Dominate the Treacherous Realm

　　 The old man's tone was unusually tired, and even said that he felt a little numb.

　　 "Normal?"

　　 "Don't you believe it?"

　　 The old man put down the things in his hands and strode to the cabinet by the wall. Crouched down and pulled open the cabinets on the lower floor, opened it and pulled out a suitcase.

　　 He dragged the suitcase to the side of the table, and when it was opened, it was filled with a metal music box. These machines have a fairly obvious hand-made texture, but this does not increase their value.

　　 "I rely on this to make money, is there anything wrong?"

　　 asked the old man, and he took one out of it and handed it to Jenkins. Jenkins opened the lid, and then used the key in the hand of the upright dancer to gently rotate it a few times in the keyhole on the side of the music box. Immediately, with the static movement of the dancing villain rotating in place, the tinkling tone rang.

　　 This is really an ordinary music box.

　　 Jenkins put the sounding box on the table. He didn't expect that the old man was already struggling to this extent.

　　 "Can you make money by selling this...?"

　　 "Of course, whether you sell it to a toy store or set up a stall on the street, these are all very short-selling goods, and you can make a lot of money."

　　The old man did not look for a suitable gear anymore, but picked up a spring and squinted under the light to observe the recovery of the spring after being compressed.

“I polish parts and assemble music boxes every day. These are enough to feed me and I have some savings. I don’t know how people like handicrafts so much. I plan to recruit one or two literate apprentices when I have more savings in the future. Teach them those repetitive and tiring tasks, so that they can make more money and move to a better place sooner or later."

　　 He put down the spring and threw it in a paper box folded from newspaper.

　　 "So, your job now...is to make these music boxes by hand?"

　　 "Some metal parts also need to be bought. It is impossible for me to pull out such a spring, nor can I make such a standard gear. What I do is some more complicated and meticulous work."

　　 "No, I mean, do you no longer do scientific research and no longer invent things?"

　　 "Invention?"

　　 The old man suddenly turned his head and looked at Jenkins. There was an inexplicable emotion in his tired, bloodshot eyes:

　　 "Can invention be exchanged for food?"

　　 Of course not, even if it is a relatively useful invention, it may not necessarily be exchanged for food.

　　 "If you can't eat enough, what's the meaning of others."

　　 He points to himself:

"I'm at this age, do you think I still don't understand these? Inventions and creations can't be exchanged for money, but learning what others have invented and copying the results that have already existed will allow me to live well. ."

　　 "Do you think so now?"

　　 Jenkins asked.

　　 "Yes, I just understand it now. If I could figure out this truth when I was young, I wouldn't be forced to live in this kind of place when I was old."

　　 He said, restarting his work. Although he is a little older, his hands are very stable.

"I used to think that I could become an inventor, and all I thought about all day was to invent a very powerful machine and then become famous. Now think about it, when I was young, I was really stupid. Not all the investment would be rewarded. At that time, I thought about it. If I didn’t want to be an inventor, but a businessman or a factory with the money in my hand, why would I be here now?”

　　 He speaks very fast, it’s more like talking to himself than talking to Jenkins:

"Inventors and scientists are the most useless professions. I have never heard of an inventor who can become a rich person. I have only heard of a rich person becoming an inventor. Not the best businessman. The two industries of invention and science have career limits, and the rewards are far less than investment. Therefore, it is better to be a businessman."

　　 Although this is the silly remark made by the old man in his grief and anger, there are indeed some truths. The occupation limit of invention and science is indeed inferior to that of businessmen, and in this era, the uncertainty is much greater than that of businessmen.

　　 "So, instead of learning science and machinery, it is better to follow the businessmen to learn business. This is the best knowledge."

　　 The old man summed it up by himself.

　　 "That's a bit too extreme, isn't it?"

　　 Jenkins asked, he saw that this was not the old man’s original idea, but just venting his inner dissatisfaction.

　　 "Extreme, isn't it? More and more people will see this. Except for the unlucky guys who get into the wrong line, the children in the future will probably flock to business. This is the knowledge that can make money."

　　 "But this is not good for our civilization, civilization needs progress, so someone needs to delve into science and creativity."

　　 Jenkins reminded.

　　 "But society has not given us people who study science and creation more conditions for survival. It is not my fault."

　　 The old man answered without raising his head. .

　　 "Do you think this is the fault of society?"

　　 "It can be said that, except for a small number of great nobles, who doesn't want their children to make more money in the future? Isn't it silly to learn science and creation without knowing the ratio of harvest and investment?"

　　 The old man snorted as he continued to vent his emotions.

