Chapter 1024, The Threshold of Currency Notes

Translator: Silavin

 

Lu Yin observed for quite some time before asking, “Shall we go over and have a look? We’d know soon enough if we simply asked.”

 

“I’m not sure that’s wise. I’m worried people might think we’re eavesdropping on some secret, and then we’d end up getting arrested again.” After her previous ordeal, Ah Liv had become extraordinarily cautious in everything she did, like someone who freezes at moving shadows and jumps at the twang of a bow.

 

“We’re only curious, not actually up to anything. Nothing will happen. Don’t worry.” Lu Yin offered reassurance with confidence, having never been locked up herself and seeing nothing particularly alarming about the situation.

 

Ah Liv said nothing to contradict her. She simply followed along quietly, content so long as she remained beyond any reasonable suspicion.

 

*Step step step…*

 

Lu Yin stepped forward politely and asked, “Would you mind telling us what those things are that you’re handing over? Why is it that they can be exchanged for whatever you want?”

 

She had deliberately singled out a girl who appeared approachable, choosing her on purpose for that very reason.

 

“You mean currency notes? They are mine.” the young girl said, immediately wary.

 

“Don’t worry, we don’t want them. We’re only asking because we don’t know what currency notes are. I noticed that nearly everyone from your Tribe is using them to exchange for goods.” Lu Yin shook her head quickly, anxious not to be mistaken for a troublemaker and avoid stirring up any more problems.

 

“What are currency notes? How is it I’ve never heard of them on my previous visits to your Tribe?” Ah Liv asked, puzzled.

 

“It’s something new in our Tribe, invented by our Shaman. Now that we have currency notes, we can use them to buy anything we want.” The girl held up her currency notes with a proud expression. “I’ve earned all of mine recently through labour value exchanges. I’ve got more than most.”

 

“Buy? What does that mean? Is buying the act of exchanging currency notes for things?” Lu Yin had caught an unfamiliar word.

 

“And what is your labour value? Is labour value tied to currency notes?” Ah Liv pressed.

 

Both of them had no shortage of questions, their small heads full of enormous question marks.

 

“Does your Tribe not have these things?” The girl asked, staring at the two of them with complete bewilderment.

 

The question made both Ah Liv and Lu Yin froze up. Neither of them could think of what to say.

 

The colour rose in both their faces, and for no other reason than that the question was deeply embarrassing.

 

“Our Tribe doesn’t have them. Would you be willing to explain it to us?” Lu Yin asked, doing her best to push through the awkwardness.

 

“Every person who works receives labour value. How much you receive depends on how much work you do, and these currency notes are exchanged using labour value.”

 

The girl displayed the currency notes once more. “From now on, working means receiving currency notes, and from now on, you can only buy things with currency notes. The era of exchanging goods for goods has passed.”

 

She said all of this drawing on Sha Lan’s own words, having been in the crowd below when Sha Lan had made that very speech.

 

She had listened to it then with tremendous stirring in her heart, which was why she still remembered every word of it so clearly now.

 

“What about us? Would we need to work in your Tribe to have currency notes?” Lu Yin asked curiously.

 

“Right, since we have no currency notes at the moment, wouldn’t that mean we can’t buy anything?” Ah Liv followed up.

 

“You can go and have a look at the Labour Exchange Centre. I’m not sure how that side of things works.” The girl pointed in the direction of the Labour Exchange Centre.

 

“What is the Labour Exchange Centre?” Lu Yin asked.

 

“It’s the place where we used to register our labour value. I’m going to buy things now, so please stop bothering me. Go over there and you’ll find out for yourselves.” Having said her piece, the girl turned and walked away without looking back, clearly finding the pair of them and their endless questions rather tiresome.

 

Lu Yin and Ah Liv stood in silence for a long moment after she left, unable to settle their thoughts, having absorbed so much new knowledge all at once.

 

“Did you catch all of that? What exactly are the Labour Exchange Centre and the currency notes?” Lu Yin asked.

 

She was genuinely fascinated, her whole manner visibly animated with excitement.

 

“Let’s go and see for ourselves. Better to go directly than to stand here wondering.” Ah Liv set off in the direction the girl had indicated.

 

She walked at quite a pace, clearly just as eager to discover what awaited them.

 

“Wait for me.” Lu Yin hurried after her.

 

*Step step step…*

 

The two of them made their way quickly towards the Labour Exchange Centre, stopping along the route to ask directions, since they had no idea where they were going.

 

Half an hour later they arrived at the entrance, where a fair number of people had already gathered.

 

They waited a good while before their turn came. Alu happened to be busy inside at the time.

 

“How can I help you both?” Alu could tell at a glance that the two of them were not from the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

“I’d like to know how one obtains currency notes in your Tribe,” Ah Liv asked.

 

She felt entirely above board about the whole thing this time, not sneaking around as she had done with people from other Tribes before. There was surely no risk of being arrested.

 

“If you are a member of our Tribe or wish to come and live here, you may seek work within our Tribe.” Alu’s tone was perfectly calm. “A wage is then paid each month, and that wage takes the form of currency notes. If you are from another Tribe and wish to purchase goods at the Central Market, you may come to the Labour Exchange Centre first and exchange your items for currency notes.”

 

This arrangement had been worked out by Su Bai well in advance. Without it, people from other Tribes would have had no way to obtain currency notes whatsoever.

 

In order to circulate currency notes as quickly as possible, accepting their goods and giving them currency notes in return was the most practical approach.

 

Although the process of handing goods to the Labour Exchange Centre in exchange for currency notes, then using those currency notes to buy at the Central Market, was not so different from bartering, it still marked the beginning of a change.

 

Once enough time had passed, everyone would naturally have more currency notes in hand, and the old method would no longer be necessary.

 

Besides, the Labour Exchange Centre could eventually establish a threshold of standards, with strict requirements for what items it would accept.

 

Common goods such as dried meat and Beast Bone or Beast Hides, for instance, would no longer be taken in. Good items such as Shaman Bone Tablets and Ferocious Beast Crystals would be accepted, ensuring the Flame Dragon Tribe would not be at a loss.

 

“I see. It’s essentially the same as before, only with an additional step.” Ah Liv said thoughtfully, nodding her head.

 

“Will you be exchanging for currency notes today?” Alu asked, aware that others were waiting behind them.

 

“We haven’t brought anything with us today, but may I have a look at your currency notes?” Ah Liv asked.

 

She had caught a glimpse of the currency notes in someone else’s hands from a distance earlier and thought them quite beautiful. She had not had the chance to examine them properly.

 

Now that she had made it all the way to the Labour Exchange Centre, she thought she might as well take a closer look while the opportunity was there.

 

“Of course,” Alu said with a smile.