1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 453 Old and New Friends Gather
The Lourmaran government made three demands when it provided grant aid to St. Strasbourg.

Making a good business of Strasbourg is definitely one of them.

The second requirement is to create as many jobs as possible for the village, with at least 80% of the jobs reserved for villagers.

The third requirement is that if the business is poor and layoffs are implemented, the villagers must be retained until the end.

The 'local employment preference' clause is not common in big cities, but it is very common in Luberon because of the serious outflow of population. Young workers who are capable will leave their hometowns to make money elsewhere.

Therefore, when the government provides subsidies to businesses, it will always attach employment-related clauses in order to retain young workers.

Some extreme governments even require that workers can only be recruited locally, and in special circumstances, proof is required that there are 'no suitable local talents' before employees from other villages can be hired.

Although the Lourmaran government is relatively lenient, Ronan's Stella Gard still tries its best to find top talent in Lourmaran.

Before seeking Cherno's help, Lucas used his connections to increase Stella's market share in Marseille.

With his 'big brother' personality—making many friends, always insisting on paying the bill, and never letting his brothers suffer losses—Ronan believed he was the perfect candidate for the position of head of the Stersga market.

It is an honor for Ronan that his elder brother can come to St. Louis.

Whether he has to work a regular office job or not is irrelevant; he can live in Marseille or Nice if he wants.

But Lucas's determination to move back to Lourmaran is firm and serious.

This is not a joke, nor is it just talk.

After that, Ronan and Lucas spoke on the phone. Lucas said that Lourmaran was now very lively and beautiful, more livable than those big cities in some ways, and most importantly, its future was full of positive and unknown possibilities.

They had seen and experienced enough of life outside, and it was time for them to return to their hometown and live a good life. This was a decision he, his wife, and son all agreed upon.

“Other villages are experiencing population loss, with people trying to find ways to go to big cities to live a better life, but recently many people from Lourmaran who were working or wandering outside have returned.”

Pierre was among the most well-informed people in the village.

Upon hearing Ronan's story about the Lucas family moving back to Lourmaran and no longer traveling between the two places, he also mentioned other similar stories he had heard.

"Who else came back?" Ronan looked up and asked curiously.

After sunset, Ronan would usually have a few drinks with his brothers.

Zoe also likes to meet and chat with the artists at this time.

They don't have the opportunity for in-depth conversations during the day unless they go to each other's homes.

Restaurants, cafes, and bars on both commercial streets and other roads are now occupied by tourists from other places.

Even Como's half-dead old tavern was packed during the day.

In the past, farmers who couldn't hold back would gather in the street with beer.

This year, the government has repeatedly educated villagers on the importance of maintaining the village's appearance, and more and more people have made money during the tourist season. Everyone consciously avoids gathering in the streets to drink, and can only meet up for a couple of drinks and chat about things of interest after the sun goes down and the tourists drive away from Lourmaran.

However, during this time of year, Ronan's restaurant was still fully booked; the most famous restaurant in Lourmaran was extremely popular.

The visitor message board at the visitor center has a lot of messages from tourists hoping that the Chinese restaurant in Ronan can extend its operating hours, as it is really frustrating to wait in line for a long time and then not be able to get in.

Before leaving, Quincy specifically instructed the Lourmaran government not to cause any tourist complaints due to excessively long waiting times.

As the saying goes, "He who takes a man's gift is bound to be obligated to him."

The tourism bureau's advice must be heeded!
After repeated mobilization by the government, Ronan finally agreed to move the closing time an hour later in the evening.

However, this did not solve the fundamental problem; the number of people queuing did not decrease at all, and there were still quite a few tourists complaining.

In order to open a second store in Ronan as soon as possible and to open more commercial facilities to accommodate tourists, the government has no choice but to accelerate the construction of the second and third phases of the shopping street.

On the outskirts of Lourmaran, the excavating machines and workers have almost switched to a 24-hour shift system.

