1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 282 The Lucky Boy

"Aren't you dedicated to making rosé wine as recognized by the people of Provence as red and white wine? Now your chance has come. Take over the Stellar winery."

This was the first thing Astrid whispered in Ronan's ear.

This opening line was so explosive that Ronan's eyes immediately widened.

Astrid felt Ronan's chest rise and fall, patted his shoulder, and gestured for him to be quiet and wait for her to finish speaking.

"Don't worry about funding or rationality. You just need to consider whether you can operate it successfully." Astrid paused for a moment. "Have you thought it through? Then take it over."

Ronan's eyes widened even more.

Wait a minute!

You only give me three seconds to think it over?

And I haven't even said anything yet!!
Astrid patted Ronan on the shoulder again, telling him to shut up and listen to her continue:
"If Lourmarin is positioning rosé as its signature wine, it definitely needs its own winery. Isn't this an opportunity presented to you?"

“But—” Ronan had only uttered two words when a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. It was Ms. Astrid who was angry that he had interrupted her and had struck him hard.

Ronan could clearly sense that the woman's tone had become impatient:
"But, but, what's there to say but? The museum plus rosé wine industry chain is a ready-made model. Don't tell me your stupid government wants to turn the museum into something else? Remember, turning industrial heritage into cultural capital is something Provençal people have been doing for hundreds of years. It's the simplest and most effective business model."

Ronan silently repeated to himself the idea of ​​transforming industrial heritage into cultural capital.

Seeing that Astrid had finally moved away from his ear, he cautiously asked:

"May I speak now?"

Astrid poured herself a drink with a blank expression, neither saying yes nor no, as if nothing had just happened.

Ronan lowered his voice and said:
"I don't have that much money."

This was the first time Ronan had seen a look of 'disappearance' on Astrid's face. She asked with an exaggerated 'Are you alright?'
"Did you swallow all the 'leveraging' and 'profiting' techniques I taught you before? You think you can run the restaurant to this extent on your own, and drive traffic to the entire commercial street?"

Ronan acted like a student being lectured by a teacher, constantly using alcohol to mask his embarrassment.

He certainly couldn't have done it this way on his own.

The government has been helping him since the Vow of Devotion ceremony, and now Ronan's restaurant is featured in all of Lourmaran's promotional materials.

But how did Astrid know about the situation in Lourmaran shopping street?
Seeing that Ronan was finally no longer asking questions like a fool and was actually thinking, Astrid reverted to her usual languid demeanor:
“In Provence, you can’t do business by just working hard. You have to firmly bind all the common interests together, especially someone like you who has no connections. Smart people never say they are ‘rich’. Start-up capital is not a problem at all.”

Ronan looked at Astrid with considerable surprise and caution.

She seemed like a completely different person in the last two or three minutes.

The business acumen demonstrated in those few words greatly shocked Ronan.

Ronan even had the illusion that Astrid's languidness and lack of interest in anything were a facade, and that she was actually a strong woman.

Moreover, she pretended to be indifferent even though she clearly cared a lot about Stellar Winery.

But why pretend?
However, this woman taught Ronan another lesson today—'In Provence, you can't do business by hard work alone; you have to firmly bind all stakeholders together, especially someone like you with no connections.'

If this statement is true.

Is it enough to simply bind ourselves to the Lourmaran government?
Shouldn't Astrid, who taught Ronan this lesson, be even more bound together with a shared interest group?
In her words, the Lourmaran government is a bunch of 'stupid guys,' so what is she?
Thinking of this, Ronan recalled something Blanco had told him long ago—'Actually, your capable friend has always been helping you, Ronan. How can you be so sure she won't continue to help you in the future?'

This time, Ronan leaned close to Astrid's ear and whispered:
Why are you helping me?

Astrid gave a cold snort with obvious sarcasm:
"Help you? I'm doing this so I can continue to enjoy my smooth rosé wine."

After saying that, she left with a cold face, carrying the wine bottle.

Gabriel only dared to sit back down after confirming that Astrid would not be returning.

The first thing he asked Ronan after sitting down was:
"The conversation with Astrid didn't go well? The lady left with a terrible expression."

Ronan shrugged:

"maybe?"

Ronan decided he had to find out Astrid's identity.

This will directly relate to how he becomes tied to this powerful 'community of interests'.

Astrid's advice to Ronan on several occasions played a crucial role.

According to this woman, Ronan should take over the Stellar winery and, together with the Lourmarin Museum and its future distinctive development path, form a mature business model.

