Chapter 21

On the morning of June 19, Xu Jin carried two catties of old liquor for his father, a packet of peanuts, ten catties of mutton, five chi of fine cloth for his sister Jiang Er, a gold-and-wood hairpin, and her favorite Miao family mung bean cake.

Xu Family Village was over twenty li from the county seat, nestled at the foot of Daqing Mountain; because it was close to the county seat, its people farmed, gathered mountain goods, and sometimes worked in the city, making it a relatively prosperous village.

Xu Jin remembered that in the past, the twenty-plus li from Xu Family Village to the county seat had forced him to rest three times, taking a full three hours to arrive.

But today, returning home, Xu Jin moved as if wind-driven—carrying nearly twenty catties of goods, he arrived in just over an hour, face neither flushed nor breathless.

Xu Jin once again realized the profound transformation the Star Pointing success had wrought on his physique.

“Huh, who’s this? Seems familiar—”

“Old Qi, isn’t this Jin Ya?”

“Huh, Jin Ya, you’ve grown so strong!”

“Huh, this is Jin Ya—how did he get so muscular?”

As soon as he entered the village, Xu Jin kept greeting people, and astonished exclamations never ceased; the formerly socially anxious Xu Jin smiled until his face nearly stiffened.

There was no choice.

These weren’t just neighbors—they were all Xu family creditors.

Whether it was several taels or mere coins, even two chickens, his father had borrowed everything he could and done everything possible to pay for Xu Jin’s Star Pointing treatment.

No matter the amount, any silver borrowed was a debt of gratitude, and had to be acknowledged.

When Xu Jin returned home, Xu Dajiang, who had been working in the fields, heard the news and rushed back in three strides.

Xu Dajiang truly feared Xu Jin might fail Star Pointing and fall into despair.

He had come back to comfort Xu Jin.

Xu Dajiang had spent years in the county seat and was a man of some experience; he knew Xu Jin was unlikely to succeed at Star Pointing.

But upon entering, seeing Xu Jin visibly bulked up, he instinctively rubbed his eyes, even doubting his vision.

Was this really his son, Xu Jin—the emaciated, bony boy who used to hurt when hugged?

Were those bulging muscles visible on his arms, rolled up in his sleeves?

“Father, I succeeded at Star Pointing!”

“My congenital heart ailment is cured!”

“I’ve joined the Middle Academy of the Dao Academy!”

Three pieces of good news exploded at once.

They left Xu Dajiang, leaning on his hoe, utterly stunned.

“Succeeded at Star Pointing? The illness is gone? And you joined the Middle Academy?”

He repeated it, his gaze vacant, then slapped himself hard, “Am I delirious from heat, dreaming awake?”

“Father, it’s true!”

Xu Jin smiled bitterly and handed over the liquor jug, “Look, the fine liquor I brought you—I really succeeded at Star Pointing and joined the Middle Academy.”

Suddenly, Xu Dajiang’s eyes flared, and he swung a palm at Xu Jin—but Xu Jin, quick as lightning, sidestepped slightly, dodging it; Xu Dajiang instantly flew into a rage.

“You little brat, daring to lie to your old man and even dodge?!”

“You think I’ve never seen the world?!”

“You failed Star Pointing for eighty-two days—if you’d succeeded at all, getting into the Outer Academy would’ve been a miracle, and now you claim the Middle Academy?! I’ll teach you to lie to me!” As he raged, Xu Dajiang lifted his hoe.

Xu Jin froze—so telling the truth got you beaten?

“Father, look at this!”

Xu Jin yanked open his chest, revealing his torso; with a thought, a vast expanse of starlight instantly blanketed his entire chest.

The dazzling starlight blazed like midday sun, blinding Xu Dajiang into stillness; in an instant, he rubbed his eyes.

Xu Jin spent nearly half an hour explaining everything to his father before finally succeeding in offering him the fine liquor.

“Don’t rush. Come, let’s go to Youcai’s house first.”

“Youcai has lent us nine taels in total—his earliest loan was nearly three years ago.”

“Recently, his second son fell gravely ill—he didn’t even come to collect the debt.”

“Now that you’ve got silver, you must repay him immediately.” Xu Dajiang said.

Then Xu Jin followed Xu Dajiang to four more houses, repaying debts—totaling just over twenty taels.

The ten catties of mutton and the packet of mung bean cake Xu Jin had brought were divided into four portions; after repaying the silver, each family received a small gift.

Xu Jin could only silently give his father a thumbs-up.

A man of principle.

This father, though fond of beating him, truly conducted himself with integrity.

“Come, we’ll go to the county seat to repay the rest—clear the debts, get some loose silver, then buy rice, flour, liquor, and meat to bring along when we repay our relatives.”

The remaining village debts were few—barely five taels total, just scattered.

“Jin Er, don’t think their loans are small—those who lent you silver gave you grace; remember it! Now that you’ve succeeded at Star Pointing, your future will be bright—when you can, repay their kindness. But even then, know your limits.” As they walked, Xu Dajiang lectured Xu Jin.

“By the way, Father, where’s Jiang Er? Why haven’t I seen her?” As he asked, Xu Jin kept sneaking glances at his father’s face, heart pounding.

In this era, selling sons and daughters wasn’t just talk.

Xu Jin truly feared the fifty taels for the Awakening Elixir had come from selling Jiang Er.

Xu Dajiang glanced at Xu Jin, dismissively saying, “Jiang Er went to work. She hasn’t returned.”

