1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 484 This Damn Love!

It's no exaggeration to say that the goat race was a huge rock hanging over Ronan's head, making him sigh every time he thought about it.

Especially with June approaching, it is even more impossible to ignore.

Previously, the pressure was only on Zoe's side, but later, when her friends learned that Ronan was going to participate in this local event with a century-long history, they all praised Ronan for having "backbone".

Even native Provençals wouldn't dare participate in such a challenging competition; Ronan really made Lourmarin proud!

Friends even boasted that they would turn Bonínio into Ronan's home ground on the day of the match!
Henry bought a small trumpet and flag well in advance to cheer for Ronan. The virtuous Josephine took on the task of making a 'battle suit' for Ronan, measuring his hips, chest, head, and horns several times.

At this point, it's simply impossible to desert.

For the past month, every time Ronan went to Zoe's house, he would go to the yard and spar with Huhu.

Unfortunately, whether it was a battle of wits or a fight, Ronan was always the one who got hurt.

After the clash, there was only one outcome—Ronan was furious and enraged, while Huhu completely ignored him.

Later, Ronan started making various excuses to avoid the relationship, and he stopped trying to cultivate a bond with Huhu as long as no one asked.

But constantly running away from things isn't a good solution. A man must have the courage to face all difficulties!

Ronan arrived at Louis's house and saw Louis washing clothes in the yard with a high-pressure water gun.

Although it wasn't the first time I'd seen it, I was still shocked by Louis's thought process every time I saw it—how could anyone use a high-pressure water gun to spray clothes?

Louis was utterly astonished by Ronan's arrival:
"Are you looking for Zoe? But it seems she needs to rest."

Ronan glanced at Zoe's window and saw that only a faint light was coming out; it seemed that only a table lamp was on.
"Then I won't go in."

He turned to Louis and asked:

"What time is it? Why are you doing laundry now?"

A look of happiness appeared on Louis's face:
“Vieri got his pants dirty while eating dinner, but Leah had other things to do, so I took them out and washed them. They’re the ones he’ll wear tomorrow. You don’t understand the struggles of having a teenager at home. Even though there are so many pairs of pants in the closet, he only wants to wear this one.”

Ronan suppressed a laugh and said:

"He's not only an excellent husband, but also an excellent father."

Louis acknowledged Ronan's praise:
"Of course, but you and Zoe are too clingy. We just got back from your house and you came running after us. Young people are so passionate. Wait for me a minute, I'll go in and chat with you for a while after I wash my pants."

Ronan smiled and pushed open the sheep pen fence, declining Louis's offer. Mainly, he didn't want to see Louis and Leah together; he still couldn't bear to watch them hugging and kissing so passionately.

"No, you can continue with your work. I'll take Hu Hu out for a walk."

Louis was even more surprised:
"You're going to take Huhu out with you?"

Ronan picked up the rope loop that he usually wore around Huhu's neck during training and explained it to Louis:
"I ate too much today and want to go out for a walk. Also, Huhu and I need to continue practicing. It's dark now and there aren't many people on the road. I think it's okay to take it out for a walk."

After the Easter long weekend, Huhu was kept indoors and didn't have the chance to go out and have fun.

Huhu used to go out every day, and Louis wasn't worried about it:
“Alright, it’s time for it to go out for a stroll. Look at old Karl today. He’s only been away from home for a few months, but he acts like he’s been locked up for years. He’s interested in everything.”

After explaining to the people, Ronan began to explain to the sheep.

He took the rope and walked towards Huhu, who was watching him warily, pointing to the opening in the sheepfold and saying:

"I'm taking you out for some fresh air, but you're not allowed to kick me or poop on my shoes again."

Seemingly understanding Ronan's meaning, it used to be so difficult to put a leash on Huhu, but today when I put it on, it didn't move around at all, though its eyes still looked rather arrogant.

Ronan gently tugged on the rope.

After a stalemate of four or three seconds, Huhu finally moved, taking two steps forward in the direction of Ronan's hand.

Ronan was almost moved to tears.

One small step forward for a sheep's hoof is one giant leap for mankind—it finally obeyed its own command for once!

"Alright, we're leaving. You can continue washing." Ronan pulled Huhu out of the sheepfold and said goodbye to Louis.

As Ronan was leaving Louis's house, he heard the sound of the front door opening behind him. He turned around and saw Leah, who had changed into her pajamas, coming out.

His first reaction was to quickly remind Louis to turn off the high-pressure water gun, because every time Leah saw Louis's unique way of washing clothes, she couldn't help but exclaim a few times and then shout, "God save this ignorant man!"

However, before Ronan could speak, Leah screamed first, but what followed was something Ronan hadn't expected.

"Louis, why are you out washing clothes? I was wondering why I couldn't find Vieri's trousers in the house."

"Haha, honey, I saw you were busy, so I took it out to wash it. See, I did a good job, didn't I?"

"Oh, my darling, you're always so thoughtful!"

"Smack smack smack smack—"

Ronan walked away quickly without looking back.

I didn't dare to imagine what was happening behind me at all.

To avoid being a third wheel, he seemed to be starting to run.

Surprisingly, the rope in my hand followed very obediently, without any backward force.

This huge discovery made Ronan extremely happy, but the next second his smile vanished and he felt as if he were facing a formidable enemy.

