1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 433 Another Year of Travel Season
In Provence, if you are hitchhiking with a truck driver or a private car owner, the friendly locals will most likely take you directly to your destination.

For example, both times Thor visited Lourmaran, he got off directly at Ronan's house, saving him the trouble of dragging his suitcase around looking for a place.

But this time, he came to Lourmaran by private minibus.

The kind driver with thick glasses parked his car at the intersection closest to the Lourmaran Visitor Center.

The other tourists on the bus happily got off and began their Lourmaran tour, but this presented Thor with a problem—Ronan's house was located far from the village center, and he couldn't find his way to Ronan's house.

However, this did not stump the 'clever little boy'.

Ronan's restaurant is in the center of the village; he's been there!

You can find Ronan if you go there.

The street layout in the center of Lourmaran village is very simple—the village slowly spreads out like a snail shell from the old church in the center.

Once you enter the main road, Thor will quickly find his way to the shopping street.

But new problems followed one after another.

Today wasn't a market day in Lourmaran, but the streets were so crowded with tourists and pedestrians that it was difficult for Thor, who was pulling his suitcase, to move forward.

"Need lodging, buddy?" Thor met a kind villager near the Lourmaran visitor center. "I can tell you where you can find a place to stay."

Seeing Thor pulling a suitcase, the man approached and asked if he needed help.

Thor politely shook his head:
"No thanks."

The villager smiled and nodded:

“I understand. Accommodation in Lourmaran is too expensive now, almost the same price as in Bonijo. You're still a university student, right?”

The villager interpreted Thor's clear-eyed folly as something else entirely.

Thor chuckled twice, clearly pleased to be back among the university students:
“I have a place to stay in Lourmaran now.”

The streets of Lourmaran are narrow and surrounded by tourists, so everyone moves very slowly.

This gave the two of them more space to chat.

"The hotels on the commercial street were fully booked more than a month ago. Let me guess, you should be staying at a 'guesthouse,' the Alpik family'?" the villager chatted casually with Thor. "Or the Mokolin family's?"

Thor chuckled twice:

"No, I'm staying at a classmate's house."

“Oh, so you have friends in Lourmaran.” The villager turned to look at Thor with some surprise. “That’s great. There are many more places to visit in Lourmaran this year. Have your friend show you around. The gallery where I work is on the other side of the village. You can go and have a look if you’re interested.”

The crowd suddenly stopped, unable to move forward, and even the tall and strong Thor could not see what was happening ahead.

The villagers around him lit a cigarette as if it were commonplace.

"The rosé wine museum is up ahead, and there are long queues there every day; it's been like this for four or five days now."

Last year, Torres asked Ronan what was fun about Lourmaran.

Ronan said that Lourmaran only has two attractions: the old church and Lourmaran Castle. The rest of the place is just the fountains scattered around the village.

"Newly built," Thor muttered to himself in a deep, muffled voice.

The enthusiastic villagers of Lourmaran thought Thor was chatting with them and replied:

"Yes, it has only been in trial operation for less than a month. The government has been promoting this project a lot, and tourists who come to Lourmaran all go there to take a look."

The man suddenly looked at Thor:
"Oh right, are you going to the Rosé Wine Museum too?"

They are heading towards the commercial street, which is why there is a traffic jam.

Thor hesitated for a moment. In fact, he loved watching the excitement, but he needed to inform Ronan that he had arrived first.

Seeing that Thor did not answer, the villager kindly said:
"If you're not in a hurry and have found a place to stay, you can go a little later. Usually, there are fewer tourists at the museum after 3 pm, making for a better experience. While you're waiting, you can do something else."

"I'm not playing anymore," Thor shook his head. "My classmates are waiting for me to eat."

Ronan said on the phone that he would cook Thor his best dish.

The villager shrugged and smiled, saying:
“It’s okay, then wait until you and your friends have finished eating before you go. There’s also a vineyard picnic program in Lourmaran that you can try later.”

"A picnic in the vineyard?" Thor noticed something else that piqued his interest and turned his head to look. "Eating in the vineyard?"

The museum has one in Paris, but he hasn't seen the one with a rosé theme.

