Interest

"Please return it, Uncle Pan."

Chen Ping'an's smile did not change. Ignoring Old Pan's suggestion, he stood by his position.

"Ping'an, didn't Uncle Pan already say so? You brought this up too suddenly. Your Uncle Pan hasn't had time to prepare himself. Go back first, then come again tomorrow or the day after. We can discuss what to do about this then."

Old Pan coaxed him patiently.

What he meant was that the matter of repaying the money had been raised too suddenly, leaving him wholly unprepared. As if Chen Ping'an was somehow in the wrong for this whole affair.

One had to know that the silver had been owed for nearly a year. Any halfway decent household would not need to be reminded; they should have taken the initiative to bring it up themselves. Even if some families truly were short on funds, they should explain their situation and discuss matters in advance, agreeing on a repayment date. That would be good for both sides, giving each a clear deadline.

Old Pan was old and cunning as a fox. He had set the rhythm, then turned the tables and accused Chen Ping'an—making his own failure to mention repayment into Chen Ping'an's sudden demand for money, one that had caused him distress.

An ordinary youth, hearing this, would likely feel embarrassed. Thinking that his own abruptness had troubled the other party so greatly, he would have fallen right into Old Pan's rhythm.

"Uncle Pan, this debt has not existed for just a day or two. What preparation does Uncle Pan need? Why not tell me?"

You had your rhythm; he had his own resolve.

At those words, the smile on Old Pan's face vanished completely.

"Ping'an, you're neither married nor burdened by outside debts, and you're not short of this