　　 "Look, his thoughts are the same as mine."

　　 The gear man behind him also spoke. Although he could not hear the emotions in his tone, if he is a real person, then he is absolutely triumphant at the moment:

"Your civilization has its own problems. Science and creation cannot create wealth in a short period of time. Even some science and creation are meaningless in themselves, but someone must do it to prove the meaninglessness or inspire others' ideas. . Therefore, for industries and individuals who devote themselves to creation, there should be strong support and help instead of letting them fend for themselves. What is even more intolerable is that industries that are not of great significance to civilization can show more than science. And create more revenue. You are burying your civilization."

　　 When talking to Jenkins for the first three goals, the Gearman never intervened. This time he spoke because the current situation is very suitable for hitting Jenkins.

"you are right."

　　 But Jenkins was not hit by:

　　 "Indeed, this is very unreasonable."

　　 He held the table with one hand, half-turned to look at the gear man:

　　 "That's why change is needed, but it is not the change you are looking forward to, but the change I am looking forward to."

　　 "Can stubbornness be considered an advantage?"

　　 "Whatever you say, please close your mouth now and see how I get the ‘heart of wonder’."

　　 Although it seems a bit difficult, compared to the mine just now, there is almost nothing to do. At least Jenkins knows that when the old man is young, there must be such things as "wonders".

　　 So all he needs is to reawaken the thoughts that have been lost and forgotten, which sounds much simpler.

　　 "How much money can you make with this music box?"

　　 Jenkins adjusted his mood and asked the old man Xiang, but the other party did not give the exact number:

　　 "At least enough for me to eat a good meal at the restaurant on the street."

　　 "Then why don't you want to earn more?"

　　 "Earn more?"

　　 The old man looked at Jenkins:

"I have saved the raw materials to the extreme, and saving money will greatly reduce the overall service life of the music box. Although I am poor, I still don't use this trick. As for speeding up the production process, I am too old, eyes My hands can’t keep up with the speed of my mind, so I thought about recruiting some apprentices in some time."

　　 "No, no, not to save you cost and time, but to find a way to sell a music box at a higher price."

　　 "I must admit that I am not suitable to be a businessman, and it is too late to learn those skills."

　　 said the old man.

"What if the purchaser takes the initiative to increase the price? Maybe you can make some changes to the existing music boxes on the basis of controlling costs and production time as much as possible to make them worth the higher price. Remember when our conversation first started, I Those thoughts that have been said?"

　　 "You mean, I can add something different to the production process?"

　　 "Of course, even if the function cannot be changed, it shouldn't be difficult for you to add some beautiful lines or hand-carve some patterns that young people like?"

　　 "It's really not difficult..."

　　 The old man whispered, his eyes drifting and wondering what he thought of.

"If you are worried about failing due to excessive investment, you can just make one or two special samples and sell them in a store you know well. If someone really likes it and can take out the ticket, then gradually increase the output. If you are lucky enough, and the innovative music box you make has a technology that only you can master, then you can make a fortune with this. First establish a handicraft workshop, recruit five or six apprentices, and master the manufacturing and assembly of core components by yourself Process. After accumulating enough capital, increase the scale of production, and continue to research and create in the process of manufacturing.

　　If all goes well, I believe that in your lifetime, it is entirely possible to become a factory owner. "

　　 The above process is pure nonsense by Jenkins, he himself knows how difficult it is to do this. But it is indeed "possible", and it is not completely hopeless, so this is not a lie to encourage the other party.

The 2201st chapter of the whimsical

　　 "Can I do it? I'm so old."

　　 The old man asked in a low voice, very nervous.

"Think about it, you are at this age. If you don't try it, do you want to bring regrets to your grave? And if you try it, you won't lose your current life. Besides, you don't seem to have What can be lost."

"This......"

　　 He scratched his sparse hair and looked nervously at the parts on the desktop lit by the high-powered gas station lights.

"Try it, but it's just a waste of time and delays in earning a few meals. If you fail, you will be treated as a whole month for nothing. If you succeed, you don't need to live in this kind of place anymore. Although there is no invention when you were young Let you make money, but now it is just to improve the music box, not even to improve, just add some new features. Is this difficult? Maybe difficult, but for you, you are familiar with the process of making a music box, you have half your life Mechanical manufacturing experience. Apart from the arrival of the end of the world, what else can stop you?"

　　 Jenkins continued to bewitched, and felt that he might also have the potential to become the devil. Of course, he was pretty sure that someone who loved animals like himself would be a good devil.

