I was forced to be the captain of the ghost ship by mistake

Chapter 122 Electric Light (5000)

In fact, the day after the seminar of the participating teams of the Academy of Social Sciences.

Tu Fu couldn't hold back the thoughts in his head, and took advantage of the time before school started to have nothing to do, and went to the eastern pier area of ​​Göttinghagen with his son David Smith.

It's a [-]-kilometer road from the Northeast to the University of Michigan.

To Tu Fu's surprise, David attached great importance to this matter, and rented a nearby airship in advance, intending to reach the destination directly.

These trivial matters have always been handled by his housekeeper, and he has already prepared a special car.

Not long after leaving the University of Michigan, he took David's private steam car and drove all the way to the nearest airship base. It took less than half of the original half-hour journey, and Tu Fu saw the behemoth that crossed the sky.

The upper part is framed by a metal skeleton, leather is used to wrap the hull, and there is a wind propeller behind it. The only thing that can really sit is a private space like a train carriage under the giant raft.

Surrounded by beautiful metal lines, the interaction between brass and black iron patterns, there is also a special sightseeing glass between the metal gaps.

After the servant opened the door, the environment inside the boat was more luxurious. A clean red carpet was laid on the ground in advance, and two bottles of red wine with labels were placed beside the delicate leather seats.

There are also special bookcases inlaid on the wall, several gas lamps are placed in the corners of several bookshelves, and the warm light brings light to this closed space.

Tu Fu, who used to only use one lamp, resisted the urge to turn off the remaining lamps. He remembered what Aunt An Fei'er said.

It is almost a crime to wash only one piece of clothing in the washing machine.

"Mr. Capet, if you take a steam train, it takes at least two hours, but the airship only takes a quarter of the time."

David Smith took the initiative to introduce everything here as the owner, and smiled gently, "My father always said that nothing is more valuable than time. If money can be exchanged for time, he will not hesitate to exchange all his wealth for youth."

When Tu Fu heard this, he almost blurted out, "Do you want to change it?"

Although he hadn't even sat in a steam car a few times, his performance was calm.

This is nothing special. In the past, I often took hundreds of millions of vehicles to and from get off work.

Every year, it has business contacts with the world's top [-] companies and maintains regular cooperative relations.Every New Year's Eve, the five major banks will take turns to send greetings.

Of course, Tu Fu, who has a high vision, didn't take these things seriously.

When he communicated with the other party, the clouds were light and the wind was light. When the fan blades behind the airship continued to rotate and soared through the thin clouds, the buildings below became smaller and smaller.

Fortunately, the altitude was only a few hundred meters. After crossing the clouds, Tu Fu saw more airships shuttle in the sky.

High-altitude transportation in Göttinghagen has long been popular. There are signs and flags exclusive to the royal family and nobles, and companies engaged in media business. Even ordinary people can still choose to take public airships if they are willing to pay high prices.

Looking from top to bottom, there are densely packed high-rise buildings, majestic commercial buildings, the Catholic Cathedral reaching into the sky, and the majestic Parliament Building.

Only in Göttinghagen, the capital of the kingdom, can one get a glimpse of the true prosperity of this country.

It's a pity that flying over the Hill Palace in Central City is prohibited, otherwise it is possible to unlock this area.

As David said, as long as enough fuel is added, money can be exchanged for time. In less than half an hour, the airship began to descend shortly after taking off, looking for a parking space in the dock area.

The dock area in the east is undoubtedly the port of the Moll River, the absolute import and export trade center of the Baia Kingdom. Hundreds of steamships sail in and out every day, and the raw materials from all over the world are processed by the factories in Göttinghagen, and then Shipped around the world.

Compared with the financial district like Mosley, the port in the dock area is another kind of busy.

Countless sailors and porters are as hardworking as ants, and under the command of the queen ants, they distribute their work in an orderly manner. Everyone is a part of this basic board.

