1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 387 A Proposal Gift for Zoe

Ronan had used all his skills, but by the time everyone had packed their things and left the guesthouse, it was almost noon.

It was already this late, so naturally we decided to stay in Nice for lunch before heading home. As everyone boarded the bus for the return trip, the clock struck 1:30.

The drive from Nice back to Lourmarin is 200 kilometers, passing through Cannes along the coastline. The rest of the journey is mostly mountain roads, which are very difficult to drive.

It took four and a half hours to get there, but with the bright yellow lead car, the return trip took less than four hours.

Around 5 PM, upon seeing the familiar restaurant sign by the roadside, Cotillard, sitting in the second row, couldn't help but comment:
"Ronan's driving style is starting to resemble Zoe's. You two are becoming more and more alike."

Zoe's driving style is 'steady, accurate, and ruthless', while Ronan's driving style is 'fierce and ruthless'.

He drove it like a race car.

Vivian slept for a while in the car, then opened her eyes and stretched:
"What couple? They're just lovers, dating. Zoe is still ours. Don't label her like that so soon."

“Yes, yes, they’re a couple,” Codia quickly corrected. “But sometimes they really act like a married couple. Listen to what they’re talking about. They’re talking about whether to get a microwave, what sofa to buy, and whether to get a new bed. And they completely ignore the three of us single people!”

The carriage space was only so big, a little over 2 square meters, but it was divided into two camps.

In the back row, Cotillard, Vivian, and Paulette chatted about their own things, while in the front row, Ronan and Zoe talked about theirs.

The singles tried to join in the conversation about couples, but couldn't get a word in edgewise.

The young couple didn't want to be disturbed, so they chatted about decorating their new home the whole way.

In Zoe's mind, Ronan's woodworking shop is about to be completed, and once it's finished, they'll decorate their new house together.

"It's settled then. Next time I go to Apt, I'll buy two more microwave ovens."

Nice is a big city, and the guesthouse was equipped with a microwave oven. Zoe was really tempted to buy one. She had bought one in Apte before, but that was for a restaurant. She never imagined that a microwave oven could be so convenient for an ordinary family.

The car finally entered the village of Lourmaran, and Ronan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Two might not be enough, let's buy three."

"Do we need that much?" Zoe packed her things and prepared to get out of the car. Her house was closest to the village entrance, so Ronan would probably be the first to take her home.

“We can get one for the studio.” Ronan’s smile was barely concealed. “Well, the studio is almost finished being repaired today, shall we go take a look?”

"It's finished?" Zoe's eyes lit up with anticipation. She put down what she was holding. "Then let's send the three of them home first. I'll go take a look."

"Okay." Ronan knew Zoe would definitely want to go and take a look!
But the three single guys in the back row weren't planning to go home either; they were clamoring to go see the important woodworking workshop where Zoe and Ronan were decorating their wedding home.

Ronan didn't stop them; even if these people didn't go, he would have someone call his friends over later.

Important moments in life need to be shared with friends and family!
Zoe hadn't been to Ronan's house for several months. Seeing the familiar outline of the house and the vineyard in the distance, she couldn't help but press her face against the glass, trying to see clearly:
"Is the carpentry workshop this big? It's much bigger than a donkey shed."

"Is that a carpentry workshop?" Paulette rolled down the car window and leaned out. "Isn't that a stable?"

“Wow, it’s huge.” Vivian looked at the newly appeared behemoth, then turned back and asked Zoe with a smile, “How many woodworking tools would you need to fill such a big place?”

Everyone around Zoe knew that she was excited about the upcoming purchase of mechanical equipment.

But my friend, this mission is very difficult!
Zoe stopped laughing; this was just too big!

Do we need such a large space to store woodworking tools?
After getting out of the car, Zoe spoke to Ronan:

“We don’t need such a large space for carpentry work, so let’s think of other uses for it.”

Zoe even thought that a quarter of the area would be enough.

