The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

As the car drove away from the coastline and ascended the winding mountain road, the view was gradually filled with endless greenery.

Grapevines spread across the hillsides like green velvet ironed by the sun, while the spires of the ancient castle in the distance are faintly visible among the shadows of the trees.

"Where is this...?" Shen Qingyao looked out the window, her eyes filled with surprise.

"Our family's winery." Meng Jiangyu turned the steering wheel, his tone casual, as if he were talking about something very ordinary. "It was left to me by my father. It's usually managed by a specialist, who comes to stay for a while every year."

The car passed through the wrought iron gate engraved with the family crest, and the laughter of tourists and the sound of horses' hooves could be heard in the distance.

"Is there a horse farm here?" Shen Qingyao asked, puzzled.

"Yes, this winery is very large, and it also has a castle hotel and a horse farm."

"This is the first time I've ever heard of combining a winery and a hotel!"

"This is indeed rare in China. The drinking culture in China is dominated by baijiu (Chinese white liquor), and drinkers are more concerned about the result. Therefore, wineries in China focus more on production and processing. In contrast, red wine culture is more prevalent abroad, and drinkers are more concerned about the production process. Therefore, wineries abroad offer winemaking services."

"Oh, I see! No wonder it's so rare in China!"

"You like bartending, don't you know that?!"

"I learned bartending partly because I enjoyed it, but also to earn money. At the time, I was focused on learning quickly, so I didn't understand much about the theoretical knowledge!"

Meng Jiangyu stopped the car. "Besides, it's enough that I know now!"

"Yes, you've improved!" Meng Jiangyu affectionately patted Shen Qingyao's head.

"So why did you come to the horse farm?"

Meng Jiangyu unbuckled his seatbelt. "Because I like horseback riding, but the initial investment in building a horse farm is too large, and the maintenance costs are also high. I can only come here twice a year, so I opened it to the public."

"Is this what strategic value investing is?"

Meng Jiangyu was pleasantly surprised, "Yaoyao, you actually know this?"

"I've attended the lecture!"

"As expected of the person I like!"

The winery's butler was already waiting in front of the castle, nodding respectfully: "Sir, Madam, please come in."

Meng Jiangyu led Shen Qingyao into the winery, where oak barrels were neatly arranged and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of fermented grapes.

He picked up a plump purple grape and handed it to Shen Qingyao: "Try it, this year's Merlot has just the right amount of sweetness."

The moment you bite into the flesh, the sweet juice bursts on your tongue.

He turned and walked toward the press, explaining the steps of traditional winemaking: "This is the most crucial step; the pressure must be even."

Shen Qingyao was amused by him and dodged away, watching the purplish-red grape juice flow down the wooden trough.

This rich, sweet fragrance carries the scent of time's passage.

After inspecting the brewery, Meng Jiangyu arrived at the castle hotel.

The interior of the castle hotel was more welcoming than I had imagined, and not as solemn as I had expected.

Meng Jiangyu led Shen Qingyao into the office, which was very clean.

Yellowed family photos hang on the office wall.

One of the photos is of Meng Jiangyu as a child, with his parents in a vineyard. The boy is wearing a white shirt, and his features already show the outlines he has now.

"This photo was taken when I was fifteen," he said, pointing to the picture. "I was arguing with my dad back then, and then he died in a car accident."

Those few simple words pierced Shen Qingyao's heart like a knife.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. "Ayu, seeing you say these words so calmly now, I can imagine how sad you must have been back then."

Shen Qingyao held Meng Jiangyu's hand, "I don't know how to comfort you. No matter what I say, it can't change the fact that this sad thing has already happened."

Shen Qingyao looked sincerely into Meng Jiangyu's eyes, "But I promise that I will always be by your side from now on, and I will not let you face this darkest moment of your life alone."

Meng Jiangyu hugged Shen Qingyao, "Ayu, if your father were still alive, he would be so proud to see what you've achieved!"

"Thank you, Yao Yao!" Meng Jiangyu looked down at her.

The French brunch at noon was held in the open-air courtyard of the castle. The white tablecloths fluttered gently in the wind, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the parasols onto the plates.

The waiter brought over a chilled bottle of new wine. The pale golden liquid rippled in the glass. Meng Jiangyu poured her a small half-glass: "This year's Chardonnay is very sweet. Try it."

Shen Qingyao took a sip, and the fruity aroma mixed with a slight sourness spread on her tongue. It was milder than she had imagined. "It doesn't have a bitter taste at all."

"Honey, white wine doesn't have tannins; it's red wine that has that astringent taste."

He opened another bottle of aged Bordeaux, the deep red liquid clinging to the glass like a frozen sunset: "This wine is made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, it goes well with steak, give it a try."

She took a small sip. "It tastes very astringent and dry, not as good as the previous wine!"

"The grapes used in this wine are not sweet enough, so the taste is very dry and not smooth!"

While eating brunch, Shen Qingyao listened to him tell stories about wines from different years.

The year with more rain, the grapes are sweeter.

One year it was hit by hail, resulting in a scarce but exceptionally rich flavor.

"So, the 82 Lafite is famous because it was a bumper year with plenty of rain, which made the grapes grow well."

"Oh, I see!"

The warm sunshine made people sleepy, and the vineyards in the distance rippled in the wind, making time seem to slow down.

