Li Yu stayed in Wuchang for a few more days, trying his best to let several experimenters in the laboratories of Hanyang Iron Works and Steel Pharmaceutical Factory get better familiar with the equipment.
It can be seen that since Xu Jianyin died in an accident, they have a psychological fear of chemical experiments.
Although it is understandable, for scientific experiments, once this mentality is formed, it is difficult to continue.
Therefore, Li Yu tried his best to help them clarify their thinking on the operating procedures. These will be very critical in later generations' chemical experiment operation examinations, but at present, these people in the chemical laboratory of the Steel Pharmaceutical Factory really do not do it right enough.
Li Yu thoughtfully wrote down a lot of operational precautions for them, which were nothing more than some chemistry experiments in middle and high schools.
No amount of Li Yu can teach them. But he also knew in his heart that the most important thing was that their theoretical knowledge of chemistry was really lacking.
Still need to study more! Although there are certain differences between experiments and theories, they cannot be completely without theoretical foundation.
On this day, Li Yu came to say goodbye to Zhang Zhidong. Zhang Zhidong is really busy now. Several days have passed in the blink of an eye before he realized it and said, "Shucai is leaving so soon?" Li Yu said, "Master Taipei, I am still in the capital university after all. Even if It gave me a lot of freedom, but I still have to abide by the disciplines I should abide by." Zhang Zhidong sighed: "It's a pity that you can't separate yourself. It would be nice if there were more people like you."
"If we can firmly guard the education barrier, it won't take long before there will be more and more talents." Li Yu said.
"I hope so too," Zhang Zhidong said,
"There are not many schools now, and I am also uneasy about the results. But I feel comforted if I can do things. It is up to people to plan things, and it is up to God to make things happen." Li Yu thought of the textbook he wrote and recommended to him: "Sir , I am working with the Commercial Press in Shanghai to compile a set of Western learning textbooks, which will start from the basics and can be widely promoted in schools everywhere."
"Western learning textbooks? Did you participate in the compilation?" Zhang Zhidong asked. Li Yu nodded,
"Actually, it was mainly written by me, covering various subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, etc. It is inevitable that there will be mistakes, but I can vouch for the accuracy of the work."
"I believe you," Zhang Zhidong said again,
"It should be said that no one else has this ability except you." With Zhang Zhidong's recommendation, this set of books will definitely sell better.
It seems that Li Yu will put more effort into this introductory textbook in the future.
"I will return to Beijing first, and I will definitely visit you more when I have the opportunity." Li Yu said. Zhang Zhidong stroked his beard: "It won't be long before the Luhan Railway will be opened to traffic. By then, it will be much more convenient for me to come here." Of course, Li Yu can't take the train the whole way now, so the fastest way is still Take the water route.
When we arrived at the dock, Hua Shifang also came to see Li Yu off: "Don't forget to send me the new edition of "Fractals and Chaos". I want to read it carefully." Li Yu said with a smile: "I will definitely send it to Mr. Apart from you, I think there are not many people in China who can understand it now." Li Yu's smile was obviously bitter.
Hua Shifang said: "The green mountains will not change, the green water will always flow, there will be hope in the future!" Li Yu clasped his fists and said, "We can look forward to the future!" The ship left the dock and headed for Shanghai.
After arriving in Shanghai, we docked at the Merchants Wharf. After Li Yu got off the ship, he planned to go to the Commercial Press to find Zhang Yuanji and show him the introductory biology lectures written on the way.
Although Li Yu really knows these relevant knowledge, he knows nothing about publishing. How to distribute and divide it into volumes must rely on them.
Li Yu took a rickshaw and headed to the Commercial Press. When passing by Nanjing Road, I feel that the construction is far inferior to that of later generations, and you can even see the edge at a glance.
Not far away, Li Yu saw a big sign hanging at the door of a foreign company: "For concession real estate, for top consultants, contact Hartong Foreign Company." A fat-bellied foreigner was talking to several Chinese people.
Li Yu said to the driver: "Stop here." The foreigner said to the Chinese in front of him: "I know all your needs, but the land will be mine soon, and you don't have to worry about the compensation. I will give it to you. But you should know that according to the regulations of the concession, the compensation does not have to be given to you." Several Chinese people said: "Director Hartong, you have been there. We have built houses over the years. , how can you just drive us away like this?" It turns out to be Hartung, a big real estate developer. Currently, more than 40% of Nanjing Road is under his name. He is definitely the boss of Shanghai.
Hartung said: "This is the French Concession, and it's been very good for you to live here for so many years. Besides, the amount I gave you is not low. You can build more houses outside the concession." These Chinese are considered small developers. Of course there is no comparison between Shang and Hartong.
