1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 351 Lourmaran, a Land of Hidden Talents

Upon hearing the familiar name, Ronan and the farmers suddenly started yelling and screaming, startling the old man.

The Provence Forest Office is a local branch of the National Forest Office; the two are both subordinate to each other and independent.

Bruno was supposed to return to the National Forestry Department in Paris for a promotion and a raise after completing his secondment to Luberon, as everyone knew.

But now he's suddenly stayed with the local forestry department and seems to have been 'promoted' even more!

"Do you have the boss's phone number?" Theo asked Ronan excitedly. "Let's ask him what happened and congratulate him while we're at it."

They had worked together for nearly two months and spent two important holidays together, Christmas and Chinese New Year. Many farmers were reluctant to see Bruno leave Provence.

Bruno is staying here to work, which is fantastic news!
Ronan said with some regret:

"Bruno did not have a fixed residence while working in Luberon, and I only had his phone number in Paris."

Bruno would visit Ronan's restaurant from time to time, but thinking about it, he hadn't been there for almost a month, so he must be dealing with work-related matters.

Without a second thought, Theo headed straight for the cashier:

"His wife must know his new contact information. Let's go ask her!"

People from Provence are straightforward and passionate.

In their world, there are no superiors or subordinates, no right or wrong. Now that the farmers miss Bruno, they have to find him!

must!!
But Parisians are shy by nature.
Ronan called Bruno in Paris and successfully located his wife.

After introducing himself and explaining his purpose, his wife said in surprise:
“Ronan? I remember, of course I remember you, huh? Ah. Theo, Cornell, Einstein—”

The farmers loudly announced their names into the receiver, which Ronan worried would frighten the person on the other end. However, Bruno's wife was far more outgoing than Bruno himself, greeting everyone individually.

"I remember, I remember every single one of you. Hello everyone! I'll now give you Bruno's new contact information—"

Ronan assumed Bruno's wife was able to get along with these enthusiastic farmers because of her job as a 'saleswoman,' but when he found Bruno, the man had also become enthusiastic:

"Guys! Guys!! I'll come find you guys in Lourmaran as soon as I finish what I'm doing! What did you say, Theo? How could I possibly lose to you in a drinking contest?"

The restaurant's phone became a 'public phone,' as farmers lined up to chat with Bruno, expressing their longing for him and offering their congratulations.

Ronan didn't manage to grab the microphone until the restaurant was almost closing time.

He said to his fellow villager with some sympathy:
"Are you okay, buddy? Everyone misses you so much and is so happy that you're staying."

Bruno's laughter was incredibly powerful and resonant, and showed no sign of fatigue.
“I’m doing great. I’m so happy to be able to chat with my friends. You have no idea how lonely I’ve been lately. My wife and kids won’t be able to come to Provence until next month.”

Ronan was even more surprised:
"Your wife and children are also coming to Provence?"

Bruno said happily:
"Yes, our whole family has decided to move to Provence. My wife and children love the atmosphere here, and we have to thank you, Ronan, for that. The Spring Festival left a deep impression on us. My wife said that she can never experience this feeling of drinking and having fun with friends in Paris. She found the joy and enthusiasm she had lost for so long here."

"Welcome to Provence, my friend!" Ronan sincerely offered his blessings.

"Do you live in Marseille now?" Ronan asked with concern.

For the past few months, Bruno has stayed wherever he goes to clear bushes, but the farmers say that the Provence Forest Office is located in Marseille.

Bruno said "no" several times in a row, seemingly very resistant to the place name:
“We don’t want to continue living in the city. I’m staying in Aix-en-Provence for now. My wife and children will come over next month after they’ve finished their business in Paris, and then we’ll look at houses in Luberon.”

Ronan was even more surprised:

"Are we going to be neighbors?" Bruno laughed heartily.
“They might be neighbors from the same village. When they heard I wanted to see houses in Luberon, many of my colleagues from the Forestry Department suggested I go to Lourmarin. I asked them, ‘What’s been happening there lately?’ Last time I went to Lourmarin, my colleagues described it as a ‘remote’ village, but now they’re saying Lourmarin is worth investing in.”

Ronan said with deep feeling:

"That's a long story. I'll tell you about it when we meet. Well, I do have some authority to say about this."

Bruno had just started his job and was very busy, so he couldn't take the time to meet with Ronan in Lourmarin.

Although the time to meet is still far away, there is something Bruno is quite anxious about.

He said in a pleading tone:

“Ronan, you are the ‘most capable’ friend I’ve met in Provence. I would like to ask you to keep an eye out for jobs my wife could do. She is a very capable person.”

Ronan agreed without hesitation:
"I'll keep an eye out for you."

The farmers talked to Bruno on the phone for a long time.

The flight instructors who came to eat learned that these people were friends with the newly appointed leader of the Forestry Bureau.

After paying the bill and leaving the restaurant, on the way to the parking lot, the old gentleman, with his hands behind his back, looked at the buildings of Lourmarin on both sides and said to his companions:
"Lourmaran is truly a place where hidden talents reside."

My companion said with a smile:
“I just saw Marseille police officers in the restaurant. Lourmaran is a bit scary now.”

The old gentleman said in a joking tone:

"Haha—maybe in a few years, Luberon's Golden Triangle will become the Golden Quadrilateral."

As Lourmaran's popularity among locals grows, the clientele at Ronan's restaurant is becoming increasingly diverse.

Previously, Feng Zhen, who used to sit behind the cashier watching the show, mostly only heard gossip. Now, she is more professional than the Provence Daily.

There's nothing she doesn't know, big or small, world affairs.

As time went on, Ronan, who was so busy making money at the tail end of the truffle season that he didn't have time to read the newspaper, would habitually ask his mother the same question every day when he came home:
Has some big news broken in Provence this time?

Feng Zhen was very satisfied with the assessment her son had given her and his humble attitude in seeking advice, and answered him warmly:

"The biggest news in Provence recently must be truffles. The harvest season is about to end, but the price of truffles is approaching 5000 francs per kilogram. It's going crazy. Whether it's artists, businessmen or officials, they will definitely talk about truffles when they sit down to eat together."

Ronan took a sip of water, looked at the guests in the restaurant, and nodded with a less-than-pleasant expression.

Provence is desperately short of truffles right now.

Those wealthy Parisians don't care about cold waves or frost; they only know that this delicious ingredient should appear on pasta, steak, and desserts.

Lucas updates Ronan's truffle prices every two days.

This prompted all of Provence to mobilize and go out in search of truffles.

Ronan's 'secret garden,' which he had kept to himself for a year, has recently shown signs of activity by other people.

Truffles are absolutely the most profitable business in Provence, bar none!

The next second, Feng Zhen said to Ronan in an extremely seductive tone:

"I've recently heard some interesting stories about truffles. Would you like to hear them?"

(End of this chapter)