Chapter 2, The Gothic Winery
On the other side of the long table sat three individuals: an elderly man, a middle-aged man, and a young man
Compared to the Zeus jewelry store of Blue Absolute, this Gothic building is like a giant, standing out as the most striking highlight along the entire Tianhuo Avenue
On one side of the long table, there are two individuals seated. One is tall and slender, wearing a white shirt and a black vest, with short hair that gives a spirited appearance, approximately around forty years of age, and has a gentle smile on his face
Lan Jue shook his head, "No, you have been eliminated"
Blue Absolute Road: "If today the seven of us share a bottle of Lafite, and you are the host, what would you do? Please be detailed."
The elder said, "I will carefully open it, first pour out a little to observe its color, smell its fragrance, and then taste the wine. I will confirm that it is not spoiled, and then share it with all of you to enjoy this fine wine together"
Lan Jue curled his lips and said, "Those who write about Lafite in books have never tasted it, taking it for granted. The notion of opening a bottle of Lafite just to drink it is an insult to it. Drinking it that way is no better than pouring it into a humidifier"
Gourmet's saying: "Because he has better taste than you"
Lanjué slightly nodded to her and said: "Eva, hello, is the sommelier available?"
The man in the white suit sitting next to Lan Jue nodded slightly and coolly said, "Support."
Lan Jue patted his forehead, "I knew you would say that. Alright, I was wrong. Although I just wanted to appear a bit more world-weary, to bridge the gap with you older folks."
Lan Jue lightly said: "Then don't drink."
Entering one of the seventeen qualification examinations of the Heavenly Fire Avenue, alcohol
At this moment, Lan Jue turned his gaze to the opposite side, "Gentlemen, let us begin. The first one." For him, having the opportunity to taste fine wine was something he was unwilling to wait for any longer.
Compared to the three individuals on the opposite side, their emotions appear somewhat constrained
Lan Jue walked out of Zeus, his face once again adorned with a faint smile, as if the events that had transpired in the shop had not affected his mood.
Another person, approximately thirty-five years old, of medium build, dressed in a white suit, with meticulously styled long golden hair that cascades from the temples to the shoulders, shining brightly. His eyebrows are thick, and his eyes are large, yet the smile in his eyes is not serious, carrying a hint of mischief.
"Jeweler, you have arrived." A tall, beautiful young lady with long golden hair, dressed in an ancient French court gown, approached and performed a standard French greeting to Lan Jue.
Lan Jue shook his head, "No, this will exhaust my mental energy"
At a luxurious French court long table capable of accommodating twenty people for dining, several individuals are seated. At the head of the table sits an elderly man, appearing to be in his fifties or sixties. Dressed in an exquisite French formal attire and wearing a wig, he sits upright and elegantly, with a serious expression on his face
The sommelier at the main table also nodded and said, "Yes"
Pushing the door open, Lan Jue touched the stubble on his face, and a faint bitter smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of his mouth. He was about to be criticized again by that meticulous fellow
The sommelier coldly stated: "If you make a mistake, you must face the consequences; you understand our rules."
The middle-aged man in the black vest sitting opposite the man in the white suit spoke for the first time, saying: "Support."
The old man unwillingly said: "But the book says so."
"Oh, is it time for the assessment again today?" Lan Jue, under the guidance of the young girl Eva, arrived at the long table. He pulled out the chair beside the man in the white suit and the books, and sat down.
"I passed?" the old man said with a look of surprise
All 17 assessment items must be passed in order to have the possibility of obtaining the Fire Badge; of course, a fee must also be paid. The nominal purpose is: the Fire Avenue Public Maintenance Fund
The old man exclaimed, "Why? I didn't say anything wrong, did I?"
There are not many pedestrians on the Avenue of Heavenly Fire, as access here requires qualifications, not just money, but also taste
The spires rise high, featuring pointed arches, large windows, and stained glass depicting biblical stories. The ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and slender columns create a sense of lightness and elevation. The framework provides ample support for the upper structure, giving the entire building its renowned vertical lines, majestic appearance, and spacious interiors
Lan did not hesitate to continue asking: "What is your favorite red wine?"
Lan Jue glanced at him, then turned to the sommelier and asked, "What are we having for dinner tonight?"
Lan Jue frowned and said: "You are merely reciting information, and do not truly enjoy drinking; you cannot drink. A bottle of Lafite from the Yuan Dynasty, if consumed in your manner, would be nothing short of wasteful."
The sommelier said: "If the outcome of the interview meets my satisfaction, I will treat you to tonight's wine"
Lafite Castle. One of the five first growths of the Médoc classification from the Bordeaux region of France, established in 1855 during the Yuan Dynasty.
Strolling leisurely to the opposite side of Tianhuo Avenue, one encounters a Gothic building from the ancient French era of the Shangyuan period.
The man in the white suit curled his lip and said, "Can't you be a bit more reserved?"
The elder had clearly made preparations long ago and immediately replied: "The Gothic Winery is one of the first merchants in Tianhuo City after the development of Tianhuo Star. It is renowned for selling fine wines from various countries during the Shangyuan era. These exquisite wines are preserved using spatial technology, maintaining their condition as of the year 2020 in the Shangyuan era. Its most precious characteristic is that for every bottle consumed, one less remains. Therefore, they are highly valuable, and savoring these Shangyuan wines is a true symbol of nobility"
The man in the white suit twitched the corner of his mouth, ultimately unable to hold back and smiled.
"Good." Lan Jue said
Eva smiled, revealing only eight pearly white teeth, "Yes, the gourmet and the barista are also here"
Regardless of the vintage of Lafite, it should always be stored horizontally. Before drinking, it must first be placed upright and left in the cellar for three days to allow for sedimentation. When opening the bottle, it is indeed necessary to taste the wine first, but this is not merely to assess its quality. It is also essential to determine its condition through tasting, which will inform how long it should be decanted. Decanting is one of the most important steps in tasting red wine. A bottle of Lafite in good condition should be decanted for at least two hours. Otherwise, it will not taste much better than vinegar. It requires time to release its aromas. If you are unaware of this, it is evident that you do not know how to appreciate wine, or perhaps you have never tasted good red wine. Therefore, do not waste my time.
Blue Absolute said: "This is the Gothic Old Winery, do you know where the wine here comes from?"
You may leave now said Lan Jue, leaning back in his chair with a calm tone
The sommelier also smiled, "We'll decide what to eat later. Since you made a mistake, go ahead and interview these few people. You are more skilled in this area than I am"
Eva smiled and said, "I will take you there"
Oh? A glimmer of surprise flashed in Lan Jue's eyes, "The gourmet is also here, that is truly wonderful"
"Jeweler, you have not shaved your beard or groomed your hair," said the elder seated in the main position, frowning.
The man in the white suit expressed his dissatisfaction, saying: "Gourmet, why do you always side with him?"
The elder sitting in the first position across from me immediately adopted a serious expression and said, "May I ask you a question"