1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 312 Andy Goldsworth of Provence

"What's wrong with the Gold Art Exhibition?" Ronan asked, puzzled. Then, as if remembering something, he pressed Barty, "Has your work already been exhibited?"

Zoe and Batty are two of the most promising artists in Lourmaran, and they are both involved in activities with the 'Center'.

Ronan remembered hearing artists talking about the upcoming event that Batty was involved in, and how they were planning to go see it together.

Batty nodded twice:
"That's right, it's already started. Today is the second day, and that's what I want to talk to you about."

He then patiently explained to Ronan:

“As you know, weaving is a niche art form in Provence. Although I participated in the central art exhibition, my work was placed in a very peripheral gallery. At yesterday's opening ceremony, tourists just passed by and glanced at it casually without stopping. But today—”

Bati suddenly drew out the last syllable.

Codia, who had a short temper, muttered in dissatisfaction:

"What's wrong with you today? Just tell me, or I'm leaving! You're all so slow, who taught you all to be like this?!"

“Don’t go, I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you!” Barty stopped Cotillard, who was about to leave, and continued, “This morning the exhibition room was still deserted, but after lunch, there were suddenly more visitors, and they were all there to see my work.”

Ronan spread his hands, indicating that this was perfectly normal:
"That's normal. Your work is so exquisite. I certainly can't make such exquisite works of art."

Bati is a true knitting artist.

It's a bit of a waste of his talents to have him make flower wreaths.

“No, no, no, that’s not it!” Batty suddenly laughed and pointed at Ronan. “They came because of you! There are a few woven flowers in your ‘Hope’, right? Because of ‘Hope’, more tourists learned about weaving, so they came to see other woven works.”

Cotillard stared wide-eyed at Ronan:

"Is there woven flowers in 'Hope'?"

Ronan clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction:

"You haven't been back since the opening, have you?"

Codia said matter-of-factly:
"I don't have time, I still have to run my shop."

Cotillard helped Lourmaran artists submit their works for exhibitions and fill out application forms entirely free of charge, without ever asking the artists for any compensation.

The benefit she gets from this is that she can buy everyone's works at slightly below market price and sell them in art shops on the commercial street.

Of course, apart from a small number of works that could be sold, most of them became 'stored' items.

Cotillard, on the other hand, was quite calm.

She always joked that these were all investments, and maybe one day the artists in Lourmaran would 'break out,' and she would be even richer than Thomas, that rich second-generation, and become a self-made millionaire.

Ronan said to her gratefully:

"You've worked hard these past few days."

"Alright, enough of that nonsense!" Cotillard said, frowning. "Get on with the next piece!"

Seeing that the two opposite him had started chatting again, Batty stretched out his right hand and waved it twice in front of them:

"I'm not done yet!"

"Go on, go on," Ronan said, turning to look at Batty.

Batistuta became even more excited:

"Because of you, more people are coming to see my work. Besides promoting the art scene in Lourmaran and attracting more artists, I also want to promote my knitted products. The more orders I get, the better life will be for the women. Can I do that?"

Ronan never expected that Batty would connect the art exhibition with this matter.

It's clear that Bati really cares about women.

He really found a fantastic leader.

Ronan asked with a mixture of gratitude and relief:
"Of course, of course! What do you want to do? What do you need my cooperation with?"

Batistuta was delighted that Ronan had agreed to his proposal and asked expectantly:

“My art exhibition will last for 20 days. Could you come to see it once or twice during that time? You’re so ‘hot’ in Gordes right now. Today, a tourist said that you’re almost the Andy Goldsworth of Provence. You can hear people talking about you everywhere you go. I guess if you go a few times, even if you don’t do anything, weaving will become ‘popular’ in Provence.”

Batistuta continued, in an expectant tone, to ask Cotillard:

What do you think? Would this help with woven art?

Cotillard collected works by many young artists, but she never accepted any from Barty. Her reason for giving Barty this was that she didn't think woven artworks could fetch a good price.

Cotillard did not answer directly, but considered it seriously for a few seconds:
"I haven't been to Gold these past few days, nor have I checked on Ronan's current 'popularity.' I'll go there tomorrow and then answer your question."

“Okay! I’ll wait for your news,” Batty said with a smile.

However, Ronan had already agreed before Cotillard could give a reply:

"I will definitely go there more often as long as time allows."

Ronan had many reasons for participating in the art exhibition.

His initial idea was to attract artists to Lourmaran and boost the restaurant's popularity through desserts.

Now there's another objective—to promote our knitting products.

Due to the cold wave, Kafu's business has been in a 'neither here nor there' state. Even the orders for garlands that had already opened up the market have plummeted, not to mention that woven lamps and ornaments simply cannot be sold.

But Ronan now sees new possibilities.

If the decoration market is hampered, then thinking of other ways to find solutions is better than doing nothing at all.

If what Batty said is true, and he is very 'popular' in Gold, then he definitely needs to show his face in Gold more often.

However, the prerequisite is to complete the artwork submitted to the center's sculpture exhibition as soon as possible.

Lucas still returns to Lourmaran very late every day.

Whenever Lucas showed up, Ronan knew it was time for the restaurant to close.

Ronan assumed that with so much time spent in the forest every day, he wouldn't have time to find a way to sell truffles.

He also made up a lot of 'extra time' for this.

Unexpectedly, that very night Lucas told Ronan that he had found a source willing to pay 3500 francs per kilogram.

"Is it reliable?" Ronan asked repeatedly.

Lucas nodded solemnly:

"The Carpenter Truffle Committee has lost control of prices. Truffles are in such short supply that there is no supply at all, and the market price has risen to 3200 francs per kilogram."

Ronan made a praying gesture:
"Let it keep rising."

Mr. Alphonse's order can only solve the immediate problem; it cannot be sustained indefinitely.

For him and Lucas, the most important thing is that truffle prices continue to rise despite the impact of the cold snap.

Lucas took a sip of the strong liquor Ronan had prepared for him:

"It's hard to say how high prices will go in February, but by November, when the new truffle harvesting season begins, truffle prices should reach over 4000 francs."

Ronan nodded thoughtfully, looking down as if calculating something:
"Hopefully."

Lucas tapped the table, signaling Ronan to look over:
"You should inform Alphonse today that you are not accepting that order."

“Okay, I’ll call him when I get back.” Ronan said to Lucas with a smile, “You’re as ‘reliable’ as ever.”

They said they found a new channel in just two days. I feel very safe working with this kind of person.

If the issue of truffle prices isn't resolved, Ronan will have to stay in the mountains for a while longer.

It wasn't just to help Lucas; he also didn't want to sell truffles cheaply, given the availability of expensive channels.

Lucas drank the wine:
"Let's go, Margaret should go to sleep."

At 8:30 p.m., many villagers in Lourmaran were already asleep, but Ronan was still in the restaurant.

He can't wait to start creating the piece for the center's sculpture exhibition.

Previously, there were too few choices and not enough 'weapons'.

After upgrading [Cooking], I have too many 'weapons' and I don't know which one to use.

Ronan paced back and forth in the kitchen:

Which Chinese dessert is best suited for making into a sculpture?

(End of this chapter)