A Man of Science and Engineering in Troubled Times Wandering in the Late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 167 Generous

Li Yu stayed in Wuchang for a few more days, trying his best to let the experimenters in the laboratories of Hanyang Iron Works and Steel Pharmaceutical Works get acquainted with the equipment better.

It can be seen that since Xu Jianyin died in an accident, they have a psychological fear of chemical experiments.

Although it is understandable, for scientific experiments, once this mentality is formed, it is difficult to continue.

So Li Yu tried his best to help them clarify their thinking in terms of operating procedures.These are quite critical in the chemical experiment operation exams of later generations, but at present, the people in the chemical laboratory of the steel pharmaceutical factory are really not doing it right enough.

Li Yu also thoughtfully wrote down a lot of operation precautions for them, which were nothing more than some chemistry experiments in middle and high schools.

No amount of Li Yu could teach them.

But he also knew in his heart that the most important thing was that their theoretical knowledge of chemistry was too lacking.

Still need to learn more!Although there is a certain difference between experiment and theory, it cannot be completely without theoretical basis.

On this day, Li Yu came to bid farewell to Zhang Zhidong.

Zhang Zhidong is really busy now, and several days passed in the blink of an eye before realizing it, and said, "Shucai is leaving so soon?"

Li Yu said: "My lord, I am still in the Imperial Academy after all. Even though I have been given a lot of freedom, I still have to abide by the discipline that should be observed."

Zhang Zhidong sighed: "It's a pity that you can't be separated. It would be great if there were more people like you."

"If we can firmly hold on to the education gate, there will be more and more talents in a short time." Li Yu said.

"I hope so too," Zhang Zhidong said. "There are not too many schools now, and I am also worried about the results. But I feel very comforted when I can do things. It is up to people to plan things, and God to achieve things."

Li Yu recalled the textbook he had written, and recommended it to him: "My lord, I am compiling a set of Western learning textbooks with the Commercial Publishing House in Shanghai. I will start from the basics, and then it can be widely promoted in various schools."

"Western learning textbooks? You participated in the compilation?" Zhang Zhidong asked.

Li Yu nodded, "Actually, it was mainly written by me, involving mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and other subjects. There will inevitably be mistakes, but I can guarantee the correctness of the Taiwan Master."

"I believe in you," Zhang Zhidong said again, "It should be said that apart from you, no one else has this ability."

With Zhang Zhidong's recommendation, this set of books will definitely sell better.

It seems that Li Yu will have to work more on this set of introductory textbooks in the future.

"I will go back to Beijing first, and I will visit you more when I have the opportunity in the future." Li Yu said.

Zhang Zhidong stroked his beard: "It won't be long before the Lu-Han Railway will open to traffic. At that time, it will be much more convenient for me to come here."

Of course Li Yu can't take the train all the way now, the fastest way is still to go by water.

When they arrived at the pier, Hua Shifang also came to see Li Yu off: "Don't forget to send me the new edition of "Fractal and Chaos", I want to read it carefully."

Li Yu said with a smile: "I will definitely send it to my husband. Except for you, I think there are not many people in China who can understand it now."

Li Yu's smile was obviously a wry smile.

Hua Shifang said: "The green mountains will not change, and the green water will flow forever. There will be a period later!"

Li Yu cupped his fists and said, "The future is promising!"

The ship left the pier and headed for Shanghai.

After arriving in Shanghai, we parked at China Merchants Wharf.

After Li Yu got off the boat, he planned to go to the Commercial Press to find Zhang Yuanji first, and show him the introductory biology lectures he had written on the way.

Although Li Yu really understood the relevant knowledge, he knew nothing about publishing. How to distribute and how to divide volumes must depend on them.

Li Yu took a rickshaw and headed to the Commercial Press.

When passing by Nanjing Road, I feel that the construction is far inferior to that of later generations, and I can even see the side at a glance.

Not far away, Li Yu saw a big sign hanging on the door of a foreign firm: "Concession real estate, top consultants, look for Hartung Foreign Firm."

A potbellied foreigner was talking to a few Chinese.

Li Yu said to the coachman, "Stop here."

The foreigner said to the Chinese in front of him: "I know your needs, but the land will be mine soon, so don't worry, I will give you the compensation. But you should know that according to the concession According to regulations, the compensation may not be given to you.”

Several Chinese said: "Director Hartong, you have been there. We have built a house for so many years, how can you just drive us away like this."

It turned out to be Hartong, a big real estate developer. Currently, more than [-]% of Nanjing Road is under his name. He is definitely a Shanghai taipan.

Hartung said: "This is the French Concession. It's good to have you living here for so many years. Besides, the amount I gave you is not low. You can build more houses outside the concession."

