At the same time that Li Yu published these two astronomy papers, Collins Publishing also published Li Yu's "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."
Although it is not considered the official Star Wars series, Star Wars is currently gaining momentum, which does not prevent it from continuing to sell well.
Collins Publishers directly launched an ambitious plan to print 250,000 copies for the first time.
At the same time, the French Hachette publishing house had to take care of multi-language translations, so the speed was a little slower, but not too different.
As a businessman, Cartier has a sensitive sense of smell and quickly came to Li Yu to discuss some jewelry design issues, preparing to produce some joint jewelry series with Princess Leia from the Star Wars series, such as bracelets and necklaces.
Li Yu didn't know much about jewelry, so he just signed an authorization letter and let him do it.
Louis Cartier was very happy after getting the authorization letter and said to Li Yu: "Mr. Academician, after I go back to complete the design, I will send you a free copy of each model."
Li Yudao: "Why do I need jewelry? Your products are mainly aimed at women, right?"
Louis Cartier's mouth twitched: "You are young and promising, and you are not married, so you will definitely need it. And last time I ordered two watches, no more, no less. I know why without saying anything! Girls just like to sparkle. Bright, bling-bling stuff.”
Li Yu smiled and said, "Sure enough, you guys understand women best."
But I sighed in my heart, women really earn more money!
Louis Cartier said: "In addition, after the British ended the war with the Boers, the situation in South Africa has been relatively stable, and we have resumed normal trade with South Africa. Now that they have discovered good-quality diamond mines, the entire jewelry industry We are all very concerned about it. Our Cartier company can design a diamond ring for you in the future. Please believe me, academicians. Although I don’t understand science, I am very good at jewelry. Women will never be able to resist its temptation!"
Well, the most successful marketing case of the twentieth century began at this time.
Although Li Yu knows that diamond deposits are actually very large, and that the quality of artificial diamonds in later generations is even far better than natural diamonds, and the price is still very cheap; but at present, most people don't know at all that diamonds are indeed used as treasures.
Especially next year, the largest natural diamond weighing more than 3,000 carats will be discovered in the south, which is the famous Cullinan diamond (the name of Rolls-Royce's first SUV also comes from this).
This diamond was divided and set in the British crown and scepter, making women all over the world unable to resist the magic of diamonds.
Li Yu smiled and said, "We'll talk about the diamond ring later."
Louis said: "Sir, your career is your top priority. If you need it in the future, you can always ask me about jewelry."
Until World War I, Europe was considered a stable and wealthy period, and luxury goods developed really fast.
After Louis left, Li Yu returned to his desk and picked up a knife to open some letters.
Lu Bicheng happened to overhear their conversation and came over to ask, "What is a diamond?"
Li Yu nuzzled at the pencil on the side: "That's it."
"What?" Lu Bicheng didn't understand.
"They are all just carbon. If thrown into the fire, there is no difference between diamonds and graphite used for pencil leads. They will burn into ashes." Li Yu said.
Lu Bicheng thought thoughtfully: "It seems that foreigners don't necessarily know the goods. Haven't you heard that real gold is not afraid of fire?"
Li Yu smiled and said: "At least these jewelers must understand the inner meaning."
Lu Bicheng said: "No matter what, it sounds like gold, silver and jade are better."
Li Yu even wanted to give her a thumbs up: "You are so reasonable!"
The unsealed letter came from Boston and was addressed to Eliot, then president of Harvard University.
He has been in charge of Harvard University for more than 30 years, and his contribution to Harvard is like that of Cai Yuanpei and Jiang Menglin to Peking University.
Eliot wrote: "Recently, I once again saw the outstanding discoveries made by Mr. Academician at our school's observatory in the journal Science, which made me very touched. I also learned that Mr. Academician does not have the title of professor, and I would like to invite you to become a member of the School of Science of our school. Professor. Of course, as Director Pickering said, we will not assign too many teaching tasks to you, you only need to give appropriate scientific reports and lectures."
Li Yu knew that he would probably still use their observatory. He couldn't refuse this matter, otherwise it would be difficult to talk to each other in the future, so he agreed and informed Harvard directly by telegram.
Schools like Harvard are very similar to Qingbei in China. They are of a special grade and there are basically no weak subjects. Even if the subjects are not ranked first, others don't dare to look down on them.
