The first stop for Jiang Hai and his friends in Europe was France. Since they were already on the continent, Jiang Hai naturally couldn't leave without experiencing it firsthand.
Paris indeed had plenty of attractions. The three most iconic landmarks were the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. Notre-Dame was especially famous—not just as a historic 12th-century cathedral but because of Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, which later inspired numerous film and TV adaptations.
Then there was the Arc de Triomphe, built by Napoleon—the man who once swept across Europe, only to be ultimately defeated by the brutal winters of Soviet Russia.
And, of course, the Eiffel Tower—no introduction needed. It's one of the most recognizable structures in the world.
Beyond these three, Paris offered even more iconic spots: the Louvre, Tuileries Garden, Place de la Concorde, Champs-Élysées, and Place Charles de Gaulle, where the Arc de Triomphe stands. These were all popular destinations, and since Jiang Hai and his companions were already in town, they decided to explore them thoroughly.
However, after visiting, Jiang Hai felt that Paris was a little underwhelming.
He wasn't particularly moved by Notre-Dame—he wasn't a religious man. As for the Eiffel Tower, it was just an iron structure in his eyes. Standing atop it offered a view of the Seine, but since he had a fear of heights, it wasn't exactly enjoyable.
The Louvre was the one place that genuinely impressed him. Unfortunately, the others weren't as interested. They strolled through the museum for a day but didn't even cover a third of it.
On the other hand, the Champs-Élysées became an instant favorite for the girls. Though Jiang Hai found the avenue a bit run-down—the buildings and streets looked aged—it was packed with luxury stores. Aside from New York's Fifth Avenue, nowhere else in the world boasted such a concentration of top-tier brands, fashion houses, and perfume shops.
It's also where the French National Day military parade is held every July 14th. But Jiang Hai had no intention of staying until then. After three or four days in Paris, they took a car and headed to their second destination: Italy.
In Rome, they visited the Vatican. Everyone knew the name Rome—once the heart of the most powerful empire in the world. While Chinese history enthusiasts might argue otherwise, there's no denying that Ancient Rome's territory far exceeded that of most Chinese dynasties—except perhaps the Yuan Dynasty.
With over 2,500 years of history, Rome is one of the world's most culturally and historically significant cities. Here, names like Julius Caesar hold as much weight in the West as Qin Shihuang or Emperor Taizong do in China.
Jiang Hai and his group had a good time exploring. They even tried Naples-style pizza, which is said to be the original form of the dish. While some say Marco Polo introduced the concept to Europe, what he brought back wasn't exactly noodles or pies—it evolved into pasta and pizza.
In modern China, even cheap pizzas are priced higher than traditional pies. Jiang Hai happened to love pizza, though he found Italy's thin-crust version a bit underwhelming.
They also visited the Vatican City, a sovereign enclave within Rome. But since it involved religious matters, Jiang Hai kept a low profile. They toured it briefly, just like average tourists.
After Rome, they drove to Vienna, the famed city of music. But truthfully, Jiang Hai wasn't very moved. He couldn't appreciate operas, and most of the performances they came across were by Chinese orchestras.
Nearly 30–40% of the acts were Chinese—bands, singers, or even Peking Opera troupes. Jiang Hai couldn't help but feel awkward. What's more, many of these performances weren't by invitation—they were self-funded. Clearly, wealthy Chinese visitors were flexing their cultural muscles.
"Well, let these Europeans see what real wealth looks like," Jiang Hai muttered, half amused.
From Vienna, they headed to Switzerland.
Many people confuse Switzerland with Sweden, but in Europe, the distinction is clear. Sweden is a sizable Northern European country with decent military strength. Switzerland, on the other hand, doesn't have much in the way of hard power—except money.
The country's famous neutrality stems from its precarious geography:
Germany to the north,
Italy to the south,
France to the west,
Austria to the east.
None of these neighbors are particularly easygoing. During WWI, Germany and Austria formed the Axis Powers. In WWII, Germany and Italy did. France once dominated Europe. So Switzerland's strategy of neutrality is more survival than principle.
The Swiss are stubborn—and fearless in their own way. They don't care about criticism or politics. "Come at me," they seem to say. "We've got no land, no people—what can you take from us?"
With that kind of mindset and a reputation for discretion, Switzerland has become a peaceful and prosperous haven.
It's also world-famous for its watches.
