1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 421 Is Ronan also a dish?

Old Nemo has already missed out on two large agricultural grants; if he misses out on Ronan as a buyer, he'll really regret it and jump into the Rhône River.

For the two years he abandoned the land, he was looking for a buyer, but not a single person asked about it. Apart from Ronan, no one was interested in this north-facing plot of land!
Upon learning that Ronan had changed his mind and wanted to buy the land on the south slope, and that the price had been agreed upon and only the signing of the contract was pending, old Nemo immediately gave up wasting time on the government and focused his energy on more practical matters.

Worried that Ronan might change his mind and not want it anymore, he didn't dare to raise the price and quoted a relatively reasonable market price—7 francs per hectare.

This price is in line with Louis's previous estimates.

However, we have the best real estate agent in Lourmaran, but it still didn't meet our expectations.

Thanks to Louis's efforts, the final agreed price was 6.7 francs per hectare, with Ronan buying all 5 hectares of northern slope land from old Nemo in one go.

"Let's keep it business as it is. You've worked so hard for so long, why should it be for nothing?"

During this period, Louis helped Zoe and Ronan negotiate two land deals at very good prices.

I won't go into detail about Zoe's situation, but the two are father and daughter.

Ronan and Zoe were not yet married, and Louis refused to accept any payment from Ronan, putting Ronan in a very 'difficult' position.

“I’m happy you bought the land, it wasn’t hard work at all.” Louis’s wrinkles stretched out with a smile as he patted his chest and said, “Besides, thanks to your and Zoe’s influence, I’ve already made enough money.”

The fact that the two children bought land means they made money.

Moreover, since it's land, they'll definitely be even richer in the future!

Parents are naturally happy when their children are doing well and progressing smoothly.

Louis made a fortune during Lourmarin's two migration frenzies, and recently he bought a new car, giving the old Citroën hatchback to Vieri, who is about to graduate high school.

Vieri took his driving test during winter break.

Ronan waved his hand and said:

“Those artists were introduced to you by Vieri and Isabel; they didn’t influence me much.”

Louis put his arm around Ronan's shoulder:

"But you're the one who introduced me to that couple from Paris. They've bought a house too. Come on, come on, let's have dinner at my place tonight. You haven't had Leah's traditional Mediterranean food in ages, have you?"

Luo Tianhai, Feng Zhen, and Liya, the three pillars of the restaurant at its inception, have all trained reliable successors and are now enjoying a comfortable life with a good balance between work and leisure.

Ronan asked unexpectedly:

"Bruno bought a house in Lourmaran?"

Louis laughed heartily and said:

“That’s right. Their house is quite well-equipped and doesn’t need much modification. They should be able to move in soon, and Lourmaran will have another happy family.”

With the land on the north slope in place, Ronan immediately began the next step.

He first contacted Juliet and told her the exact area of ​​the land.

Once the land area is determined, the quantity of equipment and the number of seedlings are also determined.

Seedling cultivation requires a certain amount of preparation and cultivation time, but news about the equipment came quickly.

Juliet said that the Vaucluse province has been providing advanced agricultural equipment support to key partners this year, and the things Ronan needed were easy to find; she could get them to Lourmaran quickly through a few simple procedures.

With all the drip irrigation and underground drainage equipment in place, construction can finally begin in Ronan.

"Henry, first plow this land deeply, be careful. Don't rush to cover it with clay. We'll do soil improvement after I've arranged the underground drainage pipes and drip irrigation main lines."

In the future, this northern slope will be managed by Henry and Ronan together, and Ronan naturally had to explain it to Henry in detail.

After Ronan finished speaking, Henry immediately began plowing the land without saying a word.

Ronan then said to Pierre:
“I’ve found solutions for everything else, but you need to help me find a place to buy clay. Thanks, buddy.”

Pierre wasn't as obedient as Henri, who did whatever he was told without ever asking why. He asked curiously:

"I'll help you contact the clay company, but what did those technical consultants say to you?"

The agricultural knowledge in the Luberon region all came from the teachings of their fathers. Techniques that had not appeared in their fathers' land were unknown even to farmers like Pierre.

He was hearing many of the things Ronan was saying for the first time.

Ronan shrugged:

"To successfully cultivate Merlot in Provence, we had to upgrade the irrigation and drainage systems. Using the traditional methods would likely have failed. The Ministry of Agriculture provided me with a batch of advanced equipment."

Pierre frowned, thought for a few seconds, stubbed out his cigarette, and asked seriously:
"Could you tell me about drip irrigation? What kind of irrigation method is it? How does it improve upon and change our current irrigation methods?"

