1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 299 Nobody understands this topic better than me
Due to the severe impact of the cold wave on underground truffles, all high-end restaurants in Provence and several surrounding provinces are currently experiencing a severe shortage of truffles.

Some restaurants have temporarily removed some truffle-related dishes from their menus, while others only offer truffle dishes at lunchtime, so customers should arrive early if they want to try them.

The current situation is that truffle hunters think the price is too low, while restaurant owners want to buy them but can't find them.

Even if someone were selling truffles for 5000 francs per kilogram, let alone 3500 francs per kilogram, restaurants would still buy them. However, both sides have to give face to the Carpenter Truffle Brokers Committee.
But some arrogant old men don't know what 'face' means.

Alphonse, relying on a stable, abundant, and fresh supply of truffles, has partnered with several of the most prestigious restaurants in Provence and surrounding provinces, openly engaging in truffle business at prices below market value.

Why is it described as 'blatant'?

Because when Alphonse told Ronan where he had sent the fresh truffles that day, he specifically instructed him:
"If any fools find out you're supplying goods at high prices and try to cause you trouble, remember to tell them to come to me, Alphonse, if they have any problems. Don't waste your time going into the mountains to find treasure. Alright, get back to work, young man, don't keep your customers waiting too long."

With the backing of this biggest truffle enthusiast in Provence, Ronan partnered with Lucas to start a business.

Every day they would go to their own 'secret bases' during the day and meet at Ronan's restaurant at night. Before dawn the next day, Cornell would hand them over to the buyers.

But earning this money isn't so easy.

Harvesting 4 kilograms of truffles a day was no easy task a few months ago, and it has become even more difficult after the cold wave.

7pm.

Lucas led Margaret through the door into the night and returned home.

The ever-elegant Margaret immediately rushed to her water basin and began to drink voraciously.

Lucas's wife, Emily, had been waiting at the door for a long time and asked Lucas with concern:

"Why are you so late today? You usually come back around 5 pm."

Lucas, wearing a thick coat, sat down on the chair in the entryway without even taking off his shoes.

“That receiving channel requires too much every day. I was worried that things wouldn’t go smoothly with Ronan, so I found more before coming back.”

Emily stood in front of her husband with a frown:

“But you left two hours earlier than usual.”

Lucas forced a smile:
"These are special times, darling."

Emily continued, feigning annoyance:
“You’re not a young man anymore. There’s absolutely no need for you to take on this arduous task. Do you want me to get you a mirror so you can see how you look?”

Lucas frowned slightly:
"I'm hungry, go make me something to eat."

Emily sighed and went to the living room to check on Margaret:
"Besides, Margaret isn't young anymore. She's so tired now that she won't even sit on the sofa. She just lies down on the floor and falls asleep. She used to only sleep in clean places. I know Ronan helped Theo a lot last year. Part of the reason you agreed to work with Ronan was to express your gratitude for his help and to let him earn more money. But you're both not young anymore."

Amid his wife's incessant nagging, Lucas wearily looked up at the roof.

Ronan helped more than just Theo.
Ronan was also the only 'lifeline' that Lucas grasped before falling off the cliff.

The lab staff said that the mortality rate of mycelia is as high as 95% under low temperatures, and they are now too vulnerable.

However, the exact values ​​will not be known until the next round of mycelial sampling is conducted in the spring.

Mycelial sampling must strictly adhere to many scientific conditions to ensure accurate monitoring of activity, purity, and symbiotic potential. Spring and autumn, when mycelial metabolism is active, are the optimal sampling periods.

The weather is too cold now, so the sampled values ​​are not accurate, but even a 1% error could change Lucas's fate.

So Lucas still has one last glimmer of hope: to gamble on a miracle.

The price of truffles is sure to skyrocket in the next few years; what if a lot of mycelium survives?
But without Ronan's access to high-priced truffles, Lucas would be doomed right now, as he would no longer be able to pay the exorbitant operating costs.

Currently, the monthly operating costs are supported by truffles.

It could be said that Ronan's sharing of information pulled Lucas, who had one foot in the abyss, back to safety, albeit temporarily.
After sitting in the entryway for a while, Lucas took off his coat and shoes and went to the living room to hug Margaret, who was curled up asleep.

He buried his face in Margaret's still slightly cool and noticeably less smooth fur, and murmured to himself:

"I'm sorry, my dear daughter. I'm sorry, Daddy doesn't want to give up now. We've persevered for so long. Let's try for just over a month more, okay? He's already helped us. Ronan has already helped us. Miracles have happened to everyone he's helped. Maybe it's our turn now?"

When Lucas returned home, he had to deal with his wife's lack of understanding, while carefully avoiding letting his family find out anything amiss. It wasn't much easier than when he was in the mountains.