Xu Jin instantly doubted. “Father, where did Jiang Er go to work? And where did you get the fifty taels you used to buy the Awakening Elixir from Ning Coach?”

“If it’s borrowed, we must repay it quickly.” Xu Dajiang looked at Xu Jin, calmly replying, “That silver wasn’t borrowed.”

“Then where?” At that moment, Xu Jin’s heart rose to his throat, fearing his father would say Jiang Er had been sold into servitude.

“What are you thinking?” Xu Dajiang snapped Xu Jin’s forehead.

“Jiang Er is my own flesh and blood—I’d sell my house, my land, even myself before I’d sell my daughter!” As he spoke, Xu Dajiang pulled a document from his robe and handed it to Xu Jin.

“The Zhao Lord of Zhao Village, a benevolent man, is hiring female workers for silkworm rearing and weaving—provides food and lodging, pays one tael five mace per month. Jiang Er went to inquire, tried embroidery, and was rated excellent—she can earn two taels a month. After much pleading, they agreed to prepay two years’ wages, but required a three-year contract and a witness’s signature.”

“I originally wanted to find another way, but Jiang Er refused outright, saying employers who prepay wages are rare.”

“So we let her go. Four girls from our village went—Jiang Er’s embroidery is the best, her wage the highest.” Xu Dajiang spoke with pride.

The document stated roughly this, but one clause read: if the contract was broken early, the prepaid wages must be repaid tenfold.

“Four girls from the village went—so they can look out for each other.”

Xu Jin’s heart eased slightly. “Father, how often can Jiang Er come home?”

“Once a month—they said she can rest one day per month.”

“According to the document, that’s the 13th next month?”

“The 15th—Jiang Er needed a day to prepare and arrange to go with her companions.”

Hearing this, Xu Jin nodded, making his own plans.

On the 15th next month, he must return home to see Jiang Er.

If the work was too hard, he’d find a way—otherwise, he’d break the contract.

Five hundred taels—he believed he could earn that.

Even though his net assets were still negative.

The debt Xu Dajiang brought Xu Jin to repay in the county seat was indeed a usurious loan.

Borrowed from a minor leader of the Tianhe Gang.

He borrowed thirty taels when entering Jinshan Dao Academy—the Star Pointing fee fell short, so Xu Dajiang begged for the loan.

Agreed term: six months, ten percent monthly interest—three taels interest per month, eighteen taels total over six months; collateral: the old house and the last mu of irrigated land.

Xu Jin now understood.

Xu Dajiang sending Jiang Er to work was his worst-case plan.

If he couldn’t repay, he’d shoulder everything alone.

At a warehouse courtyard beside the West Gate Wharf in the county seat, Xu Dajiang led Xu Jin to Deng Hu, the lender.

Deng Hu was rumored to be a nephew of a Xiangzhu of the Tianhe Gang, hence his control over the West Gate Wharf and his sideline of usury.

When Xu Dajiang found them, Deng Hu was drinking with four burly men—likely his hired thugs.

“Repaying? Where’s the IOU?”

Deng Hu, half-drunk, glanced at the IOU Xu Dajiang handed him. “Forty-eight taels in silver. Hand over the cash, I’ll tear up the IOU.”

At this, Xu Dajiang panicked. “Lord Deng, I only used it three months—interest should be nine taels, total thirty-nine taels!”

“Thirty-nine taels? You think I’m running a charity?”

Deng Hu sneered, rolling his bloodshot eyes. “Pay or get out—I’ll come collect myself in three months!”

At these words, Xu Dajiang immediately grew frantic, “Lord Deng, I’ve used this one for three months—it should be nine taels of interest, thirty-nine taels total.”

Xu Dajiang tried to speak, but Deng Hu’s four thugs all rose, arms crossed, glaring at the father and son.

“Lord Deng, my son Xu Jin has succeeded at Star Pointing—please show some face.” Xu Dajiang suddenly said.

“Huh?”

Deng Hu’s expression changed, turning to Xu Jin beside him. “You succeeded at Star Pointing? How many days?”

“Lord Deng, eighty-three days.” Xu Jin answered honestly.

“Hah!” Deng Hu spat a mouthful of liquor, scoffing again. “Pay or get out!”

Deng Hu’s expression changed as he looked at Xu Jin beside Xu Dajiang, “Did you succeed in dotting the stars? How many days?”

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

“Pfft!”

Deng Hu spat out a laugh, exhaling a reek of liquor, and cursed again, “Pay up or get out!”

"You"

Xu Dajiang couldn’t bear it and wanted to say more, but Xu Jin cut in directly: "We’ll pay it back!"

Then, they settled the silver in person; Deng Hu also pulled out another IOU and burned it on the spot. Xu Jin helped Xu Dajiang, who was still seething over the lost silver, prepare to leave.

Just as they were about to step out, a scar-faced thug beside Deng Hu suddenly asked, "Old Xu, where’s your daughter? I remember you came to borrow the money with her—didn’t you sell her?"

"I’m her father! How could I sell my own child? My daughter’s just working and couldn’t come."

Xu Dajiang nearly spat blood from rage and hurried to explain; the ruffians only laughed it off as a joke.

As Xu Jin helped Xu Dajiang out the door, his eyes darkened with suspicion—why would these ruffians suddenly bring up his sister over a simple repayment?

In an instant, Xu Jin grew uneasy.

(End of Chapter)