Chapter 1274: Crazy Consumption, Exaggerated Purchasing Power!

Looking back at the long history of ancient China and foreign countries, waterways often occupy an important position in human travel choices and were once considered the best route.

And the reason for this position is supported by multiple factors.

First of all, in terms of carrying capacity, the huge advantage of ships makes them dominate water travel.

Compared with land-based vehicles such as carriages and livestock, ships can carry more goods and passengers, thereby achieving larger-scale transportation.

For example, more than 200 people gathered from the four major territories were all accommodated by a light frigate.

If this were on land, at least four or five buses would be needed.

Secondly, waterways are relatively safe, especially canals that do not border the sea.

As long as there is no power on both sides of the canal, it is difficult to threaten the ships in the canal.

The broad field of vision determines that any ambush is difficult to achieve, and the inherent defense capabilities of ships are much stronger than those of vehicles, and the ability to run away is also better.

If a war really starts, the final winner is not certain.

And now, Liu Zhi and the other four have deeply felt this!

The frigate's speed of 35 knots is equivalent to 65 kilometers per hour. It is simply outrageous.

The scenery on the shore is like pressing the fast-forward button, and it keeps receding.

If you can keep cruising forward at this speed, it will only take 10 days to get back to the place where the Red Flower Gang is.

Liu Zhi silently calculated in his heart and cursed.

"The gap between people is even bigger than that between people and dogs."

The biggest advantage of water transportation is that it can run non-stop at night as well as during the day.

At a speed of 65 kilometers per hour, it only takes one day to get back to the Red Flower Gang.

And how long did it take them to get here?

In the case of going with the flow, it has taken a full eight and a half days!

If it weren't for the good luck of getting a ride, it would take ten days to get to the Tianyuan territory.

One round trip, that's more than half a month!

"We have to think of a way. It's easy to go with the current, but it's hard to go back against the current."

"Let's see. We don't have enough money. I wonder if we can buy some on credit first."

"It would be great if we could buy a ship from Tianyuan Territory. I just heard from the sailor that this ship doesn't refuel!"

"If it doesn't refuel, what does it use to run?"

"It seems to be solar energy? I didn't hear it clearly. Anyway, it can run thousands of kilometers after charging."

"That's great. If we can buy it, wouldn't it be much more convenient for us to go back?"

The four people stood on the deck and chattered about the information they had just received.

As envoys from the territory, their main purpose of coming this time is to trade.

The first is to see if they can apply to Tianyuan Territory to open up the route between the two territories.

The second is to use the supplies they brought when they went out to buy some scarce items needed by the territory and take them back.

As for what is considered "shortage"?

This is simple. The large and small ships under everyone's feet are hot goods.

Of course, there is no need to think about the central command ship and frigate. These big guys are definitely not cheap.

Almost at the same time, the four of them cast their eyes on the 7-meter-long guerrilla boat, and planned to purchase it jointly by the four territories.

Once the purchase is successful, it will be the same as now.

A guerrilla boat has a long row of sampans hanging behind it, sailing easily in the river.

"Dear guests from afar, our current location is about three hours away from the docking port specially used for docking in the territory."

A sailor in a white and blue shirt came up from the back of the deck.

He turned slightly, looked at Liu Zhi and the other four who were a little stunned, and continued: "Due to the emergency situation when we just met, we accidentally disturbed your lunch time. We are deeply sorry. In order to express our apologies and thank you for your support and trust from afar, the captain has specially ordered a simple ship meal for each guest."

"After landing, the territory will also carefully arrange a welcoming dinner to express our apologies."

As his voice fell, the sound of wheels rolling over wooden boards was heard on the deck, and two dining cars were pushed over one after the other.

One was steaming hot, with five large steamers, exuding a mouth-watering meaty aroma.

The other was stacks of palm-sized cold dishes, the aroma was overflowing, instantly arousing everyone's appetite.

"This basket is meat buns, each person can get three."

"This basket is cold side dishes, each person has a plate."

"Please line up in an orderly manner, we will ensure that everyone can get enough."

The sailor smiled and made an invitation gesture, his tone full of sincerity and enthusiasm.

