Go back to the past and be a schoolboy

"Ring Ling Ling..."

"Ring Ling Ling..."

On the street in late autumn, withered and yellow leaves are scattered all over the ground.

As soon as Cheng Nuo explained the outline of the "Hou's Alkali-making Method", Fan Xudong deduced the process in his mind. The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was possible, so he excitedly took Cheng Nuo to do a chemical experiment.

It's a pity that some raw materials are not available in the small earthen house. If you want to make the alkali completely, you still have to go to the factory and use professional equipment.

So Cheng Nuo, who had just arrived at the small earthen house, was dragged and dragged to the Jiuda Salt Factory.

"Ring Ling Ling..."

Accompanied by the crunch of feet stepping on fallen leaves, the crisp bell sounded again.

After listening carefully, it was not a single bell ringing, but a series of bells ringing in ensemble, which inevitably reminded Cheng Nuo of his previous life in the countryside, a peddler who traveled all over the country, always shaking rattles in front of his cart.

Out of curiosity and because he was on the way, Cheng Nuo couldn't help speeding up his steps, ready to go over and find out.

It doesn't matter whether you buy it or not, just check to see if there is anything in the car that triggers memories.

"Zhiyuan...or else, forget it." Hearing the bell ring, Fan Xudong's face gradually became gloomy, and he unconsciously wanted to stop Cheng Nuo from passing.

But when he saw that Cheng Nuo had already taken a few steps towards the voice, heading in the direction of the factory again, he dismissed the words of admonition.

This made Cheng Nuo in front very puzzled. He turned his head and said with concern: "Xudong, what's wrong with you, are you feeling unwell or something? You look so ugly, but you were fine just now."

"Huh~" Fan Xudong let out a long breath, cleared up his emotions and regained his energy: "It's okay, I just happened to think of some bad things just now, after a while, I'm much better now."

Obviously, there are some words that the other party does not want outsiders to know.

Cheng Nuo frowned and said, "It's fine if you don't want to say it, but since we are friends, as long as you need it, I will definitely help you."

At this time, Fan Xudong suddenly showed a strange expression on his face: "You can help, and you have already helped."

Cheng Nuo was puzzled: "What's the matter? Why didn't I know?"

Before Fan Xudong could answer, the bell suddenly rang again beside the two of them.

Before I knew it, the source of the sound was quietly approaching.

At this time, Cheng Nuo suddenly realized that there were some shouts under the bell.

It's just that other hawkers sell small things, but the owner of the bell sells "God".

"O merciful Lord, O great Virgin Mary..."

"Ring Ling Ling..."

"Let down happiness and nectar!"

"Ring Ling Ling..."

"Give it to the hungry land of China!"

"Ring ring ring... ring..."

The intertwining of bells and Chinese with a foreign accent reminds people of those on the streets of China, beating gongs and yelling in circles to sell big pills.

Cheng Nuoxin said, isn't this just for preaching? As for making such a big fuss?Could it be that Fan Xudong believes in other religions and doesn't see these things in his eyes?

But what happened next left Cheng Nuo dumbfounded.

This gringo with yellow eyes and yellow eyes proclaimed the stories in the "Gospel of Mark" in front of everyone, such as the birth of Christ, the words and deeds of Christ, the blessings of Christ, etc., in a very impressive manner.

According to Cheng Nuo's vision, after the atmosphere in the audience was created, it must be time for the following to preach, and all the words about believing in God and going to heaven after death should be brought out.

Unexpectedly, the gringo closed the book directly and waved to the attendants behind him. A porter with two baskets of things wobbled forward.

Putting the basket in front of everyone, the gringo directly lifted the cloth covering it, revealing a lot of alkali noodles.

"God sees that you don't have alkali for food and clothing, and the life is too bitter, so he deliberately sent down two loads of holy alkali noodles, and asked me to give you."

When the potential believers below heard this, they became even more fanatical.

You push me, I push you.

If the gringos hadn't arranged guards in advance to surround the crowd, the two loads of soda noodles would have been washed away by the crowd long ago.

"Don't worry, don't worry, everyone has a share, everyone has a share!"

"God said that to see your piety, in your Chinese language, it is called incense. With more incense, he can send more alkali noodles to reward everyone."

"In order to thank God, and to bring more alkaline noodles next time, each person needs to pay eight big bucks as incense money to receive a piece of holy alkaline noodles from me."

"What, you don't have any money? I'm sorry, God says he doesn't have credit..."

After one operation, Cheng Nuo's jaw almost dropped to the ground.

