1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 173 On-site return gift
Ronan's bet was absolutely right.

After Professor Goldman's conversation with her, the remaining few pieces were ordered, and all 13 pieces that Zoe exhibited remained in Aix, with only six "abstract" small wood sculptures taken away.

After that, two more partners approached Zoe, hoping to have further contact with her.

Tourists and designers also warmed up to Zoe.

Until she was about to leave, there was still someone talking to Zoe.

"Honey, are you going to be famous?" Leah asked Zoe excitedly after the car started moving, "So many people are looking for you."

Zoe made a cute 'you think too much' face to her mom:

"The partner just wants to see my work, which doesn't necessarily mean there will be a chance for cooperation. Besides, leaving contact information is also a normal communication between colleagues. It's not easy to do this job, so we need to 'stick together for warmth'."

"That's great!" Louis said with undisguised pride, "Maybe you will continue to participate in exhibitions soon, and you will be invited to go."

Zoe said happily:
"It's hard to say what will happen in the future, but your daughter did make a small fortune."

"Those 13 instruments sold for a lot of money?" Leah asked excitedly.

Zoe turned back to them and said:

"The organizers marked a very high price for our works. My cheapest cup was sold for 1000 francs. After deducting the share of the exhibition, I should be able to get more than 1 francs."

That’s the benefit of participating in the show.

The same thing can only be sold for one or two hundred yuan in the market, but it becomes one or two thousand yuan here.

Don't ask why, the answer is 'art is priceless'.

"Oh! God!" Leah covered her mouth with her hands excitedly.

For a housewife, 1 francs is an unthinkable number.

Louis was extremely excited, waving his fists and saying:
“You already make more money than me!”

This time Zoe wasn't being modest:

"After this experience, I can raise the price of my cups and plates in the future. When my financial situation improves, I can spend more time on creation."

Most of what Zoe makes now are tools that are easy to sell. Once the unit price of the tools increases, she can reduce the number of products she makes and spend more time on "art".

"What cups and plates? They're works of art!" Ronan agreed happily.

Zoe's hard work over the years has finally paid off!
"They are far from being works of art—" Zoe smiled and shook her head, then looked at Ronan's profile and asked, "Let's have a big meal in Aix before going home, just to celebrate?"

Today is definitely a big day worth celebrating.

Ronan smiled and pointed at Louis in the back row:

"You're planning too late. Your father has already arranged your 'celebration party'."

Louis patted the backs of the two front seats and said:

"No, no, no, the scale of the 'celebration party' needs to be upgraded! Ronan, help me find a place with a phone to stop. I want to call Freddy and ask him to send a whole sheep to your house!"

Louis and Leah went to Aix, so the party tonight was at Ronan's house.

Luo Tianhai and Feng Zhen were of course very happy to take on this task and started preparing for it at noon.

Feng Zhen counted the plates:
"16 dishes, isn't that a bit too few? How about adding 4 more to make 20?"

Luo Tianhai turned around and said to his wife with a smile:

"Why are you so excited today? This isn't the first time you've held a party at our house. You're making it seem like Ronan is having an 'engagement party'."

Feng Zhen opened the refrigerator to see what else she could make:
"Zoe's 'celebration party' is held at our house, which means Louis and Leah don't treat us as outsiders. Do you think your son's 'engagement party' is still a long way off?"

"Really?" Luo Tianhai asked dully, "Did Ronan say anything to you?"

Luo Tianhai never talks about personal issues with Ronan.

It's so corny for two grown men to talk about love topics.

So the son has been 'informing' his mother of the progress?

Feng Zhen waved her hands impatiently at Luo Tianhai:
"Alright, alright, hurry up and cook. With a stupid dad like you, it's no wonder your son is also stupid."

I regret it. I regret it so much.

If she had found a "charming" man back then, she would have three grandchildren now.

Feng Zhen was rummaging through the refrigerator when someone knocked on the door.

She trotted over, opened the door and saw Freddy:
"Didn't you say you could only come after you delivered the goods?"

Freddy pointed to the van behind him;
"I'm just here to deliver the goods. Who else is at home? Call them out quickly. We can't carry a whole sheep and a whole cow by ourselves."

"Ah? A whole sheep and a whole cow?" Feng Zhen asked Freddy in surprise, "Who asked you to deliver it?"

Freddy opened the van door:
"Ronan, he said the specs for tonight are going to be 'upgraded'."

