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

Chapter 454 Yali
When Li Yu saw that Mark Twain invented the underwear button, he had thought of a meme about him (similar to how people in later generations would like to add a dash to a sentence, unless it was said by Lu Xun).

The content of the meme is that Mark Twain said: Technology has given me a sense of justice, and it has also given you a shield on your breasts.

I really didn’t expect that two years later, Mark Twain said, I can’t let you make fun of me in vain, I want to make it real!

He actually did it!
What a knife in the ass - an eye opener!

Li Yu couldn't help but laugh. The key point was that Mr. Mark Twain enjoyed it and didn't think it was embarrassing. He was very interested.

Seeing that they were chatting very lively, the hotel owner Astor IV came over and asked: "Mr. Tesla, what are you talking about?"

Tesla was drinking boredly on the sidelines. He put down his glass and said to him: "It's hard to imagine that they are actually studying how to make women's underwear! Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

Astor IV said: "I think it's quite interesting."

Tesla waved his hand: "I can't understand! I can't understand!"

When Li Yu saw Astor IV, he remembered the instructions he had given him before leaving the United States last time, so he asked: "Have there been any controlled experiments on radium water?"

Astor IV shook his head: "How can I do this kind of operation? I only did a few groups and then forgot about it. But when I went to see it later, all the mice that were fed radium water were dead."

"Isn't that enough!" Li Yu said, "It is enough to prove how dangerous the radium water is."

Astor IV sighed: "There is no need for experimental verification now. My good friend Byers is... now beyond recognition. I don't know how many days he can survive."

Li Yu was surprised: "Is the situation so dangerous?"

"I just visited him last week, and the scene was no different from hell!" Astor IV took out a set of photos from his pocket, "See for yourself."

Li Yu took it and was really shocked. The photo showed a man without a lower jaw, just a big hole with almost all his teeth missing. It was very scary.

Needless to say, it was hopeless.And he must be in great pain now, because there is no good place in his body that has been attacked by laser rays for a long time.

Li Yu said: "Although it sounds cruel, death may be a relief for him now."

Astor IV said: "Byers is very angry, but now he can't say a word, let alone hold a pen, and can't testify that the radium water destroyed him."

Astor IV and Byers are both wealthy families, but they are now helpless and cannot use legal weapons.

Li Yu said: "Tell his family to stay as far away from his body as possible, and I will contact the university to preserve his bones with thick lead plates."

"I'm afraid that doing so will violate the doctrine, and Byers' family doesn't know if they can agree." Astor IV said.

"Just say that the body can be preserved and used as court evidence in the future." Li Yu said.

"They should be able to accept this reason," Astor IV nodded, "No matter what, Academician Li Yu, you are my savior, otherwise I would be like him, drinking radium water every day and become like this. He looks like a ghost and won’t die with his eyes in peace!”

Li Yu said: "Let alone every day, one or two times may result in a fatal dose."

"The publicity at the time was that radium could cure cancer, prevent cancer, and treat almost any difficult disease," Astor IV said.

Li Yu said: "They say so, but they only tell half of the story. Radiation can indeed be used to treat cancer, but it is impossible to prevent it, let alone drink it. I have never heard of anyone taking radiation during chemotherapy!"

Astor IV was still frightened: "We don't understand this at all."

Li Yu said: "In short, try not to let other people come into contact with radium water and other radium products."

Astor IV shook his head again: "This is not easy to do, as it involves too many interest groups."

Li Yu had no choice. Lei's farce would continue for a long time and there was no way to stop it.

Fortunately, the price of radium is set here, the scope of harm is not wide, and it really does not rip off the poor.

Li Yu said to him: "You should tell his family what happened first."

Astor IV said: "I am very grateful to Mr. Academician. From now on, the superior room in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel will be given to you forever. In addition, anyone you bring can live in the hotel free of charge."

Astor IV was really a little scared. He basically had a brush with death and completely regarded Li Yu as a great benefactor.

"Notify me as soon as possible," Li Yu said. "I think there will be many universities willing to accept you."

The power of capital is terrifying, and the cause of Byers’ death will not be brought to justice for at least many years.

