Volume 1: A sound on Wall Street, Xinxiang City is busy copying books Chapter 176 I Don't Want to Say
Subtitle of this chapter: Edison's "American Humor"
"CHEERS!"
What is a "Bloody Mary"? It's just a glass of tomato juice with a little lemon juice. It's sour and not sweet at all, not as good as Wu Jia Pi.
Yuan Yan, who was full of complaints, took a sip of her after-dinner wine and sat down on the sofa to take a rest.
It's also very tiring to fool people. Even if he has a good physique, this is a technical job, not a physical job. Of course, the physical job that our Master Yuan will do the most in the future also requires some skills.
However, someone refused to let him rest.
Thomas Edison with his glass of plain water...what alcohol do diabetics drink?
He frowned and thought for a long time, then suddenly chuckled and said, "Mr. Yuan, I really admire your eloquence. I have to admit that you have made me change some of my views on the Chinese. Not all of you... um, don't understand modern civilization."
He paused, took a sip of water to moisten his dry throat and continued, "I understand your idea. It is indeed as you said, Mr. Yuan. If radio broadcasting can really be transmitted to thousands of households, it will indeed be a very big business."
He said somewhat complacently: "In fact, according to my judgment, the entertainment industry will definitely have great potential in the next ten or even dozens of years. The phonograph I invented proves this."
"But, Mr. Yuan, I think you have also seen a radio." The great inventor shook his head and said in a sarcastic tone: "Mr. Yuan, do you think this complicated machine can be popularized in every American family?"
"Yes, Mr. Yuan." His youngest son also agreed: "I can also be considered a radio enthusiast. Although it is not difficult for me to assemble a radio, I really don't think all Americans can do it."
Wait, are these father and son really talking about the radio?
If they were really talking about the radio, how could this simplest of household appliances be called a "complex machine"?
This is because the radio in 1920 was similar to the early popularity of home computers in the 1990s. Yuan Hongjian was of course a little kid who knew nothing at the time, but he still remembered how his father assembled the first computer in the family.
That’s right, you can’t buy ready-made “branded machines” these days, and most radio enthusiasts make their own radios.
Buying a radio in the 1920s was like assembling a computer in the 1990s. You had to go to an electronics store and buy a bunch of tubes, panels, headphones or speakers, a TV, and an antenna. Unlike assembling a computer, electronics stores would not help customers assemble it. Customers had to go home and assemble it themselves.
One of the challenges for the breadwinners of middle-class families is that they have to find a way to arrange or at least keep an eye on these tangled wires and components, and prevent the battery solution from leaking out and contaminating furniture and carpets. What's more annoying is that they have to climb onto the roof to adjust the antenna. Therefore, every year there are cases of broken bones or even death caused by installing radios.
There are no time-travel online novels nowadays, otherwise the protagonist of an American online novel would not have traveled through time at the beginning because of a computer power failure, but because of falling to death or getting an electric shock.
After hearing the questions from these two people, our Master Yuan's bright smile suddenly froze, and a look of embarrassment and awkwardness appeared on his face.
When Thomas Edison saw his expression, he was overjoyed. This Chinese man not only made him lose $30,000, but also made him lose face. Now he finally got back on his feet!
He turned to old Mr. Baker and said, "To be honest, I personally think it is too difficult to popularize radios. Otherwise... George, I'm afraid you haven't come into contact with radios, so you don't know about this, right?"
"Hmm..." Mr. George Baker did not answer the question, but looked at Yuan Yanshu who was silent.
Perhaps, this Chinese person who never fails to surprise him will be able to find a way.
But, he looked like he hadn't thought about this matter.
Could it be that I misjudged him?
Master Yuan's expression was indeed very ugly at this time. He frowned tightly, pursed his lips, and his fingers nervously flicked on the armrest of the sofa. Even his legs were shaking uneasily. Even people without psychological knowledge could feel that he was in a state of struggle.
"Hahaha!" This time it was Thomas Edison's turn to laugh out loud. He stood up and said, "It's been a very pleasant evening."
He straightened his evening gown and said to the silent Yuan Yan: "Thank you, Mr. Yuan. I seem to have heard that you are a very good economist. Today I have also witnessed your superb medical level, but..."
He sighed, shook his head with regret, and said, "But you are not a scientist after all, so you don't have a comprehensive understanding of the radio broadcasting industry and you don't consider it carefully enough. But this is inevitable. Please don't lose heart, you are still young and you still have a chance. In fact, as long as you find a solution..."
"etc!"
"Please wait, Mr. Edison." Master Yuan raised his hand and interrupted him, "Who told you that I don't have a solution?"
The great inventor was stunned when he heard this, then he laughed and said, "Well, Mr. Yuan. Please tell me your solution."
"But... I don't want to say it!" Yuan Yan said confidently, "Especially not in front of Mr. Edison."
"Why?"
The four people in the room asked in unison.
Our Master Yuan looked around at the four people and said, "Because I, a Chinese, don't understand Mr. Edison's 'American humor'."
“American humor?!”
As soon as he said this, the great inventor's face instantly turned gloomy, while the other three still looked confused.
Yuan Yanshu said quickly and hurriedly, "I heard that Mr. Thomas Edison once promised Mr. Nikola Tesla that if he completed the improvement of DC motors and generators, he would get a huge reward of 50,000 US dollars. Mr. Tesla continued to work hard for nearly a year and finally completed the new design. Mr. Edison's company gained huge profits and new patent ownership. When Mr. Tesla asked Mr. Edison for 50,000 US dollars, it is rumored that Edison replied him..."
"'Tesla, you don't understand our American sense of humor!'"
He stood up, looked directly at the great inventor who was already furious and asked loudly: "Is that so, Mr. Edison?"
"you!"
The very humorous American raised his finger and pointed at Yuan Yanshu, but could only say this one word. He was angry and shocked at the moment. He was angry that this Chinese exposed his scars in public, and he was shocked because he didn't understand how this matter was leaked.
And his furious look naturally proved that what Master Yuan said was true.
Yuan Yan shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands, saying: "Since that Serbian doesn't understand, I, a Chinese, don't understand even more!"
