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Chapter 472: Chapter 385: Forced Implementation (please subscribe!)_2
Returning to the village...
Li Sheng gathered the leaders of various teams in the village committee.
The committee was housed in a single-story brick building. Each village had a similar structure, all funded by Leader Ling.
"Village Head Li, what’s the emergency?" one team leader asked. Upon hearing Li Sheng’s broadcast earlier about an urgent matter, they had all rushed over.
"Is it because Leader Ling is going to distribute money to everyone?" another leader jokingly said.
"You wish! Your youngest son is working on the construction site and earning wages, yet you’re still hoping for more money. Keep dreaming."
"Heh, so what if I dream? At least my youngest can work. You only have daughters in your family, who can only farm at home," the team leader retorted proudly.
"That’s it... I’m so frustrated, I’ll have another child, you just wait and see!"
"May your next child be a girl too. You’re welcome."
"You..."
"Enough, stop quarrelling. We have a vital matter to discuss that affects our lives," Li Sheng interrupted their bickering.
Once everyone settled down, Li Sheng continued, "Leader Ling just announced he has established a bank in Xin’an Town. To buy ’official goods’ from now on, we will need to convert our existing currency into ’Asia Dollars’. Otherwise, we can’t make any purchases. Moreover, future wages will also be paid in this new currency. For the next week, we can exchange our money at a 10% discount from the international exchange rate."
The room exploded in uproar upon hearing this.
"Village Head, why is he doing this?"
"Yeah, why are we forced to use their paper money? If they issue indiscriminately, our money is no better than having been stolen."
"Indeed, what on earth are we going to do..."
Li Sheng clapped the table, "Calm down, calm down, let me finish. The bank is not merely printing money. It’s backed by all of Leader Ling’s assets. To promote the Asia Dollar, Leader Ling transferred all his assets in the territory to this bank as a guarantee for the new currency. How much money do you think that is? Moreover, Leader Ling promised that they would ensure the purchasing power of the Asia Dollar stays the same here."
"What does that mean?" one team leader asked instinctively.
Li Sheng gave him an appreciative look.
"It means, for example, if a kilogram of grains costs one Yuan now, it won’t exceed one and a half Yuan in the coming few years, regardless of the price inflation. In fact, it may even become cheaper, possibly dropping to eighty cents per kilogram." This example was given by Leader Ling during the question-and-answer session of the meeting, not something Li Sheng had made up.
The team leaders’ limited comprehension dictated Li Sheng’s simplistic explanation.
Hearing Li Sheng’s words, the team leaders understood.
They started contemplating the pros and cons in their minds. They, who had suffered from the chaos of unstable currency, found the concept pretty appealing. For instance, the international exchange rate between the RMB and the US dollar is one US dollar for around eight RMB, but in this area, one US dollar only gets you six RMB. It’s a profit for those with RMB and a loss for those with US dollars. Various currencies here have morphed into strange exchange rates. Having a fair and stable currency doesn’t seem like a bad idea.
"Village Head, what’s your decision?"
"I’m going to exchange right away. Take a look at this, but no touching, just looking." Li Sheng took out the box filled with Asia Dollars. The serial number on each banknote was seven hundred.
The team leaders immediately flocked around to take a closer look.
Li Sheng began explaining the details of the Asia Dollar.
"They look really good, and there’s Chinese on them too. The number reads ’a hundred’. Why would there be Chinese on them?" a literate team leader asked.
"Who knows? Regardless, the mere sight of these Chinese characters inspires me to exchange my money. The previous notes look worn out, nowhere near as good as these."
"Let’s go, I’m also going to town to exchange some right now."
The team leaders were itching to make their move.
If they couldn’t choose, it was better to be adaptable.
Li Sheng quickly intervened, "There’s no need to go. Just stay at home. There are only five banks in Xin’an Town. If all of you go, there could be chaos. Wait a while. Soldiers will come to your homes to exchange your money this afternoon." If all these people went, it would undoubtedly create long queues. The bank had just been established and it was rush hour for currency exchanges. Hence, the Command Room didn’t require them to queue at the bank, but provided door-to-door services instead. For those who missed this opportunity, they would have to visit the bank to exchange their money.
"Alright, good. I have things to do in my field. This at-home service is perfect. At the appointed time, please announce it on the broadcast."
The other team leaders also nodded in agreement.
Li Sheng replied with a smile, "Understood. Alright, don’t delay any further. Hurry up and spread the word about this. Remember, Leader Ling has instructed not to force villagers to change their money. Those who want to exchange can do so, and those who don’t, don’t have to." At this critical juncture, Li Sheng couldn’t afford for any of the team leaders to misinterpret his instructions.
The team leaders left to convey the orders.
At the same time, the same event was taking place in 200 villages throughout the territory.
Although it wasn’t always smooth sailing, with many private grumblings and complaints.
No one dared to cause trouble, though. Each village head embellished Leader Ling’s words while passing them on, essentially warning the villagers - whether you exchange your money is up to you, but don’t stir trouble. If you do, you will be severely punished.
In the afternoon...
Groups of soldiers, carrying metal boxes, arrived at the villages.
After a morning of preparation, the human soldiers in the territory had come to accept the ’Myanmar Bank’ and the new currency - the Asia Dollar. All the discipline instilled during their training paid off. The moment they heard the announcement, they accepted the new change.
