His Excellency the Count of Grandet

From Washington all the way south, after passing through Virginia, which is full of valleys and hills, and North Carolina, where the plateau and the Outer Banks extend far away, you can reach the coastal plain of South Carolina.

Although it sounds like a plain, there are many places in South Carolina that are still complex.It is not uncommon to have a layer of hard rock under the soil, and swamps around the beach are even more common, so it is not so surprising that Clay's estate is among the high sandstone hills and woodland——

"These agaves are all introduced from South America, and I prefer this kind of land." After settling down, the owner of the manor, Clay, took a group of people to visit the rows of radial succulents on the side of the house, "Wait until they grow When it reaches the height of half a person, use an ax to chop down the whole tree, split it crosswise, and then throw it into the pit, and then cover it with dense grass or leaves." He gestured a five as he spoke, indicating that the five people would embrace each other , "The pit must be filled with red-hot charcoal, so that the aroma of the plants can be smoked out—"

"What kind of charcoal is used, and there is some smoky flavor in the wine?" France does not produce tequila, so the members of the inspection team who came here felt very fresh.

"That's right." Clay affirmed, "Everyone is an expert. I won't emphasize how much wood has an effect on wine. After smoking for a certain period of time, remove the leaves and look at the agave hearts underneath. The degree of smoking on the cross-section can determine whether the next step is to continue to smoke or send it to be steamed for winemaking.”

"It sounds very powerful." A group of people said this one after another. "Maybe we can buy it back and try it?"

"That's not necessary," Clay replied, his eyes glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Victor, who had been silent and his expression didn't change, "after all, compared to my other industries, these agaves are just for fun. , the brewed wine is not sold to the public. If you like it, of course I will give it to you with both hands.”

Of course, a lot of thanks were exchanged for these words; everyone's nerves were relaxed.

Compared with the feeling of restraint in Washington, the gentlemen of the inspection team have finally recovered a little atmosphere for pleasant communication.Because the manor is located halfway up the mountain, when they came up, they had already seen the lush forest and the meandering river——

Drinking wine, eating snacks, and admiring the beautiful scenery, this seems to be a cooperation!

Seeing this change, everyone from Clay to Hampton to Webster breathed a sigh of relief.Dealing with the French is different from the British. It is basically impossible to talk about things without good wine and food.Fortunately, they didn't stay in Washington for too long, otherwise investors would have been scared away by the black-faced president and secretary of state!

"Your agaves have grown to such a large size, I'm afraid it will take many years?" A relatively knowledgeable wine merchant asked.

"The biggest ones are thirteen or fourteen years old. Your eyesight is really sharp." Clay replied, his tone inevitably tinged with pride.Because tequila also has requirements on the age of tequila, it is generally accepted that the longer the better, the thirteen or fourteen years have already approached the best.

"Really? We're embarrassed to accept it," someone immediately answered teasingly, "It seems that only Charles can bring your wine back smoothly—after all, the wine he brought is the best among us." Yes, I can trade with you!"

"Although I firmly believe that the first half of your sentence is worrying, but the latter sentence—" Clay draws his voice slightly, "I must admit that you have successfully aroused my curiosity."

The group of people laughed again. "If you ask me, what's so difficult about satisfying your curiosity? Have a meal together, don't you know?" Hampton answered first, smiling. "Shall I tell you that I've been looking forward to dinner?"

"Are you really not considering your waistline?" Someone deliberately robbed the sentence.

This resulted in a burst of laughter.Wine is indeed a good thing.After opening the chatterbox, you don't have to worry about the following things.

"I did bring a lot. But I can't guarantee that they will all suit the taste of each of you." Charles expressed his attitude at the right time.

Webster stared at Charles.This is obviously support, because Shire didn't deny that his wine was good at all, and directly skipped the step of asking for opinions, and turned it into consideration of taste——

There was nothing unusual along the way. It seemed that they didn't have to worry about each other stirring up relations between the North and the South?Now, the other party has confidence and sincerity; it was just that they were too sensitive before?

