Chapter 58: Redeeming the Deed
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qin Zhenzhen maintained her composed demeanor as she retorted, “You might as well resort to robbery! However, even if you wanted to, you wouldn’t be able to take anything from them.”
“I am offering you the highest interest rate in the market, which is 2 liang. I won’t give you a single coin more than that.”
A crowd had gathered by this point, observing the confrontation.
Ms. Lin continued her outburst, “When we lent them money, we were also penniless. It was our husband who provided the loan, and we have been paying back the interest every month. After half a year, we have already earned over 10 liang!”
Qin Zhenzhen patiently waited for Ms. Lin to finish before extending her hand.
“In that case, show me the loan receipts.”
Ms. Lin had nothing to present.
Nevertheless, she persisted in her tantrum. “Why should I show them to you? You have no authority to make decisions for the Su Family!”
Su Cheng and Su Ning interjected, “Our Third Sister-in-law has the authority to make decisions for the Su Family!”
Qin Zhenzhen smirked in agreement. “As long as I am still married to Su Bin, I will undoubtedly be the mistress of the Su Family!”
“You claim to have borrowed money from loan sharks, yet you have no proof. You need to provide evidence to substantiate your claims. Then, you can present all the evidence to the local government office and let them decide the appropriate interest to be paid.”
The village chief was taken aback.
The involvement of the government office was unexpected.
He was aware that the Qin Family had an uncle who served as an enforcer in the government office. He was practically the right-hand man of the County Magistrate, wielding significant authority.
It was due to this uncle’s influence that Su Bin agreed to accept Qin Zhenzhen into the family.
He did not want to jeopardize his own position over some meager profits.
Contemplating the situation, the village chief spoke in a businesslike manner, “Su Bin’s wife is correct. As a member of the Su Family, she has the right to redeem the contracts on behalf of the family.”
“Qian Dashan, when you borrowed the money, you mentioned interest, but you did not specify that it was acquired from a loan shark. If it indeed involved a loan shark, then provide us with the evidence.”
Qian Dashan cursed the village chief inwardly.
However, he could discern that the chief wanted to avoid any trouble.
In truth, Qian Dashan was also afraid.
Dealing with the government office was an intimidating prospect.
Well, he might as well admit that he was unlucky to have crossed paths with the Qin Family!
He glared at his wife and feigned magnanimity. “My wife forgot to mention that we borrowed money from loan sharks, but we have already repaid the debt, and all the receipts were destroyed.”
“The interest certainly exceeds 2 liang, but considering that we are relatives of the Su Family and they have no parents, as their uncle, I will regard the interest as compensation.”
“You pay us 12 liang, and we will agree.”
As Qian Dashan concluded his statement, the surrounding villagers burst into laughter.
“He’s the one who’s profiting, yet he pretends to be innocent!” “He’s taking advantage but acts as if he’s helping them!”
“He bullied his nephews, and now he claims to be their savior!”
Qin Zhenzhen retorted in kind, returning the favor to Qian Dashan. “In that case, I will drop the matter. Consider the fish you pilfered from my home as interest for your usury!”
Laughter erupted once again among the onlookers.
Qian Dashan gritted his teeth but could not conceive of any effective rebuttal.
Ms. Lin, still unconvinced even as the situation neared resolution, went to the inner room to seek support from Su Bin’s grandmother.
“Mother-in-law, I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, but Qin Zhenzhen married into the Su Family under duress, and everyone in the Su Family regards her as an outsider. By taking the contract, she intends to hand it over to the Qin Family!”
“Su Cheng and Su Ning are young, and they are easily deceived. It is safest if you hold onto the contract!”
Grandma Wang may not have been adept at judging character, but she understood the situation clearly.
If she retained the contract, it would ultimately end up in the hands of her son and daughter-in-law. She wasn’t willing to engage in such foolishness.
She knew how her son and daughter-in-law treated her grandchildren following the demise of her daughter and son-in-law..