So today, everyone waited for a while in front of Ronan Restaurant, but there were still no seats available, so they had no choice but to go to the Old Tavern.

Ronan hadn't been to 'Happy Old Home' in a long time, so he came along too.

Pierre, carrying a beer bottle, answered Ronan's question:

"Old Carl's son has returned."

“Carl’s son is back?” Ronan sat up straight in surprise.

Old Karl is getting on in years and his legs have always been weak; he always carries a cane.

His old ailment flared up after the sharp drop in temperature at the beginning of the year, and he has rarely gone out to socialize since then, but his friends still go to his house for drinks once a week.

If you think about it, the last time Ronan saw old Carl was before Easter.

During that meeting, old Carl and his wife did not mention that their son wanted to return to Lourmaran.

A seductive figure swayed to the music, and Theo, shaking his shoulders, said:
"And not just one, both of old Carl's sons have returned."

This news surprised Ronan even more.

Carl had two sons, both of whom were very successful.

The eldest son, Cisson, is a doctor working in a neighboring province, while the younger son, Joey, is a teacher in Roussillon.

“They’re doing fine with their jobs now, why would they come back?” Ronan asked, frowning. “Did you hear me correctly? Are they coming back to see old Carl?”

The village was full of people and gossip, and many funny stories often came about. For example, there were many different versions of the story about the toilets designed by Pierre Cardin for Ronan's family.

Carl's two sons had jobs that would be considered good jobs in any era and in any region.

Why go back to Lourmaran when you're doing so well?
“The Sisson family is back, and two moving trucks have arrived.” Pierre described the scene to Ronan that day, “The two trucks were so full that you couldn’t fit a single hair in them, it was like they brought their whole family.”

"Sisson moved to Old Carl's house?" Ronan asked, clicking his tongue in amazement.

In Provence, it is rare for married children to continue living with their parents.

Pierre put down the bottle:

“House prices are too high right now, so Xisenao plans to wait and see for a while and live with his parents first. Luckily, Karl’s house is quite big, otherwise we definitely wouldn’t be able to fit all our things in.”

"Once Joey moves back, even the biggest house won't be able to accommodate him." Theo then swayed away to the music.

Pierre shrugged:

“Joey just got married and doesn’t have that much stuff. Similarly, he probably isn’t as rich as his brother. He’ll most likely stay at Carl’s house first. It’s more lively with more people, and Carl’s house is too big.”

"Two fools, thinking they can make more money back in Lourmaran?" Henry said angrily, fanning himself with his captain's hat. "These money-grubbing bastards are 'money detectors,' they go wherever there's money, and they're trying to steal our jobs!"

Ronan smiled and waved to Henry:

"Perhaps they, like Lucas, feel that Lourmaran is more livable? Lourmaran is so well developed now, it's understandable that they would come back."

Lucas is back, old Carl's sons are back, and Bruno's family is about to move in. Ronan believes that more new and old friends will move here to live.

This is a good thing; the future will only be more exciting.

“What’s so great about Lourmaran?” Henry slammed his fist on the table. “There’s not even a place to drink during the day. This is supposed to be our hometown, but we live like rats running around every day!”

In fact, many villagers in Lourmaran have come to understand and acknowledge the impact and benefits of the tourist season on their lives, but they are reluctant to admit it.

Imagine how ridiculous it would be if someone who last year called tourists robbers were now boasting about welcoming tourists to come often.
Those who advocate the "outsider robber theory," represented by Henry, cannot bring themselves to say this.

"I don't dare go out during the day, there are too many people. Lourmaran is not good at all, it's not a livable place!"

"It used to only take 5 minutes to buy bread, but now it might take 50 minutes to buy even one loaf. It's really a headache."

"If it were me, I would have already moved out and would never move back here."

On this point, Theo and Henry were remarkably in agreement.

However, Theo wasn't being hypocritical; rather, he habitually sought a sense of superiority.