Li Yu asked the coachman next to him: "Now Chinese people can also build houses in the concession?" The coachman said: "Of course, if you have money, why not!" Li Yu really didn't know this, so he asked again: " Didn't the concession only allow foreigners to buy and sell real estate in the past?" The coachman said: "That's long gone! Ever since Changmao came to the border, the concession is now full of Chinese people. If you really spend money to buy it, foreigners are not stupid either. People recognize silver coins." Li Yu suddenly said: "That's it." He always thought that it would be during the Republic of China that Chinese people could buy and sell real estate in the concession and even purchase land to build houses.
After the small developers left, Li Yu approached him. Before he could speak, Hartong unexpectedly greeted him: "Are you the Li Yu in the newspaper?" Li Yu said in surprise: "You know him?" Me?" Hartung said: "Of course I know him. He is a scientific giant and is famous in Europe. I have read your name in newspapers many times, and the Times even published your photo." Then he shouted towards the foreign bank: "Madam, the most powerful Chinese I have ever told you is here." After a while, a voice was heard coming downstairs from inside: "Is it Li Yu? Didn't he leave Shanghai?" Hartong said with a smile: " You are a big celebrity. After seeing the news in the newspaper that you were coming, my wife always wanted me to invite you to sit down. But when I found her, I heard that you had already gone to Huzhou." Li Yu said, "Indeed, I will go. to Wuchang."
"You are really young!" A Chinese woman about forty years old came out and said
"It's amazing!" Then she said to Hartong: "Look, I just said that the Chinese are smarter than you foreigners!" Hartong introduced to Li Yu: "This is my wife, Ms. Luo. Ever since I saw the report about you in the newspaper, I have been telling my ears every day that Chinese people are definitely smarter than us Jews." Li Yu said in surprise: "It turns out that sir is a Jew." Hartung said: "That's right."
"No wonder it's like this." Li Yu murmured. Hartung asked: "Do you also have a problem with the Jews?" Europe has had a tradition of rejecting Jews since ancient times. Hartung was born in Baghdad, and it is the same there.
Li Yu quickly waved his hand: "I don't mean that. I mean, no wonder you can become a real estate tycoon." Hartong smiled and said: "I know. Since I settled in China, I have found that the people here are very simple and friendly." Ha Tong said with a smile. Tong's wife, named Luo Jialing, said: "This is natural! Stop talking outside and come in quickly!" Hartong is now the director of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau of the Shanghai Public Concession, which is equivalent to the senior leader of the concession.
This guy is really awesome. He started from scratch and became the largest real estate tycoon in Shanghai. However, he is very strange and very contradictory. It is okay to say that he is the richest man in Shanghai, but he is also extremely stingy.
Later, Hartung donated some money to China, but he was so stingy towards his Jewish compatriots that it is unimaginable.
Moreover, although he was so rich, he never kept a mistress, his meals were very simple, and he built a huge garden, but he almost always stayed in a small office.
It's really hard to understand. I can only say that he is an emotionless money-making machine. His only hobby in life is making money.
enjoy life? Where's the fun in making money? Luo Jialing brewed a pot of Indian black tea: "I have read the news in the newspaper. You really make us Chinese people look good." Li Yu said: "That's not enough." Luo Jialing's life experience is quite mysterious. It is said that he has been in In Fireworks Alley, no evidence could be found.
In short, as a Chinese living in a concession, the key is to have enough food and clothing, so she was really happy to see a Chinese become famous all over the world.
After all, people usually have to hang out in the wife circle, which is a source of conversation and can also indirectly set off their status. Otherwise, there will always be a kind of discrimination in the eyes of others that makes her uncomfortable.
Hartung has also been trying to make friends with Chinese people of high status. Coupled with the vigorous publicity of "Declaration" for more than half a year, he is also very interested in Li Yu: "Although I don't understand science, but looking at the posture of the British side, I think They can't wait to let you go again." In fact, it's not just the United Kingdom, but Li Yu doesn't want to brag about these things. He just said: "It's just a scientific discussion, and it is indeed more convenient in person." Hartung said: "It can make the United Kingdom pay more attention to it. , it’s not simple.” Hartung has always wanted to become a British national and is quite familiar with the behavior of British aristocrats.
Li Yu didn't want to continue talking about science, since Hartong didn't understand it anyway. But now I really want to talk to Hartong, a big real estate developer, about something: "If I want to buy a piece of land to build a house, Director Hartong, do you think it's feasible?" Hartong didn't expect Li Yu to ask this question directly. The businessman's nerves immediately became tense: "Do you want to buy in the concession?"