Naturally, Jiang Hai and his group splurged. Jiang Hai bought two or three high-end watches, and he gifted one to each of the girls. They were thrilled.
After the shopping spree, they headed north again—this time to Belgium.
Belgium is indeed wealthy—likely thanks in part to its industries like chocolate, beer, and diamonds—but also due to international institutions and banking.
In general, young people in the European Union—and even the U.S.—don't earn as much as many expect. A salary of 2,000 euros per month is fairly typical for a recent university graduate. While that might seem like a lot in RMB (around ¥14,000–15,000), the actual purchasing power in Europe is lower due to living costs.
Still, expenses are manageable—healthcare is covered, housing is relatively affordable, and while fruits and vegetables are pricey, meat is cheap.
Switzerland is a clear exception. Average monthly salaries here are 4,000–5,000 euros, making it one of the richest countries in Europe.
After Switzerland, Jiang Hai had originally planned to visit Amsterdam in the Netherlands—famously dubbed a "paradise for men." But time was tight.
So instead, they headed straight to Brussels, Belgium's capital.
There are two major wine competitions here:
The Brussels Wine Competition, held locally.
The Brussels International Wine Competition, which rotates across Europe. This year, it was reportedly held in Bulgaria.
However, these contests had become dominated by Chinese wineries. Backed by immense funding, Chinese entrants were willing to spend big—leading to questions about the competitions' fairness.
Still, Jiang Hai had no issues. His wine's quality spoke for itself, and with some necessary public relations efforts, he secured another major award.
With that, Jiang Hai's European trip came to an end.
By now, it was mid-May. Though Jiang Hai had been in Europe, his U.S. operations had continued smoothly under Edward Anderson and Robbins Garcia.
The fishermen had fully adapted, and the new boats had arrived. Both were being used in rotation, keeping the team busy day and night.
Even Tie Niu, the Black fisherman who had sold Jiang Hai fish fry and seaweed, had reached out. Hearing that Jiang Hai had acquired more ocean territory, he offered to sell additional fry.
Jiang Hai was still abroad, but he planned to meet Tie Niu when he returned in late May or early June.
Although his spiritually nourished fish population was expanding rapidly, it wouldn't hurt to add new fry for next year's harvest. But this time, he wouldn't settle for cheap American redfish. With his potent spiritual energy, he could afford to raise premium species like groupers and salmons.
He just needed a large enough supply. Tie Niu would handle it.
After winning the Grand Gold Medal in Brussels, the girls knew it was time for Jiang Hai to leave.
Originally, Jiang Hai wanted everyone to tour Europe a bit longer. But the girls felt Europe wasn't all that different from the U.S.—and with unfamiliar surroundings and increasing unrest in the region, they decided it was best to head back.
Safety was a concern. Unlike the friendly, familiar vibe of Winthrop, Europe wasn't as secure anymore.
So after a final night with Jiang Hai, they flew back to Boston. Dulles Gerard and O'Connor Murphy joined them, both elated with the successful European campaign. With the Mâcon gold medal and Brussels grand gold medal, their wines could now fetch premium prices.
Jiang Hai even called Pra Walton, Qi Li, and Zheng Jin to discuss potential commercial opportunities. He let the business-savvy ones handle the details.
It wasn't until Qi Jie called to confirm everyone had safely returned to the villa that Jiang Hai and Azarina made their next move.
On May 18, the two boarded a flight from Brussels International Airport to Kyiv, capital of Ukraine.
Jiang Hai hadn't left earlier because flights to Kyiv were limited, and for good reason—just look at the international headlines. Safety couldn't be guaranteed on many routes.
While much of Western Europe seemed peaceful on the surface, the truth was murkier beneath.
On the flight, Azarina repeatedly reminded Jiang Hai to keep a low profile. Certain topics and actions were extremely sensitive in Ulan (a fictional or disguised name for Ukraine). The less attention they drew, the better.
Jiang Hai understood. He wasn't here to cause trouble—he was here to recruit people.
After several hours, their flight landed safely at Kyiv International Airport.
Out the window, the city looked no different from those in China—cars, buildings, daily life.
But the moment he stepped off the plane and entered the terminal, Jiang Hai sensed something different.
Soldiers patrolled heavily outside the airport. Locals walked briskly, eyes wary, avoiding lingering in the open.
A subtle tension hung in the air—
and Jiang Hai instinctively turned to look…
(To be continued.)