While swaying to the music, Theo comically imitated tourists taking photos and making peace signs: "Those out-of-towners are so shallow. They keep taking pictures in front of the vineyards, what's so interesting about that? Let me tell you, Lucas took me to the Willowson Gorge, that's what you call beautiful. It's the largest gorge in Europe, and from a distance it looks like a 25-kilometer-long opening carved into the limestone. Inside is also the Sainte-Croix Lake, one of the rarest lakes in Provence. Holding a beer, looking at the lake and the gorge in front of you, and clicking your tongue in admiration, that's what tourism is all about!"

Ronan completely ignored the attitudes of those around him, shrugging dismissively.

"Anyway, I like Lourmaran; I think it's the best place here."

The long queues that seem to stretch endlessly outside Ronan's restaurant are a major concern for the government. If they are not careful, they are likely to receive complaints because the queues are so long that almost every day tourists get upset at the entrance because they have been waiting for so long but have not been able to get in before closing time.

In the past, Lourmaran had nothing, so people would complain all the way up to the province of Vaucluse and no one cared.

But now that people have everything, they become cautious and careful, afraid that if they are not careful, the attention and reputation they have worked so hard to gain will be lost.

Every day, Sylvie would send people to the shopping street to help Ronan's shop assistants maintain order and would also provide some free souvenirs.

The good news is that Ronan had already made ample preparations in this regard.

Free fruit and water are provided at the entrance, and bread and desserts are offered for tasting from time to time to appease the waiting tourists.

If tourists get upset because they couldn't get in when the store closes, Ronan or Zoe will personally come to appease them.

I heard that some of Zoe's die-hard fans even made this special opportunity to take a photo with their idol.

Sylvie focused all her attention on Ronan, but little did she know that the first major tourist complaint since the start of the tourist season would occur elsewhere—at a hotel less than fifty meters from Ronan's restaurant.

Lourmaran has only one hotel; the rest are guesthouses.

Although it's called a guesthouse, it's actually more like a 'boarding' place.

The hospitable residents of Lourmaran not only offer rooms to tourists, but if you're lucky enough, you can even eat three meals a day with them for free.

Living alongside the locals allows tourists to quickly understand Lourmaran and its unique landscape, and might even forge a friendship.

However, if you stay in a hotel, you'll need to explore Lourmaran on your own to discover its true character.

The reason for this complaint was that a tourist from the north claimed that Lourmaran was completely unsuitable for the physique of northerners.

“I’ve been vomiting for three whole days. There must be something wrong with your food and water. I’ve never been this sick at home before. This has ruined my entire trip!”

At the hotel entrance, a brown-haired woman uttered the above remarks while groaning.

In Provence, such a scene would even cause people waiting for a spot at the toilet to clench their sphincter and come over to watch the spectacle.

The hotel owner finally experienced what Ronan felt like: the entrance was packed with people, but he wasn't happy at all.
"Madam, did you eat something bad before you came to Lourmaran?"

The tourist seemed to have temporarily lost his hearing and continued his accusations against Sylvie on the steps:
"I have another complaint to add, my seventh complaint: there is no hospital or pharmacy here. Do you know what your villagers did to help me when I said I wasn't feeling well? She actually poured me a glass of olive oil, which made my stomach feel even worse. Are the people here still living in the Middle Ages?"

Sylvie cautiously comforted her:
"The clinic and pharmacy are under construction and will be operational in a few months. Shall I take you to Mena Village to see a doctor first?"

The tourist clutched his stomach and said:
"I feel nauseous all the time, and riding in a car will only make me feel worse!"

Sylvie said to Contina, who had already been promoted to a permanent position:

"Go and fetch Theossen quickly."

After saying that, she took the tourist's arm and offered her support.
"Although the clinic is not yet built, we have our own doctor. The doctor will be here soon. Let me help you inside first."

