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

Ramsey also said: "Miss Evelyn is right. I just saw the news yesterday that many Europeans go to the United States by ship, because there are radium masks and radium hot springs that can beautify the skin, and they even claim to delay aging. .”

Li Yu was completely convinced: "This is a ray! High-energy ray! The intensity of the radiation emitted by radium is much stronger than that of X-rays!"

Evelyn blinked and said, "That's right, otherwise, why would everyone spend so much money traveling thousands of miles to America for whitening? It's because of the powerful rays."

The industrial capacity of the old United States is indeed stronger than that of Europe. It is estimated that radium bromide can be produced on a large scale through industrial production, and the product does not need a high concentration to be sold.

Although the price of radium products is still relatively high, it happens to be a symbol of the status of the rich, and a strong sense of superiority emerges, and a culture of respecting radium suddenly rises in the upper class.

It really doesn't trick the poor!
But all of this goes where!

Radium toothpaste?It's the rhythm of getting oral cancer!

The radium mask is even more powerful, and the face will probably be ruined!
"By the way," Ramsey added suddenly, "I heard that there is another more mysterious tonic added with radium. A few drops into the soup every day can improve men's abilities and quickly restore vitality, but the price is more expensive. high."

Li Yu: ...

I really don't know how to say it, and I can't say it.

People nowadays really don't know the dangers of radioactivity.

Even Mrs. Curie sometimes puts the small bottle of purified radium on the bedside to watch for a while before going to bed at night. The faint blue light is something she has worked hard to obtain for several years.

-

New York, Golf Club.

The rich second-generation Byers swung a shot, and suddenly felt a little sore in his arm.

Astor IV on the side smiled and said, "You don't have any strength at all, you are doomed to lose today!"

The ancestor of Astor IV was Astor, the richest man in the United States in the middle of the 19th century. Their family was called "New York Landlords".

Astor started his business by doing business with Guangzhou, China. At that time, it was still Shisanhang, and there was no treaty port.Astor travels between the United States and Guangzhou, earning a lot of hard work for many years.

But this was not enough to make him the richest man. Later, Astor put all the money he earned from trade with China into New York real estate. In the 1800s, New York had just started, and Astor bought a lot of land with a lot of money. Become the richest man in America.

The Astor family owns [-] to [-] shops, hotels, and residences in the core areas of New York, most of which are still in Manhattan. Just think about how rich they are, including the Waldorf Astoria, the best hotel in Manhattan.

The family of the rich second-generation Byers is a steel tycoon. Over the years, those who engage in steel in the United States have basically counted money until their hands cramp.

The two rich second generations have nothing to worry about, and they come to play golf when they have nothing to do.

Byers waved his arm and said, "I won't lose to you today."

But after he swung the club again, the pain in his arm became more obvious, "Oops, I seem to be strained."

Astor IV sneered: "What posture did you use yesterday, your arm can be strained?"

"I lost today," Byers felt unable to continue, so he took out a wad of dollar bills and threw them to Astor IV, "Don't go to the bar to spend them, I will win them back."

Astor IV patted the stack of banknotes and said, "Don't worry, you can't beat me. But I'm in a good mood today and I'll send you to the hospital."

Byers certainly understood what Astor IV meant: "You just bought a car?"

Astor IV proudly said: "Now there will be no second car in the United States! The high-end car shipped from Daimler in Germany integrates an electronic ignition system, tram lights, four-wheel drive system, and drive shaft differential Devices, seat belts, rearview mirrors, etc., it is the most technological car!"

Byers is also no stranger to these words: "So fast!? You really paid for it. I'm afraid it was shipped by hand at this time, and it is still under the name of Daimler. Counting the special freight, I'm afraid It’s not about getting closer to $2.”

Astor IV said: "If you know the goods, it's worthwhile for me to send you there."

Astor IV drove him to the hospital, not forgetting to show off: "This hospital is also run by our family."

Byers said: "It should be said that the hospital leased your building, which is different from running a hospital, okay?"

Entering the hospital, relying on his wealth and wealth, Byers directly said to the doctor: "Doctor, please rest assured to use the best and most expensive medicine. I just hope that I can get better soon, because I still have a lot of things to do."

The doctor knew they were from rich families just by looking at their clothes, and immediately said mysteriously: "Mr. came just in time. Yesterday Radium Company recommended a 'Radium Water' to the hospital, which can relieve pain and strengthen yang at the same time."

Biles is a playboy, and he immediately found it interesting: "Is it really that good?"

The doctor immediately sold him: "Radium is an important product that won the Nobel Prize. Marie Curie of France has proved that it can treat the most terrible cancer. But now the production of radium is very rare and expensive, and only a small number of people can be used."

Biles didn't care about the price at all, so he said, "Get me a bottle and try it."

The doctor walked into another hut, took out a small bottle and handed it to him, "Try it."