And Harvard's natural sciences are not weak either.
There are now as many railways in the United States as instant noodles, so traveling to and from Boston is not a hassle.
Konoe Akira actually wanted to go with him, but Li Yu knew that it would be tiring to take her with him, so he decided to let her continue to live in the hotel with Lu Bicheng.
Fortunately, Li Yu has no clear attitude now, and the two women get along "fairly harmoniously."
——
President Eliot once met Li Yu at a White House dinner, and they had a close relationship.
After arriving at Harvard, Eliot invited him to his office and said, "It is actually our honor to invite such outstanding young talents and scientific stars to become professors in the School of Science."
Eliot is already 70 years old and should have retired. However, he swore at the time that he would serve as principal for 40 years, and of course he did it.
Li Yu said: "Mr. Principal, I also have a small request."
Eliot said, "But it doesn't hurt to talk."
Li Yu said firmly: "I hope your school can carry out cultural exchanges between China and the United States."
Elliot said: "Actually, you don't need to bring it up. I also have this idea. After seeing an outstanding talent like you, I became more determined."
Li Yu said happily: "Thank you principal, I can continue to publish several high-quality papers as an observatory of your school in the future."
Elliot smiled and said: "You Chinese people really know how to reciprocate. Since you said so, I can't pick at the clues, but I haven't figured out the direction yet."
Li Yu immediately said: "It's very simple. Let's start with medicine and education in the early stage. I hope your school can accept more of our international students, and it is best to run schools directly in Shanghai or Beijing."
Elliott said: "It sounds good indeed. We can accept international students and provide teachers. However, the funding issue may still need to be discussed at a meeting. Fortunately, I heard that your country also has a Red Cross Society, so it should not be difficult."
Li Yu has long wanted to build a university in China, but faculty is a very troublesome issue. Liberal arts is easy to solve, but science and engineering are really troublesome.
Now I heard that Eliot is willing to provide teachers, which is a help in times of need!
Li Yu quickly said: "Principal, don't worry about the funding issue. On the one hand, I have applied for the education fund from Mr. Carnegie; on the other hand, I also own several industries, so funding is the least of the problems."
Elliot was surprised: "Academician, you are really willing to invest money in education? You know, this is a very expensive thing. It would be best to obtain funds from the Shanghai association or the government."
Li Yu knew that this was a kind reminder from Eliot. After all, he had been working in higher education all his life.
However, Li Yu was more aware of the situation in the Qing court. It was already the Clay Bodhisattva crossing the river, and he could only rely on himself to do this.
So he said firmly: "I know, but if I want to do something, I have to do something top-notch. Money is an external thing. If you don't have it, you can make more money."
Eliot said: "Your Excellency, the academician, has the demeanor of the so-called 'chivalrous man' in your country. It is even more rare that he can see through gold and silver wealth at a young age. It is not easy. Is it true that in your country's Buddhism, you will not bring it with you in life, and you will not take it with you in death?" Zen philosophy?"
The principal's speech is indeed very literate.
Li Yu said with a smile: "The principal actually knows Buddhism."
"Not only Buddhism," Eliot said, "I have heard that an archbishop came to you on the order of the Vatican. It seems that the other party returned without success."
Li Yu said: "It's not a failure. I think it won't be long before the Holy See takes the next step."
Eliot said: "It is shameful to think of indulgences from hundreds of years ago and then think of the Buddhist view of life in your country."
Maybe he didn't know that Buddhism was also very extravagant during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. There are four hundred and eighty temples in the Southern Dynasty, and there are many towers in the mist.
Elliott continued: "Let's not mention this matter. When it comes to cultural exchanges, the number of teachers we can send may not be too many, and we need the understanding of the academician."
Li Yu understood the truth and said, "I understand that everything will not be handled by your school."
Elliott said: "Moreover, I also hope to build a dedicated medical school in Shanghai and name it 'Harvard'."
Li Yu said: "This is great, with such a famous name!"
Eliot said: "If you plan to build a comprehensive university, you can use this school as a subordinate independent college, just like our Radcliffe College."
At present, independent colleges operate with strong independence, which can be regarded as an early insurance measure for President Elliott.
