1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 288 Rushing to 'Repay the Kindness'

This was the second time Ronan had heard someone mention the great frost of 1956.

Pascal also told Ronan about this when he went to pick olives at an olive plantation in Gold in November.

According to Pascal, the olive oil industry in Provence was nearly wiped out by this natural disaster and only recovered somewhat in recent years.

Based on his previous understanding, he speculated:

"Lourmaran was also affected by the disaster?"

Pierre grinned and shook his head, his expression extremely unpleasant.

"It's not just a disaster area; Lourmaran is the hardest hit. Due to the terrain, the temperature fluctuations in this valley are even greater, and more than 80% of the olives have frozen to death."

He stretched out his right hand and drew a large circle in front of him, as if 'pointing out the landscape':
“This area used to be full of olive groves. Because of that natural disaster, large farmers sold their land and switched to other businesses. But the impact of that frost on agriculture was too great. No wealthy person dared to take over. All the land was bought by small farmers.”

Ronan clicked his tongue and frowned as he asked:
"They've stopped growing olives?"

There aren't many olive groves near Lourmaran.

Pierre shook his head:
“I’m scared. Olives are not cold-resistant, and haven’t you noticed that people are planting a lot of different grape varieties? Many people have abandoned traditional Mediterranean varieties and switched to planting more cold-resistant varieties such as Mourvèdre and Clare. Only in the last ten years or so have they started planting Grenache and Syrah on a large scale again.”

Ronan sighed with emotion:
"Nature is truly a capricious working partner."

However, Pierre's words reminded Ronan of something very important.

Cornell had once educated Ronan on the winemaking uses of more than a dozen grape varieties from the Lourmarin region, and he remembered that not all of them could be used in the production of rosé wine.

How much of this will Ronan be able to utilize in the future?

He patted Pierre on the shoulder:

"Thanks for your hard work."

Pierre waved to Ronan, signaling him to hurry up and get down to business:

"We haven't even thanked you yet, and you're still being so polite? Hurry up, we'll finish cutting your hair soon."

In the new year, Lucas and Theo's interactions became more frequent.

It wasn't that Lucas took extra care of his younger brother, but rather that Theo would often bring food and drinks to his parents' house, as if he had suddenly 'grown up'.

Indeed, in Lucas's eyes, his younger brother Theo, who was in his thirties, was like a child, not making money or living a proper life, always putting things off as long as possible, and was incredibly lazy.

Previously, the heavy burden of the family fell on the eldest brother Lucas, but now Theo has taken on a large part of it. Compared to previous years, Lucas, who is proud and used to being the older brother, now takes care of his younger brother more often.

If there's something nice at home, after giving one to my parents, I'll give another one to Theo.

Sure enough, Lucas and his friends went hunting in the mountains this morning and brought some game to Theo this afternoon.

"Theo went out for drinks?" Lucas put down his things and found that only Theo's wife Rebecca and daughter Anna were at home.

Rebecca pointed in one direction and said:

"No, I went to prune Ronan's branches."

Lucas, who was a farmer before becoming a truffle hunter, asked somewhat unexpectedly:
"It's already mid-January, and Ronan's grapevines are still not pruned?"

This job had to be finished by the end of January at the latest, so why has it been delayed until now?
Rebecca remarked with emotion:
"Ronan has so many things to do. He has to open a restaurant, go into the mountains, take orders and find jobs for everyone. I heard he's going to participate in some kind of art event at the end of the month. He takes such good care of everyone that he doesn't even have time for himself."

Lucas smiled and shook his head:

"Young people are always up to something. Why don't they lease out the land? There are so many tenant farmers."

Rebecca recalled Theo's reasons and explained them to Lucas:
"Ronan came to Provence from Paris to experience this kind of rural life. He said that farming is more about psychological satisfaction. He's just been too busy lately and doesn't have time to work out. The day before yesterday, he brought another batch of orders to everyone. He's really working hard."

As she packed her things, she muttered under her breath:

“Ronan does like to stir things up, but not entirely for his own benefit. A large part of it is to help others. Otherwise, so many people wouldn’t be willing to help him. We feel bad about always asking him for help.”

Lucas listened silently with his head down, without saying a word.

After leaving Theo's house, Lucas didn't drive back, but instead, as if possessed, went to Ronan's house.

For the first time, he saw a vineyard in winter that was as lively as in autumn.

There were at least three radios running simultaneously in Ronan's vineyard, each playing a different channel.

More than twenty farmers worked while chatting and laughing, their voices almost drowning out the songs coming from the radio.

If it weren't for the occasional gusts of cold wind, Lucas would have thought it was springtime.

When everyone saw Lucas arrive, they greeted him warmly:
"Hey! Lucas, looking for Ronan? He's gone into the mountains!"

“I’m not looking for Ronan, I’m looking for Theo.” Lucas stood on the asphalt road and lit a cigarette.

