The house of Wang Dewang's wealthy family is definitely unique among the villages on both sides of Huaxi River. From a distance, the white walls and black tiles are one step higher than the surrounding houses. From a closer look, they are all made of finely ground bricks that fit perfectly together. This is the house of a wealthy family of the previous generation.
A house that took a lifetime of savings to build.
Fang Yingwu was half-invited and half-carried to Wang Da's house by two servants of the Wang family, and then entered the main hall. There was only one word in his heart, and that was openness. In fact, this place was not considered luxurious, but it was just that Fang Yingwu had not seen anything like this for a while.
I am used to low thatched cottages in the countryside, and suddenly entering such a high hall is really a surprise to my eyes.
Not long after, Wang De appeared leisurely from behind and sat down with Fang Yingwu as the guest and host. After the ugly-looking maid served tea, Wang Dahu said, "My nephew thinks that my family
How is my daughter?"
It’s a simple question, but it has completely different meanings depending on who asks it and who is being asked.
When Fang Yingwu heard this question, he immediately realized, was it finally going to be a formal showdown?
My father borrowed the money from Wang Dahu at the end of May in the 11th year of Chenghua. The loan period was two years. Counting the days, there were still about twenty days until the repayment date. Fang Yingwu could conclude that Wang Dahu chose this time.
I met him, and after meeting him, I asked him this question in person, which was obviously an ultimatum.
He quickly thought about how to deal with the persecution, and answered first: "The daughter of your noble family is frank and innocent, just like a fairy banished to the mortal world."
Wang Dahu smiled slightly and said, "My good nephew has been praised too much. Do you think my good nephew is a good match for you?"
Fang Yingwu had never encountered such a difficult question before, and no matter how he answered it, he couldn't answer it well.
If you say "matching", you are afraid that you will be tied into the bridal chamber immediately, and you will be the Wang family from tomorrow on; if you say "not worthy", then it is estimated that Wang Dahu will immediately raise the issue of debt repayment, and maybe even discuss it.
It is feasible to sell oneself to pay back the land if it is not enough.
But on this issue, I don't have much room for maneuver. The debt is real and I can't deny it no matter what.
Just as Fang Yingwu was thinking hard, Wang De spoke again, "Actually, I feel more and more that you and my little lady are not suitable for each other, and your affairs will not work out. Even if you barely succeed, it will be a tragedy in the end.
I can see that you have your nobility and arrogance, although you seem to always want to hide it. And she is someone who doesn't know how to be humble. To put it crudely, you can't pee in the same pot. I have always wanted to recruit you.
, Now that I think about it carefully, it’s all just wishful thinking. After all, forceful melons are not sweet.”
Fang Yingwu raised his head unexpectedly. He didn't expect Wang Dahu to be so reasonable today. Could it be that he really didn't want to continue forcing him to marry into his wife?
However, Fang Yingwu was a bit disappointed because of his shamelessness. In the eyes of others, he changed from a treasure that was greatly sought after to a stone on the roadside that was not worth looking at. This gap is still a bit embarrassing.
In any case, after understanding one thing, Fang Yingwu turned his mind to the debt again and thanked Wang Dahu: "Thank you very much, Mr. Wang, for your thoughtfulness. As for the debt I owe, I would like to ask for a few months of grace. I will definitely find a way to pay it back later."
.”
If he becomes a scholar by then, the worst result is that he will be unable to hide in the county school. Even if Wang Dahu wants to press for debts, he will not be able to do it...give him ten courages and he will not dare to disturb the school.
palace.
Hearing Fang Yingwu's determination and request for leniency, Wang De didn't take it seriously and said calmly: "There is no such debt between you and me."
Fang Yingwu felt relieved and overjoyed! The debt, which was due in twenty days, was indeed a stone in his heart. The most difficult part was that he had no solution and could only be at the mercy of others.
Even if the three acres of land owned after the separation were used to pay off the debt, it would only be half of the payment. Even so, what would we eat and drink in the future?
I didn't expect that Wang Dewang's big family would be written off in an understatement, and I didn't expect that he was actually a kind person with a cold face and a warm heart. I really couldn't tell. Fang Yingwu was filled with emotion for a while, and said quite emotionally: "Wang Yuanwai is so kind today.