The arrival of Tu Fu and David obviously broke the ecology of this place. Since they got off the airship and were led all the way to the steam car by the steward, they were destined to be in a different world from the "worker ants" here.

"Mr. Smith, the person in charge of the dock area is called Miro. He has already prepared everything when he heard that you are coming."

The butler of the Smith family maintained a professional smile. He had already taken care of everything for his young master.

Professional things are left to professional people to take care of, and what David has to do is to manage them.

There are five factories in the Smith family in the dock area, a processing factory engaged in the textile industry, a cloth factory, a mill, an oil mill, and a mine.

Tu Fu planned to visit in turn. Although he knew that the environment in these places was harsh, he rarely had the opportunity to see the environment inside the factory.

When they first arrived at the cloth factory, every worker inside was sitting in his own seat, trying to shake the loom in front of him, and sweat was condensed on the oil-stained iron chain.

Perhaps in order to save energy, even the lights were not turned on, completely presenting two worlds from the airship just now. Under the dim environment, Tu Fu couldn't see their faces clearly.

At first glance, it seems that there are male workers and female workers. They came to this place of hope for their dreams, and there is no shortage of young child workers, sitting in this place that does not match their age and working hard.

The more he learned about the huge and dense industry behind David's family, the more likely he felt that David was hanging from the street lamp.

"I remember that Baia has issued a policy prohibiting the use of child labor?"

Tu Fu frowned subconsciously.

He looked at the person who actually took over the job in the dock area. It was a manager named Milo with a big beard. His not too big eyes were full of shrewdness.

Miro manages the five factories of the Smith family here, and is in charge of the fate of more than a thousand people here. It is reasonable to say that such a person can be regarded as a person, but the housekeeper didn't even mention his surname just now.

When Milo saw David, he kept his head low no matter what he said or did.

After hearing Tu Fu's question, the bearded Miro chuckled and said, "Sir, an adult's salary can hire two to three children. Anyone can do the same in such a position. Compared with the actual benefit Fines are nothing."

Seemingly noticing the displeasure on Tu Fu's face, David Smith took the initiative to say, "Milo, all child laborers will be fired starting today."

"Yes, sir."

Milo agreed and did it right away, but he was used to such things in his heart.

Big people are always like this, they are obviously rentiers, but they always pretend to be kind.

Seeing Miro go to deal with this matter, David said casually: "As far as I know, even if they drive these child laborers away, other factories will still accept them.

What's more, they never took the initiative to hire these children, but the parents of the other party sent them in through various entrusted relationships. If they found out, they would hate you to death. "

"I know." Tu Fuben came from Leeds, so he knew the current situation in his heart, "But one day, these things will change."

David laughed silently.

"Sir, where is that generator?"

He heard this address after clearing the child laborers here, and from just now Milo noticed that this man was walking hand in hand with Master Davy Smith.

He lowered his head very humbly, and even said in extreme fear, "You can just call me Milo, as for that thing, it's in the mine, and no one has used it for many years."

"Mine?"

Even David couldn't help frowning now. He has handled various industries in his family since he was a child, so he naturally knows the harsh environment of the mine. It is always full of sweat and coal particles, and the turbid air makes it difficult to breathe. , hearing this location he instinctively felt repelled.

But the sharp-eyed Milo immediately took over, "How could it be possible for you to go to such a place, it's simply a crime.

We've got what you need in a building on the edge of the mine, which is clean and comfortable for gentlemen like you and Mr. Capet. "

The group set off again, this time the distance was much shorter.

When I actually saw the "hand engine" that Dave mentioned earlier, the delicate instrument was covered with a layer of black dust.

A box made of wooden materials, the top is welded with metal plates, and the other end of the box is a metal rocker, which looks very simple overall.

"Speaking of which, this is the correct path for the future."

Tu Fu squatted down, took the initiative to wipe off the layer of black ash with a handkerchief, and personally cranked up the generator that was produced many years ago.

