Shen Qing did not explicitly state how he intended to use the amber.
The down jacket project must be kept absolutely secret, otherwise the idea will be stolen before she even goes to Europe to discuss business.
But now that the raw material problem for nylon has been solved, new problems have emerged.
How can we process these pieces of resinous amber into raw materials that can be drawn into fiber filaments?
Normally, the amber is first dissolved to dissolve all the outer material into a liquid organic substance, and then it is drawn into threads within a certain temperature range.
Finally, these silk fibers are woven into fabric using a spinning machine.
But how do you draw it into threads?
Pulling it with your hands definitely won't work.
To produce silk that can be woven into fabric, it needs to be extremely fine, even finer than thread.
Human hands cannot produce such fine fibers...
I wonder if Germany still has wire drawing machines these days...
Shen Qing decided to bring the amber skin back to Jiangzhou the next day and then set off for Shanghai.
She wasn't going to find Cheng Zhiwen, but rather to talk to other compradors to see if there was any way to buy wire drawing machines from abroad right now.
If there's a way, she can patiently wait for the machine and the subsequent chemical processing of the nylon material.
If she can't buy a wire drawing machine, she'll have to find another way as soon as possible.
Having made up her mind, Shen Qing immediately went downstairs to find Old Xu.
Old Xu always rested in the carriage, so she went directly to the parking area to look for him.
As the person approached, a black shadow suddenly darted away from the carriage.
Shen Qing was startled and quickly ran over.
She didn't see any dark figure, but when Old Xu saw her coming, he immediately jumped off the carriage.
As she looked in the direction the dark figure had left, she asked, "Was there a man in black just here?"
Old Xu shook his head: "I didn't see any men in black."
Shen Qing glanced again in the direction the dark figure had left, and after a while looked back at Old Xu: "Tomorrow you will take me to Shanghai first, and then take Lord Qi and the amber leather back to Jiangzhou."
Old Xu was surprised: "You're going to Shanghai? You've been traveling for several days. Why don't you rest for a few more days before going to Shanghai?"
"This new material is very troublesome, with each step interconnected. If one step fails, the entire process can't continue. I have to work on everything simultaneously, and if I discover something is wrong, I have to quickly find another solution. There's no time to rest."
Old Xu scratched his head, unsure of what to say to comfort her, and could only nod: "Okay, then I'll take you to Shanghai tomorrow!"
"Okay, thank you for your hard work." Shen Qing turned to leave.
“Boss Shen,” Old Xu called out, “Boss Cheng is also in Shanghai.”
Shen Qing stopped in her tracks, but didn't turn around. Her tone suddenly hardened: "I'm not going to see him, so don't send me to him!"
"good."
Shen Qing returned to her room, where Qi Zhenheng was still waiting for her.
When she returned, he didn't say anything, but stared at her with his bright eyes.
She sat there absentmindedly for a while before she came to her senses that Qi Zhenheng was still in the room.
"I will get off the train in Shanghai tomorrow, and you and Lao Xu will go back to Jiangzhou together."
Qi Zhenheng frowned: "What are you going to Shanghai for all by yourself?"
"Contact the wire drawing machine, thermometer, sewing machine... and nitrate."
Qi Zhenheng, who had grown up reading classical texts, had never heard of these terms before. His thick eyebrows furrowed even more as he said, "I will go to Shanghai with you!"
"no!"
Shen Qing instinctively refused, her attitude very firm.
Qi Zhenheng stared at her in astonishment, and after a moment, nodded helplessly.
"Probably because Cheng Zhiwen is in Shanghai..." he thought to himself.
Shen Qing arrived in Shanghai at noon. After checking into the Astor House Hotel and leaving his belongings, he immediately went to Huangpu Street.
There are several large trading companies here.
Walking on the familiar streets, she suddenly felt a lot of emotions.
Six months ago, she went to Shanghai to sell silk to foreign businessmen, but she failed. Penniless, she walked dejectedly down the street. When she saw a bank, she ran towards it with great hope, only to be turned away at the door.
At that time, she was new to the Qing Dynasty and did not yet understand despair.
Six months later, she has some money in her pocket, but she is filled with uncertainty.
In Cheng Zhiwen's words, all this money was obtained by taking shortcuts, selling herself, and betraying him.
As Shen Qing passed the iconic customs building, he quickened his pace.
Because there was one of Shanghai's largest trading companies right next to the customs house.
I climbed the stairs a few steps and entered the lobby.
Inside, people came and went, all dressed in suits and European-style long skirts, except for her, who wore a traditional Qing dynasty-style dress and had her hair in a bun.
No one came up to greet her, and even when they passed by her, they gave her a strange look.
There happened to be an empty counter, so she immediately went over and took a seat.
The teller politely asked, "Hello, ma'am, how can I help you?"
"I need a wire drawing machine, a thermometer, a sewing machine, and nitrates. Do you have any readily available?"
"Thermometers and nitrates are in limited stock, but wire drawing machines and sewing machines are not available."
Shen Qing pressed further, "Are the wire drawing machine and sewing machine not available locally, or are they not sold overseas either?"
"We do have sewing machines, Singer brand from the USA, 600 stitches per minute, but they have to be imported from the USA. It takes 30 to 45 days to ship them to Shanghai."
Shen Qing immediately placed an order: "I need a sewing machine! What about a wire drawing machine? Are they available overseas?"
"This isn't available overseas yet."
Shen Qing slumped her shoulders, feeling somewhat desperate.
Wire drawing machines are a modern invention; even in Europe and America at the end of the Qing Dynasty, they did not exist.
Without a drawing machine, how can amber be turned into fibers?
A young man in a suit walked over and asked in a low voice, "Madam, do you need a wire drawing machine?"
A glimmer of hope ignited in Shen Qing's heart: "Do you have a way to buy a wire drawing machine?"
"Madam, please come with me. I'll help you think of a solution."
Shen Qing immediately took out a bank draft to pay for the goods, then stood up with the delivery receipt.
The young man led her to the gate, and the two stood there talking.
“Madam, this wire drawing machine can be made, as long as…” the other person said, raising his hand and twirling his index finger and thumb, making a gesture as if counting money.
It means that if you have the money, you can get any machine.
Shen Qing realized something was wrong and looked at the man again.
This person is exactly the same as the insurance salesman in the bank lobby who tries to persuade depositors to buy insurance.
They're probably just scammers!
Shen Qing's expression changed, and she lifted her foot to leave.
As soon as I turned around, I saw Cheng Zhiwen.
He stood there watching her for who knows how long.
An elegant lady with curly hair and wearing an English-style cashmere dress took his arm.
Shen Qing looked down at her own loose, old-fashioned jacket and then looked up at the lady dressed in a British style.
It was a bit embarrassing at first.
Yes, this kind of elegant woman is exactly what Cheng Zhiwen likes and needs!
He fell in love with a girl like that while he was abroad, which is why he broke off his engagement with the original owner of this body when he returned!
So what if he kissed the original owner's forehead before going abroad?
That was just youthful curiosity!
The chill of memories seeped into Shen Qing's heart, and she was once again utterly disappointed in Cheng Zhiwen.
She curled her lips into a smile, reverting to her former carefree demeanor, where only money mattered to her.
She walked forward confidently, without glancing to the side or even looking at Cheng Zhiwen, and passed right by him.
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