Meat buns?

Side dishes?

Hiss.

Many people swallowed their saliva, and their hands involuntarily touched their dry and flat abdomens.

Although the four territories were not rich, they did not deduct any from their own delegations traveling to Tianyuan.

The necessary dry food and preparations were basically treated according to the highest standards.

But they were not extravagant enough to use these big meat buns?

For people who had not touched oil for a long time, this kind of oily fragrance was an irresistible temptation.

Soon, the sound of feasting could be heard on the deck.

"These meat buns are so delicious, damn, I'm willing to come to Tianyuan just for these three buns."

"Fortunately, I didn't eat much at noon, it would be a pity if I was full."

"Shredded potatoes, cold-mixed black fungus, damn, have we come to heaven?"

"Are there any brothers selling buns? Sell me one?"

With the side dishes, they took a bite of meat buns and a bite of vegetables, and a bowl of warm water to quench their thirst.

A group of people ate voraciously and soon ate up all the buns in their hands.

As for the side dishes, most people left half a plate, and some were reluctant to chew and swallow.

I don't know what seasoning is put in it, but when you taste it, you feel like crying.

It seems to be the taste of home, and it seems to be the taste of mother.

Even if it is just a mouthful of ordinary shredded potatoes, more than 200 people can taste a completely different taste from it.

"Brothers, it seems that we are not full. How about we go and ask them if we can buy some?"

After eating three buns, Liu Zhi wiped his mouth and said with some reluctance:

"Besides, we can also feel the price of Tianyuan. If it is expensive, we can forget about buying a ship. Otherwise, we will be regarded as bumpkins by others, which will inevitably be disadvantageous to the subsequent transactions."

The three nodded at the same time and sighed:

"It's really hard to come all the way. We originally planned to reward the brothers with a good meal. Now is the right time. I see that they still have a lot of buns left. Let's try it."

After discussing the opinions, the three of them fumbled in their pockets and handed out a golden bean.

"Friends, I want to buy some more meat buns from you. I wonder if it's convenient?"

Liu Zhi brought Pang Dayuan and the two found the sailor who spoke at the beginning and asked shamelessly.

"Buy"

The sailor looked surprised, then nodded: "Of course, but"

"We pay with this!"

He quickly took out the gold beans from his pocket and handed them over with a happy face.

As the saying goes, antiques in prosperous times, gold in troubled times.

Precious metals have their own value, and even in the wasteland, they have a good purchasing power.

A gold bean the size of a fingertip weighs about 25g.

On Earth, it would be worth at least 10,000 yuan according to the gold price, and it would be enough to eat meat buns to death for everyone present.

In the major territories of the wasteland, one gold bean can be exchanged for dry food for about 18-25 people.

Four, that is the standard for nearly 100 people.

However, what surprised the two was that the other party seemed to have never seen gold as a currency for payment.

After taking the gold beans, he looked at them again and again, and finally returned them in embarrassment.

"Sorry, we haven't used this thing. How about I just give you some more?"

From the very beginning, Tianyuan Territory did not implement the gold standard pegging system, but adopted a similar value pegging method.

Whether it is Tianyuan copper coins or Tianyuan iron coins, they have a certain value in themselves.

After the credit endorsement of the territory, it became a currency that can be circulated.

Later, with the further development of the territory, especially after the completion of digital construction and laying, more and more people no longer use copper coins and iron coins, but use more convenient identity cards.

All wages will be automatically transferred to the identity card after the end of the working day.

When buying items, you only need to tap on the card machine, similar to the meal card in the university cafeteria, and easily complete the payment process.

I have to say, this is very modern.

If you teach a group of natives to use it, it will be a very long process, and you have to cultivate enough trust first.

But for a group of modern people who have just crossed over not long ago, it only takes a notice to accept it.

"This"

Liu Zhi and Pang Dayuan looked at each other and suspected that they had heard it wrong.

Have you never used gold beans to pay?

Isn't this the hard currency of the New World now? Which territory would not use this thing to pay?

"What do you use?"

Pang Dayuan asked subconsciously, and got the other party's natural answer: "Of course, swipe the card, yes, this card, just swipe it."

