Chapter 111: Brewing Wine
While the fragrance of mint tea still drifted through the living room, Pei Zhouye suddenly squeezed Wen Yan’s waist. “I have something to tell you. A friend’s winery is having its grand opening next week. They invited us for a two-day stay. It’s in the suburbs; we can pick grapes and even brew our own wine.”
Wen Yan’s eyes instantly lit up. “Really? I’ve never seen the winemaking process before!” He had tasted local wine back in Switzerland and had always been curious about how grapes transformed into a mellow liquid. Now that he finally had the chance to see it with his own eyes, his tone was full of anticipation.
“Why would I lie to you?” Pei Zhouye tapped his nose. “I specifically asked; there’s a small courtyard where we can see the stars. It’s even quieter than the cabin we went to last time.”
After a week of waiting, the day of departure finally arrived. As the car left the city, the rice paddies along the way were turning golden. Occasionally, they saw farmers harvesting in the fields—a picture of a bountiful harvest. Wen Yan leaned against the car window, his fingers tapping lightly to the rhythm of the music, the smile never leaving his lips.
“That happy?” Pei Zhouye caught his expression from the corner of his eye and couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t get so excited that you trip when we get to the winery.”
“I will not.” Wen Yan retorted, but the moment the car came to a steady stop, he was the first to push the door open and rush out. The winery gates were made of wood and covered in purple vines. A wooden plaque hung at the entrance with four large characters: “Qinghe Winery.” As the wind blew, the vines swayed as if welcoming them.
The winery owner was a man in his forties named Chen. Seeing them arrive, he greeted them enthusiastically. “President Pei, Mr. Wen! I’ve been looking forward to your arrival! Come in, I’ll take you to the vineyard.”
Following Mr. Chen into the vineyard, Wen Yan was instantly stunned by the sight. Endless rows of grape trellises stretched out, their leaves a vibrant green. Clusters of purple grapes hung from the frames like strings of purple agate, shimmering with an enticing luster under the sunlight.
“This is Cabernet Sauvignon, used for brewing dry red wine. It has a full-bodied taste.” Mr. Chen plucked a cluster and handed it to Wen Yan. “Try some. They’ve just ripened and are very sweet.”
Wen Yan took the grapes, peeled one, and popped it into his mouth. The sweet juice burst across his tongue, carrying a faint fruity aroma. “It’s delicious! Much sweeter than the ones from the supermarket!”
Pei Zhouye also tried one and smiled. “It really is good. Sweeter than the grapes I had in France last time.”
Mr. Chen laughed proudly. “Of course! My grapes are watered with spring water and I haven’t used a single drop of pesticide. Pure green food!”
In the afternoon, Mr. Chen took them to the fermentation room. Several giant wooden barrels were lined up inside, the liquid inside swaying gently. The air was thick with a rich aroma of wine. “This was brewed last year; it’ll be ready to drink in another six months.” Mr. Chen opened the lid of one barrel, scooped out a spoonful of wine, and handed it to Wen Yan. “Try it and see what you think of the flavor.”
Wen Yan took the glass and took a small sip. The liquid slid down his throat, carrying a faint fruitiness and a hint of astringency. After swallowing, the aftertaste lingered in his mouth. “It’s good! It tastes much better than the red wine I’ve had before!”
“I’m glad you like it,” Mr. Chen said with a smile. “Tomorrow, I’ll teach you how to brew. Wine you make yourself is more meaningful.”
That night, they stayed in a small courtyard at the winery. There was a stone table in the yard surrounded by four stone stools. Mr. Chen sent over two bottles of freshly brewed fruit wine and a plate of nuts, saying with a smile, “Drink slowly; I won’t disturb you.”
Wen Yan and Pei Zhouye sat by the stone table, drinking fruit wine while looking at the stars. The fruit wine wasn’t strong and carried a faint peach fragrance. After a few sips, a blush crept onto Wen Yan’s cheeks. “Pei Zhouye,” he leaned against the man’s shoulder, his voice soft. “Do you think we should plant a vineyard too? We could put it right next to our cabin. Flowers in the spring, fruit in the autumn, and drinking our own wine in the winter. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
“Alright.” Pei Zhouye ruffled his hair. “We’ll buy grape saplings next spring. We’ll plant them together and wait for them to bear fruit together.”
Wen Yan nodded with a smile, his eyes full of yearning. He imagined the grapevines sprouting new buds in the spring, the trellises covered in green leaves in the summer, clusters of grapes hanging in the autumn, and sitting inside with Pei Zhouye in the winter, drinking their own wine while watching the snow outside. Just thinking of that scene made him feel immense happiness.