Theo left the group of playful farmers and walked towards Lucas:
"You didn't take Margaret truffle hunting today?"

Lucas offered Theo a cigarette:

"I went hunting this morning."

Farmers a little further away looked on with envy:
"Which hunting rifle did you bring today? Was it the one you bought in Marseille for 3000 francs?"

Theo chuckled and said:

"3000 is nothing, Lucas has several hunting rifles worth over 5000 francs!"

"What an enviable life."

"Lucas, take me hunting sometime, let me try out your fine gun!"

"How about tomorrow?"

Lucas smiled and chatted with the farmers for a few moments, then looked at his brother and said:

“I just delivered some wild game to your house, and Rebecca said you were here, so I came to check on you.”

Theo's first reaction was:
"Have you sent them to your parents? We don't need anything, so you can give them to them first."

Lucas said with satisfaction:
"I delivered it to them first, and then came here."

Theo was relieved and lit a cigarette: "That's good. Ronan has helped me a lot this year. I'll come over and do some work for him."

Lucas felt that Theo had really grown a lot and knew how to pay attention to the feelings of those around him. Was this also due to Ronan's influence?

"How much more is needed?" Lucas asked, looking at the vineyard.

Theo pointed behind him with his thumb:
"With more people, it can be finished in a day or two. If Ronan were to do it by himself, it would probably take more than a week."

Lucas paused for a few seconds, then turned and walked back.

"You guys go ahead with your work, I'm leaving."

Theo called to him from behind:
"Hey! Come to my house and take two rabbits with you. They're really plump, and they're delicious roasted!"

Lucas waved his hand behind him:

"it is good."

A gust of cold wind nearly blew the cigarette out of Lucas's hand.

A chorus of curses immediately erupted from the vineyard, complaining about the damn weather.

Lucas turned to Theo, wanting to say that it was windy and suggested they come back tomorrow.

But Theo shouted loudly at the farmers:

"Hurry up and finish this so Ronan can focus on other things; things will only get colder after that."

The farmers stopped resting and smoking, and quickened their pace.

Lucas stopped by the roadside and looked at Theo, who was unfamiliar in the vineyard.

Ronan is truly a magician who creates 'miracles'! Is this still the same lazy and good-for-nothing Theo?
Lucas stubbed out his cigarette and jumped into the vineyard.

"Why did you come down?" Theo looked at Lucas, who was taking off his jacket, with a surprised expression.

Lucas picked up a pair of tattered gloves from the ground and asked casually:
"Haven't we worked together in a long time?"

Theo scratched his head, trying to recall:

"It's been a long time, about seven or eight years."

Lucas plucked a section of the drooping grapevine:
"I'll help you harvest the grapes in the fall."

"Huh??" Theo thought he had misheard.

Lucas urged:

"Hurry up and get to work. I'm not leaving tonight; I'll come to your house for roasted rabbit."

Everything in Lourmaran is changing, including his brother Theo.

Why can't I change?

'puff--'

Ronan spat a mouthful of hot water onto Theo's face:

"Lucas came to help this afternoon too?"

Theo had gotten into the habit of going to Ronan's for a couple of drinks after dinner, and when he saw Ronan return, he naturally told him about what had happened that afternoon.

"*****" Theo cursed as he wiped his face. "Of all those heads, why did you spray it all over my face?"

Ronan apologetically took a tissue and roughly wiped his face:

"Because that's what you said."

Theo shook his head twice:
"Yes, I didn't expect it either. Lucas hasn't done farm work for many years."

“Did Lucas say anything?” Ronan asked him.

Theo shook his head:

"No, they left after having dinner at my house that night without saying anything."

The other farmers had all received some form of 'help' from Ronan, and they simply did their jobs when they came to work.

However, Ronan and Lucas don't have any real 'intersection'. He wants to help Lucas, but it's just talk; he hasn't actually done anything about it yet.

The older Fabian comforted Ronan:

"Don't be too nervous. Lucas is our brother too. Just treat him to a drink."

Ronan nodded thoughtfully and said gratefully to everyone:
"Thank you."

Theo pointed at Ronan and said in a warning tone:

"If you say thank you again, I'll get angry with you. It's such a small thing, don't you get tired of saying it every day?"

Do I have to thank you every time I make a flower wreath at home?

After finishing their work at the forestry bureau, the farmers lost their uniforms.

However, Henry now wore a clean new leather jacket, looking even more dashing than in his uniform.

He asked expectantly:
"Mr. Ronan, the branches will be pruned in half a day. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

The farmers went to help Ronan's family entirely to repay his 'kindness'.

And among all these people, Henry is the one who should be most 'grateful' to Ronan.

He wished he could rip his heart out and give it to Ronan!

Ronan thought for a moment, then gently tapped the table:
"You know what, there really is one."

Henry looked over expectantly, but Ronan avoided his gaze, looking instead at Cornell, who was quietly drinking.

"Cornell, there's something I'd like you to do for me."

(End of this chapter)