But there are no vineyards in Paris. Tolle didn't even dare to go into Ronan's vineyard because wild boars and vipers often roamed there!
That place is too dangerous.

The villager shook his head:
“It’s too sunny to eat in the vineyard, buddy, that will hurt your skin. We’ll have a picnic in the gazebo in the vineyard, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery, find some shade, and taste the most authentic Provençal cuisine. Of course, if you want, you can also bring bread, Arles sausage, Bonn cheese, and a dozen or so appetizers to eat next to the vines. Lourmarin will satisfy every visitor’s needs, I swear.”

Thor was swayed by this man's words and became even more hesitant.

That scene looks pretty good?
The villager stubbed out his cigarette, pointed in a direction, and kindly offered a reminder:

"If you want to go today, you'd better hurry, or the food might be gone. This is the most popular activity in Lourmaran right now, and all the food is freshly prepared by the women of the village."

Thor asked cautiously:

How long should a picnic last?

Since Ronan doesn't know what time he arrived, it shouldn't be a problem to go there a little later, right?
“That depends on your wishes, buddy,” the villager said with a smile. “You can stay there for a whole afternoon if you want, watch the sunset, and then go back. If you want to do something else after you finish eating, you can leave anytime. After all, there are so many things to do in Lourmarin now. Besides the Rosé Museum, you can visit the Lourmarin Crafts Cooperative and have the women teach you how to make a small souvenir. Or you can visit the art market, experience other art projects, visit the old church and Lourmarin Castle, and so on. You can have a day or two to see everything.”

This villager works at an art gallery and is relatively familiar with Lourmaran's tourism projects. Every day, some tourists come to the gallery asking them for travel advice.

Thorly looked around:
"Where do we get to that vineyard?"

The village beamed with joy:
"I'll take you to store your luggage first, and then someone will drive you there."

Three minutes later.

The kind-hearted villager handed Thor over to a dark-skinned man:

"Duma, this gentleman wants to experience the vineyard picnic program first."

Duma immediately flashed a friendly and professional smile:

"Sir, I'll take you to our office, which is nearby. I'll explain the details of the tour and the costs. Would you like some rosé? Don't worry, it's free. Even if you change your mind after hearing this, our boss will still let you try it for free."

Thor licked his chapped lips:

"Rosé wine? Chilled?"

After half an hour.

Duma found the helpful villager in the gallery, called him out, and stuffed a franc into his hand. "Ronan said that whoever refers a customer should receive a commission. Thank you, Nuren."

Newron's eyes widened.

He encountered this group of people carrying suitcases who looked like they needed help on his way to the visitor center.

His work at the gallery made him relatively friendly to these tourists, so I wondered if I could offer him some help.

In just a few minutes, I actually made money?

Duma did not linger and left immediately.

"We're going to be incredibly busy in Stellaris lately, so I have to go now, I'm heading back."

Nuremberg looked down at the franc banknote in his hand:
"I love the travel season!"

"Hey, Newlen, let's go for a drink tonight." A villager passing by the gallery saw Newlen, who was lost in thought.

Nuremberg jogged over and whispered to them:

"Did you know that you can get a commission for introducing tourists to some attractions in Stella? It's not much, but it's easy money. Just introduce tourists to attractions in Lourmaran and you'll get a commission. Remember to be enthusiastic if you encounter any tourists who need help on the road."

"Really? They actually pay you?"

"Really, look, Duma brought me the money!"

The shopping street, Ronan's restaurant.

"Why did the tourists arrive in Lourmaran so many days in advance?"

Looking at the customers waiting outside the restaurant, Feng Zhen wished she could give up her cashier's counter for them to sit on.

Normally, tourists only arrive in Provence when the Easter holidays begin.

However, the number of tourists to Lourmaran began to surge four or five days ago, and reached a peak in the last two days, with people queuing outside restaurants.

But it's not Easter yet. That means the real tourist rush is still on its way.

How lively will Lourmarand be in a few days?
Ronan smacked his lips and said:

“There are only a dozen or so villages to visit in Provence. When a new name suddenly appears, tourists will definitely want to come and see it. It’s not interesting to go to Menna and Gordes every year.”

In France, 80% of residents plan a trip once a year, and this trip is most likely to be scheduled between April and August.