And his body, after hundreds of years in the coffin made of lead plates, is still glowing green and slightly warm.

This is the famous glowing skull.

It’s really unimaginable how much radium he ingested!

Many years later, when scientists opened the lead plate for testing, they found that the radium radiation in his body had not declined at all compared to before his death!

According to the weakening cycle of radium, Byers's body will continue to glow and heat for at least a thousand years.

-

On the other side, Mark Twain and socialite Jacob had already contacted Warner Bros., which purchased a garment factory to manufacture corsets.

Li Yu was a little dumbfounded. He thought Warner Bros. was just making movies, but he didn't expect that they also made underwear in the early days!
It makes sense when you think about it, because all four of Warner Bros. are Jewish, and they do whatever they want to make money. Movies are their main business, so there is nothing wrong with doing some side business.

Moreover, many of the current film patents are in the hands of the Edison Company, and film production is very limited. It is necessary to engage in other industries to make some money.

-

Tesla and Li Yu went to see the radio factory together. The workshop now operates almost three shifts, and orders are in short supply.

At this time, Tesla chatted with Li Yu about his grand idea:

"I think it's entirely possible that an entrepreneur could issue an order in New York and have it immediately followed to the letter in his office in London or elsewhere. That would be an inexpensive instrument, No bigger than a watch, it allows the holder to listen to music, songs, or speeches by political leaders, lectures by scientific luminaries, or sermons by eloquent priests anywhere, whether at sea or on land, but all of this are all emanated from some other place, however remote. In the same manner any picture, character, drawing, or print may be forwarded from one place to another."

These were Tesla's original words, and Li Yu understood them very clearly. To put it bluntly, they were the mobile phones of later generations.

But Tesla prefers to call it a "portable miniature radio transceiver device."

Well, it’s actually a thing.

Li Yu said: "It is indeed a picture of the future." Tesla said: "Mr. Li Yu agrees with what I said?"

"I agree very much," Li Yu said, "and I have even bolder assumptions. For example, in the field of communications, there will be a situation where two big countries will compete with each other in the future."

Tesla thought Li Yu was talking about the United States and Russia, but Li Yu was naturally thinking of China and the United States.

Now that Li Yu has traveled to the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, he has truly seen what it means to be poor and useless, starting from scratch.The mathematics section of the entrance exam for the top university in the country, Jingshi University, is only at the elementary school level!

It's really hard!
It’s so touching!
Later, Tesla also wanted to take Li Yu to see his great Edenclyffe Tower, but Li Yu declined. Tesla regretted: "Although its value cannot be verified now, in the near future, It will definitely become the focus of the world’s attention.”

Li Yu said: "I just hope that the hundreds of thousands of dollars you invested in it will not be wasted."

Hundreds of thousands of dollars at this time is not a small amount of money.

Tesla actually behaved very generously: "Years ago, Mr. Edison spent a lot of money and time trying to improve the crushing process of iron ore, but his technological development proved unprofitable. Edison, who was over fifty years old He'd lost half his life and was in a lot of debt. But he said, 'It's over, but we had a really good time.'

Three years ago, he switched to the cement business. The crushing process he invented made him very profitable. He quickly paid off his debts and made huge profits. "

Li Yu had heard these stories a long time ago, so he asked: "Is Mr. Tesla a metaphor that even if he fails, Edenclyffe Tower will have other meanings?"

Tesla said: "To borrow an old Chinese saying, it can only be understood but cannot be expressed in words."

Li Yu smiled and said, "Your use of Chinese proverbs is getting better and better."

Tesla said: "There is also good news for you. I received a call back from Mr. Westinghouse and he agreed to join LY Radio, but..."

"But what?" Li Yu asked.

"See for yourself." Tesla gave Li Yu a letter.

Li Yu started to take a look. Westinghouse praised LY Radio's technology and said that he could come and have a lower position than Tesla, but he could not become Tesla's direct subordinate.

Li Yu smiled, his request was not too much.Moreover, Westinghouse is indeed a great talent. He has fallen into a low point in his life at this time, and Li Yu can just transfer him to a factory in China.

