Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation

Chapter 24: Chapter 21 Debt Repayment (Request for Follow-up, Request for Monthly Votes)

On the morning of June 19th, his hands were still carrying two catties of aged wine for his father, a pack of peanuts, ten catties of mutton, five chi of fine cloth for his younger sister Jiangʼer, a golden wood hairpin, and Jiangʼerʼs favorite Miaoʼs Green Bean Cake.

Xuʼs Manor was located more than twenty li from the county city, at the foot of Green Mountain. Because it was not far from the county city, in addition to farming and harvesting mountain goods, people could also work in the county city. It was considered a relatively wealthy village.

Xu Jin remembered that in the past, when he traveled from Xuʼs Manor to the county city, a journey of over twenty li, he would take three breaks along the way, and it took him a full three hours to arrive.

But today, on his way back home, Xu Jin seemed to have wind under his feet. Carrying nearly twenty catties of items, he arrived in just over an hour without even breaking a sweat or losing his breath.

Xu Jin once again realized the huge physical transformation that had occurred after succeeding in Star Pointing.

”Eh, who is this, he looks a bit...”

”Uncle Qi, isnʼt that Jinʼer?”

”Eh, Jinʼer, youʼve grown so sturdy?”

”Eh, is that Jinʼer? How did he grow so sturdy?”

....

As soon as he entered the village, Xu Jinʼs greetings were incessant and the sounds of surprise were endless. The once socially anxious Xu Jin couldnʼt help but wear a stiff smile.

He had no choice.

They were not only his neighbors and acquaintances but also the creditors of the Xu family.

Some owed several taels of silver, others just a few coins, or even two chickens. To treat Xu Jin and enable him to succeed in Star Pointing, Xuʼs father had borrowed as much as he could and sought help wherever possible.

No matter the amount, as long as money had been borrowed, it was a favor, and it had to be recognized.

By the time Xu Jin returned home, Xu Dajiang, who was working in the fields, heard the news and quickly made his way back, taking three steps at a time.

Xu Dajiang was truly afraid that Xu Jin might not have succeeded in Star Pointing and that he might get some bad ideas.

He hurried back to comfort Xu Jin.

Xu Dajiang had been around the county city for a long time and was a man of the world. He knew that Xu Jin was unlikely to succeed in Star Pointing.

But as soon as he walked through the door and saw the visibly more robust Xu Jin, he instinctively rubbed his eyes and even doubted what he was seeing.

Was this really his son, Xu Jin, all skin and bones, so skinny that hugging him felt like embracing a skeleton? Could he now see muscles bulging on the arms revealed by rolled up sleeves?

”Dad, I succeeded in Star Pointing!”

”My innate heart condition is cured too!”

”I even joined the Middle Court of the Taoist Institute!”

Good news came in threes, hitting Xu Dajiang like a bombshell, leaving him completely dazed while leaning on his hoe.

”Succeeded in Star Pointing? Your illness is cured? And you joined the Middle Court of the Taoist Institute?”

Repeating the news, Xu Dajiang looked stunned, then slapped himself hard, ”Am I so deranged that Iʼm having a daydream?”

”Dad, itʼs true!”

Xu Jin gave a wry smile and handed over the wine jug, ”Look, this is the fine wine I brought for you. I really succeeded in Star Pointing, and I joined the Middle Court as well.”

Suddenly, Xu Dajiangʼs eyes bulged, and he lashed out with a slap towards Xu Jin. However, the nimble Xu Jin quickly dodged, which immediately made Xu Dajiang furious.

”You little rascal, dare to deceive your father, and even dodge! Do you think your dad hasnʼt seen the world? You havenʼt succeeded in Star Pointing for eighty-two days; even if you did, it would be good enough to enter the Outer Court, let alone the Middle Court! Iʼll teach you to lie to me!” In his rage, Xu Dajiang raised his hoe.

Xu Jin was dumbfounded. Telling the truth also got him in trouble.

”Dad, look what this is!”

Xu Jin pulled open his shirt, exposing his chest and abdomen. With a thought, a vast expanse of Starlight suddenly covered his entire chest.

