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

Chapter 277

Li Yu received dozens of forms, making himself look like a personnel manager.

Of course, we can't collect all of them, and more or less still need to be screened.

Li Yu quickly issued a test paper, which included the content of various majors. In fact, it is all basic knowledge in modern times.

For example, physics has a problem of calculating the velocity of the first universe.

Later generations are equivalent to the content of the first year of high school, but at the beginning of the [-]th century, not many people in China knew what the gravitational constant was, let alone the radius of the earth.

And once you can answer it, it means at least that you have learned newer physics knowledge.

In terms of chemistry, it is the common sense of several acids, bases and salts and the expression of related chemical formulas, which is also the content of junior high school chemistry.

However, if you can understand these, it is also very rare in the country in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, because it involves the expression of English elements, which can be regarded as the achievements of the past few decades.

On the biological side, some basic question and answer questions about microorganisms were raised.

After all, Li Yu still hopes to build a laboratory, and then spend a lot of time on the research and development of penicillin. This is a process of continuous enumeration, and it takes thousands of trials to obtain an excellent strain.

In this process, this group of people should also be trained.

——I'm afraid Li Yu's laboratory will really produce several Nobel Prizes in the future.

The answer sheets were collected an hour later, and he selected more than 20 of them, which were basically one-fifth of the graduates.

Now the enrollment scale of universities is very small, 20 people is already the limit.

Of course, for the talent gap, it is completely a drop in the bucket. In the future, we can only continue to build schools to educate talents.

No matter which era, what is most lacking are talents.

Li Yu was not in a hurry, and said to them: "Everyone can take care of their own affairs first, and you can come to the capital to report to me at any time."

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the transportation was not very advanced, and coming to the capital meant that the only chance to go home every year was during the festivals.

Fortunately, these people are always from good families, otherwise they would not be able to afford the ferry and train fares.

At St. John's University, Li Yu also saw something "familiar and strange".

"Is this a ping-pong table?" Li Yu asked in surprise.

Principal Bu Fangji was a little surprised that Li Yu could accurately name it: "Mr. Academician actually recognizes this sport?"

Can you not recognize it!It will become national football in the future.

Li Yu asked: "Where can I buy these things? I really want to put them in the school I run in the future."

Bu Fangji said: "I saw it at the stationery store on Fourth Avenue. I have played several times before, and many people in our country like it. In St. John's University, students should learn as much as possible from Europe and the United States. Ping-pong tables are installed, and they will be able to better integrate with American students through sports when they study abroad in the future.”

There is a little controversy about the time when table tennis entered China. Most people think that around 1904, a Shanghai stationery businessman named Wang Daoping often saw and introduced it when he went to Japan to purchase novel stationery.

At this time, domestic stationery was rarely suitable for new-style schools, and with the large-scale development of new-style schools, stationery became a big business, and it was completely normal to go to Japan to purchase stationery.

Wang Daoping just saw a table tennis exhibition match in Japan and found it very interesting, and the demand for the venue was simply too small. All he needed was a table, balls and rackets, so he bought a lot of table tennis equipment and returned home.

However, later someone discovered earlier evidence. The International Table Tennis Federation published an article mentioning that table tennis appeared in Tianjin in early 1902.

However, there is not much difference in time.

If Li Yu runs education, he must develop morality, intelligence, physique, art, and labor together. As for sports, the most cost-effective and best-promoted ones are table tennis and basketball.

The reason why China vigorously promotes these two sports in the subsequent period of opening up is actually to a large extent also consider the advantages of their small investment.

Among the three big balls and three small balls, football, tennis, and badminton all have high requirements on the court, and the cost of playing is also very high.

(Many people think that badminton is more economical, but they have never played it. The author is a badminton fanatic, and I can only say that badminton is a civilian sport, and it really costs a lot of money. For example, a regular Yashilong 7 Badminton costs more than [-] yuan, and it takes about ten minutes to play. Badminton can only be played indoors, and there is no wind at all. The requirements for shoes, strings, etc. are also more professional.)
Bu Fangji suddenly asked: "Academicians, do you want to have a discussion?"

Li Yu suddenly became interested: "Of course!"

There is a big gap between the current table tennis and the later generations. It is basically a bare board without rubber.

Seeing Li Yu's posture holding the racket, Bu Fangji smiled and said, "Mr. Academician is holding the racket wrong!"

He raised his hand, "That's it."

