The vegetable field behind the mountain was a chaotic mess at this moment.
The Ma family couple, who ran a tofu business in Xiaodong Village, stood arrogantly with a group of cousins in front of the Jiang couple. Many villagers had gathered around to watch the spectacle.
"Jiang Aiguo, two years ago you repaid a favor by borrowing five hundred yuan from our Ma family to build a house, saying you’d return it when you had money, but two years have passed and we haven’t seen a penny. Yet here you are shamelessly mortgaging the house you borrowed the money to build and renting a vegetable plot. What do you mean by this? Are you planning to default on our debt?"
Ma’s wife, Sun Dongmei, hands on her hips, shouted aggressively.
"Saozi Ma, you’ve misunderstood. Renting this vegetable plot didn’t involve mortgaging the house. We have no intention of defaulting on the debt. The reason for renting the plot is to make money and pay back your family."
Jiang Aiguo said humbly. Two years ago, he was still in the carpentry business. One day, while chopping wood on the mountain, he happened to see the old man of the Ma family being chased by a wild boar, and he rushed to drive the boar away, saving the old man’s life.
The old man was a grateful good person. He saw that Jiang Aiguo was short on money for building a house and struggling everywhere, so he gave his savings to Jiang Aiguo.
In name, it was given to Jiang Aiguo, but Jiang Aiguo couldn’t accept it for free. He wrote a promissory note against the old man’s wishes, promising to repay when he had money.
The year after borrowing the money, the old man passed away due to illness. The promissory note ended up in the hands of the old man’s son and daughter-in-law.
Upon hearing about Jiang Aiguo mortgaging the house and taking a loan to rent a vegetable plot, the Ma couple couldn’t stay calm. They rushed over to demand money, leading to the current scene.
"Bah! Are you trying to fool me, the old lady? If you hadn’t taken a loan, how could you afford to rent these 30 acres of land and those large orchards? You think I can’t figure it out just because I haven’t been to school?"
Sun Dongmei shouted loudly. Because of her four large buck teeth protruding, when she got emotional, she sprayed saliva everywhere.
"My wife is right. You Jiang family, my old man lent you money out of goodwill, and you use it like this? Do you really think our money falls from the sky? Let me tell you, we’ve come here today to demand immediate repayment!"
Ma Gousheng had the same look as his wife, Sun Dongmei, and with a whole group of helpers, they looked quite like oppressors.
Jiang Aiguo and Sun Li were honest farmers, aware they owed money and couldn’t put up any bravado, feeling embarrassed as they kept apologizing.
"Brother Ma and Saozi Ma, I know it’s our fault for owing you so much money without repaying, but rest assured, once we make some money from the vegetable plot, we’ll pay you back right away!" Jiang Aiguo promised while bowing.
"Yes, yes, at most one month. Within a month, our family will surely repay the money!"
Sun Li promised too, her face completely pale because the other side had put on too big a show for them to withstand.
However, the humble posture of the Jiang couple looked to the Ma couple as if they were guilty and trying to stall.
Sun Dongmei snorted coldly, "Nonsense, do you think we’re fools who can’t see you’re trying to buy time? With your poorly rented vegetable plot, how can you possibly make any money? Saying you’ll repay in a month, I don’t think you can do it in ten years. Once the vegetable plot fails, and you lose the house, how are we supposed to collect money from you?"