The Curtain Falls

The three-day deadline passed amid everyone's anxious anticipation.

To verify whether An Ziran's words were true, many tenant farmers and townsfolk who loved a spectacle flocked to wait outside Steward Feng's grain shop. Before the appointed time had even arrived, the entire street was packed so tightly with people that not even water could trickle through.

The murmur of discussion rose endlessly from the crowd. Most still did not believe the An Family could be so generous.

That group of rioters who had caused trouble that day was there as well.

As the time drew near, there was still no movement from the grain shop. Seeing the sun about to climb to its highest point, the people An Changde had sent to mingle among the crowd began spreading rumors unfavorable to An Ziran.

With the sun blazing overhead, the waiting townsfolk had long since become restless. They were swiftly incited, believing that An Ziran had deceived them. All sorts of foul and ugly insults came one after another, and there were even faint signs of another riot. That group of rioters began pressing toward the grain shop, clearly intending to loot it once more.

Just then, the doors of the grain shop opened.

Ever since the previous grain-robbing incident, the shop had remained shut for three days. Not even a crack had been opened during that time, so not a single transaction had been made. However, the An Family owned more than one grain shop, so it did not matter.

The shop was completely empty. There were only several neatly arranged tables and chairs, along with a large chest on the floor. Standing in the center was An Ziran, the current head of the An Family. He seemed to have grown a little thinner than he had been three days ago, his features gradually becoming more pronounced. Dressed in a blue brocade robe, he truly looked like an elegant young gentleman, though no one was in the mood to admire him now.

When the townsfolk saw that he had truly appeared, they immediately surged forward in a wave, only to be blocked outside by the An Family's servants.

Steward Feng stepped forward. "Everyone, please remain calm. If you wish to retrieve your promissory notes, then stand properly and quietly. No shouting or making a commotion. Listen for my command later and come one at a time. When you hear your name, come forward and collect your promissory note."

After he said that, the townsfolk truly quieted down.

Steward Feng nodded in satisfaction, then returned to the shop and said to An Ziran, "Young Master, there are no problems."

"Then begin," An Ziran said calmly.

Su Zi, standing beside An Ziran, immediately opened the chest and took out stacks upon stacks of promissory notes. Outside, the townsfolk craned their necks eagerly, wishing they could make them even longer. Even though the An Family had truly appeared, until the promissory notes were in their hands, they still found it difficult to believe that the An Family was really willing to return them. It was like a dream.

Although Anyuan County was a small county town, its population was not small. There were simply too many townsfolk who owed the An Family promissory notes. In order to distribute them all before sunset and avoid wasting everyone's time, An Ziran had four tables set up inside the grain shop, with four stewards each responsible for handing out the notes.

One name after another was called. When they received those familiar promissory notes, many of them nearly wept until their voices broke. It was this very note that had tormented them for many years. Many had believed they would never have the chance to get it back in this lifetime.

Seeing that the tide had turned, An Changde's people immediately left.

The moment they had just stepped out of the crowd, they were swiftly seized by people waiting nearby and dragged into an alley beside the street. Everyone was immersed in excitement and joy, and no one noticed what was happening there.

More and more people received their promissory notes, but a portion of them became so nervous that their palms began to sweat. Not one of them had received theirs yet. Watching others already holding theirs in hand, they did not know why, but the unease in their hearts grew stronger and stronger.

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, the sun was about to set.

Only a small stack of promissory notes remained in the chest, yet many people were still gathered outside and had not left.

Su Zi handed the remaining promissory notes to An Ziran. The latter slowly rose to his feet and walked to stand on the steps. His calm gaze swept over the dozen or so anxious faces below. "Do you know why I left all of you until last?"

The dozen or so tenant farmers who had yet to receive their promissory notes immediately lowered their heads in shame. They were the rioters who had robbed the An Family's grain shop twice. When they had realized that everyone who had not received a note was with them, they had already vaguely guessed why.

A farmer with rough skin and a dark complexion gritted his teeth. Suddenly stepping before An Ziran, he tore open his throat and shouted, "I'm sorry, Young Master! We already know that we were used by petty people and caused the An Family grain shop no small amount of loss. It was our fault. Please forgive us. We'll never dare do it again!"

The farmer's surname was Liu. There were six people in his family, including his elderly mother, so they were often short of food. Thus, he frequently borrowed grain from An Changfu. By now, he had accumulated debts of five or six dou of rice. Though that might not seem like much to some people—only several dozen jin—to his family, it might have been a debt they could never repay in a lifetime. That was why he had been incited into joining the robbery of the An Family's grain.

Once he took the lead, the others also admitted their mistakes one after another, saying they would never do it again. Their attitudes were rather sincere.

Was An Ziran simply going to give them their promissory notes? Of course not!

Those who made mistakes had to bravely bear responsibility. If this matter were settled so easily, there would only be more people pushing their luck and demanding ever more. The human heart was difficult to predict. Just like that morning—when they could not wait any longer, they began cursing the An Family. It was hard for him to believe they would not stir up more trouble in the future. They had to be taught a lesson.

"I can return the promissory notes to you, but in light of the losses and trouble you caused the An Family, I will not return the entire note. Of the silver and grain you owe the An Family, the An Family will retain one-third. You will need to repay that portion. If you have no objections, go to Steward Feng and sign a new promissory note. If you do object, you may turn around and leave now."

An Ziran spoke each word clearly and deliberately.

Seeing the joy on so many faces as they received their promissory notes, yet still having to repay one-third themselves, made the feeling of plunging from the clouds into the abyss in an instant especially unbearable. After such a comparison, they regretted beyond measure ever listening to those people. If they had not, they would not still owe the An Family one-third of the grain and silver.

The Young Master had made himself perfectly clear: if they protested, they would get nothing. What else could they do? Resistance now would win no one's support. They could only blame themselves for lacking resolve and being so easily incited. In the end, every one of them signed a new promissory note.

An Ziran returned the old promissory notes to them. His gaze passed over faces filled with every shade of sorrow and joy. "I have another piece of good news to announce. Starting today, the An Family will no longer collect seventy percent of your harvest as rent. It will be reduced to forty percent."

The moment his words fell, everyone fell silent.

An Changfu had been the cruelest landlord. Every year, he collected seventy percent of the tenant farmers' harvest as rent, leaving many of them to toil with their labor yet receive no corresponding return, so they often did not have enough to eat. Yet among all landlords in the Great Ya Dynasty, the highest rent was generally no lower than fifty percent. Hearing this news so suddenly, everyone was stunned senseless.

"Is... is that true?" a tenant farmer asked, swallowing hard in disbelief.

The corner of An Ziran's mouth lifted slightly. "Of course. There has never been any reason for me, An Ziran, to take back my word!"

Some people immediately rushed home, stumbling and staggering. They wanted to tell their families this good news. Others simply collapsed onto the ground and wept bitterly. Heaven had finally opened its eyes.

This matter quickly reached An Changde's ears, and his entire face darkened.