1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 95: The World's Preserved Fruit Capital
"This is a toast to ourselves, to congratulate ourselves for having a 'big star' among us!" Louis raised his glass high, his face full of joy, "Ronan has been reported by three travel magazines, Coast, Travel and South of France Travel Guide!"

Magazines are for people in the "big cities". There is no place to sell magazines in Lourmarin, and the villagers don't read that stuff.

If Louis' real estate company hadn't placed an advertisement in The Coast, Ronan wouldn't have known that those magazines had reported it.

Louis took the opportunity to organize a party to share the news with everyone.

But Ronan wants to emphasize one thing:

"Please note that the media is here to report on Lourmarin, I am just a part of it."

Alan fanned his nose with his right hand:
"I read The Coast that Louis brought back. You were the most impressive person in that report. It said that your sweat was pink. Haha. Ronan, did you imitate those women and bathe in pink wine? Were you discovered?"

Ronan looked at Carl guiltily.

The villagers didn't know that the media was hired by Luermalan, but Carl knew.

Would they mind?

Old Carl stuck his butt out and patted Ronan's arm twice through Freddy:
"You love Lourmarin, and Lourmarin loves you."

Blanco described to him what happened that day.

Without Ronan, these articles would just be some emotionless letters. With Ronan, these articles have flesh and blood and come alive.

The media only published the articles after they were reviewed and approved by various departments in Lourmarin, which means that Blanc and others did not mind Ronan stealing the limelight.

And it's a good thing to be in the spotlight.

Only memorable points can attract tourists to Lourmarin.

The wrinkles on old Carl's face smoothed out, and he told Ronan with gentle eyes that there was no need to worry about it.

Ronan raised his glass to Carl across Freddy.

Suddenly, Freddy's big face inserted itself between the two of them, and asked Ronan with a greasy mouth:

"What are your plans next?"

Ronan shrugged.

"What plans? Just continue to live my life well, what other plans can I have?"

Freddy's eyes widened:
"You have so many magazines 'endorsing' you, why don't you do something with this? Chinese food and sweet and sour pork have been mentioned many times in magazines, at least organize a 'Provence Chinese Food Association'."

He still remembered the 'big picture' Ronan had painted for him.

Ronan smiled and patted Freddy's arm:
"Mr. Chairman, it's a bit too early to do this now. Let's wait until our sweet and sour pork has been tasted and 'endorsed' by some 'big shots' before organizing it."

He showed the same enthusiasm for rosé wine and sweet and sour pork that day, but the magazine only wrote about Ronan's "passion" for rosé wine, and described much less about sweet and sour pork, which shows that there is still a long way to go to popularize Chinese food in Provence.

Freddy wiped his mouth and said seriously:

"You are already a 'big shot' now, do you still lack opportunities to meet other 'big shots'?"

"Stop joking!" Ronan brushed Freddy off.

The plan to buy Provence melons was temporarily cancelled because of Louis' call, so Ronan went to ask about the magazine instead.

At the evening party, Ronan, Leah and Zoe met and decided to change the melon-buying trip to the next morning.

The next day, as Ronan drove into the village, he saw an unexpected figure standing at the intersection, talking to a villager.

Ronan stopped beside them and poked his head out:
"Mr. Jacques, why are you in Lourmarin?" This was the first time Ronan saw Jacques behave so 'inelegantly'. He first politely thanked the villagers, then 'ran' over:
"I'm asking for your home address."

Ronan's smile froze on his face, and he pointed at his nose and asked:

"Are you here to find me?"

Jacques pushed up his glasses:
"Today there is a rosé wine industry development conference in Vaucluse. I saw the article about you in the magazine and I think you are definitely qualified to join us. But I don't have your contact information, so I can only drive to Lourmarin to inquire about your address. Is it convenient for you to attend?"

"What time will the meeting be held and where will it be held?" Ronan asked flatteredly.

Jacques took a blue handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his sweat:

"In Apt, if you agree, we have to leave now."

Jacques drove over, so Ronan took the car home and called Zoelia and the others to explain that the plan to buy Provence melons would be postponed again.

He then got into Mr. Jacques's silver Mercedes and headed for Apt.

Apt is located 20 km north of Lourmarin, in the heart of the Luberon Mountains.

It is not a village but a town, ten times the size of Lourmarin.

Lourmarin has less than 1000 villagers, but Apt has more than 1 permanent residents. It is the 'small capital' of Luberon and the absolute heart of Luberon.

Ronan had been to Apt once before, as he bought his car here, but he had never visited the city. He only knew that it was divided into the new town and the old town.

Mr. Jacques didn't know much about Apt, he just told Ronan that Apt was probably built in the 11th century.

Ronan looked at the scenery outside the window, his thoughts drifting away:
Zoe is more knowledgeable. Any river or bridge can tell many stories.
It's been a long time since I went on a spring outing with Zoe.

I wonder if there will be a chance to have another Apte with Zoe?

But it doesn't matter if they don't have the chance to come, they can go to Aix after a while.

I heard there are a lot of fun things there!

Suddenly, his head turned back to follow a passerby:
"What's that in his hand?"

It looks like fruit, but it isn't if you look closely.

"It's candied fruit." Mr. Jacques said gently.

"Is there a famous candied fruit shop here?" Ronan continued to ask.

He saw many people holding this thing in their hands, and it seemed that every tourist bought one.

A smile appeared on Jacques's calm face:
"There is no particular preserve shop that is particularly famous here. In my opinion, they are all equally good and have their own characteristics."

Ronan's gaze moved from the window to Mr. Jacques' face:

"they?"

Jacques parked the car in a parking space in the old town of Apt, unlocked the seat belt and explained to Ronan:
"Apt is the world's candied fruit capital and a paradise for sweet lovers. The candied fruits, jams and fruit candies produced here are of world-class quality."

Seeing Ronan's expectant look, he opened the car door:

"We are very lucky. Today is the day when Apte holds a market. The meeting place is within the market area, so we can stroll around inside on the way."

(End of this chapter)