Jinmen is very close to the city of Beiping, as an early treaty port in China, and also the economic center of North China, so Cheng Nuo wanted to choose a partner there from the beginning.

As he expected, the flour industry in Jinmen is thriving, with more than 400 mills. However, it seems that they all point to the wrong tech tree, and the factory is mostly a machine mill.

The machine mill is based on the traditional mill, adding steam power or electricity to replace part of the manpower and animal power, which improves a certain productivity but is extremely limited, and essentially belongs to the category of factory handicraft production relations.

Ask about the daily output, but only a few dozen bags, which cannot meet Cheng Nuo's expected requirements.

Unwilling to give up, Cheng Nuo continued to inquire, and really found a large machine flour factory, the Shouxing Flour Company that was just established at the end of last year.

As soon as he arrived at the place early in the morning, he found that there were workers changing the door, and there were some Japanese ronins wandering around, so he kept an eye on it and found a breakfast shop to enter.

"Sister, put some old tofu in the Gaba dish, two fruits and a tea egg."

Although the eldest sister who sells breakfast is not young, out of respect, she still calls her "sister" like the locals.

The eldest sister said enthusiastically: "The fruit has to wait a while, the stall has just been opened, and the oil is not hot yet, why don't you eat something else first?" ”

"It's okay, I'm not in a hurry, the fruit just out of the pot is delicious." Cheng Nuo sat on the stall and waved his hand to show that he could afford to wait, almost "Sister, you have been doing this for a long time, this fragrance goes straight to your nose, and it is delicious to look at." ”

"Then you can say, I've been doing this for more than ten years, and the neighbors around me love to come to eat here." The eldest sister rubbed her face and couldn't stop smiling on her face.

Cheng Nuo continued to put on the almost: "I think so, it is estimated that the flour mill opposite has not been here for as long as you." ”

The eldest sister smiled: "The factory has only been open for two months, of course, it hasn't been a stall for a long time." ”

"It's also a strange thing, you said that this has been open for so long, and you have changed the door, and it is not open to sell things, it's strange."

"Look at those Oriental devils with knives, there are five people and six people who are dragging them." The eldest sister Nunu mouthed and pulled the dough into the shape of a fruit: "The previous brand was ours, but later it was an Oriental, it's a pity, the foreign noodles are white and cheap." ”

With that, the door was replaced, the brand of the Shouxing Flour Company was trampled underfoot, and the one that went up was "Shouxing Flour Co., Ltd."

Later, Cheng Nuo inquired further, and learned that the factory was originally co-founded by Zhu Qinzhai, the envoy of Changlu Salt Transport, and Senge of Mitsui & Co. of Japan, and the production machinery was the latest goods imported from Britain and the United States, with a daily output of up to 3,000 bags of flour.

Later, the Japanese felt that the profits were considerable, so they snapped up the shares of the Chinese people, and the signboard was replaced by a Japanese factory.

At this point, the first and only mechanical flour mill in Tsumen became a Japanese asset.

At this time, Cheng Nuo asked them to cooperate, undoubtedly seeking skin with the tiger.

What is the way of school-enterprise cooperation, and there are many difficulties in starting a business.

After thinking about it, it is better to go directly to the Northeast and go to Bingcheng, the only two large-scale flour milling centers in the country.

When he returned home, before he could pack his luggage, he saw Li Laosan running over in a hurry.

"Sir, there are two people looking for you outside the door, their faces are quite raw, and they speak a southern dialect, as if they are about wheat flour, do you want to see them?"

"Southern accent, still raw, who is looking for me?" Cheng Nuo frowned and thought about it, but didn't figure out anything, and said directly: "Let's go to the door and have a look." ”

It was none other than Li Tianfu and Zhang Changgui of the Shanghai Flour Union.

Zhang Changgui hesitated: "President, are we in a hurry to send it, the initiative is in the hands of the other party, and the business negotiations will be unfavorable to us for a while." ”

"I think it's more important to stay alive than that." Li Tianfu lifted his sleeves and looked at his watch, shaking his head: "We also went to Peking University in the morning, and learned that Mr. Cheng is not only a leading contemporary scientist, but also a doer and educator. ”

Zhang Changgui said his ideal person: "But I think Professor Roque sent by the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a greater advantage, and he has promised us in the last meeting to help introduce high-quality wheat from the United States, and we can plant it immediately after we buy it." ”

"Roque? Hmph, don't mention it. Li Tianfu snorted coldly, his face full of disdain: "If I remember correctly, the most place he went to when he came to Shanghai was the bookstore, and you took him there every time." ”

The so-called Shuyu, is the highest level of the Shanghai Qinglou, specializing in the reception of local literati bachelors, among which the women are called the history of words, Mr., and the people, in addition to the posture requirements, the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, especially the small songs, must be proficient.

Zhang Changgui was a little unconvinced: "It's normal to do business and get some public relations methods, not to mention that I didn't take him to the book apartment these days, how could Professor Luo Ke agree." ”

"I must remind you that you are not the only one who is close to him, as far as I know, several other flour mills run by foreigners have also been linked to Roque." Li Tianfu said solemnly: "People are not only busy visiting brothels, but also collecting a lot of seeds of our local crops, especially looking for someone to dig a lot of Biluochun tea tree seedlings, I won't say anything superfluous, you should understand the meaning." ”

Zhang Changgui's face is like ashes, his family was originally a comprador and later became an industrialist, but the thinking of buying if he can buy is still continuing, and he is unwilling to say: "Even so, we are ...... in China"

"Okay, if you're still insisting, go back and submit your resignation." Li Tianfu interrupted his words and said solemnly: "I took you on this trip and wanted you to meet our countrymen, who are not bad foreign devils, but I didn't expect you to be so stubborn." Don't forget, your family still enjoys the grace of Professor Cheng, and the reason why your daughter was able to go to the university is because of Professor Cheng's hard work! ”

"At the moment of life and death, don't do bad things!"

Hearing footsteps coming, the two quickly ended their conversation.

When Cheng Nuo opened the door, he saw a middle-aged man with a Chinese face standing outside the door, carrying a cowhide bag, and he looked very energetic at first glance.

As for the one next to him who turned his head in frustration, he was not the principal at first glance, and he automatically ignored it.

"I'm the owner of this house, you two came to me, what's the matter?"

Li Tianfu immediately stretched out his right hand and said enthusiastically: "You are the famous Professor Cheng Nuocheng, I am Zhang Li Tianfu, the president of the Shanghai Flour Trade Union, and the one next to me is Zhang Changgui, the director of the trade union, looking for you for wheat breeding and sowing." ”

I really just wanted to doze off, and someone brought me a pillow.

Cheng Nuo knew that Shanghai was another large flour milling center during this time, and the reason why he didn't go there was also because the distance was too far, and he was an alternative after the failure of the trip to the Northeast.

Now that people have taken the initiative to come to the door, they naturally want to be warmly entertained.

"Come, the two of you, please, Lao Li, make a pot of hot tea and send it over."