That night, Chen Xuan and Wei Yin both wore new clothes bought in Shanghai. Chen Xuan still preferred cheongsam, which was a magnolia-printed cheongsam. The salesperson said that the print was made in Germany, and to be honest, it was bright. The jewelry she wore was a set of pearl jewelry, earrings, hairpins, and necklaces. Well, they were all fake, bought from her own shop.
Wei Yin was wearing a western-style dress. She was only 18 years old, and had bright eyes and white teeth. Wei Nian and Chen Xuan both said that she looked good in this dress. Professor Chu couldn't help but praise her, "Miss Yin is really beautiful in this dress."
Wei Yin smiled and praised Professor Chu, who was wearing a plain long gown, "The professor has the demeanor of a true scholar."
Professor Chu had studied in Europe and was a proper western gentleman. After the lady sat down, Professor Chu sat down. Wei Nian first presented a gift and said with a smile, "I came across two books a few days ago. They look like antiques. I don't understand much, so I brought them to you to have a look."
Professor Chu was truly an expert. He took one look and said, "This is a good book, all from the Song Dynasty." But he did not show excessive liking for it.
Wei Nian smiled, "It can be seen that this book is destined to be with the professor."
"How can you accept a gift without merit?" Professor Chu laughed. Wei Yin was very perceptive and said quickly, "There is no one in my family who is well educated. No one will read such an ancient book in my family. Professor Chu, please accept it. My brother often comes across ancient books. Although my brother often helps people with antique business, whenever he comes across books, calligraphy and paintings, as long as they are in my brother's hands, he never exchanges them for money. This book should be used by you educated people for research."
Professor Chu is a top-notch figure in the cultural circle. In the past two years, Wei Nian has often done some business in the cultural circle. Professor Chu has also heard of him and knows that Wei Nian has a good reputation. With a beautiful girl like Wei Yin persuading him, Professor Chu smiled and was no longer reserved, "Then I won't be polite." It must be said that Wei Nian's gift really touched Professor Chu's heart.
Wei Nian smiled and said, "It is a blessing for this book that you are the one doing the research for it." He asked the waiter to bring the menu and asked Professor Chu to order.
After ordering, Wei Nian spread out the snow-white napkin slowly and naturally said, "Since I heard Ms. Chen's remarks about revitalizing the national industry from my wife and younger sister last time, I have also been deeply touched. I am a businessman. To be honest, in the past, I thought less about these things. I just did whatever business was easy to do. First, Mr. Jiao enlightened me. Later, I gained knowledge from you gentlemen and understood many truths. To be honest, the country is not prosperous, even a businessman like me is timid when doing business. Those foreigners have always been more powerful than us Chinese on our territory."
"I went to Shanghai this time by plane. I heard Mr. Rong say that our country's passenger planes, whether Douglas or Stinson, are all imported from foreign countries. In fact, we bought them from foreigners, and the money went to them." Wei Nian said, "I don't know much about airplanes. My family is in the clothing business. Now let's talk about dyes. How many companies' dyes are not foreign products? National industry sounds far away, but sometimes when you think about it carefully, it is very close, in every aspect and every detail of our lives."
Wei Nian is a great speaker. He was going to meet Professor Chu, so he was well prepared. After hearing what Wei Nian said, Professor Chu couldn't help but say, "Yes, this is why we want to run education and strengthen our country through science and technology."
"I invited Professor Chu here this time because I want to ask him about some domestic industry." Wei Nian told him about his plan to make domestic brand cosmetics. Wei Nian said, "Now in the domestic brand cosmetics industry, in addition to purchasing formulas from abroad, there are some old stores that have been operating for many years and have their own secret formulas. But I was thinking, like our cosmetics industry, can we cooperate with universities? In universities, there are also scholars doing scientific research. Although cosmetics are a small matter, it should not be underestimated. Nowadays, how many women in Beijing don't use cosmetics? Professor Chu may not know that the lipstick we produce ourselves is only three yuan per tube, and there are even cheaper ones, only two yuan, but the lipsticks made abroad are five yuan per tube. The difference of these two yuan is not anything else, but the quality."