These few Chinese are considered small developers, of course they cannot be compared with Hartung.

Li Yu asked the driver next to him: "Now the Chinese can also build houses in the concession?"

The coachman said: "Of course, if you have money, why not!"

Li Yu really didn't know the trick, and asked again: "Didn't the concession only allow foreigners to buy and sell real estate?"

The coachman said, "It's not long ago! Ever since the long hairs hit the edge back then, we Chinese are everywhere in the concession now. If you really buy it with money, foreigners are not stupid, they recognize silver dollars."

Li Yu suddenly said: "So that's how it is."

He always thought that it was not until the period of the Republic of China that Chinese people could buy and sell real estate in the concession or even buy land to build houses.

After the small developers left, Li Yu leaned over. Before he could speak, Hartung unexpectedly greeted him: "Are you the Li Yu from the newspaper?"

Li Yu asked in surprise, "You know me?"

Hartung said: "Of course I know you, a giant of science, famous in Europe, I have seen your name many times in newspapers, and the Times even published your picture."

Then he shouted to the inside of the foreign firm: "Ma'am, the most powerful Chinese I mentioned to you is here."

After a while, I heard a voice coming downstairs from inside: "Is it Li Yu? Didn't he leave Shanghai?"

Harton laughed and said: "You are a famous person. After reading the newspaper saying you were coming, Madam has been wanting me to invite you to sit down, but when I found it, I heard that you have already gone to Huzhou."

Li Yu said, "Indeed, I went to Wuchang."

"It's really you!" A 40-year-old Chinese woman came out, "It's amazing!" Then she said to Hartung: "Look, I said that Chinese people are smarter than you foreigners! "

Hartung introduced to Li Yu: "This is my wife, Ms. Luo. Ever since I read about you in the newspaper, I whispered in my ear every day that the Chinese are definitely smarter than us Jews."

Li Yu said in surprise, "It turns out that Mister is a Jew."

Hartung said, "Exactly."

"No wonder so." Li Yu murmured.

Hartung asked, "Do you have a problem with the Jews?"

Europe has always had a tradition of rejecting Jews since ancient times. Hartung was born in Baghdad, and the same is true there.

Li Yu quickly waved his hand: "It doesn't mean that, I mean, no wonder you can become a real estate tycoon."

Harton laughed and said, "I know. Since I settled in China, I found that the people here are very simple and friendly."

Hartung's wife is called Luo Jialing, and she said: "It's natural! Don't talk about it outside, come in!"

Hartung is now a director of the Ministry of Industry in the Shanghai International Settlement, equivalent to a senior leader of the concession.

This guy is also really powerful. He started from scratch and became the largest real estate tycoon in Shanghai.

But he is very strange and very contradictory. It is okay to say that he is the richest man in Shanghai, but he is extremely picky.

Later, Hartung donated some money to China, but it was unimaginable for his Jewish compatriots.

And he is so rich, but he never keeps a mistress, eats very simple, builds a huge garden, but almost always stays in the small office.

It's really hard to understand, I can only say that he is a money-making machine without emotion, and the only hobby in his life is to make money.

enjoy life?Where is making money interesting?
Luo Jialing brewed a pot of Indian black tea: "I have read all the news in the newspapers, you are really a face to us Chinese."

Li Yu said, "It's not enough."

Luo Jialing's life experience is quite mysterious. It is rumored that he has entered Fireworks Lane, but there is no evidence.

In short, as a Chinese (she said she is of Chinese-French mixed blood) and lives in the concession, the key is to have no worries about food and clothing, so she is really happy when she sees a Chinese famous all over the world.

After all, people usually have to hang out in the wives circle, this is talk, and it can also indirectly set off one's own identity.

Otherwise, there will always be a kind of discrimination that makes her uncomfortable in the eyes of others.

Hartung has been working hard to make friends with well-known Chinese people. Coupled with the vigorous publicity of "Shen Bao" for more than half a year, he is also very interested in Li Yu: "Although I don't know science, but judging by the attitude of the British side, I think They can't wait to let you go again."

In fact, it's not just the UK, but Li Yu doesn't want to brag about these things. He just said: "It's just a scientific discussion. It's really more convenient to meet in person."

Hartung said: "It's not easy to make the Brits value it."

Hartung has always wanted to become a British citizen, and he is quite familiar with the behavior of the British nobles.

Li Yu didn't want to continue talking about science, since Hartung didn't understand anyway.But now there is something I really want to talk to Hartung, a big real estate developer: "If I want to buy a piece of land to build a house, Director Hartung, do you think it is feasible?"

Hardong didn't expect Li Yu to ask this question directly, and the merchant's nerves immediately tensed up: "Do you want to buy in the concession?"

"Further places are fine," Li Yu said.

