Mr. Minser owned the only general store in town. He was friends with many of the farm estates, from whom he bought wheat, corn, chicken, and beef. They would often come to give him deals and do business with him. The only people who purchased from his store were the estate's servants, except for Mr. D, the man who sold him the beef and chicken. Mr. D had 15 children, one of whom was 18 and accompanied his father almost everywhere. There was only one large wheat estate nearby, as well as other large estates in the area. Any other nearby estate was at least two hundred miles away.
On a busy day, four businessmen entered his shop. They were the men from whom he had borrowed a loan one year ago in order to purchase a much-needed supply of corn and wheat. However, he was still unable to pay back the loan.
"Look," said one of them, seeming half-asleep, "you need to pay your loan."
Suddenly, there was a shout as someone tried to enter the shop, but the crowd of chatting people inside the doorway prevented them.
It happened to be his sister with her four little kids with their pocket money who liked to buy candy. His sister simply grabbed an apron, smiled, and said, "Busy day, huh," before going into the back of the store.
As the commotion settled down, Mr. Minser turned his attention back to the businessmen. He sighed, knowing that he still couldn't repay the loan. "I understand that I need to pay back the loan," he replied, a hint of frustration in his voice. "But business has been slow, and I'm struggling to make ends meet."
One of the businessmen, a tall and stern-looking man, crossed his arms and spoke firmly, "Mr. Minser, we've been patient with you for far too long. We need that loan repaid within the next month, or we will have no choice but to take legal action."
Mr. Minser's heart sank. He knew that if it came to that, he would lose his beloved store, the only means of livelihood he had. He had taken the loan in the hopes of expanding his business and providing for his family, but circumstances had been tough.
Just then, his sister emerged from the back of the store with her four little kids, clutching their bags of candy. She smiled at Mr. Minser, her eyes filled with concern. "Henry, is everything alright? I heard the commotion outside."
Mr. Minser attempted to smile and reassured his sister, "Don't worry, Mary. It's just some business matters. I'll figure it out somehow."
His sister nodded and gave him a sympathetic look. "You've always managed to find a way, Henry. I believe in you."
Feeling a surge of determination, Mr. Minser turned to the businessmen. "Gentlemen, I promise you I will find a solution to repay the loan. Just give me a little more time, please."
The businessmen exchanged skeptical glances but eventually nodded in agreement. "Very well, Mr. Minser. We'll give you one more month. But after that, we expect to be repaid in full."
With a sense of temporary relief, Mr. Minser thanked the businessmen and watched as they left his shop. He knew that he had to come up with a plan quickly to save his store.
Turning to his sister, he said, "Mary, could you stay and help me out for a while? I could really use an extra set of hands these days."
Mary smiled warmly. "Of course, Henry. I'll do whatever I can to support you."
Together, they started brainstorming ideas to increase foot traffic in the store and attract more customers. They thought about offering special discounts, expanding their product range, and reaching out to neighboring farms for potential partnerships.
Mr. Minser knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to save his store and provide for his family. With his sister by his side and the support of the community, he believed that they could overcome this financial hurdle and bring prosperity back to the only general store in town.