John Malone's words make the fundamental difference between capital and money clear.

The middle-aged man, whom he called a senator, shook his head and said, "But he doesn't look like an ordinary capitalist." We've never seen such a maverick billionaire. ”

"He really is. Or we can absorb him. ”

"No, that can't be. The senator sneered. "Don't forget. He's just a Chinese. You know, we have never recruited members from China. ”

"There is always a first time for everything. Now that our world is taking shape, the only obstacle is China. We targeted their weakest link, and now it seems to have succeeded. But let's not forget. They have a very different worldview from us. ”

"You mean the clash of civilizations?"

"Yes. It's a conflict. And this conflict is becoming more and more apparent. When this conflict surfaces, the successes we have now made there will be wiped out overnight. ”

The senator groaned for a moment and said, "I have to admit that you are very wise on this issue. A few years ago, we had just bought off the elite of their society, and only a little bit of progress was made, and the opposition made the potato their staple food. Potatoes can achieve satisfactory yields with enough fertilizer. That would alleviate their food security situation. The need for GMOs (genetically modified organisms) has also become less urgent. ”

"You're right. Many people forget that they are a big country like us, the United States, with enough scientific research capacity and enough money. They even have an advantage that we don't have – their entire country can always speak with one voice. And we keep one voice speaking though. But the other voice, though weak, is something we can't ignore, and they are so numerous that we can't keep them down. Think of the chaos on Wall Street a decade ago.

He pondered for a while, and then said, "As long as they want, they can do this with trillions of dollars, and do it better than us." Our success in previous years was nothing more than a deliberate act on their part. For the sake of our money and technology. ”

"Yes. They've done that for decades. "The senator wasn't very worried about what John Malone said. "But we might try to stop them from speaking with one voice. ”

"Look at Russia. That's what we were going to do. But they have been speaking with one voice for more than twenty years in a row. ”

"John, you have to see. Russia and China are very different. Russia has one Putin, and China can produce seven Putins. And Putin is unlikely to be re-elected. Russia will lose the people who can make the voice louder throughout Russia. When Russia is no longer an obstacle, we can concentrate on dealing with China. ”

"Mr. Senator, what you see is only scratching the surface. The head of state of China is completely different from our Mr. President. He has very strong political and military control over the country. No matter who sits in that position, his voice will overwhelm the voice of any Chinese. In China, we are their worst enemy, and they are very hostile to us from top to bottom, and anyone who may rise to a high position will never come closer to us, and those who move closer to us for the sake of profit are people who only have one mouth. Now even the Americans are beginning to doubt us. Do you think the Chinese will believe the good things they say for the United States? ”

John Malone took out a cigar and slowly lit it, and continued: "Thirteen years ago Sinkiger said this was our best chance. But I don't think he has a word left to say: that's also China's best chance. In my opinion, maybe we need to bring in some people who can make Chinese feel more relatable. They can influence the Chinese more than we whites. ”

At this point, the plane began to land, and Mr. Senator seemed to think for a moment and said, "WELL, that's not something we can decide." Isn't it? Although I don't like Chinese people and blacks. But if they are willing to absorb a Chinese, I will also consider him as a partner. He felt that John Malone must have been so sentimental because he was old. "Maybe we should be ready to talk to the guests about how much money they need to prepare to make me governor. ”

…………

Link eventually dialed Mike: "Mike, I want to know if John Malone went to Bell Farm today." ”

Mike asks, "John Malone of the Liberty Media Group?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, he immediately said, "Okay, boss! I'll find out as soon as I can." ”

"I just need to know if he's gone, so I don't have to worry too much. Link just wanted to know if it was John Malone on the plane.

After all, the old guy is in his eighties, and maybe now his career has been handed over to the heir. The behavior of the plane just now was clearly a provocation, and if he found any blows on his farm in the future, it was likely to be someone from the Malone family. He needs to figure out the likely opponents.

John Malone may not have more assets than him. But in the United States, money is one thing, but the richest people are not necessarily the most powerful. John Malone does not represent less power than Bill Gates, but may even be higher.

The difference between the two can be seen in a simple fact. Bill Gates needs to give money to those politicians, and those politicians need to give money John Malone.

The old guy is the president of the world's second-largest information media group. His influence in the United States is not represented by how much money is spent or how many employees are hired.

However, he is also taking precautions, and the other party may not really do anything to embarrass him on the surface. Now the most important thing for him is to finish processing the grapes near the farm.

