I am a literary giant in Europe

Chapter 728 Old Ma's Recommendation

Via Paolo Sarpi in Milan is Chinatown.

This place was built in 1920, and it was here that the first Chinese people arrived and settled down.

With the rise of emigration in the 80s, a large number of Chinese people flocked to Milan, forming the unique Chinatown that Milan has today.

It's very close to the old town, but it lacks any of Milan's hustle and bustle or fashion.

Chinese characters are everywhere, and Chinese shops are everywhere. The sounds you hear are mostly local dialects, but Liu Jin can't understand them.

Many of the Chinese in Milan are from Wenzhou.

Wenzhou dialect, those who know it, know it!

The most difficult language in the world to understand.

Liu Jin finds it difficult to categorize Wenzhou dialect into any particular dialect group.

Is it the Jiangsu-Zhejiang system?
Liu Jin can't speak Zhejiang dialect, but he can understand it. However, when faced with Wenzhou dialect, he feels it's even harder to understand than a book written in heaven.

Stepping into Milan's Chinatown feels more like visiting a county town in China.

This is the place Lao Ma chose, and it's a Northeastern Chinese restaurant.

When Liu Jin walked into the restaurant, Lao Ma walked over laughing and gave Liu Jin a big hug.

"I originally wanted to treat you to some black soil liquor, but I remember you said you weren't used to drinking baijiu (Chinese white liquor)."

So, let's drink this today!

Marco Müller's round face was adorned with a smile.

He took out two round bottles of liquor from his satchel; each bottle had a leopard design on it.

Liu Jin took off his coat and draped it over the chair.

He picked up the bottle and glanced at it.

"This is... a silver seal?"

Where is the wine from?

"Italian wine... well, not exactly, it's an independent bottler."

We primarily source our spirits from renowned distilleries in Scotland and Islay, as well as some smaller, closed-down distilleries, maintaining their original barrel strength. Yes, it's quite different from the chill-filtered spirits and caramel-colored spirits on the market.”

Liu Jin curiously fiddled with the wine for a while before placing it on the table.

"Is this wine hard to get?"

"If you want wine with a silver-stamped label, it's not difficult."

But getting the same type of wine isn't easy. They don't produce wine; they're wine transporters. They collect bulk wine, bottle it, and preserve its flavor and characteristics. But there's only so much bulk wine; once one batch is gone, it's gone forever.

As he spoke, Old Ma opened the bottle.

At this moment, the restaurant waiter brought over a large mixed salad, stir-fried potatoes, green peppers, and eggplant, and a large stew.

Old Ma poured Liu Jin a glass, "Come on, it's been a while since we last met, let's have a drink first."

It seems like it's been quite a while.

The last time I came here, it seems, was in 04? To be a judge.

Scarlett Johansson and Spike were also there. They even went to downtown Venice, fought with someone, and ended up in court.

Time flies!
He wasn't even thirty yet.

Liu Jin didn't waste any time. He clinked glasses with Lao Ma and drank it all in one gulp.

"Hmm! This wine is good."

"Hehe, right, right? Islay whisky, the signature smoky and maritime flavors, very pure."

It's said they found this batch of raw spirit from a closed distillery on Islay—only eighty barrels in total—and then aged it a second time in Amarello barrels. Over the past six years, this has been the best-tasting spirit in the Islay range.

"Is it still possible to get this wine?"

"Of course!" Old Ma laughed. "This wine is quite niche; not many people know about it."

"What, how many bottles do you want?"

"Let's get thirty bottles first, my wine cellar is still empty."

What wine cellar?

"Haha, I just saw a villa I like in Salerno and we're negotiating the price."

There's a 200-square-meter wine cellar inside, it's still empty... Come visit me once I've finalized things, I don't know anyone there."

"Why are you going to Salerno to buy a house? Houses there aren't worth much."

"I know, but... hehe, it's really good!"

Old Ma didn't know what to say about Liu Jin, this capricious rich man.

But deep down, I'm still very envious!

It even tastes a little sour.

In 07, when Liu Jin started shorting US stocks, he called to advise him to throw in a few million to play around.

However, in early 07, the global stock market was booming.

Old Ma refused without even thinking, and then advised Liu Jin to be cautious.

As a result, a year and a half passed...

Thinking about this, Old Ma felt a sharp pain in his heart. He picked up his wine glass and downed it in one gulp.

……

"Amos, is your 'I Am Legend' finished filming?"

"It's over already!"

"Post-production, when will the final cut be released?"

"That'll probably be early next year..." Liu Jin realized what was going on, glanced at his mother, picked up a small radish, dipped it in sauce, and asked, "You want that movie to go to Venice next year?"

"Yes, and your 'Night at the Museum' too."

"It's not certain that we'll make it in time."

"Why don't you try talking to them?"

Old Ma coveted these two films not so that they could enter the competition, but rather that he hoped to have them screened.

He would feel very uncomfortable if he didn't come to Venice, especially for "I Am Legend," starring Monica Bellucci.

"Night at the Museum is out of the question; it's booked with Cannes for next year's opening screening."

Liu Jin took a sip of his drink and said, "It's possible that I'm a legend, but it depends on what Colombia thinks."