He noticed that the rope in his hand gradually moved from behind him to in front of him, and a strange force, like a cannonball being fired, pulled him forward.

In the darkness, Ronan's body had never been so relaxed.

He felt that his palms were at least 2 meters away from his body:

"I told you to be slow—"

The last few words fell to the ground with the sound of the wind.

Ronan used all his strength to follow Huhu to a patch of wasteland near Louis's house on the edge of the village. The streetlights only extended within the village; beyond that were farmlands, and one could easily end up stepping onto someone's land.

Although the two of them hadn't exchanged insults tonight, Ronan had to end their peaceful coexistence by forcefully pulling the runaway goat to a stop.

"Okay, okay, you can't go to the front anymore!"

Huff tried several times with brute force to move forward, but Ronan gripped the ground tightly with both feet and resisted.

Luckily, I ate too much tonight and gained some weight, otherwise the outcome of this tug-of-war might have been very different.

After a stalemate of about ten seconds, it let out two unintelligible 'baa' sounds, stood there in the darkness for another ten seconds, and then stopped pushing forward and started eating grass in place.

Worried that the little thing was playing a game of 'feigned indifference' with him, Ronan kept his hands on the rope for more than a minute before daring to relax.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, unsure if Huhu could understand, and pointed to the darkness ahead, saying:

"We have to go home after playing for a while, but if you behave well and go home later, I can take you for a walk around there tomorrow morning."

Ronan remembered there was a sloping, intact meadow in that direction, where there weren't many tourists in the morning, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to take Huhu there to play.

But the prerequisite is that this little thing knows how to be 'grateful' and doesn't try to break out tonight.

Huhu didn't react at all, slowly eating while turning its back to Ronan.

"Still the same bad temper." Ronan shook his head, deciding not to argue with the sheep anymore.

After a while, Ronan felt that the time was about right, so he pulled the rope hard.

After a brief moment of tension, the rope quickly loosened—Hoohoo followed him.

Although this little thing often angered Ronan, Ronan still spoke gently:

"There are too many people during the tourist season. You look so unique and have such an annoying personality. You'd be in someone's stomach in less than an hour, believe it or not. Locking you up is also to protect you. After the tourists leave in a few months, you can go wherever you want again."

This time, Huhu finally reacted—he kicked Ronan in the face with shit again.

Zoe went to bed early the night before, as it was her first time hosting a dinner for friends.

The next morning, I heard my father say at the breakfast table:

"Ronan came by last night and took Huhu out with him."

"Ronan took Huhu out?" Zoe picked up a piece of bread and pointed to the goat cheese in front of her brother Vie.

Louis placed the luxurious sandwiches he had prepared onto his wife's plate:

"Yes, they said they would take Hu Hu to practice."

Zoe took the goat cheese from Vieri and said with a smile:
"Ronan's level of attention to this matter surprised me; I thought he would be very resistant."

Vieri said with his head down:

"You've already signed him up, so what can he do if he resists? He still has to go."

Zoe looked at her younger brother with a stern face:

“Vieri, every couple has their own way of getting along. Please don’t interfere in what’s between Ronan and me, and you can’t interfere with Dad and Mom either. Also, if I were you, I would remember to put the goat cheese back in its place after I finished eating it, instead of leaving it within my reach and out of other people’s reach. That would make the girl think you’re not thoughtful enough.”

Vieri put down his fork and looked back at Zoe:

"But you're judging me right now."

Zoe flashed a sly smile:
"Oh, really? But what I mean is, don't interfere with how couples get along. Do you have a partner, Vieri?"

Vieri pushed back his chair and stood up:
"I'm done eating, I'm leaving."

"So early?" Louis called out to Vieri's retreating figure. "It's not time for school yet!"

Vieri picked up his schoolbag from the sofa, walked to the door, and squatted down to change his shoes:
“When I went out to study, I found a quiet place to study.”

"Hmm? Isn't the bedroom quiet enough?" Ronan pushed open the door to Louis's house and heard this sentence.

Vieri looked up at Ronan with a 'sympathetic' gaze:
"It's tough to change yourself for love, isn't it?"

Ronan looked at Zoe and Louis in bewilderment, not understanding where Vieri's sudden remark came from.

"Never mind him." Zoe came to the door and asked Ronan, "Why are you here so early? I heard you took Huhu for a walk last night?"

Ronan smiled and pointed to the sheepfold behind him:

"That's right, I'm here to walk Huhu now, and I'll walk him once in the morning and once in the evening every day from now on."

After saying that, Ronan turned and left.

Zoe chased after him out:
Do you take it out every day? Or twice a day?

The sound of Ronan and Zoe talking could be heard outside the door.

“In this way, it seems that we can communicate a little better.”

"Has your relationship improved? God, that's wonderful! I knew you and Huhu could get along!"

"I will work hard to get it to accept me as soon as possible, and then accept Marseille!"

"Oh, darling!"

"Smack smack smack smack—"

Vieri changed his shoes, but dared not take a single step; his body seemed to be sealed.

Even more terrifying, a simultaneous sound came from behind—it was the sound of Leah coming out of the kitchen and seeing the loving breakfast Louis had made.

"Damn it, love is disgusting!" Vieri covered his ears and eyes.

(End of this chapter)