1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 414 It's actually her?

Blanco has said that the future high-end accommodations in Lourmarin will be built together with Stella, which will help Ronan launch a high-end tourism 'route' centered around rosé wine and vineyards.

Wherever the resort is built, there Stella will be.

Rosé wine was a top priority for Lourmarin. After hearing Ronan's explanation, Blanco immediately summoned Quincy and several other government officials to go with Ronan to conduct an on-site survey of the area.

Quincy said the tourism bureau's first payment would arrive within a week, and construction would begin immediately once the site selection was finalized.

But what they didn't expect was that Juliet was also with them.

"Is this the land you chose for the new grape variety?"

Lourmaran government officials and Quincy held an impromptu meeting on the hilltop, while Juliet and Ronan discussed new grape varieties on the hillside.

“Yes, it’s not a big area, let’s try it out here first,” Ronan nodded and said.

Juliet is familiar with government legislation, but not with practical agricultural knowledge.
"Tell me in advance if you need seedlings."

“Probably in the fall,” Ronan added, “if all goes well.”

Juliet asked about other things:

"How is the removal plan progressing?"

Ronan shook his head:

"It's not certain yet; we'll have to wait until the grapevines are uprooted to know."

Juliet's stance on this matter remained consistent, and she instructed Ronan:
"Just do your best, and don't do anything that can't be salvaged."

Ronan said with a smile:
"It's not that serious. You weren't there when the plenary meeting was held, and everyone's reaction was okay. Although they couldn't understand it immediately, it wasn't to the point of rioting, so don't worry."

Juliet wanted to push this through, but she was also afraid that Ronan would get into trouble.

He's the 'darling' of President Ines and Astrid!
If they find out that Ronan got into trouble while helping her push through her plan, Juliet will be unable to show up at the Rosé Association anymore.

"In short, remember to act within your means." Seeing Blanco, Quincy, and the others finish their discussion and walk over, Juliet quietly walked away. "I will continue to do ideological work with everyone and pay close attention to everyone's emotions."

On the way back, Blanco slowed down and walked at the back of the group with Ronan.

He couldn't wait to tell Ronan the good news!
"It's settled so quickly?" Ronan asked in a low voice.

Blanco pointed at Quincy with his chin and said in a lower voice:
“The tourism bureau said there was no problem, so I have even less of a problem, since they are the ones paying for it.”

Ronan felt a pang of guilt, like when he used to talk badly about the teacher with his deskmate in school, and tried his best to only make sounds without moving his lips:

"The tourism bureau has been very good to us. They've provided the right amount of money and supported all our decisions. Building on the hillside would have been much more expensive, so if you ran out of money, you would definitely have asked them to continue your application. They actually agreed so readily."

Blanco said with his head down:

"Actually, I've been curious about this too. I know, of course, that Lourmaran's application is excellent, and the area definitely deserves support, but sending just one official increases the budget by two—"

He quickly shut his mouth:

"Ronan, tell me the truth, is your amazing friend secretly helping us?"

When the budget was being upgraded, Blanco wanted to ask Ronan about this.

But I've been too busy lately, with too many things to deal with, and even though I've met with Ronan several times, I haven't had a chance to ask about these things.

"Which powerful friend of mine?" Ronan didn't react at first, as several people appeared in front of him.

Sorry, I have a lot of impressive friends.

Blanco covered his mouth and said:

"It's the person who advised us to find out what the tourism bureau is interested in before applying for a budget. Only she has the ability to make the tourism bureau pay more attention to Lourmaran."

“No,” Ronan said firmly. “She didn’t get involved in this.”

At their last gathering, after Ronan told Ms. Astrid about the 'loss' of St. Scottsgar, she didn't say another word. She just angrily threw things around and didn't offer him even a single word of advice.

“Not her?” Blanco muttered softly. “Then I really can’t think of any other possibility.” After chatting for a while, Blanco caught up with the main group ahead and went to finalize the specific details of building the factory in Stella, while Ronan walked alone at the very back.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, looking shocked.

"No, Astrid said something else that day."

She asked Ronan when Lourmaran's application had been submitted.

Was she really helping out behind the scenes?
Glass.

Inside a high-end private mansion.

Astrid, dressed in a Chanel tweed suit, sat expressionlessly at one end of the long table, completely uninterested in listening to the conversation of the elders around her, and intently playing with the metal buttons on her clothes.

Occasionally, she would scrutinize the overly flattering juniors with a half-smile.

Suddenly, she turned her head to look at someone at the other end of the long table.

"The museum in Lourmaran is about to open for trial operation. The museum that refused to be acquired by us was actually designed with a rosé theme. This is the biggest joke I've heard in the past two years. Giving up perfume and choosing rosé. That government really has a 'unique' eye."

"Is rosé wine, that kind of garbage, worth opening a museum for? I bet they don't even have enough stuff to fill the whole space, and maybe there are some weird things in there."

"Among all these strange and unusual things, there must be a blending technique that has been 'inherited' for centuries—"

Before the others could continue criticizing the rosé, a languid voice interrupted them.

“What’s the use of guessing? Just go and see for yourself,” Astrid said with a smile to the group. “I’ll take some time to go and see what ‘strange’ things are in there. By the way, the Vaucluse region is currently in talks with a high-tech Swiss company about making a purchase—”

The farmers of Lourmaran have a high degree of unity in their agricultural work, and the day has finally come for the grapevines to emerge from the ground.

The Schrödinger grapevines are about to have their veils lifted.

The method of burying the vines in the soil is time-consuming and laborious; digging them out is still very laborious and time-consuming.

Louis, Freddie, and Alan came to help Ronan's family again this time, and Luo Tianhai has also trained a trustworthy 'successor' who came back to work with everyone.

He didn't put in much effort last time, so he absolutely can't be absent this time.

"Old Luo, you can actually leave the restaurant?" Freddy, who had not known this news beforehand, was extremely surprised to see Luo Tianhai dressed in farmer's clothes.

For the past six months, Luo Tianhai has hardly left the restaurant, because he is the 'central brain'. Because of this, almost all of everyone's gatherings are held at Luo Nan's restaurant.

Ronan answered Freddie's question:
“My parents shouldn’t be tied to the restaurant forever; they should have more time for themselves.”

The restaurant hired 25 people when it opened, and recently it expanded again, bringing the total number of employees to 35.

Besides preparing for the upcoming travel season, Ronan also didn't want his parents to work so hard.

Don't forget, Ronan brought them to Provence to enjoy themselves.

First Luo Tianhai, then his mother Feng Zhen, and then Liya. All of these people should take a break from their busy schedules, and the restaurant's current business situation also supports Ronan's decision.

"Alright, let's get down to business." Luo Tianhai put on his gloves and asked Freddy, "How do we determine if this grapevine is dead or not?"

Ronan said that dead vines can be pulled out directly.

But he didn't know how to judge.

This time, even the 'expert' Freddie didn't dare to make any big claims:
"To be honest, I've harvested grapes many times, but I have little experience in judging whether grapevines have frozen to death or been damaged by frost, Louis, you should know that, right?"

Louis, feigning composure, said:
“Of course I can tell. Have you forgotten who the best farmer in Lourmaran was before? Some vines may look fine, but there are still problems inside, and frost-damaged vines need to be pruned. Wait a minute, let me recall how to describe it.”

Louis had farmed, but that was over a decade ago.

He needs to have his memories slowly awakened.

As the group was talking, Ronan put on his gloves and walked over, saying calmly:

"Let me give you a few examples."

(End of this chapter)