This dazzling Starlight was like the intense midday sun, and it directly dazzled Xu Dajiang, who stood frozen on the spot, quickly rubbing his eyes....

....

It took Xu Jin almost half an hour to explain everything to his father Xu Dajiang before he successfully offered him the fine wine.

”No rush, off we go, letʼs visit your Uncle Youcaiʼs house first. Uncle Youcai has lent us a total of nine taels of silver, and the earliest loan was almost three years old. His second son has fallen seriously ill recently, so he hasnʼt come to collect the debt. Now that youʼve got some silver, we must repay it first,” said Xu Dajiang.

Afterward, Xu Jin followed Xu Dajiang as they hurriedly repaid debts to four households. The amount of silver was not substantial, totaling just over twenty taels.

The ten catties of mutton and a pack of green bean cakes that Xu Jin had brought back were divided by Xu Dajiang into four portions; they repaid the silver and even gave a modest gift to each family.

About this, Xu Jin could only silently give Xu Dajiang a big thumbs up.

A man of principle.

Although his father was quick to give him a thrashing, he sure was meticulous in his dealings.

”Letʼs go, weʼll return to the county city to repay debts. After repaying the borrowed silver, weʼll get some broken silver in exchange. On the way back, weʼll buy some rice, flour, wine, meat, and bring some along as gifts for our relatives when repaying debts to them.”

The remaining debts in the village werenʼt much, totaling less than five taels of silver, though they were scattered.

”Jinʼer, donʼt look down on those who lent little, because anyone who lends you silver is doing you a favor, and you must remember that! Now that youʼve succeeded in Star Pointing, youʼre bound to have a better life in the future. Whenever thereʼs a chance, you must repay this kindness properly, but of course, in doing so, you must also balance it well,” Xu Dajiang said while they walked, continuing to educate Xu Jin.

”By the way, Dad, whereʼs Jiangʼer? Why havenʼt I seen her yet?” As Xu Jin asked this question, he was stealthily gauging Xu Dajiangʼs expression, genuinely anxious at heart.

In this era, selling oneʼs sons and daughters is not a myth.

Xu Jin was truly afraid that the fifty taels of silver for buying the Mental Awakening Pill were obtained by Xu Dajiang by selling Jiangʼer.

Xu Dajiang glanced at Xu Jin and said lightly, ”Jiangʼer has gone to work and hasnʼt returned.”

Xu Jin immediately had some doubts, ”Dad, where did Jiangʼer go to work? Also, the fifty taels of silver you asked Instructor Ning to buy the Mental Awakening Pill last time, where did you get that?

If it was borrowed, we need to pay it back as soon as possible.”

Xu Dajiang gave Xu Jin a look and said unhurriedly, ”That silver wasnʼt borrowed.”

”Then what is it?” At this moment, Xu Jinʼs heart was in his throat, fearing Xu Dajiang would say he had sold Jiangʼer as a servant to a wealthy family.

”What are you thinking?”

Xu Dajiang gave Xu Jin a smack on the head.

”Jiangʼer is my own flesh and blood too. I, Xu Dajiang, would sell my house, land, or even myself before Iʼd ever sell my daughter!” As he spoke, Xu Dajiang took out a civil contract from his chest and handed it to Xu Jin.

”Master Zhao in the county city, the philanthropist Zhao, is recruiting female workers for sericulture and weaving. They provide food and lodging, and pay one and a half taels of silver a month. Jiangʼer went to inquire and tried out the embroidery work; they said it was excellent and that they would pay two taels a month. After much persuasion, they agreed to pay two years of wages in advance, but we had to sign a contract for three years of work, and we got a broker to formalize the agreement.

I originally thought about looking for other solutions, but Jiangʼer firmly disagreed, saying that employers willing to prepay wages are too few.

So, in the end, I let her go.

On our manor, a total of four girls went, and Jiangʼerʼs embroidery work is the best, receiving the highest wages.” Xu Dajiang spoke with pride.

The contract detailed as such, but there was one clause at the end, stating that if the contract was terminated early, the prepaid wages would have to be repaid tenfold.

