In order to go to see Baekeland, Daisy took out the suit that Robert Goddard had not worn for a long time from the closet, polished Robert Goddard's leather shoes until he could see the figure, and watched Robert Goddard sit down.
George leaves the farm on the back of his motorcycle.
There is no other way. In order to continue rocket research, Robert Goddard sold his car long ago. Motorcycles are now the only means of transportation for Robert Goddard's team.
Unlike Robert Goddard, who lives in poverty on a suburban farm, Baekeland’s office is located on the top floor of the Baekeland Building in downtown Boston.
This is a 165-meter-high skyscraper where Baekeland Automotive’s R&D center is located.
Boston is the most educated city in the United States. Harvard University and MIT are both in the Boston metropolitan area. Many American companies have placed their R&D centers in Boston for the sake of Boston’s human resources.
ˆBaikeland is no exception. In addition to its technical R&D center in Boston, this company also has a R&D center in Nyasalando City jointly established with Nyasaland Automobile.
Standing downstairs of the Baekeland Building, looking at the gleaming nameplate of the building, Robert Goddard was full of confidence.
“Sooner or later we will build such a building and put our R&D center in it. By then we will become a well-known technology company in the United States and the world!” Robert Goddard thought wildly.
George, who was also wearing a suit and ties, did not speak and looked a little embarrassed. Just now, the two of them rode a motorcycle through most of Boston in suits and ties, but they received a lot of ridiculed and ridiculed looks.
“Hey, isn’t this the famous scientist Mr. Robert Goddard? Shouldn’t you go to the moon? Why are you in Boston?” A voice that was not very lethal but highly insulting came from the side.
“Shut up Dennis, you are as annoying as a mouse!” George immediately countered.
Dennis is the New York Times reporter who openly mocked Robert Goddard for not even knowing basic high school physics, but fantasizing about traveling to the moon all day long.
For ordinary people, studying rockets is really meaningless. They don’t even understand their own lives and have no mood to pay attention to the development of science and technology.
“People who defraud investors with their whims are even more annoying.” Dennis is worthy of being a reporter, and his words are like tongue twisters.
“You don’t understand the value of rockets to humans at all” George directly went to the value.
"The greatest value of rockets to mankind is to make you a joke to mankind. I heard that you are all so poor that you are going to sell your farm. What's the matter? Mr. Robert Goddard, you want to take your students to the bench in the park."
, can you conduct research that can change the fate of mankind?" Dennis picked up the camera and wanted to take a picture of Robert Goddard's embarrassed look.
“Let’s go, George, let’s ignore him.” Robert Goddard tried his best to maintain his dignity, and only he knew the sadness in his heart.
"Wait a minute, Mr. Robert Goddard, are you going to see Mr. Baekeland? Can you let me go in with you? I want to see how you convince Mr. Baekeland. Mr. Baekeland is not some whimsical person.
"Idiot" Dennis follows Robert Goddard into Baekeland House.
"Hello, we have an appointment with Mr. Baekeland." Robert Goddard went to the front desk to register. Baekeland Company is a big company. If you don't make an appointment, you won't even be able to get in.
Dennis didn't dare to make any mistakes here, and the heavily armed guards at the door would not get used to Dennis' bad mouth.
“Hello beauty, I am Dennis, a reporter from the New York Times. I have made an appointment with Mr. Baekeland for an exclusive interview.” Dennis also made an appointment. Although he is not very good himself, the New York Times is still very respectable.
"Okay sir, your appointment time is from 10:30 to 11 o'clock in the morning, please hurry up." The girl at the front desk is serious and neat, and she is neatly dressed in professional attire. To be able to be the front desk of a company like Backland Company, all aspects of the conditions are certain.
It's also very excellent.
While taking the elevator upstairs, Dennis was still chattering.
“What’s the use of landing on the moon? Is there gold on the moon?”
"Why not? You've never been up there." George was very annoyed and wanted to find something to plug Dennis' mouth.
“Then why? You’ve never been up there either.” It’s impossible for Dennis to admit defeat when playing word games.
“I don’t know if there is gold on the moon, but the technology to land on the moon is definitely more valuable than gold.” Robert Goddard struck a fatal blow.
Bakerland’s office is located on the top floor of the Bakerland Building. Standing in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, you can overlook the entire Boston.
No wonder the big shots regard all living beings as trivial all day long. Standing at such a height overlooking the entire city all day long, it is indeed difficult not to be proud.