“I asked them, and they weren’t interested.”

"That's it."

"It's mainly because I don't have enough face, bro."

"So, you want me to go and lobby them?"

"Hehe, let's have a toast."

Old Ma has thoroughly mastered the intricacies of Chinese interpersonal relationships.

That's normal, though, since he studied in China and married a Chinese woman.

Later, he opened a company on Hong Kong Island, responsible for importing excellent Asian films, and has been doing this work for many years.

Calling him a China expert is no exaggeration. Liu Jin clinked glasses with him, "I'll talk to Columbia later, but I can't guarantee whether we'll reach an agreement."

"It's good that we can talk, it's good that we can talk!"

Old Ma secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

……

The chef at this restaurant is definitely from Northeast China.

Hmm, not a chef from Lingnan.

Liu Jin likes Jiangzhe cuisine... well, except for West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce; he also likes Cantonese cuisine.

But deep down, he's a northerner.

I still prefer Northern cuisine, but I don't eat it often.

"Are you settling in well in Salerno?"

"It's alright, very quiet, and the scenery is nice too."

"That area was originally a resort for medieval nobles, so the scenery is definitely beautiful."

However, things haven't been very peaceful there in recent years. As you should know, Salerno Bay is a common landing point for illegal immigrants.

"By the way, doesn't your Italian government care about this?"

"It's no use, it's the trend of the times."

Under the ideology of political correctness, would you dare to prevent refugees from landing? You would be condemned.

Ten years from now, the refugees will turn against the Heavenly Generals.

Then they'll eat your food, take your house, sleep with your wife... and you won't be able to resist.

Resisting is considered politically incorrect and shows a lack of compassion... and then a whole bunch of European women frantically fawn over black men.

It's as if you'd feel guilty for the rest of your life if you didn't sleep with a few black guys.

All I can say is that the brainwashing skills of the American people and the Jews are truly amazing; they've turned Europeans into fools.

"The new house I've found is in a safe area."

"Where?"

"Do you know Sunstone Bay?"

“Hey, that’s a great place!” Old Ma said, his eyes wide. “Sunstone Bay has the best security in the Salerno coastline. But houses there are hard to buy. I heard many people want to buy, but they can’t.”

“It just so happens that a homeowner went bankrupt.”

"You're really lucky... To be honest, if it weren't for this financial crisis, you might not have been able to buy a house there."

Old Ma is absolutely right.

Liu Jinshen agreed!

If it weren't for the financial crisis, Coty Stephenson wouldn't have committed suicide.

He later investigated this person, and the police said it was a train collision… What decent person would randomly crash into a train? This isn't a movie like Trainspotting! He wouldn't have chosen suicide if he hadn't been desperate. Sigh, it's all because of the financial crisis, damn Wall Street.

Liu Jin and Lao Ma clinked their glasses again.

"However, you still need to be careful. It would be best to get a gun license, just in case."

"I've already got it."

"sure!"

Gun licenses are harder to obtain in Italy than in France.

But Liu Jin was sleeping with an Italian minister, so getting a gun license wasn't really that difficult for him.

"It's good that you're coming to Italy. I'll come visit you when I have time."

If you have any difficulties, you can tell me. While I'm not exactly powerful or influential here, I do have some connections.

"Find me an assistant, please."

"What?"

"You need to be proficient in writing, have a good grasp of literature and history, and ideally have a certain historical background and some knowledge of Salerno's history during World War II."

"what?"

“I need to find someone to help me, otherwise I’ll be so busy with these things that I won’t have time to create anything.”

As Liu Jin spoke, he took a sip of his drink.

Pick up a piece of chicken.

Mmm, very flavorful... lots of chicken flavor.

It's definitely a free-range chicken that's been around for over 180 days!

"It's okay if you can't find it, I was just saying."

However, I really want to find a reliable assistant to help lighten my workload.

Old Ma's eyes darted around.

"Can a college dropout be considered?"

"College dropout?"

"Yes, a dropout from the Department of Literature and Philosophy at Catania University."

University of Catania?

Liu has been in Italy for over a month now.

Being at the University of Salerno, I also have some knowledge of Italian schools.

Catania is located in the Sicily region.

It's a public comprehensive university, and its QS ranking is much higher than that of the University of Salerno, probably around 400 or 500.

History doesn't include Salerno University.

However, the history of the University of Salerno is largely fabricated.

The University of Catania was founded in 1434 by a large number of scholars and clergy who supported King Alfonso Aragon, who ruled Spain and Sicily, after he moved his court from Palermo to Catania.

Initially, it mainly consisted of theological seminaries and liberal arts colleges.

By the way, Catania is in Sicily.

That's Sicily, the place teeming with Mafia members.

Liu Jin was a little moved!
"Male or female? How old? Is she pretty?"

"Are you choosing a concubine or an assistant?"
My friend's daughter...is very beautiful.

Hey Liu, let me tell you this first, don't you dare get any funny ideas.

That's the daughter of one of my very, very good friends, and she's ten years younger than you. You could be her uncle!

Liu Jin blinked twice.

"What exactly happened? Your friend's daughter?"

He's starting to get interested!

……

(End of this chapter)