1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 146 Goat Race
Freddy and others have been upset that Ronan did not participate in their happy trip to Cannes.

So everyone at the party suggested organizing another activity that was closer and where everyone could travel together.

Ronan's family came from Paris and had certainly never seen the authentic Provencal feature of "goat racing", so the second group trip was planned.

This time, not only Ronan and his family of three joined the party, but Zoe was also present.

The group arrived at Bonnieux Village before 9 o'clock and found that the place was already crowded with people.

Ronan had just stepped out of the car when someone handed him a flyer, which turned out to be a poster for the "Goat Race".

In addition to the detailed information about the 20 participating sheep and their excellent "jockeys", the poster also states in bold font:

There are many prizes in this competition, and we urge everyone to actively participate. If you want to place a bet, you can go to the tobacco shop at No. xx, xx Street and find the owner.

"Is this a poster for 'Goat Race' or an advertisement for that tobacco shop?" Ronan said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Freddy stroked his moustache:

"Maybe both. This kind of lively large-scale event will definitely benefit many parties."

Alain is good friends with the owner of a café in Bonnieux, and every year they can watch the race at the best 'viewing spot' because the café is right next to the starting point.

The starting point is also the finish line. After running a lap in Bonnieux, the sheep runners have to come back here to cross the finish line.

Freddy walked very fast, and as he passed Ronan, he laughed and said:
"It looks so beautiful when it hits the finish line."

Ronan looked back at Zoe for help.

Zoe shrugged.

"When crossing the finish line, the jockey needs to puncture the corresponding water ball on top of his head, which looks quite funny."

Ronan continued to ask:
"Can you explain the rules of the game to me? This way I can have a standard to judge when I go to the tobacco shop to place bets."

It’s such an exciting competition, you must buy something to join in the fun.

Zoe said frankly:

"I don't really know the rules, they seem to change every year, you might have to ask someone, but I know you don't need to go to a tobacco shop to place your bets."

"Why?" Ronan asked puzzledly.

Zoe pointed to the cafe in front of her:
"You'll know when you get up there."

The boss reserved a seat for Alan on the third floor terrace.

When Ronan and his group arrived there, the terrace was already full.

It's not even 9 o'clock yet, but everyone's appetite is quite good, and there is beer and wine on every table.

Alan had already placed the order for their table before they even sat down - 22 breakfasts, 20 bottles of cold beer and a bottle of cold rosé.

Alan returned to his seat and said to Ronan:

"The pink wine is for you and Zoe."

At this moment, Ronan deeply felt the lively atmosphere of today.

Look, even breakfast has to be paired with wine!

Who says only farmers drink from morning till night?
In addition to their large group of 22 people, there was another person on the terrace who was particularly eye-catching.

On the side close to the road, sitting in the best seat was a man who was two times fatter than Freddy.

He held a ticket book in one hand and a cash box jingling in the other, and the cigar in his mouth kept emitting big clouds of smoke.

Zoe introduces Ronan:
"He's the official betting agent for the 'Goat Races' event."

"Official betting agent?" Ronan was really surprised.

It really is the 'World Cup', so advanced!
However, he lowered his voice and asked Zoe in a complicated tone:
"Does this official betting agent know that in a certain tobacco shop, there is another man who is accepting 'off-site bets' on behalf of civilian forces?"

Zoe drank water to hide some emotions:
"There should be more than one man."

"Wow..." Ronan excitedly opened the pink wine, "What a lively national carnival."

The manager seemed to have noticed that many people were trying to steal his business, so he shouted:

"The game is about to start, so hurry up if you haven't placed any bets yet."

Ronan took a sip of pink wine and looked at the men:
"Can anyone tell me the rules of the game?"

Freddy is an expert in the field of animals, and he introduced Ronan:
"After the race begins, the knight will run the prescribed distance with the sheep, and the first one to cross the finish line will be the first place in the race."

"People and sheep running together?" Luo Tianhai, like Ronan, had no idea about this race.

Freddy pointed to his head:
"Sheep are not good at this. They are very stupid. They need someone to guide them before they know what to do next." "Just someone running behind them?" Feng Zhen couldn't imagine that scene.

Freddy went on to explain:
"Each jockey has a sharp wooden stick in his hand. This stick has two functions. First, it makes the sheep run faster. Second, when reaching the finish line, the stick is used to pop the balloon to prove that the race has been completed."

When Luo Tianhai heard Ronan say he wanted to place a bet, he asked on Ronan's behalf:

“How do you determine which sheep has the potential to win?”

Freddy spread his hands and laughed.
"Of course, I observe the players, just like buying a horse or a dog."

"But where are the contestants?" Feng Zhen looked towards the street.

There are people everywhere, where are the sheep?

Alan muttered angrily:
"You can only observe the players in the 10 minutes before the game. The rest of the time you can only see photos and cold text introductions. But there are too many people squeezing through in those 10 minutes, so you can't see anything."

Ronan sniffed hard:
"No, the 'player' is nearby."

The cafe they were in was at the starting point, so the 'contestants' certainly wouldn't be too far away from here.

The smell of their excrement was extremely strong in the temperature of nearly 35 degrees in Provence. Ronan took Freddy and Alan all the way to their resting place.

"That's amazing!" Alan said in amazement. "There are still more than 30 minutes before the game starts. We can observe carefully."

Freddy raised his fists excitedly:

"I'm lucky this time! As long as I can see them, I'll know who the champion is!"

"Is it true?" Ronan turned around and asked in disbelief.

There was no skill in his system that could handle this 'bet', so Ronan had to leave everything to fate.

Freddy patted his left chest hard:

“I deal with tens of thousands of sheep a year!”

Ronan's expression became interesting.

He is very short of money now. If Freddy really has this ability, he will buy more.

"What should we do now?" Alan asked impatiently.

He buys it every year, but never wins!

Will fate change this time?
Freddy explained to Ronan and Alan:

"These sheep have all received professional training, and the overall level will not differ too much. Details determine success or failure."

Frey's tone was serious, completely different from his usual demeanor. Ronan felt that he might be able to make a lot of money this time, so he asked seriously:

"What details?"

Freddy said very seriously:
"Observe their feces. The sheep that poop the most before the race usually run faster. Their stomachs are empty, so of course they run faster than those with full stomachs."

Ronan: "."

Over the next ten minutes or so, the three of them carefully observed the excretion of the contestants and the previous accumulations on the ground.

Through physics and mathematics, we calculated the winner - No. 11.

This guy has the most output!
As the competition time was approaching, they returned to the 3rd floor of the cafe.

As they lined up to pay with a stack of francs in their hands, they were told the bad news.

"The betting rules for this competition have been changed. You need to write down the numbers of the top three. You can't just write down the champion."

"What?!" Alan couldn't believe his ears.

No one remembers the excretion volume of the other 19 'players'.
Will meticulous scientific calculations be replaced by "fate" again?

But the goddess of luck was not on my side!

While Freddy and Alan were negotiating with the official betting agent about the unreasonable betting rules, Ronan quietly squatted next to Zoe.

"Write me two numbers."

The sun was too strong, and Zoe squinted her eyes slightly, looking particularly 'cute':
"I don't know anything about sheep. You choose for yourself."

The sunlight shone on Zoe's long golden hair, reflecting a soft light, so dazzling that it was impossible to look directly at it, just like her name 'Bright Pearl'.

Ronan handed her the paper:
"It's ok."

You are my lucky goddess.

(End of this chapter)