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

Chapter 174 A new look

When the British telegram came, Li Yu was just about to finish his observations at the Harvard Observatory.

The telegram was first sent to Liang Chengna, and then forwarded to Harvard University.

"It's terrible!" Sierra took the telegram to the observatory and found Li Yu.

"A telegram from England?" Li Yu guessed it when he saw the telegram in her hand.

"That's right," Sierra said, "It's really unexpected that you can become a foreign academician of the Royal Society."

The Royal Society generally elects a maximum of 40 academicians each year, but at the beginning of the [-]th century, most years were far from reaching the number; foreign academicians can only have a maximum of four, and now the status of the UK is still very detached, so it is difficult to obtain qualifications very big.

Li Yu took the telegram, and it was signed by the Royal Society.This is just a notice, and the official letter will have the autographs of referees such as Chairman Huggins and Lord Kelvin.

"By the way, why don't you go to class?" Li Yu asked suddenly.

"Me? I've graduated," Sierra said.

"It's really leisurely to be rich." Li Yu said with emotion.

Now the Carnegie family is really rich.

"By the way," Sierra asked again, "Did you come up with something extraordinary in the past few days at the observatory? Sister LeWitt wrote to me privately, saying that you are always happy, and she said that it depends on the direction you are observing. It shouldn't be. So there must be something that other people don't know about."

"Hey!" Li Yu said in surprise, "You are really well informed."

"Of course!" Sierra said, "Are you going to publish these results in the UK?"

"No, since I borrowed the observatory of Harvard University, I am going to publish it here." Li Yu said.

"In America?" Sierra asked.

Li Yu nodded: "But it's not that simple. Just to ask you, are you familiar with American publishing houses?"

"You want to self-publish? You don't need to!" Sierra said, "If you self-publish, it costs a lot of money, and it's too troublesome."

"No," Li Yu said, "I still have a novel about science fiction, and I want to find a publishing house to publish it."

Sierra blinked hard: "Science fiction...fiction!"

Li Yu smiled and said, "Yes, science fiction."

"You're kidding me!" Sierra obviously couldn't believe it.

Li Yu had no choice but to take out the manuscript of "Star Wars", "It's already written."

Sierra turned pale with shock: "It's really okay!?"

Sierra took it over, looked at the beginning and found it very interesting, "I thought that people who engage in science are dull people, I didn't expect you to have so many ideas in your mind. But it is not easy for a Chinese to publish books in the United States. But that’s something I can really help with. We have a good relationship with HarperCollins, and it’s perfectly possible to have a conversation with their president.”

"You?" Li Yu asked in surprise.

"I mean, we're the Carnegies," Sierra explained.

Li Yu said: "Well, I do know Harper Collins Publishing House, and it would be best if it could be published by it."

The United States will usher in the golden age of the publishing industry in 20 years, and the later prominent Gottlieb and Silverman Publishing Group will develop and grow at that time.

But when it comes to the more established early publishing group, Harper Collins is definitely an "American time-honored brand" that has been passed down for a hundred years.Its influence can be known by just listing a few world famous artists it issued: Agatha Christie, Mark Twain, the Bronte sisters, Dickens, Martin Luther King, and Kennedy.

"Leave it to me," Sierra stood up, "As long as you really publish the paper in the United States, I will go to New York to help you with this matter."

Li Yu thought for a while: "New York? I happen to be going there too."

"Are you going too?" Sierra asked.

Li Yu said, "Yes, I happen to have something to do."

There are many big names in New York now, such as Edison in the heyday of his fame.

"Then when are you leaving?"

"There is still something to do, tomorrow."

Li Yu needs to sort out the papers and data.

Sierra said, "Then I'll wait for you at the train station tomorrow."

The first draft of the thesis at hand has almost been written, but with so much data, it really needs to be checked again.Fortunately, Li Yu has a computer in his hand, so it won't take long, let alone make mistakes.

At this time, the data of astronomical papers is quite critical, otherwise others cannot observe according to your method, and no one will believe it.

After doing these things, Li Yu felt that he could relax his head.

During this period of time, he deliberately kept the front hair, and finally he can cut it off with confidence.

In his capacity, he was already much better than ordinary foreign students, and a letter of appointment from the Royal Society of England could shut up all the royal family and nobles in the capital.

So even in the capital, he doesn't have to worry about hairstyle at all.

When the barber trimmed it down, Li Yu felt extremely refreshed, and finally looked like a modern person.

After cutting her hair, Li Yu bought a suit by the way.

In this era, the price of suits is still relatively high, and suits are very popular in the upper class.

Those who have watched the movie "The Great Gatsby" must remember that Xiao Li often wears a suit with a high-society flavor.

