If Caroline's memory is correct, there are still about 2 years before the appearance of the steam locomotive.

The research and development of science and technology is not an overnight thing, and even if it is made, it will have to be verified hundreds of times.

Therefore, when Caroline saw the locomotive that had already taken shape, she finally couldn't help the excitement in her heart, and reached out to touch its body, regardless of the dust and paint marks on it, her face was full of admiration.

"Wow, that's really amazing! Mr. Stephenson, you're a genius! ”

"No, Miss praised it, I just learned the lessons of my predecessors, this locomotive has not been tested, but in the last few steps, the parts are still a little close, but next year it should be completely completed, and then enter the test stage." Stephenson said modestly.

Baddeley looked at this young lady with some amusement, and he was really a little cute, he nodded at Stephenson on the side, "I see, Caroline has been completely impressed by George, and the Bentley family will definitely cooperate with us, right?" ”

Stephenson's eyes widened in surprise, "Is this true?" Oh! Miss, you are so generous! ”

Caroline, who was inexplicably driven to the shelves: ...... When did I say that???

But in the end, she decided to sign a contract with Baron Hall, not because of Baddeley Hall, of course, but because of Stephenson, who is a living idol, okay!

Baddeley said that the exact contract would have to wait until he arrived at Hall's house, so Caroline said goodbye to Stephenson and followed him into the carriage.

"I didn't know Miss Bingley was so close to the people."

Caroline chuckled dryly, "You can't know everything, do you, first, first." ”

Baddeley made a gesture of surrender in obedience, indicating that he had no problem with this.

Back at Hall's house, Baddeley quickly pulled out the contract.

Caroline was surprised, "Sir, when did you come up with this?" ”

"Before I write to you."

"Are you so sure I'm going to work with you?" Caroline continued to be surprised.

Baddeley smiled lightly, his azure eyes pretty, "Yes, Caroline. I'm sure you won't turn me down. ”

Caroline: I want to reject you right now.

She carefully read the contract, the terms on it are mutually beneficial, neither in order to curry favor with Caroline, but also for her to lower the standard, nor cunningly raise the standard for her side, both sides are impartial, from this point of view, Baron Hall is not only a playboy, he is indeed a qualified businessman, but also very discerning.

It is nothing more than the hope that the Bentley family and the Hall family will invest in Stephenson's experiment together, and similarly, there is also the cooperation of the metallurgical coal mining plant to establish an industrial chain between Birmingham and London, of course, the Hall family also has a factory in Manchester, but unfortunately it is too far from London, and the road is really inconvenient.

Caroline put down her contract and thought about it, and found that it was indeed feasible to do so, and it was possible to become a long-term partner, but the British metallurgical industry was indeed done by many people, and they could make a profit, but not a big profit.

She thinks that it is not impossible to add a little more fire and monopolize on a small scale, and besides, Baron Hall is also a very bold person, maybe they can do it together.

She told Baddeley about the idea of producing parts for steam engines as a subsidiary industry of metallurgy, because she found that although the steam engine had appeared for almost half a century, people still produced the steam engine as a complete set, and there was no large-scale factory implementation for the improvement and care of parts.

And Caroline knew that there was still half a century left before the electric revolution of the Second Industrial Revolution, and they couldn't do nothing in the past fifty years, so they might as well take the baton and directly make the care and improvement of steam engine parts a small-scale monopoly. Even if the electric internal combustion engine replaced the steam engine half a century later, they could continue to make improvements in the production of parts related to the internal combustion engine.

"Of course, both sides must be mutually beneficial, independent and non-interfere with each other. I know that the Hall family actually already produces some machinery, and the internal needs must be self-satisfied, and I heard from my brother that the Bentley family is also like this, so I think such an idea is feasible. Caroline blinked.

Baddeley was a little shocked, he really didn't expect this young lady to have such an idea, it was so surprising, he hadn't thought of such a thing.

"Miss Caroline Bingley, I have to say, you've always had so many ideas, and you're so damn so genius! It's totally doable! "You're right, no matter which factory you have, there are actually parts for the steam engine to be produced in-house, but there are very few factories that specialize in this, and if they are improved, mass-produced, and not expensive, I don't think anyone will choose to produce their own instead of buying, we save them time, the workers will not work so hard, and importantly, they can also make a profit." ”

Caroline nodded, although she didn't know if this was a model of early cartel monopoly, but anyway, the appearance of cartels was only a few decades ago, a little earlier...... It should be fine.

