large ballistics

Chapter 27 Exchange for Silver Dollars
After leaving the gate of the Golden Gate Hotel, Li Chong was wearing a gray and black suit, and he looked like a rich man.This kind of attire is very common in Shanghai Bund. The young men who linger in the feasting and feasting are all dressed in neat suits, and even gangsters wear a decent suit in front of others.

Walk along Hankou Road to the Bund, which is the most prosperous and affluent place in the Republic of China. Under the background of countless land prices in the mainland, the land here has long been out of the category of every inch of land.But it is a pity that this place is known as the "World Architecture Expo". The world does not include the government of the Republic of China, and the land here is also occupied by various powers.

Li Chong came to the Bund not because of the night view here, but because of the name of "Far East Wall Street".

Banks with the background of the national government were first excluded by Li Chong. Now the Nanjing government has banned the use of silver dollars on the surface, and stipulated that silver dollars should be exchanged for legal tender at a one-to-one exchange rate. .You must know that according to the current price of silver, one silver dollar made of one tael, that is, 50 grams of silver, can buy an average of 30 catties of rice in big cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Beiping, and Guangzhou!

You can try to buy it with one yuan of legal currency, unless you are going to grab it.

As for the 32 catties of silver dollars brought by Li Chong, there are a total of 420 pieces. If you go to a bank with foreign capital or Hong Kong capital background to exchange it, it is estimated that it will be around 2500 US dollars.That is to say, converted into US dollars, the six boxes of silver dollars accumulated by the three generations of the Li family are only [-] US dollars. For the wealthy businessmen in these big cities, the profit of making a business is ten times or even a hundred times that amount. .Of course, this is also because of the value of the US dollar, and the unique geographical advantages make it impossible for war to burn this top country in the industrial world.And this is especially precious in the age of war, so the dollar is also particularly valuable.

That’s why when Li Chong came to Hong Kong, he really felt that the blood and sweat in the countryside was too worthless. After realizing the disparity, Li Chong wanted to be self-reliant while studying in Hong Kong, and couldn’t bear to squander the silver dollars he had accumulated bit by bit at home.

The figure of 2500 US dollars sounds a little small, but it is also because of this that Li Chong thought about exchanging the silver dollars that were not easy to carry at home into US dollars or British pounds, so that he could take them away easily.However, the silver dollars in the two suitcases were replaced by four pieces of fluffy paper. It is estimated that Li Derun would be frightened to death when he brought them back. Father did not understand the value of a hundred dollar bill at all, and he could not equate 100 dollars with how many catties of rice.

But my father understands the price comparison between silver dollars and gold. One tael of gold can be exchanged for 31 large silver dollars. In this way, 60 silver dollars that are as heavy as Yuan Datou can be exchanged for a small yellow croaker. If the 600 silver dollars brought this time are exchanged for ten Little yellow croaker, my father must be willing to accept it, but now the bank is not willing to exchange gold, any gold is very precious to those who open a bank in this era.

Since he knew HSBC in Hong Kong, Li Chong came to the HSBC Shanghai Headquarters building in the Bund where the land is very expensive and can monopolize buildings No. 10 to 12.The bright facade makes the guards and part-time waiters at the door raise their heads and chests, and the uniform shows the temperament of "I have a big face".

It is true. I heard that Li Chong wants to make an appointment to exchange silver dollars. The female teller in front of the window does not need to call the manager. She just takes out a piece of paper and asks how much Li Chong is going to exchange. Obviously, this kind of bank with the background of the Republic of China government only has managers. Things that can only be responsible at this level are not worth mentioning at HSBC.

"Six hundred silver dollars, similar to those of Yuan Datou and Yingyang. If the price is acceptable, I will trade with you."

"Oh?" The female teller just raised her head with a little surprise. After all, silver dollars are not French currency, but have strong purchasing power. This money is enough for ordinary people to nourish their lives in the bustling Shanghai. At least they sold their whole family. Not so much money.If this business is completed, then I can be regarded as having a lot of achievements!Although this kind of individual business is an insignificant number in the eyes of the manager.

Li Chong asked, ticking his fingers on the marble tiles in front of the window, "How much can you exchange for dollars? Now the national government prohibits the outflow of silver."

The female teller understood what Li Chong said. Under this policy, the price of silver would definitely appreciate, so the exchange of dollars could not be carried out according to the open market.In fact, at this time, HSBC did set two prices, open and private, but kept silent.If the customer does not mention this, the female teller will execute according to the market price, and the profit earned will be rewarded by herself.But the customer mentioned this, obviously this is a sensible person, so he raised two points according to the exchange ratio.

At that moment, the female teller did not speak, but wrote a number on the paper: $450.In other words, HSBC is willing to pay 450 US dollars to exchange Li Chong's [-] silver dollars.

Not bad, Li Chong nodded in agreement, "What time do you close?"

"Nine o'clock." Seeing that Li Chong had a transaction intention, the female teller was full of smiles and was very enthusiastic.

Li Chong looked at his watch. It should be a quarter past seven, so he got up and said, "Wait for 10 minutes, I'll be here in 10 minutes."

Returning along the original road, Li Chong called the two brothers Shang Shunsheng and Hengsheng to follow him with the suitcase.

Seeing Li Chong arrive as scheduled, the female teller at the window smiled even more dazzlingly. After all, this is a remarkable achievement for me.Since the national government banned the use of silver for spot transactions, there are not many precious metals in the market now. Many people in Shanghai have already used legal currency to buy things, and banks have always been in a stage of strong demand for precious metals, especially after the Japanese soldiers in Wanping City. After a series of movements, the other tellers on the counter did not have any exchange records for precious metals, so I was the first to open the store.

It's not in vain for me to be on the night shift at the counter for a week.

The two Shunsheng and Hangsheng brothers handed over the suitcase that they had been carrying all the way to Li Chong, and Li Chong walked to the VIP room inside the bank. The two brothers were waiting in the lobby, and the shock of the Golden Gate Hotel came first. , this time in front of the bright-looking HSBC Shanghai headquarters, his expression is considered "relaxed".

The female teller called three helpers from inside. It took more than an hour to clear and measure the 600 silver dollars. This speed is already very fast. Li Chong is not a regular customer. According to the regulations, every silver dollar must be counted and checked. Defaced.

However, the silver coins brought by Li Chong were in good condition, and some of them were almost brand new, reflecting the dazzling silver light under the light, so the counting speed was much faster.

"Mr. Li, this is 450 US dollars, please keep it." There was envy in his eyes. One hundred US dollars is considered a huge sum in China. Many people's life savings are less than this, and many even have not.

After counting, the female teller handed over an envelope.Li Chong opened it and saw four US dollar bills and five ten-yuan bills.Brand-new, Li Chong checked the authenticity of the banknotes in front of the light, and the reputation of HSBC is obvious to all. Naturally, there are no counterfeit banknotes, but there is nothing wrong with being careful.

(End of this chapter)