The tourist sarcastically remarked:

"Your doctors? I'm afraid they're just as unreliable as the food and water here, aren't they?"

in the crowd.

Ronan clenched his fists involuntarily.

Sylvie had tried to comfort her for a long time and offered many suggestions, but she just kept venting her emotions and refused to solve the problem.

I understand you're sick and in a bad mood, but you can't slander Lourmaran without knowing the facts.

Ronan decided that if the woman continued to spout nonsense, he would have to do something about it.

The next second, a sharp and sarcastic voice came from the crowd on the other side.

“You can’t even tolerate olive oil? What are you doing in Lourmarin? Go back to your north!” Henry said, grinning.

The tourist immediately retorted:
"Do you think I wanted to come here? It was your nationwide false advertising that lured me here! Every dish here is filled with the nauseating smell of spices; our stomachs, accustomed to a light diet, can't handle it at all. Add to that the worrying food safety issues here—"

Another voice retorted to her:
"Are you 'a wild boar that can't eat fine chaff'? I've eaten with hundreds of northerners and none of them had any problems. They could even eat the strongly flavored food you're talking about while drinking chilled rosé wine. How come you're the only one with problems?"

Theo gave a sneer.

"Ugly people are always up to no good. I think you're not upset because of your stomach, but because of your heart. Pah, your heart is rotten."

"You still have the nerve to mention wine? The wine here is too rough, lacking the refined craftsmanship of the North—"

"So even shit from the North smells good?"

"The wine we've drunk for generations has become garbage in your mouth?"

“Every family in Lourmaran eats the freshest food. We throw away any vegetables that have been sitting for three days to feed the pigs. What about you in the north?”

Unable to argue with the crowd, the tourist began to incite the other tourists' emotions:

"Everyone, come and see! Look how these villagers are shirking their responsibilities! The magazine actually claims Lourmaran is the most promising village in Luberon—it's ridiculous!"

Theo's eyes widened as he roared:

"Does a magazine need to say that? Lourmaran is the best village in Luberon. Beautiful mountains, clear water, and kind people. If you don't like it, leave!"

Ronan was dumbfounded.

These are all villagers who previously criticized Lourmaran.

Theo, who always boasts about the places Lucas took him to, claiming they are a million times better than Lourmaran, actually says that Lourmaran is the best village in Luberon.

So you yourselves can say Lourmarin is bad, but you can't tolerate others saying a single bad word about Lourmarin?

The farmers were foul-mouthed, and the tourist was aggressive.

The scene became increasingly chaotic, and some newly arrived tourists, confused about the situation, also began to have doubts.

Is Provence really unsuitable for people from northern regions?
Just then, a sharp voice came from afar, and with just one sentence, the crowd dispersed.

"Charlotte Virginia is here! Charlotte Virginia has come to Lourmaran; she's looking at houses here!"

Charlotte Virginie was a famous French singer and actress in the 80s.

Hearing that a big star had arrived, even the tourist with the stomachache ran off to see the star.

The crowds came quickly and left just as fast.

In less than a minute, only a few people remained in the spot, making it seem rather desolate compared to before.

Upon hearing the news, Cissorio shrugged at Ronan in disappointment:

"I thought the first patient had appeared after arriving in Lourmaran."

Seeing that Ronan's expression wasn't good, and assuming he was bothered by the tourist's careless remarks, Cisson came over to comfort him:

"Charlotte Virginia is from the North, and she's come here to look at houses. Whether she buys them or not, it proves that Northerners can adapt to the South. Don't people look at the choices of celebrities and only listen to the complaints of ordinary people? Don't worry, your restaurant and winery will not be affected."

Ronan suddenly clutched his chest, his expression becoming even more ferocious.

Xisen asked excitedly:
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Ronan's heart was breaking.

The fact that a big star is investing in real estate in Lourmaran will surely cause property prices there to continue to rise.

But I haven't bought a shop yet!

Why did you have to come at this time, you big star!
(End of this chapter)