"So, the partnership between Bentley and Hall, as you said, is really necessary. The most important point, though, is, who is responsible for the improvements? ”

As soon as the words fell, the two looked at each other, "Stephenson!" ”

Caroline was stunned and laughed, and Baron Hall couldn't help but laugh, they did get along, "So, are you willing to sign a contract, miss?" ”

"Of course! However, it's not that I signed a contract with my husband, my brother is the owner of our Bentley family, I'm just a lady, isn't it? She raised an eyebrow at Baddeley, and the negotiation was a big deal, and she was naturally in a good mood.

"Of course, when I draw up this part of the contract, I will definitely visit my door!"

Caroline nodded, "Then I'm waiting at home, and since there's nothing else to do, I'd better go back, sir?" ”

Baddeley wanted to keep it, but when he thought that he would be able to go to Bentley's house soon, why bother, he nodded in agreement.

Margaret came out of nowhere and exclaimed in dissatisfaction, "Hey! Caroline, didn't you say to stay here longer? I haven't talked to you yet! I'll tell you, Blair, he'......"

"Alright, Margaret, you can come to me at any time! I heard Charles say that we don't plan to go to Meriton this winter, maybe it's to spend the winter in London, you can come with Miss Sarah, I can't wait to see Charles's miserable appearance! ”

"Oh! You're so bad! Margarita covered her mouth and smiled, "Speaking of which, seeing you and Baddeley laughing so happily, I thought you were ......."

Caroline: "...... can I still him?"

Baddeley (smiling): "I would like to, but Caroline doesn't!" ”

###

Despite Margaret's reluctance, Caroline got into the carriage and went home.

Charles went back when he was done, and he heard that his sister was suspected of having negotiated a big deal, and he was a little suspicious, because he didn't think that this Baron Hall was a businessman, after all, his playboy image was too deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

"Now think he's a playboy? Why didn't you think of that when you pushed me out? ”

Charles laughed dryly, "Hahahaha, look at what you said, brother, don't I want to help you, lifelong events After all, there is nothing bad about contact after all!" ”

"What about you? And say me! ”

Charles was stunned for a moment, his smile a little stiff, "Ah...... Me...... Let's talk about it. ”

Seeing this, Caroline was a little unbearable, to be honest, she really couldn't figure out what Charles was thinking, you said he didn't like Jane, every time he talked about Jane, he had this expression, but if you want to say that he likes Jane, this person didn't say anything at all, unless you mentioned it to him, otherwise he would never think of such a person!

"Don't talk about that! Darcy will be back tomorrow, and he says he's going to come to the door! Charles took a deep breath and stood up to head to the room, "He'll be in London this winter, and I've heard that Georgiana will be here too." ”

Caroline was a little surprised, "Really? Is Mr. Darcy coming to our house tomorrow? Then you need to treat yourself well! Speaking of which, I haven't seen Georgiana for a long time, and I wrote to welcome her last month, and it turned out to be true. ”

Not to mention Mr. Darcy, his sister alone has added a lot of points to him.

Because of this sister, Darcy's approachable temperament has been magnified a lot.

Early the next morning, Darcy came to the door.

Caroline and Charles were having breakfast, and when they saw Darcy arriving, Charles hurriedly invited him to eat with them, and Darcy hesitated for a moment and nodded in response.

"Sorry for the interruption."

In fact, Charles and Darcy are very good friends, and friends don't take these etiquette issues very seriously, so Darcy didn't think too much, and went out early in the morning, and when he arrived at Bentley's house, he suddenly remembered that it should be breakfast time, but he was a little embarrassed to go back, so he could only knock on someone's door.

This is too undeserved for a gentleman!

Darcy was a little annoyed, and although he hadn't seen Miss Caroline for a week, he still wanted to maintain a good image in front of her, that is, before he returned, he had figured out something, and hoped to get Miss Caroline's permission.

Caroline was also very happy to see Darcy, she hadn't seen this gentleman for a week, and to be honest, she missed him a lot, because when she was reading, there was usually a person sitting on the sofa next to her, which had become a habit, and that day she was reading at home, and when she instinctively looked up and wanted to ask Mr. Darcy if she wanted to drink a cup of milk tea with her, she found that there was no one on the sofa.

"Of course it doesn't matter, Mr. Darcy." Caroline smiled and said, "I don't know if you've had breakfast, if not, please use it with us, otherwise it's too embarrassing, what do you say?" ”

Darcy was stunned for a moment, feeling that the young lady had changed a little, but he couldn't say exactly where, but it was absolutely impossible for him to refuse her suggestion, so he nodded and said yes.

"By the way, Miss Caroline, seeing that you are in a hurry, you did not wander around Merryton, so - the following is below┑( ̄Д ̄)┍