Tang Shaoyi took out an exquisite gold pocket watch from his pocket, opened it and saw that it was already half past twelve. He said to Breeden, director of the British Concession Industry Bureau: "Mr. Director, I'm sorry. I know about Li Yu. There must be something wrong, otherwise he wouldn't be late." Breeden said: "It doesn't matter, he It's worth the wait, I really want to see what a Chinese scientist who is famous in Europe looks like." Tang Shaoyi smiled and said: "You will feel that the trip is worthwhile." But Xie Yuxi couldn't wait any longer, stood up and said: "I'll go out and have a look. " She walked downstairs, looked at both sides of the street, and then asked the security guard: "Is Li Yu not here yet?" The security guard didn't know why: "Your guests haven't arrived yet?" Xie Yuxi murmured to himself: "He always You can't find a place." Then he asked the security guard: "Have you seen a Chinese man about 1.8 meters tall?" The security guard said
He didn't know much about the concept of "meter", so he asked, "What's 1.8 meters?" Xie Yuxi had to raise her hand and gesture: "About this tall, and he's neither fat nor thin. Oh, by the way, he has already cut off his braids." Security guard. He patted his thigh and said, "There was a Chinese man just now. When you said about cutting his braids, I remembered him. I thought he was a revolutionary party, so I drove him away."
"You!" Xie Yuxi didn't want to talk nonsense with him.
"Where did he go?" The security guard pointed: "He took the two little beggars over there." Xie Yuxi hurriedly went in the direction pointed, and actually saw Li Yu at the bun shop.
Li Yu was paying, and he said to the two little beggars: "Take these buns, these broken silver coins, and some more bran nests. These things can be stored, but they are very hungry." The little beggars were very kind. Xie: "You are really big...hiccup, what a good man! Hiccup!" Li Yu said: "Your stomachs are all full. Hurry up and go back to eat." The little beggar covered his stomach: "I have to lie down when I get back. It's not easy." I'm full, I don't want to starve again." Xie Yuxi came over and asked slightly angrily: "Why are you here eating steamed buns?!" Li Yu spread his hands: "The security guard refused to let me in, saying that a foreigner must be allowed in Just bring me in like a dog." Xie Yuxi said, "Are you kidding? How could such a thing happen?"
"If you don't believe me, just ask the security guard." Li Yu said.
"Hurry up," Xie Yuxi pulled Li Yu away.
"Tang Daotai, Director Braden, Boss Xu, and Mr. Yan and Mr. Zhang are all waiting for you." Returning to the door of the Chishilin Restaurant again, the security guard was dumbfounded: "It turns out that you are a guest of Mr. Yang." Li Yu mocked: "No, I'm a foreigner's dog." The security guard slapped himself in the face: "It's all my fault that I can't see Taishan." The security guard knew that this woman came with the director of the British Concession Industry Bureau, so he said , Li Yu was the guest of the director of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau, but he was stopped by him, and he was probably going to be fired the next day.
The security guard said tremblingly: "Uncle, I really don't know." There are many such ignorant people like the beggars just now, so Li Yu doesn't want to get too entangled.
"Just be your security guard." Li Yu said. It would have been fine if Li Yu scolded him, but when the security guard saw Li Yu's friendly expression, he became even more frightened.
In his eyes, someone who could sit and have dinner with the director of the Ministry of Industry and the dignified Tianjin Customs Road was definitely not an ordinary person.
This is really a setback. The security guard knelt down and said, "Uncle, please hit me twice to calm down. Don't tell the boss!" Li Yu despised people kneeling down casually, why were their knees so weak.
Li Yu said: "I told you, just be your security guard! You are a security guard today, you will be a security guard tomorrow, and you will always be a security guard." The security guard was happy when he heard Li Yu's words: "Uncle, you are so kind. Virtue! You are really the prime minister's heart!" Li Yu didn't want to talk to him anymore, so he left with Xie Yuxi.
Xie Yuxi said: "I didn't expect this to happen. Isn't he also Chinese?" Li Yu sighed: "Sometimes the biggest discrimination comes from one's own people." Xie Yuxi has also seen some discrimination against black people in the United States, but in the northern United States, Relatively tolerant, the real discrimination against people of color was in the South of the United States at this time.
Xie Yuxi said: "Come up quickly." After entering, Li Yu quickly said: "Sorry, there was a little incident." We went to eat steamed buns!" The incident happened in the British Concession. Breeden was a little embarrassed: "I will take good care of these stores in the future." Xu Run also patted the chair: "A janitor made us wait for so long and delayed things. No!" Tang Shaoyi said: "Didn't Marshal Yuan give you a badge? If you show it, you'll be fine." Li Yu said: "I really forgot, I will definitely bring it with me next time." Xu Run said: "Don't worry about that. Come on, sir, sit down quickly." Then he called to the waiter: "Hurry up and serve the food!" Li Yu patted his belly: "I'm almost full." Xu Run said with a smile: "This is not good, I have reserved the best one. Dishes." Xu Run introduced everyone again, but fortunately Li Yu knew most of them.