This is not a missionary, he is clearly a businessman who sells dog meat with tricks and tricks.

Suddenly thinking of the strange look on Fan Xudong's face just now, Cheng Nuo immediately reacted.

"Xudong, do you know that this guy is selling soda noodles under the guise?"

"Ah!" Fan Xudong sighed, and walked around the crowd, wanting to leave the place: "This man is British. He took a Chinese name of Li Lide. He usually looks like a missionary. The manager of the inner door head office.

Usually, Chinese people are hired to carry foreign caustic soda, and sell "The Gospel of Mark" to attract pedestrians on the street. "

Sure enough, even though he was separated from the crowd, Cheng Nuo could also hear Li Lide's show through his voice.

Standing tall, I observed that this guy first kneaded the noodles directly in public, then added the alkaline noodles and steamed the small steamed buns directly in the pot. After a while, the steamed buns were steamed and distributed to everyone to taste, all of which were sweet and fragrant flour.

The most intuitive feeling for everyone is that it is far more than the local sour steamed buns.

In this way, with the double blessing of spirit and material, the sales of alkaline noodles are even more popular.

In fact, it is no wonder that the people are so enthusiastic about it. It is really that the local alkaline noodles are too scarce.

At that time, what we Chinese ate was trona, which was produced in Zhangjiakou and Gubeikou, and was commonly known as "koujian".The practice of caustic soda is extremely backward. Alkalinizing the natural soil into alkaline water and then agglomerating it is called completion.

The processing is poor, and there are so many impurities that it looks like a piece of yellow mud.

Soda not only seriously affects people's health, but also cannot be used in industry at all.

It is no wonder that British buenemenine, which came along with the "Gospel of Mark", immediately occupied the Chinese market.

Seeing such a hot sales scene, Li Lide couldn't help but become presumptuous.

"Ring ring ring ring..."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

"The ignorant and barren land of the Far East, wait for the coming of God."

At this moment, Li Lide, who was standing on the high ground in the center of the crowd, suddenly spotted Fan Xudong, an "old friend", and immediately pushed aside the crowd and walked over from the inside.

After the distance was shortened a little, Li Lide said sharply, "Fan, long time no see. Last time you told me that you were going to set up an alkali plant in China. I wonder how your preparations are going?"

When Fan Xudong, who was about to leave here with his head hooked, heard this, his steps stopped unconsciously.

Seeing this, Cheng Nuo thought that the other party was about to refute directly, and stopped just to organize his words.

Unexpectedly, Fan Xudong paused for a few seconds, didn't dare to lift his head that way, turned around and was about to leave this place.

If it was just now, Li Lide still lacked the confidence to say that.

But now seeing that the opponent is about to abandon his armor and run away, it is obvious that he lacks confidence, and it is difficult to guess other things, but the base must not have been created.

"Hahaha, Fan, why don't you buy some ready-made alkaline noodles from me and tell your people that you made them. I believe you will be able to get through this."

Hearing this, Fan Xudong could no longer hold back his temper: "Mr. Li, there is an old saying in China, which is called Feng Shui turns, you'd better wait honestly and don't make any more moths, otherwise you will have good fruits in the future. "

How could Li Lide believe this, instead he laughed even more wildly: "I remember you told me back then that seawater should be used to make alkali, but seawater, how can seawater make alkali? Haha..."

The clay bodhisattva also has three points of anger.

Fan Xudong pointed directly at Cheng Nuo and introduced, "If it were me, I would definitely not be able to, but now we have Professor Cheng joining us, when the time comes..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Cheng Nuo directly stopped him: "Before mass production, we should keep a low profile. Some necessary machines still need to be imported from foreign countries. The country cannot rely on itself for the time being."

Fan Xudong was like a slap in the face, and immediately sobered up a lot: "Zhiyuan, you are right, I was careless."

After saying this, Fan Xudong waved his fist directly at Li Lide as a threat, then turned around and left with Cheng Nuo.

On Cheng Nuo's side, he didn't even look at this fellow.

Shrimp soldiers and crab generals are not to be feared.

Waiting for the successful mass production of Hou's soda-making method, there will be times when they cry.

On the other side, after Li Lide saw that the other party ignored him, he tried his best to ridicule them, but unfortunately, when the figures disappeared, there was no response.

It really hit the cotton with a punch.

"Professor Cheng, Professor Cheng...Could it be? Impossible, it must be impossible, isn't he a researcher in mathematics, how can he also study chemistry, how can there be such an all-knowing and omnipotent talent in the world, I must be thinking too much.

