A Man of Science and Engineering in Troubled Times Wandering in the Late Qing Dynasty Chapter 184: Number One Science and Technology Fan in the Literary Circle
Chapter 184: Number One Science and Technology Fan in the Literary Circle
Although Li Yu did not accept Ford's invitation, Ford and Mr. Leland also understood that it was difficult to recruit people like Li Yu.
Needless to say, Ford has not yet begun production of the Model T car. Although Cadillac's current performance is not bad, it cannot defeat the great god Li Yu.
Today, the status of engineers is not very high. It is impossible to let Li Yu, a foreign academician of the Royal Society and a member of the American Astronomical Society, enter the factory.
But Ford and Leland are really interested in Li Yu's improvement suggestions. If they can be installed in cars while controlling costs, it will definitely be a great product.
Ford immediately left Li Yu's contact information, "Sir, please inform us as soon as there is any progress."
Li Yu confidently replied: "No problem."
It is very likely that he will also be his customer in the future.
Cadillac was unavailable, and Ford didn't have the car in stock, so Sierra had to find another buyer.
Li Yu pointed to the two cars in front: "Look at this."
Sierra took a look and asked, "Is it a little too big?"
Sierra frowned and thought for a while: "So, it is necessary to find a laboratory."
The two had formed a wonderful relationship before they had even met.
Li Yu laughed and said: "The best use is not here."
In addition to his love of inventions, Mark Twain also made investments everywhere, but most of them failed miserably.
Mark Twain no longer dares to let himself go on the road of invention. Fortunately, he has Tesla as a good friend.
"Needless to say? Of course it's Fifth Avenue. The laboratory of Mr. Edison, the most powerful inventor in the United States, is on Fifth Avenue." Sierra said firmly.
The people at the booth were surprised: "Sir, is he also an automotive engineer?"
The man at the booth replied: "I am David Buick, and this car is a product of the Buick Motor Company I just founded."
Mark Twain often came to Tesla to see his great new "inventions". Fortunately, Tesla was a man who understood technology and could keep things in check.
Now it is really a luxury to have a laboratory on Fifth Avenue.
Mark Twain looked at it and his eyes suddenly lit up. What a good thing!
Although there was no Buick three-shield logo from later generations, when Li Yu leaned over he found that the signature on the car looked familiar.
Li Yushun said: "I think so too."
"Indeed," Li Yu said to David Buick: "It is difficult to change the engine, after all, the vehicle has been finalized. But if possible, I hope that sir can adjust the suspension stroke to be longer, so that this beautiful lady can be driven more or less
It’s more comfortable.”
In later generations, Manhattan was so powerful that it was known as the economic center of the world. It gathered the headquarters of most of the world's top 500 companies and was also the location of the United Nations headquarters.
From that time on, Tesla was extremely grateful to Mark Twain. After arriving in the United States, he discovered that it was a coincidence that Mark Twain also liked to invent, so naturally they became a close friend.
A cheerful old gentleman came out of a carriage next to the two of them holding a stack of papers.
Mark Twain lived a very difficult life when he was young. He worked as a newsboy and typesetter. He knew through personal experience that the work of typesetting was not only tedious, but also inefficient, so the future of automatic typesetters was bright!
Not only did Li Yu know him, but even Sierra exclaimed: "Mr. Mark Twain!"
Li Yu looked at it and said, "Is this an underwear button?"
Nowadays, wearing women's underwear is very troublesome. The back is like tying shoelaces. As shown in classic movies such as "Gone with the Wind", Scarlett needed help from a maid when putting on underwear.
Li Yu asked: "Mr. Mark Twain is looking for Tesla?"
Li Yu asked: "Where is the location?"
In addition, there are the famous Wall Street, New York Stock Exchange, and Nasdaq. Times Square, known as the "Crossroad of the World" and "The Center of the World", is also in Manhattan, only two blocks away from Fifth Avenue.
Mark Twain continued: "I also read your copy of "Star Wars: A New Origin". It was so interesting! Yesterday I asked the bookstore if there was a sequel, but they sadly told me that there was no sequel.
"
The total length of Fifth Avenue is more than ten kilometers. There are not many buildings yet, and there are indeed many places to choose from.
But Sierra is familiar with Wall Street in New York, and she really doesn’t know where to rent a laboratory on Fifth Avenue.
He obviously does not have technology or business acumen.
Li Yu said: "I am Li Yu."
