1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 163 One Person Changes a City
Bonnieux is only 13 kilometers away from Lourmarin, but Saint-Remy is more than 50 kilometers away from Lourmarin. Compared with the last "goat race", this collective activity can be described as a "long journey".

The roads in the Luberon Mountains are not flat enough, and it is the peak tourist season during the summer vacation. In order to catch the most regional festival in Provence, the large group set off before 6 o'clock in the morning.

"I have a feeling today will be more tiring than working at home."

The two-person activity turned into a group activity, which made Ronan not very interested, but Luo Tianhai and Feng Zhen were full of curiosity about it.

"The 'Goat Race' is already very lively. Louis said the Migration Festival in Saint-Remy is even more lively than the 'Goat Race'. How lively would that be?" Feng Zhen asked her husband and son with anticipation.

The Paris family had basically the same feeling: the 'Goat Race' was the craziest day these Parisians had ever experienced in their lives.

Luo Tianhai, wearing the most popular 'aviator' sunglasses, sat in the driver's seat of DS19:

"Just go and take a look and you'll find out."

Feng Zhen wore her most beautiful dress today, sat in the passenger seat, and turned around to ask her son:
"Am I okay with this outfit?"

After moving to Provence, Feng Zhen began to pay attention to her appearance.

In Paris, she wouldn't put on makeup for half a year. After coming to Provence for a month, she had almost used up all her expired lipstick.

Her son is doing well and there are people who envy her wherever she goes.

She must mind her words and actions!
Ronan smiled and praised her:

"She's so beautiful, like a big star from Cannes."

Luo Tianhai smacked his lips in dissatisfaction. He was dressed very smartly today:

"Your mother is a star, what am I?"

Ronan patted his father's chair:

"You are the big boss of Marseille, the kind with special temperament."

"Hahaha - my son is the one who knows how to talk." Feng Zhen also put on her sunglasses, looking even more like a big star.

The Paris family, dressed in their best, was only happy for less than a minute.

When Luo Tianhai drove to Louis's house, he thought he had found the wrong place.

Is there a movie being filmed here?
After looking carefully for several seconds, I confirmed that the person wearing "flashy" clothes was Louis.

Louis was loading things into the car. When he saw Ronan and his family coming, he clicked his hat handsomely, put his hands in his pockets and walked over to ask:

"Leah prepared breakfast, would you like to bring some for you on the way?"

Ronan was so shocked that he said "God" several times:
"Why are you dressed like this?"

"Because the 'Migration Festival' is a very old festival in Provence, we will also wear distinctive local costumes on this day." Leah, who was wearing 'couple outfits' with Louis, came out holding things.

Seeing Leah, Ronan exclaimed:
"I suggest you wear 'traditional clothes' on a regular basis. These clothes make you look so cool."

Neither Feng Zhen nor Luo Tianhai dared to interrupt.

Louis and Leah's outfits are blocks away from the others!

Louis hugged his wife Leah and kissed her on the head:
"Not all traditional Provencal costumes are this pretty, but I have a very skillful wife, and this was made by Leah herself."

Leah also happily hugged Louis:

"Honey, that's because you look good in anything."

"But I also have a wife who is very skillful." Freddy's family also drove over to join them.

He and his wife got out of the car and walked around:
"How is it? This dress covers my belly perfectly!"

"Damn it, why are you wearing traditional clothes too?" Louis said angrily.

He did not tell the other Provencals that they were going to dress like this today in order to become the most 'dazzling' couple in today's group activities.

How come someone is trying to steal his limelight?
Freddy made a face:
"Because I guessed that someone would be 'scheming', and it seems that my judgment was correct, but I never thought that person would be you, Louis. I thought it would be old Carl. You know, he always wants to be the special person at such traditional festivals."

As soon as he finished speaking, old Carl's old car slowly stopped in front of Louis's house:
“Look, is this a beauty pageant?”

“Hahahaha—” Freddy laughed while rubbing his belly, “I knew you would wear this!”

Old Carl leaned out of the car window on his crutches and poked Freddy in the stomach:
"The last time I saw you dressed like this was 7 or 8 years ago. Was this dress made then? It's a miracle that you can still fit into it."

"Nonsense!" Freddy said angrily, "I'm the same size as I was 7 or 8 years ago."

"If you don't believe me, ask Louis?" Old Carl said to Louis.

Louis curled his lips:

"I remember that you had the same body shape as Alan 7 or 8 years ago, but now you are twice as fat as Alan." "Huh, but Alan is not as handsome as me!" Freddy muttered dissatisfiedly.

"Is that really the case?" Ronan looked behind them, "Alan is much more handsome than you today."