Their destinations are mostly rural areas or coastal areas.

Provence perfectly embodies both of these characteristics—it boasts both beautiful countryside and a stunning Mediterranean Sea.

According to statistics from the Provence Tourism Authority, Provence received 1200-1500 million tourists in 1986.

Domestic tourists accounted for 65% of the total, while international tourists accounted for 35%, mainly from the UK, Germany, and the US.

This number is increasing every year.

In other words, the number of tourists visiting Provence in 1987 may have exceeded 1500 million.

With such a massive base of visitors, it's easy to understand why Lourmaran, this rising star in tourism, has attracted a large number of tourists.

“Your dad said he’s been too busy these past few days and might need to consider hiring a few more people.” Feng Zhen quickly flipped through the order forms in her hand. “We’re almost overwhelmed.”

Ronan crossed his arms and looked at the endless stream of pedestrians on the shopping street, saying:

“Stesgaard also needs to consider hiring. Our tourism projects are going very well, and Zoe and I have been discussing this recently.”

All of Stella's important decisions are made in consultation between Ronan and Zoe. Ronan considers things from an operational and developmental perspective, while Zoe considers them from a financial perspective. The two are working together more and more seamlessly.

Feng Zhen pressed the calculator button:

"The next few months are going to be busy, sigh."

Ronan smiled as he braced himself against the countertop.

"Why are you sighing when you can make money? You've been busy and tired these past few days?"

Based on the revenue figures from the past two days, once the tourist rush truly arrives in Provence, the restaurant's monthly revenue could reach 20 or even more.

The situation in St. Louis is even more encouraging.

Ronan's initial goal was to cover part of the personnel costs through tourism projects, as long as he didn't 'subsidize' too much each month, and he could gradually make up for it when he started selling alcohol.

But judging from the current situation, not only can the monthly labor costs be covered by the tourism project, but there is even a surplus, and a considerable one at that. The exact figure will only be known at the end of the month after the boss, Zoe, has finished calculating the accounts.

Who would have thought that Ronan's first fortune in St. Louis came from the tourist season?

It can only be said that tourism is a very profitable business in Provence, especially in Lourmarin, where the tourism industry is just starting out.

Ronan's timing for entering the market and his decisions regarding tourism development were absolutely correct!

He deserves to make money!!

“I’m not sighing because of the tourists,” Feng Zhen said, looking up at her son. “I wish Lourmaran were a tourist season all year round. Your father and I don’t want to rest at all. The busier we are, the happier we are. I’m sighing because our restaurant can’t hold so many people right now.”

Feng Zhen looked at the people waiting outside again and said regretfully:
"The backyard is open, and the tables in the front are set up, but it still can't fit everything. I should have kept one floor upstairs for living, and used the other floor as a restaurant. It all costs money."

Ronan waved his hand and said:
“How can that be? All the shops in the village have a storefront on the first floor and two floors for living. How can I make you suffer? The second and third phases of the Lourmaran commercial street are about to be built. There will still be opportunities to expand your shops. Besides, have you forgotten your father’s ‘grand ambitions’?”

Ronan said with a smile:
"He said he wanted to open restaurants in every city in Provence."

Feng Zhen made a bitter expression that said, "Don't mention it."
"Your dad was just bragging when he was drunk!"

These were bold words spoken by Luo Tianhai after he had drunk too much.

“Maybe after we finish participating in those food events in Provence, the restaurant’s reputation will naturally spread to other areas?” Ronan said optimistically. “Then the opportunity to open a branch will arise.”

Feng Zhen tapped the table:
"Let's get down to business. There are so many people queuing outside. Are they all going to leave because it's too hot?"

The restaurant also experienced queues last October, but the temperature wasn't as high then.

Ronan took a sip of the chilled rosé in front of him and said confidently:

"Once this group leaves, another group of people will definitely be waiting. Have you heard of 'hunger marketing'?"

Feng Zhen glanced at her watch:

"I don't understand scarcity marketing, but I do understand hunger. Do you think Thor has eaten or drunk anything right now? Is he hungry, tired, and hot and looking for a ride?"

Ronan put down his wine glass and looked out the window with concern.

I wonder where Thor is?
(End of this chapter)