Chapter 481: Seeking an Audience

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Yang Yi looked at Ruyi’s sincere expression and bowed to him. “Thank you for telling me honestly, Steward Zhou.”

“Goodbye, Brother Yang.” Ruyi nodded at him and turned to leave.

Yang Yi returned to the house and knelt down in front of Father Yang. “Father, Mother, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, I want to avenge Grandpa and seek justice for myself. I want to tell Lord Zhou what happened to us and expose that witch. ”

Mother Yang wiped her tears and cried, “Brother Yi, your grandfather asked us to go back to the countryside and live a good life. We can’t beat them. Listen to Grandpa. We’ll go back to the countryside.”

“Mother, if we don’t defeat that witch, no matter where we escape to, we won’t have a peaceful life. It’s all my fault for being deceived and thinking that I really took on a big business and harmed my family and grandfather.” Yang Yi knelt in front of Old Master Yang’s body and cried.

Brother Yang said, “Father, Mother, Brother Yi makes sense. Lin County is not far from the capital. It’s very easy for that witch to find us. Besides, we still have the loan receipt in their hands. Even if we go to the government office, we’ll be in the wrong. I heard Steward Zhou’s words just now. From the looks of it, he should be open-minded. We can try.”

Father Yang looked at his son and said sadly, “Let me think about it. I’ll take care of your grandfather first.”

Granny Song returned and reported to Country Lord Ning about meeting Ruyi. “Madam, why did that dog go to the Yang family so coincidentally? Is the Zhou family targeting us?

“A group of trash.” Country Lord Ning was so angry that she kicked the little girl who was massaging her leg and scolded angrily, “Zhou Jia, you’re everywhere. Just you wait! I want to see if your love is really stronger than gold!”

Granny Song looked at the furious Country Lord Ning in fear, afraid that her anger would be vented on her.

Country Lord Ning looked at Granny Song gloomily. “Go to the Yang family and tell them to shut up. Then get a few people to keep an eye on the Zhou family.”

“Yes, Madam.” Granny Song heaved a sigh of relief and carefully left. She took a car and walked towards Lantern Lane.

When she arrived at Lantern Lane, Granny Song saw that the Yang family had hung up a white banner. Granny Song hesitated for a moment before leading her people in. The grieving Yang family and the neighbors who came to help next door were all glaring at the two of them.

Granny Song did not care about such a gaze. She stared at Yang Yi like a

poisonous snake. “Yang Yi, Madam said that she wants you to shut your mouth.

Otherwise, she’ll teach you a lesson.”

Father Yang and his sons clenched their fists and watched Granny Song leave with her men. The old woman next door pulled Mother Yang and asked with concern, “Are they afraid of the young man who came to my house to ask about the news today?”

Mother Yang nodded with red and swollen eyes. “That little brother is capable. He’s not afraid of them.”

The old woman patted her hand and comforted her. “Let’s settle your father-in-law’s funeral first. Your father-in-law will protect you.”

Father Yang thought about the IOU and finally made up his mind. He looked at

Yang Yi and said, ‘Yi, go to East Street immediately and ask to see Steward

Zhou. Let him bring you to see Lord Zhou.”

“Father, I’ll go now.” Yang Yi agreed and turned to run out.

Ruyi brought the lanterns home and reported what had happened to the Yang family in Lantern Lane to Li Yu. Soon, Han San and Ji Xiang returned.

Han San reported to Li Yu, “Madam, I knew a little about lending in the past. Today, I found a few people and asked about mortgages in the capital. They said that there’s an underground bank with a pawnshop, and a casino. The casino is like the one the hat kid from the Feng family went to last time. The interest keeps rolling. In less than half a month, it can be multiplied several times. ”

“The underground money houses and pawnshops have a few ways to lend money. There’s ‘Rolling on a Donkey’, ‘Sitting on the Ground and ‘Withdrawing One’. ‘Rolling on a Donkey’ is usually limited to a month. The monthly interest ranges from three to five cents. If it’s not returned when it’s due, the interest will double. The interest will be included in the principal and rolling interest next month. The principal will gradually increase, and the interest will multiply. Most of the families who borrow this kind of money are poor. Even if they borrow one tael of silver, the loan can make people go bankrupt.”

“As for ‘Sitting on the Ground and Withdrawing One”, this is held by small vendors in the capital. In three months, the borrower will borrow ten taels of silver and get nine taels. The interest will still be calculated according to ten taels. After it expires, one would return it with interest. I asked a few friends and they said that there’s a pawn shop in North City that I heard is owned by a noble. That shop has plenty of money and employs both ways of lending money. They even placed a kind of money called ‘Lamb’s Breath’. As long as they borrow ‘Lamb’s Breath’, more than 90% of families will be forced to split up and their families will be destroyed.”

Li Yu recalled that there were also loan sharks in her previous life. This dynasty did not lack people who made such a living. For thousands of years, there had never been a lack of people who lost their conscience for money. “Do your friends know the identity of that noble?”

“They don’t know. The people I’ve done things with never dare to borrow money. They’re afraid that they won’t be able to get out if they get trapped. Madam, I think this pawnshop is very suspicious. I want to investigate.”

Ji Xiang also said to Li Yu, “Madam, I also think we can investigate this pawn shop.”

Li Yu thought for a moment. “Alright, go and investigate. When Master comes back, see if he found any clues in the capital government office.”

The two of them stood up and walked to the second door. They saw Ruyi rushing in. Ji Xiang looked at him. “What happened?”

Ruyi glanced at the two of them. “Yang Yi from Lantern Lane has come looking for us. He’s waiting outside to ask to see Master.”

Ji Xiang asked curiously, “Why did the Yang family think it through so quickly?”

“They said that that witch’s old woman came to threaten them. I’ll report to

Madam that Yang Yi is waiting outside the door!”

Ji Xiang patted Ruyi and walked out with Han San.

When Li Yu heard Ruyi’s report, she said, “Get him to wait for Master to come back in the outer courtyard.”

“Madam, his grandfather has left. According to custom, he can’t enter someone else’s house. He said that he wants to see Master,” Ruyi said.

Li Yu nodded. “Go to the teahouse at the entrance of the street and book a private seat. Set him up there and get Zhao Cai to pick up your master from the government office. ”

“Yes!” Ruyi agreed and left. Li Yu returned to the house and looked at the children sleeping soundly in the cradle, falling into deep thought.

Ruyi brought Yang Yi to the teahouse at the entrance of the street and ordered some pastries and snacks. He said to Yang Yi, “Brother Yang, I heard that you’ve also studied for a few years. Why aren’t you studying anymore?”

Yang Yi smiled bitterly. “Steward Zhou, I’m not afraid of you laughing at me. It’s still my face that causes trouble. When my classmate’s sister saw me, she made a fuss about marrying me. That family is powerful. I went back to the countryside to hide for a year and stopped studying. Last year, my parents arranged a marriage for me. I thought that after I got married, I couldn’t hide at home and rely on my parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law to support me, so I went to the cloth shop to become a bookkeeper. Who knew that I would cause trouble again after the new year?”

Ruyi sighed. “That’s right! A poor family has an outstanding child like you. There are all kinds of monsters in the capital. If you’re unlucky and encounter them, you can exchange the child for silver. However, your grandfather and parents really dote on their child. It’s a disaster.”

Yang Yi nodded. “That’s true..”

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