Bakerland is okay. Although he is already a successful businessman, he still maintains his nature as a scholar. There is a huge bookshelf in the office, and you need to lift a ladder to find a book.
When Robert Goddard and George came to Baekeland's office, there were still guests in Baekeland's office.
"Hello, Mr. Baekeland." Robert Goddard looked calm on the surface, but his palms were sweaty.
This meeting was crucial to Robert Goddard's research. If Baekeland's funding could not be obtained, Robert Goddard's research would probably be abandoned halfway.
Even if the farm is sold, it will not be enough to support Robert Goddard's research, not to mention that as Daisy said, the experiment may fail.
"Hello Robert, please sit down. This is Mr. Marcellus from Nyasaland Bank." Baekeland did not get up. Marcellus was a middle-aged man about forty years old and was speaking with great interest.
looked at Robert Goddard.
“Hello, Mr. Marcellus,” said Robert Goddard, polite and reserved. He had never heard of Nyasaland Bank before.
"My rocket research has entered the final stage. If nothing goes wrong, the first launch will be possible next year at the latest. This is a brand-new technology that has unparalleled significance for the development of science and technology. This is our way to carry out interstellar colonization.
The first step is as significant as Columbus's discovery of the New World." Robert Goddard started talking non-stop as soon as he sat down. However, to his regret, Baekeland seemed a little interested at first, but soon became serious.
"Wait a minute Robert, why don't you introduce your rocket to me? How much profit can it bring to me? How much value will it generate?" What Robert Goddard was most worried about happened. Businessmen are indeed profit-seeking.
Although Baekeland is very rich, he will not be taken advantage of by others.
An obvious fact is that Baekeland is obviously stingy and cautious on investments that cannot bring a return on investment.
"Rockets are of course valuable, for example, they can be used in interstellar exploration." Robert Goddard noticed that Baekeland had an impatient expression on his face, so he immediately made up his mind: "In military terms, rockets are also of great significance, even for long-distance transportation.
Rockets are more efficient”
Robert Goddard racked his brains, hoping to give the Rockets more value.
“Hahahaha, Robert, in terms of cost, if it is a long-distance transportation, then the value of the rocket is not as good as a truck.” Baekeland laughed and seemed to have given up on the investment.
"Yes, haha, a rocket is worse than a train." Robert Goddard was in a bitter mood. He didn't want people to waste his hard work, but he couldn't convince Baekeland.
“I’m sorry Robert, I can’t give you what you want. If you have any new ideas, you are welcome to come to me.” As expected, Baekeland rejected Robert Goddard.
Robert Goddard looked sad. If possible, he would be willing to beg Baekeland for investment, but Robert Goddard's pride did not allow him to do that.
Just when Robert Goddard and George were about to say goodbye, Marcellus, who had been silent, suddenly stopped Robert Goddard.
“Wait a minute Mr. Goddard, if you want, we can have lunch together, and then you can introduce your rocket.” Marcellus showed great interest.
“Mr. Marcellus, thank you for the invitation, but rockets cannot be used for long-distance transportation, and there is no gold on the moon.” Robert Goddard didn’t like bankers. In his impression, bankers were all vampires.
"Haha, Robert, I haven't introduced it to you yet. Nyasaland Bank is a newly established bank. It is a private bank dedicated to commercial investment. Mr. Nikola Tesla has just obtained Nyasaland
The capital behind Nyasaland Bank is Nyasaland Corporation and Rhodesia Corporation, Rand Bank, etc.
Several southern African consortiums, the reason why Marcellus appeared in Baekeland's office, was of course interested in Robert Goddard's research.
5 million US dollars!
When he heard this number, Robert Goddard was simply stunned. He didn’t need 5 million, only 500,000.
No, for even $50,000, Robert Goddard could complete his experiment and prove that he could send a rocket into the sky.
"Fifty thousand dollars" Marcellus was also shocked when he heard this number, not because the number was too big, but because it was too small.
Think about it, it’s a rocket, it only costs 50,000 US dollars. It seems to be almost the same as a big firecracker. The fireworks Ada prepared to set off for Arthur’s wedding cost more than 50,000 US dollars.
“Let’s go, Robert, show me your rocket.” Marcellus will make a decision only after on-site inspection. As the general manager of Nyasaland Bank, he is responsible for every investment of Nyasaland Bank.