That afternoon, Pierre transformed into a walking encyclopedia of questions, not only engaging in in-depth discussions with Ronan about the cultivation of Merlot in Provence, but also venturing into a multitude of other agricultural issues.

Ronan, of course, was very open and honest, not only introducing him to drip irrigation and subsurface drainage, but also talking about many advanced agricultural technologies and facilities that had emerged in this era.

"You mean, the Israelis have also invented an automatic irrigation system that adjusts the irrigation method for sloping and uneven fields? And this system can even deliver nutrient solution directly to the plant roots??"

The '100,000 Whys' was completely unsettled. Was this still the farming he knew?
Human experience is no longer important; those devices can automatically and precisely control the system, and even do it better than humans.

“Yes, buddy, there are many similar technologies around the world now,” Ronan said with a smile. “Agriculture has already entered the process of modernization. It’s just that Lourmaran hasn’t yet.”

"Do other parts of Provence have these advanced facilities?" Pierre continued to ask.

Ronan hesitated for a few seconds, then said truthfully:

"There should be some, but only a small number of people can access them. However, they will definitely become more widespread in a few years."

After the cold snap, during Ronan's meeting with Mr. Goldegar and Mr. Llorente, he noticed that the "son-in-law" of the famous livestock family in Provence and Juliet had suddenly become acquainted.

Based on the information he inadvertently mentioned during that meal, such as "technological innovation" and "the Ministry of Agriculture taking action," it's not hard to guess that Llorente's family is getting in touch with advanced agricultural technologies with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture.

But that was the largest livestock family in Provence. Others would probably have to rely on chance and coincidence to gain access to those advanced technologies in a short period of time.

"How fast is 'soon'?" Pierre persisted.

Ronan shook his head:

"I don't know about that. You can ask Juliet next time you see her and see how long the Ministry of Agriculture plans to take to complete it."

Juliet's posting is not over yet; she occasionally appears in the farmland near Lourmaran, accompanied by Lourmaran government officials, to check on the progress of the 'uprooting plan'.

"Ask her?" Pierre lit a cigarette and said self-deprecatingly, "That important person is too aloof. Let me put it this way, apart from you, she has never spoken to any of us on her own initiative."

Pierre tried to strike up a conversation with the official twice, but Juliet rejected him both times with cold indifference, proving she was completely unyielding.

Ronan tilted his head:
"Actually, Juliet is quite enthusiastic, she's just a bit slow to warm up. She'll definitely get better in a while."

"Didn't you ever consider that it might only apply to you?" Pierre took a deep drag of his cigarette, looking at Ronan with a complicated expression.

"Is it just targeting me?" Ronan thought to himself.

Because we are both members of the Rosé Wine Lovers Association?

Or is it because of something else?

“I can’t count on her, no, I’m not good enough for her. I’d better think of another way.” Pierre exhaled a smoke ring and looked at Ronan. “I’ll plant this north slope with you.”

"You're going to plant with us?" Ronan's first thought was that Pierre was asking him for a job.

But that's impossible. Pierre owns enough land, and his income is very high.

But regardless, Pierre is definitely a strong addition, and Ronan would certainly welcome him:
"Alright, I can offer you the position of plantation manager, and the salary—"

Pierre completely ignored Ronan's offer and strode towards Henry, who was driving the tractor.

“My compensation comes from these advanced technologies. On my own, the chances of getting access to them in a short period of time are almost zero. But it’s different when I’m with you. I can learn them quickly, master them, and bring them to Lourmaran on my own, not by relying on others.”

After saying that, he threw away his cigarette, started jogging, and put his hands in a cupped shape in front of his mouth.

"Henry! You've dug crookedly! Don't leave any soil behind!!"

Pierre's involvement gave Ronan even more confidence in the 'experimental field' project.

The knowledge and deductive reasoning in his mind, Pierre's valuable experience, and Henry's unwavering support greatly increased the probability of success.

With Stella's business back on track and the experimental field project launched smoothly, Ronan's life settled down again without much to worry about.

He and Zoe finished decorating the walls and ceilings of their marital home's living room and bedroom, and even took some time to visit Avignon and Marseille to look at fabric sofas a few times. The only things missing from the interior decoration were the furniture and a bathroom.

However, as mid-April approached, the young couple decided to change the order of their renovations and start by decorating the exterior.

“When Thor came last Easter, he loved spending time in the yard. It has nature and fresh air that Paris doesn’t have. But at that time, I could only give him a chair. Although we made a special outdoor rest area last year, too many people come to our house every day, including Cotillard and the farmers, as well as the St. Scottsman guys. It must be crowded. Thor doesn’t like being with strangers, so we’ll prepare one or two places for him to rest alone in the backyard.”