Feng Zhen took a breath of cold air.

It can’t really be an ‘engagement party’, right?

Something good happened, and the group was filled with joy on their way back to Lourmarin. Louis and Leah vividly described to Zoe the "grand occasion" of Ronan's home a few days ago.

"There were at least 40 people with Ronan that day, and they ate in batches," Louis said with a smile.

"Fortunately, there were so many women there, otherwise we wouldn't be able to make all the dumplings." Leah said to Zoe, "Honey, it's a pity that you didn't get to eat the dumplings. They were really delicious."

Ronan held the steering wheel with one hand:
"You can come to my house anytime you want to eat. That's easy to do."

Zoe smiled and asked Ronan:
"You've been quite busy these days when I was away."

You can turn a rain into a festival.

Ronan said with a bright smile:

"That's true. I'm very busy every day and have done many 'big things'!"

Zoe propped up her head and asked:
"What's the big deal?"

Ronan took advantage of a turn and turned his head to look at Zoe beside him:

"You'll see it when you get back."

As soon as Zoe arrived at Ronan's house, she was immediately treated like a star.

Everyone gathered around her and asked her how the exhibition in Aix was going.

Louis transformed himself into Zoe's 'agent', protecting his artist and saying:
"Now is not the time to talk about it. I will announce some exciting good news to everyone at the dinner table later!"

Zoe was helpless about her father's 'childish behavior', but she didn't want to ruin his 'plan', so she could only say nothing.

But the people of Provence were so kind. The men and women asked Zoe questions so many times that she felt miserable, and they would not let her go even if she had to hide in a corner.

"Zoe and I have something to do outside, please stop bothering her." Ronan 'warned' them.

Zoe walked out of Ronan's house, raised her head and took a deep breath:
"Thank you for rescuing me."

"Save you?" Ronan blinked. "I really have something to ask you."

Ronan had been roasting lamb in the backyard and did not see what happened in the house.

Zoe jumped a little excitedly:
"Would you like me to join you in roasting lamb?"

Zoe has no interest in food or cooking, but because Ronan cooks delicious food, she is now a little "eager to try".

"Don't worry, just come over here with me first." Ronan waved at her with a smile.

Zoe followed Ronan to the backyard, and then all the way through the outdoor kitchen and dining area to a large, quiet tree.

Ronan pointed forward excitedly:

"I made two hanging chairs for you these days, come and try them out!"

More than a month ago, Ronan began to think about what he could do for Zoe.

Zoe always considers him in every way, helping him solve the problem of taking naps, getting him protective gear and taking care of many other aspects of his daily life. On the other hand, Ronan has always been the one being given.

Not only was Zoe thinking about Ronan's preferences, Ronan was also recalling Zoe's preferences.

Zoe said that since she was a child, she liked things that could swing from side to side.

So Ronan took advantage of her visit to Aix to build two hanging chairs.

In response to Professor Goodman's questions, Zoe's emotions and voice did not fluctuate at all, and she herself is not a person who likes to have emotional fluctuations.

But when she saw the hanging chair, her emotions fluctuated significantly, and even her voice began to tremble:

"Did you hear that?"

She only told Ronan that once, and at that time Ronan was sleeping with his eyes closed.

"Try it now!" Ronan urged Zoe, excited like a child.

Zoe sat on the hanging chair, patted the seat next to her, and said to Ronan gently:
"You sit down too."

"Wait." Ronan suddenly trotted away.

More than half a minute later, he came back with a plate, sat down next to Zoe, and handed her the plate:
"Cavaillon's melons. I asked Pierre to bring them back."

Zoe also told Ronan about another thing she loves - Cavaillon melon.

No matter what the outcome is, today is a "milestone" day in Zoe's career. Ronan started asking around a few days ago about who was going to the vicinity of Cavaillon recently, hoping that she could eat her favorite food immediately after returning to Lourmarin.

Zoe's emotions fluctuated even more, and she held the plate of melon for a long time without saying anything.

Who says Ronan doesn’t understand romance and style?
She only told Ronan two things she liked, and Ronan remembered them all.
This sudden romance completely broke Zoe's heart.

Ronan felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward, so he gently rocked the hanging chair and said in a brisk tone:
"Look, you owe me another gift in return. This time I order it myself and you give me one—"

Zoe suddenly spoke, and her words pierced Ronan's heart.

"How about I give myself to you?"

(End of this chapter)