debts, his wife died from overwork, and his two sons had long since been sold to others as laborers.

All the family's money had been fed to the gambling tables. Now, the last tael of silver on his person had been gambled away. He was worrying about paying the tax silver and was looking for Ye Jing to borrow money!

When Huang Silang saw it was Niu Gui, his heart was filled with loathing. This Niu Gui had previously tricked him into selling his land, giving him only three taels of silver.

However, he didn't dare to openly slight Niu Gui, so he smiled subserviently and said, "Master Niu! Don't even mention it! How would I dare to gamble now? The tax silver is being pressed for urgently, and I only have this tiny bit of money left on me—it's not even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth. I was just thinking..."

At this point, Huang Silang made an expression that was uglier than crying.

Niu Gui smiled and pressed, "Thinking what?"

Huang Silang swallowed hard. "I was thinking of asking my brother-in-law to borrow some money to tide me over..."

"Tsk tsk..." Niu Gui sighed, interrupting Huang Silang. "Would Elder Ye really borrow you money? I heard before that when you were selling your sons and daughters to pay gambling debts, Elder Ye didn't contribute a single cent!"

Niu Gui's words poked at Huang Silang's sore spot. The smile on his face instantly froze; Ye Jing had long since cut ties with him.

He was going to borrow money this time thinking he only needed a few taels; he thought if he just cried and begged properly, his brother-in-law might give him the money.

But Niu Gui's words made Huang Silang start to feel like retreating.

However, with the tax silver pressing hard, he stamped his feet in anxiety. "But... but I really have no other choice. If the tax silver isn't paid, I'll be conscripted into the army. If these old bones of mine enter the army, will I even come out alive?"

Seeing how anxious he was, Niu Gui was overjoyed in his heart, but he put on a look of sympathy and patted his shoulder. "Huang Silang, I know it's hard for you. How about this, I'll lend you the money?"

"You'll lend me money? Where would I get the money to pay you back?" Huang Silang asked, puzzled.

This Niu Gui not only curried favor with wealthy men to carry out forced land sales, but he also specialized in usury and high-interest loans.

He was already poor and had sold his land, let alone being able to pay back high-interest loans.

"Heh! Master Huang, you don't need to pay interest! I'll lend you ten taels of silver for free!" Seeing Huang Silang about to leave, Niu Gui immediately shouted.

Hearing this, Huang Silang turned back and asked suspiciously, "Really?"

Niu Gui pulled a written note from his sleeve and said, "Of course it's true. You don't have money to pay back, but Ye Jing's family does! Have your two nephews sign and press their thumbprints for you as a guarantee. Then I'll readily lend you ten taels without charging interest!"

Huang Silang looked at the note; it said 'borrowed ten taels of silver' and nothing else.

Huang Silang secretly cursed Niu Gui for being black-hearted, but the thought of those ten taels made his heart itch. So he said, "Fine! I'll go find my two nephews right now!"

He thought that if he could get ten taels, he could use it to pay the taxes, and maybe use the remaining money to go back to the gambling table—he would surely win it all back!

Thinking of this, Huang Silang was no longer wary of Niu Gui. After all, compared to the terrifying high-interest loans, the tax silver was even more terrifying.

Thinking of this, he immediately took the note. "It's a deal. If I get my nephews' thumbprints, you must lend me the ten taels!"

Niu Gui nodded. "Of course!"

Huang Silang didn't dare to stop for a moment and went to find the two Ye brothers.

Niu Gui watched Huang Silang's departing back, his face full of a triumphant smile. Once the names of Ye Jing's family members were written on it, wouldn't their land be something in his pocket?!

Meanwhile, Huang Silang, holding the note, looked for the two brothers along the main road.

He saw the two brothers at the village entrance, smiles on their faces and many things in their hands.

Ye Xuan was also carrying a chicken coop. The old hen inside let out a clucking sound, which made Huang Silang's eyes burn with envy.

He then thought of his own current situation—being forced to set up a high-interest loan with Niu Gui just to pay the tax silver.

Huang Silang's slight guilt turned into jealousy. He hurriedly stepped forward with a smile and called out, "Nephews!"

Hearing the voice, Ye Xuan and Ye Yi saw it was Huang Silang, and the smiles on their faces faded slightly.

Ye Xuan moved the chicken coop back a bit and responded politely, "Uncle Huang."

Huang Silang quickly smiled flatteringly. "Nephews, did you go to town? Whoa! You bought a hen! It's beautiful; it must lay a lot of eggs!"

As he spoke, he reached out to touch the hen inside the coop.

Ye Xuan frowned and dodged Huang Silang's hand, hiding the chicken coop behind him. "Uncle, if there's something, just say it!"

Seeing this, Huang Silang withdrew his hand and said with a forced smile, "I really do have something to find you for. Isn't the government coming to collect tax silver lately? You know I'm very poor; I only scraped together one tael after a long time."

"This one tael isn't even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth. The government said that if I don't pay the tax silver in three days, I'll be conscripted to the border. How can these old bones of mine withstand the wind, sand, and bitter cold? I'm afraid if I go, I'll never come back!"

Hearing this, Ye Yi couldn't help but frown. "Uncle, are you here to borrow money from us?"

They all knew Huang Silang was a gambler who had ruined his home and family.

Not a single cent would be lent!

Huang Silang quickly took out the note and smiled. "It's not borrowing money. How could I have the face to ask you again? I want you to help me act as a guarantor."

He said while tears streamed down his old face, "In these times, without land, I can't go on. Someone is willing to lend me money; I'm thinking of paying off the taxes and then redeeming the land to live a good life. But they think I'm too poor and fear I won't be able to pay it back, so they want you to be guarantors. Just take pity on your uncle!"

"Guarantor?" Ye Xuan felt it was strange. Who else would lend money to Huang Silang?

Huang Silang knew he couldn't mention Niu Gui, or they would be on their guard.

So he fell to his knees with a thud. "Nephews, I beg you!"