Housing prices in Shanghai took off decades ago. Of course, at present, housing prices in the foreign concessions are mainly rising.

Hartung touched the cigar and lit it. After puffing out the cigarette, his image directly changed into the appearance of a mature businessman, and he asked sharply, "How much do you want to buy and where? Public concession or French concession?"

The concessions in Shanghai used to be the British Concession, the French Concession and the American Concession, and now the Anglo-American Concession has merged into the largest public concession.

But it is well known that Britain and France are at odds, so France is unwilling to merge, so the French Concession still exists alone.

Only these names existed in the Shanghai Concession. As for the Japanese Concession that popped up in some TV dramas in later generations, it actually did not exist at all.

Li Yu recalled the map in his mind, looked at Hartong's eyes again, had some ideas, and said, "I want to buy the lot west of Jing'an Temple."

Ha Tong's hands trembled slightly, and he asked, "West or east of Jing'an Temple?"

Li Yu said firmly, "West side."

Hartung said in surprise, "West side!"

The most western part of the current concession is Jing'an Temple, but Li Yu knows that the concession has been expanding its area through road construction and other means.

The Qing government has nothing to do, so although these places do not belong to the concession in name, they are still managed by the concession.

Later, many famous people also lived on the edge of this concession, such as Lu Xun.

Because the development of this kind of place is relatively good.

But at present, the west side of Jing'an Temple has not yet been developed.

Not to mention the west side of Jing'an Temple, the large area of ​​land in the east is still wasteland, but there is a road.

Luo Jialing didn't understand Li Yu's thoughts when he heard it, "There is no shopping mall over there now, why go there to buy land?"

Luo Jialing is also a woman with a very vicious vision. It was she who encouraged her husband to buy land at a low price and made Hartong a huge profit.

Li Yu said, "It's nothing, I just want to build a school."

Ha Tong almost choked on the smoke: "Building a school? That's not profitable! Although the land to the west of Jing'an Temple is not expensive, building a school can't cover the cost at all."

But Hartong felt relieved. At first, he thought that Li Yu wanted to be a real estate speculator to compete with him, but firstly, the place he chose was not very good, and secondly, it was a fool's act to build a school.

Next year, Hartung will buy a 70-acre piece of land east of Jing'an Temple at a price of 300 silver dollars, and build a huge Hartung Garden.

Sincerely, it was terrifyingly big. Later, countless bigwigs from the Republic of China lived in Hartong Garden, including Mr. Zhongshan.

Even Zhang Taiyan's wedding was held in Hartong Garden.

And after it is completed, it belongs to that kind of top-level luxurious Chinese garden, with an area as large as four Humble Administrator's Gardens.

Of course, Li Yu didn't have the money, but as someone who had experienced it, he was completely open-minded. No matter how accurate Hartung's business vision is, it can't compare with God's perspective.

Li Yu asked, "Why, can't it?"

Harton pinched the cigar with two fingers, thinking about it in his mind: now that piece of land doesn't completely belong to the concession, but the concession was not strictly defined in this area back then.Moreover, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau, the leading organization of the concession, has tried many times, and the Qing government did not ask too much after the road was repaired.

If you sell that piece of land, it will indeed save a lot of procedures, and you will make a lot of money in vain.

Nowadays, most of the income of the Ministry of Industry and Bureau actually depends on the real estate, and it will definitely be happy to sell so much more.

What Li Yu actually thought was: in a few years, especially after the great development of Nanjing Road in 1908, the land in Shanghai will become more expensive, and it is impossible to afford it at all, so hurry up and start now.

Anyway, land prices in Shanghai will never drop again.

Opportunities like Hartung's during the Sino-French War are unlikely to reappear.

Ha Tong thought for a while that it was also a super profitable business, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, but the price is not cheap now, at least 500 taels per mu."

Now the cheapest location in the concession should be the East District of the Public Concession, but it costs about 800 taels. As for the core area, it has already reached 8000 taels.

Li Yu killed the price and said, "400 taels."

Hartung shook his head and said, "It's too low. We, the Ministry of Industry, have to undertake protection and management obligations."

Li Yu smiled and said, "What if I want to buy a lot?"

Hartung asked, "How much do you want?"

Li Yu stretched out two fingers.

Hartung tentatively asked, "Two acres?"

Li Yu said, "Twenty acres!"

The cigar in Harton's hand almost dropped: "Twenty acres!"

This is just buying land, and you will have to pay a lot of taxes to build a house in the future.Although the concession won't lose money, it's just a matter of burning money.

Such "spend and waste" thoughts are not in Hartung's brain circuit at all, and it does not belong to mature business logic. He can't figure out whether Li Yu's brain is cramped or he just came here to tease him.

(End of this chapter)