Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 365 There is such a person

She was calculating in her mind how much money she could collect in the next two days when she saw Qi Renli coming back from outside happily. He greeted her with a smile on his face as he passed by her.

"Master Qi." Meng Changqing called him, "What are you so happy about?"

Qi Renli replied with a smile: "Oh, Miss Shu borrowed money from me."

Meng Changqing felt strange when he heard the name. After thinking for a while, he realized that it was Shu Erhua who was selling millet cakes. He then asked, "Are you happy when someone asks you to borrow money?"

"Lord Meng has misunderstood. I am not happy to borrow money from anyone." Qi Renli said, "Miss Shu is down-to-earth and hardworking. She will not easily ask others for money. She is willing to ask me because she believes in me and our county government."

Meng Changqing was speechless. There was actually such a person. Could she ask him to borrow some money? How much would be appropriate?

"Master Meng, Miss Shu is still waiting for me to get the money. I'll go in first."

Meng Changqing had nothing to do at the moment, so he wanted to join in the fun. "Hearing you talk about her, I want to eat millet cake. I'll go with you."

"Uh... okay, wait a moment, sir, I'll go back to my room to get the silver."

The man from Qi came back with a purse in his hand. Just by looking at it, he felt that the purse was quite heavy. It should be filled with silver cakes instead of copper coins.

Meng Changqing was nosy and asked, "Miss Shu asked you how much money you borrowed?"

"Six taels." Qi Renli said, "But I gave her ten taels. She lives here alone, working and doing business. I don't want her to be overworked at such a young age. I gave her more money, hoping that she can relax a little."

The more Meng Changqing listened, the more confused she became. "But since this money is borrowed, it must be repaid one day. If you give more, she will have to pay more too, right?"

Qi Renli was embarrassed for a moment, "I don't need these few taels of silver. I said I lent it to her, but I didn't expect her to pay it back."

Meng Changqing nodded and said nothing more.

Based on her understanding of Shu Erhua, Shu Erhua would definitely pay back the money she borrowed. It didn't matter whether Qi Renlizhi expected her to pay it back or not. Shu Erhua's own personality played a key role.

The two of them came to the market and just as they walked around the row where Shu Erhua's shop was located, they saw Shu Erhua practicing writing on a sand table from afar.

Hearing the footsteps, Shu Erhua looked up and saw that it was them coming. She immediately put down the things in her hands and greeted them with a smile: "The two adults are here."

"Miss Shu." Meng Changqing also began to address Qi Renli, "It's been a long time since we last met. When I heard Master Qi mention you, I remembered your millet cake. Cut me ten pieces."

"Hey!" Shu Erhua immediately washed her hands and opened the steamer. She cut two pieces of meat and put them on a skewer before handing them to Meng and the others. "Please have some, adults."

Meng Changqing didn't hesitate and said, "Thank you very much, owner!" Then he took it and started eating.

Qi Renli was very polite and thanked again and again before taking it.

Shu Erhua cut ten more pieces for her, wrapped them up, tied them up with a hemp rope and handed them to her.

"I'm sorry to have interrupted your conversation by coming here," Meng Changqing said. "I also want to join in the fun. If Miss Shu and Brother Qi don't mind, I'd like to stay here for a while."

Shu Erhua hurriedly said, "Master Meng, please take a seat."

Qi Renli also said, "My lord, you make it sound like I am going to say something shameful."

"In that case, I'll sit down." Meng Changqing pulled over a bench and sat down against the wall.

Originally, he didn't think it was a big deal, but after hearing what Meng Changqing said, Qi Renli felt a little strange when he spoke again. He held the purse forward and gestured twice before saying, "Here is ten taels of silver. You can take it first and pay it back when you have more money. I'm not in a hurry." Hearing that it was ten taels of silver, Shu Erhua didn't reach out to take it, "Thank you for your kindness, sir, but I don't need ten taels."

"I know. I gave too much on my own initiative." Qi Renli made an excuse, "It's because I don't have any loose change. You can take these two silver cakes. I don't want any interest. When you are able to pay me back in the future, you can pay me back together."

After hearing what he said, Shu Erhua took the money bag with both hands, kept thanking him, and promised: "I will pay it back within half a year."

Qi Renli coughed twice. "I believe in you, and I hope you don't feel pressured by borrowing my money. As I said before, I'm not in a hurry to use this money. Just take your time."

"Thank you very much for your kindness." Shu Erhua thanked him very sincerely.

Meng Changqing saw Qi Renli glanced at Shu Erhua frequently but didn't look at her, so he felt that Qi Renli's purpose of borrowing the money was not pure.

But looking at Shu Erhua, she seemed unaware.

Meng Changqing said, "By the way, Miss Shu, are you borrowing money to buy a house in Xinjie?"

"Yes." Shu Erhua scooped a bowl of hot water and handed it to the two of them.

"Thank you."

"Lord Meng is too polite."

"Which size do you like, Miss Shu? Have you decided on it?" Meng Changqing asked again.

"I think every house on the new street is beautiful. I can buy the smallest one in any location. However, I don't have enough money. I want to raise enough money before deciding."

Meng Changqing wondered, "Although your business has been good and bad, but after running it for so long, you should still be able to come up with twenty-five taels, right?"

Shu Erhua nodded and was about to speak when Qi Renli said, "Miss Shu wants to collect fifty taels."

"Why is this?" Meng Changqing thought, is there anyone who doesn't want to take advantage of others?

"I originally thought that if I could get fifty taels, I would buy it. If I couldn't, I wouldn't even think about buying it. It's good here too." Shu Erhua said, "Early in the morning, Lord Qi came to talk to me about this matter. When he learned that I was short of six taels of silver, he said he could lend it to me."

Actively lend money to others so that they can buy a house.

Meng Changqing couldn't tell whether Qi Renli borrowed money for personal gain or for government business.

This Qi Renli!
What is the difference between the money that Shu Erhua owes the government and the money that she owes you, Qi Renli? She may think that you are kind and can't bear to refuse, or she may think that you, as an official, are forcing her to buy a house.

Meng Changqing took a deep breath and took money out of his purse. "Miss Shu, give me another ten pieces of millet cake. I'll take them home for a midnight snack."

Since her divorce, Shu Erhua has been living in Luo Yu's house, but because she doesn't want to deal with the neighbors, she has always wanted to build her own house.

Luojia Village also allocated a piece of residential land for her.

But Shu Erhua had no relatives or friends in Beishan County, so she couldn't find anyone to help build the house. She was also busy with her business and had no time to build it. She could have hired bricklayers by paying them wages, but during the slack season, the government would recruit workers. The wages Shu Erhua could not offer were higher than the government's, so she could never find anyone, and the house was never built.

Later, when the North Wall Market was built, Shu Erhua bought a room inside and moved into the market. He set up a stove in the front to do business and a kang in the back to live. He has lived there until today.

After all, the houses in the market are built specifically for buying and selling, so it is still a bit inconvenient for people to live in them.

But Xinjie was different. It not only catered to business, but also had facilities necessary for life such as wells, toilets, etc. People no longer had to go through the gate guarded by yamen runners to enter or exit.