Yes, I must be thinking too much.

Go to church one day and repent before God..."

It's a pity that no matter how much he comforts himself, the sense of crisis in his heart can't be eliminated, on the contrary, it has a tendency to increase.

On the other side, feeling Fan Xudong's displeasure, Cheng Nuo comforted him:
"You're right. Seawater has a lot of potential to be used. Bring seawater into the salt pan and turn it into brine. After concentration and evaporation, crystals will form. Because the salt pan contains a lot of sodium chloride, it won't change in three to nine days. It will freeze. There is no ice in winter and green in summer, and the cost of using salt to make alkali is very controllable.”

Fan Xudong smiled wryly and shook his head: "The sea breeze blows all year round. There are only male workers and no female workers. The life of salt workers is very hard."

The distance to Jiuda Salt Factory is getting closer and closer, and many salt farms have been built on both sides of the road.

Looking up, the Baili Salt Flats are all white.Not to mention weeds, even a dead tree is hard to see.The raging sea breeze whined, piles of raw salt reflected the light of the sun, and connected to the end of the blue sky.

But Cheng Nuo could feel the potential vitality below. Facing the Baili Salt Flats, looking at the stormy Bohai Sea, and facing the howling sea wind, he shouted loudly:
"Ho-y-y-ho-ho-"

I shouted into the distance with all my strength until the vocal cords could no longer make a sound.

Affected by this, Fan Xudong also roared to his heart's content into the distance where he could not see the future clearly, trying to suppress the sound of the waves.

"Come, come again!"

After both of them were released, Fan Xudong panted heavily, bent down and put his hands on his knees:

"Zhiyuan, can we do it?"

Cheng Nuo said to himself: "I will be like a water hit for three thousand miles, and I am confident that I will live for 200 years. Just do it!"

……

During the following days, Cheng Nuo and Fan Xudong were busy with chemical experiments during the day, and imagined the future together at night.

Talk about salt, talk about alkali, talk about acid, talk about sea.

Talk about the past, talk about the present, talk about the middle, and also talk about the outside.

That intimacy is like a friend reunited after a long time, a brother who is as close as a brother.

It's a pity that the factory is not owned by Fan Xudong, he is just one of the shareholders.

Even if Cheng Nuo joins in and has the title of No. 1 in domestic science today, the newly established Yongli Soda Plant is skeptical of him. After insisting that the old method fails, it will adopt the "Hou's soda production method".

But after doing dozens of experiments, there is still no successful result.Seeing that the great soda sales market is about to be lost, in order to start production as soon as possible and gain profits as soon as possible to share with Bu Neimen, they all advocate processing natural soda from Mongolia to make profits in the market, or using old-fashioned methods to manufacture soda ash to make huge profits.

However, Fan Xudong believed that soda production is a country's basic business, and the Luobu Lang method was backward in technology, and could produce alkali early and make profits early, but it was not conducive to the development of the country, so he disagreed with it.

Immediately, Fan Xudong convened a shareholder meeting. At the meeting, he advocated using the then-advanced Solvay soda-making technology to engage in the production of soda ash, but the shareholders were unwilling to continue investing.

At this time, Cheng Nuo, who had been waiting for a long time, showed up again, bringing brand new technology and more sufficient funds, and became the largest shareholder of the soda plant.

Under the leadership of Cheng Nuo, he decided to purchase equipment from abroad and organize the design by himself.

At that time, the major companies that monopolized the soda making technology also kept strict confidentiality among each other.Important machinery and equipment are manufactured by each factory itself, and complete sets of equipment are not sold.The purchased equipment can only be pieced together, and the design is very difficult.

For this reason, Cheng Nuo specially called Tesla from the Academy of Applied Engineering and asked them to participate in person.

At this time, Cheng Nuo sighed sincerely. It is really not easy to successfully produce soda ash in the chemical laboratory and batch soda ash in the factory. One is the earth and the other is the sky.

During this period, Cheng Nuo also always wanted to support domestic products, but unfortunately the technology did not support it.

The color of the prepared alkali is reddish, the composition is slightly lower, the quality is not as good as foreign products, it is not used by people, and the output is also limited.

After exhaustive investigation, it turned out to be a problem with the iron pot.

In desperation, in order to ensure the quality, all foreign equipment had to be used for the time being.

Wait until the time is right to make plans.

It's a pity that even with the blessing of Cheng Nuo, a traveler, there were still many pitfalls in the middle.

Hurry up, two months have passed.

At the end of 1917, it was also an important moment to open the furnace.