Li Yu smiled and said: "I am a buyer...wait a minute."
When Tesla was still in middle school, he got seriously ill and almost went to hell. He relied on reading Mark Twain's novels to survive.
At that time, Li Yu made a differential on a ship bound for Japan, but it was bought by Japanese Shintaro Yoshida.
Mark Twain regretted: "I'm sorry, miss, if it were normal, maybe I could sign the manuscript paper and give it to you, but these design manuscripts are still useful, I want to show them to a scientist."
"It turns out to be the distinguished academician! No wonder he has such insight." David Buick said.
Everyone knows that Mark Twain was a great writer and can be called the father of American literature, but few people know that Mark Twain was also a technology fan in his life.
Mark Twain asked Li Yu with excited eyes: "Do you think this invention is feasible?"
Li Yu said: "There is no problem, but it will be inconvenient for racing if it is changed like this."
Mark Twain said: "You said that and I have confidence in my heart. It's just a sketch now. I'll be completely relieved when I get Tesla's nod later."
Li Yu smiled and said, "I know a little bit."
"David Buick!"
The two got off the carriage and prepared to conduct an on-site inspection first.
David Buick said: "Sir, you really know a lot about cars, which is very surprising. Who are you?"
In Li Yu's previous life, the rents for shops along Fifth Avenue were the most expensive in the world, with annual rents of tens of thousands of dollars for one square meter.
It is said that there is a magical competition in the United States. There are two rows of women standing in only underwear, and then two boys compete to see who can take off their bra faster. Of course, they stand in the back.
Li Yu leaned down, then raised his head and asked, "Can I take the liberty of asking for your name?"
Really decisive.
Li Yu smiled and said: "When have I ever lied? You shouldn't worry that I will find ways to get money as soon as I have a fund."
"You mean, it's more powerful than that Cadillac?" Sierra asked.
Sierra said: "You are really right."
"I know a little bit about it..." Li Yu said, "How much does this car cost?"
But people are dissatisfied~
Li Yu said to Mark Twain: "Is Mr. Tesla's laboratory nearby?"
Another year passed, and Peggy found Mark Twain and still said to him: "We are going to succeed. All we need is the last sum of money."
Mark Twain voted for this project!
Mark Twain took out $2,000 on the spot and waited for the good news to arrive.
I rummaged through my body, but couldn't find any pen or paper.
Well, I met the founder of Buick again. This auto show is really a crouching tiger, hidden dragon.
Sierra smiled and said: "What's the big deal? You are now an academician of the Royal Society."
Sierra said: "I don't like racing. I just want to drive comfortably."
The two cars in front of me are indeed one size larger than the previous Cadillac.
"It's a button, sure," said Mark Twain, "but I think it would be more useful on breeches and a vest."
"Didn't you say it was imperfect?" Sierra asked.
David Buick spread his hands: "There is no way, the engine cost of this car is too high, but it will not let you down."
The design in Mark Twain's hand was the button of the bra.
——It is simply a competition to see who is the experienced driver.
Not only the design of this bra button, Mark Twain also made many inventions.
It was Mark Twain's invention of the new button that contributed to the widespread popularity of bras.
Li Yu walked over and asked a man in his fifties at the booth: "Sir, can you introduce your car?"
Mark Twain nodded: "That's the house ahead."
Sierra also pursed her lips and smiled: "I just didn't expect you knew engineering."
If placed in the United States, the target of this meme is often the master of golden sentences, Mark Twain. There is such a meme on the Internet:
Li Yu nodded: "It should be so, let me ask."
There seemed to be something unspeakable in David Buick's eyes, but Li Yu didn't notice it. After Sierra paid the deposit, the two left.
David Buick said: "It's rare for someone to have such good vision. Many people give up after asking about the price. If I can produce another car in the future, I will definitely invite you to be the first to test drive it."
And it can be said that he is the number one technology fan among writers.
Li Yu looked at the vehicle: "It's just that I think the placement of the engine legs and the four-wheel suspension of this car seem a bit sloppy. I'm afraid this car won't be comfortable to drive."
Of course, Manhattan today is not as prosperous as it would be in later generations.
Walking out of the auto show, Sierra asked: "What can you really do about the development of four-wheel drive systems and electronic ignition systems?"
"It turns out it's the lady who wants to drive it," David Buick said. "I understand, it's not a difficult thing. I'll adjust it today and I can pick up the car tomorrow."
Mark Twain said: "Yes, we are friends."
