Reborn and become a Great Scientist

Chapter 357 96 Go to Belgium again

Chen Muwu is not a business genius. In this era, if he wants to make money through foresight, he only uses one method.

That is, if a company has heard of its name and used its products 100 years later, it means that the company has been maintained from the 20s to the 21st century, not to mention making a profit. It can be said that Pingfeng has successfully survived the Great Depression over the years and has a certain ability to make money and profit, which is enough to support the survival and development of the company.

Previous Ericsson, as well as Royal Dutch Shell and BP, including the automobile brand Rolls-Royce, all met the filtering conditions described above.

Of course, there are many companies that are counter-examples. For example, the Lagonda car Kapitsa bought before, and the Austin family version of the station wagon that Chen Muwu gave him as a new gift. Chen Muwu had never heard of it before he came to this era. past things.

Of course, there is also what Chen Muwu has to face now, the United Artists Pictures that Chaplin promoted to him.

It can’t be said that you haven’t heard of it, because after all, Chaplin is famous, and the movies he shot 100 years ago are still timeless masterpieces 100 years later.

Anyone who has seen Zhuo's movies will definitely know the name of the film company United Artists.

However, knowing the name does not mean that the company is still alive and well in the 21st century.

Chen Muwu had a calm expression on his face, but he had been thinking carefully about it in his brain for a long time, and did not remember that there would be a film company called United Artists in later generations.

Maybe it had been declared bankrupt and dissolved a long time ago, or maybe it had been acquired and merged by another Hollywood film company?
Therefore, according to Chen Muwu's past investment ideas, he would not want the shares of the bodybuilding company that Chaplin promoted to him.

He didn't know why Chaplin did this. Could it be that he was also a time-traveler who predicted in advance that the U.S. stock market would plummet two years later, so he took hedging in advance?

However, the more the Great Depression hit the United States, the more their movies went against the grain and became more prosperous. They can be said to be one of the few entertainment activities and spiritual comfort for Americans during the economic crisis.

Not only will the Hollywood film industry not decline along with the U.S. economy, but it will take this opportunity to become even more prosperous.

So no matter what the reason was, Chen Muwu couldn't figure out why Chaplin did this.

Moreover, why did Chaplin know that he had money to invest in stocks?
He stood still, with a puzzled look on his face.

"Mr. Chaplin, although I like United Artists' movies very much and I am very optimistic about the prospects of your company. Thank you very much for your invitation to participate in the stock market. But to be honest with you, I don't actually have much money. I'm afraid I won't be able to take this share. It’s unaffordable.”

Chaplin, on the other hand, was very familiar with Chen Muwu's financial situation: "Dr. Chen, don't you remember that you once won a Nobel Prize bonus of nearly [-] pounds? There are also various other awards and bonuses, and relying on Patent fees earned from various patented technologies.

"——This is not that I have been secretly investigating your property situation, but it is the news that I have read from the British tabloids.

"Those reports have been speculating on what you did with that huge sum of money. They have been following the reports for a long time, and they have neither discovered that you purchased real estate in London or Cambridge, nor did they find that you purchased properties in the above two places. , or invest in industry.

"The newspaper, the newspaper gave you a not so good 'nickname'..."

"I know, I know," Chen Muwu nodded, "They all call me 'Grandet from China'."

He had long read in the newspapers that these tabloid reporters had given him the nickname.

Fleet Street does not support idlers, and British journalists have never been vegetarians.

Journalists from major newspapers such as The Times, The Daily Telegraph and the Manchester Guardian have their own professional self-respect and ethics. Under normal circumstances, they will not pry into other people's privacy. Such a nasty thing.

As for those unscrupulous tabloids that can only make money by circulation and hope that the newspaper can sell more copies, their reporters are very familiar with doing this kind of thing.

The paparazzi was first born in the UK, and Princess Diana was driven by them in a car on the streets of Paris, France, and eventually got into a car accident.

