Chapter 30: The Banknotes Are Truly Not Worth This Much

Chen Tong knew exactly what was going on.

Ever since he had tasked Xie Qingshuang with focusing on the refinement of salt, Chen Tong had handpicked a few of his men and personally set off toward the city, carrying the refined salt and glass tableware.

Inside the shop, Boss Zhang was standing at the counter, chatting warmly with a customer. Glancing out of the corner of his eye and spotting Chen Tong, his professional smile instantly brightened. He quickly left the customer and hurried over, greeting him with great enthusiasm.

"Oh my, Scholar Chen! You’ve finally arrived! I’ve been waiting for you every single day!"

However, when his gaze drifted past Chen Tong and saw the men behind him carrying crate after crate of goods, his eyes widened in shock, followed by a look of pleasant surprise.

"Scholar Chen, this... this is such a wonderful surprise!"

Boss Zhang stepped forward quickly as he spoke.

"So much refined salt, and these exquisite glass pieces—once these appear in the city, the wealthy and powerful will fight over them like madmen!"

Chen Tong’s lips curled into a confident smile. "Boss Zhang, this is all for the sake of our partnership. I’ve always believed that we should work together to grow this business like a snowball, making it bigger and more prosperous!"

Boss Zhang nodded vigorously, like a bird pecking at grain, and chimed in repeatedly, "That goes without saying! With us working together, who else in this city could possibly compete?" As he spoke, he dashed behind the counter like a gust of wind, skillfully retrieved the prepared banknotes, and handed them to Chen Tong with both hands, his face beaming. "Scholar Chen, here is the payment for this shipment. Please check it and see if the amount is correct."

Chen Tong took the banknotes, gave them a cursory glance, and tucked them into his robe, speaking with firm assurance. "Boss Zhang, your conduct is beyond reproach. I have no doubt in my mind; I trust you implicitly."

Once the transaction was smoothly completed, the two found a quiet corner to sit down. Chen Tong sighed softly, his smile fading and replaced by a hint of worry.

"Boss Zhang, I’ve been truly troubled over at New Village lately. I had hoped to lead my brothers in farming to live a stable life, but those officials are like a swarm of flies, coming to make trouble every few days. It’s becoming impossible to live in peace; I am truly at my wit's end."

Boss Zhang wore a look of disdain, his lips curling slightly as he replied, "Scholar Chen, you still haven’t seen the reality of this world? In these chaotic times, relying solely on farming is a dead end."

"Think about it: how much can you harvest from farming? How much money can you make? Only when you have money in your hands and power at your back can you stand tall and truly gain a foothold in this world."

Chen Tong looked thoughtful, his brows slightly knitted as he asked, "Boss Zhang, what you say makes sense. But money and power—are they really so easy to obtain? You know we are just common folk; climbing the ladder is easier said than done."

Boss Zhang picked up his teacup, blew the steam off the surface, took a sip, and said slowly, "That’s where you’re mistaken."

"Take the business we are doing now; it’s a perfect opportunity. Think about it: we sell these rare items to officials and nobles. If they are pleased, they will naturally look at us differently. Building relationships with them is a way to accumulate connections and resources. As our business grows larger, wealth will pour in like the tide. Once we have enough money, we can grease the right palms, and power will naturally follow."

Chen Tong nodded repeatedly as he listened, a glimmer of realization appearing in his eyes. "Boss Zhang, your words have truly opened my eyes. I was too naive before, failing to consider the bigger picture. I shall have to rely on your guidance in the future."

Boss Zhang patted Chen Tong on the shoulder, laughing heartily. "Scholar Chen, you are too modest. We are in the same boat now—we are genuine partners. If there is anything you need in the future, just speak up. As long as I can help, I will not hesitate!"

The two chatted enthusiastically for a while longer about new business ideas and future plans before Chen Tong led his men out of the shop.

On the way back, Chen Tong sat on his horse, gazing at the distant sky, the words of Boss Zhang echoing in his mind. For the Black Wind Fortress to truly develop and grow, relying only on farming and these current trades was merely a drop in the bucket.

Upon returning to New Village, Chen Tong took out the banknotes from his robes.

"Activate system appraisal and exchange."

As the system interface slowly materialized before his eyes, Chen Tong entered the information from the banknotes.

[Ding!]

A moment later, the result provided by the system left him shocked.

"What kind of nonsense is this!" Chen Tong couldn't help but curse under his breath. "I went to all this trouble, and the banknotes I got are worth even less than copper coins? This is a scam!"

[...]

The value of the banknotes in the exchange system was indeed lower than that of copper coins of the same face value.

Chen Tong frowned. In this era, copper coins were minted by the authorities and had relatively stable metal content and value standards. Each coin had strict regulations regarding weight and purity, ensuring its intrinsic value. Furthermore, copper coins were highly trusted by the public and were widely accepted for everything from daily purchases to large transactions.

Banknotes, while convenient to carry and seemingly an advanced form of currency, relied entirely on the credibility of the issuing institution. Many banknotes were issued by private money shops, whose strength and reputation varied wildly. If a shop was poorly managed or if war or famine struck, the banknotes could easily become scraps of paper. Even government-issued notes were unstable due to the state of the imperial treasury or policy shifts.

By comparison, the stability and universality of copper coins were particularly prominent.

After calming down, Chen Tong began to think seriously about the issue of wealth conversion. He had essentially resolved the problems of food, clothing, and shelter for his people, but the more pressing issue now was how to establish a firm footing in this world.

Chen Tong left, intending to share his findings with his brothers in the fortress. However, just as he reached the plaza of New Village, he saw a few officials strolling aimlessly through the village, the stench of alcohol wafting from their breaths.

Chen Tong’s heart tightened. He hurried forward, forcing a smile onto his face, and said, "Gentlemen, what brings you to our humble little village today?"