Ronan excitedly pushed open the door:
"The arrangements for the rest of the place have been made. Let's go in and take a look."

The first area you see when you open the door is a spacious woodworking workshop.

There is a huge workbench in the middle, which can accommodate four people to do woodworking at the same time. There are also smaller workbenches on the side, so if you don't want to 'compete on the same stage', you can have your own space.

Zoe exclaimed as soon as she entered:
"You've installed a dust removal system? And you bought the best one?"

She saw many pipes on the floor and walls; it was the best domestic dust removal equipment of that era.

Ronan raised an eyebrow smugly:
"Since you prioritize workplace safety, you should definitely have the highest configuration available."

Zoe stroked the huge workbench with obvious affection, and said in a reproachful tone:
"Didn't we agree that I would be in charge from now on?"

She has said countless times that she will pay for every penny related to the renovation in the future.

The answer came not from Ronan, but from her good friend Vivian:

"Zoe, come quick! Your pockets are going to be in trouble this time!"

Vivian knew nothing about woodworking and wasn't interested in it, but she was drawn to the display style here.

The huge workbench that you see upon entering is so eye-catching that it's hard not to focus your attention on it, but upon closer inspection of the surroundings, there are quite a few hidden secrets.

Every wall was covered with storage compartments or tool racks. A small portion of the racks held Ronan's original tools, but the larger areas were empty.

Paulette spun around in place:
"It would be amazing if this place were filled with all these tools! I've got a new idea, a hard science fiction idea about machinery!"

"Are you satisfied?" Ronan asked Zoe, standing beside her. "Did it satisfy your shopping desires?"

He specifically instructed Cafu to make sure to add plenty of storage space, because he and Zoe were both too obsessed with tools and equipment.

Surrounded by tools, this place will surely be the safest spot for tech-savvy couples in the future.

Zoe couldn't wait to start planning:
"Here are the whole pieces of wood, here are the short pieces, here are all the saws, here are the planes, and here are the hammering tools."

She couldn't help but lift her leg:
"I must fill this place up!"

Thankfully, I can still fill this large area; any bigger and I wouldn't know what to buy.

The next second, Cotillard's scream startled everyone.

Gotia had no interest in woodworking, but seeing a closed door, he curiously opened it to see what was inside.

Judging from the outside, this stable shouldn't be this big; she guessed there must be something else behind the door!
Upon seeing this, I was completely unable to remain calm.

"Zoe, you actually have a private studio that's almost 100 square meters?!"

The next area is the ceramics and glass workshop that Ronan prepared for Zoe.

The protagonist, Zoe, walked over with a wooden expression.

I don't understand what Cotillard meant by 'independent studio' at all.

My studio is at home.
When she reached the door, she was completely stunned by what she saw inside. She didn't even step inside. She just stood there staring blankly at the door for several seconds.

"Can I really own such a large, well-organized independent studio?" was the first thought that popped into Zoe's head.

Her current studio is only about 20 square meters, but she has to take care of more than a dozen or twenty processes, including powdering, color mixing, carving, shaping, coloring, and polishing, and there are two different techniques involved. All the work is mixed together.

But in this area she saw a special workbench for grinding powder, behind which were stained glass windows of various colors and a powder grinder; she saw a table specifically for making plaster molds, with plaster, silicone, carving tools, and other tools already laid out underneath, as well as a separate throwing area, a coloring area with brushes and kettles of various sizes, and so on.

This place is simply a paradise for craftspeople.

A warm hand pushed Zoe inside, and Ronan's gentle voice came from beside her:

"In the future, similar to woodworking, jobs that may generate a lot of dust will be placed here, and the dust removal system also covers this area."

Zoe reached out and grabbed Ronan tightly, too moved to say anything.

"I'm so envious!!" Paulette completely broke down.

The woodworking workshop in the previous area was Ronan and Zoe's hobby, and she wasn't envious at all when she saw it.

What's fun about woodworking?

But this is a real studio.