Early the next morning, Wen Yan pulled Pei Zhouye to the fermentation room. Mr. Chen was already waiting there. Seeing them, he joked, “Mr. Wen is quite proactive. I thought you’d want to sleep in.”
“I wanted to learn how to brew early.” Wen Yan gave a bashful smile.
The brewing process was more complex than Wen Yan had imagined. First, they picked the grapes and selected the plumpest ones. Then, they put them into a machine to extract the juice. The juice was poured into wooden barrels, yeast was added, and the barrels were sealed to ferment. Wen Yan followed Mr. Chen’s instructions step by step. Though he was sweating from the effort, he was exceptionally happy.
“Alright, now we just wait for fermentation. You’ll be able to drink your own wine in about a month.” Mr. Chen patted the wooden barrel. “I’ll call you when it’s ready, and you can come pick it up.”
“Thank you, Mr. Chen,” Wen Yan said with a smile, his heart full of anticipation.
As they left the winery, Wen Yan looked back several times with reluctance. Pei Zhouye laughed. “Don’t worry, we’ll be back in a month. You’ll get to drink your own wine then.”
“Mhm!” Wen Yan nodded vigorously.
Back home, Wen Yan organized the photos they had taken at the winery, printed them out, and pinned them to the photo wall in the living room. The wall was already covered in their photos—the Swiss snow mountains, the Aurora in Iceland, the ice sculptures in Shencheng—and now there were a few more from the vineyard. In every single one, they were smiling with sheer joy.
“We’re still missing a photo by the sea.” Pei Zhouye looked at the wall and said suddenly, “When we have the ceremony this autumn, we’ll take plenty more and fill the entire wall.”
At the mention of the ceremony, Wen Yan’s cheeks grew hot. He had previously felt that whether they had a ceremony or not didn’t matter, but thinking about it now, having a small ceremony with Pei Zhouye by the sea with a few close friends to witness their happiness seemed quite nice.
“Who do you want to invite?” Wen Yan asked, looking up at Pei Zhouye.
“Professor Zhang and his wife, Li Wei, Shen Yao and his girlfriend, and a few close friends from the company.” Pei Zhouye counted them off on his fingers. “We don’t need many people; as long as it’s lively.”
“Okay.” Wen Yan nodded with a smile. “I want to wear a white suit, and you should wear one too. We also have to set off fireworks by the sea.”
“No problem.” Pei Zhouye pinched his cheek. “Whatever you want.”
The days passed one by one, and autumn soon arrived. The seaside breeze gradually turned cool, and the sky became exceptionally blue. Pei Zhouye started preparing for the ceremony half a month in advance—booking the venue, buying fireworks, contacting friends. He was busy every day, yet he enjoyed every moment of it.
Wen Yan wasn’t idle either. He went to a flower shop to order many white roses and baby’s breath. He also personally made several small gifts to give to the friends attending the ceremony. “Look at this,” Wen Yan said, handing a small ornament made of shells to Pei Zhouye. “I made this using the shells I picked up at the beach last time. It’s for Professor Zhang and the others, as a memento.”
Pei Zhouye took the ornament and examined it closely. The shell had been polished smooth and was engraved with the small characters for “Peace.” Though simple, it was full of heart. “It’s well made; they’ll definitely love it.”
The ceremony was set for a Saturday afternoon. The weather that day was exceptionally good, with bright sunshine and a gentle sea breeze carrying a salty tang. Pei Zhouye had rented a small seaside restaurant. The outdoor terrace featured white tables and chairs surrounded by white roses and baby’s breath, with the small ornaments Wen Yan had made placed on the tables.
Friends arrived one after another. Professor Zhang smiled the moment he entered. “Wen Yan, Pei Zhouye, your decorations look wonderful. It’s more romantic than when I got married!”
Li Wei also smiled. “I didn’t expect you two to be so romantic. If I’d known, I would have found someone to have a seaside ceremony with too.”
Shen Yao hugged his girlfriend and teased, “Alright, stop being envious. Hurry up and find a boyfriend, and I’ll make you a three-layer cake.”
Everyone chatted and laughed, making for a very lively atmosphere. At four in the afternoon, the ceremony officially began. Wen Yan and Pei Zhouye were dressed in white suits, holding hands as they stood in the center of the terrace facing the sea. Sunlight spilled over them, the wind ruffled their hair, and distant seagulls circled in the sky as if offering their blessings.
