Training the Heavens

Chapter 362 Exchange of Interests
The hotel that the Americans prepared for Zhang Xingjiu was the Mark Hopkins InterContinental Hotel, which had just opened four years ago. This hotel had a prime location, only two kilometers away from the famous Fisherman's Wharf. Now, looking out from the window of the top-floor suite, you could still see a huge construction site. If you come back in two years, you would be able to see the Golden Gate Bridge, which had been destroyed countless times in Hollywood works.

Zhang Xingjiu used the excuse of being tired from the journey and sent them away in a few words. Now that Zhang Xingjiu had arrived in the United States, they didn't mind spending a day or two there, so they made an appointment to meet tomorrow and then said goodbye and left.

It was at this time that Situ Xianyi was able to meet Zhang Xingjiu. The two of them were in the room, chatting while eating the food just prepared by the Chinatown chef. When talking about the current Great Depression in the United States, Situ Xianyi shook his head repeatedly.

"The US had been going so smoothly in the past few years that no one expected it to suddenly become like this. Banks collapsed, factories closed, workers lost their jobs, and the streets were filled with people doing nothing. A children's song became popular in New York: 'Mellon pulled the whistle, Hoover rang the bell, Wall Street gave the signal and the country went to hell!'"

"So how are you doing?" Zhang Xingjiu asked with concern.

"We also suffered heavy losses. You reminded me before, and I did sell all the stocks as you instructed, and withdrew the money in the bank, mostly exchanging it for supplies. But Anliangtang is not just me after all. Many people think that the US economy is improving, and your words are just alarmist. And then... then everything is gone, and several elders are even dead." Speaking of this, Situ Xianyi was still frightened.

"My condolences." From a certain perspective, this is not entirely a bad thing for Situ Xianyi. At least after this incident, his influence within Anliang Hall will be greatly increased, and he can also win over some people by taking out the supplies he purchased before.

"The United States is experiencing overproduction right now, and many things, especially the production equipment needed by China, are being sold at a discount. You can help me buy some equipment and ship it back to China for sale. If you are interested, you can also do this business." Zhang Xingjiu pointed him in a new direction.

He knew very early on that the United States was about to face an economic crisis, but he did not engage in large-scale short selling. Even if you had the ability to earn this money, you had no ability to get it, so you could only quietly take a sip of it and did not dare to eat it as much as Livermore. Even he lost all the money after a few years.

However, this amount of soup is an astronomical figure for ordinary people. It can buy a lot of things. It is just right to use this money to strengthen domestic industrial capabilities and support Zhang Guoqiang and others.

"Okay, I'll listen to you!" Situ Xianyi agreed without any hesitation. They have been friends for more than 20 years. Zhang Xingjiu had never made a mistake in judging the economic situation, and Situ Xianyi had accumulated a lot of wealth because of it. He believed that this time would be the same.

"Tell me about the situation in the United States. How do they view penicillin? What do those capitalists plan to do?" Before the negotiations officially began, Zhang Xingjiu hurried to collect more information.

Situ Xianyi has been doing very well in the United States in recent years. Anliangtang is spread across major cities in the United States, and its information channels are very well-informed. Even if those capitalists are careful, some clues are inevitable.

These clues have been summarized by Situ Xianyi and told to Zhang Xingjiu in detail so that Zhang Xingjiu can prepare for the upcoming negotiations.

Over the next month, Zhang Xingjiu still hadn't reached a final cooperation agreement with them. Instead, he took Tang Feifan on a tour of the country, giving lectures and academic exchanges. He brought out penicillin samples at nearly every location, allowing local hospitals to administer them to selected volunteers. In an era when many pathogens hadn't developed drug resistance, penicillin was a powerful weapon. Most patients, previously condemned to death by hospitals, recovered at an incredible rate.

In the laboratory, American scientists also conducted rigorous tests on the effectiveness of penicillin. They found that this miracle drug really had incredible magical effects as described in the paper.

The Americans were whetted step by step. When Zhang Xingjiu arrived in New York, they finally couldn't hold back any longer. Several large consortiums first fought among themselves. The winners collectively approached Zhang Xingjiu and made their demands, "Professor Zhang, this invention is absolutely a great invention that can benefit all mankind. Its patent should belong to all mankind."

Zhang Xingjiu was already accustomed to their shamelessness, but he was still stunned for a moment after hearing this. He responded, "If the results of this experiment were made public for free, I'm afraid scientists would have less motivation to develop new drugs in the future."

"Of course, of course, great scholars like you and Dr. Tang deserve the respect of the whole world. We will fully support you and Dr. Tang in winning the Nobel Prize. The value of penicillin is absolutely worthy of this honor. We will also invite you and Dr. Tang to serve as visiting professors for the US presidential election. Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins. These universities are up to you to choose. Of course, if you are willing to stay in the United States, that would be even better!" These people quoted their own prices.

"I also think penicillin deserves the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine." Zhang Xingjiu ignored the invitation to stay in the United States. "But a Nobel Prize alone is far from enough for us to transfer this patent."

"What else do you need?" These people are ready to start bargaining.

"I need to build a penicillin factory in China. You can provide the necessary equipment and help me build a hospital for clinical research on penicillin. I need money to build this factory and to support outstanding students to study in the United States." Zhang Xingjiu quoted his price.

As the capitalist representatives listened, satisfied smiles appeared on their faces, because compared with the value of penicillin, what Zhang Xingjiu wanted was really too little.

Zhang Xingjiu was also helpless. It was like this without a strong motherland behind him. Even if he created something good, he couldn't keep it. Fortunately, he still had a certain reputation in the international community, otherwise he couldn't even get these little things back.

"Professor Zhang, you are truly a great scientist and a compassionate philanthropist. We can agree to all your conditions!" After hearing the last sentence, these people went out to discuss it briefly and then directly agreed to Zhang Xingjiu's request.

"Then the patent for penicillin in the Americas will be yours." Zhang Xingjiu stood up and shook hands with them, completing the exchange of interests.

(End of this chapter)