Andrew Walker shuddered all over, and could only speak with a mournful face: "Father, this morning I heard from the brothers who went to the Zhang family to collect the debt, Ethan Carter and Sam Thompson, so I brought some men over."

　　Charles Walker suddenly sneered, "So, it's the Zhang family that owes us money. Well, these days, the debtor acts like an ancestor! Brothers, grab your weapons—if anyone dares to harm a single hair on my son, the whole Zhang family will be buried with him!"

　　Kevin Bolton immediately pressed the blade against Andrew Walker's neck and shouted, "Don't force me to kill! You with the surname Wan, tell the truth—why did a loan of twenty taels become fifty taels? Why are you here to collect the debt in less than half a year? Speak!"

　　"Hey, hey!"

　　Even though his father had arrived, the menace was right in front of him. Eldest Young Master Walker could only say, "Originally, the agreement with the Shen family was for five percent interest, to be repaid in a year. But... but I took a fancy to the Zhang family's adopted daughter-in-law, so I rushed to collect the debt, thinking that if the Zhang family couldn't pay, they'd use the woman to settle it. Who knew that for the sake of an outsider girl, this kid would fight so desperately!"

　　Eldest Young Master Walker was sniffling and crying, "Father, you must save me!"

　　As soon as Andrew Walker finished speaking, the surrounding townsfolk exploded in outrage—so it was all about bullying men and seizing women. A few nosy old ladies even stepped forward and spat fiercely.

　　"What outsider? They're a young couple not yet married. Eric Bolton, you did the right thing! If a man can't even protect his own wife, he's not a real man!"

　　For a moment, the crowd was riled up. Kevin Bolton looked resolute, a faint smile on his lips, as if he didn't care about life or death at all. He said proudly, "Thank you, fellow villagers, for upholding justice. Charles Walker, if you care about your son, then come at me!"

Chapter Four: Unyielding Spirit

　　The Zhang family's courtyard was already packed with townsfolk, everyone craning their necks, not daring to blink. Someone was actually holding Captain Walker's son hostage—this was the biggest commotion in years!

　　Captain Walker was so angry that the flesh on his face was twitching.

　　"Sir, this kid wouldn't dare kill the young master. Let's rush in, rescue the young master, and hack this kid to pieces while we're at it. What do you think?" a sycophantic subordinate suggested.

　　Charles Walker hesitated a bit. Suddenly looking up, he saw Kevin Bolton using the back of his knife to grind against Andrew Walker's forehead as if it were a whetstone, back and forth. A chill ran through his heart. The crazed look in Kevin Bolton's eyes reminded him of another notorious figure.

　　Back in the year of the drought in Yizhou, every household was starving. One guy went hungry for two days, and on the third night, he disappeared. Everyone thought he'd gone off to beg for food. But the next day, he showed up with two bloody Manchu heads hanging from his waist, went straight to the defense officer's house, threw down the heads, picked up two sacks of rice, and left—shocking the whole little Daqing Fort.

　　That man was Kevin Bolton's father. The father was a desperado, and the son is a little madman!

　　The subordinates didn't notice Charles Walker's fear and said, "Sir, are you afraid we'll kill that kid?"

　　"Nonsense! I'm worried about my son!" Charles Walker wished he could slap his men.

　　Suppressing his anger, he said, "Eric Bolton, there are laws in this country. You may not be afraid, but you still have your mother and sister. Do you really want to die?"

　　"What's the point of dying? Of course I want to live, but some people just won't let me. Captain Walker, since you talk about the law, let me ask you: why does the Ming Code stipulate a maximum interest of three percent on loans, with annual interest not to exceed the principal, yet Eldest Young Master Walker demanded fifty taels just to get my woman?"

　　"This—"

　　As the saying goes, where there's a policy, there's a countermeasure. Usury was rampant everywhere. For example, when tenants borrowed a bushel of grain during the lean season, they had to repay two or three at harvest, sometimes with rolling interest so high that even selling one's children couldn't pay it off.

　　But such things, though common, were hard to admit in public.

　　"Eric Bolton, you talk a good game. Tell me, what will it take for you to let my son go?"

　　Kevin Bolton smiled slightly. "I'll repay the loan, but the extra interest must be removed. Today your son came to smash up my house, and I fought your men. Let's call it even!"

　　"Eric Bolton, you're dreaming!" Sam Thompson suddenly ran up to Charles Walker and said, "Sir, don't be fooled! Several of our brothers are still unconscious—we don't even know if they're dead or alive. You can't let him off!"

　　Kevin Bolton couldn't even be bothered to look at Sam Thompson, mocking, "Captain Walker, is your son's life worth less than a few thugs?"

　　"Get lost!"

　　Charles Walker swung his horsewhip and lashed Sam Thompson across the mouth, cursing, "Beast! This is all your doing. I won't let you off!"

　　Sam Thompson shrank his neck and hurriedly retreated.

　　Charles Walker's eyes darted around, then he suddenly smiled, "Eric Bolton, you're a real man. I'll accept your terms. And since all the neighbors are here, I'll make it clear: I don't want any interest, just the principal. Once that's paid, the debt is settled!"

　　Kevin Bolton squinted and nodded slightly. "Captain Walker, if you have any other conditions, say them now."

　　"Hahaha, Eric Bolton, you're clever indeed. As the saying goes, debts must be repaid—it's only right. I'm not exactly well-off either. Twenty taels of silver—can you pay it back in a month?"

　　Shameless!