Acquiring the Vineyard (3)
800,000 dollars.
That was the total cost to acquire the 15-acre (approximately 18,000 pyeong) farm. Of that, the actual cash that left my father’s bank account was 40,000 dollars—a little over 50 million Korean won.
We had acquired a Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard the size of six soccer fields for just over 50 million won.
“Let’s really do our best.”
“Honey, I can work so hard.”
My mom and dad held hands tightly, tears welling in their eyes.
“Just trust me. Just trust me... I’m going to save every one of those vines.”
I boasted confidently to my parents to soothe their anxiety.
No matter how cheaply we’d acquired the farm for 40,000 dollars, the loan principal and interest wouldn't just disappear. If the farm failed, that debt would undoubtedly become a crushing burden on our family.
The reason I had used every trick in the book—legal, but certainly calculated—during my negotiations with John Anderson was to minimize that loan and reduce the pressure.
Assuming a 10-year maturity with a 5% interest rate, cutting the loan by even 100,000 dollars meant saving 1,000 dollars a month in principal and interest. I had no choice but to rack my brain desperately.
People are always most motivated when they start something of their own for the first time. Even in business, people throw themselves into it with the most passion when they first open their doors. That was why my parents were so fired up, their eyes fixed solely on me.
“So, this is all ours now?”
The morning after we acquired the farm and held all the paperwork in our arms, my parents and I stood at the entrance of Redwood Vineyard. The sun shone down with its usual warmth, but the silence and the cool air blanketing the vineyard felt colder than ever today.
A massive, endless expanse of grapevines. Of course, compared to the vast American landscape—or even the surrounding farms—it was just a tiny speck, but my parents and I felt an indescribable surge of emotion.
“Yes, it’s all ours.”
Mom said, placing a hand over her heart.
“Oh my, my heart is fluttering. It’s great that it’s all ours, but... what if we fail?”
“Still, Wooseok beat the price down so much that even if we fail here, we won’t end up out on the street.”
“Honey...? Is that something to say?”
“Ahem... I just meant that as a figure of speech. We’re going to make it a success.”
Dad, having been scolded by Mom after trying to be reassuring, cleared his throat and turned his head. Before the conversation could drag on, I took the first step forward.
“Let’s go.”
I had been here once before, but seeing it again felt different. I could see problems I hadn't noticed before. Perhaps it was because before, they were someone else’s, but now, they were my vines.
“The condition is much worse than I thought. Ever since John Anderson decided to sell the farm, he’s essentially let it go,” Dad said, walking slowly along the farm path. His gaze lingered on the yellowed, diseased grape leaves and the vines covered in white powder.
“Yes, it looks that way.”
“Wooseok, we have to consider this year’s harvest a wash. We have to assume that what’s hanging on the vines now has no market value.”
I had already expected this, so I nodded calmly without surprise.
“If there had been anything of value, Mr. John Anderson wouldn’t have sold it at such a low price. It’s okay. Let’s spend this year as a time to help the vines recover their strength.”
Thinking about the interest for the year made me dizzy, but my parents were already prepared for that much. They had known the farm was in poor condition from the start.
“Then, we just start by doing it the way you taught us, right?”
“Yes, the milk dilution. You remember what I told you last time, right?”
Dad, his expression full of hope, nodded.
“One cup of milk to ten cups of water. You’re saying that will be effective?”
“Yes. And if we mix in natural sulfur powder and treat the most severely diseased trees first, we can at least get the pests and diseases under control quickly. That’s the only way we can hope for next year.”
It wasn’t that there were no farms using this method at the time. In fact, it was a fairly well-known technique, but because the conventional way of spraying pesticides was easier, more intuitive, and faster-acting, the previous owner clearly hadn't bothered to look into alternatives.
Dad looked over the vines once more. His expression was still full of worry, but at the same time, a glimmer of expectation was visible.
“Then, shall we start right now?”
I stepped forward toward the trees, carrying the buckets and sprayers I had prepared. Dad watched me for a long time before silently picking up a bucket and following behind me.
I made the dilution by mixing milk and water in the ratio I had prepared, then carefully measured and added the sulfur powder.
“If we spray this evenly on the grape leaves and stems, they should start looking better in a few days.”
“I’ll give it a try, too.”
“You take this section here... I’ll do that part over there.”
As I sprayed each grape leaf with care, my parents watched what I was doing and soon began repeating the same actions. Dad’s expression, initially full of anxiety and doubt, gradually shifted toward conviction and anticipation as time passed.
By lunchtime, the farmhands who had worked here in the past began to show up one by one. It seemed Dad had contacted them in advance.
“Oh, Jaeho. Did you really acquire this farm?”
At the familiar voices of his old colleagues, Dad smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s right. I’m the owner of this farm now, so can you guys trust me and follow my lead?”