Thor's hasty arrival and departure a month ago left Ronan and Zoe feeling quite uneasy.

In particular, he gave the young couple an unforgettable proposal ceremony.

With Easter just two weeks away, they wanted to do something for Thor to give him a memorable trip to Provence. Zoe had already planned to add more relaxation areas to the backyard with beautiful views, and this was simply an opportunity to bring it forward.

Ronan circled the backyard several times, looking for a few good spots:
"We need to get away from the house. Thor likes quiet, and it would be best if we could put him under a tree to shield him from the sun. You know, the sun is already very strong during the day. If possible, I would also like him to be able to see the beautiful Luberon Valley scenery whenever he looks up."

Ronan has been mentioning Thor a lot lately, and Zoe knows he must be a very important friend of his, so she joins in the planning:
"Avoid solid wood, stone, and rattan chairs. If he likes to be close to nature, he'll be uncomfortable sitting in them for a long time. Buy some waterproof cushions or pillows to put on them, and then do some design work, like the ones the salespeople recommended to us when we went to look at sofas. Make these places comfortable."

Ronan turned around in a circle, seemingly looking for something:

"We also need to consider whether we can install lights or other lighting facilities so that we can stay there both day and night."

"Are you going to eat in the yard at night too?" Zoe reminded Ronan. "Didn't you say you were going to make lots of delicious food for Thor every day when he's here? Let's eat indoors. The nighttime temperature is unstable during Easter, and it can get quite cold sometimes. It's not the right time to eat outdoors yet."

People in Provence love the outdoors and nature, and they will definitely eat outdoors whenever conditions permit, although this is not possible at the end of April.

Ronan said with a smile:
"Thor has a childish temper; sometimes he insists on doing what he wants. If he wants to eat out, just let him have his way."

Ronan still remembers how Thor insisted on going to see cherry picking last year, and he couldn't be persuaded to stay. To go see cherry picking, he even gave up his favorite sugar-cream pancakes.

"You spoil him too much," Zoe said with a smile.

Ronan quickly went over and kissed Zoe on the cheek:

"Of course, you're the one I love the most."

"Wang Wang Wang-"

Ronan and Zoe looked down and saw that it was Marseille who was tilting his head back in protest.

Marseille is already one year old, but just like when he was a child, he is still a 'scheming boy', and it seems to be getting worse.

Zoe has been staying at Ronan's house lately doing renovations, and her two dogs are always around her.

In the past, when Ma Sai asked for pets and hugs, Luo Tianhai and Feng Zhen would indulge him, but it was only superficial. However, Zoe, who loves animals, saw that Ma Sai's requests for attention were genuine, and she would give him kisses, hugs, and lift him up high. Over time, the kid got more and more demanding.

It spends most of its time playing in the yard with its older brother, Xiao Hei. But whenever it goes near people, you have to pay attention to it or pet it hard. If you don't do it right, this little guy will start acting.

The hunger strike was a minor matter. One day, because it wanted a hug from Ronan, Ronan blocked it with his leg. Marseille pretended to be dead for several hours, lying on the ground without moving, and it even felt hard to the touch, which scared Feng Zhen half to death.

Seeing Marseille seeking attention, Zoe squatted down and gave it a good rub on the head:
"Don't be angry, baby Marseille. We love you the most. How about we set up a special area in the yard for you and Xiao Hei as well?"

Ronan frowned and said:
"Still spoiling it? It's almost ruined."

Zoe quickly made a shushing gesture:
"It can understand!"

Ronan raised his hand perfunctorily:
"Okay, okay, I'll be more careful next time."

Zoe patted Marseille on the head, and the little guy immediately ran off to continue playing with the black guy.

"Don't disbelieve me, I'm not sure about Marseille, but Huhu can definitely understand what people are saying, I swear!"

Hearing this name gave Ronan an even bigger headache:

"When should we begin to address its relationship with Marseille?"

Zoe's sudden sly smile gave Ronan a bad feeling.

“I think we should resolve your relationship with Huhu first. Once it accepts you as its master, Marseille’s problem will be easier to solve,” Zoe said with a smile.

Ronan asked warily:

How can I resolve the issue between Huhu and me?

Zoe chuckled sweetly twice, pursed her lips, and said:
"I told you not to get angry."

Ronan said nervously:

"I'm not angry. But what exactly is it?"

Zoe excitedly pumped her fist:
"I've signed you and Huhu up for this year's goat race. Before that, you two need to practice how to cooperate and become 'one with the goat.' Hey, don't make that face. Don't worry about Huhu's safety. Huhu is so smart, even if he comes in last, he'll still run away and won't get eaten."

Ronan pointed to himself and said in a tone of utter despair:

I'm worried about myself!

