American Fortune Life

Stepping into the castle is another world: marble columns between red and blue support arched roofs, orderly antique furniture, giant oak ladders, double C-signs on the floor, underscoring the strength and cultural heritage of the Count Canavin family.

The statues of the second-generation Earl of Canavin, and similarly the statues of the fourth-generation Earl of Canavin with his sister at an early age, were hung all over the walls with portraits of family members, and Andy and his wife introduced them to him and learned that none of these portraits came from a master's pen, including the famous Van Dyke.

Beyond that, precious photographs of the Herbert family are on the piano and on the table, turning around like walking into a museum of decoration. Rich in family treasure, Napoleon's used wooden writing desk alone in the music room is surprising, not to mention its bizarre baroque ceiling. The 37 timepieces of historical value placed in different rooms bear witness to the immortality of history and time in the castle.

“The castle has about 300 rooms and a whole 356 crystal chandeliers alone. At the height of the estate, 60 servants took care of our family's dietary living, and today, the castle employs 20 full-time employees to keep it running, of course not less than a well-organized butler, Colin. ”

An elegant introduction to a butler who had been standing behind her master with white gloves, Andy nodded with a smile.

An interesting family, the Countess talked, the noble Fan was full, while the eighth generation of Count Carnaval George Herbert had a somewhat melancholy eye, with an awkward smile on his face from time to time, always giving a sense of shyness.

In response, Andy kept a faint smile and did not feel comfortable with the shame of the Count and the aristocratic leadership of the Count's second civilian wife. Although there was often a reference to Scotland or an Austrian family in the Countess's speech, there was a particular interest in whether Andy's travelers were satisfied with the tea before them, and there was some ridicule in talking about her horse, beating examples of tennis or golf clubs, for example, but there was still a sense of frustration and frustration.

Andy was here to buy a castle estate, to do business, and he didn't have to tear the noble veil off the other side, even if it was just the emperor's new outfit, he didn't have to make the other side feel humiliated.

Sitting on a red sofa, Andy was interested in gauging a castle library-like study, gold-plated rooftops, gold-plated bookshelves, a row of precious ancient books, ancient Greek Ionic columns, a dark red sofa and a dark red carpet, revealing a classic look.

“After more than 160 years of being so intact and functioning a castle is really expensive, if I recall correctly, only 50 of the 300 rooms are currently functional, and others, especially the abandoned ones in the castle tower, are in urgent need of repair, right? ”

Andy is not interested in continuing to listen to the somewhat exaggerated Countess in front of him bragging, although he doesn't want to compare himself to a woman, but being hypocritical is disgusting, and Andy even sees Amahl, who has been keeping an elegant smile, with a slight frown.

“Yes, Mr. Smith, this involves millions of pounds of financial expenditure, and we are also overwhelmed by that. If it's a normal year, maybe we can think of another way, but in the face of a financial storm, perhaps it's more right to pass it on to someone we can trust.

It is incumbent upon me to carry on with it better, rather than to watch it slowly fall into ruins, although this would disgrace the Kanavins, but I need more courage to face reality. ”

Count George Herbert, who had never spoken much, looked sad and caressed the armrest of the red sofa with reluctance. The tone was full of helplessness and sincerity.

Andy's laughter in his eyes slowly converged, gaining more respect for the honesty and sincerity of the Earl of Canavin in front of him, and interestingly enough, hearing the Earl, the Countess, who had been exaggerating, grinned and sighed, as if she had removed her mask.

Previously, Andy was wondering how the Eighth Earl of Canavens, the godson of the old British lady, chose a shallow British woman to be his wife, and now it seems that everything was a setup, perhaps the drama in Andy's eyes touched the earl's shame, for whatever reason, which was an interesting couple.

“I quite like the traditional style that has been maintained here, and I think I will make the castle better fit into this day and age and continue to carry it on.” Andy looked at Count George with a smooth smile on his face and said softly.

After the conversation, the atmosphere also became much more relaxed and natural. The Countess who took off the mask lost the obnoxious arrogance and exaggeration, but perhaps it was the habit of the aristocracy that persisted for a long time, or it would be involved from time to time in some family, nobility, royal name, it seemed that if she did not speak like this, she would be despised.

Towards noon, Countess Fiona, perhaps a British culture, specially prepared for an aristocratic lunch in preparation for Andy Smith's arrival, banquet etiquette is far more important than anything else. For centuries, even the meals at the nobleman's banquet were actually nothing new, and the main menu at Fort Hecklier had been around for about 200 years, and Britain had nothing to eat.

A famous butler, Colin, stood behind the owner and watched every Guest on the table. The two servants stood aside to make sure their glasses weren't empty.

This service is classic “Russian", a method of serving the most demanding number of waiters, which is also invisible and steadily revealed.

Andy was not surprised by this either. After all, his butler, George Jr., was also very knowledgeable and good at English aristocratic etiquette, but he could tell that all this was the normative etiquette, more thanks to this butler, Colin.

After a two-hour traditional aristocratic lunch, this trip to the castle was almost as fruitful for Andy, who naturally wouldn't go to the next game to talk about the price.

He was drinking black tea with Count George, chatting and laughing, waiting for the negotiating team to talk about a price acceptable to everyone, £50 million, which Andy would never agree to, even if the castle estate was 1,000 acres long, with 4,000 acres of farmland and more than a thousand cattle and sheep on both sides of the estate, would not be enough for Andy to spend £half a billion to buy the estate.

Besides, once Andy takes over, a comprehensive renovation is necessary, and Andy has detailed plans and plans for the castle, which Andy will not do anything but deal with the British government, but actually renovate the remaining 250 rooms, all over again, in preparation for the filming of the film show Downton Estate.

Operating in person, the film and television storytelling impact on real life and the code of change has directly developed this place into a tourist destination and a castle hotel that maintains the tradition of British nobility.