Chapter 419 - 233: Borrowing Money_2
Qian Liang’s father said, "If only we had gathered enough silver earlier, but we had just bought some acres of land a few days ago and now we are short on silver. Many families are now selling their fields and lands to raise silver, and land prices are definitely low, so I don’t want to sell our land. I was thinking of borrowing some silver from my nephew Qian Sangui, and I’ll repay it in a few months."
Without a second word, Qian Sangui smiled and had Lady Wu give him five taels of silver.
The next morning, Madam Hua also came; her family had also been allocated a conscription spot.
Her eyes were red, her spirit seemed diminished, and she appeared to have lost weight overnight. She said, "Master Qian, Madam Qian, could you please pay my son Hua Qiang’s wages in advance for the next ten years? You know about my Hua Dianzi, he’s no good, and if he were to go to the front lines, he’d probably die of fright before he could kill any enemies. My Hua Qiang is just fifteen and we’ve just started to discuss his marriage. Many young ladies have taken a liking to him, saying he’s sturdy, willing to endure hardship, and earns a good wage working for Master Qian. I just can’t bear to send him off to die..."
While she was speaking, Hua Qiang arrived; he had grown into a man over seven feet tall.
He bowed to Qian Sangui and Lady Wu, saying, "Master, Madam, don’t listen to my mother, there’s no need to pay my wages in advance, I will enlist." He said shyly, "After I leave, could you please ask Master to let my younger brother Hua Zhuang take my place? Master, rest assured, although my brother is only thirteen, he can endure hardship and is willing to work..."
Upon hearing her son’s words, Madam Hua burst into tears, crying out, "Qiang Zi, you must listen to your mother."
Hua Qiang gently persuaded her, "Mother, listen to me, it’s for the best. Our father is not dependable, and you’re getting on in years. My brother still needs to get married and build a house, and if we borrow so much silver, when will we ever be able to repay it..."
The mother and son began to argue, with Madam Hua refusing to let Hua Qiang go, and Hua Qiang insisting on going. In the end, Hua Qiang prevailed, and Madam Hua agreed, in tears, to let her son go to the front lines.
Qian Sangui said, "Qiang Zi, listen to your mother and we’ll advance your wages. We won’t rush you to repay the money; you can do so whenever you’re able to."
Hua Qiang bowed deeply to Qian Sangui and stubbornly said, "Thank you, Master, I know you have a kind heart, but I still don’t want to borrow so much money. If I don’t enlist, with me aged fifteen and my brother thirteen, in a couple of years we’ll both need to marry and build houses, plus there will be this huge debt. The burden on the family would be too heavy. I don’t want my mother to have to struggle too much... Besides, not everyone who goes to battle dies. Just like Uncle Qian, he not only survived but became a General."