At 10 o'clock in the afternoon, the farm ordered fast food for the workers. Link and Albert and his assistant, of course, cook their own meals.

At lunchtime, Albert seemed still wondering how to make this batch of red wine. He suddenly said, "Link, I have a question. ”

"What?" Link asked, pausing his knife and fork.

"I've looked up the appellation in New Mexico, and the soil is good. But it stands to reason that the grapes here have a good chance of ripening that tannin. But your grapes are rich in tannins, which is very difficult for me to understand. Could it be that your grapes have really undergone some strange change because of grafting? ”

Link shrugged his shoulders and said, "Albert, I really can't answer this question for you. ”

Albert also knew that he was asking for blindness. Link though he planted so many grapes. But he has only been in contact with grapes for only two years. His question may not be answered even by an agronomist who has specialized in grapes for decades.

Moreover, there are many more things that can be called unsolved mysteries in the grapes that Link grows. For example, the grapes he planted had such a high yield in less than two years. Grapes from other vineyards, if they are not more than ten years old, can only be used to make third-grade wines. The grapes here are less than two years old, but they may make wines of the same grade as the famous winery. This in itself is a miracle.

"I don't have to worry about selling the wine now," he laughs. Maybe it will take quite a while for them to sell out. But as long as you have enough wine cellar. I think you'll be able to sell them out in 50 years. ”

Link had heard from Albert that his grapes had the potential to age for more than 50 years. As long as Albert doesn't have problems when it comes to winemaking, it's fine. He also believed that Albert had this ability.

But then he did need to build more cellars to store wine.

Then I heard Albert say, "Since the grapes are rich in tannins, I still have that advice." I recommend making more brandy for aging. Your grapes can make almost any wine. That's incredible. He said it in a somewhat exaggerated tone at the end. "Of course, the number of high-quality products should not be too much, otherwise it will affect its value. I try to make as much sake as I can. But I definitely have to hand over most of the grapes to my assistants to guide the workers to make the grapes. Do you have any comments on this?"

Link nodded and said, "Of course I have no opinion. ”

The grapes on these farms are indeed too high to be made by Albert alone, and the grapes will not wait for him, even if he wants to.

Abel nodded and said, "Of course, you can use dry ice to preserve some of the grapes." I'll brew as much as I can. I can't wait to taste the wine made from these grapes. Perhaps, these wines will be able to participate in the IWSC. ”

IWSC is the abbreviation of the World Wine & Spirits Competition, which is the world's most authoritative wine competition. If his wine wins a big prize at that competition, it can be a blockbuster.

But that's at least in September next year. By that time, however, his red wine was probably about eight months old, and it happened to be a drinkable fresh.

Yes, it takes about forty or fifty days to make wine, but it's not the time for that wine to be on the market. It is best to age in the cellar for a few years, at least about eight months. That kind of wine is the best to drink.

Generally speaking, a wine that has been aged for more than 10 years is considered an old wine. But whether you can drink that kind of sake or not depends on your luck. The so-called luck is that the grapes are quite rich in tannins, and then the winemaking process is passed. And proper cellaring. And XO is actually a brandy that has been aged for thirty or forty years. So the wine is really not expensive. After thirty or forty years, the price of ordinary brandy is about the same after inflation.

He thought for a moment, asked Albert, and said, "How much of the wine you think is suitable for long-term aging?" I'm planning to build more wine cellars. ”

Albert said, "That needs to be determined after the wine lady comes out." ”

Link nodded, and said, "According to your plan, Hans Farm will have to pick grapes in a few days." What are your plans?"

"When it comes to pre-grape processing, Harris is more than capable of doing it. I'll let him go over there first, and I'll go there when I'm almost ready. ”

Luckily, the European client's vineyard is still ripe and he has some time to stay here. Otherwise, he really won't be able to keep himself busy.

After a pause, he added, "I recommend that the grapes from Ozee be picked as late as possible. ”

"Why?" Link froze. He had already planned to start harvesting in half a month.

"I'm just suggesting. The grapes there are relatively high in moisture. I want them to hang on the vine for a few more days, and the sugar content should be higher. The wine made from that kind of grape is even better. Of course, if the ripeness is reached, it should be picked immediately. I'll let Harris follow him when the time comes. You don't have to worry about the grapes going to rot. ”

Link laughs, "It's not that problem I'm worried about, it's the workers. I've asked some agencies to help me hire workers. ”