nyslfriends #140 - An unexpected discovery
#140 - An unexpected discovery
After repeated communication and exchanges, the professors either rejected the invitation on the spot or said they needed to go home and consider it carefully. Ren Zhong's communication efforts at the dinner table with the professors from the Associated University lasted for many days. He met with more than a dozen people, but very few actually confirmed their intentions. Three young professors without any family burdens were attracted by Ren Zhong's technology and immediately expressed their willingness to join and lead the team to complete the process from technical data to product. However, most did not confirm.
But Ren Zhong was not discouraged.
He didn't have the charisma of a big brother who could make people submit immediately. Although money power is sometimes useful, it is not omnipotent. He was waiting for time to ferment, waiting for frequent victories on the front lines to boost the morale of these professors in the rear.
However, he didn't know that even those professors who were still hesitating were mostly tempted by the products or technologies that Ren Zhong had brought out, which far surpassed this era: 30,000 KW hydro-generator sets, 30,000 KW thermal power generator sets, portable vacuum tube wireless communication equipment technology and circuit diagrams, new metallurgical processes, top-notch machine tool designs, and new chemical processes.
Many professors at the Associated University were so enticed by Ren Zhong's materials that they were almost mesmerized.
Li Jixiang was one of the most deeply affected.
"Old Li, you've been muttering to yourself. Are you possessed?" At Li Jixiang's home, Mrs. Li watched Li Jixiang, who had stopped reading books these past two days and started acting strangely, sometimes talking to himself.
"Madam, if, I mean if we were to go to a faraway place and start over, and I didn't teach anymore, but instead focused on doing something I really love to do, and you and Qiangwa didn't live in the city, but in a mountain valley, but we could still eat our fill and stay warm, would you and our child be able to accept that kind of life?" Li Jixiang asked back with dark circles around his eyes.
Mrs. Li was stunned for a moment, feeling a little panicked.
Her man was really possessed.
"Old Li, are you planning to leave Kuncheng and develop in another place?" Although Mrs. Li was not from a prominent family, she had attended school for a few days and did not cry or make a fuss.
She just felt a little helpless. She had followed Li Jixiang for thousands of miles to come to Kuncheng. They had only been settled for two years, and now Old Li was going to move again.
"I have such an idea. That's a 30,000-kilowatt hydro-generator! If I don't go, someone else will. That fellow Lao Liu will definitely not let this opportunity pass. And if we make 30,000 kilowatts, will 50,000 kilowatts or 100,000 kilowatts be far behind? No, Mr. Ren is so capable and gives us so much support. As long as we continue to invest, it's not impossible for me to complete 100,000 kilowatts in my lifetime." Li Jixiang's eyes became fiery as he spoke. "This is an opportunity for us to catch up with the world. If I can't be a part of it, I would really be unwilling."
Mrs. Li mostly didn't understand what Li Jixiang was saying, but she understood Li Jixiang's obsession.
He was worried about her and their child, so he was hesitant and couldn't make up his mind.
"Old Li, as the saying goes, 'Marry a chicken, follow a chicken; marry a dog, follow a dog.' Don't let us two delay your important affairs." Mrs. Li replied with some resentment.
Her answer was similar to that of Mrs. Fang.
"Madam, you really don't mind suffering with me? I heard that the place is indeed a bit harsh." Li Jixiang's spirits lifted after hearing this, as if he had grasped a life-saving straw.
"Look at what you're saying, Old Li. It's not like we haven't suffered before." Mrs. Li rolled her eyes at Li Jixiang. "Where exactly are you talking about?"
"Hahaha, Madam, you really understand me. Where I want to go is the border region where good news is constantly coming. The Jin-Ji-Yu counterattack launched by the border region is defeating the Japanese devils and causing them to lose their armor and abandon their weapons. According to the battle reports, they have already annihilated no less than 20,000 enemies. The strength of the Eighth Route Army in the border region is comparable to the main force in the war zone. It seems that the Japanese devils can't beat the Yellow River and will attack the border region. So, Madam, please rest assured, I believe that the talented Mr. Ren will not let us suffer." Li Jixiang laughed loudly, feeling relieved.
Stealing half a day of leisure, Ren Zhong and Huzi strolled through the streets of Kuncheng.
They had nothing to do this afternoon, so they came out for a casual walk.
The streets of Kuncheng were bustling with traffic, looking very lively. Apart from the occasional patrols by the army, there were not too many traces of war here.
However, the streets full of rickshaws and the thin, sallow-faced citizens everywhere allowed Ren Zhong to initially see the true face of this era.
The densely packed shacks built everywhere were as dirty and chaotic as the urban villages Ren Zhong was familiar with in later generations.
In the dirty and chaotic streets, a well-decorated independent small building suddenly appeared. The facade decoration was simple and elegant, with exquisite patterns carved on it. A pair of white jade lions at the entrance were delicately crafted, showing a unique oriental charm.
Two strong men in long gowns stood at the door, their waists bulging. They looked like they were not easy to mess with, but their expressions were not fierce. After all, when opening a business, the boss had to consider the psychology of the customers.
The words "Dachang Jewelry Store" were written in a flamboyant style, which seemed to be the work of a famous calligrapher who had been paid handsomely. Ren Zhong's eyes lit up and he pulled Huzi into the store.
Walking into the store, the first thing that caught the eye was the dazzling array of jade articles in the counter, each exuding a warm luster. The quality was amazing in Ren Zhong's eyes. Although he had not specifically studied it, the color and smoothness looked very much like the legendary glass jade and ice jade!
These jade articles came in various forms, including ornaments such as bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, as well as practical utensils such as ornaments and seals. Each piece had been carefully carved by craftsmen, delicate and meticulous, making people marvel.
This thing was the real hard currency.
Looking at the prices marked on them, hundreds or thousands of silver dollars, Ren Zhong's heart stirred.
Instantly, Ren Zhong felt that exchanging silver dollars for gold was not so appealing anymore.
If exchanged for this piece of jade, it would not be surprising to sell it for 5 million or even 10 million in the main world!
No wonder some people say that gold has a price but jade is priceless. These fine jade stones suddenly became lovely in Ren Zhong's eyes.
With a plan in mind, Ren Zhong glanced around and walked out of Dachang Jewelry Store.
However, the next day, when Ren Zhong and Huzi brought gold bars to the door, after a simple bargaining, Ren Zhong bought the glass jade Guanyin for 4 gold bars. This price was almost based on the exchange rate of 40 silver dollars for gold, and the store gave a slight discount, but the price of gold was originally higher than Ren Zhong's large-scale exchange, so he did not suffer a loss.
Huzi watched Ren Zhong secretly smile since he walked out of the jewelry store. "Boss Ren, what's the use of you spending a lot of money to buy this thing? If you ask me, those 4 gold bars would be enough for our independent regiment to eat well for a month."
Since Huzi followed Ren Zhong, Ren Zhong taught him to read and do arithmetic whenever he had time. There was not much progress in literacy, and now he is estimated to be at the level of a third-grade child, but Huzi is very talented in mathematics, almost on par with a junior high school student, and his mental arithmetic skills are amazing!
"Huzi, how did you calculate that it would be enough for the independent regiment to eat for a month?" Ren Zhong smiled and felt that Huzi's algorithm seemed to have some problems, so he asked back.
"Isn't it simple!" Huzi said seriously. "The grain bought with one silver dollar is enough for one person to eat for at least half a month. Mixing some wild vegetables was enough to eat for a month before. These 2,500 silver dollars must be enough for our regiment of 2,300 people to eat for a month!"
Perfect! Huzi's logic is impeccable.
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