Chen Muwu is a relatively well-known foreigner in the UK and a frequent reader of the news. He pops up every now and then to boost his presence. He is not surprised at all that these tabloid reporters would focus on him.

It can only be said that their business level is still in the initial stage of development and their capabilities are not sufficient. It is difficult to investigate how much money Chen Muwu has and where the funds in his name are.

Most of the money that Dr. Chen earned after coming to the UK had already been transferred to the New York Stock Exchange through Oppenheimer, who had returned to China twice. At this time, Mr. Coolidge, the most "great" president in the United States, was in office. Prosperity, money is making money like crazy in the U.S. stock market.

These operations of Chen Muwu, not only at the level of "Stock God" Buffett, can also be regarded as a capital tycoon who can turn his hands into clouds and rain. However, these naive tabloid reporters in the UK compared him to Balzac. The miser and miser Grandet described in the novel is not willing to spend a penny. He is really a bunch of short-sighted guys.

——It’s not entirely wrong, because Old Grandet was also a master of speculation. These reporters were at least half right.

"No matter what they say, my bonuses have already been sent back to China to help my country develop education.

"You also know that China is still a very poor country, which is far from the same as the United States, the most developed country on earth.

"It may be difficult for you to understand just by myself. I think that if there is a chance in the future, Mr. Chaplin might as well go on a round-the-world trip and actually go to East Asia to see the current situation of poverty in China and what life is like there. Resilient and optimistic people in a poor land.”

Chen Muwu remembered a photo of Chaplin and Mei Lanfang shaking hands together. He was not sure whether it was Chaplin's visit to China or Mei Lanfang's visit to the United States, so he vaguely mentioned it.

Maybe Chaplin will get some inspiration after a trip to China, and in the future he will make a masterpiece like "The Great Dictator" that satirizes foreign powers for their evil deeds on Chinese soil.

Chaplin also spoke politely: "Of course, I have long wanted to visit your country for inspection. If there is a chance, I will definitely make the trip."

"Mr. Chaplin, you want to transfer part of the shares of United Artists Pictures to me. Is this your personal intention, or is it the result of discussions with your company?"

"This is my own idea."

"Have you encountered any financial difficulties recently? I also read the newspaper reports about you." What Chen Muwu was talking about was naturally the report that Chaplin paid his ex-wife more than 80 US dollars in divorce.

When the other party exposed his sore point, Chaplin looked a little embarrassed, but he still said openly that Chen Muwu was right.

"I really don't have a lot of money recently, so I came up with the idea of ​​transferring my shares to you. On the one hand, I want to cash in to tide over the difficulties. On the other hand, I also like your ability to write stories, Dr. Chen. Just now you gave Fan Punk provided a decent script with a humanistic spirit, which should make a profitable movie, which makes me, a fellow film director, blush.

"So I wonder if you also hold a certain amount of shares in United Artists and become a shareholder of the company, will you be able to provide me with some high-quality stories or movie scripts in the future?"

Chen Muwu finally understood the true thoughts of the Englishman in front of him who spoke in a roundabout way.

On the one hand, Chaplin really had no money, and on the other hand, he might not be satisfied with just being a consultant for the Alien movie, but wanted to tie him to the United Artists ship for a long time, so he wanted to Take out some shares to buy yourself off.

This idea is very good, and it would be even better if Chen Muwu traveled back to the Republic of China as a director.

Chen Muwu has no interest in joining the United Artists ship, and even if he wants to make a movie in the future, he will not do it himself, but will leave it to professionals.

"Mr. Chaplin, I'm sorry, I don't have any ideas to invest in movies at the moment."

Chen Muwu shook his head, but that didn't mean that he couldn't give Chaplin a favor and a good opportunity to make United Artists rich.

“But I’ve had some good ideas about movies recently.

