Reality and Change

"Uh, you don't accept Joint Coin? Then what are you here to sell goods for?"

Although he had vaguely anticipated it and had even guessed why they refused to accept it, when it actually happened to him, Lu PingAn still couldn't feel good about it.

"I'm truly sorry, but Joint Coin from your world can't be used in other worlds. If our company accepted it, we would only be taking a loss."

The tall, four-armed, ghostlike middle-aged man across from him was already sweating profusely, yet he still insisted on refusing Joint Coin.

To them, Earth's Joint Coin was nothing but worthless paper that could buy nothing. Even if the local government repeatedly demanded it, they would only accept it for small transactions. Once they got it, they would immediately trade it again for resources within the Seventh District and take those resources home.

But for a large transaction like the one before them, they absolutely did not dare accept it.

"You can first exchange your Joint Coin for local specialties, then trade with us."

Lu PingAn sighed helplessly and did not press the matter further.

His currency being rejected really wasn't because they discriminated against him. What they discriminated against—or rather, looked down on—was his entire civilization. They believed their products held no value at all and were nothing but garbage.

This was probably the harshest kind of humiliation—humiliation by fact.

There was really nothing to be done about it. He could only think, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, keep working hard, and see whether they could make a comeback someday.

". . . Fine. Then what specialties can you accept as equivalents?"

"Here's the list. You should be able to acquire these goods from local authorized stores."

Lu PingAn took the