The price of sight: A few cents and a few drinks

He is the resident wine expert, but at one time of the year Jim Boyce has another big matter on his mind

November in Beijing is special for Jim Boyce, a time when he puts his heart into a project for which the rewards are spiritual rather than material.

Two years ago, Boyce a Canadian who lives in Beijing and who is well known for his long-running wine blog Grape Wall of China, met a man who made bagels at a wine-tasting event and asked him: "Will you give me one mao (1.5 cents) for every bagel you sell?"