Li Yu's grip is a straight grip that was introduced very late after that, which is Liu Guoliang's grip.

Although Li Yu didn't practice in particular, table tennis was so popular when he was a teenager, it was inevitable that he would have to play it in physical education class.

And to be honest, although he can only block this move straight, it is easy to learn and easy to use, and it is very useful in the amateur world.

Many park elders are "iron pushers", who push and block the world with one move.

Li Yu said with a smile: "I prefer this grip, let it go! If you lose, you can give me some sets of table tennis equipment!"

Bu Fangji made a good posture: "No problem! How could I lose!"

But after only fighting Li Yu for a few rounds, it was really uncomfortable to be pushed and blocked quickly.

Bu Fangji quickly surrendered: "I admit defeat! Academicians are indeed versatile, but when your school is built in the future, our St. John's University football team will win back from your school!"

The first football team in Chinese history was the school team of St. John's University.

Li Yu was even less afraid: "It's a deal!"

-

St. John's University has finished recruiting, and Li Yu still needs to go to Nanyang Public School.

Cai Yuanpei's students are more enthusiastic about national enterprises than St. John's University.

Otherwise, these people would not drop out of school in anger because of the "ink bottle incident". If Cai Yuanpei hadn't been actively running around, it would be really troublesome for them to enter the Patriotic Society to continue their studies.

Therefore, young people are still too impulsive. Cai Yuanpei has fulfilled his responsibility in education and did not leave students without books to read.

They were just about to leave St. John's University when they ran into Song Jiashu at the door.

"Academician Li Yu! It's really you!" Song Jiashu said excitedly.

Before that, he came to the capital in person and found Li Yu to let his daughter go to study in the United States.

Li Yu remembered him, and replied: "Mr. Song, don't come here without any problems, your daughter should have no obstacles in her studies, right?"

"I haven't had time to thank you for this," Song Jiashu said, "I didn't expect your foundation to be so powerful! In the future, I plan to send all the children to study in the United States."

This is something only rich people can do.

Li Yu asked, "Then why did Mr. Song come to St. John's University?"

"Oh, I'm here to pick up the child." Song Jiashu said.

After a while, a seven or eight-year-old child ran over and called "Dad" to Song Jiashu.

This child is Song Ziwen.

Song Jiashu was a businessman, one of the earlier comprador merchants in Shanghai, engaged in printing and machinery import agency business.

Song Jiashu said: "I heard that Mr. is going to do business, I am really moved. Mr. Song is not very capable, but if the emperor can use me, no matter what, he will do anything!"

Li Yu doesn't know much about the current import and export business, and he doesn't have e-mail and phone calls, so it's very troublesome to think about it.And I need to spend a lot of time on scientific research. It is estimated that it will not be long before Einstein's letters and telegrams will come like snowflakes.

In short, there is not much free time for trade matters.

If Song Jiashu wants to help, that's really a good thing.Moreover, this person can be said to have a patriotic heart, not just a black-hearted comprador, otherwise he would not have given up his family fortune to help Mr. Sun Yat-sen in the revolution.

— By the way, can this also be counted as a commercial investment?Judging from the fate of the Song family's children, it was simply the most profitable deal!
Could it be an investment genius?

Li Yu said: "I happen to have some equipment that needs to be purchased, and I will make a list at that time, and I hope Mr. Song can help me."

Song Jiashu patted his chest: "Leave it on me, I, Song, won't earn a copper coin from Emperor Shi!"

Li Yu said with a smile: "Mr. Song is too polite, just treat it as a normal business relationship, and there will be more places to trouble Mr. Song in the future."

Song Jiashu also smiled and said, "I knew that the emperor would not be an ordinary person, and it is Song's honor to be able to cooperate with you."

Li Yu also made a promise and said, "Mr. Song, don't worry, I promise to make your business more prosperous."

Li Yu knew in his heart that establishing a business relationship with him and allowing him to make money in business would give the revolutionary party he sponsored more money.

It is not convenient for Li Yu to intervene in political affairs directly, but in an indirect way, he can still provide some positive help.

He knew how much money Mr. Zhongshan and Huang Xing did. It could be called a bottomless pit. The initial publicity cost alone was an astronomical figure.

-

The students of Nanyang Public School are a few years behind in terms of theoretical knowledge compared to St. John's University.

After all, Nanyang Public School has not been peaceful in the past two years. The students did not study hard at all.

But the enthusiasm is even higher than that of St. John's students.