If she had such a large and fully equipped studio, the Nobel Prize in Literature would be her goal!
Vivian was also very envious:

“Among artists in Lourmaran, there are almost none who have a studio this big.”

Painters' studios are generally quite large, but this place is more than enough for a studio. Ronan suddenly opened a door leading outside and said with a smile to the ladies:

"Come out and visit Zoe's kiln!"

Zoe was completely flustered this time:

"You brought my electric kiln here?"

That electric kiln weighs 300 kilograms!
Ronan winked at her:

"No, it's new."

Previously, Lourmaran only had one artist, Zoe, and they couldn't even find a wood-fired kiln.

Due to circumstances, Zoe has been using an electric kiln since graduating and returning to Lourmaran.

This type of kiln, favored by small and medium-sized ceramic and glass studios in the new era, has many advantages, such as more stable temperature and precise temperature control. However, it also has obvious disadvantages, namely that the glaze color variations are not as rich or natural as those of a wood-fired kiln.

Ronan lived on the outskirts of Lourmarin village, and the entire vineyard area was his property. With such a large plot of land, it wouldn't be right not to build two wood-fired kilns. Moreover, there were more artists in Lourmarin now, and it might grow into a large-scale operation in the future. So he organized Cafu's men to build two wood-fired kilns in the backyard, which might even be helpful for Zoe's work.

His skill in building a wood-fired kiln comes from his pottery skill, which he leveled up to level 3 last summer.

Upon reaching level 2, the system still provided a lot of knowledge related to ceramic craftsmanship, including several simple methods for building wood-fired kilns.

There are many artisans in Luberon who practice firing techniques, and refractory bricks and refractory mortar are easy to find.

Ronan built the kiln in a sheltered, sunny spot not far from his workshop. To protect it from the rain, he also built a roof over the area, which provided both ventilation and shelter from the rain.

“My God—” Codia emerged from the kiln, “Is this the workplace? The environment is so beautiful, I could bring a table and chairs here to cool off. Please remember me when you hire a wood-burning maid.”

Zoe examined every detail carefully, as excited as a child.

Finally, we have a wood-fired kiln!

"Who did you ask to hitch a ride?" Zoe asked Ronan.

"I got the blueprints from the master craftsmen in Mena Village. Cafu and his team built it," Ronan said, half-jokingly.

Even in her excitement, Zoe didn't forget about 'safety':
“There’s an open flame here, so we need a water source. I’ll bring a water pipe later.”

Safety is always the top priority.

Ronan feigned surprise, seemingly not expecting this principle, but his eyes quickly lit up:
"I don't know much about fire prevention, but I was worried that you would get your hands dirty after putting things in there, so I built a handwashing area next to it using the unused materials."

Honey, I've considered all of those things you mentioned!

"The area upstairs is for washing hands, and the area downstairs is for getting water," Ronan said with a bright smile. "I never expected that this unintentional act would come in handy."

Upon arriving at the outdoor handwashing area, Cotillard felt even more eager to become a 'wood-burning maid'.

In Luberon, stone is very common and can be seen everywhere.

But why does Ronan's stone washbasin look so good in this place?

Can anyone tell me why this is?
"Putting the chairs here will do." Godia looked around, seemingly searching for other places to relax.

“There are plenty of places to rest in Ronan’s backyard.” Zoe loved the kiln area so much; it was a working environment she never dared to dream of.

It feels like a dream!
Several girls, including Cotillard, had come to Lourmaran last autumn and had not participated in the entertainment held in Ronan's backyard.

Hearing Zoe's words, they were about to go and see further, but Ronan stopped them and, like a tour guide, led them in the opposite direction.

“Don’t rush off. We still haven’t used up all the materials after building this handwashing area.” Ronan led the way while looking at Zoe. “Last time you made a custom piece for Miss Patricia. It was just a small item, but you fired such a big kiln. I felt it was a waste of time and energy, so I built a small kiln for you.”

"This is so cute!!" Codia and the others lined up to stick their heads into the small, white kiln that looked like an egg.

