Starting from a thatched cottage, the farmer embarked on the road to wealth through imperial examina

Ye Changyan retreated from the ward where Tang Laizi was recuperating to a hall, and saw Huo Chong sitting inside, holding a teacup in both hands, looking at him.

Seeing this, Ye Changyan walked into the hall and heard Huo Chong clapping.

"This young man is really brave and courageous. He dares to come in alone."

Seeing the other party's joking look, Ye Changyan looked serious.

"You are too kind, sir. In this bright and clear world, I knocked on the door of this courtyard, and the people in this courtyard opened the door to welcome me in. Now I have visited the person I originally intended to visit, but this is just like this. There is no courage or boldness to speak of."

Huo Chong was a little surprised to hear Ye Changyan's reply.

"As you can see, Tang Shenghu was injured by your uncle and cousin, and his life or death is uncertain. If something happens to Tang Shenghu, since you are a scholar, you must know the nature of the matter."

"Sir, don't scare me here. I came here today because my aunt and cousin begged me. I had no choice but to make this trip. You see, I have entered the gate, but they, as the victims, are hiding outside the gate. Sir, what do you think I want? What's more, my uncle and I have already separated from each other. We separated under the witness of the head of the village and the elders."

Huo Chong was in disbelief. Ye Changyan's attitude suddenly took a 180-degree turn.

"However, sir, since I have agreed to make this trip, I must be loyal to you. I wonder how you plan to handle this matter?"

Ye Changyan took the initiative and asked the other party what he thought.

Huo Chong found it interesting. He looked at Ye Changyan with a smile, but saw that he looked calm. No matter if he really had nothing to do with it or was pretending to be calm, this matter still needed to be resolved in the end. Huo Chong got straight to the point.

"It is only natural to pay back debts. The three IOUs were signed by your uncle himself."

"My uncle has not received much education. I wonder if you can show me this IOU."

Being on his own territory, Huo Chong was not afraid of the other party playing any tricks, so he took out three IOUs and handed them to Ye Changyan. Ye Changyan took the IOUs and unfolded them to examine them carefully.

Among these three IOUs, the earliest one was a IOU for 200 taels signed on March 16 this year. The money house calculated interest based on a 90% outlay and 13% return, with a term of three months and a maximum of three renewals, which means that the total loan period must not exceed one year. Second Uncle borrowed the money through Tang Laizi, the broker of the money house, and Tang Laizi would charge a 10% interest.

In other words, the second uncle borrowed 200 taels from the money house through Tang Laizi, but he actually only received 160 taels, and he had to pay back the 260 taels three months later.

At present, this IOU has been renewed twice, and the sixteenth one will expire soon. By then, a total of four hundred and thirty-nine taels and four cents of silver will need to be repaid. When Ye Changyan saw this repayment amount, he was stunned for a moment. This was indeed usury.

The second IOU was signed on June 22 this year for 250 taels of silver. It has been renewed once and will expire on the 22nd of this month. A repayment of 422 taels and 5 cents of silver is required.

The last IOU was signed on October 8th of this year for three hundred taels of silver. It was due on the eighth day of the first lunar month of the new year, and a repayment of three hundred and ninety taels of silver was required.

Through these three IOUs, the second uncle actually received a total of only 600 taels of silver. If the loan was not renewed, the second uncle would need to repay a total of more than 1,250 taels. Even though Ye Changyan was mentally prepared, he was still shocked by the huge debt owed by his second uncle.

Seeing that Ye Changyan remained calm, Huo Chong sneered in his heart, took out a stack of documents and handed them to Ye Changyan.

Ye Changyan took the document handed over by the other party, unfolded it, and was shocked to see that it was the deed to the more than 100 acres of land in the old house.

Apart from the more than one hundred acres of land, there is only this house left of the old house. It seems that the money house's loan was not without basis. My second uncle actually used the title deed of the old house as collateral.

According to the land market, the value of the more than 100 acres of land in the old house is exactly around 1,300 taels. It seems that people have already figured out my second uncle's background.

No wonder the second uncle chased Tang Laizi to borrow money again, but Tang Laizi said that he would not lend again unless the previous debt was paid off.

They have the land deed in their hands, so they are very confident. If they cannot collect the debt, they can directly come and take back the land.

Ye Changyan remained calm and spoke.

"Since this loan note was signed by my uncle and the land deed is in your hands, I will tell my aunt and cousin to raise as much money as possible and find a way to pay off the debt."

Huo Chong did not expect that Ye Changyan would remain calm after seeing the land deed, and his next words seemed to carry some threats.

"It's easy to pay off a debt, but it takes one's life to pay for it."

When Ye Changyan heard the threatening tone in the other party's words, he laughed instead.

"No one has died yet. If it is true as you said, the people will not report it and the officials will not investigate it. It is just a matter of how much compensation to pay."

After hearing Ye Changyan's casual words, Huo Chong really doubted the other party's confidence in his tone.

"Since I have already visited Mr. Tang as promised, I will not bother you any more."

While Huo Chong was somewhat surprised, Ye Changyan had already stood up and was about to walk out, but he saw a group of burly men immediately clenched their sticks and prepared to step forward to stop him.

Ye Changyan's actions made Huo Chong hesitate. Seeing him so calm and composed, he wondered if this kid had some backer. So he winked at the crowd who were about to take action, and they stopped.

Huo Chong thought that since he held the IOU and the land deed, he should not act rashly. In case this kid really had someone backing him, there would be room for maneuver.

"Young man, please tell your aunt and cousin to raise money as soon as possible. If they cannot repay the debt when it is due, we will have no choice but to come and take the land."

Hearing Huo Chong's warning words, Ye Changyan turned around and nodded to the other party, then he was about to leave when he heard the other party continue speaking.

"Also, we will not withdraw the lawsuit until Tang Shenghu wakes up safely. It's freezing cold now, so I hope you can make arrangements in advance, so that your uncle and cousin won't be able to endure in the cell first."

The previous words were a warning, but this sentence was a naked threat.

A strong intuition surged in Ye Changyan's mind that Tang Laizi would wake up in the next two days, and he had also felt his vigorous vitality before.

Ye Changyan turned around and looked at Huo Chong with a smile on his face and spoke.

"I see that Mr. Tang has a very strong vitality. I believe that Baotong Bank will not do such a thing as to take a life and leave a dying person without saving him. I hope you can help me find a more reliable doctor to take a good look at Mr. Tang's injuries."

After saying this, Ye Changyan left without looking back.