Victor also looked sideways slightly, but said nothing.As I said before, he is not rude to people, but he lacks enthusiasm.At this time, apart from thinking that Shire is really prepared, there is only one more thought——

If you want to talk, talk quickly, if you don't talk, quickly pull it down!Time or something, there is no need to waste even a minute!

What, say he is impatient?He just knows the taste, what's the matter?

Clay undoubtedly did not receive Victor's mood. "It would be very nice of you, too!" he answered Charles. "As for the taste, we can always reconcile it."

The implication in this sentence is very strong-although both of them have their own goals, they always have overlapping areas of interest.Since this is the case, won't everyone be happy if we strive to seek common ground while reserving differences?

"I have to say that I fully support this view," Webster began.His voice was not loud, but everyone looked at him the moment they heard it——

Of all the Americans present, he was the invisible chief; and now that he said that, he sealed the matter.

That's right, he did doubt the French's motives at the beginning, but after he came to a correct judgment, he would no longer be obsessed with that idea; Isn't that what he is good at?

But for Victor, this is what he was waiting for.As long as Webster nods, their expedition is already half successful. "There's nothing better than coincidence."

Seeing the smooth development of the situation, most people present were completely relieved, especially the Americans.If the general direction can be determined, the details will be much easier to deal with, isn't it?

"If you are tired, gentlemen, I will take you back and rest in your respective rooms. If you still want to take a walk, you can also go for a walk along the mountain path. The nearby forests are regularly patrolled and cleared, so you don't have to I'm worried about getting lost." Clay said courteously, "Of course, it would be more convenient to take the servant with you. But a pocket watch is a must, you at least need it to remind you that it's time for dinner!"

This passage was fluent and humorous, and everyone laughed out loud, and then it was quickly divided into three parts - some people wanted to go back to their own bed in the manor, and some wanted to see the pits and wines that brewed tequila There are also people who want to go to the nearby protruding rocks to blow some air.

"They have all gone back." After walking for a while on the mountain path full of gravel and surrounded by dense green trees, Charles said so.Both he and Victor chose the direction outside the manor, and chose a relatively remote path intentionally or unintentionally, leaving the others behind.

As for them in Shire's mouth, they specifically refer to Americans.

"Of course, they definitely need more time to negotiate than us, after all, they really don't have the advantage." Victor quickly replied, sideways avoiding the branches extending above the road.

Obviously, compared to this topic, he is more concerned about the scenery in front of the road now - his eyes are quite high, and the usual polite responses can be seen as cold, and now he doesn't care about a few people who can't pose a threat to him at all. People; even if they came to do business together, it's the same.

It was three or four o'clock in the afternoon, the forest mixed with rocks was not too dense, and the golden light slanting to the west coated everything with a golden edge like holy light.The surroundings are still relatively quiet, only the faint movement of water hitting the rocks, occasionally mixed with the chirping of a falcon soaring in the long sky.

Charles couldn't resist stopping to look at the surrounding scenery before asking, "How much do you think they can do?"

"The lower the tariff, the better, it's not just our idea." Victor replied, accompanied by the slight sound of shoe soles rubbing against pebbles as he walked, "Then if they want to bargain, it's only industry. "

"Judging from your tone, I think you don't really want to cooperate." Xia Er said, walking a few steps quickly to keep up.

"It's not that I'm not very cooperative, but I suspect that the Americans can't come up with the corresponding chips." Victor spread his hands, "We are here to make money, not to help the Americans out of the quagmire."

Charles was amused by the distaste lurking in Victor's tone. "Let's be honest, whether it's steel, shipbuilding, textiles, or anything else, I believe that all industries will be renovated in the near future, at least our factories will need it." Because from the beginning, Faraday and Ampere combined The work efficiency will be even more astonishing, maybe he will be able to see the samples when he goes back this time. "In this way, not to mention the Americans, even the British can't come up with chips of equivalent value." He chuckled.

"So, when we eliminate the technology and replace it with those people, it will be able to maximize its use value. For those people, the things we replaced are good enough!" Victor said confidently, not feeling any harm at all. What's wrong.