Most of the popular suits in the early 1.8th century were designed without shoulder pads. Li Yu is [-] meters tall, and the upper body effect will be better after wearing it.

Rich Americans generally like light-colored suits, such as white, just to show their status.But Li Yu must still choose the more common black, and the fabric is also more common woolen.

The suits sold in suit shops are generally three-piece suits, that is, there is a vest inside the jacket.

This kind of complete suit is not cheap, but fortunately, there are so many suitable occasions, whether it is a weekend, party, dinner or formal occasion, it can be competent.

It's just that there is one thing that is different from later generations. Except for the three-piece suit, the current suit pants basically have suspenders.

Considering that he would meet the President of the United States in the future, Li Yu didn't have time to make a custom order, so he had to buy the best ready-to-wear suit in the store first, plus a pair of leather shoes and a leather bag.

Of course, if it is customized, the price will be more than doubled.

As the saying goes, people rely on clothes, and wearing such a formal suit will immediately give you a bit of "beginning" demeanor.

In fact, at this time, students in Europe and the United States basically wear suits, but the fabrics are slightly different.

It's naturally different for hundreds of dollars like this.

When Li Yu came to the train station with a "radiant face", Sierra didn't recognize him at all, and it was Li Yu who went over to say hello: "It's still early."

"You are... Li Yu?!" Sierra exclaimed in surprise.

"That's right," Li Yu said with a smile, "You can't recognize him now?"

"Good guy!" Sierra was stunned immediately, "You look quite... energetic now, so you look like a person of the new era!"

Li Yu said, "You don't think long braids are a tradition either?"

Sierra said: "It's not that I don't understand Chinese history, what kind of tradition is that?"

Needless to say, after returning to short hair and wearing a suit, at least the rate of turning heads on the road is much lower than the previous braid.

Harvard is not far from New York, just a short train ride away.

Today's New York has surpassed Philadelphia and Boston to become a super metropolis in the United States, and it is not uncommon to see high-rise buildings with more than ten floors.

The iconic Statue of Liberty has also stood at the entrance of New York Harbor, which is Liberty Island at the mouth of the Hudson River.

"Have you been to New York before?" Sierra asked suddenly.

"Not really." Li Yu said.

This is the truth. Although in various American dramas and movies, Li Yu has seen New York occupied by villains countless times and rescued by heroes as many times. He is very familiar with New York, but he has never actually been there.

"Then why don't you seem surprised by the prosperity of New York?" Sierra saw Li Yu's calm expression, which was completely different from ordinary people's reaction.Even some people from other cities in the United States are amazed when they come to New York.

Li Yu said with a smile: "Why, do I have to behave like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden?"

Sierra said, "Not really, but you're so calm..."

Although New York was one of the first cities in the world to start building skyscrapers, the tallest skyscrapers today are only about 20 stories high, which cannot be compared with later generations. By the time of Li Yu's last life, residential buildings with more than 30 floors were very common.

Moreover, construction technology is also developing rapidly, and various design concepts have been improved, making the reinforced concrete urban forests of later generations much more spectacular.

In New York now, I'm afraid even if Spider-Man comes, he won't be able to swing around.

Of course, at this point in time, twenty or so floors is already a remarkable achievement.

In fact, the construction of skyscrapers, in addition to the rise of the well-known reinforced concrete technology, the more critical factor is the emergence of elevators, otherwise so high, who can climb up and down every day.

"This is just the beginning," Li Yu said.

"Well, that's what you meant," Sierra said.

Li Yu knew that they must have different meanings in their hearts, but as a time traveler, Li Yu didn't need to worry about these things.

Reinforced concrete technology can indeed be vigorously promoted earlier in the country. After all, materials are not difficult to obtain, and the only problem that needs to be solved is steel bars. As for cement, it already exists in China, but it is called "cement" at this time.Zhan Tianyou and others who have studied civil engineering abroad are no strangers to this.

"I'm going to Harper Collins Publishing House. Since I'm here, let's go together." Sierra said.

Li Yu nodded: "Okay."

After all, it is my own work, so I should go there myself, and maybe I can make a lot of money from it.

Sierra said: "Yesterday I asked them...well, it's family members, and they said that they can also ask Mr. Pulitzer to help with publicity."

All right, Pulitzer.

Li Yu said, "Want to advertise in the "Le Monde"?"

"Of course," said Sierra, "the Le Monde now has the largest circulation in all of New York."

The famous "Time" and "Newsweek" had not yet been born at this time, and the largest newspaper in New York was Pulitzer's "Le Monde".

In addition to "Le Monde", the "New York Times" also has an amazing circulation.

Pulitzer not only made the "Le Monde" a major newspaper, but also made a lot of money for himself. The new Pulitzer Building completed in 1890 became the tallest building in New York City.Standing 20 stories tall, the tower was not dethroned as New York's tallest building until almost a decade later.

