Careful readers must have discovered that the novel involves farmer entrepreneur Sun Shaoan’s bank loans many times. Therefore, in addition to the characteristics of the times, this work also reflects the operation of the financial system at that time from the side.
First of all, "The Ordinary World" records China from 1975 to 1985. Although the exact location is not specified, various signs seem to be in Shaanxi. During this period, the country took a very important measure, which is also focused on in the novel, which is the household responsibility system. In the early 1980s, the responsibility system gradually spread across the country. Before 1980, communes were mainly implemented and people ate from a big pot. At this time, ordinary people basically had no spare money and had little concept of currency. From 1980 to 1985, as labor was liberated from farmland, people began to have money on hand, and market trade became more abundant. Prices should have increased during this period, but the Sun Shaoan loan analyzed today was between two or three years. However, rising prices will not be considered for the time being.
Sun Shaoan’s first loan appeared in Chapter 7 of Chapter 2. Not long after the responsibility system was implemented, Sun Shaoan borrowed 700 yuan from the Commune Credit Union to buy a mule. The goods changed hands and the mules were sold. The mules bought for 1,100 yuan were sold for 1,600 yuan, making a net profit of 500 yuan. Some friends must have noticed the clues. It is easier to make money by changing hands and engaging in business than in production. As long as you have capital and can get loans, you can make money in that era. That time, Sun Shaoan paid off the principal and interest of the loan and had more than 2,000 yuan of working capital in hand. Later, he used the money earned from pulling bricks to piece together a brick kiln, creating financial conditions for future industries.
In Chapter 27 of Part Two, in order to become a truly leading householder, Sun Shaoan is determined to turn a brick-burning kiln into a brick factory. Funds have become the biggest problem. A medium-sized 300-type brick-making machine costs 5,000 yuan. There are other expenses. I didn’t say how much they borrowed, but it is estimated to be several thousand yuan. Nothing went wrong. After they repay the loan at the end of the year, they still have two or three dollars left. Thousand yuan of income, and of course fixed assets.
While other "advocate households" were out strolling, Sun Shaoan hid in his room alone and began to plan his next step. He wanted to immediately plan to buy a medium-sized 300 brick-making machine after returning home, open a few more brick-burning kilns, and build a real brick factory!
Of course, there are many difficulties in taking the first step. The first is the issue of funding. A medium-sized brick-making machine costs 5,000 yuan, which he cannot afford with his own money; not to mention the other expenses involved in expanding production. As for manpower, we can hire a few people now. Although there is no clear policy on hiring workers, this phenomenon has already happened in many places, and the public generally turns a blind eye. According to his second father, this issue is currently being discussed in newspapers.
The first thing he worried about was money. There is no other way. It seems that the only way is to take a loan.
Chapter 6 of Part 3, Sun Shaoan decided to expand the brick factory, largely for the sake of making some money for his fellow villagers and solving some employment problems, Chapter 10 of Part 3 In Chapter 2, Sun Shaoan borrowed machinery and equipment from the Agricultural Bank of China with a monthly interest rate of 9.6% and a loan principal of 10,000 yuan. One thing I noticed is that Sun Shaoan came a step late. A batch of interest-free and paid investment loans from the Provincial Construction Commission have been exhausted. We know that if the boss doesn't think more about himself and just does well, he will often suffer. Once he is in crisis, no one can help him. Sun Shaoan also fell into such a crisis. The bricks produced failed and the brick kiln went bankrupt. Not only were the loans not repaid, but wages were also not repaid. It can be seen how risky this brick factory is, and one small factor can be fatal. After that, no bank was willing to lend him money, and he fell into an endless cycle of broken capital chains.
However, expanding the brickyard is not easy!
This requires a lot of money. He sold the existing equipment and added the little savings on hand, and he could only raise five to six thousand yuan.
And just buying a 400 model brick making machine costs 9,000 yuan - including the shipping and delivery costs, it costs at least 10,000 yuan. In addition, the expansion of the brick-burning kiln and the purchase of corresponding equipment cannot be put into production without five to six thousand yuan.
After a rough calculation, he got at least a loan of 10,000 yuan from the bank. It’s not easy!
But since Sun Shaoan has set his ambition, he will not hesitate about his future career.
As soon as the fuss in Akita ended, he ran away dragging his tired legs. After some hard and tactful bargaining, he sold the original small brick-making machine to the newly opened brick and tile factory in Shigejie. The original price of this brick-making machine was about 5,000 yuan, but he sold it for 4,500 yuan. He has used the machine for a year or two, and the selling price is quite good.
Then, Sun Shaoan went to find his classmate Liu Genmin anxiously.
Genmin is now the head of Shigejie Township and holds great power in his hands. His old classmates are as supportive as ever. However, he said with some regret: "You're too late! Not long ago, the provincial mountainous area construction committee issued a batch of interest-free and paid investment loans, and now they have been loaned out. You can only borrow money through the Agricultural Bank of China. The monthly interest rate for machinery and equipment is 9% and 6%.”
Chapter 34 of Chapter 3: Sun Shaoan refinanced money from other people in other counties through Hu Yonghe’s friends. Unfortunately. After being reported, he was forced to immediately repay the principal and interest. Finally, with the help of the county magistrate, he finally obtained a loan of 3,000 yuan from the county. After that, his career prospered day by day. By the end of 1983, Sun Shaoan had paid off the bank twice. The entire principal and interest on a large loan.