Alan and his wife got out of the car, looked at the group of people and said with a smile:
"Yesterday Nicola asked me to wear traditional clothes but I disagreed because I thought no one would do that in this era and it would be weird to wear it out. But now I am very grateful to my wife for giving me this advice. If I didn't dress like this, I would be the weirdest one."

Louis pointed at Alan's face and said:
"You even trimmed your beard?!"

Men from different countries have their own beard styles.

Americans' beards are usually horseshoe-shaped; British beards are fan-shaped, proud and delicate; Spanish beards extend from the temples to the chin, and are black and thick; Austrians' beards are thick, but their chins are clean; Russian beards are like two spears made of fists, mighty and domineering.

The French people's beards, like their personalities, can come in all kinds of novel styles and shapes, but they have one thing in common - they never take care of themselves.

Leah didn't want to listen to the quarrel between these middle-aged and elderly people, so she patted Louis' chest:
"Okay dear, don't talk about Alan, you also trimmed your beard this morning."

"I trimmed my beard because today's travel plan is to celebrate my baby daughter's conference in Aix!" Louis shouted.

"Dad, I've told you many times that we're going to attend the exhibition." Zoe pushed the door open and came out.

Zoe did not wear traditional clothes today. She wore a pair of light blue hip-hugging jeans and a tight white T-shirt with a very design sense on top. While reflecting her usual "simple" style, she also had an irresistible "fashion" atmosphere.

Ronan knew that Zoe had also dressed up 'carefully' today, and this was not what she would normally wear in Lourmarin.

Zoe threw her bag into Luo Tianhai's car and asked politely:
"Can I take this car? It would be weird to ride in the same car with my parents. I would look like a photographer taking pictures of their photo album."

"Of course, of course!" Luo Tianhai and Feng Zhen answered at the same time.

"Then let's go!" Freddy waved to everyone.

It was so magical to see these guys dressed in the characteristic costumes of southern France getting on the bus, as if some mysterious force had opened a time tunnel nearby.

The car started, and Ronan lowered his voice and said to Zoe beside him:

“Every time I attend a local event in Provence, I become stranger to these people.”

Zoe smiled at Ronan:
"Today's journey hasn't even started yet. It would be more appropriate for you to say this on the way back."

Ronan: "."

The location of Saint-Remy has left the Luberon Mountains. It is located in the north of the Alpilles Mountains. Although it is 20 kilometers south of Avignon, like Marseille, it is within the jurisdiction of the Bouches-du-Rhône department.

On the way, Zoe explained to Ronan and his family the origin and significance of the "Migration Festival":
"Shepherding is one of the oldest production activities of mankind. Since the emergence of shepherds in Provence, the Migration Festival has been held. It has a very long history."

"Starting from June, the weather becomes hot and the ground cracks. The original pastures can no longer support sheep and water becomes scarce. Shepherds drive their sheep to the alpine pastures for grazing and drive them back in October every year."

"Are you going to walk the whole way?" Feng Zhen asked.

Zoe answered patiently:
"In the past, it took shepherds 10 to 20 days to drive the sheep to their destination, but now most of them are transported there by truck."

Luo Tianhai continued to ask:
"If that's the case, why are these sheep walking through the city?"

Zoe smiled and said:
"Now the Migration Festival is more like a festival celebration. More than 3000 sheep and donkeys will parade twice around the center of the old town of Saint-Remy accompanied by shepherds and sheepdogs, and then the 'carnival' will begin."

Ronan asked:
"What kind of revelry? Same as the Goat Races?"

Zoe showed a strange smile:
"It's different. Each festival in Provence has its own characteristics."

"What is this? Will there be a band?" Ronan asked expectantly.

"Son, Zoe, look, there are so many sunflowers on both sides of this road." Feng Zhen suddenly interrupted their conversation.

Ronan turned his head and looked over, and found that all he could see were sunflowers.

"Why are there so many sunflowers planted here?" Feng Zhen asked Zoe.

Zoe looked out the window and said slowly:
"Because Van Gogh was treated in the St. Paul Mental Hospital in St. Remy, and created many unforgettable works here, including "Starry Night" with the town as the background. "Starry Night" is known as Van Gogh's most classic work. The residents of this town like to plant sunflowers to commemorate this talented painter, and many artists have moved here to live."

Saint-Rémy was the place where Ronan met the most artists in Provence.

The roadside is full of people painting, and there are many art shops along the street.

"Are they all here because of Van Gogh?" Ronan asked with some confusion.

Can’t draw at home?
Zoe showed a look of longing:

“One person changes a city. This also applies to the field of art.”

Ronan looked out the window thoughtfully, repeating these words over and over again:
"One person changes a city. One person changes a city."

Will I be able to have such great abilities in the future?
(End of this chapter)