His arm has been straining since it started to shake, and some parts inside may have started to rust, making it difficult to operate.

But fortunately, as Tu Fu maintained a steady pace for a while, he could clearly hear the "sizzling" sound of electric current inside.

While wiping the machine, he asked, "Milo, how did this machine get to the mine in the first place?"

The latter chuckled slightly after hearing this, "A long time ago, it seems that a gentleman working in a certain research institute in Göttinghagen asked us to mass-produce such a machine.

But it is a pity that soon after the transaction started, they couldn't pay the rest of the payment, so we had to keep these useless things in the factory. "

Milo waved his hands and chuckled, "Although they promised us that once the invention of this thing is mature, it can borrow other powers to turn it into electricity to work for us, which is a product of a cross-age period.

But who will believe such nonsense, even if what he said is true, but the really powerful machine made by His Majesty the King is about to come out, and who will need such a machine by then. "

The more he talked, the more he enjoyed himself, and he almost regarded those people as idiots. Until then, David frowned and shouted dissatisfiedly, "Milo!"

"Oh, Milo, do you also know about 'perpetual motion machines'?"

Tu Fu let go of the hand holding the generator's waist, and asked amusedly, "Why don't you talk about your opinion on it, and how does it work?"

"Ahem...pass me, sir, actually I don't know what a 'perpetual motion machine' is." Milo pretended to cough a few times, and finally said embarrassingly:

"But I read the newspapers. Everyone is talking about that thing recently. If there is anyone who doesn't know about perpetual motion machines, he will be regarded as a fool by everyone."

"Or maybe everyone is a fool."

Tu Fu smiled meaningfully, and did not embarrass this face-saving manager. Of course, he has more important things to do.

"Can I go into the mine and have a look?"

"My God, you mean go inside, into the mine? But the environment inside is terrible."

Milo wanted to persuade Tu Fu, but when he saw David nodding slightly, he couldn't say anything, he could only treat him as a curious son.

It wasn't until Miro led Tu Fu to the mine alone, and saw the optics genius go away, that David Smith lowered his head and shook the rocker of the generator curiously. He looked at this thing for a while, but didn't find it After finding something special, he said to the butler next to him:

"Remember to record this matter, and Milo will tell me everything inside later, and let Dad know about it by the way, so that he can pay more attention to Landis and Ryan's incident about the generator. "

"You see this as a business opportunity?"

The butler raised his head and asked while taking notes.

"maybe."

David Smith chuckled, "The students of Michigan State University have never been simple, not to mention that he is favored by Professor Charles Kane, and he is expected to become the leader of our class. I don't think such a person will do some useless work." .”

……

The environment of the mine was indeed worse than what he had seen in movies and TV dramas before. Miro did not exaggerate. From the moment he stepped under the mountain with poor air flow, the black coal mine was transported outwards by trucks.

The smell of soot, sweat, and industrial waste gas all came together, and the chemical reaction that occurred made one almost vomit.

When the foreman in charge of the project here noticed Miro's arrival, he was as obsequious as he was in front of David just now, and began to please him.

Tu Fu didn't pay attention to it, but wandered around here for a while, until he stretched his head to look at a mine shaft that had been drilled out.

He directly activated the eagle eye ability, and the ground was filled with darkness, cold, dark, and an unspeakable sense of despair rushed over his face.

Going further along the passage, many people can feel a faint light.

Noticing Tu Fu's actions, Miro was taken aback, and hurriedly stopped him.
"Sir, no matter what your purpose is, you must never enter the mine. No one can guarantee absolute safety after you go down. You are a friend of Mr. Smith, and you must not take such a risk."

His serious tone was by no means joking, anything in the mine, flooding, explosions, falling boulders, could easily take away the lives of people inside.

And every year, a large number of unlucky people who inhale dust are sent away, which is definitely not a good place for the delicate and frail young master.

