1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 184 Thank God for His Gift!

The trip to Roussillon was very rewarding.

Zoe is Ronan's biggest happiness accelerator.

He had no evil idea of "brushing up points", but he earned more than 300 points just by playing normally for a day.

Of course, Ronan would not think of cheating on the points.

The system knows what happiness is better than he does - some people don't know when they are happy, and what some people think is "happy" may not necessarily be true happiness.

Happiness is a kind of satisfaction that comes from the heart and cannot be concealed.

In addition to the gains in [Happiness], Ronan also discovered a Chinese craft that was very suitable for the restaurant's decoration style.

In addition to asking Aix's friend to find the artist who made the wicker flowers, Zoe was also asking if there were other people who knew this craft.

As long as he finds someone, Ronan will immediately go to "apprentice and learn skills", and then start upgrading furniture and accessories.

The popular restaurant in Roussillon also made Ronan pay attention to details such as tableware and plating, which he had previously overlooked.

"Decoration" covers not only decoration, furniture and accessories, but also doorheads, restaurant logos, tableware, staff uniforms and everything else that can express the restaurant's attitude.

These will all be prepared later.

The art of plating is equally important, as it will directly affect customers' evaluation of the restaurant.

However, plating is not something Ronan can do well just because he wants to. Luo Tianhai doesn’t even understand the art of plating in French cuisine.

If Ronan wants to improve, he can only hope that the next [Cooking] upgrade will give him this ability.

But the abilities given by the system are too random and impossible to judge.

"You look like you're worried?"

Under the shade of the trees on the commercial street, Thomas asked Ronan, whose thoughts were drifting somewhere unknown.

Today, they are the only two people enjoying the cool air here.

Cotillard has been working very hard recently. I don't know if it's because she felt pressured after receiving Zoe's batch of goods. She is busy in the store every day and rarely comes out to rest.

Ronan nodded:

“I’m about to face something, but I’m not sure if it will be a good ending.”

The happiness level required to upgrade to level 4 [Cooking] was enough after breakfast today, but Ronan didn't dare to upgrade it.

If there is no ability to help him this time, the next upgrade of [Cooking] may have to wait until the restaurant opens, and then it will be too late.

Thomas enthusiastically gave him advice:

“When you are unsure, go to church and the Lord will reveal it to you.”

Ronan tried hard to control his expression without any fluctuations:
"Thanks for your advice Thomas, but this might not be something appropriate to do in church."

Thomas put away his smile and said seriously:
“There is nothing that the Lord cannot solve.”

Ronan realized that Thomas must be a devout believer, and tried to polish it:

"That is a matter related to 'divine revelation'. I am afraid I will have to face it alone."

Thomas patted Ronan's arm solemnly, his tone gentle like a priest:
"Go to church, Ronan. The Lord is always watching over us. You don't have to face it alone."

Ronan frowned and looked in the direction of the old church.

Then go and give it a try?
Ronan went to the old church of Lourmarin that day.

The result was gratifying, and he really showed satisfactory performance when he returned to the restaurant.

Level 4 [Cooking] brings two changes, both of which Ronan really needs.

The first ability improves his sword skills.

At this moment, he only had a knife and no ingredients, so he could only go to the bushes to find experimental subjects.

"Swish, swish, swish, swish—"

In less than five minutes, a cute Doberman 'silhouette' appeared on the tree in the backyard.

How perfect is Ronan's swordsmanship now?

Not a piece of bark fell to the ground, all of it fell on the knife surface.

The second ability brought by Level 4 [Cooking] is what Ronan needs most right now - it improves his understanding of "aesthetics".

Now the dishes in Ronan's mind have turned into "paintings".

Ronan really wants to show off his skills in color matching, perspective and structure, light and video angles, and infinite imagination, but he doesn't have the conditions now.

Without a word he put all the bark back on the surface.

Soon the Doberman turned into a wiry-haired dog with a beard and hair all over its face. Ronan even modified Marseille's eyes to make it look a little 'kind', making it look harmless.

Cafu walked past Ronan with a horrified look in his eyes.

Ronan stood up happily:
"Come to my house for dinner tonight. You've all been working hard lately."

celebrate!

Big celebration!
"No, no, no." Kafu, who was stronger than an ox, ran away like the wind. The knife was too scary.