Li Yu said: "I agree!"
Historically, Harvard University did build a "Harvard Medical School of China" in Shanghai, but it was closed after only four years.
But although the time is short, the school's level is very high, and the quality of the people who come out is really good. For example, Xie Yuanfu, the founder of urology in China, later founded China's first urology department in Xiehe.
Therefore, sooner or later, this "Harvard Medical School in China" will be included in Li Yu's pocket, and we cannot let it end like this.
It is more convenient to establish a good relationship with Harvard early on.
Elliott called his assistant, and then said to Li Yu: "With all due respect, we need a formal written communication to ensure that you and the foundation you mentioned have sufficient financial resources to facilitate long-term cooperation."
"I understand, this is a necessary procedure." Li Yu said.
As long as Harvard can provide faculty, Li Yu will unconditionally accept any request they make. If it is just money, it will be even better.
Elliott said: "We will send lawyers and financial professionals to investigate the financial status of Mr. Academician and your education foundation. We will also go to Shanghai to take a look at your premises, hoping to cooperate."
"Completely cooperate!" Li Yu did not hesitate.
Historically, Harvard only produced teachers from the medical school. This time, Li Yu said he would recruit more science and engineering teachers.
The assistant gave Eliot a manual, and Eliot flipped through it and said, "The salary of teachers in our school ranges from US$4,000 to US$8,000 a year. In addition..."
Li Yu made a decisive statement: "Principal, as long as the teacher is sent by your school, I can offer twice the maximum annual salary, which is US$16,000! If it is an associate professor, I can offer four times the maximum annual salary, which is US$32,000. . Moreover, the round-trip ferry tickets twice a year are fully reimbursed, and all living expenses in Shanghai are also reimbursed."
This condition is very attractive at the moment. As mentioned before, in the United States at this time, the top five percent of wealthy people have an annual salary of more than US$10,000.
Li Yu understood that only in this way could they be willing to send teachers.
This is Harvard!
If Xie Yuxi cannot accept such an expensive condition, Li Yu can take over. Because in Li Yu's opinion, the money was well spent.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, unlike later generations, transportation was not convenient. Excellent top university teachers could come to China to teach, and they had to be given adequate treatment before they could accept it. They couldn't all be philanthropic.
Moreover, a simple act of charity is unlikely to change the situation.
This is a bloody lesson learned from the failure of European and American financial aid to Africa in the following decades.
"This..." Elliot wanted to say something else.
Li Yu immediately said: "Principal, don't refuse. This is our sincerity."
Eliot then stood up and shook hands with him: "Your Excellency's broad-mindedness made me know the East again."
Li Yu said: “I am also grateful for the principal’s generous help.”
Elliot paused and then said: "If Mr. Academician can stay in our school for a longer period of time, you can go to our business school to attend lectures, free of charge."
Harvard University's business school ranking has consistently ranked first in the world.
But Li Yu knew that Elliot was implicitly expressing that he didn't know how to invest, and spending money was too much like running water.
However, Li Yu had also calculated in his mind that building education does cost money, especially universities. It is estimated that the Carnegie Fund will not provide too much money, and they will pay more attention to primary and secondary education.
And science and technology universities really need to spend money.
Later, Tsinghua University was a special case in developing so well. At that time, teachers at Peking University lost their salaries for more than a year and complained endlessly. However, Tsinghua University lived an extremely prosperous life, all thanks to the Boxer Indemnity.
But Li Yu probably has to pay for it himself.
However, Li Yu is very confident in his radio and automobile industries, and his profits will not be a problem in supporting ten first-class polytechnic universities in the future.
Anyway, Li Yu wants to promote education, and talents are the most critical resource. Of course, we have to develop real industries, but we are afraid that they will not be able to withstand the destruction caused by warlord wars. Even if Wu Peifu and Sun Chuanfang sell their faces like this, it will be difficult to save them.
Li Yu was inconvenient and brushed off Principal Elliot's kindness, so he said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the lecture, but I would be happy if you could give me some handouts."
Principal Eliot said: "The lectures are easy to handle. Also, since you are here, as a new professor of the School of Science, you should give a lecture today, right?"
Li Yu solved a big problem in his heart and was in a very good mood: "No problem, principal please!"
(End of chapter)
