Volume 1: Laying the Foundation Chapter 21: Entering School, Buying Land

  These things were no longer within Chen Xiaoxi's personal participation. He went to the University of Illinois, visited Professor Roger Adams, and had a half-day long conversation with him. After that, Chen Xiaoxi skipped his freshman year courses and spent most of his time and energy in the laboratory, participating in organic chemistry research as a student assistant to Professor Adams.

  At this stage, Adams' research focus was on the stereochemistry of alkenes, alkynes and aryl amines. The idea had been germinating since he started researching stereochemistry several years ago, but he hadn't had the time or opportunity to delve deeper into it until now. Chen Xiaoqi's paper happened to scratch the professor's itch in just the right spot, and in the professor's eyes, the paper was solidly grounded, with a broad knowledge base, clear and logical argumentation, and strong feasibility, making it very persuasive. This coincided perfectly with the research topic he was about to focus on.

  So, without any racial prejudice, Professor Adams issued that invitation letter out of love and kindness. This is the result judged by Chen Xiaoqi based on his own understanding in later generations. The fact also proves that this legendary master is indeed worthy of his reputation and does not disappoint him.

  Choosing stereochemistry as a breakthrough was also Chen Xiaoqi's premeditated plan, because his future focus would be on high polymer chemistry. As the only person in the world who is absolutely certain that high polymer chemistry and physics will make great progress and occupy an important position, how could Chen Xiaoqi miss this new gem in the history of chemical development? Similarly, the industrialization technology and raw material solutions for high polymer polymers are also a must-have fertile soil. These materials, which had taken root in Chen Xiaoqi's mind, were now his unique winning treasure.

  The concept that high molecular weight substances have a repeating chain-like structure was first proposed by Staudinger in 1922, but did not gain acceptance from some chemists at the time. In this era, colloidal theory occupied almost all the commanding heights, and the concept of macromolecules was still an unknown guess until the early 1930s, when it was widely recognized after many practices. Once the correct concept was established, high molecular weight substances had a leapfrog development. At that time, chain reaction theory had matured, and organic free radical chemistry had also made great achievements. The combination of the three made macromolecular synthesis have a relatively convenient and feasible method.

  Chen Xiaoqi, a traverser who has mastered all the development history, of course, would not wait for all this to evolve slowly. In his paper to the professor, he also put forward the view that high polymers are composed of long-chain macromolecules, similar to Staudinger's, with a tone as if he could do it himself.

  Instead, Professor Adams sat down with Chen Xiaoqi to discuss and debate the issue in detail, starting from a theoretical perspective to analyze this new point of view that others dared not to assert, to determine whether these so-called "ideas" really existed.

  Chen Xiaoqi knew that the most direct and effective method in scientific research is to make actual things according to your theory, and the reproducible experimental process and the same results are the only standard of science. However, science is not the only means of verification for all knowledge in this world, which has been demonstrated by more and more research results in later generations, otherwise, there would be no "quantum theory".

  So in theory, Chen Xiaoqi naturally had the rich results of nearly a century later as his backing. The knowledge of organic chemistry he learned from high school was not outdated and even somewhat advanced in this era, let alone molecular chemistry. Therefore, the professor finally found that Chen's series of theories were irrefutable, and then came the experimental proof.

  Before this, the professor thought Chen Xiaoqi's theory was already very complete and could be published as a persuasive paper. At least within his field of study, there were no more doubts about it. However, Chen Xiaoqi refused because he clearly understood that he was still an unknown young man who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and even he himself couldn't prove where his chemical knowledge came from. If this were to be exposed, it would immediately attract a torrent of criticism, and who knows what the consequences would be? Moreover, he was an Oriental person.