Tang Shaoyi said to Xie Yuxi: "According to Western etiquette, ladies are given priority. You can speak first." Although I manage scientific research and management, the main target in the early stage is Li Yu. Under his entrustment, we plan to build an education system in China, including primary schools, middle schools and universities, and we will be able to study in the United States with scholarships in the future. ." Braden said: "Mr. Li Yu is proficient in mathematical sciences and astronomy. Unexpectedly, he is also passionate about education." Li Yu said: "My power alone is too small, and I need more sparks." He doesn't know yet. Li Yu also knows engineering.
Li Yu's idea was to do theoretical science himself, while the people trained by the school were mainly oriented towards engineering. To put it bluntly, science is something that only the best can do.
Engineering, on the other hand, is relatively applied and can cultivate useful talents faster. Therefore, Li Yu's strategy is to engage in theoretical research such as mathematical sciences, and then the school will focus on engineering.
Of course, humanities subjects will also be offered accordingly. Breeden was more interested in Li Yu's scientific achievements: "I heard earlier that you became a foreign academician of the Royal Society. As far as I know, there are very few foreign academicians at present. The only one I can think of is Russia's Mendeleith Mr. husband, juxtaposed with it, it is really amazing." Breton is an Englishman and has great admiration for his Royal Society.
Li Yu said: "It is because of the special appreciation of Lord Kelvin and President Huggins that I have this honor." It seems that this Britten is quite easy to talk to and will not make things difficult for him.
After talking about the main topic, Breeden said: "Of course you can buy a piece of land for education, sir, but..." Xie Yuxi also asked: "What are the conditions?" Breeden said: "I guess I can cultivate it under your hands. , must be outstanding talents, so some of them must study in the UK." Li Yu was startled, thinking he was asking for something.
After doing this, the school has already become a hot spot before recruiting people. Li Yu smiled and said: "It's easy to talk about!" British universities are not weak either.
Xu Run also wanted to do business. Although the land price in Tianjin was far less expensive than in Shanghai, the land for building the school must be very large. The value of his land has appreciated a lot, so it must be a large deal.
Xu Run took out a map,
"I have a lot of land in my hands. You guys take your pick." Li Yu looked at it for a while, then pointed to the southwest corner of the British Concession in Tianjin and said, "Is this all yours?" Xu Run said, "You really made a choice. It's a good place. Half of it is in the British Concession and half is not. But if we buy them together, I don't think the concession will object." Li Yu was looking for an advantage, because he knew that many years later, like this, on the edge of the concession It is difficult to distinguish who is in charge of this place, which is very similar to the later edge areas of Shanghai Concession.
But the reason why Li Yu fell in love with this place at first glance was because it was very close to the later Nankai University, so it looked very familiar to him.
Xie Yuxi also felt that it was okay. It was not far from the Fifth Avenue, the teaching staff and material supply were guaranteed, and it could also improve the school's style.
Xie Yuxi has money and can do it if he wants to.
"Boss Xu, please make a price." Xu Run rubbed his hands, calculated for a while and said, "Twenty-three thousand taels." Xie Yuxi said, "It's a wasteland now, and it's not all concession land. It's a bit It’s too expensive.” Tang Shaoyi also said: “Boss Xu, please lower the price a little.”
"For more than 100 acres, the price is not high," Xu Run said.
"Well, for the sake of Tang Daotai and Mr. Li Yu, and in order to revitalize education and enhance our country's prestige, I will reluctantly contribute! 20,000 taels, how about it?" Xie Yuxi felt that he couldn't cut anymore, so he said: " Deal." 20,000 taels, converted into U.S. dollars, is probably less than 40,000 U.S. dollars. It is considered appropriate to buy such a large piece of land.
All in all, the average cost per acre is about 200 taels. Considering the location, it is indeed several times cheaper than in Shanghai.
But when they go to Shanghai to look for land to buy, a lot of money will still have to be spent. According to the standard, 100 acres of land is actually the size of a middle school.
It is more than 60,000 square meters, and a standard stadium has more than 10,000 square meters. In addition, it is not easy to build high-rise buildings now. If only one or two-story buildings are used as school buildings, not many students can be accommodated.
It is conservatively estimated that only about 200 students can be recruited for each level. If we want to improve the quality of education and provide more supporting facilities, then the goal of 200 students will not be reached. 100 students per year is already a threshold.
However, this is the current situation, and we will come back slowly in the future. Xu Run said: "Just a reminder, the relevant taxes are not included and you still need to pay." The tax is the bulk of the local commission, which is almost the same as in Shanghai, and can reach 30 to 40 percent, or 6,000 to 7,000 taels; plus Some other expenses are estimated to be several thousand taels, but the actual cost is more than 30,000 taels.
So Breeden naturally hopes to see their business deal. When he comes over, on the one hand, he does have the right to review and see who the buyer is; on the other hand, whoever is in charge of the transaction will benefit the most.
Breeden raised his glass: "American women are so refreshing! Cheers!"
