1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 416 Each choice
"As of today, the area of ​​vineyards in Lourmaran participating in the removal program is 25.4 hectares, accounting for 12% of the total vineyard area. The participants are mainly investors from outside the village, old farmers, and farmers who have been planting low-yield old vines for a long time and have low incomes. We are confident that we can bring this number to 30 hectares by the end of April."

After Juliet was stationed in Lourmaran, Blanco reported to her two or three times a week on the progress of the removal plan, and the statistics were very detailed, which shows the importance the government attached to this matter.

The result of this high level of attention is that Juliet always hears good news.

Juliet thought the eradication plan would take at least six months to achieve any results, but to her surprise, Lourmaran had already produced impressive figures in just one week.

25.4 hectares of vineyards voluntarily applied to participate in the 'removal plan,' and the process was much smoother than in Bordeaux, with neither farmers' riots nor resistance activities.

In fact, what Juliet needed wasn't a lot of space, but rather material to write a beautiful 'report', and she had clearly found it!
She couldn't wait to invite the European Community to visit Lourmaran and show them what it's like here.

Although overjoyed, the official from the Ministry of Agriculture did not show his delight, but instead offered a factual assessment:

"The fact that we have achieved results so quickly is thanks to your determination and Lourmaran's determination to change the agricultural structure."

The 'disaster compensation' payout ratio set by Lourmaran was calculated meticulously. The money, plus the economic compensation provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, was just enough to cover the losses from uprooting the vines and even slightly more. Thus, the 'vine uprooting plan' could be implemented smoothly.

Blanco did this because he wanted to redirect more manpower to other sectors, such as tourism and rosé wine.

To completely restructure Lourmaran's agriculture—transforming the traditional small-scale farming economy into a tourism service industry and large-scale agriculture.

Juliet admired Blanco's determination and his unwavering resolve.

Secondly, I admire his methods; he combined the two things in a very reasonable way, creating an effect where 1+1 is greater than 2.

It can be said that these two tasks are extremely difficult to accomplish on their own, but they become much easier when combined.

The fact that the Lourmaran government was able to come up with this solution in such a short time and make good use of this opportunity fully demonstrates its capabilities.

At the same time, Juliet decided to pay more attention to the village of Lourmaran.

Besides the 'good brother' Ronan, there's also a very capable government team here, with unlimited potential for the future!
Furthermore, given that the area is also valued by the wealthy tourism bureau, Juliet believes she can achieve a great deal of success in Lourmaran in the future.

Juliet gave Blanco and the Lourmaran government very high praise, but Blanco humbly said:
"It was all thanks to Ronan informing me of the existence of the 'Pulling the Vine' plan in advance, otherwise this opportunity would have slipped through Lourmaran's fingers."

Juliet never intended to implement the 'purge plan' in Lourmaran.

Ronan applied for this himself.

“That guy.” Juliet chuckled twice.

Recalling the first time they talked about the eradication plan, Juliet suddenly remembered that Ronan had asked her if there would be any 'extra' rewards if it went well in Lourmaran.

At the time, Juliet never thought it would work out and casually said, "It will definitely happen."

Now Ronan has done it. She's going to keep her promise now.

The vineyard near Ronan's house wasn't very big, and the uprooting was completed quickly. After calculating the losses, he immediately ordered a batch of Grenache seedlings to interplant in the vacant farmland.

There are too few grapes suitable for making rosé wine in the Lourmarin region. Varieties such as Grenache should continue to be planted, and this area is not suitable for Merlot either.

Under normal circumstances, if more than 20% of the grapevines in an area are killed by frost, it is best to adopt zoned planting, gather the good grapevines together, and concentrate new seedlings in one area, which will facilitate future management.

However, the area directly affected by frost in Ronan's vineyard was right at the critical 20% mark, and the land area was too small, so it wasn't worth the 'extensive effort'. Therefore, Ronan adopted a more efficient method of intercropping and replanting, but the entire vineyard needed to be thoroughly plowed and cleared.

