Baekeland immediately called the police. While waiting for the police, Baekeland felt that his legs were shaking. If he disagreed, he would directly plant a bomb under the car. This seriously exceeded the scope of ordinary business competition. Fortunately, Baekeland was vigilant.
Gao, did not get on the bus directly, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.
As a millionaire, Baekeland's status in New York is still very high. The police soon arrived at the scene. One policeman carefully climbed into the bottom of the car and took out a yellow brown paper bag.
The brown paper bag contained no explosives, just a small bag of flour, a false alarm.
It cannot be said to be a false alarm. The police officer leading the team, Benson, knew Baekeland. After discovering that the brown paper bag contained flour, Benson asked Baekeland as a routine: "Mr. Baekeland, have you offended anything recently?"
people?"
The corners of Baekeland's mouth twitched twice, and the name of the Dupont family almost came out of his mouth, but Baekeland still swallowed it back rationally: "No, I didn't have any dispute with anyone."
Baekeland has always done business in a friendly manner and made money. He has the patent for phenolic plastics, so he can buy it as much as he likes.
"Then you have to be careful. This is not like a prank, but more like a warning." Benson reminded Baekeland that in the United States, people do not take action and officials do not investigate. The parties involved do not admit it, and Benson has nothing to do.
"Thank you, I'll be careful." Baekeland was indeed cautious and directly called a taxi to go home.
While Baekeland was waiting for the taxi, Baekeland noticed that Franklin was across the street and had not left.
For a moment, Baekeland was so angry that he almost rushed over and asked Franklin directly why he did this.
But that makes no sense. Baekeland has no direct evidence to prove that it was Franklin who put the bag of flour in the bag, and if Baekeland really breaks out, it may not be flour next time.
Back home, Baekeland was still in shock, and his wife Adelaide immediately discovered something strange about Baekeland.
"Today at the company, someone put a bag of flour on my car." Baekeland did not hide it. Adelaide had the right to know what happened.
"Who could be so boring?" Adelaide hadn't realized the seriousness of the matter and thought it was a prank.
"It's not boring, this should be a warning. Someone put flour in a brown paper bag and stuck it under my car. Think about what would happen if it was replaced with something else?" Baekeland was still angry and felt like he was holding back.
There is a fire with no way to vent.
"What happened?" Adelaide became serious. If it were changed to something else——
Adelaide didn't dare to think about it.
"Today a villain from DuPont came to my office and asked for a hundred thousand dollars to buy the license for phenolic plastics in the Commonwealth for ten years." Baekeland collapsed on the sofa without any image, rubbing his brow in pain.
.
Adelaide knew the problem was serious when she heard about DuPont. She came to Baekeland and massaged Baekeland's head.
"That bastard is the villain. When I left the company, I found that he didn't exist at all. He was just across the street from the company, watching all this happen. That bastard was warning me that if I didn't agree to his request, there might be no flour next time.
It will be replaced by explosives." Baekeland pushed Adelaide's hand away, feeling irritable.
"When Tess went to pick up Lily today, Lily's teacher told Tess that someone tried to pick up Lily early -" Adelaide's voice was heavy. She connected the two things, so it shouldn't be an accident.
Lily is the daughter of Baekeland and Adelaide. She is in primary school and is picked up and dropped off by a servant every day.
"What? They actually want to take Lily away? These bastards, I will never let them succeed. No one can harm my daughter." Baekeland was furious, and the ferocity in his eyes could not hide his panic.
"Dear, that's the DuPont family, a behemoth that we can't compete with. Just promise them, give them the authorization, it's okay to make less money, we already have a lot of money." Adelaide hopes that Baekeland will give in, no matter how much more.
Money cannot buy a family's peace.
Baekeland didn't say anything. He actually knew that ordinary people are not guilty but only possess the treasure. But for a successful person, it feels really bad to be pressed to the ground and rubbed against someone so defenseless.
Baekeland didn't have a good rest that night. If there was any movement at night, Baekeland would take a shotgun and look around the house inside and outside.
When he arrived at the company in the morning, Baekeland discovered that the situation was deteriorating further.
"We are in trouble. A company named Swinburne is in contact with Nyasaland, and Nyasaland may purchase plastics from Swinburne." said Leslie, a partner of Backland.
I had already informed Baekeland of bad news.
"Swinburne?" Baekeland had no impression of this company.
"Yes, it's a British company, and its boss, you know, is Sir James Swinburne." Leslie frowned. Sir James Swinburne was the unlucky guy who submitted phenolic plastics and was only one day ahead of Baekeland.