, my nephew will definitely be rewarded one day."
Wang De raised his hand to stop Fang Yingwu from continuing to express his gratitude, "It seems that you misunderstood. The reason why you said there is no such debt between you and me is because someone paid me thirty taels and took away the IOU.
From now on, he will be your creditor, and there is indeed no debt problem between you and me."
Someone took over this debt? So that’s it! Fang Yingwu’s mood immediately fell from heaven back to earth. The truth was actually like this. He was so grateful to Wang Dahu in vain. He was just being teased. Wang Dahu was really not that kind and kind.
people!
Although he felt that he was being teased, Fang Yingwu knew that now was not the time for competition, so he could not bear to ask the question that concerned him most: "May I ask Yuan Wang, whose hands did this debt fall into?"
"Yesterday, someone from the county suddenly visited me and asked about the debt your father owed me. Later, he took out the money on the spot and expressed his willingness to buy the debt. I gave him your father's IOU and wrote one in my own hand.
A deed agreeing to transfer this claim to him."
Hearing this, Fang Yingwu secretly wondered. Could it be that after he went to the county town and attracted attention, some of his father's former friends found out about his family's debt plight, so he secretly offered to help?
There are many examples of loyalty in ancient times, and this time it is probably another good talk. If you can find out who is loyal and does good deeds, you must "write" a poem to praise him.
While Fang Yingwu was fantasizing, Wang De seemed to recall something, "I remember, that person seemed to be sent by a woman named Bai Mei in the city."
The Baimei girl who was deeply traumatized by her father?! When Fang Yingwu heard this name, his beautiful fantasy was instantly shattered. After falling from heaven to earth, he fell again, directly into hell.
He couldn't help but jumped up from his chair and asked in disbelief: "How could Yuan Wang transfer the debt to her?"
Wang De sneered: "Are you kidding me? This debt is a bad debt. Can you afford it? In the past, I might have been able to get you as my son-in-law, and that would not be a loss. But now it's becoming more and more impossible, so what else can I do?"
usefulness?
Since someone is willing to take over, why should I not give up the business deal? Wake up, young man! Not everyone in this world is trying to coax you to change!"
Fang Yingwu was speechless for a long time. He made several guesses today, but none of them came to the point. He thought he was going to force a marriage, but Wang Dahu gave up. He thought he was going to force a debt, but Wang Dahu also gave up. He thought Wang Dahu was stupid.
Cramp inspired kindness, but it turned out that Wang Dahu actually had no human feelings at all; he thought he had met Lei Feng, who did good deeds without leaving his name, but what he met was the enemy provoked by his father.
I never expected that it would end like this, but it was brought about by Wang Dahu's ruthlessness. This is the true face of Wang Dahu. He is ruthless and ruthless, and has no loyalty in the face of interests. He takes action decisively when it is time to take action, without any delay.
Judging from this style, I always felt that the speculation that he colluded with Tan Gongdao in an attempt to embezzle the poor people's land was probably true. Besides, there was indeed a reason why Wang Dahu became the largest household in Huaxi, and his family property increased by half since he took over the ancestral business.
Thirty taels of silver is not a small amount, it is equivalent to the entire harvest of twenty acres of land in one year, equivalent to all the expenses of a family of five for two years, and roughly equivalent to nearly three years of labor and food silver for a government servant.
Fang Yingwu wouldn't be very worried if this debt was in the hands of Wang Dahu. First, the Wang family had the idea of recruiting a son-in-law and would not really do anything to him; second, as a close neighbor from the same hometown, it would be too ugly to be good; third, although his father was missing,
After all, he is the only famous scholar in Huaxi. In addition, Mrs. Wang, who is obsessed with herself, will mediate her, so she won't be too sad.
But what if this debt falls into the hands of the vindictive Bai Mei? That will definitely be a different situation. She will not easily let go of this opportunity to torment herself. So this is the worst result. If not, she will really fall into a debt crisis.
There is no way out.
"I invite you here today just to tell you that you can take care of yourself." Wang De nodded and put on a farewell posture.