Then someone exclaimed in sudden realization, "I never imagined Cheng Sanxin could be so ruthless!"
"It seems like Cheng San has become even more of a scoundrel than before; he almost fooled everyone!"
Meng Qiuliang's head was throbbing from the constant chatter of those around him.
He patted his body and said, "Everyone, don't talk yet. What kind of order is this, with you all saying one thing and me saying another? Let Cheng San finish speaking, and let's hear what she has to say."
After the village chief finished speaking, everyone fell silent.
Cheng Qingyan thought to himself, "Sure enough, the leader's words carry weight."
He smiled and said, "My wife and I don't covet this year's harvest. We just hope that the land will be returned to us after the harvest."
"Of course, I still keep my word. I will pay back the debts that are due and pay the interest that is due."
As he spoke, he took out two taels of silver from his pocket, along with a small amount of loose silver and some copper coins.
Cheng Qingyan waved the money in front of everyone and handed it to the village chief with both hands: "Village chief, you should have a record of this. Please see if this is enough?"
The village chief handed over a piece of paper listing the debts Cheng Qingyan had incurred over the past few years, totaling two taels and eighty coins.
Even with the promised ten coins per household, we're still short of money.
"Wife, do you have any spare money? Could you give me some?"
Ye Lingyu was a little angry; ten coins per household was too much. But she couldn't be angry with Cheng Qingyan now, with so many people watching.
After returning to her room, she took out one tael of silver and handed it to Cheng Qingyan.
Cheng Qingyan then handed it to the village chief: "Village chief, please decide how to distribute the points. Thank you for your trouble."
The village chief did not accept the one or two taels of silver that were handed to him later: "Everyone, Cheng San is returning the money to you today. I will decide that the interest of ten coins per household will not be paid."
"You all understand that some families only borrowed three or five coins, and then Cheng San had to come up with ten coins to cover the interest. How would you feel about that?"
"We're all from the same village, so let's help each other out. Everyone has their difficulties sometimes, right? What do you think?"
The village chief spoke up, and he brought the matter to this point.
Most importantly, many people already believe that Cheng San will no longer repay their money.
I'm already very grateful that I can still pay back the money.
Although no one wanted to ask for an extra ten coins, the village chief had spoken, so they had to give him face. Moreover, the two mu of land cultivated by Cheng San would be included in the village's public accounts, and each family would receive a share of grain every year.
"I'll listen to the village chief; as long as Cheng San can pay back the money, that's fine."
"Brother Meng, are you saying this because Cheng San only lent you three coins in total?"
Who wouldn't want more money?
"It would be good enough if she could return it; if she changes her mind, we won't get a single penny."
Cheng Qingyan knew the village chief meant well, but she couldn't go back on her word.
Otherwise, no one will believe what she says next.
This time, it's just about spending some money to buy back some of the trust she lost.
If she and Ye Lingyu wanted to establish themselves and develop in Mengjia Village, they would have to rely on the villagers.
Humans are social animals, especially in this era of cold weapons.
“Village chief, I know I was unreliable before. I’m not a good person in everyone’s eyes, but I, Cheng Qingyan, hereby swear that I have changed and I will be a good person from now on.”
"I will no longer act foolishly, and I hope everyone will give me a chance to turn over a new leaf."
"As for the ten coins of interest promised to each household, not a penny less."
Looking at the person in front of him, Meng Qiuliang wondered why he had followed Ye Lingyu to the riverbank before; it turned out he had reformed.
He couldn't help but turn his gaze to Ye Lingyu, who nodded at him.
This child seems different from before.
In the end, Meng Qiuliang had no choice but to distribute the money to everyone as Cheng Qingyan and Ye Lingyu had suggested.
Those who received the money were as happy as if it were New Year's Day.
There was only one child; she came alone, and she looked about seven or eight years old.
When Meng Qiuliang gave her ten coins, she didn't take them. Instead, she took the money that was supposed to be given to her, turned around, and left.
Meng Qiuliang called her several times, but she didn't turn around.
Cheng Qingyan noticed this and chased after them.
"Little boy, wait a minute." It was effortless for Cheng Qingyan to chase after a child.
The child was stopped by Cheng Qingyan, and looked at Cheng Qingyan with some fear, hiding his hands behind his back.
"Don't be afraid, I won't steal your money. I'm just here to ask why you didn't take the ten coins? And where are your parents?"
The child didn't speak, but just looked at Cheng Qingyan warily.
An older woman by the roadside spoke up for her, saying, "Cheng San, don't ask her anymore. Her parents are gone, and she lives alone."
Is she all alone? Shouldn't she need the money even more? Why wouldn't she take the ten coins?
While Cheng Qingyan was stunned, the child cleverly ran away.
Ye Lingyu noticed what was happening, but she just watched silently without saying anything.
She naturally knew the child; the child's name was Meng Chuying.
Her father was originally a scholar in the village, but he went to take the imperial examination and never returned. Her mother, heartbroken from missing him, also passed away last year.
Although the village chief said that everyone should take care of her, everyone has children, so who can look after her?
Her family's fields were also included in the village's land allocation. Every year, they would help her cultivate them and give her something to eat so that she wouldn't starve, but life still wasn't easy.
Ye Lingyu sometimes felt that her situation was better than hers; it wasn't that her parents didn't want her, but that they couldn't love her anymore.
When Cheng Qingyan turned back into the crowd, she felt somewhat disappointed.
In modern times, children who are orphaned or unwanted are sent to orphanages.
How does a seven or eight-year-old child like her live alone in the village?
Thinking about her own chaotic home, she realized that her situation was similar to that child's.
"Husband, what are you thinking about?"
"No, it's nothing."
Cheng Qingyan didn't voice her worries; she couldn't care less about the child.
“That child’s name is Meng Chuying. She lives at the east end of the village, not too far from our home.”
Cheng Qingyan was taken aback. Had Ye Lingyu been watching him the whole time?
He then said, "You saw it? It's nothing, she didn't take the ten coins."
Ye Lingyu gazed in the direction Meng Chuying had left: "She was worried she wouldn't be able to protect her, wasn't she?"
Does this mean someone is going to steal her money?
The village chief gave her thirty coins. It's fair to say that the Meng family was quite generous, having lent thirty coins to Cheng Qingyan before.
She glanced at the village chief's accounting papers; most entries were only a few coins, around ten or fifty coins. Only a handful of households had entries of thirty or fifty coins.
The village chief's family counts as one household, Meng Xiucai's family counts as one household, and there are two more households.
"Does this child have no other relatives?"
Ye Lingyu shook her head and sighed, "It is said that the Meng family has only had one son for two generations. This generation is the third, and there is only Meng Chuying."
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