Moreover, this building is Pulitzer's own private property, with an investment of more than 200 million US dollars.

Li Yu also didn't expect the family behind Sierra to be so powerful. Sure enough, in the United States, money is king.

The two directly found an editor-in-chief of the publishing house, James.

After a brief introduction, Sierra said: "We have already read this science fiction novel, and it has great potential."

Although the publishing industry in the United States is not as brilliant as it will be 20 years later, when Americans are rich and other entertainment activities have not risen on a large scale, there are still many people who buy books to read.

As a professional editor, James still needs to take a good look at it first.

After reading only a few pages, James felt that it was really unusual. The story was so novel that he hadn’t read it at all, and the setting was very grand when it came up. If he can manage it, it is really a rare good book , can definitely become a bestseller.

"Who is so talented and can write such an excellent work?" James asked.

Sierra pointed to Li Yu: "That's him, the giant of science, Li Yu."

"Li Yu?" As a publisher, James obviously heard the name, "The great scientist who wrote "Fractal and Chaos"?"

Li Yu smiled and said, "Yes."

James couldn't say anything about Li Yu's scientific achievements, but his name is indeed very famous now, "It turned out to be Mr. Li Yu. We had contacted Sweden earlier and wanted to win the release of "Fractal and Chaos" in the United States. Copyright, I didn’t expect you to come here.”

"It's easy to talk about the release," Li Yudao, "it's no problem to release the two books together."

The circulation of mathematics books is still limited anyway, but Li Yu is very optimistic about "Star Wars", because with his scientific insights and scientific cognition beyond more than 100 years, the science fiction works written are quite hardcore.

James is also very interested in this: "Great! Wait a moment, sir. I have to finish this science fiction work before I can make a follow-up evaluation."

Li Yu said, "Don't worry."

After being the editor-in-chief for so many years, James reads the book very fast, and it didn't take long to read the last page.

"Excellent!" James couldn't help admiring, "The subsequent development completely inherits the grand beginning, and unfolds the magical world of the Milky Way so perfectly. The plot is fascinating and the story is compact. It is really a rare and excellent work. ! I'm sure it will sell well!"

It seems that Lu Bicheng's polish and De Ling's translation are indeed online.

Science fiction is no stranger to today's readers. After all, big names like Jules Verne have been writing for decades, and the audience is also huge.

China has martial arts, and for Europe and the United States, the most representative ones are fantasy and science fiction.

James has naturally read many science fiction works, so he can fully see the value of this book, and directly offered the price: "Our publishing house can provide you with 15% royalties to publish this book!"

This royalty is not too low, and it was almost the same rate as Mark Twain at the time.

Of course Li Yu agreed: "Yes."

"However," James changed the topic, "It can be seen that there will be a follow-up to this book, and we need to obtain the distribution rights of the sequel at the same time."

Li Yu had already guessed that he would say that, but since he found a large publishing house, there was nothing wrong with doing so, "I accept."

James immediately took out the contract template, "I will sign the contract with Mr. now."

Well, Americans are really efficient at doing things now.

Soon James handed over the contract: "Sir, please take a look."

Li Yu picked up the contract and said, "I have to add one more."

James asked, "What terms?"

Li Yu said: "Your publishing house can only obtain book distribution rights, and any subsequent film and drama adaptation rights are not included."

James was stunned for a moment. Movies have just appeared in New York in the past few years, but most of them are short films, usually only ten minutes long. How can a movie be able to stand such a large-scale work.

And now that Edison is working on various film patents in New York, he will force a large number of independent producers to a small town far away from New York and Chicago within six or seven years.

It's just that the natural conditions there are unique and close to Mexico. Once Edison in New York wins the patent lawsuit, they can quickly hide in Mexico.

Edison never dreamed that this small town would become synonymous with movies in the future, because its name is - Hollywood.

James didn't know Li Yu's specific thoughts, but since the author himself proposed it, of course he couldn't refuse, and they were indeed not involved in the film and drama industry, so he said, "No problem."

James quickly wrote down the new terms, and Li Yu signed them.

After receiving Li Yu's authorization, James breathed a sigh of relief, "Don't worry, sir, if the work sells well, we can discuss the royalties for the sequel."

Li Yu shook hands with him: "I hope so."

Leaving Harper Collins Publishing House, Sierra pointed to the new Pulitzer Building ahead, "Come on, I'll take you to the second tallest building in New York!"

Li Yu smiled wryly.

Sierra did not forget to add: "Don't be afraid of heights! 20 floors!"

Li Yu looked at the building, it was really scary, the 20th floor was even more exciting than the 18km/h car ride in London at that time...

(End of this chapter)