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, the director of the British Concession Industry Bureau: "Mr. Director, I'm sorry. I know Li Yu, I'm sure
Something went wrong, otherwise he wouldn't be late."
Breeden said: "It doesn't matter, he is worth waiting for. 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 your trip is worthwhile."
But Xie Yuxi couldn't wait any longer, stood up and said, "I'll go out and take a look."
She walked downstairs, looked at both sides of the street, and then asked the security guard: "Isn't Li Yu here yet?"
The security guard was confused: "Your guests haven't arrived yet?"
Xie Yuxi murmured to himself: "He can't find a place."
So he asked the security guard again: "Have you seen a Chinese man who is about 1.8 meters tall?"
The security guard didn't know much about the concept of "meter" and asked: "One meter and eighty?"
Xie Yuxi had no choice but to raise her hand and gesture: "About this tall, not fat or thin. Oh, by the way, he has already cut off his braids."
The security guard slapped his thigh and said, "There was a Chinese guy 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: "I took the two little beggars over there."
Xie Yuxi hurriedly went in the direction pointed, and finally saw Li Yu at the bun shop.
Li Yu was paying, and he said to the two little beggars: "Take these buns and these broken silver coins, and get some more bran nests. These things can be stored, but they are very hungry."
The little beggar thanked him profusely: "You are such a great... hiccup, such a good man! Hiccup!"
Li Yu said: "Your stomachs are full. Hurry up and go back to eat."
The little beggar covered his stomach: "I'm going to lie down when I get back. I'm finally full. I don't want to go hungry 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. He said I had to be led in by a foreigner 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, Mr. Yan, and Mr. Zhang are all waiting for you."
Returning to the door of Qishilin Restaurant again, the security guard was dumbfounded: "So you are a guest of a foreigner."
Li Yu mocked: "No, I am a foreigner's dog."
The security guard slapped himself in the face: "It's all my fault for being blind."
The security guard knew that this woman came with the director of the Industrial Bureau of the British Concession. In this case, Li Yu was the guest of the director of the Industrial Bureau. However, he stopped him and probably would 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 face, he became even more frightened. In his eyes, being able to sit and have dinner with the director of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau and the dignified Tianjin Customs Road Station was definitely not an ordinary person.
people.
This time I was really screwed.
The security guard knelt down and said, "Uncle, please hit me twice to calm down, and don't tell the boss!"
Li Yu hates people kneeling down casually. Why are 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: "Master, you are so kind! You are really the prime minister's heart!"
Li Yu didn't want to talk to him anymore and 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 experienced some discrimination against black people in the United States. However, the North of the United States is relatively tolerant. The real discrimination against people of color was in the South at this time.
Xie Yuxi said: "Come up quickly."
After entering the door, Li Yu quickly said: "Sorry, there was a little incident."
Xie Yuxi was still a little angry: "He had arrived a long time ago, but was stopped by the security guard and ran to the nearby bun stall to eat 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 slapped the chair: "A gatekeeper made us wait for so long and delayed things!"
Tang Shaoyi said: "Didn't Marshal Yuan give him a badge? If he showed it, he would 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, sir, sit down quickly." Then he called the waiter: "Hurry up and serve the food!"
Li Yu patted his belly: "I'm almost full."
Xu Run smiled and said: "It's not okay, I ordered the best dishes."
Xu Run introduced everyone again, and luckily everyone knew Li Yu.
Tang Shaoyi said to Xie Yuxi: "According to Western etiquette, ladies have priority. You can speak first."
Xie Yuxi was not shy and said: "Gentlemen, I think you already know that my grandpa has set up a fund for education and scientific research. Although it is under my management, the main target in the early stage is Li Yu. I am responsible for it.
Trust us, we are going 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."
Breeden 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, I need more sparks."
He didn't know that Li Yu also knew 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, only the best people can study science. 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 Braden is quite easy to talk to and won't make any difficulties.
After getting to the main topic, Breeden said: "Sir, if you want to buy a piece of land for education, of course you can, but..."
Xie Yuxi also asked: "What are the conditions?"
Breeden said: "I estimate that those who can be trained under you must be outstanding talents, so some of them must study in the UK."
Li Yu was startled, thinking that he was asking for something. After doing this, the school had not yet recruited people, but they had already become popular.
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 had already appreciated a lot, so it must be a large deal.
Xu Run took out a map and said, "I have a lot of land in my hand. You can choose from it."
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 picked a good place. Half of it is in the British Concession and half is not. But if we buy it together, I don't think the Concession will object."
Li Yu was trying to gain advantage because he knew that many years later, it would be difficult to distinguish who was in charge of areas like this on the edge of the concession, which would be very similar to the later areas on the edge of the 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.
If Xie Yuxi has money, he can do it if he wants to.
"Boss Xu, please make a price."
Xu Run rubbed his hands, thought about it 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 expensive."
Tang Shaoyi also said: "Boss Xu, lower the price a little bit."
"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
Two, how about it?"
Xie Yuxi felt that he could no longer cut it, so he said: "Deal."
20,000 taels, converted into U.S. dollars, is about 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 of one mu of land 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.
If 100 acres of land is according to the standard, it is actually the size of a middle school. It is more than 60,000 square meters, and a standard stadium is more than 10,000 square meters. In addition, it is not easy to build high-rise buildings now, and only one or two-story houses are used as school buildings.
, there are not many students that 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 try again later.
Xu Run said: "Just a reminder, the relevant taxes are not included and you still need to pay them."
Taxes are the bulk of the local commission, which is almost the same as in Shanghai. It can reach 30 to 40%, or six to seven thousand taels. Adding in some other expenses, it is estimated to be a few thousand taels, and 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!"