What banks fear most is not having gold reserves. Now, the three major state-owned banks are forcibly acquiring all the gold and silver on the market, and even though Nan Ye Bank has a British background, it cannot get involved in this area.
Someone actually delivered gold to my door today! This is like a windfall, I can't miss it!
"What is your bank's exchange rate now?" Ning Zhiheng had a good idea of the rate, but he still wanted to negotiate further. No one would complain about not having enough money.
“That depends on the purity of the gold. Also, Mr. Lin, do you need to exchange it for US dollars? British pounds? Or fiat currency? If the purity is good, the price is negotiable. We can raise it by another 50% above the market price,” Chen Kangshi replied.
"Hmph, Manager Chen certainly knows how to do business. If it were the market price, would I be coming to your Nanye Bank? The market is currently a case of 'high price, low supply.' Would anyone come to you to exchange gold at your price?" Ning Zhiheng's face immediately turned cold. This Chen Kangshi is truly a master at squeezing every last drop of profit; he's a seasoned businessman.
Ning Zhiheng curled his lip and continued, "It seems Manager Chen isn't really interested in making this deal. Fine, I'll try another bank." With that, he got up to leave.
Chen Kangshi quickly stopped him. He knew that Mr. Lin didn't really want to leave, but was just dissatisfied with his offer. Seeing that Mr. Lin wasn't a complete novice, he quickly raised his offer again: "Ten percent, ten percent! Mr. Lin, please don't be in such a hurry. Isn't business always about discussing things slowly?"
The two went back and forth, arguing for a long time. Both were shrewd businessmen, but Ning Zhiheng finally lost patience. After all, it was a seller's market; he had the gold, so he held the initiative. If it didn't work out, they could just part ways. He wasn't a true businessman, and he didn't want to drag things out for too long.
“Manager Chen, my Lin family has been in business for generations. If it weren’t for the urgent need for a large sum of money in business, we wouldn’t have emptied our coffers. To be honest, if I can’t exchange enough funds to tide me over, I won’t be able to explain myself when I get home.” Ning Zhiheng also looked helpless, adopting a stance of not compromising until he achieved his goal. “Believe me or not, I can go to the Central Bank and exchange it even if I raise the price by 10%.”
Chen Kangshi initially remained calm and composed; after all, business negotiations are all about probing each other to maximize profits. However, when Ning Zhiheng became increasingly impatient, Chen Kangshi couldn't sit still any longer. He could tell that this price was truly unacceptable; it was probably the other party's bottom line.
From the very beginning, observing Ning Zhiheng, one could sense that this young man's demeanor and bearing indicated he was well-educated, and his every move likely carried a military background. Indeed, his insight was ruthless; he quickly grasped the situation.
It's worthwhile to befriend people like that. After all, the bank belongs to the boss, but your network of connections is your own. In this world, having more friends means having more options, and it's always beneficial to cultivate relationships with capable and influential people.
Having made up his mind, he patted his chest generously and said, "Since Mr. Lin is facing difficulties, I, Chen, am not one to haggle over every penny. If the quality is good enough, I'll raise the price by 15%. How about that, Mr. Lin? This is my biggest concession!"
Ning Zhiheng's expression softened upon hearing this. This was also his bottom line price; after all, the origin of this gold couldn't be investigated, which was why he was unwilling to reveal his true identity.
Exchanging money at the central bank or the Bank of China would definitely result in a lower exchange rate. A reputable private bank like Nan Yeh Bank is the best option.
After reaching an agreement, the gold transfer and inspection began. Although Chen Kangshi was mentally prepared, the powerful visual impact of opening all six boxes still left him speechless for a long time. Damn, this is definitely a big spender!
After the professionals examined the purity and weight of the gold, they added 15% to the price. Anning Zhiheng requested that it be converted into pounds sterling, bringing the total to £18,000.
To put that into perspective, 18,000 pounds sterling is roughly equivalent to 72,000 US dollars. That's equivalent to 210,000 silver dollars before the currency reform!
Keep in mind that in Beiping, one silver dollar could buy a hot pot meal with mutton. Even in Nanjing, where prices were so low, a family of three would only need three silver dollars a month for living expenses.
As Ning Zhiheng instructed, all the money was placed in a special leather suitcase. Chen Kangshi originally wanted to persuade Ning Zhiheng to deposit it in Nanye Bank and withdraw it by check when needed, but Ning Zhiheng flatly refused.
He knew perfectly well that just a few years later, a large number of state-owned and foreign banks would collapse due to the prolonged war, some even declaring bankruptcy after only a few years. Countless people would lose their life savings, and many would drown themselves or jump off buildings with a worthless savings certificate in hand. He certainly didn't want to be one of them.
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