Zoe pounded Ronan's chest a few times, excitedly saying:
"You're just too meticulous! You even considered this?"

In fact, large kilns have many limitations, because Zoe often needs to conduct experiments and test colors. This small kiln perfectly solved her needs and greatly improved efficiency.

"You're spoiling Zoe way too much," Vivian said, shaking her head and sighing.

As Zoe's best friend, even though Ronan was perfect in every way, she always had this inexplicable feeling that he wasn't good enough for Zoe. But at this moment, she suddenly felt—I agree to this marriage.

Ronan is truly amazing when it comes to Zoe!

Ronan grabbed Zoe's hand and smiled as he said to the girls:
"If I don't love Zoe, who will I love?"

Cotillard emerged from the small kiln, still savoring the moment, and said:
"This workshop is amazing, absolutely amazing! Zoe, have you ever considered taking on apprentices? How about I learn how to fire a kiln from you when we don't need to burn firewood?"

"You don't want the shop anymore?" Polly pushed her aside and said to Zoe with a smile, "Zoe, I don't think writing suits me. Kiln firing suits me better. Would you be willing to take me as your apprentice?"

Zoe happily hugged Ronan's arm on the side closest to her:

“I’ll listen to Ronan. If Ronan agrees, I’ll agree. If Ronan wants to spend some time alone with me here, I won’t let you guys come.”

"Hey, what's so great about a studio compared to a romantic getaway for two? If you want to spend time together, go home." Codia winked at Ronan. "Right, Ronan?"

Ronan glanced down at Zoe:
"But who says this place can't become another 'home' in the future?"

When the ladies discovered that the stable had a second floor, they looked at Ronan with horror.

"Are you really going to consider this place your home?" Codia asked, her eyes wide.

The second floor is currently empty, but it's big enough to house us.

No, what's the point of building a second floor?

Ronan had only one person in his eyes today: Zoe.

Ignoring the questions from others, he focused on explaining to Zoe the future function of each area and what it would look like:
"I plan to build a large table here on the stairs so you can sit here when you're drawing or reading. The environment here is nice and will help you think. I'll also build a whole wall of bookshelves behind it and bring all your books here, including those that you can't display at home and have to store in the warehouse. There's plenty of space here."

Ronan took another step forward, pointed ahead, and said:
“I plan to turn this into a relaxation area with sofas and a TV. You can sit here and rest when you’re tired from work.”

Suddenly, he pointed to the farthest point:
"See that little room? Put another bed in that room, so you can sleep if you want."

Then Ronan pointed to a wall in front of him and said:
"That will be the kitchen in the future. I've installed water and drainage. If I want to design new desserts in the future, I'll come here and work with you!"

Zoe didn't say anything, but Codia and the other women went completely mad.

The images were already appearing before their eyes!

Damn, I like it here even more!!
Ronan completely ignored the others, looking sincerely at Zoe:

"I hope you like the gift I gave you."

From the moment Zoe saw the independent work area downstairs, she felt her eyes welling up with tears.

Ronan thought too much about her.

Moreover, he had been quietly observing her work, and every detail of the studio was perfectly suited to Zoe's habits and needs.

How annoying you are! Why do you always manage to discover so much and do so much without anyone noticing?
"Why did you give me such an expensive gift?" Zoe blinked her eyes rapidly. "It makes my microwave and coffee maker look like child's play."

She wasn't afraid to cry in front of Ronan, but she didn't want to cry in front of Cotillard and the others.

She only shows her tears to the man she loves most!

Ronan took a deep breath, took Zoe's hand, and opened a door on the second floor. This door led directly to other areas of the backyard that they hadn't visited that day.

It was past 5 p.m. when we returned from Nice, and after a long tour of the studios, it was already dark outside.

Before Zoe even reached the first floor, she saw the scene in this side courtyard.

Her heart suddenly stopped beating for a moment.

The next second, my fingers went numb and my eardrums bulged.

(End of this chapter)