  Chen Xiaoqi chose this school, chose Professor Roger Adams, because in this era, in this era of America, the chemistry of the University of Illinois was undoubtedly leading, and the professor himself, as a genius chemist, enjoyed extremely high reputation. With such a great god on his head, Chen Xiaoqi could find excuses for whatever he came up with later, and attribute the honor to the professor. In this era, people like Chen Xiaoqi who made some earth-shattering achievements would be suspected, and giving credit to others was the best way to cover himself. Except for some important inventions that must be grasped in his own hands, those inventions that could bring huge benefits were the most important. Fame, as long as it's not notorious, is fine.

  So he not only tactfully asked the professor that his theory had not been practiced and was purely speculative, which was irresponsible and incomplete, and it was not easy to announce immediately. It would be better if it could be verified through experiments to get real results. This very "humble" and "serious" attitude won the professor's praise, thinking he was a rigorous scientific researcher, which made Chen Xiaoqi feel a little guilty in his heart, deceiving this respected teacher was a very immoral behavior!

  After that, Chen Xiaoqi stayed in the laboratory and classroom to study and look up materials. For most of his courses, he almost didn't need to listen, and for some knowledge that would never be used in the future, he chose to ignore it, as long as he could pass, which made his grades extremely poor. However, his professional learning attitude was astonishing, he worked tirelessly in the laboratory all day, and from time to time came up with some unconventional ideas, which greatly helped the professors' work. As a result, his reputation became loud in the professional field of the school, and Chinese students at the same school were also greatly encouraged.

  Chen Xiaoqi is not just busy with stereochemistry and polymer chemistry experiments in the lab. In fact, he has been secretly conducting many seemingly useless experiments in his spare time, which are far removed from his major and have gone unnoticed by others. Chen Xiaoqi is privately thrilled about this, as it's purely a case of using public resources for personal gain!

  In June 1920, Chen Xiaqi's two factories began to return on a large scale. The lighter finally opened up the American market and went to Europe and even the world with the ocean-going cargo ship. His jeans and derivative products were welcomed by industrial workers and a large number of farmers in local farms. This convenient, comfortable and reasonable structure clothing pushed their original cowboy clothes to another new level. Everyone can immediately feel all kinds of convenience, so Chen Xiaqi doesn't need to say much, consumers will choose the suitable clothes for themselves.

  Seeing the good sales momentum, agents from other places started to place large orders. Chen Xiaoqi timely introduced the agent exclusive sales system, limiting the product capacity and store number in each market, creating a false impression of scarcity. This was well reflected on the increasingly perfect "Zippo" lighters, as many agents began to pay in advance for goods to get enough stock, providing Chen Xiaoqi with sufficient funds to expand production scale, which in turn drove the development of his entire production and processing system.

  He used part of the recovered advance payment and his own meager savings to buy a farm about 20 kilometers north of Champenoux, which would serve as the base for his next venture. The plot of land, connected to a small hill covered with shrubs and a few pine trees, was not very suitable for farming, nor did it have any mineral deposits beneath it. There were sparse woods surrounding the area, but due to logging restrictions, they couldn't be cut down to create a larger field, making this two-square-mile piece of land essentially useless.

  It's not a place like this, Chen Xiaoqi doesn't want it yet, a place like this meets all the conditions for his future base, here is not far from the city, there are no villages around, the terrain is complex and suitable for building some secret things, not much grain can be grown, and the price won't be too high.

  The owner of the farm was a British family who were descendants of a fallen aristocracy, and after immigrating to America, they initially maintained their ancestral way of life and principles, but as time went on, they became increasingly out of place in this changing America. After the North's victory in the Civil War, the plantation owners' inherent notions and privileges were shattered, and these people could only pretend to be what they once were, which was really just a joke.

  So, being fundamentally inept at managing finances and not engaging in productive activities, the life of this British immigrant surnamed "Dawson" became increasingly difficult. The master of the house, Gerald Dawson, was fifty years old, almost bald, short and stout with a paunchy belly, wearing gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, dressed in a tailcoat and tie, carrying a civilized cane, and sporting highly polished shoes; he looked at everyone with a haughty gaze, as if his aristocratic title still existed, but unfortunately, no one recognized him in this rough and barbarous place in America.

