1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 142 Application Reason: Ronan

In recent times, the Lourmarin government has had mixed feelings.

The good news is that more than 20 villagers have submitted applications to the market management center to participate in the market. You should know that before this, the total number of stalls in the Lourmarin market was only more than 70.

In Provence, market culture is very important, and expanding the scale of the market can attract more people's attention.

Judging from this incident, Lourmarin's "revitalization road" has undoubtedly taken a very important step, but the "commercial street" project that the government has invested a lot of effort in building is still not popular.
"Is the reason the villagers filled in on the application form still 'Ronan'?" Blanco asked with a smile.

Sylvie, who works at the Lourmarin Market Management Center and was once labeled as 'difficult to communicate' by Ronan, said with an unpredictable expression:

"Yes, they were too lazy to write too many words, so everyone wrote 'Ronan' in that column. But I communicated with everyone, and their situations were very consistent. It was indeed because they saw Ronan making money at the market that they wanted to get involved."

The participants in this meeting were all core members from various departments of the Lourmarin government, and everyone shared their recent feelings.

"Ronan's home is as busy as a 'tourist attraction' every day. Everyone pays close attention to what he does."

"In the past, only teenagers admired him, but now he is the most popular person in the village among children aged 3 to 18. My son is 4 years old and can't spell his own name, but he can spell Ronan."

"The topic that the villagers love to talk about most now is how to live a happier life like Ronan."

Seeing Blanco lost in thought, Sylvie said expectantly:
"Village head, I think your proposal is right. We should indeed spare no effort to get Ronan to join the 'commercial street' project. As long as he joins, it will surely attract the attention of other villagers. But how can we win him over?"

Blanco brought up this topic at a meeting a few days ago, saying that the influential Ronan could be given some green light to set an example for other villagers.

At that time, everyone was very hesitant, thinking that the village chief was starting to gamble again.

But the situation changes rapidly, and now they have changed their minds.

The village chief has a really good eye!

But how to give the 'green light'?

Blanco pinched his eyes and said:
"This is exactly what I wanted to discuss with you. The budget for building the commercial street is pooled together by various departments. Let's think about how to win over Ronan."

Sylvie is the head of the market management center, and she can only mobilize these resources:
"I can give him a discount on the 'maintenance' and 'management' fees, and he only needs to pay the cost of maintaining the labor costs."

The person in charge of the Lourmarin Tourism Management Center is Claude, the one whose son can only spell Ronan's name:
"Ronan's food is delicious, and the village chief also said that he wanted to leave the best building behind the fountain to Ronan. So when our tourism center is making materials, we can promote that restaurant as a 'feature' of Lourmarin."

"When the municipal government does greening, they move an old tree to his doorstep. Both tourists and villagers like the old tree very much, which will bring more traffic."

"After the commercial street is up and running, we will remake the street signs and can make two for Ronan's restaurant."

All departments have shown their full sincerity, hoping to help the village chief to "get through the difficulties".

Blanco wrote down everything, put the cap on his pen, and took a desperate stance:

“I will definitely not let everyone’s efforts go to waste.”

This time Blanche behaved himself and did not go to Ronan's house, but went to the old tavern instead.

Sure enough, through the window, I saw Ronan drinking and chatting with the farmers inside.

Ronan was the absolute 'focus' wherever he was, and the farmers in the old tavern were all standing or sitting around him.

Blanco decided that as long as it was within his ability, he would try his best to agree to it even if Ronan proposed some unexpected conditions.

These are the necessary contributions on the road to the revitalization of Lourmarin!
Blanco pushed open the door of the old tavern, and everyone inside immediately looked over nervously.

The last time the village chief came here was a year or two ago, and he didn't come here to drink but to deal with the farmers who were drunk and making trouble.

Cuomo put down what he was doing, stood up and said:
"Everything is fine here."

Have you come to the wrong place?
Blanco smiled kindly at everyone and asked politely:
"Ronan, do you have time to go out with me?"

Everyone's eyes turned to Ronan.

Ronan is so famous that even the village chief wants to ride in his convertible? Blanco didn't get straight to the point, but chatted about other things and took Ronan for a stroll in the village.

However, as soon as Ronan saw the direction he was going, he guessed what he wanted to talk about.

Ronan thought to himself:

The Lourmarin government was indeed very anxious and came back to me within a week.
Sure enough, Blanco took Ronan to the "commercial street" under construction. He pointed to the largest building at the end and said:

"The first museum of Lourmarin is going to be built here. The exterior design is almost done, but the theme has not been decided yet. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Ronan shook his head:

“I haven’t been to many museums.”

The museums in Provence display all kinds of bizarre contents. The theme of the largest museum in the village of Mena is actually "bottle opener". Zoe said that the contents of museums in other villages are also very interesting, but he has not been there yet.

Blanco stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the museum as if it were his own child:
"This building is quite large and will take another half a year to complete. If you have any good ideas, please feel free to tell me. Let's go and take a look at the buildings that are almost completed."

Blanco pointed to a yellow building on the right and said:

“It would be great if there was a cafe next to the museum, which would be a good place to go when you are tired of shopping or waiting for someone.”

He continued, pointing to the next building:

"How about opening a souvenir shop here? Selling some Lourmarin specialties."

Ronan nodded and said:
"That's good. There's no souvenir shop in Lourmarin yet."

The level of commercialization in Lourmarin is too low. The shops here are all built for the residents' lives and there are no shops specifically for tourists.

This commercial street has, to some extent, changed the tourism ecology of Lourmarin.

Blanco continued walking forward and pointed to the next building and said:

"We plan to open a gallery or art store here. Provence is the cradle of artists, but Lourmarin doesn't have any artistic atmosphere."

He looked at Ronan and smiled:
"You can ask Zoe to send some works here when the time comes. That child is the only 'artist' in Lourmarin."

Ronan turned to look at him in surprise.

Are you changing the subject too quickly?
Blanco laughed:
"I heard it from the villagers."

Ronan smiled and nodded:

"Okay, I'll give her the proposal."

Blanco continued to walk forward and stood in the huge circular area:
"There will be a fountain here. Have you seen the circular fountain square at the end of the Cours Mirabeau? We want to make it look like that."

Ronan nodded:

"I've been there."

He went to the fountain square every time he went to Aix to pick up Roy.

Blanco suddenly turned around.

Looking at the three-story building behind the fountain, which is the largest and most conspicuous building on the entire street except for the museum, I asked Ronan:

“How about opening a restaurant for you here?”

(PS: This picture shows a restaurant in the center of Lourmarin Village. Can you help me estimate the area of each floor?)

(End of this chapter)