Don't look at the industry of miners, don't look at the fact that they make a lot of money, but they are all exchanging their lives for money.

If a young man like Tu Fu gets sick from inhaling coal dust, that would be a big deal.

"You misunderstood, I just want to ask what kind of lighting is usually used when working in the mine?"

Tu Fu finally asked the purpose of this visit.

The foreman next to him replied decisively: "It has always been a gas lamp, and we will leave a gas lamp at a fixed position to explore the way."

"Gaslight?"

Tu Fu subconsciously asked: "I remember that it is not stable enough, not to mention it is still underground, and it must cost a lot to cover the mine."

"Of course, once the construction work starts, at least dozens of gas lamps must start working at the same time."

"It's not a small expense after all, various fuel costs and the like."

"This money will be paid by the absentees on duty. This is really not a small expense. Each person must pay at least an additional fuel fee of about 3 crowns per week."

The foreman smiled and said, "But if every regular worker can work more than 12 hours a day, the fuel cost can be reduced, and at least they can earn more than 8 crowns a week."

"12 hours."

After hearing this, Tu Fu felt out of breath. The extra expenditure of 3 crowns per week is 156 crowns a year.

This is a very huge number, but in order to earn back those fuel costs.As long as there are miners working inside, no matter who they are, they have to work hard to earn back the fuel fee like a spring that is fully stretched.

"This kind of work intensity is really a punishment. I would rather not earn this fuel money if it were the other way around."

Tu Fu talked casually with his own thinking.But when he said this, it seemed that he broke the traditional concept of the foreman next to him.

Like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, he exclaimed exaggeratedly: "That's 3 crowns, 3 crowns... This money can make them forget all costs, forget about health, forget about dangers, forget about everything, cut their heads and break their heads." Squeeze in, my God, do you know what you're talking about..."

"Cough cough..."

Milo frowned, and coughed desperately to signal him not to speak again. How could a young man like this understand this? They grew up with a golden key in their mouths from birth, so they didn't know the importance of 3 crowns to the lower class.

The foreman also realized that he had lost his composure when he heard the coughing sound, so he quickly put on a flattering smile,

"Sorry, gentlemen, I lost my composure just now and said some insane things.

Perhaps this is how we survive. "

……

On the way back to Miskar Stark University, Tufu boarded the luxurious airship again.

As the giant soared, the city below became smaller and blurred, and in the end it was impossible to see the faces of the hard-working people at all.

Tu Fu's mood was completely different from when he came here, and he always felt a little blocked.

David, who has always been very curious, suddenly asked: "Mr. Capet, can I ask in advance, what exactly are you trying to do in this competition after going through so much effort?"

"A new type of lighting source, driven by electricity, cheap to manufacture, low in cost, and a stable light source with a lifespan of hundreds or thousands of hours.

Perhaps, its existence can shine some light into Baia. "

There was a gentle smile on the corner of Tu Fu's mouth, "I call it 'electric light'."

"Lights?"

David, who was born in a business family, vaguely noticed the potential of this thing, he touched his chin subconsciously, "Once generators are popularized, such an invention will definitely have the opportunity to replace the original lighting market.

No, it will definitely disrupt the entire market. "

From Tu Fu's mouth, David, who seemed to see the direction of future technology, immediately stood up, looked at Tu Fu seriously and said solemnly: "Mr. Capet, if you can make this great invention called 'electric light'.

Please be sure to give the Smith family priority production rights, our offer will not disappoint you. "

"of course."

Regardless of success or failure, Tu Fu agreed casually first, and forged a good relationship first.

It wasn't until this moment that Tu Fu noticed that there was a hard-working captain under the airship. He kept adding fuel to the airship to speed up the airship.

Thinking of the saying that time is money, Tu Fu asked casually, "David, how much does the airship cost from Göttinghagen to the docks?"

"Cost? It's really cheap." David Smith smiled indifferently:
"It's only a mere three crowns,"

(End of this chapter)