And after all, they have a certain amount of Western knowledge. Li Yu selected a dozen people from them, and then trained them according to the situation. It should be no problem to follow the specific production route.

Afterwards, Li Yu even took a look at the land he bought next to Jing'an Temple. Yang Sisheng's construction team had finished the foundation and was preparing to build the above-ground building.

His speed is very fast. After all, once the funds are in place in time, the actual progress of the project is not slow at all.

Moreover, there are not many high-rise buildings in the school, and there is no difficulty in building it.

Seeing "Party A" come to the scene in person, Yang Sisheng immediately came to Li Yu's side, "Master Emperor, our progress is faster than expected, and it won't be long before we can recruit dolls!"

Li Yu cupped his fists and said, "Everyone has worked hard!"

Yang Sisheng said again: "By the way, Master Di Shi, shopkeeper Xi came to see you some time ago, and seeing that you are not here, let me send you a letter when I meet you."

"Treasurer Xi?" Li Yu didn't know him.

Yang Sisheng said: "Treasurer Xi is the most famous shopkeeper of a foreign company in Shanghai today. He has many banks and money houses under his control."

Li Yu finally had a superficial impression that he was talking about Xi Zhengfu.

This person, together with Xu Run, Zheng Guanying, and Tang Tingshu, were called the four major compradors in the late Qing Dynasty.

Xi Zhengfu is now a well-known figure in Shanghai's financial circles. He is the big comprador of Shanghai HSBC Bank, and the Qing court borrows from HSBC Bank through him.

Because he is in charge of the signing and sealing rights of HSBC Bank, he has become a hot celebrity in Shanghai's financial circles. Almost all banks require him to add equity or hire people he introduces as assistants.

With this position, Xi Zhengfu rapidly expanded his investment in the financial industry.

By the beginning of the 34th century, there were 17 large and small banks established by foreign businessmen in Shanghai, [-] of which had the Xi family as compradors, accounting for half of the total.

Against the backdrop of the prosperity of Huizhou merchants, the Xi family in Suzhou should not be underestimated.

Li Yu asked, "Does Master Xi want to pay?"

Yang Sisheng said with a smile: "Master Dishi speaks very directly, but Master Xi is old, and he really wants to do some good deeds to protect future generations. He believes that education is a great thing."

Li Yu thought about it for a while. Among the foreign banks, HSBC is definitely still the big brother, and the Xi family is not easy to deal with.

Even in later generations, any large enterprise has inextricable relationship with banks. After all, working capital is the life of an enterprise.

"Then I have to go to Xi's house anyway." Li Yu said.

"Great, shopkeeper Xi must be very happy to know! Xi's family lives on Fengyang Road, and this old man will show you the way."

Yang Sisheng is very considerate, and they also have to deal with banks in business, because they often build houses for foreigners, and the construction costs are paid to him through HSBC.

Even in modern society, the settlement of project funds is a very laborious task, and it was not much better at the beginning of the [-]th century. Yang Sisheng must establish a good relationship with the Xi family and get the settlement payment as soon as possible.

The location on Fengyang Road is very good, very close to the Bund and Nanjing Road, the current core of Shanghai.

Xi's house is a big house, with this area, before Li Yu crossed over, it was at least worth several small targets.

When Li Yu's letter of worship was handed in, the Xi family attached great importance to it. Now Li Yu's status is very detached. He is an imperial teacher plus (honorary) Jinshi in China, and he is even more famous abroad.

Xi Ligong, the son of Xi Zhengfu, went out to greet him in person.

Xi Ligong will succeed Xi Zhengfu and continue to serve as the comprador of HSBC.

His son would then continue to hold the position.

"Master Emperor! I have been admiring you for a long time!" Xi Ligong cupped his hands.

Li Yu said: "I took the liberty to visit the door on a whim, and I hope that the peace of your residence will not be disturbed."

Xi Ligong hurriedly said: "What is the emperor talking about! My father has been waiting for you for a long time, please come in!"

Li Yu walked into the courtyard door: "Thank you."

Xi Ligong said while walking: "After my father found out about the establishment of the school by the emperor, it is a pity that he could not get in touch with you as soon as possible, otherwise he could help you get a good location."

Li Yu murmured in his heart, of course I know there are many good locations, but how can there be so much money?The land price in Shanghai is so high, the major foreign firms behind you are inseparable!

But he just said casually: "The west of Jing'an Temple is also very good."

(End of this chapter)