1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 191 Beauty Trap

Before coming to Valensole, Ronan had already anticipated the difficulty and application of hand-weaving techniques.

Zoe can't do rattan weaving, but she can do rope weaving.

They are actually interoperable.

Zoe told Ronan that this kind of handicraft is not difficult to learn, especially with a teacher teaching you step by step, but the difficult part is how to "create".

For example, she had only learned how to use ropes to make simple things such as bracelets and hammocks. It was easy to make them, but the difficulty lay in how to use the skills she had mastered to make more complex handicrafts.

Combining Zoe's statement with Ronan's own understanding, he judged that [Weaving] was a skill that was easy to get started with, but had a very high ceiling.

However, he doesn't need any "upper limit" at all, he just needs to get started, and learning to level 2 may be enough, and it will not exceed level 3 at most.

In order to quickly "finish learning" and return home, Ronan upgraded [Weaving] to level 3 in one go.

600 points of happiness are nothing to him now.

The abilities gained by the system after being upgraded to a high level are varied and unpredictable, but the entry-level abilities are the same every time - that is, a lot of basic knowledge.

The same is true for the Level 2 [Weaving] skill.

Ronan understood that this category included not only the rattan, grass, and bamboo that he and Batty had discussed, but also palm, willow, hemp, and many other crafts.

At the same time, I also learned about the characteristics and differences of things made of different materials.

In addition to this kind of basic knowledge, many weaving methods are also introduced in Level 2 [Weaving], including the basic weaving methods such as flat weaving, twisted weaving and buttonhole weaving mentioned by Batty, and the "pick one and press one" he just learned.

Level 2 [Weaving] only allows Ronan to understand this skill, while level 3 [Weaving] brings more practical abilities.

There are two new capabilities, one is the 'processing' method for woven materials.

For example, how to dry the grass and how to soak it to soften it; how to peel the rattan and enhance its softness; how to split the bamboo into strips, how to thin it, grind it and do anti-corrosion treatment, etc. This ability can increase the beauty and durability of the finished product.

The second ability is very practical, which is to enhance Ronan's "hands-on" ability.

[Cooking] once brought Ronan 2 upgrades to his 'hands'.

Level 3 [Cooking] allows him to be more 'precise' when adding seasonings, and he can put in as much as he wants.

Level 4 [Cooking] improves knife skills, but you need a knife in your hand to "own the world". Without the knife, Ronan's skills can only be said to be a little more flexible than ordinary people, but not much.

The hands-on ability brought by Level 3 [Weaving] has really made Ronan's hands more flexible.

He felt that each of his fingers was as flexible as an acrobat, and he could perform various "difficult" movements, and different actors could do different things at the same time.

It would be easy for 10 flexible acrobats to weave vines together and perform a play.

"I have almost mastered the technique of 'pick one and press one'." After weaving a whole piece of rattan, Ronan took the initiative to ask the teacher for instructions.

The devil teacher Batty took a sip of wine to calm himself down:

"Please write this down and practice it slowly this afternoon. I will teach you a few more 'simple' weaving methods based on your needs."

Ronan put down what he was holding and listened carefully.

Batty held up some canes and said:
"When making furniture, there is a processing method that can make the base beautiful and nice. This weaving method is called 'chrysanthemum weaving base'. My teacher told me that in China it is also called 'rice character' weaving method."

Ronan said calmly:

"it is good."

Ronan's reaction was too bland, Batty was very 'unsatisfied' and threatened Ronan with alarmist remarks:
"If you don't learn this knitting method well, it will be difficult to make a good-looking finished product. You must learn it well."

The "rice-shaped" weaving method requires a lot of winding movements. The vines are very hard and difficult to weave. It would be much simpler if bamboo was used.

But this is exactly the effect Batty wanted - to let Ronan know that rattan weaving is very difficult, so as to dispel his idea of "underestimating the enemy"!

"Okay, let's start." Ronan's tone finally changed and became anxious.

"Let's take out four vines and weave them into a '米' shape—" Batty said seriously, "Then we'll start from here and go around. The vines are quite hard, so every finger will help. These two fingers will be fixed, and this finger will help the vine to 'pass' through. The other finger will hold down the one next to it."

Batty seldom used this weaving method. It was not so easy to fight against the hard vines. Using several fingers together made him temporarily stop the "teaching" and make things seriously.

After he had gone around it twice, he felt it was almost complete, so he put it on the table and showed it to Ronan:
"Here, look, this is the effect of the 'chrysanthemum braid'."

After saying that, he raised his glass comfortably and took a sip.

"Is this the effect?" Ronan also put his 'finished product' on the table.

Batty put down the cup, looked to the left and then to the right, and was silent for a moment.

Damn, what the hell?

Two twins?!
"I rarely praise people, but you teach really well. I understand it as soon as I hear it." Ronan praised sincerely, "It was wise for me to come to you to learn. You are a great teacher."

