Chapter 52: Arrival at the International Settlement

In front of the Earth Temple, Lingyunzi returned the salute and said, "Fellow Daoist, it turns out you have extensive connections in the Underworld."

Zhang Cheng naturally attributed this to the Maoshan Sect, saying, "We of Maoshan still have some standing in the Underworld."

Zhang Cheng retrieved his Seven-Star Copper Sword, bowed to Lingyunzi, and said, "Fellow Daoist, the matter is resolved, so I shall return to Nanchang City now."

Lingyunzi smiled and said, "No wonder my master said that there are people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens. Fellow Daoist's abilities are above those of this poor Daoist. It is truly a fortunate event to meet you today. I wonder where in Nanchang you are staying? Let us meet again."

Zhang Cheng waved his hand and said, "I am leaving Nanchang tomorrow. The purpose of this trip is to go to Shanghai Bund to engage in a magical duel with people from the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect."

Lingyunzi nodded and said, "So that is how it is. Fellow Daoist possesses great aspirations, and this poor Daoist admires that. Fellow Daoist may proceed first; this poor Daoist will return to ask my master before setting off."

Zhang Cheng exchanged a few pleasantries with Lingyunzi, and then they parted ways. Lingyunzi returned to the Earth Temple, while Zhang Cheng returned to Nanchang City.

Early the next morning, Zhang Cheng left Nanchang, then traveled east along the Yangtze River, arriving at Shanghai Bund on the day of the Lunar New Year.

Shanghai was already an international metropolis; after all, the city had concessions, and coupled with its geographical location, it was already very fashionable.

However, in another month, this place would likely become a battlefield.

Zhang Cheng, entering Shanghai Bund, wore a well-fitted suit, donned a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, and carried a briefcase in his hand, though in reality, the briefcase contained his Universe Bag.

Yet, judging by Zhang Cheng's current attire, he was an elite professional.

This time, he intended to go to the Beiqu of the International Settlement to reside. Within the jurisdiction of Shanghai, there were two major concessions: the first was the Shanghai International Settlement, and the other was the French Concession.

The International Settlement had four districts: the East District, the Beiqu, the Central District, and the West District. The French Concession consisted of the French Concession and the New French Concession.

Of course, the Beiqu of the International Settlement was actually the American Concession, and the Central District was the British Concession.

Zhang Cheng needed to find the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect and the Yin-Yang Masters in Hongkou, which was in the Beiqu, so he got off at the North Railway Station of the Shanghai-Woosung Railway. This station was at North Gate, which was just right for heading to the Beiqu of the International Settlement.

Because the Japanese invaders lived concentrated in Hongkou, Hongkou was also popularly known as the Japanese Concession, but the authorities did not recognize it; it belonged to the American Concession.

This was because the public security of this concession was the responsibility of the Americans.

Zhang Cheng chose to settle down in this district.

Now, what he needed to do was first deposit a sum of money to establish his identity.

In this way, when dealing with the Japanese invaders, they would have to be wary of his status and might perhaps act cautiously, thinking he was an overseas Chinese.

He left the railway station and took a rickshaw to Jiujiang Road; the Citibank was located at numbers 41 to 45.

He went to a nearby department store, bought a briefcase and a document bag, and then entered a small hotel to rent a room by the hour.

In the room, he took one hundred "Big Yellow Fish" out of his Universe Bag and packed them into the briefcase.

Big and Small Yellow Fish were actually large and small gold bars. A large gold bar weighed 10 taels according to the old scale, while a small gold bar weighed 1 tael.

Converted to today's units of weight, a Big Yellow Fish was approximately 312.5 grams, while a Small Yellow Fish was 31.25 grams.

One Small Yellow Fish could be exchanged for thirty to forty silver dollars.

This meant that the one hundred Big Yellow Fish in Zhang Cheng's hands were worth thirty thousand to forty thousand silver dollars.

One ounce of gold was about 16 to 17 US dollars, one British pound was about 4 US dollars, and 2.4 silver dollars exchanged for one US dollar.

This meant that by depositing this money into Citibank, Zhang Cheng would have approximately over eighteen thousand US dollars.

At this time, the average annual salary of an American was less than fifteen hundred US dollars, which shows that this sum of money was already a huge fortune.

With this money, he could rent a suite in the concession to live in; he planned to buy a suite on Baole'an Road on the outskirts of the Hongkou District to stay in.

As for buying a house, there was no need; although investing in real estate here was profitable, it was unnecessary for him.

Zhang Cheng picked up the two briefcases; as for the Universe Bag, it could just fit into the document bag.

Just like that, he arrived at Citibank.

The Indian guard at the door took a look; seeing the suit, tie, gold-rimmed glasses, and the briefcase, the guard thought he must be a major client.

He hurriedly and obsequiously helped open the door, letting Zhang Cheng walk in.

Zhang Cheng smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, then walked to the counter.

The beautiful woman inside assumed Zhang Cheng was a Japanese invader and said, "Sumimasen."

Zhang Cheng frowned slightly and said, "I am not a Japanese invader."

Seeing that he was Chinese, the woman hurriedly apologized, "I am sorry, please forgive my rashness, sir."

Zhang Cheng did not make things difficult for her and said directly, "I want to deposit one hundred large gold bars with you."

The female employee was surprised by these words, involuntarily widening her eyes, her small mouth forming an 'O' shape.

Fortunately, her professional training was excellent, and she quickly reacted, hurriedly saying, "Please wait a moment, sir. I must speak to the manager about this matter."

Soon, a white manager walked over hurriedly. He excitedly said in English, "Respected sir, hello, I am the manager, Steve. Welcome to Citibank. Depositing money in our bank is a wise choice."

The female employee on the side hurriedly translated for Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng naturally understood; he nodded slightly and said, "Manager Steve, I have only one condition for depositing money here.

That is, I will give you a budget of one thousand US dollars, and you will help me buy a top-quality Ford car. Do not try to fool me with a Model T. The remaining money will be your commission."

Manager Steve looked embarrassed and said, "Sir, this is impossible. You should know that even this Model T costs over two thousand silver dollars, which converts to about one thousand. If it were other cars, it would certainly not be this price."

Zhang Cheng sneered and immediately picked up his case to leave. He did not believe a single word of Steve's.

A Model T, which was clearly less than three hundred US dollars, was being quoted at over two thousand silver dollars—the price had been inflated several times over.

One thousand US dollars was enough to buy the best car; from the extra money, Steve could earn at least one hundred US dollars.

Seeing Zhang Cheng about to leave, Steve hurriedly stepped forward to hold him back and said, "Mr. Zhang, things can be discussed."

Zhang Cheng said with an arrogant expression, "Manager Steve, I hope you will not waste my time anymore. You and I both know what kind of car this money can buy.

Moreover, I am depositing a large sum of money with you, which is performance for you. It is a win-win situation; do you want to ruin it because of your greed?"

Steve was stunned by Zhang Cheng and hurriedly smiled, "One thousand US dollars, no problem!"

Under Steve's hospitality, Zhang Cheng deposited all one hundred gold bars into Citibank.

Afterward, Zhang Cheng left with the one thousand US dollars he had exchanged. Before leaving, he gave the Indian guard a one-dollar tip, and the female employee a ten-dollar tip, which made the beauty want to ask him out for a meal, but unfortunately, he still had serious business to attend to.

Excluding the one thousand US dollars for the car, his bank account balance was still over sixteen thousand.

Now he had to go to Baole'an Road to rent a room to stay in, and he planned to go back in a few days to deposit the final two hundred gold bars.