”All together, four people went from the manor, so they can look out for each other.”

Xu Jinʼs anxiety eased slightly, and he asked, ”Dad, how often can Jiangʼer come home?”

”Once a month; she can come home for a dayʼs rest.”

”Based on the contract, that would be the 13th of next month?”

”The 15th of next month. Jiangʼer prepared for a day and then went with her companions.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Jin nodded and made his plan.

On the 15th of next month, he would remember to go home and see Jiangʼer.

If the work was too exhausting, Xu Jin would have to quickly find a solution, and if all else failed, he would break the contract!

500 taels of silver, Xu Jin felt he could earn it.

Even though his total assets were still in the negative.

The debt Xu Dajiang and Xu Jin came to pay off in the county city was indeed borrowed usury.

They had borrowed it from a minor leader of the Heavenly River Gang.

They borrowed thirty taels; the money for Star Pointing when Xu Jin entered the Jinshan Taoist Institute wasnʼt enough, so Xu Dajiang had asked to borrow it.

The agreement was to borrow for half a year, with a monthly interest of one-tenth, which would be three taels a month, eighteen taels in six months, with the old house and the last catty of irrigated land as collateral.

Xu Jin began to understand.

Xu Dajiang letting Jiangʼer go out to work was preparing for the worst.

If the debt couldnʼt be repaid, he was ready to take all responsibilities alone.

In a warehouse courtyard next to the West Gate Pier outside the West Gate of the county city, Xu Dajiang and Xu Jin found Deng Hu, who had lent them the silver.

Deng Hu was said to be a nephew of an incense master of the Heavenly River Gang, which is why he managed the West Gate Pier and incidentally lent usury money.

When Xu Dajiang found him, Deng Hu was drinking with four burly men, likely thugs gathered by Deng Hu.

”Repaying the silver? Whereʼs the promissory note?”

Deng Hu, with bleary drunken eyes, glanced at the promissory note Xu Dajiang handed over, ”Forty-eight taels in cash, payment with one hand and tearing up of the loan with the other.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Dajiang immediately became anxious, ”Master Deng, Iʼve only used it for three months; it should be nine taels of interest, thirty-nine taels in total.”

”Thirty-nine taels? Do you think Iʼm running a charity?”

Deng Hu scoffed with a flip of his drunken eyes, and coldly said, ”Will you repay or not? If not, get out, I will personally come to collect the debt after three months!”

”Master Deng!”

Xu Dajiang wanted to say something else, but the four thugs standing behind Deng Hu all stood up, arms crossed, and glared at Xu Dajiang and his son.

”Master Deng, my son Xu Jin has already achieved Star Pointing success. Please show us some respect,” Xu Dajiang suddenly said.

”Huh?”

Deng Huʼs expression changed, and he looked towards Xu Jin standing next to Xu Dajiang, ”Youʼve achieved Star Pointing success? How many days?”

”Master Deng, eighty-three days.” Xu Jin answered truthfully.

”Tsch!”

Deng Hu sneered and exhaled a breath of alcohol, cursing again, ”Will you repay or not? If not, get out!”

”You...”

Xu Dajiang, was indignant and wanted to say more, but Xu Jin went straight to the point, ”Weʼll pay, we will!”

After that, they paid the silver on the spot. Deng Hu took out another promissory note, burned it right there, and Xu Jin, supporting a very distressed and angry Xu Dajiang who was heartbroken over the lost silver, prepared to leave.

Just as they were about to leave, a Scar-faced thug next to Deng Hu suddenly asked, ”Old Xu, whereʼs your daughter? I remember when you borrowed the money, she came with you to borrow it. She hasnʼt been sold by you, has she?”

”Iʼm her real father, how could I sell my own children! My daughter has just gone to work and had no time to come.”

Xu Dajiang was nearly choked with rage and hurriedly explained, as the ruffians claimed it was just a joke.

Xu Jin, helping Xu Dajiang out the door, eyed them warily. They were only paying back the money, so why did these ruffians bring up his sister for no reason?

In an instant, Xu Jin felt uneasy.