Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 263 Meeting an Old Friend in a Foreign Land

The Song sisters, Ya-Wen and Y-Ting!

Wu Zhiyuan was very excited. He never expected to see them in a foreign country.

Song Ya-wen and Song Y-ting were also very excited.

"Qianjin, oh no, Zhiyuan, what are you doing here? Are you here on a mission?"

Song Ya-wen thought Wu Zhi-yuan was still a secret agent.

"Mr. Wu, this is wonderful! I was just talking to my sister yesterday about planning a trip to China this year, and I never expected to meet you in Australia." Song Yating's face was shining with excitement.

"Ya-Wen, Ya-Ting, I never expected to meet you here." Wu Zhiyuan shook hands with them respectively.

It felt warm and soft to the touch; it was definitely a real person, not an illusion.

"I currently work in a local government department, and I'm in Australia this time to participate in an investment promotion delegation."

Wu Zhiyuan turned his gaze to the other members of the inspection team and said with a smile, "They are all my colleagues."

Wen Changcheng, Gan Simiao, and the others were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment. Wu Zhiyuan, that kid, was able to run into one beautiful woman after another while abroad.

This guy has quite the luck with women.

Wu Zhiyuan introduced the Song sisters to Hu Ruoxi.

Hu Ruoxi smiled and extended her hand to shake hands with the Song sisters one by one: "Hello, welcome to Xigu Youju. Since you are Zhiyuan's friends, you are my friends too."

Wu Zhiyuan asked Song Yawen with a smile, "Why did you come to Nan'ao? Are you here for tourism?"

Song Ya-wen nodded: "It's more of a tour and research trip. We have some wineries and trading businesses in Europe, and we've always wanted to expand our resources and channels in the Southern Hemisphere."

Australia's wine industry is quite unique, especially in South Australia, so we came here to check it out and take a vacation. Unfortunately, our car broke down.

Wu Zhiyuan laughed and said, "Sister Yawen, you've stumbled upon Ruoxi by accident this time. Ruoxi works in the wine industry; you can talk to her."

Song Yawen's eyes lit up, and she looked at Hu Ruoxi: "Really? Ms. Hu, your estate produces wine? What's the quality like?"

Have you received any international awards or entered any specific sales channels?

Hu Ruoxi nodded with a smile: "Yes, our estate mainly grows Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and other varieties, and adheres to organic farming and winemaking techniques that combine traditional and modern methods."

Last year, our Reserve Shiraz won a silver medal at the International Wine Challenge, and our Chardonnay also achieved some success in several local competitions.

Currently, we primarily supply high-end restaurants and clubs in Australia, and have also entered some Asian markets, such as Singapore and Hong Kong, through agents, but the scale is still not very large.

Song Yawen said, "Our company mainly operates winery agencies in Burgundy and Bordeaux in Europe, but we have always wanted to introduce products from New World wineries, especially boutique wineries in Australia and New Zealand, to enrich our product line and meet the needs of different customers."

Your estate is unique and has great potential, whether in terms of its location, viticultural philosophy or the final wines.

Moreover, with this shared vision, our cooperation is based on a stronger foundation of trust.

Hu Ruoxi smiled faintly: "Thank you, President Song, for thinking so highly of our winery."

To be honest, the reason I started this estate and made these wines is less about making money and more about fulfilling a dream and choosing a lifestyle.

My initial motivation for buying this place was to find a quiet and beautiful place for my mother to retire in peace, and also to escape from my previous high-intensity, fast-paced, and even somewhat uncontrollable business life.

Song Ya-wen extended her hand: "Ms. Hu, I am very interested in establishing a cooperative relationship with Xigu Youju."

Specific approaches could include agency, exclusive distribution of a particular series, or even deeper investment or joint development of a new brand. We can discuss these in detail.

With Zhiyuan as my witness, I believe this will be the beginning of a wonderful collaboration.

Hu Ruoxi called over the manor's mechanics, who inspected the car and discovered that a sensor component in the engine was damaged, causing a malfunction in the fuel supply and ignition system.

However, the manor's spare parts inventory did not have a matching model.

Song Ya-wen laughed and said, "I originally wanted to take a road trip. I rented the car from a car rental company in the city, but unexpectedly, it broke down halfway through the trip."

However, thanks to the car breakdown, I was able to see Zhiyuan again in Australia and also had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Hu.

A broken car, which would normally be a hassle, has now become the prelude to an extraordinary adventure.

Hu Ruoxi comforted him, "President Song, there's no need to worry. There's a town about a forty-minute drive from here, with several auto parts shops and repair shops."

I'll have the mechanic from the estate drive over to buy the matching parts, so as not to affect your plans for tomorrow.

"Tonight, if you don't mind, please stay at our estate. It'll be a good opportunity to chat with our mutual friend Zhiyuan."