"Asshole, phenolic plastic belongs to us, Beckland, and Swinburne has no right to produce and sell it." The veins on Beckland's forehead were beating. Compared with the threat from the DuPont family, this threat was more realistic and bigger.
"Then we'd better be prepared for a cross-border lawsuit." Leslie felt heavy. Swinburne is a British company. If Backlight wants to sue Swinburne for infringement, then it's best to sue in the UK. In the United States,
If sued, American companies have no jurisdiction over British companies.
But it is not easy to prosecute a nobleman in the UK. Although James Swinburne is only a knight, a knight is also a nobleman. For a nobleman like Roque, the status of knighthood is humble, but for the common people, knighthood is already high.
Unattainable.
If you think about it with your own feet, Beckett would have little chance of winning if he sued Swinburne.
Even if the lawsuit can be won, it is normal for such a cross-border lawsuit to take three to five years. However, Becklite's phenolic plastic patent will expire in 1926. Even if the lawsuit is won by then, for Becklite,
There is no objection.
"Asshole, can't anyone help us?" Baekeland had a splitting headache. At this time, he finally understood why Trust was called Trust.
"What should we do?" Leslie also had a headache. He was Baekeland's partner.
"There will definitely be a way -" Baekeland was not discouraged. As a successful entrepreneur, Baekeland also had his own connections.
That night, Baekeland invited New York State Congressman Fast to have dinner.
In the best restaurant in Manhattan, Baekeland stated to Congressman Fast the troubles he had encountered during this period.
When Fast was running for Congress, he received a large amount of campaign funds from Beckland. After being successfully elected, Fast almost responded to Beckland's requests. This situation is very common among American businessmen and politicians.
common.
"The Dupont family and the Marquis of Nyasaland in southern Africa - they are indeed very troublesome. How could you get into trouble with them?" After hearing Baekeland's statement, Fast also had a headache.
"It's not that I provoke them, it's that they want to annex my company. It's a business worth millions of dollars, but they only gave me a mere 100,000. This price is simply an insult to me!" Baekeland was emotional. This was not about money.
The problem, for Baekeland, is that a few million dollars is not a matter of life and death. The key is attitude.
If scientists and entrepreneurs of Baekeland's level are still being wantonly insulted, then this should be considered a tragedy for the entire society.
"Don't get excited Leo, let me think about it, let me think about it -" Fast racked his brains. If it were someone else, Fast could have ignored it, but Baekeland couldn't. Baekeland belonged to Fast
The funder, Fast also wants to go one step further and run for Congress.
Baekeland was so anxious that all his hopes now rested on Fast.
"Come to my office tomorrow, and I will introduce you to a big shot and listen to his opinions." Fast did not disappoint Baekeland.
The next day, Baekeland came to Fast's office as scheduled.
There was a visitor in Fast's office, and he was indeed a big shot, and he had appeared in the newspapers frequently over the past few years.
"Let me introduce, Leo, this is Mr. Hoover, who has just returned from Europe. He is now the Deputy Administrator of the European Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, and the Administrator, Mr. Cecil Rhodes, and Nyasaland
The marquises are all good friends. Tell Mr. Hoover about your situation, and maybe Mr. Hoover can help you." Fast was enthusiastic. Hoover was famous for his evacuation of overseas Chinese from Europe during the World War and his support for those stranded in Europe.
The Americans' help became famous, and it was said that Hoover was about to participate in the next presidential election, and Hoover would definitely be a popular figure by then.
"Mr. Hoover, nice to meet you -" Baekeland took the initiative. Hoover was not only a successful politician, but also a successful entrepreneur, engineer, and a famous philanthropist.
"You're welcome Leo, as long as I can do it, I will spare no effort." Hoover was also enthusiastic. Politicians are very enthusiastic about businessmen. Baekeland is now Fast's financial backer and may become one in the future.
Hoover's financial backers.
However, after Baekeland stated his experience of the past two days, Hoover also looked serious and sat in his chair without saying a word for a long time.
Fast and Baekeland looked at Hoover helplessly, placing all their hopes on Hoover. If Hoover could not do anything, Baekeland would have no choice but to succumb to the despotic power of the Dupont family.
"Leo, you have posed a big problem for me -" Hoover smiled bitterly. If it were about other things, Hoover might have a way, but this is really not possible.
"My suggestions are only for your reference. If it were me, Leo, I would let Lord Nyasaland use the patent free of charge, because Lord Nyasaland will definitely compensate me in other ways." Hoover's answer made
Baekeland was disappointed, but it seemed reasonable.