Everyone laughed and nodded at his words. However, I was surprised, as I hadn’t expected other workers to show up.
“Dad, wait a second...”
“Yeah?”
I pulled him to a quiet spot and asked.
“Are you planning to hire them? We can’t afford to...”
“I know. That’s why I don’t intend to hire them for long. I only called the ones who are struggling to make ends meet if they don’t get work right now. Besides, it’s hard for just us to handle the pest control for this huge farm. I figured if we only hire them for a week, it won’t be a big burden for us.”
“That may be, but...”
After agonizing over it for a while, I called Mom over as well. Once I confirmed the workers couldn’t hear us, I spoke.
“Then let’s do this. While we’re at it, Dad and Mom, go pick all the grapes currently hanging on the vines.”
“What? You don’t mean to sell them? They don’t have enough market value to sell...”
“I know. Don’t worry, we aren’t going to sell them as they are. But please store them in the warehouse where the workers can’t reach them. Dad, keep the key firmly in your possession, and please make sure the CCTV and security systems are checked. Even if they are low-quality grapes, someone might try to steal them and go around committing fraud.”
“Understood... Don’t worry.”
And so, while the workers were focused on the pest control, my parents and I harvested the grapes that lacked market value.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“You worked hard, too.”
“Our son has worked so hard. I feel so reassured.”
The three of us, who had been out since dawn and worked continuously with only a short break at lunch, returned home exhausted, but we were happier than ever. Perhaps because I didn’t usually exercise, after returning home, washing up, and eating dinner, I collapsed onto my bed, unable to do anything else.
The next day, although my heart wanted to keep focusing on farming, I had been assigned the mission of going to college, so I grabbed a simple breakfast and headed to school.
But when I arrived at school, the way people looked at me had changed in a strange way. It was as if they were looking at some bizarre creature.
I was able to find out why their gazes were so strange through Rachel.
“Brian! I heard your family acquired a farm?”
“Ah...”
It seemed that was indeed the reason.
“Is it true?”
“Yeah. That’s right. We acquired Redwood Vineyard this time.”
“So that’s why you gave up on being an accountant. There was a reason after all. Why didn’t you tell us sooner? Everyone misunderstood.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Was it really a misunderstanding?”
“Still. You’re a bit different from us now.”
There was a hint of admiration in Rachel’s eyes. Only then did I understand why everyone’s gaze toward me had shifted slightly. They must have found it strange that I was no longer just the son of an immigrant laborer, but the son of a farm owner.
The feelings felt by Rachel, an Asian and fellow immigrant, were slightly different from those felt by the native-born Americans.
“I’m the same. My direction has just changed a little. From an accountant to an agriculturalist.”
“Well, you look good. Good luck.”
Rachel crossed her arms and walked away as if she had no more business with me. For some reason, I felt like I wouldn’t be seeing her much anymore. Since I had chosen blue-collar work rather than white-collar, she must have decided there was no reason to meet.
I understood Rachel. She had her own way of living.
After class, instead of going straight home, I ran around until I stopped in front of an office.
Knock, knock!
I knocked and entered to find a man in his mid-forties with a cleanly shaven head looking up.
“Hello, Mr. Miller.”
“Oh, Brian? What brings you here?”
“Yes. Actually, I wanted to join the Agriscience Club.”
The Agriscience Club is a club where students learn and practice various topics related to agriculture and science. In this club, students participate in real-world projects, experiential learning, and community service. It not only helps practically, but it’s also a place where you can earn crucial credits for getting into an agricultural university.
“The Agriscience Club? You?”
He was surprised that an Asian student was applying for an agriculture club.
“Yes. Actually, my family acquired a vineyard.”
“Is that so? My goodness... Which farm?”
“Redwood Vineyard. So, I want to learn a bit about agriculture now. Is it possible?”
“Of course. When can you start?”
“The sooner, the better for me.”
“Then, by any chance, are you thinking of college...?”
“Yes. I’m thinking of UC Davis.”
“Oh—then activities in our club will be essential, won’t they?”
“That’s right.”
“Good. I’ll cooperate as much as I can. Come by starting tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
Having joined the Agriscience Club, I left school and headed to the farm. I tossed my bag into the farm workers’ break room and ran to the warehouse, where I saw my parents harvesting the low-quality grapes in the distance.
“Dad! Mom! I’m here! Come over to the warehouse!”
As I waved my hand, my parents slowly approached.
“We’ve been picking grapes the whole time, and I think we’ve picked about a third. But what are you going to do with these? Aren’t we throwing them away?”
Mom, taking off the hat that was covering her hair, looked exhausted, but her expression was bright.
I took the key from Dad, threw open the warehouse door, and smiled faintly at the grapes stacked neatly in boxes.
“Throw them away? No way. I’m going to make vinegar with these.”
“Vinegar?”