“Wen Yan,” Pei Zhouye looked into Wen Yan’s eyes, his voice tender yet firm. “From the first time I saw you, I knew you were the person I was looking for. Thank you for entering my life, and thank you for being willing to walk through all these days with me. In the future, no matter what difficulties we face, I will always be by your side, protecting you and loving you, until forever.”
Wen Yan’s eyes grew warm, and his voice was choked with emotion. “Pei Zhouye, thank you for your constant support and companionship. Without you, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. In the future, I will walk with you to see all the world’s scenery and taste all its delicacies. We’ll grow old slowly together, never to be parted.”
After speaking, they exchanged rings. These were custom-made by Pei Zhouye, engraved with the first letters of their names and the small word “Forever.” The moment they exchanged rings, the surroundings erupted in applause and cheers. Shen Yao even set off a small string of fireworks that bloomed in the sky with vibrant, beautiful colors.
That evening, everyone had dinner together in the restaurant. Shen Yao had indeed brought a three-layer cake he made himself. The cream on the cake read “Wen Yan & Pei Zhouye, Eternal Happiness,” and it was decorated with exquisite chocolate shells and waves.
“Hurry up and taste my cake,” Shen Yao said, pushing the cake toward them. “I spent the whole afternoon on it; I guarantee it’s delicious.”
Wen Yan cut a piece and took a bite. It was sweet but not greasy, with a faint aroma of cream. “It’s delicious! Even better than the ones from the bakeries!”
Pei Zhouye also tried a piece and smiled. “Not bad at all. From now on, our family’s cakes are in your hands.”
The group laughed and talked until late before finally dispersing. After seeing their friends off, Wen Yan and Pei Zhouye sat on the terrace looking out at the sea. The waves gently lapped at the sand with a rhythmic sound, and the stars in the sky were exceptionally bright, looking like a handful of scattered diamonds.
“Pei Zhouye,” Wen Yan leaned into his chest, his voice soft. “I’m so happy today.”
“Me too.” Pei Zhouye leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Every year from now on, we’ll celebrate our anniversary. We’ll go to different places, do different things, and leave behind even more memories.”
“Alright.” Wen Yan nodded with a smile. “Next year we’ll go to Africa to see the savannah, the year after to Antarctica to see penguins, and the year after that to the Maldives to see the sea, okay?”
“Okay, anything you want.” Pei Zhouye pulled him into a tight embrace. “As long as you’re there, anywhere is fine.”
A few days later, Mr. Chen called to say their wine was ready. Wen Yan and Pei Zhouye immediately drove to the winery. Mr. Chen had bottled the wine in two glass bottles and attached labels that read “Ye & Yan, 2024.”
“This wine should sit for another two months; the flavor will be even better then,” Mr. Chen said with a smile. “When you drink it then, it’ll definitely be better than it is now.”
“Thank you, Mr. Chen.” Wen Yan took the bottles and held them carefully in his arms as if they were treasures.
Back home, Wen Yan placed the wine in the cabinet next to the red wine they had bought in Switzerland and the white wine from Shencheng. “We’ll open a bottle to taste in two months,” Wen Yan said with a smile.
“Alright.” Pei Zhouye hugged him from behind. “We’ll make a few small dishes then, light some candles, and have a proper drink.”
The days passed one after another, peaceful yet happy. Wen Yan would occasionally visit the lab to help Li Wei and the others solve problems, but most of his time was spent at home reading, gardening, or researching new recipes to cook delicious meals for Pei Zhouye.
Pei Zhouye also reduced his social engagements as much as possible, coming home on time every day to eat, walk, and watch movies with Wen Yan. On weekends, they would stay at the cabin, hiking, foraging, or just sitting in the yard soaking up the sun and chatting, enjoying the time that belonged to them.
One day, while organizing photos, Wen Yan suddenly realized they had been to many places, seen many sights, and left behind many memories. Looking at the photos of himself and Pei Zhouye, every one showing them smiling with sheer joy, his heart was full of gratitude—gratitude to fate for bringing them together, to Pei Zhouye for his constant companionship and protection, and for being able to walk through so many days and create so many beautiful memories together.
“Pei Zhouye,” Wen Yan said, taking the photos to the man’s side. “Look, we’ve already been to so many places together.”
Pei Zhouye took the photos and flipped through them one by one, the corners of his mouth curving upward. “Yes, and we’ll go to even more places in the future, leaving behind even more photos, until we’re too old to walk.”
Wen Yan leaned into his chest, his heart full of happiness as he looked at the photos.
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