"The cosmetics business is very small. Compared with airplanes and cannons, it may not be very impressive. However, such small things still need someone to do them. I really hope to serve as a bridge of communication to bring together businessmen like us and scholars from your school. After all, we understand the business better and know what kind of products customers need, and you can do research based on the directions we provide. I wonder if this method is feasible? I have to ask Professor Chu to help me with the review." Wei Nian asked seriously.
Professor Chu did not take cosmetics seriously at first, but Wei Nian said so and proposed a good plan. Professor Chu couldn't help but smile, "Your proposal is somewhat like that of Western universities. Laboratories in Western universities will cooperate with many large companies to do some research."
Wei Nian, “It can be seen that there is already a precedent. Why don’t our universities follow suit?”
Wei Nian is only 20 years old now. Professor Chu thinks that he is younger than the students in his class because of his young and handsome face. As a teacher, Professor Chu likes dealing with young people the most and is patient in teaching. Professor Chu said, "Boss Wei is a businessman, so I will be frank. It is like this. Universities need companies to provide research funds for targeted research. If they set up an experiment, the investment is not a small amount. Has Boss Wei discussed this with Mr. Rong?"
"I really didn't think it was that complicated." Wei Nian was quick-witted. He weighed the pros and cons. "Investing in experiments is not a small matter. Moreover, if we want to make such an investment, we must also conduct a detailed investigation of the experiment before investing the funds."
Professor Chu nodded slightly, not thinking there was anything wrong with what Wei Nian said. Wei Nian continued, "The laboratory is too far away, I want to talk about something closer. Professor Chu, for example, studying cosmetics and improving the formula of cosmetics, which subject does this belong to in the university?"
"It should be something from the Chemistry Department."
"Can I find one or two outstanding chemistry graduates in your school?"
Although Wei Nian may not have read many books, even Professor Chu had to praise Wei Nian for his quick thinking. Professor Chu smiled and said, "Boss Wei is really smart."
"My brand has not yet made any profit, otherwise, I would really like to set up an experimental facility at your school." Wei Nian said seriously, "I believe that the future belongs to the era of high technology, and universities will inevitably be the gathering place of high technology."
"Boss Wei, what you said is worth a toast." Professor Chu is a dashing man, and he does not look down on the Wei family who run a small business. He raised his glass, and everyone drank together, and the conversation became more harmonious.
Professor Chu said, "I'll help you find out about the Chemistry Department. To be honest with you, Boss Wei, it's always hard for students in our Chemistry Department to find jobs. But you can't be paid less."
"Don't worry, as long as you are capable, in addition to the basic salary, there are bonuses."
Professor Chu laughed and agreed to the matter.
Wei Nian took the opportunity to ask about many things in university research. He didn't understand the profound things, but he knew something about the direction. Wei Nian was humorous, and Wei Yin was also sweet and playful. Although Chen Xuan was not that smart, she was very calm. Professor Chu had seen it with his own eyes. Professor Chu also asked about the cooperation with Mr. Rong. Professor Chu smiled and said, "At the beginning, you missed the brand agency with Miss Shao, and you happened to meet Mr. Rong. I mentioned it briefly, and I didn't expect that he would take it seriously."
Wei Yin hurriedly said, "I have to thank Professor Chu. If it weren't for Professor Chu, we wouldn't have the opportunity to build a brand today."
Chen Xuan also said, "A few days ago, Ah Yin and I went to Daxingsheng. Ms. Chen's business is very good. The country's affairs are too big. We just want to do what we can within our capabilities. For this branding matter, we want to be a state-owned cosmetics brand. It may take a while, but there is no need to worry. If it doesn't take five years, it will take ten or twenty years. One day, we will make it as good as foreign brands, or even better than foreign brands."
"As long as industrialists have the determination of you guys, there is no need to worry about the country not being revived." Professor Chu is ultimately a scholar who cares about the country and the people.
After dinner, they first sent Professor Chu back to the university, then sent Wei Yin home, and finally Chen Xuan and Wei Nian returned to their house in Wangfucang Hutong.