"Relatively peripheral places can also be used." Li Yu said. Housing prices in Shanghai took off decades ago. Of course, the main increase now is in housing prices in the concessions.
Hartung touched the cigar and lit it. After blowing out the cigarette, his image changed directly into that of a mature businessman. He asked sharply: "How much do you want to buy and where? The public concession or the French Concession?" Concession in Shanghai It used to be the British Concession, the French Concession and the American Concession. Now the British and American Concessions have merged into the largest public concession.
But as we all know, Britain and France are at odds, so France is unwilling to merge, so the French Concession still exists alone.
These are the only names for the Shanghai Concession that have ever existed. As for the Japanese Concession that appeared frequently in some TV dramas in later generations, they actually did not exist at all.
Li Yu thought about the map in his mind, looked at Hartong's eyes, and had some ideas. He said, "I want to buy the land west of Jing'an Temple." Hartong's hand trembled slightly, and asked: "Jing'an Temple To the west or to the east?" Li Yu said firmly: "To the west." Hartung said in surprise: "To the west!" The westernmost part of the current concession is Jing'an Temple, but Li Yu knew that the concession has been expanding its area through road construction and other means.
The Qing government had nothing to do, so although these places were not technically concessions, they were still managed by the concessions.
Later, many famous celebrities also lived on the edge of this concession, such as Lu Xun. Because the development of this kind of place is relatively good.
But currently, the west side of Jing'an Temple is indeed undeveloped. Not to mention the west side of Jing'an Temple, the large land to the east is still wasteland, it just has roads.
Luo Jialing didn't understand Li Yu's thoughts after hearing this.
"There is no shopping mall over there now, so why go there to buy land?" Luo Jialing is also a woman with extremely vicious vision. It was she who originally encouraged her husband to buy land at a low price, allowing Hartong to make a lot of money.
Li Yu said: "It's nothing, I just want to build a school." Hartong almost choked on the cigarette: "Building a school? That's not profitable! Although the land west of Jing'an Temple is not expensive, building a school cannot recoup the cost at all." However, Hartung was relieved. He originally thought that Li Yu also wanted to be a real estate speculator to compete with him, but firstly, the place he chose was not very good, and secondly, building a school was simply a fool's errand.
Next year, Hartung will buy a 300-acre piece of land east of Jing'an Temple for 700,000 silver dollars and build the huge Hartung Garden.
It was really terrifying. Later, countless elders of the Republic of China lived in Hartong Garden, including Mr. Sun Yat-sen.
Even Zhang Taiyan's wedding was held in Hartong Garden. And when completed, it will be a top-notch luxurious Chinese-style garden, with an area as large as four Humble Administrator's Gardens.
Of course, Li Yu didn't have that kind of money, but as someone who had been through it all, he was completely pretentious. No matter how accurate Hartong's business vision was, it couldn't compare to God's perspective.
Li Yu asked: "Why, can't it be done?" Hartong held his cigar with two fingers and calculated in his mind: The land now does not completely belong to the concession, but the concession was not strictly divided in this area back then.
Moreover, the Ministry of Industry and Industry Bureau, the leading agency of the concession, had tried it many times, and the Qing government did not bother much when the road was built.
If you sell that piece of land, you will indeed skip a lot of procedures and make a lot of money in vain. Nowadays, most of the income of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau actually relies on real estate. It would definitely be happy to sell so much more.
What Li Yu was actually thinking was: in a few years, especially after the Nanjing Road development in 1908, land in Shanghai would become more expensive and impossible to afford, so he should hurry up and get it now.
Anyway, Shanghai land prices will never drop again. A bargain-hunting opportunity like Hartung's during the Sino-French War is unlikely to appear again.
Hartung thought about it, it was a super profitable business, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, but the price is not cheap now, at least 500 taels per mu." The cheapest area in the concession now should be the eastern part of the public concession, but it is also It costs about seven or eight hundred taels. As for the core area, it has already reached seven or eight thousand taels.
Li Yu bargained for: "400 taels." Hartong shook his head and said: "It's too low. Our Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau also has to bear the responsibility of protection and management." Li Yu said with a smile: "What if I want to buy a lot?" Hartong asked: "How many do you want?" Li Yu held out two fingers.
Hartung tentatively asked: "Two acres?" Li Yu said: "Twenty acres!" Hartong almost dropped the cigar in his hand: "Twenty acres!" This is just to buy land, and you will have to pay a lot of taxes to build a house in the future. of.
Although the concession is a sure profit, it is a matter of burning money. in this way
The idea of "spending money and waste" was not in Hartung's mind at all, and it did not belong to mature business logic. He couldn't figure out whether Li Yu had a brain cramp or was just teasing him.