"This piece of land is too small, so small that I have no motivation to buy machinery and equipment."

Ronan's friends, who were anxious to help, came to assist. Ronan did the land clearing himself, and after working for two days straight, he couldn't help but complain a bit.

Compared to other farmers, Ronan's eight acres of vineyards seem like child's play. Whenever Ronan talks to everyone about wanting to buy tractors and other equipment, the farmers would say with heartache, "You can manage that land with your hands, why do you need to buy machines?"

Ronan looked indignantly towards the north-facing hillside:
“But I have to buy it this time, and it has to be the highest grade! I wonder if Pierre has found out anything for me, whether that piece of land is for sale, and how much it costs?”

Just as Ronan was worrying about the north-facing hillside, a loud, powerful thumping sound suddenly came from outside the vineyard. It wasn't the old Louis family tractor; it was a high-powered tractor. Ronan went out to see what was going on and found Theo had arrived in his tractor to help.

"Are you done with your work there?" Ronan shouted, straining his neck.

Theo, with a cigarette dangling from his lips and tilting his head, said:
"That's good enough. Let the next person do the job."

The more powerful the tractor, the louder it is. Ronan couldn't hear it very clearly, so he asked loudly:
"What did you say?"

Theo took the cigarette away and shouted:
"I'm going to uproot some of the grapevines! I'll use the money to do something else, and then rent that land out to someone else to manage!"

Ronan understood Theo's meaning by reading his lip movements.

That's perfectly normal. Someone as lazy as Theo would definitely choose to take the money and rest.

"Is there anything I can do for Stella?" Theo asked Ronan loudly.

Just as Ronan was about to answer, another series of sputtering sounds came from afar, making his house sound as noisy as a large concert.

Henry took off his captain's hat from a distance and waved to Ronan:
"Mr. Ronan, I'm here to help you!"

Everyone knew Ronan didn't have any machinery, so they chose to help him after finishing their own work.

But Henry's smile lasted less than three seconds before he saw his 'lifelong nemesis'!
Henry ignored Theo, jumped off the tractor, and said somewhat embarrassedly to Ronan:

“Mr. Ronan, I’ve thought about it for a long time. I still want to farm, and I don’t want to participate in that program. I’m sorry!”

Henry decided to be honest with Ronan.

He really couldn't accept uprooting the grapes he had painstakingly cultivated for so many years, nor did he want to give up the land to do something else.

Ronan waved his hand and said:

"It's okay, it's okay, no need to apologize. This wasn't forced. Do whatever you want, I support you."

Henry treated the flowers in Ronan's gate and yard like children.

How could someone like that possibly uproot their own grapevine?
Henry, somewhat annoyed, flicked his hat a few times:

“Some people take the money and use it for other things. Recently, a lot of land in the village has become uncultivated, but those stupid people have signed contracts for the land with unreliable guys. I’m really angry for them!”

"I think you're just angry that you didn't make any money, huh?" The loud noise of the tractor couldn't stop Theo from listening to Ronan and his arch-rival Henry talking. He said in a mocking tone, "Come and beg me, I need to sign off on my 4 hectares of land too. Beg me, and I'll sign it for you."

"Get lost, you damned bastard! I'd rather starve than take your land!" Henry spat fiercely. "Think about yourself instead. With your laziness, who would hire you to do anything? You'll just starve to death!"

"My brother Ronan wants me! Who do you think you are?"

"Mr. Ronan would never want you! He would never give a lazybones like you a job!"

"What does it matter to you whether I have a job or not? Nobody's going to give you land anyway. After this policy is implemented, farmers will generally have 5-6 hectares of land. How much do you have? 1 hectare or 2 hectares? Haha, that's hilarious, Henry!"

"You don't have a job!"

"You have no land!!"

Seeing Theo jump off the tractor, Henry rolled up his sleeves again, and the two were about to start fighting again.

Ronan stood between them, looking exasperated, and said:
"Stop it, all of you! You've got jobs, you've got land! If you keep hitting me, I won't arrange anything for you!!"

(End of this chapter)