1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 107: Soaring Happiness
After the brief 'boots' incident, Thor continued to go out shopping.

Ronan was worried that he would bring back some strange people, so he insisted on going with him.

Before he reached the village, Thor's attention was attracted by something in the fields.

"Why is there the sound of a radio there?" he asked, looking at a dense cherry forest.

Ronan glanced casually:
"It's cherry picking season, and there are workers picking cherries inside."

The cherry tree in Ronan's backyard was already bearing clusters of bright red fruits in late April.

There are many farmers growing cherries in the village, and these days are busy for them to pick cherries.

"Do you listen to the radio while picking cherries?" Thor asked curiously.

"Yes." Ronan said with a smile.

Radio, cigarettes and alcohol are three things that farmers cannot do without.

Thor suddenly stopped and looked around to see the size of the cherry forest:

"With such a large cherry orchard, the farmer can't handle it all by himself, right? Should he hire some workers?"

Ronan also looked at it carefully:
"It should be. The area of this land is not small."

The cost of picking workers is low, 2-3 francs per kilogram, and many farmers will hire workers to pick.

It is said that in September and October, Provence will be surrounded by 'pickers' from all over the world.

But Ronan didn't plan to hire workers as his field was not very large.

Thor suddenly changed his route and headed towards the cherry forest:

"The news said that pickers are the biggest threat to French security. They may come from Spain or Italy, or they may come from Africa. They travel around to make a living. I have never seen an African."

"Go buy the ingredients first. They won't be able to collect them all in a short time." Ronan persuaded by standing on the side of the road.

"I'll go take a look and be back soon." Thor's huge body squeezed into the cherry orchard with difficulty.

Ronan also got in and asked Thor's butt:

"No more sugar and butter pancakes?"

Oh my God, who said that you won’t be in a good mood today if you can’t eat sugar and butter pancakes?
"No need to eat anymore. Get yourself something to eat and don't wait for me." Thor's figure gradually disappeared.

Ronan retreated the same way he came and shook his head helplessly.

He did not change his plan and still went to buy the ingredients needed to make sugar and cream pancakes and went home to make a large portion.

After arranging the plate, Ronan reached out and plucked a few plump cherries from the cherry tree outside the window and placed them on top as decoration:

"What's so new about this?"

Thor left Paris and came to Provence in search of 'quiet'.

But it was obvious that this guy had not done his homework and underestimated his curiosity. The "temptation" of Provence is much greater than that of Paris.

Ronan's first two weeks of operating a stall in Lourmarin were poor.

After deducting costs in the first week, the company earned more than 500 francs. Business was even worse in the second week, with the net profit falling below 500, leaving a lot of pork. This was the first time this had happened since the company set up the food stall.

But by the third week, with the arrival of the Labor Day holiday and the effectiveness of Lourmarin's media advertising, income suddenly increased to more than 2000.

Although it is still not as popular as the village of Mena, it is a good signal, indicating that the road to the revitalization of Lourmarin has begun.

But "revitalization" is not something that can be accomplished in a short period of time. Ronan is not impatient and believes that things will definitely get better in the future.

Compared to the 'step-by-step' process in Lourmarin, the Mena Village Market is much more challenging.

The peak in tourists brought by the short holiday severely tested the cooperation between Ronan, Leah and Vieri.

During the first hour, the three of them were in a panic. Fortunately, Zoe came to help from time to time, helping them gradually stabilize the situation.

At 11 o'clock in the morning, the market has not yet ended, but it is foreseeable that the revenue will reach a new high.

"I'll treat everyone to lunch at noon, and we'll go buy melons together in the afternoon." Ronan took a sip of water and cheered up the 'small team'.

The melon-buying trip has been delayed for too long, and it's time to start again. Thor likes sweet things very much, so Ronan plans to buy some Provence specialty fruits for him to try.

Liya wiped the sweat off her face and recalled some experiences:

"No one will call you away today, right?"

Ronan said firmly:

"Absolutely not. We'll go right after dinner. There's no phone here. Who can find me?"

Zoe helped Ronan wipe the water from his mouth:
"Don't be so harsh."

[Happiness increases by 9 points when having physical contact with the opposite sex]

Ronan's mouth curled up in happiness.

When the prompt sound of "physical contact with the opposite sex" appeared for the first time, it only gave 5 points of happiness.

The happiness level is increasing. This means that Ronan's affection for Zoe is gradually deepening.

As the affection deepens, people become more "unbridled".

He smiled evilly, pointed his chin at Vieri who was collecting money outside, and asked Zoe:

"Have you gotten good at wiping your brother's milk again?"

Zoe had wiped Ronan's mouth in the same way a few months ago.

Zoe's explanation that time was, 'When Vieri choked on his milk when he was a kid, I wiped his mouth like this, and I couldn't control it.'

You can't control it again this time?
Zoe stared into Ronan's eyes, her tone full of provocation:
"has a problem?"

Ronan suddenly shouted to Vieri:

"Vieri, at what age were you weaned—"

Halfway through his words, his mouth was blocked and he could only make a 'wuwuwu' sound.

Zoe covered Ronan's mouth with a smile, with a little starlight in her eyes:
"You know it"

[Happiness increases by 10 points when having physical contact with the opposite sex]

Ronan pulled Zoe's hand away, his heart beating wildly:
"Know what? I know nothing."

With Leia beside her, Zoe didn't dare to be too "unruly", so she decided to "deal with" Ronan at another time.

She once again covered Ronan's mouth with her hand, her smile growing brighter, and she muttered softly:
"you shut up."

[Happiness increases by 11 points when having physical contact with the opposite sex]

The two were having fun playing and joking when suddenly someone in front of the stall called Ronan's name.

Ronan looked over and his smile froze on his face instantly:
"Arthur?"

The highest daytime temperature is now over 30 degrees Celsius, but Arthur is still wearing a suit and a gentleman's hat, and doesn't seem to feel the heat.

He said to Ronan enthusiastically:

"Hello Ronan, I didn't dare to disturb you before Easter. Now that Easter is over, can you join me and my friends for a party? It's in Mena Village, after the market is over."

About a month ago, Arthur had invited Ronan.

But at that time Ronan was in a hurry to make furniture for his parents, so he postponed the time until after Easter.

Ronan's face instantly fell.

It seems a bit awkward to refuse something you've promised, right?

But he looked at Zoe reluctantly.

Zoe returned to her stall and shrugged at Ronan, as if to say:
"See, I was right, wasn't I? I shouldn't be so harsh when I speak."

(End of this chapter)