This is already his second visit to Austria. At the same time, he was sending a telex to Yang Xiaolou in the UK to perform in Vienna, which is a European art center level place.
On the way, Li Yu wrote an article for the Holy See, hoping to use the influence of the Holy See to return some lost works of art.
In any case, from a moral perspective, the current Holy See yearns for peace and is at least much kinder than some politicians.
After landing in Vienna, before Li Yu could find anyone, someone was already looking for him.
A man in his fifties in a suit and leather shoes immediately recognized Li Yu: "Academician Li Yu, we have been waiting at the station for a long time. Allow me to introduce myself, Karl."
There were too many people named Karl in the German-speaking area, so Li Yu said politely: "Hello, Mr. Karl."
Karl said: "On behalf of the Austrian Steel Group, I hope to obtain the right to use the stainless steel patent in your hands."
Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany have always been places with strong industrial output capabilities in Europe. Li Yu didn't think much about it: "Okay."
Karl continued to invite: "Academician, please follow me to my castle to discuss the contract."
Li Yu was stunned, this guy still has a castle?
Vienna is a bit like Berlin. There are relatively many cars. Li Yu and others took the car he provided and arrived at a small castle.
A man who looked like a butler at the door immediately said respectfully after seeing Karl: "Sir, welcome back."
Karl said to him: "Today we have an important guest. Please send someone to invite Mr. Gustav over."
"As you command, sir." the butler replied.
It seems that Karl is still the owner of the castle.
However, after looking at it up close, Li Yu felt that it was more like a larger villa than a castle. After all, as a castle, how could it not even have a moat or other defensive means.
It's just that the area is a few times larger than an ordinary villa, and the exterior decoration does look very much like a retro castle.
Maybe this is Mr. Carr's personal preference.
Li Yu stood outside and looked up. There was no special toilet cubicle protruding from the wall of a traditional castle.
In the old castle, the lords would sit in special rooms suspended in the air when they wanted to poop, and nobles would be assassinated from below when they went to the toilet...
This picture is so sour and refreshing.
The interior decoration of the room was very new. Karl led Li Yu and others to the main hall, where his wife and children were welcoming. The servants were busy preparing sumptuous dishes.
Li Yu didn't expect Mr. Karl to be so attentive, and was a little embarrassed, but thinking about it, even before rebirth, when signing a business contract, it seems that hospitality is required.
Karl said: "Mr. Academician, it is our honor to invite you. My youngest son admires you very much and often says that he will follow your example in learning mathematical sciences."
Li Yuke said angrily: "Love of learning is an excellent habit."
Karl's children had been sitting upright in their seats. Karl said to the youngest son at the end: "Ludwig, you see, Academician Li Yu has achieved such achievements at such a young age. If you can do the same in ten years,
If you are at his level, no, if you can do one-tenth of it, then you will be decent!"
Karl spoke to the child in a very stern tone, and the younger son Ludwig replied: "Yes, father, I will study hard."
Karl said: "But your grades in school are so poor, you are simply not worthy of being called a descendant of the Wittgenstein family."
Li Yu's mind flashed, and it turned out that the family's surname was Wittgenstein. Then the fifteen-year-old boy in front of him was the famous philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein in later generations.
Li Yu said: "Mr. Karl, in fact, children of this age are somewhat rebellious, so you don't need to be too harsh."
"Rebellion? This is just an excuse. When I was young, I was never punished for being rebellious," Karl said.
Li Yu was not very good at taking care of other people's housework, so he said to little Wittgenstein: "What is your favorite subject in school?"
"I like algebra, geometry and physics," said young Wittgenstein. "The person I admire most is Mr. Boltzmann, and the person he admires most is you, so I admire you too."
"Thank you for your like," Li Yu said with a smile, "No matter what, you should study hard in school, because this will give you the opportunity to enter university to study more in-depth physics and mathematics."
Little Wittgenstein said: "I know, but there are people in the class who are always making noises and disturbing others in class."
Karl was dissatisfied and said: "What does it have to do with you if others are noisy! Oh, it seems you should be transferred to a middle school with stricter management."
Little Wittgenstein stuck out his tongue and did not dare to continue speaking.
Karl is an Austrian steel giant, but now he is basically hidden behind the scenes.
He had previously refused the nobility granted by Austria, but he was very persistent in his German nobility status and always claimed that he was the illegitimate son of a German nobility.
His education for his children was very problematic, which caused the children to have varying degrees of psychological problems. Later, two sons committed suicide one after another, which may be related to childhood.
A good childhood can heal a lifetime, but a bad childhood requires a lifetime of healing.