After lunch, the two went back to the suite prepared by the butler for a nap, and then changed into their riding clothes and went to the horse farm.

"Ah Yu, how come I never noticed before that you have such a great figure!"

"No infatuation allowed!" Meng Jiangyu led Shen Qingyao outside.

In the afternoon at the horse farm, a brown horse dozed off, swishing its tail.

"Ah Yu, there was no one at the entrance we came in through, but there are quite a lot of people at the horse farm and the hotel."

"The door we came in through is a private entrance; tourists come in through the other door."

"Oh oh oh oh!"

Meng Jiangyu led her a gentle white horse and personally saddled it for her: "Don't be afraid, its name is Lillian, it's very well-behaved."

"good!"

Meng Jiangyu pointed to the stirrups, "Put your feet here, relax your body, and then mount the horse."

"Make sure your back is straight when mounting the horse, otherwise you'll easily fall off!"

"Oh!" Shen Qingyao listened attentively.

"Let me show you!" He mounted his horse with nimble and fluid movements, his black riding attire making his figure appear even more upright.

"After mounting, gently press the inside of your thighs against the saddle, and bend your knees naturally!"

"Hold the reins with both hands, shoulder-width apart. Don't grip too tightly or too loosely. Keep your palms down and your fingers naturally wrapped around the reins. This is the first step in controlling the horse."

"When turning, gently pull the reins with your inside hand towards the bend, while your outside hand assists."

"To stop a horse, gently and steadily pull on the reins with both hands. Pulling hard will easily startle the horse."

As Meng Jiangyu explained and demonstrated, he asked, "Do you understand?"

"Your brain understands, but your hands don't?" Shen Qingyao laughed awkwardly.

"Come on, come on up and give it a try!" Meng Jiangyu dismounted.

"Uh-huh!"

Meng Jiangyu gripped the reins tightly, controlling the horse.

Shen Qingyao slowly mounted the horse, holding onto the iron ring. Although her movements were slow, they were very precise.

"That's great!"

He patiently led the horse for her, saying, "Try riding on horseback first!"

"Uh-huh!"

"What are we supposed to do sitting on horseback?" Meng Jiangyu asked.

Shen Qingyao obediently raised one hand, "Teacher Meng, I know! Keep your inner thighs lightly against the saddle, and your knees naturally bent!"

"This child is teachable!"

After Shen Qingyao had adjusted for a while, Meng Jiangyu mounted his horse.

"I'll now teach you how to hold the reins, step by step!"

"Uh-huh!"

Meng Jiangyu gently spurred the horse's belly, and the horse slowly paced back and forth. "I just talked about a lot of theoretical knowledge, but in short, it all boils down to holding the reins tight. The reins are like the steering wheel."

"To turn left, pull the reins with your left hand; to turn right, pull the reins with your right hand," Meng Jiaoyu said, demonstrating while holding Shen Qingyao's hand.

"The most important thing is to keep your eyes on the reins while riding to prevent them from getting tangled or snagged on branches."

"good!"

Meng Jiangyu demonstrated the technique to Shen Qingyao several times, then said, "Try it yourself!"

Meng Jiangyu loosely pulled on the reins, cooperating with Shen Qingyao.

Shen Qingyao, with her exceptional comprehension, exclaimed, "That's fantastic, baby!"

After riding a few more laps with her, Meng Jiangyu dismounted and let her ride on her own.

Meng Jiangyu followed on a separate black horse.

Shen Qingyao rode around a few times by herself, then felt a little bored.

Shen Qingyao wanted to try riding a horse at full gallop, but she was too scared to do so.

Seeing her lack of interest, Meng Jiangyu knew what she was thinking.

Meng Jiangyu mounted his horse and hugged Shen Qingyao from behind. "Let me show you what it's like to gallop on horseback!"

"Okay!" Meng Jiangyu took the reins from the girl and had the fence of the horse farm opened.

Meng Jiangyu squeezed the horse's flanks tightly, "Let's go!"

As we passed through the forest at the end of the vineyard, sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled patterns, and the horses' hooves rustled on the fallen leaves.

Meng Jiangyu quickened his pace, and the white horse seemed to understand its master's intention, obediently following him forward.

The wind whistled past my ears, carrying the scent of pine needles and earth.

The moment they burst out of the forest, the azure sea came into view again. The white horse trotted along the coastline, and the waves broke into white foam at their feet.

Shen Qingyao turned to look at him. He was gazing ahead, his eyes shining brighter than the sunlight.

The girl opened her arms, feeling the freedom of the wind passing through her fingertips, and her laughter was carried far away by the sea breeze.

As the sun set, the two rode back.

Shen Qingyao's cheeks were slightly flushed from the wind, and a fallen leaf clung to her hair. Meng Jiangyu picked it off for her, his fingertips brushing against her cheek casually: "Are you tired?"

"I'm not tired." She looked up at him, the castle's spires edged in gold by the sunset. "This place is wonderful."

"I'll bring you here every year from now on." He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "When the grapes are ripe, I'll take you to pick them by hand and make wine."

The evening breeze carried the fragrance of the vineyards as Shen Qingyao leaned against the passenger seat, listening to the distant sound of the waves, as the car drove away from the winery.