1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 167 Heavy rain is coming
According to the knowledge provided by the system and the improvement of sensory abilities after the upgrade, Ronan judged that Provence would definitely welcome the first rain of the year in three days at most and one day at least, and it would not be a small-scale one.

Ronan wondered if his roof would be able to withstand the coming downpour.

He didn't dare to gamble, nor did he want to rely on luck.

There were some waterproof materials left over from the previous renovation of the yard, and he planned to do an emergency waterproofing treatment on the roof. The upcoming heavy rain would be a 'water-tightness test'.

"What are you doing?" Theo came to Ronan's house to deliver apricots, but didn't see him at home. Ronan's mother told him that Ronan was on the roof.

Theo ran out to see, and sure enough, he found Ronan on the roof.

"I'm working on the base of the roof. I'll remove what needs to be removed and level what needs to be leveled. Then I'll do the waterproofing again." Ronan's voice came from the roof.

"That's very prescient." Theo stood further away so that he could see Ronan's face. "Everyone will reinforce the waterproofing of the houses before the rainy season comes. You know, these old houses are very fragile."

Ronan reminded him:
"I advise you to check if there is any problem at your home as well. The rainy season is about to arrive."

Theo hid in the shade and lit a cigarette:

"Don't worry, the rainy season is in August."

Provence has more than 300 days of sunshine each year and the rainy season is very short, usually arriving in August.

Ronan looked up at the sky again:
"No, I think the rainy season may come early this year."

If someone else had come today, Ronan's reminder would most likely have persuaded the other person.

But the one who came today was the laziest man in Lourmarin - Theo.

Theo left with a cigarette in his mouth:

"Okay, go ahead and do your work. I brought you some apricots. Remember to try them."

The people of Provence don't like any bad weather, which makes them feel that life becomes meaningless.

While drinking in the old tavern, Ronan often heard farmers talk about how much trouble the rainy season in Provence brought to everyone, and some people even suffered from depression because of it.

Moreover, the Provence Meteorological Office has not played any positive role in this matter.

This year's rainy season arrived earlier than in previous years, and it is certain that a large number of people have not started preparing yet.

Ronan thought that it was not enough for him to just know about the coming rain and make adequate preparations, he had to let his friends know about it in a 'reasonable' way.

After lunch, Ronan called Louis, Freddy, Old Carl and Alan's home respectively.

As for the 'reasonable' reasons?
"My friend in Paris called me and reminded me that there might be heavy rain in Provence in the next two days, so I must be fully prepared." Ronan said the 'lie' righteously.

Freddy's laughter spread from the east to the west of the village:
“Parisians have long arms, which even reach as far as Provence.”

Ronan was in no mood to joke with Freddy:

"You know, the weather forecast in Provence is often wrong. I hope you will pay attention to it, Freddy."

Freddy said 'gratefully':
"Okay, thank your friend in Paris for me. I will definitely be ready."

After hanging up the phone, Freddy's wife Flossie asked him:

"Did Ronan invite us to a party at his house tonight?"

Freddy laughed a few times, patted his belly and went into the kitchen:

"No, Ronan told me a Parisian joke. I guess his Parisian friend was trying to sell him rain gear."

rain?

The rainy season is still a month away!
Parisians are full of lies!

Not everyone is as 'humorous' as Freddy.

Leah told Ronan that she would cut off the circuit in her house before going to bed in the next two days and protect the valuables, and thanked Ronan for the reminder.

Feeling that all this was meaningful, Ronan went to the old tavern again under the scorching sun at noon.

Although there are not many people drinking here now, I’ll still help as many as I can.

"Mr. Ronan, are you here to see me?" Henry gave up his seat when he saw Ronan coming.

Tourists are constantly squeezing the space for farmers to drink in the old tavern, and now they want several people to share a bar seat. Ronan didn't order any drinks, but just reminded them:
"My friend in Paris called me and reminded me that there might be heavy rain in Provence in the next two days, so you must be fully prepared."

Boss Cuomo asked nervously:

"Did you say when it will rain?"

Ronan shook his head:

"It could be tomorrow, or it could be the day after tomorrow."

Cuomo threw his handkerchief onto the bar and anxiously went to the warehouse to get a ladder:

"Damn Provence Meteorological Service, they can't report anything other than sunny weather!"

Ronan was worried that Henry, who "disliked the whole world", might reject the news from Paris, so he reminded him earnestly:
"Henry, I remember that your wife and daughter are now working with Pire to make quilts. If they get wet or dirty, they won't be able to be sold. You must protect them well."

Henry really didn't like the whole world, but he liked Ronan.

Mr. Ronan is the best person in the world to me!
He even came to warn me of the coming heavy rain!!

Henry saluted solemnly:

"Thank you Mr. Ronan, I will definitely be prepared!"

Ronan patted his shoulder:

"If you see other people, please remind them as well."

After saying that, Ronan trotted back home.

His work is not yet finished.

One of the farmers also went home to prepare. Before leaving, he said to Henry:

"If other people come later, remember to remind them as well."

Henry showed his yellow rotten teeth viciously and muttered in a voice that only he could hear:
"Why should I remind them? They never even looked at me, Henry! If it rains, their houses will leak. This is God's punishment for them!"

The next day in the evening.

The air became exceptionally thick, and the leaves in the vineyards lay motionless, as if waiting for something.

Ronan finally finished the emergency repairs on the roof. He looked up and saw a lead-gray cloud that blocked half of the sun like a water-soaked quilt.

He smiled and twisted his sore waist:
“Friends shouldn’t have to worry about the rainy season this time.”

Theo's house is a few hundred meters away from Ronan's house.

Farmers are several times more sensitive to the weather than ordinary people.

Theo also saw the lead-gray cloud.

But his expression was completely opposite to Ronan's.

"Damn it, is it really going to rain?" Theo threw the cigarette in his mouth to the ground and ran back to the house.

More than 8 o'clock in the evening.

The countryside became silent, as if someone had unplugged the power source of the summer cicadas that had been chirping for months.

Even the most ignorant person knows that a heavy rain is coming.

"Flossie, honey! Stop watching TV. We have to do some emergency work on the house!" Freddy ran around the house with his big butt twisting. "God, why didn't I listen to Ronan's reminder and prepare in advance?"

It seemed to be to urge Freddy to move faster.

A flash of lightning streaked across the night sky.

Then, a muffled thunder was heard from the direction of the Cote d'Azur.

The first rain of the year finally arrived in Provence under the cover of darkness.

(End of this chapter)