"You continue to practice 'Pick One and Press One' and 'Chrysanthemum Weaving Bottom'." Batty stood up and left the yard with a grim expression. "I'm going to make something to eat."

To be honest, Batty was a little frustrated, but he was also very happy with Ronan's comments.

Do I have the potential to teach?

"How about applying to be a teacher at the art school in Aix? That way, you don't have to just look at those pretty young female college students from afar. You can join them openly!"

In a good mood, Batty decided to use his best dish "Old Cheese Pot" to thank Ronan for letting him know another side of him.

However, he seriously overestimated the amount of cheese he had at home. Even after opening the refrigerator, he only found a piece the size of his fist.

Batty searched the kitchen thoroughly while muttering:
"I go out to eat every day, and I don't have that much cheese."

The highest etiquette for Provencal people to treat guests is to cook a hearty meal at home. Taking guests out for dinner is considered "unreasonable". So Batty put all the ingredients in the kitchen, including sausages, potatoes, lettuce and tomatoes, next to the cheese.

"It should taste the same when cooked." Batty comforted himself.

The main feature of the old cheese pot is its casual simplicity, so there is no big problem.

Five minutes later, Ronan appeared at the kitchen door:

"Do you need help?"

His nose told him that there was a major crisis in the kitchen.

Batty worked hard to stir a basin of red viscous liquid:

"No, we can eat in ten minutes."

After saying that, he poured some more red wine into it.

The standard way to make cheese pot is to add brandy, but the tomatoes make the dish red, so Batty thinks adding red wine is more appropriate.

Ronan came to Batty's side and looked down at the pot of something that was more terrifying than witches' potion.

It is not a good idea to attack Batty directly, after all, this is his intention.

But Ronan needs to be in good health and return to Lourmarin as soon as possible.

After thinking for a few seconds, he suddenly said in a chatty tone:
"I heard a slight quarrel between the owner of the family restaurant at the door and a guest in the yard. You should know the owner, right? I just saw you greet her."

Batty immediately turned off the stove and said to Ronan seriously:

"Mrs. Chelsmere needs my help."

Ronan smiled with relief.

Thankfully, women in their 50s still appeal to Batty.

Batty is a person who finds it difficult to end a conversation with others, especially with women.

While he was showing off his masculine charm to Mrs. Chelsea, who was in her 50s, Ronan went to the grocer and butcher on the same street to stock up on some ingredients.

This is another advantage of living in a downtown area. You can definitely find what you want within 100 meters.

To express his gratitude to Batistuta, Ronan said he would also cook two dishes, and thus the serious "food crisis" was finally resolved.

While Ronan was cooking, Batty was quietly working in the yard.

When Ronan finished cooking and came out to call him, he found that Batty was as engrossed in the conversation as when he was chatting with Mrs. Chelsea, and he had to pat his shoulder to "wake him up".

"I'm done, you can eat now." Ronan pointed to the kitchen.

Batty muttered in surprise:
"So fast? I thought it was only a few minutes."

Batty seldom eats at home. Eating outside is more lively and he can also see beautiful women.

But he also found the meal he had with Ronan "enjoyable".

He hasn't had such a pleasant chat with someone in a long time!
There were almost no colleagues in France who did the same thing as him, only the Italians were willing to study rattan weaving.

But Batistuta couldn't speak the same language as the Italians.

Ronan was willing to listen to him talk about weaving, and he also had a certain understanding of other art forms and had a good aesthetic sense.

He casually drew the style of jewelry that Batty wanted, and it came alive.

The two of them happily chatted over a small sketch for a whole afternoon.

The 'classroom' was then moved from the yard to the dining room.

Batistuta demonstrated to Ronan on the spot how to achieve it and how there are several ways to achieve it. Ronan is a "good student" as always and can quickly digest whatever Batistuta teaches.

"We can't talk anymore." Ronan looked at the sky outside and judged that it should be almost 4 o'clock. "I still have to go to Hedeli's house to look at chairs today."

Ronan also had a very happy day today. Batty was a knowledgeable and experienced artist, and because his teacher was Chinese, Batty was very familiar with Chinese culture. It was a happy thing to chat with such a person. However, he still had a task to complete today.

"Okay, that's all for today's class. We'll continue tomorrow." Batty said happily.

Ronan packed up briefly and when he went out he found Batti standing at the door holding four bottles of red wine.

"Are you going out too?" Ronan asked with a wicked smile.

Time to socialize?

Batty stuffed two bottles of red wine into Ronan's hands and said excitedly:

"I'll go to Hedeli's house with you. There are several beautiful unmarried girls near her house. I'll take you to get to know them!"

Ronan cooked delicious food and they had common topics, so Batty was reluctant to let him leave.

But Ronan learns things so quickly that even a devilish teacher might not be of any help.

Then use some other means.

The Italian master who taught him weaving skills once gave Batti a Chinese book called "The Art of War".

Batty was quite obsessed with the book and had read it many times.

He decided to use the 'honey trap' against Ronan!
Let him see the charm of the women of Valensole! !
(End of this chapter)