Byers saw the faint blue light emitting from the liquid in the bottle, which he had never seen before. It was very miraculous, and he took a sip with a small spoon.

After a while, the arm really didn't hurt anymore.

Byers was very happy, and thinking that it had more miraculous effects, he said, "Bring me more bottles!"

They never saw that there was an open box of aspirin on the table in the cabin.

The next day, when Astor IV saw him again, Byers immediately boasted about the miraculous effects of "radium water", "The new medicine is really powerful, and I felt a lot braver in bed yesterday."

After hearing this, Astor IV couldn't hold back anymore: "It's really possible!? I want to buy some too."

It seems that no matter where it is, as long as something has something to do with aphrodisiac, it will definitely sell well.

-

When Li Yu returned to New York, he immediately bought several newspapers and turned to the advertisement page. Sure enough, there were many advertisements for radium products.

What "radium toothpaste, make your teeth whiter"!
"Radium cigars, identity labels between clouds"!
"Radium soap, cleans where other soaps can't!"

……

There are many such advertisements, and it is conceivable that they will continue to increase in the future.

What's more, the merchants hyped up the miraculous effects of radium, which is completely adding oil and vinegar, almost saying that it has become the world's number one tonic.

It's ridiculous.

When Li Yu returned to the Waldorf Astoria Fifth Avenue, the owner of the hotel, Astor IV, happened to be there. He was very happy: "Congratulations, sir, for winning the Nobel Prize. The hotel can upgrade your 20-year residency to permanent. And upgrade to a more luxurious suite!"

"Thank you very much." Li Yu said.

At this time, a car stopped at the door, and a man in a trance walked in and said to Astor IV: "Today's game is about to start, I will pick you up and go to the stadium together."

Seeing that his expression was a bit decadent, Astor IV asked, "Byles, what's wrong with you?"

"I don't know what's going on, but I've had really bad diarrhea for the past few days," Byers said.

Astor IV asked, "Did you see a doctor?"

Byers nodded: "The doctor told me to continue drinking more radium water and increase the dose."

Astor IV said: "Since you are not in good health, today's game is cancelled, lest you say it is unfair."

Byers was very playful and didn't want to give up, but suddenly there was another colic in his stomach, and he rushed to the toilet immediately.

Li Yu knew what was going on when he heard the word "radium water". He said to King Astor IV, "Sir, it's best to ask your friends not to drink it anymore."

Astor IV wondered: "Why? Radium water is a magic medicine, and I just started taking it."

Li Yu really couldn't explain it: "In short, it's best to stay away from it. There is no permission to use radium in current medicine."

At this time, the pharmaceutical industry did not have such strict regulations as later generations, and Astor IV did not take it seriously: "It is not a medicine, but it can also be used as a tonic."

Li Yu said: "If you really don't believe it, you can do a controlled experiment yourself."

Astor IV didn't know why: "What controlled experiment?"

"It is to feed a group of mice with radium water regularly, and the other group does not feed them, and observe for a period of time." Li Yu said.

Astor IV has always respected scientists like Li Yu and Tesla, but he still wondered: "Rats are not allowed in hotels, let alone a top luxury hotel like ours."

Li Yu said: "You can do it in my laboratory on Fifth Avenue. It just so happens that I will not be in New York for a while, but Mr. Tesla will be."

Astor IV reluctantly agreed: "I will try my best."

The farce of radium products in the United States has lasted for a long time due to the capital operation, and there have been many thought-provoking cases later.

For example, Byers, a skeleton who has been dead for hundreds of years and still emits a shining blue light...

His death was very tragic in history, and the photos of his dying days seemed to come out of a horror movie: all his teeth were gone, his entire jaw fell off, and only half of his face was left, looking like a zombie.

Astor IV suddenly said: "By the way, there is one more thing. A bishop came to see you a few days ago, but you were not there at that time."

"Bishop? What do you want me for?" Li Yu asked.

Astor IV said: "The other party seems to have a Chinese painting for you."

Li Yu immediately thought of the promise made by Pope Pius X at that time, and he didn't expect that they were so powerful that they found them so quickly.

"Where is the bishop, I'll go find him." Li Yu said.

"He just happened to be in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan today," Astor IV said.

Fortunately, it is not far.

This church has a long history. Before the American Civil War, the Holy See of the Vatican upgraded New York to the archdiocese and began construction.

Here, Li Yu met Bishop Jason, whom he had met before, and he really took out the "Heart-Writing Map of Peace".

Although Li Yu doesn't know how to appreciate treasures, Americans have no ability to falsify a painting that contains Chinese painting techniques, let alone the need to do so.

Li Yu definitely couldn't keep this painting by himself, so he could just return it to the court when he got back. They valued this painting of Qianlong and the twelve concubines very much.

It just happened to be a big favor to sell to them, paving the way for me to do education and high-end industries in China.