After chatting for a while, Karl took out a pen and paper and signed a contract with Li Yu to use stainless steel patent rights to produce daily necessities.
This is a big order. Austria’s production capacity is very strong and can cover almost all of Eastern and Southern Europe. The patent royalties can exceed US$100,000 a year.
After signing the contract, Gustav Mahler also came to Karl's house. He is a famous Austrian musician. But there are too many famous musicians in Austria. Ordinary people may not have heard of his name, but he is known as
The last great Romantic symphonic composer.
Rich people, nobles, and even the royal family in Austria like to sponsor musicians. As one of the richest families in Austria, Karl was very generous in sponsoring the arts, so many musicians of the same period were frequent visitors to his home.
Affected by some primary school texts or extracurricular readings in their early years, many people have the impression that musicians and composers are poor people, typical examples are Beethoven and Mozart.
Beethoven was described as a "poor and miserable" image, and Mozart was even buried in a beggar's grave with no bones left...
A small scar was left on the soul.
Li Yu was quite sad after reading it when he was a teenager. He originally liked playing the harmonica and wanted to take some extracurricular music classes, but he was firmly stopped because he felt that pursuing music would be too poor. 0.0
In fact, they are all fake.
Well, it's very interesting to talk about. During that special period of ten years, the professors at the Conservatory of Music wanted to prevent the red-headed young men from burning down the precious symphony music scores, and also to let Beethoven and Mozart, who were rich in Western colors,
The works can be played normally, and many stories are deliberately made up.
The professors were very flexible and wrote a special booklet called "The Story of Music", which was distributed everywhere as a popular reading material.
The pamphlet portrays the musicians as poor lower-middle peasants who were born in humble circumstances and are in poverty; as for some whose family background is indeed good but cannot be said to be too poor, various tragic scenes of physical disability and strong will are added to the music they create.
All to praise the oppressed common people.
Even Mozart, who became famous at a young age and lived in debauchery, was described as "having no money for medical treatment and dying young"...
Anyway, it makes you feel so sympathetic when you see it.
As a result, the musician class was successfully classified as "poor and lower-middle peasants", and his works were widely circulated. Beethoven directly became a literary and artistic model serving the working people.
Then, I don’t know why these stories were mixed into primary school textbooks, causing many people to mistakenly believe that those great musicians are really poor.
After growing up, Li Yu was shocked when he saw for the first time that the great pianist Lang Lang lived such a comfortable life and had a beautiful wife: Aren't all piano players poor?
Later I learned that the really rich families are those who can afford to learn the piano! It’s not the same concept as playing the harmonica at all.
Beethoven and Mozart in real history were, of course, very rich.
Beethoven may have been a little poor when he was young, but he was very capable of earning money as an adult. He had a student who was the Duke of Austria and the emperor's cousin! How could his income be so low if he taught lessons for such a person?
As for Mozart, Austria later published his bills and receipts for ten years, revealing the truth about his "poor" life: his income was at least 400 times that of ordinary people!
Mozart's large seven-room apartment in the core area of Vienna, the capital, also had a private billiard table, a hairdresser, and a special carriage space.
It’s so poor that one can’t help crying!
In addition, Haydn, Schubert, Liszt and other famous musicians are not far behind.
Liszt is directly a "traffic superstar". When he performs, crazy female fans directly throw jewelry and banknotes on the stage, just like opening a concert and opening a cash machine.
I don’t know if this can be considered as comfort to the young heart that was hurt back then.
Gustav Mahler, who came to attend the appointment, achieved the feat of earning US$10,000 from a performance in one and a half months three years later.
He is currently the chief conductor of the Vienna State Opera and holds the very prestigious position of artistic director.
Karl was very happy to see Gustav Mahler: "I heard that you will conduct a grand performance the day after tomorrow, and the Crown Prince Ferdinand will come to the opera house in person."
Mahler said: "Yes, this performance is by invitation only, and I have specially brought you a few invitation tickets."
Karl was very grateful: "I really don't know how to thank you."
Mahler smiled and said: "Your usual gifts are enough."
Karl introduced Li Yu and Mahler again. Mahler was quite surprised: "The mysterious scientific giant from the East! I think I have to bring you a few more tickets tomorrow. If Archduke Ferdinand knows that you are also attending, he will be very surprised.
Happy!"
Since Emperor Joseph I of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (husband of Princess Sissi) also attached great importance to the scientific community, Austria as a whole still respects scientists very much. However, the scientific atmosphere in Vienna is indeed not as strong as that in Berlin and London.