The decoration of the VIP room gives people the impression that a room that was originally in Baroque style has been forcibly changed into Rococo style.
This is particularly evident on the desk: in an environment surrounded by Rococo style, it is a bit abrupt to have such a gorgeous desk full of gold and ivory carvings.
An Ning couldn't help but comment: "This desk is simply out of place with the decoration of the entire VIP room. It would be more suitable for you to just move a table to a coffee shop on the street."
The bank clerk looked apologetic: "When we bought this room as the bank's office, this desk was here. The supervisor thought it would be inappropriate to throw it away."
At this time, the door opened, and a gentleman dressed as an aristocrat entered the room and saluted An Ning: "Hello, Mr. Frost, I am the banker who is unwilling to throw away this table. You can call me Croix
.Can we start handling your business?"
An Ning nodded: "Mr. Croix, let's get started."
Croix came to the table and pulled out a document from a stack: "We received a money order for you. According to this money order, we have to pay you 550 kronor. Do you want us to pay it directly, or convert it?
I'll pay you in gold? 550 silver coins is a lot."
The currency of France in this era was very confusing. There were many different currency units, such as gold Louis, gold Ecu, livre, sou, denier, and crown, etc.
One of the main reasons for this is that the entire French currency is made of metal currency. The French finance minister had introduced banknotes before, but due to problems such as excessive issuance, the banknotes quickly turned into waste paper. As a result, the people generally do not trust banknotes.
Metal coins have value because they contain precious metals such as gold and silver. The exchange between them must be based on the gold and silver content, so it is extremely complicated. Unlike official currencies endorsed by the central bank, which can be enforced
Exchange ratios for different units.
For example, the British stipulate that one pound is equal to 20 shillings, and 1 shilling is equal to 12 pence. No matter how much gold and silver the coins contain, they can be exchanged in this way.
A unified monetary system is of great benefit to economic development.
The same cannot be said for France. Not only is the currency in chaos, but the feudal nobles also retain a certain degree of autonomy in customs duties, which seriously affects the development of commerce.
For this reason, Louis XV's finance minister once planned to carry out reforms, so he stipulated that one mark of gold could be exchanged for 740 livres and 9 soles in an attempt to unify the monetary system, but it was of no use.
Because of this, An Ning now has to worry about how to withdraw his rewards.
He thought for a while and said to Croix: "Let me open an account with your bank..."
Croix: "Account? Uh...you mean to deposit this money in our bank? Do you want us to issue a deposit check for you?"
An Ning opened his mouth wide - then he remembered that banks currently do not have an account system. When you deposit money in a bank, you will get a deposit slip as a voucher. Anyone can redeem this deposit slip.
The deposit check is equivalent to a voucher that can be dealt with, and can even be traded freely.
An Ning finally reacted and nodded: "Yes, I want to convert the 550 kronor into gold louis and store it with you. After all, gold louis are generally not used in daily life. For the part that cannot be rounded, please help me convert it into gold louis."
Su, I want to take it as change."
Mr. Croix nodded: "I understand, I'll do it right now."
After saying this, he clapped his hands, and several bank clerks brought in a large bag of silver coins. Then Mr. Croix sat behind his desk, put on his glasses and began to weigh the silver coins with a scale.
An Ning watched in stunned silence as Mr. Croix fiddled with the weights and scales.
The last time he saw a similar scene was in the Harry Potter movie. When Harry entered Gringotts for the first time, he saw a bunch of goblins weighing gold coins.
Looking at this scene, An Ning deeply realized the backwardness of this era.
How troublesome it is to have to weigh and calculate the monetary value of every transaction...
Thinking about it this way, after the Great Revolution, the "finger coupons" issued by revolutionary France were actually a kind of progress. Unfortunately, because there was no one to coordinate at that time, the revolutionary authorities went to great lengths to print finger coupons, and the value of the currency collapsed.
An Ning silently noted this down, hoping that he might be able to do something in this regard after the Great Revolution broke out.
Croix and others were busy for a long time, and finally completed the exchange of An Ning's entrustment, and then said to An Ning: "We can give you a deposit check of 20 gold louis and 10 livres in change. For these 10 livres, we
You can be paid the way you want."
An Ning nodded: "Okay, you give me five livres of silver coins, and the rest will be exchanged for su."
"I understand, wait a moment."
Soon An Ning got his first deposit check after traveling through time, and a small bag of coins.
He put the deposit check into the inner pocket of his coat, tied the coins to his waistband, and then said goodbye to Mr. Croix: "Then, I'll leave first."
"Slow down." Croix stood up and escorted An Ning out of the VIP room.
Outside the VIP room, Fanny was standing on the left side of the door, waiting quietly, looking like a loyal dog waiting for its owner to go to the toilet outside the toilet door.
At this time, An Ning suddenly discovered that the skirt of Fanny's maid uniform was not a long skirt, but exposed her calves wearing white stockings.
This is the design of maid uniforms of later generations. In theory, maid uniforms of this era should be long skirts that cover the ankles all the way!
An Ning hurriedly asked: "Fanny, why is the skirt of your maid uniform so long?"
Only then did Fanny notice that An Ning came out of it. She rolled her eyes and asked, "If the skirt is too long, won't it get stained by the dirt on the ground? I am a maid of the Duke's family, and I will not work like an ordinary worker."
Women also wear long skirts. This is the same reason why Mr. Frost doesn't wear trousers."
An Ning was speechless.
It seems that the logic of this time and space is as follows: nobles and rich people wear pants and white stockings because they dislike the dirty ground. Naturally, women from noble families will not wear skirts that are too long.
Trousers and long skirts are only worn by poor working people.
It's... quite reasonable, at least its own logic is closed loop.
Wait! An Ning suddenly realized something! So in this time and space, I can often see beautiful girls with white stockings?
He glanced at Fanny's white silk stockings again.
The moment she saw the white silk stockings, An Ning suddenly felt that there were more inconveniences in this world.
Fanny: "Have you finished your work?"
An Ning patted his money bag: "I'm done, take some change out."
"You are the Duke's guest, so theoretically you should not need any change." Fanny said, "Then, I will take you to the tailor as the head maid ordered. If you need anything, we will
Let’s do some shopping by the way.”
An Ning was about to answer when she saw Mr. Croix from the bank coming out of the VIP room.
His eyes fell on Croix's wig, and he thought about whether to buy himself a wig...
Fanny: "The nobles in Paris will not treat you as one of their own just because you wear a wig. In fact, the news should have spread by now that the lady's benefactor is the son of a cobbler."
An Ning: "Can you read minds?"
"How is that possible! As a servant, I'm just good at observing people's emotions. Besides, you were staring straight at the banker's wig just now. It was very obvious."
An Ning: "So your suggestion is that I don't need to get a wig?"
"No need at all. People who should respect you will not disrespect you just because you don't have a wig. On the contrary, people who look down on you will just have another excuse to laugh at you when they see your wig."
An Ning raised his eyebrows, and then he suddenly thought of something and asked Fanny: "What about you? Are you someone who looks down on me, or someone who thinks highly of me?"
Fanny: "I don't know you well yet. Once I do, I will decide my attitude towards you. Let's leave without saying this."