Pinot Noir (1)
A large banner was hung at the entrance of Redwood Vineyard. The text, 【Selected for Regional Organic Transition Pilot Project】, was something that anyone operating a farm or working as a day laborer in the vicinity couldn't help but notice.
“Damn it...!”
Elowen Pike trembled as he looked at the photo an employee had taken. One might say, "It's just an organic farm," but to Elowen, it was anything but "just" anything.
Even if you lose your work because your computer shuts down while doing a school assignment, it’s enough to shatter your mental state. But to have a yellow-skinned brat snatch away the organic certification he had spent three years of blood, sweat, and tears to earn, and then try to gobble up the benefits for free? You’d have to be a saint not to be furious.
“Dad! We should go and apply too! There’s no reason we wouldn't be selected!”
His daughter, Elena, who shared his exact temperament, shouted with both fists clenched.
“I already submitted the application.”
“Tell them to select us for the pilot project! We should have that banner hanging too!”
“It’s not something you just get because you want it! Besides, we aren't eligible for the transition project because our organic certification was revoked just recently.”
He wanted to get it back a hundred times over, but even with his connections in the Department of Agriculture, some things were simply impossible.
“Ugh, so annoying!”
Elena shrieked and threw herself onto the sofa. Then, she jumped back up and yelled at Elowen.
“Dad, you aren't just going to sit there, are you?”
For a moment, Elowen blinked at his daughter. It was true he was angry, but he didn't know what she expected him to do about it...
“What...”
“We absolutely cannot just watch. They’ve made things so hard for us... I can’t stand seeing them do well.”
“Well, obviously... but isn't school ending soon? Then you won't have to see them anymore.”
Even Elowen, who was notorious for his foul temper, hadn't thought about doing anything further. Aside from his anger, he felt there was nothing he could actually do. But his clever daughter seemed to have other ideas.
“There’s talk that he’s going to UC Davis too! That means I’ll have to see him again!”
“I-is that so?”
“Don't just stand there, Dad... think about it. Isn't there a way to harass them? If I keep watching them act so cocky, I might get depressed from the sheer frustration. And they’re acting so high and mighty about that organic certification; if they actually get a higher score than us on the table grapes, people will inevitably think Redwood wine is better than Silveroak wine, right?”
Elowen, who had initially only intended to calm his daughter down, gradually realized that this wasn't a situation he could just watch idly.
“That’s true, but the method...”
“There must be a way. Think hard.”
Elowen stroked his chin, lost in deep thought, tilting his head as he failed to find a viable plan. Then, he caught sight of a worker moving outside the window and suddenly clapped his hands.
“Ah!”
“What is it? Did you think of something?”
“The workers.”
“What?”
“Most of the workers here are immigrants. And a significant number of them are illegal immigrants.”
Elowen looked at Elena, who still didn't understand, and flashed a sly smile.
“You’ve given me a very important hint.”
The next day, as school classes were wrapping up.
“My god, it’s like the aphids never existed, they’ve completely disappeared! I was so surprised! The ladybugs were cute, but the lacewings... what should I call it? They have charisma? Their movements...”
It sounded like the story would go on forever, so I cut Chloe off.
“So, what’s the situation? With the yield, I mean.”
“Oh? Well... it’s coming along well. Maybe it’s because I’ve been keeping a close eye on him, but Mr. Edmond, the farm manager, hasn't been able to pull any funny business. And crucially, my dad has been checking my section and my brother’s section frequently. So the workers can’t try anything.”
I had told her to keep a sharp eye on the workers, as I wasn't sure if they might cause trouble. Something had felt off ever since they over-applied nitrogen fertilizer.
“That’s a relief.”
“I heard. The vinegar is selling well, right? My mom went to Bristol Farms and bought some.”
“Really? If you had asked, I would’ve given you a bottle.”
It wasn't about Chloe being nice; it’s just common sense to share a little of what you produce with those around you when you’re farming. That’s the Korean way.
“I should buy that much myself. It’s not even expensive.”
It wasn't me, but Armando, who was surprised by that.
“Oh, was Chloe always like this?”
She immediately flared up.
“Why? What?”
“Huh? No...”