After being rejected by Cafu, Ronan turned to Thomas and told him the good news. "Thank you, Thomas, my wish has come true. Do you want to have dinner at my house tonight? Invite Cotillard to come along."

The decoration had been going on for half a month, but Ronan and the other two still had no chance to eat.

Don't wait any longer, make it today!

Unexpectedly, Thomas also rejected Ronan:

"Ronan, the most important thing you should do now is not to celebrate, but to prepare a vow. I can see that the Lord has given you a great help. You should make a vow with all your heart to thank the Lord for his gift."

Ronan exhaled, frowning.

A thoughtful vow?
Ronan left in the morning with a sad face, and he was still sad when he returned home, but the thing he was worried about was different.

He didn't know what to use as a vow offering.
A votive offering can be understood as a vow made when a person's prayer for a miracle is answered.

Votive objects were not only for the petitioners, they were hung in churches as a public testimony of personal faith and gratitude for the miracle.

There are many types of vow objects, and they also have regional characteristics.

When Ronan visited the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille, he saw votive objects in the church including paintings, plaques, model ships, war medals and even jerseys of the local team Olympique de Marseille.

In Montreal, not far from Marseille, hundreds of crutches, canes and crosses are fixed to the iron bars of the church where pilgrims claim to have been healed when they met Brother André.

In some places, the votive objects are helmets that have been hit by bullets, representing the veterans who survived the war. In some places, the votive objects are tablets of the Virgin Mary.
But no matter what you choose as a vow, it should reflect what you have gained from this prayer.

But how can Ronan's ability of "displaying the dish" that he prayed for be manifested?

There is no symbol to be found.

If it is not possible to express your wish with symbols, there are two options.

One is to leave a written record of the miracle, which is even more impossible. The priest will ask Ronan to drink holy water.

Then there is only one last option left - painting.

Use paintings to depict the miracles that the petitioners received.

Although it is not the most ideal choice, painting will make the content abstract, which is at least "safe".

After making the decision, Ronan immediately found a paintbrush and a drawing board.

"It's a good opportunity to try out my newfound aesthetic ability." Ronan raised his paintbrush excitedly.

Thomas was a devout believer.

We pray between 5 and 8 every morning, and go to church for evening classes every Tuesday and Friday night.

After becoming familiar with Cotillard, he would occasionally invite Cotillard to join him.

"What have you been busy with lately?" Thomas asked Cotillard on the way to the church.

The dark circles and Cotillard's afro make her look more rock:

"We are busy opening as soon as possible because the tourist season is about to end."

We have now entered the end of the travel season in Provence. Once September arrives, this place will return to its tranquility and leisure after half a year.

Shop owners all hope to open their shops quickly to make some money before then, as the next chance to make some money will be in April next year. In the months before that, their business will continue to decline just like the temperature.

Thomas nodded in understanding:
“I’m going to start bringing in furniture this week and should be open for business this time next week.”

Cotillard said worriedly:
"I will be late. Art shops have high requirements for lighting. I tried the first version of the lighting plan and was completely dissatisfied. Now I am asking the workers to adjust it as soon as possible."

Thomas gave her enthusiastic advice:

"You can ask Ronan to help you. He's a designer."

Cotillard touched her hair:

"He must be very busy recently. Who doesn't want to open before the tourist season? Let's not bother him."

Thomas thought for a moment and said:

"Ronan's restaurant has been progressing faster than ours. Maybe it's almost done now. I'll ask him for you if I meet him."

"Okay then, thank you Thomas," Cotillard said with a smile.

The two men quickly walked to the old church of Lourmarin.

They were also attracted by a new painting on the votive wall at the door.

Other votive paintings were only the size of a notebook, but this one was nearly one meter long. What was even stranger was the content of the painting—it was filled with food, like a menu.

The food is so vivid and lifelike, and every detail makes people salivate.

Thomas couldn't even help but sniff twice.

Cotillard's eyes sharpened, and he commented in a professional tone:

"The color combination is perfect, the perspective and structure are top-notch, the lighting and visual angles are impeccable, and the most rare thing is the terrifying imagination. Which great painter was so eager to create this votive painting?"

Thomas pointed to a corner of the painting in horror and said:

"God, this is Ronan's votive painting!"

Thomas and Cotillard shouted in unison:
"Is Ronan's restaurant about to open? Has it even been advertised in the church?"

(End of this chapter)