In this way, not only will he not become Tesla's subordinate, but his position will not be lower than Tesla's.

Li Yu couldn't help but applaud his little abacus!
-

While the two were inspecting the factory, Jacob took Lu Bicheng to shoot a magazine cover, which actually appeared in a fashion magazine. The American fashion circle was immediately fascinated by the oriental appearance.

Since a few decades ago, Europe and the United States have had a very stereotyped impression of Chinese people. Many cartoons will depict people with rat tails, squinted eyes, wide-set eyes, and a somewhat scary look.

Lu Bicheng's appearance on the cover now changes the stereotype of Europeans and Americans.

If not a massive change, at least there are some benefits.

Li Yu was very happy for her, and Lu Bicheng was even happier because Li Yu's values ​​​​were so admirable to her: How could other men in the country let their women show up, let alone be on the cover of a magazine.

Think about the French female piano teacher who married into China after Yu Deling's brother Yu Xinling, and her situation was much different.

Lu Bicheng was so moved by what Li Yu did, but Li Yu took it for granted. Who said he was a time traveler? It was really just an ordinary thing.

-

On this day, Li Yu was looking at the factory's latest report when Liang Cheng, the ambassador to the United States, suddenly knocked on the door.

Li Yu asked curiously: "Ambassador Liang, why are you here?"

Liang Cheng said: "I am going to New Haven and passing by New York. I came here to call you."

"New Haven?" Li Yu continued to ask.

Liang Cheng said: "I went to Yale University to attend a funeral."

Li Yu was even more confused: "Going to Yale University to attend the funeral?"

Liang Cheng took out a telegram: "This is from Mr. Zhang Zhidong from the capital. He asked me to send someone to attend the funeral of Mr. Xi Biyi at Yali Hui."

When Liang Cheng mentioned the Yali Club, Li Yu understood instantly.

The Yale-China Association is an organization established by Yale University with the main purpose of developing education and medicine in China.

The famous Xiangya Department in the medical field originated from the Yali Society.

Xiangya Hospital ranks among the top ten in the country; Yale-China also established Yale-China University, Yale-China Medical School, etc., which later became the predecessors of Central South University, Hunan University School of Medicine and other universities.

Harvard and Yale, currently the best universities in the United States, fully agree with the United States' policy of returning Boxer money and vigorously promoting education in China.

After all, this policy itself was strongly proposed to Congress by the president of the university.

The two schools decided to establish a medical school together because medicine is a very popular thing.

Treating illnesses and saving lives is always a good thing.

European and American missionaries have been missionary in China for hundreds of years, but the results can be said to be very unsuccessful. As a result, many missionaries can only provide education in China.At this time, China was paying more attention to learning, especially science, so many missionaries had to teach the theory of evolution in class. The scene was really interesting.

——Fortunately, by this time the church had accepted the theory of evolution.

Yale's move to establish the Yale-China Association began in 1901. That year, it sent several graduates to conduct long-term inspections in China, including Xi Biyi, and they finally chose Changsha.

As for why it is not more developed cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Wuhan and Tianjin, Xi Biyi himself reported this:

"This place is extremely clean, and the architecture is also very good. The narrow alleys are paved with granite roads. Not only are there no livestock, but there is also a good sewer system. 19 residents are crowded within the city walls, and there is very little open space... Your Excellency Children are smart at first glance, women can often be seen on the streets, and officials are particularly pleasant and polite..."

"I once slept on the roof of a house without a mosquito net. The breeze blew gently from behind the iron fence. There were thousands of lights in the east of the river. The peaks in the west of the river were towering (Yuelu Mountain). Stars hung above my head. There was no better air than this. !”

It can be seen that these representatives sent by Yale have a very high opinion of Changsha. At that time, Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Huguang, paid more attention to this matter.

But not long ago, Xi Biyi went to Lushan Mountain to escape the summer heat and unfortunately drowned while swimming.

Xi Biyi's early contribution to the Xiangya Department was not small, so after his body was transported back to Yale, Zhang Zhidong specially sent electricity to the embassy in the United States and made sure to go to express his condolences.

(End of this chapter)