After Chen Xuan fetched some warm water for Wei Nian to wash, she also washed her face and asked Wei Nian, "Brother Nian, are we really going to hire college students?"
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
Chen Xuan's eyes sparkled. After thinking for a while, she said, "It's nothing. I just feel that if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have felt that it was unimaginable. But she's a college student."
"What's wrong with college students? When our business grows, we can hire not only college students but also master's and doctoral students to work for us." Wei Nian was also in high spirits today. He was very proud to think that he, who had no education, could now hire college students to work for him. Wei Nian said to Chen Xuan, "Look, if we run a good business and have money, we can hire anyone to work for us."
Although Chen Xuan thought it was great that Wei Nian could recruit college students to do the work, Chen Xuan's almost superstitious belief in knowledge could not be shaken by Wei Nian's words. Chen Xuan said seriously, "Brother Anian, although doing business can make a lot of money. But think about it, if you were a college student, or a master's or doctoral student today, then today we wouldn't have to give gifts to Professor Chu and ask Professor Chu to help us hire people. At that time, we should be on an equal footing with Professor Chu."
Wei Nian glanced at Chen Xuan and said, "What's wrong with giving gifts to Professor Chu? As long as they are useful, we should keep in touch with them."
"I'm not saying that giving gifts is bad." Chen Xuan said, "But I feel that business is something outside of one's body, something that can be taken away by others. Just like the tables, chairs and benches in our house, they can all be taken away. Only knowledge is different. Once we learn knowledge, it is memorized in our heads. Only knowledge can't be taken away by anyone."
"There's nothing wrong with learning a little more knowledge. You never know when it might come in handy."
Wei Nian thought of something and asked her, "Do you still want to learn Japanese from me?"
"You have to learn." Chen Xuan said.
"Don't you hate the Japanese?"
"Yes, the Japanese are bad." Chen Xuan didn't think there was any direct connection between learning Japanese and the Japanese being bad. She went to the drawer and took out the elementary textbook and asked, "Brother Anian, where do I start?"
Wei Nian said "uh", and Chen Xuan saw him hesitating and couldn't help asking, "Are you regretting not teaching me?"
"No, no, I mean, if you hate Japanese so much, why don't you speak Japanese?"
"Does Mr. Wen like Japanese people? He even went to study in Japan." Chen Xuan said sternly, "These are two different things. Teach me quickly, don't waste time. When I learn Japanese, I will learn French with Ah Shu." She is quite organized.
Wei Nian felt amused, but he had no choice but to open the textbook and continue his career as a tutor.
The author has something to say: ps: The second update is here. I am too lazy to write about why Chen Xuan hates the Japanese. Why does she not stop Wei Nian from studying Japanese? Why does she still want to learn Japanese? Is there any direct connection? Should she go to the street and burn down the Japanese shops? After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, how many overseas students went to study in Japan? Classmates! Aren’t those people patriotic? The famous Lu Xun was a Japanese overseas student after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895!
The reason why Chen Xuan stopped Wei Nian from going to Mr. Ouyang was because she heard that Mr. Ouyang had a Japanese wife! She didn't like the Japanese and thought they were bad, so she didn't want Wei Nian to go. Of course, Chen Xuan's idea was also very one-sided. But due to Chen Xuan's current knowledge, that was it.
Also, Wei Nian was said to be doing business with the Japanese. The Wei family only had two small shops. If Wei Nian was doing business with the Japanese, Chen Xuan would know about it. Moreover, Wei Nian started learning Japanese last fall, and it has been less than a year now. He can teach Chen Xuan's beginner class, but what can he do business with the Japanese? He didn't have any business partners before. Wei Nian took the initiative to learn English at first because he already had a way to do business with Smith. As for Japanese, it was when Chen Xuan suggested that he learn another foreign language that Wei Nian chose Japanese because he thought Japanese might be more useful. If Wei Nian had trade channels with Japan, then it would not be Chen Xuan who suggested that he choose Japanese out of another foreign language. Based on Wei Nian's temperament, he must have taken the initiative to learn it.
So don’t let your imagination run wild. Many readers are really good at it.
I have to go exercise, so there will be no update tonight. I will add a longer review and update tomorrow!