"There are operas in Europe and corresponding Chinese dramas in China. Although the singing styles are different due to different geographical distribution, the specific forms of expression are similar. They rely on actors to play roles on the stage to tell stories. It can be counted. It is a movie that is broadcast live without a screen.

"In addition to Chinese dramas that rely on real people, there is another kind of drama in which no one appears. Instead, the characters are carved on the skin of animals with special knives. We call them shadow puppets.

“In places where there are insufficient manpower, or the performance environment is poor and cannot support dozens of people performing on the same stage, shadow puppetry can take advantage of it and shine.

"Of course, this production form may still be too complicated for movies. It seems that there is a new type of movie recently that presents the story content in the form of paintings. It seems to be called cartoons?

"Without actors, there is no need to pay actors, and there is no need for scenery, or the need to purchase and produce a large number of props. The cost is much lower than shooting a live-action movie.

"I think movies shot in this format may be very successful in the future. Your company might as well give it a try and make your own or invest in some studios that specialize in cartoon production. Maybe you will gain something."

Chen Muwu analyzed the cartoon so clearly that he almost said Walt Disney's name.

At this time, Disney had not yet drawn the black little mouse, but the prototype of the little mouse seemed to be coming out.

Chen Muwu could not name him directly, but could only vaguely propose the idea of ​​a cartoon.

"Dr. Chen, what you mentioned is very interesting. After I return to the United States, I will definitely discuss this issue with my colleagues in the company."

I don’t know if Chaplin really listened to his words in this response, or if he was just being polite.

But no matter what, Chen Muwu has given him a way to make a fortune. As for whether Chaplin can seize this opportunity, it all depends on fate.

He and Chaplin were downstairs in the room Wittgenstein rented, drinking tea made by the landlord and eating snacks prepared by the landlord. In addition to the movie, he chatted for a long time. Fairbanks had a sad face. Finally, Wittgenstein sent him downstairs.

"Mr. Fairbank, thank you for your visit today. It made me realize that sometimes chatting with relevant people from all walks of life is also a very interesting thing that can increase my knowledge.

Wittgenstein saw Chen Muwu who had been waiting in the living room downstairs again: "Dr. Chen, thank you also for introducing Mr. Fairbanks to me today."

Everyone was polite, greeted, and said goodbye. Needless to say, as soon as he walked out of the house where Wittgenstein rented, Fairbanks couldn't help but complained: "The thing I regret most when I come to Cambridge University is Dr. Chen agreed to meet with this gentleman named Wittgenstein.

“I just wanted to learn about being a rural teacher in Austria, but ended up listening to philosophers discussing ethereal philosophical knowledge all afternoon.

"This is simply the most painful and torturous thing in life. Since the prohibition of alcohol was implemented in the United States, I have not been as light-headed and dizzy as I am today for several years, as if I was drunk! "

After Fairbank's complaints finally came to an end, he discovered that Chen Muwu, who introduced him to Wittgenstein, was still with him.

He didn't know whether the words and language he had just said unintentionally had offended Chen Muwu, so he hurriedly went back to explain to himself: "However, the most useful thing I gained from coming to Cambridge University this time is to meet you, Dr. Chen, and chat about relevant issues." A view of the film.”

"me too."

Chaplin, who had just been chatting with Chen Muwu about cartoon movies for a long time, couldn't help but nod in agreement after hearing what Fairbank said.

"Both of you, I'm so impressed, so impressed. Since you said that alcohol is banned in the United States, I will treat you to the most famous bar in Cambridge today so that you don't get drunk and don't come home."

Chaplin and Fairbanks smiled at each other again. It was true that the United States had prohibition on alcohol, but "there are policies from above and countermeasures from below." With their status, it was not a problem to get alcohol.

But since it was proposed by the local owner Chen Muwu, it must be more respectful than obeying orders and selling him to save face.

After seeing off these two guests from the American film industry, time quickly entered the end of September.

It's time to get ready to leave for Belgium to attend the [-]th Solvay Conference in early October.

(End of this chapter)