  Stern. Mate drove the new Ford sedan, wearing a crisp suit and sitting in the driver's seat with an air of youthful pride that was unmistakable to anyone who wasn't blind. Chen Xiaoqi sat behind him, chatting idly while gazing out at the scenery through the window.

  The new car had been bumping along the rough and uneven country road for over half an hour before finally arriving at its destination, stopping outside a farm. The body of the car, which had just been polished to a shine before leaving town, was now so dirty that its original color could no longer be seen - and this was despite the surrounding cornfields being quite tall. Stern's heart ached as he quickly grabbed a rag from behind him and began wiping down the car while complaining: "Chen, these slopes are so rough they'd break a horse's leg! How did you choose such a remote place? I don't think it's suitable for your 'base'."

  Chen Xiaoqi sat in the car and didn't come out, smiling and saying: "There's nothing strange about this, you'll know the benefits later. If the road is broken, it doesn't matter, we can fix a good one ourselves later. First, think of a way to lower the price and get this place. Such a big place shouldn't be expensive, I hope Mr. Dawson won't open his mouth and ask for an outrageous price."

  Stern hastily wiped the car, got in and turned back to Chen Xiaoqi: "You can rest assured, I've already inquired about it. They didn't spend much money on this land when they first bought it because of US policy support. When buying land, they only needed $10 for 160 acres or less. It's safe to say that this unproductive wasteland isn't even worth $10,000. Moreover, according to my investigation, the British guy has been losing money from farming! He must be eager to get rid of this ancestral burden as soon as possible and move to Chicago to live. Hmm, many people have heard him say so. I think we don't need to spend too much money, maybe just $50,000?"

  The value of farmland in the US, Chen Xiaoqi didn't ask carefully, he only knew that when he left China, the best arable land was only worth seven or eight dollars, equivalent to about three US dollars. As for such wild land with ridges, it couldn't be counted. Unlike Chinese people who love their land as much as their lives, Americans' concept of being a farm owner is completely different, so they can't be compared.

  $50,000 is also a big number. In the early 1920s, the average annual income of an ordinary worker in the United States was only around $500. This amount is equivalent to a person's salary for 100 years (estimated this way). So it is absolutely a large sum of money. To know that in China at that time, the investment in Jinan's first and largest cement plant was only about this number.

  But if he wants to maintain the living standard of that farm owner, Mr. Dawson - that so-called high-society style, this amount of money is not enough. If they just sit back and enjoy it, it will probably be gone in less than ten years. According to Stern's idea, even giving him $10,000 would be too much. However, the fact that they bought the land cheaply was a policy of the US government, but this was something passed down from their ancestors, once sold, it would no longer be theirs, this is not just a matter for one generation!

  A newly polished car drove into the farm, some dilapidated wooden fence doors had long been open, next to a few sparse trees, a three-story wooden building with a pointed roof that looked very old was hidden there, a winding path paved with small stones led to the door of the wooden house, and on the right side, an independent shed stood still, where an old Ford T-type car was parked, which looked dull from afar, and it could be guessed that this car had some age.

  They arrived on time as agreed upon by Stern, and now under the shade of a tree at the entrance, a short white man with a stout build was sitting in a reclining chair, holding a pipe in his mouth, gently swaying back and forth, with a newspaper in his hand. Next to him was a wooden round table with cups on it, looking very comfortable, but as soon as the car entered the gate, he immediately jumped up, which also revealed that this deal was of great importance to him.

  This reflection falls in the eyes of the Jews who are known for their astuteness, and Chen Xiaoqi who has seen countless case dramas, this is clearly not a qualified businessman! This hasn't even started yet, and he can't wait to expose his emotional attitude bottom line, it's strange if such a deal doesn't lose money.