"That's a debt we owe to Mr. Raleigh, and it needs to be repaid, and when it is done, we will be able to get back the land that your grandfather left behind."

"I can't pay it back, father, Hoss."

Holding a stick, Gerrit calculated for his father, Hoss.

"Now we owe Mr. Raleigh four silver coins, and we need to repay the interest of four hundred copper coins a year, and the total harvest of these fields is only five hundred copper coins."

Since the beginning of the previous years, there has been some drought in the fields, and the harvest is getting less and less.

Last year only five hundred copper coins worth of grain had been harvested, at least that's what Mr. Raleigh's debtor had told Hoss.

"If all the harvest from these fields is used to pay off the debt, it will only be a hundred copper coins this year, and if it is completely repaid by the four silver coins, it may take decades."

"Moreover, if the harvest in our fields is not as good as the interest, if we are unable to repay it this year, the principal will increase to four silver coins and four hundred copper coins, and it will take about three years to repay it again to four silver coins."

"So we should pay at least the interest every year?"

"Father! Can you guarantee that every year the harvest in our fields will be enough to repay the interest? ”

It seems that because of Hoss's sluggishness, Gerrit is a little angry.

And Hoss hesitated when he heard Gerritt's words.

He can't guarantee that this thing, especially this year, will be drier than last year.

The sparse crop seedlings in the fields are already predicting this year's harvest.

"What do you want to say, Glitter?"

"Since this debt can't be repaid, then we won't pay it."

"Isn't that the interest this year going to be the principal?"

"No, I mean, we let Mr. Raleigh take the land that my grandfather left behind, take the collateral, and end this debt."

Gerritt finally made his bold proposal.

His calculations told him that the money his father had repaid to Mr. Raleigh had long since exceeded the value of the collateral, the fields.

His father shouldn't have spent his energy on this, because he would only lose more and more money.

Let Mr. Raleigh take away the land that his grandfather left behind.

We don't want these fields anymore.

Listening to Gerrit's words, Hoss frowned,

"Is that what you're suggesting, Gretel?"

"Yes, Father. Even if we lose the fields that my grandfather left behind, at least the debt is over and you don't have to pay it back.

Moreover, the energy that was originally spent in those fields could be used for other things, such as finding other jobs, and the remuneration for these jobs was your own father. There is no need to pay Mr. Raleigh's debts again.

Father, you have paid Mr. Raleigh more than this debt and more than the value of the fields that your grandfather left behind. It can't go on like this. ”

Gerritt spoke eloquently, he felt that he was right, and his father would naturally accept the right approach.

But Hoss's brow furrowed even deeper.

"I disagree, Gretel."

So saying, Hoss took the farm tools and went into the house.

Gritt could not accept his father's words and followed closely behind Hoss,

"Why, Father! You are doing day work for Raleigh, these fields have long belonged to Raleigh, not ours, every harvest you have cultivated for these fields will be taken by Raleigh, and they will not pay you anything! ”

Gerrit was even angry at his father's stubbornness and stubbornness.

"That's the field your grandfather left behind, and after you give it up, we'll be left with only your grandmother's Miria's field."

"But the field left by my grandfather no longer belongs to us, and every harvest in that field has never appeared on our table, on us."

Gerrit had difficulty understanding his father.

"A bard once told me that when it comes to repaying a loan, you can use it when you can, and leave it with food."

"Even if there is very little harvest in the field, I will not give up the land, this is your grandfather's last word."

"Father!"

"Hoss!"

Glitter also wanted to persuade his father.

“…… And Mr. Raleigh will not agree, if we do not pay this debt, he will only increase the interest. ”

"Why, the original mortgage was those fields, they just took it away!"

Gerritt shouted in a weakened voice, but still unacceptably to his father.

But his father, Hoss, just looked back at Gerrit, just touched Gerrit's hair, and didn't discuss the issue with Gerrit again.

"Gerrit, read well, maybe one day you will figure out a lot of things. I don't understand these things. ”

Glitter looked up at his father, was silent for a while, and lowered his head,

"But father, this year is coming to an end, and if you still need to pay Mr. Raleigh's debts, can you still come up with five silver coins?"

Gerrit whispered.

Hoss was silent, touched Gerrit's hair again and walked away.

Glitter stood in silence for a while, went out to the door, and sat down on the threshold,

Holding his chin, thinking about things he couldn't figure out.

“…… Gerritt, little Glitter, quarreled with your father? ”

"Still angry? Let me tell you about your father. ”

At this time, the old Miriah came out of the house,

The rough skin on her face has sagged, with some age spots, and she is leaning over,

Movement is already a little slower than when I was younger.

Smiled and walked up to her grandson, comforting her grandson,

"No...... It's just that I guess I was wrong. ”

"Is it possible that what you learn in school is wrong?"

There are many things that Glitter can't figure out.

His father insisted that he go to school,

Let many people in the village laugh at his father's stupidity.

But the learning in school did give Glitter a lot of different ideas.

and time to think about things.

"Then think about it slowly, you can figure it out, I believe my cute little Glitter is smart enough."

Miria is still so gentle,

Gently reaching out and touching Gerritt's head, he walked away again.

Gerrit nodded, then propped his chin and looked at the clouds in the sky in the distance, thinking about many things.

……

If the protagonist of the ordinary chapter is Little Hoss,

The protagonist of that great chapter is probably little Gerritt, the child of Hoss, who always has many questions.

Ochino as a reader,

Sitting at the desk, keeping your eyes on the page,

As the plot develops, and the unstoppable emotional ups and downs,

Until I finished reading the beginning of this great chapter,

Can't help it, Ochino sighed.

Is Hoss wrong in the plot?

It seems so stubborn and stubborn, but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it.

Was little Gerritt wrong to learn from school and tell his father that the debt to Mr. Raleigh would never be paid?

There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with that.

Ochino sighed again,

Who's wrong in the book?

Ochino gathered his thoughts and continued to look down.

Further down,

In the great chapter,

From the point of view of little Gerritt,

Wrote some, some changes in the village over the years.

Gus, who was originally the authority in the village to interpret the will of God and the church, has died of old age.

The book says that on the day Gus died, a grand funeral was held in the village, and everyone in the village came.

Finally, in front of Gus's grave, the best tombstone was erected,

It reads, 'A faithful Lamb of the Lord, a devout believer of God, who served God devoutly all his life, was kind and loving, and saved many lost lambs in his life.' ’。

And the heir of the authority in the village, who knows best the will of God and the Church,

But it was Aunt Valina's husband, Mr. Burton.