In fact, this is not wrong.Because Shire has obtained a lot of patents recently, it is definitely a big income to transfer to others when the whole line is replaced.

Others' patents are covered until the protection period expires, but they are lucky enough to sell them within two or three years, because there are better ones worth doing!

If you say it, it will make people vomit blood every minute!

"Sometimes I really wonder how you can fit so many things in your head." Victor said again.He was now striding over a lying tree, and turning round he held out a hand to Charles.

Charles heard that Victor didn't really want an answer, so he put his hand on it, but didn't answer directly. "If you knew, you wouldn't need me to do things, would you?"

Victor paused for a moment, thinking about something he had been having a bit of trouble with—he had to admit that he was absolutely not serious about Charles at first; driven by this attitude, the way he adopted was obviously not respectful enough.He didn't know it at the time, but now that he thinks about it, he regrets——

"Nothing!" He objected, a little fiercely, "Anyway, it's just like what I said before, you can only live with me in this life!"

——Just kidding, give an affirmative answer at this time?Victor is not stupid!

"What did you think of?" Charles realized something, and couldn't help but tilt his eyes at Victor, "I didn't know you were so stingy. I thought you had forgotten it."

"Of course it's okay for you to forget, but of course I have to remember the wrong things I did, especially those related to you." Victor replied, his tone softened, but he held Charles' hand even tighter. "Only in this way will it remind me not to make the same mistake in the future."

Charles stared at Victor more deeply.To be honest, if someone has emotional detours with him, he will definitely accompany him; but the straight ball is a bit unbearable, especially the straight ball that pinpoints his weakness——

"To be honest, do you want to do something again?" Charles said, with a half-smile on his face, implying a strong meaning.

"Although I think I can't deny what you said, but there are obviously other possibilities!" Victor was slightly aggrieved.

"for example?"

"For example, a natural waterfall!"

The trail climbs all the way up and reaches its apex when a huge rock blocks the road.After turning over it, the path became lower and lower, and the road surface became more and more wet, and there were some traces of moss and silt.Under the shadow of the hillside is a clear pond, not too big or small, the river is pouring down from above it, the white mist is flying, and the water is shaking like ice shattering all over the sky.

"I think your credit will never get back to normal." Charles, who was dragged and jogged all the way, said this.On a scorching afternoon, in a deserted pond, two people who are alone and widowed...

This is simply Sima Zhao's heart, and everyone knows it!

Seeing that Charles' face was quickly covered with fine droplets of water, Victor couldn't refute. "do you mind?"

Charles snorted.He waved his hands, as if trying to break free from Victor, but the result was——he pushed him into the water!

Victor's water skills are good, but he can't stand up to Charles' surprise attack.He managed to float up from the water and wiped his face vigorously: "Then I'll pretend you don't mind."

"You know?" Charles raised his eyebrows.

The same thing, Victor heard from Charles before, when they first met.But if Ciel's tone at that time was a hidden impatience, now it has a completely different meaning——

Charles was taking off his clothes slowly, and patiently folded them neatly on the side after taking them off!

Although Viktor's mouth became more parched, it didn't affect the comparison between the two: "Why do you have to wet my clothes?"

It was already summer, and there were not many clothes on. At this time, there was almost nothing left on Charles.Hearing Victor's question, Charles was not in a hurry, and maintained the same speed to tear off the last piece of cloth from his body. "Clothes or me, which one do you choose?"

——What else is there to choose, if you endure him any longer, you will become a saint directly!

Victor couldn't bear it anymore, a fierce swimmer swam over, grabbed Charles' ankle and brought him down.A large splash of water was stirred up on the surface of the pool, and the ripples lasted for a long time.

The author has something to say: Victor: Ripple... Did I really eat meat?It feels clearer every time!

Charles: That's right, the pool is clear water ╮(￣▽￣")╭ Victor: Braised pork! Sweet and sour pork ribs! These are the meat! Is the clear water pipe full? (╬￣dish￣)