　　 Thinking of this, he reached out and patted the chocolate on his shoulder. Since chocolate has followed Jenkins to this treacherous place, it has shown an uncommonly well-behaved. In the past, it only made a big mistake or hoped that Jenkins could provide good food.

　　 This makes Jenkins sigh. After more than half a year, the adopted pet cat has finally grown up, and is no longer the greedy and lazy cat in the past.

I don’t know why I can hear Jenkins’s thoughts of chocolate, some want to teach Jenkins some lessons, but thinking of the current situation, I decided to endure it and let Jenkins know that cats can’t be stigmatized after the incident is over. .

　　 The old man in a white coat is still hesitating. Now this kind of life is stable and hopeful. Even if Jenkins describes the future very well, it is risky after all.

　　 Seeing that simple benefits cannot seduce him, Jenkins decided to take another strong medicine from the other side:

　　 "Do you remember the idea that you wanted to invent and create in the first place? That kind of heartfelt desire, the kind of idea that touched these cold metal parts and felt hot in your heart."

　　 "That was already many years ago."

　　 "Then dreaming back at midnight, or when you were drunk in a tavern, did you recall your young ambitions? Have you also dreamed of being able to realize your young ideas?"

　　 "It did happen once or twice."

　　 "Then you really have no chance? If it is temporarily impossible to invent a machine that no one else has thought of, then why not start by improving the existing machine? For example, the music box in your hand."

"This one......"

　　 He is still hesitating. After money and his ideals can be satisfied, the old man is still hesitating. He is not young anymore, not because he has no young people's enthusiasm, but because he has more worries.

　　 So Jenkins has one trick left:

　　 "You can imagine that we are in this era, and steam is driving society and people to move forward, but you are willing to waste your remaining life on doing these manual tasks day after day?"

　　 The old man's expression could not see his thoughts at the moment.

"Imagine how many people can encounter this era. Even if we look at people today, we can know what a magnificent and variable era this is. Are you really willing to do nothing in your life, the last in your life? One big thing is to recruit a few rude young people to help you polish the parts in the basement?"

　　 The old man's head tilted, and his brows frowned.

　　 "Imagine how people would write your epitaph when you die? "A craftsman" or a "music box assembler"? Is this what you want?"

　　 He was surprised that he could say such a thing.

　　 "It's not..."

"On the contrary, if you can summon the courage to fight, things may be very different. You will catch up with the trend of the times in the second half of your life, and you will use your cleverness and wisdom to become the trend-makers of the times... ...I hope you can understand this analogy. If you can really become a factory owner, there may be someone who writes books for you, praising you for achieving success at this age, and the failures of your youth will become legendary. Part. Think about it, are these difficult?"

　　 The old man grunted~ He swallowed, his stern gaze softened. .

"At that time, your epitaph will write your great life, there will be admirers and your heirs, boasting of your contributions. And all of this lies in whether you are willing to make changes and go Try to change your current destiny...Yes, change your destiny and rely on yourself. This is not something that can be done at any time. If you are not lucky enough to enter this era, even if you have an idea, you have no chance. You Fortunately, fortunately, I wanted to understand this in my later years, so, for the sake of money, for yourself, and for the society, try to create something."

　　 "For money, for myself, and for society..."

　　 He repeated these words in a low voice, turning his head to look at the parts on the table with blinking eyes. Then he took out a piece of paper from under the heavy gear with oil stains. After unfolding, it was a hand-painted mechanical exploded view of the music box. All three views are present and the dimensions are marked. Jenkins can see at a glance that this music box is different from a normal music box.

　　 "It's time to change."

　　 The old man whispered, unfolding the drawing completely, spreading it on the table, and then found a usable pencil from the wooden pen holder on the side.

　　 Jenkins took two steps back and watched the old man under the lamp bury his head and start working. Transparent heart-shaped diamonds emerged from his heart. Compared with the previous few, this gemstone is a bit smaller, and after holding it up, it feels that the temperature is not as hot, but it can be regarded as "wonderful heart".

　　 "Look, it's not difficult."

　　 After Jenkins showed the gear man behind him, the latter asked:

　　 "Are you sure you haven't used your power to coax him?"

"Have I used power? You are so close to me, don’t you feel it at all? Although I don’t think it’s the right thing for me to use words to change other people’s thoughts so easily, I can guarantee that I just used it. Words. I think I can probably understand the old inventor’s ideas. His ideas cannot be said to be all right, but at least they are not all wrong..."

　　 said, throwing the gemstone to the opponent. The two walked towards the exit of the basement together, and the gear man sighed:

　　 "Having seen these with you, I once again confirm that humans are really interesting things, very interesting."