Armando immediately tucked his tail and looked away. Just then, my phone rang. My parents usually didn't call while I was at school, so I had a bad feeling and answered immediately.
"Wooseok. We're in big trouble."
As expected, I heard my mother’s flustered voice.
“Why? What happened?”
“The immigration office is rounding up all the workers! Half of the laborers who came out today have run away!”
“What?”
I immediately looked at Armando. I said to Armando, who was staring at me blankly.
“ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is rounding up all the farm workers. Someone must have reported us. What are you going to do?”
At that, Armando stared at me blankly before shouting back.
“It’s not me! I’m fine!”
“O-oh, really? Okay.”
Since Armando said he was fine, I focused back on the phone.
“Don't worry too much, we’ve already finished most of the essential preparations for spring. Tell the remaining workers you’ll pay them 50% more and ask them to work hard to finish today’s quota. If they ask for more, give them a little extra.”
“Oh, right. That’s a good idea. Okay.”
After I hung up, Armando looked at me as if I were an idiot.
“How do you think I’m attending school without a visa?”
“...Now that I think about it, you’re right. I was just surprised because you told me you crossed the border illegally in the past.”
“That was back then. My mom married a guy here, so we went back out and came back in, and I even got citizenship. It’s a bit complicated, but anyway, I’m a clear-cut American now.”
“Ah... that’s a relief.”
“Damn it, you still remembered that and thought of me as an illegal immigrant until now?”
“Hahaha... I was just surprised.”
“Anyway, so the farm must be in chaos?”
“Yeah. They said half of them ran away. I bet it’s the same for you guys, right?”
When I looked at Chloe, she frowned for a moment before shrugging.
“I don't think so? If something like that happened, I would have been contacted. I don't think this is happening all over California; it seems to be targeting parts of Napa Valley. And if something like this happens, farm owners immediately demand that the scope of the crackdown be reduced, so it’ll end as a temporary thing.”
I was greatly surprised by such an intelligent remark coming from Chloe.
“Wow, you don't know anything about farming, but you know a lot about stuff like this?”
“Dummy! Farming is specialized knowledge... but immigration crackdowns are something I’ve experienced plenty of while growing up. You be careful too. If your workers are illegal immigrants and something goes wrong, you could get fined for illegal employment.”
“Ah...”
I knew all the knowledge regarding agriculture, but the fact that Chloe knew more about immigration arrests gave me a fresh shock. Come to think of it, in my previous life, I never had to deal with anyone getting arrested for being an illegal immigrant while getting my PhD, so it wasn't strange that I lacked the experience.
“But who could have done it?”
At Armando’s question, one name popped into my head, but I didn't say it out loud. I didn't have solid evidence, and if I blabbered unnecessarily, it could end up hurting the farm.
Just then, I made eye contact with Elena, who was looking this way. Seeing her meaningful smirk, I was certain. They intended to use their financial power to preemptively secure skilled workers from Silveroak.
A shortage of labor would eventually lead to a decline in farm productivity, which was a plausible strategy, but they didn't know that our farm had already finished almost all the essential tasks (shoot and vine management, soil management, pest control, irrigation and moisture setting, etc.).
I shook my head and clicked my tongue secretly, but the hallway of the lecture hall became quite noisy.
“What is it? Is someone fighting?”
The boys ran out at the sound of a fight, and I couldn't resist and ran out too. But when I poked my head into the hallway, there was no one fighting; students were filming something.
“Are they filming a graduation project?”
Chloe, who had approached and poked her head out, said. There were students learning agriculture here, but that was only a part of it; there were many diverse departments, and among them were classes and activities for those hoping to pursue acting or stage production.
“Ah... it’s nothing.”
As I was heading back to my seat, I suddenly stopped dead in my tracks.
“Why? Is something wrong?”
Armando asked me when I suddenly stopped, and I stared blankly at the lecture hall floor before muttering.
“Sideways...”
“Huh? What did you say?”
I remembered. A movie released in October 2004. A movie about wine and love that would trigger a wine craze after its release. No, specifically, it would trigger a craze for the grape variety, Pinot Noir.
I immediately started running toward my locker.
“See you tomorrow!”
“Where are you going?”
Leaving Armando’s voice behind, I ran home. What was important right now was securing Pinot Noir.