Ronan, who had also spent a day in the mountains, didn't feel so relaxed when he got home.

Zoe twirled a strand of hair around her index finger, looking extremely conflicted, and said:

“I know it’s very inappropriate to say this now, but there are only 3 days left until the deadline for submissions, and there are only a few smaller exhibitions still accepting submissions. Do you still want to participate?” In mid-February, British sculptor Andy Goldsworth will create a nature-themed work using olive branches and limestone at Gold, titled ‘Land Art’.

In order not to be overshadowed by the British, the Provençal art world spontaneously organized a number of art exhibitions with the same theme in Gordes starting from the end of January, including exhibitions of varying sizes.

Zoe and other Lourmaran artists are definitely targeting large events, and they have completed several rounds of intensive submissions in the past two weeks.

Zoe successfully participated in three very important art events, and next month, her different works will be exhibited in three different exhibitions.

Other artists, such as Bati, Marini, and Vivian, also submitted their work for the exhibition, participating in several of them.

Because of the cold wave, Ronan missed the deadlines for submitting his work to major art exhibitions, but the organizers did not postpone their deadlines due to the extreme weather, because in Provence, besides Ronan, there probably isn't another farmer who's into art.

The exhibitions that are still accepting submissions are mostly small, unappealing ones, because they haven't been able to collect enough works and are still keeping the submission window open.

Seeing Ronan lower his head and remain silent, Zoe went over and hugged his head:

“I know you’ve been working too hard lately. Why don’t you skip it and wait for the next opportunity? I’ll work with the others to bring more artists to Lourmaran.”

[Happiness increases by 30 points when having intimate contact with someone of the opposite sex]

Ronan hugged Zoe back:
"No need, I'll go to the small exhibitions too."

His hesitation wasn't because he felt he'd missed the best opportunity, but because the cold wave had slowed down or almost halted the accumulation of his "happiness."

For the past two weeks, Ronan has had a hard time feeling the emotion of 'happiness'.

Eating, drinking, or even restless sleep that keeps waking up every now and then has never provided any sense of happiness.

Occasionally, it would pop up, but the value given was much less than before.

This hug with Zoe was the third time today that the system notification sounded in my ear.

The first time I gained "Happiness" today was around 5 a.m., when I ate a bowl of hot noodles that my father, Luo Tianhai, specially set an alarm to make for me. It was his favorite dish.

The second time was when I saw Lucas finally smile for the first time in days that evening, saying, "Today we're almost at 5 kilograms."

It may take him some time to return to the carefree and happy Ronan he used to be, someone who enjoyed life to the fullest every day.

However, Ronan knew this period wouldn't last long. He was slowly getting rid of his anxiety and tension because the "happiness" score was increasing every day. Perhaps he would be fully recovered after the Spring Festival.

Zoe looked down at Ronan in her arms and asked with concern:
"But you haven't been practicing lately, have you?"

Ronan has been spending all his time in vineyards and forests lately; he hasn't had time to think about 'land art' at all.

Ronan's mother, Leah, said that he hadn't been in the restaurant kitchen for more than half a month, let alone made desserts.

Ronan looked up, and Zoe noticed a glint in his eyes.

He spoke slowly:
“I haven’t had time to ‘practice’ these days, but I understand the theme better now. Zoe, I guess none of the artists participating in the event understands ‘nature’ better than me.”

night.

Zoe and Ronan sat down together to analyze which of the remaining events with open submission windows was the most suitable for Ronan to participate in and which had the greatest relative impact.

After a heated discussion about choosing the best option among the worst, they decided to send Ronan to submit an application for a small exhibition by private art collector Rodrigo.

This is a guy who, like Fabrier, is known for being 'rich,' but his wealth is manifested in his indiscriminate photography of artworks.

At art auctions in Aix-en-Provence, this master, who claims to have been collecting art since he was 11, often buys works that are generally considered 'trash' at outrageously high prices.

Well-known artists are hesitant to submit their work to Rodrigo's events, as it might result in a less than favorable reception. However, the collector is friends with many prominent Provençal artists, auction chairmen, and museum directors.

Zoe speculated that Rodrigo's friends might visit the exhibition, which would guarantee a certain level of foot traffic.

“Time is limited, and you don’t have that much energy, so let’s just make one piece,” Zoe said regretfully.

In fact, given Ronan's current abilities, if he had more time to prepare, he could submit to multiple exhibitions like other artists.

That's such a shame.

Ronan turned back to comfort Zoe:
"Do you remember what you said when you encouraged artists? Even if there is only a sliver of hope, you must put in 200% effort. It is too difficult for artists to achieve anything. They must cherish every opportunity, no matter how big or small. I will definitely create a satisfactory work."

(End of this chapter)