To the common folk, it was a den of vipers—a place that would bankrupt a family and leave no one behind. But for the powerful and influential, it was merely a place for amusement. They could come and go as they pleased, not only avoiding a mountain of debt but perhaps even walking away with a fortune in gold and silver.

Chen Song rubbed the paper between his fingers and, just as he expected, found a silver note tucked behind the IOU.

The amount on the silver note was not small—a full five hundred taels. If he were a man of little worldly experience, this sum could have easily brought him down.

But Chen Song had seen what his wife and daughter were capable of earning. A mere five hundred taels? His wife and daughter could make that in a year if they put their minds to it.

’Wouldn’t it be better to spend honestly earned Silver?’

’If I take this dirty money, I’m afraid I’ll never have a peaceful night’s sleep for the rest of my life.’

Chen Song ignored the Shopkeeper and asked Chen Lin directly, "This document says you borrowed one hundred taels of Silver. Is that true? What did you need so much Silver for, and how much do you have left?"

Chen Lin had been in the middle of a tryst with the widow when the door was burst open and he was hauled out.

When Chen Lin found out that on the very day of his tryst, his older brother had taken office as the County Assistant of Qingshui County, he tried to lord his new status over the loan sharks. Unfortunately for him, they couldn’t have cared less. After some threats and coercion, they brought him straight home.

Chen Lin trembled with fear the entire way home. His earlier confidence, born from his brother’s new position, had completely evaporated, replaced by a profound sense of dread.

’I borrowed that money in my brother’s name. It would have been one thing if he never found out, but now that he knows...’

His brother did know now. But instead of exploding in a thunderous rage, he appeared perfectly calm. This terrified Chen Lin so much his legs began to tremble, and he nearly wet himself.

"B-Brother..."

"Don’t start with the ’brother’ act. I’m asking you a question. Is this IOU real? You borrowed one hundred taels. What did you use it for, and how much do you have left?"

Chen Lin trembled. "I... I..."

"The truth!"

Chen Lin gritted his teeth. "I borrowed it. And I spent it all."

Chen Song kicked him. "I’m giving you one more chance. Tell me the truth. If you dare lie to me again, I’ll knock your teeth out."

Chen Lin clutched his shin, howling in pain. The commotion drew neighbors from both sides out of their homes.

At first, they chattered amongst themselves. "Was that Chen Lin’s voice?" "Why is Chen Song hitting his brother?" But the moment they saw the burly, intimidating men standing in the eldest brother’s courtyard, a collective shock silenced them all.

Then they noticed the paper in Chen Song’s hand, marked with a thumbprint. Putting that together with the familiar sight of intimidating men, the onlookers instantly understood.

"Don’t tell me Mr. Chen took out a high-interest loan?"

"That damned bastard. He’s pushing his entire family into a pit of fire." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"The little bit the family earns isn’t enough for him, so he goes and borrows from loan sharks? Does he have a death wish?"

"He’s an animal, rotten to the core. Last time he nearly gambled away the shop, and now he’s borrowing from loan sharks. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day he pawns off his wife and sells his daughter. He’s a true monster."

Hearing this, the Shopkeeper inside quickly spoke up. "We run a legitimate business here! What high-interest loans? The Silver we lent Chen Lin was at a three-percent interest rate. If you don’t believe me, folks, come and have a look for yourselves."

But the villagers saw them as a plague, fearing they’d be eaten alive if they got too close. Who would dare approach them?

They were, however, very interested in watching the drama unfold, so they ran off to the old family residence to inform the rest of the Chen family.

Back in the courtyard, Chen Lin clutched his shin, certain his leg was broken. He had clearly heard a CRACK from the bone, followed by an excruciating pain that shot through his entire body.

Chen Lin grabbed onto Chen Song’s leg. "Brother, help me! I don’t want to be crippled! Brother, my leg is broken, you have to get me a doctor!"

Seeing Chen Song remained unmoved, Chen Lin had no choice but to confess. "I still have twenty taels."

"You spent eighty taels in ten days. Tell me, where did it all go?!"

Where else could Chen Lin have spent it? All his Silver had been lavished on the widow.

He had bought the small courtyard the widow was renting, which cost fifty taels. Then he hired people to renovate it, bought rice, flour, grain, and oil, and stocked it with household goods. The Silver had flowed away like water.

As for why Chen Lin was so devoted to a middle-aged widow, it was because she had a daughter who was just over thirteen. The widow had promised that her daughter would be his as well—that mother and daughter would share one husband...

Chen Lin didn’t dare speak of this latter, sordid affair. He kept his mouth shut and just kept screaming in pain.

Chen Song shot Chen Lin a look, said no more, and simply motioned for the Shopkeeper to step aside with him to talk.