Taking out the identity card in his pocket and waving it in front of the two, the sailor took a step back uncomfortably.

Good guy, why do these guys' reactions seem to be from ancient times?

Have they never swiped a card on Earth? No, who hasn't used mobile payment in this era?

"We will give you another hundred, is it enough?"

On the other side, the sailor who pushed the cart earlier also came over and stared at the two curiously.

Pay with gold?

It's really retro, as if I have only seen it in costume TV dramas.

They wanted to take it back and show off to other sailors, but at this critical moment of Tianyuan Territory's fame, no one could let down.

If the captain knew that they dared to keep the property privately, they would probably be skinned and their wages would be deducted for at least half a year!

So, they returned home with three baskets of steamed buns in a daze.

Seeing the steamer that was robbed, they were still a little stunned until Song Chunrui and Wang Bi came over.

"What's wrong? Are they asking too high a price?" Wang Bi frowned. If more than 100 grams of gold beans can only be exchanged for 100 meat buns, then the resources they brought may not be enough to buy a guerrilla boat.

Of course, this is indeed a normal price in the New World, and it can even be said to be lower than the normal price.

At this stage, the price of food and materials is obviously much higher than before, and as the reserves of major territories gradually approach the warning line, the price is still rising steadily every day.

"No" Pang Pang Yuan shook his head stupidly, his eyes still looking blankly at the position where the two sailors were standing.

"No?"

Song Chunrui was stunned, and couldn't help but asked with an ugly face: "Is it possible that you have increased the price of these buns?"

"Price increase?"

Liu Zhi and Pang Pangyuan looked at each other, confused.

"No, I mean these things cost nothing, they gave them away for free."

"What? Free delivery?"

Song Chunrui seemed to have been covered by someone, and his face instantly turned red.

Even the words that had just surged into his throat were swallowed a few times before he swallowed them all back into his stomach.

"No way, free of charge? Are they doing charity?" Wang Bi couldn't believe it until he got Liu Zhi's affirmative nod.

"Yes, it was too troublesome for them to collect the golden beans, so they gave them to us directly."

"What the hell?"

Is it still troublesome for Jindouzi?

Are you sure you're not kidding me?

"As hard as it is for you to believe it, it's true. And they told me.

If it is exchanged with Tianyuan territory, one golden bean can be exchanged for about fifty Tianyuan copper coins.

The price of each meal per person is only 1 copper coin, and four golden beans are enough for all of us to eat for a whole day. "

Fifty copper coins is actually an ancient price.

As early as when the territory first explored Qinggang City, this recycling price was offered to the wanderers.

Later, because the gold that could be found in the city was so scarce, there was no further price adjustment.

In fact, according to the current inflation prices, one golden bean can be exchanged for at least about 90 copper coins.

This means that four gold beans can be exchanged for nearly four hundred copper coins.

However, when the sailor calculated with Liu Zhi, he used the price of materials after territorial subsidies.

In the absence of immigration subsidies, the price of three meals a day for migrants is about 2 copper coins.

After this calculation, there is actually no difference in purchasing power.

Four golden beans weighing more than 100 grams were still enough to feed more than 200 people present for a day.

"Wait a minute, did I hear you right? You mean these four golden beans."

“There was enough for all of us to eat there all day, breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

"Three meals?"

When it came to the latter part, Wang Bi gritted his teeth almost every word.

He felt that Liu Zhi and Pang Pangyuan were playing tricks on him. Such a price could no longer be said to be charity.

This is simply a freebie!

If before setting off to Tianyuan Territory, if someone had told him that there was such a place with such low prices.

He will definitely slap the other person hard in the mouth to make him sober up.

"If you don't believe me, just ask. Unless they lie, and I don't think they will lie about this kind of thing, there is no need to give us a hundred meat buns for free."

Liu Zhi frowned and whispered softly:

"Now that the matter is over, why not take a good rest first, and when we go there in the afternoon, take out the Tianyuan Territory, and we will know for ourselves whether it is true or false."

"Of course if it's true, I think the three of you should understand."

"What an opportunity this will be for the territories behind each of us!"