Zoe suppressed a laugh and ran to meet up with the two puppies:
“We can’t lie to ‘children.’ You find a place to rest here, and I’ll go find a place to set up some fun things for the two babies. We’ll split up this afternoon.”

Ronan spent the entire afternoon nagging Zoe, and then cooked her a sumptuous seafood feast that evening.

Keep in mind that seafood is already hard to find in Luberon in April, so that table of dishes was a token of our heartfelt appreciation.

Even so, Zoe did not change her mind.

Her reasoning was as follows:

"I think you've been avoiding and trying to solve problems with Huhu. Whether you can participate in the competition or not is not important. I just hope to create an opportunity for you and Huhu to accept each other, even if it's only for ten minutes, it's a step forward. Just give it a try, okay?"

Since Zoe had said so, Ronan had no choice but to agree and begin preparing for the goat race that would start in June.

Ronan never imagined he would be competing in Provence, especially not in this kind of competition.

Isn’t this too ridiculous?
However, what was unexpected was that Ronan had other competitions to participate in before the goat race in June.

One evening, Ronan suddenly received a phone call from Mr. Llorente.

This important figure in the Provençal culinary world immediately apologized to Ronan:
"I've been so busy this past month. I promised to visit your restaurant, but I only just now had the time. Please don't mind, Ronan."

Ronan and Mr. Llorente met at the Nice Carnival about a month ago.

At that time, Llorente took the initiative to invite Ronan to the upcoming food event in Provence, and he also declined Ronan's suggestion to go to Gordes to find him, saying that he would definitely go to Ronan's restaurant as soon as possible after returning.

But this word "as soon as possible" actually took a month.

This gentleman is always busy. If he can even think of Ronan, Ronan is already thankful. How could he possibly mind?
Ronan said in a cheerful tone:

"How could I mind? It's already a great honor for me that you came. I will definitely treat you well."

Llorente laughed heartily a few times:

“Okay, then let’s meet in Lourmarin tomorrow at noon. There’s a culinary event here that would be perfect for you and we’d like to invite you—the first Provence Dessert Competition.”

As a man who wanted to integrate the culinary resources of the Vaucluse province, Llorente was the most professional Ronan had ever met when it came to food.

He is like a living encyclopedia of Provençal cuisine, possessing extraordinary knowledge of food, restaurants, and ways of eating.

To make a good impression on Llorente's first visit, Ronan, who hadn't been to the kitchen in a long time, personally went to oversee the process.

10:30 am.

Isabel came to the kitchen to find Ronan and said that two very formally dressed gentlemen had arrived, asking if one of them was the important person Ronan had mentioned.

“Two? Definitely not. Ronan said only one friend will be coming,” someone in the kitchen answered for Ronan first.

Ronan washed his hands and said with a smile:
"Not necessarily. My friend never does 'useless work'."

Given Llorente's personality, it's highly likely that he's going to Lourmaran for more than one purpose, so it's perfectly normal for him to bring other people with him.

Ronan might become a dish too.

Ronan was able to guess that Llorente might bring more people because he understood Llorente's personality, but how did Isabel make that judgment?

"Why do you think there might be one of my friends among them?" Ronan asked Isabel.

Isabel blinked her big, bright eyes and said:

"Firstly, their clothes clearly indicate they are wealthy, which matches your friend's characteristics. Secondly, these two people weren't looking at the menu after they sat down, but rather at the restaurant's decor and layout, muttering to themselves. They didn't seem like they were there to eat at all. Although many important people have come to our restaurant, they still treat it as a place to eat, not to scrutinize it. Their demeanor doesn't seem like that of artists either, so they are most likely the important people you mentioned."

Ronan pursed his lips.

Poor Vieri, you must never do anything to hide anything from Isabel again; that girl is too clever.

Ronan followed Isabel to the front hall, where he indeed saw Llorente, dressed in a suit, accompanied by a very refined young man.

Llorente very naturally introduced the two to each other:
"This is Ronan. I don't need to introduce Ronan much, do I?"

"I've heard so much about you." The refined-looking man politely extended his right hand. "Bernard."

Ronan was taken aback for a moment, then extended his right hand as well:
"Nice to meet you."

Ronan's identical expression was transferred to Bernard's face.

After looking at each other for a second, the two simultaneously smiled and asked each other:
"You're from Paris too?"

“What a coincidence, you two are from the same hometown!” Llorente pointed to Bernard and continued to introduce him to Ronan. “Bernard owns a winery in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is very famous in the high-end wine sector of Provence.”

Ronan was even more astonished.

Parisians, winery owners, high-end market.
I've finally met you all, you xenophobic new winegrowers of Paris!
(End of this chapter)