Song Ya-wen readily agreed: "Then I will respectfully accept your offer and trouble you, Ms. Hu."

That would be perfect for a longer conversation. I'm really interested in your estate and your wines.

Besides Song Ya-wen and Song Y-ting, the other two girls were their bodyguards.

Hu Ruoxi arranged for the driver to go to town, while the Song sisters followed the car to Hu Ruoxi's country villa.

The dinner was held in a spacious and bright buffet restaurant in one wing of the villa.

The menu is extensive and diverse, featuring oysters, lobsters, and king crab legs transported daily from nearby waters; charcoal-grilled Australian Wagyu beef and lamb chops; a variety of exquisite salads, cold cut platters, cheeses, and freshly baked bread; as well as some Chinese dim sum and stir-fries specially prepared by Hu Ruoxi.

Of course, wine is a must, neatly arranged by type and vintage in a dedicated wine area for guests to enjoy.

People held their plates, gathered in twos and threes, enjoyed the food, and chatted quietly.

Outside the window, the night was deep, with only the manor's landscape lights and the distant starlight.

Song Ya-wen, Song Y-ting, and Wu Zhi-yuan sat at a round table by the window.

Song Ya-wen picked out some seafood and salad, while Song Y-ting preferred grilled vegetables and beef.

"Ya-Ting, you're still in high school, right? I remember when I saw you two years ago, you were still at that international school in Country A."

The Song Yating before me was much more mature than the somewhat naive girl I remembered, and she had become even more beautiful.

"Yes, Mr. Wu. It's summer vacation, and my sister said she was coming to Australia, so I came along to see the world and broaden my horizons," Song Yating suddenly said. "I'd like to study at a university in China, is that possible?"

Wu Zhiyuan smiled slightly: "As far as I know, many universities in China have introduced a number of policies to attract international students in order to pursue internationalization and win over international students."

For example, scholarships cover all students, dormitory conditions are very good, and the application process is not complicated.

Some people with connections who, under normal circumstances, would never get into Tsinghua or Peking University, but after changing their nationality and becoming foreigners, it becomes very easy for them to apply for admission.

Having seen a lot, Wu Zhiyuan felt it was inconvenient to say more.

If you have connections, you don't actually need to change your nationality. You can get a low-level master's or doctoral degree in the Philippines or Malaysia, which is basically buying a diploma. Then you can easily enter the system by applying for talent in short supply.

Song Yating said excitedly, "Great! Mr. Wu, let's see you in China next year!"

After dinner, Wu Zhiyuan accompanied Song Yawen for a walk in the manor.

The manor at night presents a profound and tranquil beauty.

The evening breeze carried the unique damp coolness of the valley, blowing gently.

Looking up, the night sky is like a piece of deep blue velvet. Because it is far away from urban light pollution, the stars here are exceptionally bright. The Milky Way is like a hazy band of light that runs across the sky. The Big Dipper and the Southern Cross are clearly visible, and the low-hanging stars seem within reach.

All was quiet except for the rustling of the wind through the leaves, the chirping of unknown insects in the grass, and the babbling of the stream in the distance.

Wu Zhiyuan and Song Yawen walked side by side along a stone path.

"It's so quiet here, so quiet I can hear my own heartbeat." Song Ya-wen looked up at the starry sky. "In Country A, where I live, it's rare to see stars this clearly."

"Yes, the hustle and bustle of the city sometimes comes at the cost of losing this most authentic tranquility," Wu Zhiyuan sighed.

They walked to a slightly elevated viewing platform where a wooden bench was placed. The two sat down naturally.

The two talked for a long time.

Wu Zhiyuan suddenly said, "Sister Yawen, I hope you can keep an eye out for someone, and if possible, help me find her whereabouts."

"Who?"

"Lin Keke".

Wu Zhiyuan selectively recounted Lin Keke's situation.

"She has been missing for two years, neither alive nor dead."

But I always have this feeling that she's not dead. Or rather, I don't want to believe that she's really gone.

You are in country A, where you have a wide network of connections, come into contact with all sorts of people, and have access to a lot of information.

Perhaps we'll hear some rumors, or discover some overlooked clues.

"I understand, Zhiyuan. Don't worry, I will keep this in mind."

If she is still somewhere, and if there is any news, I will definitely try my best to tell you as soon as possible.

"Thank you, Sister Ya-wen." Wu Zhiyuan sent Lin Keke's photo and other information to Song Ya-wen.

"Zhiyuan, you're not saying you're still single and waiting for Lin Keke, are you?" Song Yawen suddenly asked.

"Yes, you could say that."

Song Yawen was silent for a while, then said softly, "However, Zhiyuan, it's been two years, which is neither a long nor a short time."

If, and I mean if, she really is gone, are we just going to keep waiting?

Life doesn't offer many two-year periods that can be wasted so hopelessly.

Sometimes, persistence is a virtue, but excessive persistence can become self-torture.