The ice was shattered and the river was full of water!
After the first batch of bricks came out of the kiln, they were sold out within three days. The money owed to everyone in the village was paid off immediately; the loan from his wife's brother in Liulin, Shanxi was also repaid immediately.
After accepting the lesson of failure, this collapsed brickyard took off for the second time and developed at an alarming rate. By the end of 1983, Sun Shaoan had repaid all the principal and interest of two large bank loans. Brickyard production has gradually entered full capacity operation. When 1984 began, profits rolled into Sun Shaoan's pocket...
This is a complete story, but it is not difficult for us to find that if there were not The county magistrate's face makes it difficult for Sun Shaoan to make a comeback. In fact, it was just a loan of 3,000 yuan in the end. After it was used to stimulate production, not only the principal and interest were repaid smoothly, but the original principal and interest of 10,000 yuan were also repaid. If according to the current thinking, the loan will not be paid out. , there is basically no second chance.
Regarding the interest rate, there is only one clear statement in the novel, the monthly interest rate is 9.6%. Other times, the interest rate is described as rolling up to several hundred yuan. There is no exact number, I will simply After checking the relevant information, I couldn't find the loan interest rate for that year. I just found on CCB's online banking that the original demand deposit interest rate was 2.88, and there was no concept of fixed term. If calculated this way, the interest rate of 9.6% is 11.52 per year. The difference between deposits and loans is really tight. Were banks so profitable back then? Where is the law of heaven?
Regarding the purpose of the loan, Sun Shaoan’s first loan was to buy a mule. The 700 yuan should be considered a small amount and should be paid by himself. The subsequent payment for the machinery and equipment was entrusted to pay. , directly called Henan to purchase equipment. In fact, it doesn't matter whether it's outside the county or not. The reason why Sun Shaoan's loan in Yuanbei County needs to be recovered is probably because of the purpose. Of course, it also reflects from the side that the loans at that time were extremely scarce resources. The county’s support was not enough, so how could it be used to support other counties? How is it like now, as long as it can make money, which company cannot lend? It should be that the people were not yet rich at that time, they did not have much savings, and naturally the scale of loans was not large. In this era when big money is desperately needed to accomplish big things, whoever gives money will become prosperous.
At that time, banks were not yet commercialized, and there was little competition between them. Loans that could not be obtained by the commune credit unions were handled by the county Agricultural Bank of China, rather than by the higher-level branches of the credit unions. , each bank has its own division of labor, which seems very harmonious. Now, in order to promote the market economy and further liberalize the market, there are more and more banks, and the competition is becoming more and more fierce. Finance is an important resource for the national economy and people's livelihood. Complete liberalization will cause problems, and leaving it alone will also cause problems. In terms of the supervision of banks, it has been These are all difficult problems. Even now, it is said that the market will be further liberalized and the fundamental role of the market will be brought into play. Look, when trouble occurs, I hope the country will not blindly come to rescue the market. Since it is liberalized, let the market relax a little more. When the time is right, the role of the market will be restored. It has manifested itself, and I am afraid that the market has not yet fully reached its goal, and the government has already smelled the smell of gunpowder, and then the government will take action. In the end, the market will no longer play its role, and the government does not know when to stop. This is the worst result.
Back to the novel, to the topic discussed earlier, if the county magistrate did not come forward, Sun Shaoan would not be able to repay the initial loan, and no bank would dare to lend him money in the future. If a loan cannot be recovered, Sun Shaoan's family is considered finished. It is a bit risky, but it can be a win-win situation. Why don't banks dare to do it? To put it bluntly, it means whether you should support the company when it is in difficulty, and whether you should provide help in times of need. For commercial banks, it shouldn't be because the risk is too high. This is absolutely against the business philosophy, and whoever does it has to bear the responsibility. If it is a company that has nothing to do with them, who will do it? Moreover, the conditions of banks are becoming more and more strict, and there are more and more hard leverage. Many things cannot be done if you want to. For example, if a risky enterprise like this wants to be saved, it will be blocked by various systems and procedures even if it wants to be saved. Drag to death.
I have always felt that the financial industry, together with medical care, education, etc., should be managed by the government. If there are no disputes over interests, if there are no "modern commercial banks" With the concept of "icing on the cake", our industry will go further. We need more policy banks, and we don’t need too many commercial banks.
Finally, let me talk about a small detail that cannot be ignored. Sun Shaoping remitted his first salary after joining the work to his father in the form of remittance. According to the description of the novel, "He could imagine what it would mean for this money order to appear in Shuangshui Village. He seemed to see how his father held the piece of paper and walked into the dark green door of the Shigejie Post Office." The difference from now is The money order was sent to the village first, and then went to the post office to process it. It should be paid in cash. Can I get money with a money order? The money order is almost the same as a deposit receipt or a check. I guess I can't get money in this way now. Maybe under the circumstances at that time, I could only do it this way. Then why not just send the money? Are you afraid of losing it? You probably don’t know how to wrap it in an envelope or something. 50 yuan is just a piece of paper, not to mention that the money order was bought with one penny.