If there is insufficient funding during this process, seek help from the government.

Ronan even discerned a hidden meaning in her words: 'Even if you have money, you should say you don't and ask the government for funds.'

Knowing that Ronan's funds were definitely insufficient, his next step was to determine how much government 'assistance' he needed.

Neither the Ronan nor the Lourmaran government would take over Jerome's 20-hectare vineyard, as there is no shortage of grapes in the vicinity of Lourmaran.

Similarly, they wouldn't want this luxurious winery either; the future winery or winemaking cooperative must be located within Lourmarin's jurisdiction. Even Llorente, which sells cheese, is developing its own "Shepherd's Route" themed tourist route; Lourmarin will definitely have its own "Rosé Route" in the future, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape is not suitable.

So what Ronan might take over from Jerome is some of the equipment and the name 'Stesgaard'.

Ronan strongly agreed with Jerome's words. The name 'Straussard' was actually the most valuable thing, representing the highest level of Provençal rosé.

A little while into the party, Ronan found an opportunity to sit down next to Jerome and have a good chat with him.

"Jerome, how much do you want for your equipment?" Ronan asked seriously.

That afternoon, many people came to ask Jerome for details, and he assumed Ronan was also asking around for a friend.

Are you asking about presses, fermentation tanks, temperature control equipment, storage tanks, filters, or testing equipment?

Ronan felt a headache coming on; he could almost hear the sound of the francs being tossed about.

"All."

Jerome guessed that Ronan probably didn't understand these devices, so he gave a detailed explanation:
"I have two destemmed pressing machines here, one manual and one semi-automatic, priced at 50,000 and 150,000 francs respectively; three 10000-liter fermentation tanks, each 150,000 francs; the best temperature control equipment, 200,000 francs; about 50 storage tanks, each 1000 francs; a filter machine, 60,000 francs; a semi-automatic bottling line, 200,000 francs; and a testing system, 100,000 francs. All of these are being sold at a 30% discount."

Ronan quickly calculated in his mind.

In the future, the rosé wineries in Lourmarin must continue to produce wines entirely by hand, because Blanco wants to use the tourism board's protection of the 'handmade rosé wine production process' to apply for a budget, which is very important.

Therefore, the equipment he needs to buy can only be the non-automated ones.

Even with a 3% discount, the investment is still huge; preliminary calculations show that the equipment alone will cost at least 40.

This doesn't even include the investment in warehouses, facilities, and manpower.

Ronan asked through gritted teeth:

"And what about the name 'Straska'?"

This is the most important thing!

Jerome chuckled self-deprecatingly, raised his glass, and took a sip of his drink:

“This is the most valuable thing in the winery. I don’t even really want to sell the name. You know, it’s not easy to build up a reputation like this. Maybe it’s best to leave it at this best moment?”

Ronan first nodded in understanding, then explained:

"Would you consider selling if a very good buyer came along?"

Jerome pointed at Gabriel:

“Gabriel asked me the same question, and I offered him 50. For 50, I might consider giving the name ‘Stesga’ to the next person.”

Ronan leaned back on the sofa and sighed deeply.

Is it possible that God Blanco could give me a million francs?

Even if we wait until spring, and the Vaucluse tourism office approves a budget for Lourmaran, isn't this figure a bit too high?
not far away.

Astrid dealt with the crowd perfunctorily, glancing every now and then at the area where Ronan and Jerome were.

Ronan was more 'obedient' than she had imagined.

He went to Jerome that very day to inquire about the details.

Such efficiency is rare in Provence; she encountered more people who only talked the talk but didn't walk the walk.

Astrid was, of course, the one who cared most about the existence of Stellar Winery.

Because she was addicted to rosé wine.

That's why she's most eager to find a good buyer for Stellar Winery.

Moreover, Astrid and Ines share the same judgment, also believing that the person who can take over the Stryker winery is within the association.

Only those who truly love rosé wine would pursue a career with little prospect of success in Provence.

The most suitable person in the association is Ronan. He is even more suitable than Astrid herself to take over the Stellar winery.

Astrid, an atheist, even felt that a mysterious force was guiding her.

Ronan's suggestion to persuade the Lourmarin government to feature rosé wine as a specialty was inadvertently linked with the Stella Garnier winery, creating a very successful business model in Provence. It seems as if someone had orchestrated this all along.

“Lucky lad.” Astrid lazily withdrew her gaze.

Astrid was unsure whether a mysterious force was guiding her.

But she was certain that being able to get her advice again and again was Ronan's greatest fortune.

(End of this chapter)