It happened that a person named Peggy came to him and said that he had a good automatic typesetting machine in his hand, but he only lacked the last fund.
As a member of the Carnegie family, Sierra is relatively familiar with New York. After all, there are many big tycoons here.
Sierra asked: "Why are you stunned?"
"How can you be a qualified engineering man if you don't understand engineering?" Li Yu smiled again, "If you want to see it, I can make a simple differential tomorrow."
As a result, he incurred huge debts and had to embark on a global lecture tour to make money. He only returned to the United States in 1900.
"Just in time, show me this design first." Mark Twain unfolded the design drawing.
Mark Twain believed that he also knew how to invent. It was normal to encounter some difficulties in the process. Without saying a word, he continued to invest more!
"By the way," Sierra said, "Mr. Mark Twain, if you are looking for a scientist, there is one right in front of you. This is Li Yu, he is also a scientist."
Li Yu said: "That's because it has better horsepower, but I don't know how complete it is. I just observed it from the side, and it seems that the engine of this car is not a single cylinder, but a dual-cylinder engine."
Sierra was stunned for a moment, then said: "Of course!"
Sierra asked: "Really?"
Mark Twain said, "Technology has given me a sense of security, and it has also given you a sense of security."
Li Yu said: "It seems that it is indeed the best choice."
Li Yu asked: "Mr. Mark Twain actually likes to invent?"
However, there seem to be only two or three successful examples, and more are failures, which bring endless debts.
Li Yu smiled and said: "Aren't you a scientific giant? How come you have become a giant again?"
In the blink of an eye, one year later, Peggy found Mark Twain again and said to him: "We are going to succeed. All we need is the last sum of money."
It’s true!
"Beautiful lady, do you want my autograph?" Mark Twain asked.
Sierra was surprised: "The Cadillac next to me is only $750, yours is too expensive!"
After walking for more than ten minutes, Li Yu suddenly saw a familiar figure.
Li Yu explained casually: "I feel a little surprised to see a genius inventor."
Sierra immediately agreed and said: "It's settled!"
For example, he has always had the habit of collecting pictures and newspaper articles, but he was always troubled by the tedious process of applying glue. In order to solve this problem, Mark Twain invented an improved version of the self-adhesive scrapbook, and made money from this invention.
$50,000.
Not only is it convenient for ladies, but for the fact that it can be unbuttoned with one hand, the men of later generations will also have to thank Mark Twain...
Li Yu said: "It's a great honor. We will definitely have the opportunity to meet again in the future."
By the way, we often make fun of Lu Xun, saying that it was Lu Xun who said it (Lu Xun must always be saying: I never said that!).
Mark Twain thought: Well, that’s understandable! It’s worth spending the extra money for the automatic typesetter.
And it is very similar to those of later generations.
Three years, five years, ten years, Peggy is "about to succeed" every year...
The market quickly chose typesetters that were already on the market and were simpler and more portable. Mark Twain's investment was wasted.
For sixteen years, Mark Twain invested $200,000!
As a result, other people's typesetters were already on the market, and Peggy's typesetter was still "on the verge of success."
David Buick said: "You seem to know my product well."
"It's feasible, it's very feasible!" Li Yu said, "It's just that the design is a little simpler. It would be better if the details could be drawn."
Okay, Fifth Avenue!
Fifth Avenue runs north and south through Manhattan, the core of New York.
"$800," David Buick said.
"Oh! That scientific giant in the newspaper?!" Mark Twain said in surprise.
What is the concept? Mark Twain only made a total of more than 200,000 US dollars in his lifetime from publishing books.
After Mark Twain made some money from writing books, he still could not forget the joy of inventing.
"Hello, sir," the other party replied, "This car has an excellent two-cylinder 12-horsepower engine. I think it is the only one in this exhibition."
Li Yu said: "There will be."
Today, the United States is an era that loves investing and making money, and it is also the most money-oriented era. Everyone dreams of becoming a millionaire.
What’s even more coincidental is that Tesla’s laboratory is also here!
We can't blame Sierra for not mentioning it before. In the eyes of Americans at this time, Edison's reputation was indeed far higher than Tesla's.
Tesla is currently only famous within the technology and engineering circles.
Li Yu asked: "Can I meet Mr. Tesla together?"
Mark Twain said: "What's wrong with this, you are also from our scientific and technological circle."
Li Yu smiled and said: "Yes, yes, we are all from the technology circle."