Kapitel 93: Chapter 33: The Cost of a Gold Coin
Is this really 1919?
As Zhang Hainuo caught sight of the famous Brooklyn Bridge from afar, he couldn't help but wonder. Even in the 21st century, this 1825-meter-long suspension bridge remained a magnificent structure, with the other end leading to a bustling metropolis of towering skyscrapers.
As the taxi crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, Zhang Hainuo's excitement grew stronger with each passing moment: spacious and clean streets and trams were nothing out of the ordinary, but the modern apartment buildings, elevated railways, and skyscrapers that suddenly appeared in sight...
"That must be forty or fifty stories tall!" Blatz exclaimed as he looked at the two skyscrapers appearing one after another in their view.
"Woolworth Building, 792 feet tall, 60 stories! Metropolitan Life Insurance Building, 700 feet tall, 50 stories!" the driver suddenly interjected in English, not necessarily understanding Blatz's earlier German words but guessing why these foreigners were amazed.
Zhang Hainuo couldn't help but be astonished. Before the appearance of the Empire State Building, New York already had so many enviable skyscrapers. He had to admit that the architectural wonders created in the industrial age far exceeded his imagination!
As he calmed down, Zhang Hainuo began to understand even more the terrifying military power of the United States during World War II. At the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Japanese Navy initially had the upper hand after the attack on Pearl Harbor, but within two years, the tide of the war completely turned. While the performance of the Americans in several naval battles was commendable, what truly secured the victory for the United States was their formidable industrial power!
And what about Germany during World War II? A country that had experienced massive war reparations and economic crises, mobilizing its entire nation for war and leveraging its initial strategic and tactical advantages to defeat France and suppress Britain. But when the United States entered the war, Germany, which controlled half of Europe's land resources, still lagged far behind the United States in national strength...
"We're here, gentlemen!"
The driver's voice snapped Zhang Hainuo out of his deep contemplation. The taxi had already stopped by the roadside.
Zhang Hainuo took out a $10 bill from his pocket, waiting for the change from the driver. As he did, he focused his attention back to reality.
Before them stretched a street crowded with vehicles and pedestrians, not particularly spacious but bustling nonetheless. Across the street stood a Goethe-style building, one of the many famous opera houses on Broadway, perhaps?
Zhang Hainuo didn't have time to study these buildings. He glanced at Otto and Blatz. Both of them seemed equally amazed.
"Excuse me, sir!" Zhang Hainuo stopped a young man in a suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and carrying a briefcase. He spoke in English, "Which way to 47th Street?"
The man paused momentarily, then pointed ahead and said, "Four blocks straight ahead!"
"Thank you!"
"Not at all!"
Zhang Hainuo turned to Otto and Blatz, asking in German, "Shall we walk?"
Both Otto and Blatz nodded in agreement. How could they visit Broadway without taking a good look around?
Walking amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy street, Zhang Hainuo felt a sense of temporal displacement. Since arriving in this era, he had visited cities like Hamburg and Bremen, as well as Turkish ports like Antalya and Istanbul, but none had the intense modern atmosphere of New York. Observing the pedestrians on the street, most of them hurried along, experiencing the fast-paced life of a metropolis.
As they reached the third intersection, Otto, with keen eyes, spotted a sign for an antique shop on the other side of the street.
"New York All-American Antiques?" Zhang Hainuo found the name rather cumbersome, but the name of the shop didn't matter; what mattered was whether they had the capability to do business with him.
From the outside, this antique shop didn't seem much different from the surrounding stores. However, upon entering, Zhang Hainuo found it to be filled with an atmosphere steeped in history. In the center of the main hall stood a medieval European knight riding on horseback, his entire body encased in shiny armor. His warhorse was also armored, covering two-thirds of its body. The knight held a spear with a triangular flag in his right hand and a European-style triangular shield on his left forearm, adorned with a bright family crest.
Various antiques were displayed around the hall, most of them stored in glass cabinets, including armor, swords, but more notably, globes, nautical instruments, mantel clocks, scrolls, as well as vases and jade artifacts from the East. Near the window, Zhang Hainuo even saw a large sarcophagus containing a mummy!
"Hello, gentlemen! How may I assist you?" The calm voice came from a middle-aged man dressed in black and white formal wear. He had a lean figure and a balding head, resembling a butler who might serve in a manor house in a movie.
"Do you authenticate ancient Egyptian gold coins here?" Zhang Hainuo asked arrogantly, with his hands behind his back.
Seeing the three visitors dressed so elegantly, especially the first two who exuded an air of nobility, the American receptionist replied politely:
"Of course, we have the finest ancient coin appraisers in New York! Please, gentlemen, have a seat over here!"
With that, he led Zhang Hainuo and the others to a small round table towards the back. Zhang Hainuo and Otto sat down generously, while Blatz stood behind them, his head held high and chest puffed out—a formation they had practiced many times during their time in Turkey.
"Sir, I am Thomson, the manager of this establishment. Before I ask for your names..."
Thomson? The name immediately reminded Zhang Hainuo of the Chicago Typewriter, a powerful weapon that had become popular in the American underworld in the early 20th century. But apparently, it hadn't been invented yet in 1919!
Zhang Hainuo maintained his tone, "I am Engelbert Link, an Austrian merchant, and this is my partner, Mitchell Braun!"
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Link! Nice to meet you, Mr. Braun! I heard Mr. Link mention the authentication of ancient Egyptian gold coins just now..."
Zhang Hainuo glanced at him. "We are in maritime trade. We buy and sell whatever makes money!"
"Including ancient gold coins?" Thomson asked with a fake smile.
"Sorry, that's confidential business information!"
Zhang Hainuo was becoming increasingly displeased with this man. After some pointless chatter, with the 15 minutes nearly up, "Chicago Typewriter" went to the back again. This time, when he returned, he brought back the gold coin and a piece of paper.
"I'm very sorry to inform you, Mr. Link!" Thomson said sorrowfully as he placed the gold coin back in front of Zhang Hainuo, "This is a replica! Although it has a high gold content, it is a modern imitation!"
"A replica?" Otto looked surprised, but Zhang Hainuo calmly picked up the gold coin, examined it, and then put it in his pocket. He picked up his briefcase and headed for the exit. Just as he was about to leave, he turned to Thomson and said:
"I must say, your stockholders are first-rate in imitating gold coins, but I wonder how your boss will react when he hears that you've lost a big client over an ancient Egyptian gold coin. Manager, I must solemnly inform you that this switcheroo is simply crude! We won't have the chance to meet again! Goodbye!"
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein