1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 202: More Friends, More Paths
Leah’s joining filled the last gap of the restaurant, and Ronan also gained confidence in the field of desserts.

After that, they did several more collaborative tests. With Leah's craftsmanship and Ronan's plating, the final product was as exquisite and beautiful as a work of art.

Before the restaurant opens, Leah will study several more Chinese desserts like 'Hibiscus' and 'Plum Blossom', and strive to expand the variety and make it foolproof.

Freddy joked that Lourmarin was one step closer to having its first Michelin restaurant.

Of course, Ronan was also looking for authentic Chinese dessert recipes at the same time, but his current dessert level was good enough.

Leah's joining also greatly increased the popularity of Ronan's restaurant.

Almost all the villagers have tasted the cooking of this best chef in Lourmarin, and they all say it is good. With her help, the quality of Ronan Restaurant is more guaranteed and the villagers are more at ease.

When Ronan sold lunch boxes at the Lourmarin market for the third time, many more villagers came to buy them.

The more people buy, the more people will come to see, and the more new customers will be converted.

When he got home and counted the accounts, Ronan found that his daily income from lunch boxes was almost 1500 francs.

Don't forget that it's past the tourist season, which means that almost all the buyers are from Lourmarin and other Provencal villages.

This proves that the name of Ronan Chinese Restaurant has gradually become known locally without anyone noticing.

In addition, there was another unexpected situation.

Many villagers asked Luo Tianhai if he could provide a "long-term supply" of boxed lunches.

The harvest day is coming soon, and many families start preparing for it in advance. Once they are busy, they often have no time to make lunch.

It would be great if Luo Tianhai could provide boxed lunches every day.

Of course Luo Tianhai was willing to do this, as it would promote the restaurant and relieve Ronan's financial pressure, so this matter was smoothly completed.

After that, Ronan's kitchen became busier and busier.

Luo Tianhai cooks in the morning, and Luo Nan drives around the village to deliver meals at noon. The "business" has already started before the restaurant opens.

This situation made Thomas and Cotillard, whose business was in a slump, very jealous.

Our store has been open for a long time, but business is still slow.

Why is Ronan's restaurant already doing business before it even has all the furniture?
And the business is growing!
"Ronan, you're so 'infuriating'!" Cotillard said, holding the cigarette butt in his hand. "How many copies did you deliver today? 30 or 40?"

Ronan shook off the sawdust on his body:

"The recent period is special. The 'food delivery' business is only available during September. After that, there will be no such business."

After the harvest season, everyone still has to cook for themselves, as the residents of Lourmarin are not yet financially capable of eating out every meal.

"The money I've made in the past few days is pretty good, maybe even more than what I make in a whole month." Cotillard blew out a puff of smoke and said indignantly, "If I had known earlier, I would have worked in the catering industry. Who would have thought that running a restaurant in Lourmarin would be so popular?"

Thomas frowned:
"Don't say that about Cotillard. Look at the cafe in Alos. The waiter has been sleeping for two hours."

Alos is the owner from out of town who took the key and never showed up again. His cafe is run by his wife's younger brother.

At this moment, the helper his brother hired was lying on a chair in the outdoor dining area, wiping his saliva.

Ronan looked at his colleagues and said in a calm tone:
"I just used a little bit of publicity, and I also have a lot of friends."

The restaurant has come a long way, including developing an advertising strategy for selling boxed lunches, getting publicity from friends, and getting support from farmers. These are all essential factors for the restaurant to be where it is today.

Thomas curled his lips:
"That's a lot of publicity, man. I see your 'hand-painted advertisements' every time I go to church."

That vow-fulfilling painting is too eye-catching!
Thomas believed that someone must have been stimulated by it and wanted to find something to eat.

Ronan smiled brightly:
"It's really just a little publicity stunt, really."

It's not enough publicity, my friend.

As October is getting closer, Ronan's publicity plan needs to be "upgraded".

Louis's house.

"What patterns are you going to paint on the plates and cups?" Ronan asked Zoe the same question every few days.

Leah's dessert-making skills are absolutely impeccable, but the biggest contributor to those "Chinese-style" desserts is Zoe.

She must have read a lot of information when making the tableware, otherwise how would she know that hibiscus and plum blossoms have special meanings in China?
This made Ronan even more curious.

What kind of tableware will the great artist Zoe design for him?
No matter how Ronan asked, Zoe's answer was always the same:

"You'll know in a few days. I'm still adjusting."

Designing tableware for Ronan was a top priority, and this time, without the 'client' asking, Zoe took the initiative to overturn the design again and again, always feeling that it 'could be better'.

However, it is almost mid-August and the final version is not far away.

"Please tell me the date, please?" Ronan said gently.

Zoe frowned slightly:

"You really want to help?"

Ronan said frankly:

"Of course, do you think I'm kidding?"

Zoe laughed and said:
"Of course I thought you were joking. You know nothing about glass or ceramics."

Zoe and Ronan meet almost every day and chat about everything under the sun. Doesn't she know what level Ronan is at?

Ronan used evasive tactics:

"Anyway, I'm coming over to help you."

After saying that, he stood up and gently closed the door of Zoe's studio:

"Leah has made new desserts. Don't forget to come out and eat them. She needs encouragement now."

Zoe lowered her head and continued to read her pattern reference book: "Got it, I'll be right out."

Leah is now very ambitious. She improves her skills in the kitchen every day and researches new products. She is very similar to Luo Tianhai who was in the "food tasting" state some time ago.

Today, Ronan tasted a yogurt pudding that combined the inspirations of 'butterfly' and 'tofu'.

"Perfect!" Ronan said, waving the spoon. "Leah, you made me fall in love with desserts."

Leah made a cheering gesture:

"This is all thanks to Zoe's pattern book."

Ronan lowered his voice and said to Leah:

"When Zoe starts making tableware, remember to notify me."

Zoe is very opinionated. Ronan guessed that based on her style, she would definitely give Ronan a "surprise" after everything was done.

But Ronan also prepared a 'surprise' for Zoe, so he had to be involved in making the tableware this time.

Leah also lowered her voice:
"What do you want to do?"

Ronan said mysteriously:

"Do something that can make our relationship better."

Leia was immediately persuaded and nodded solemnly to Ronan:
"Okay, I'll keep an eye on it for you recently."

"Thank you." Ronan said gratefully.

Leah suddenly stood up straight, coughed, and said in a normal tone:

"I saw something new in Zoe's pattern book. I'll make a new one tomorrow. Remember to come and try it tomorrow afternoon."

Ronan said apologetically:

"I'm afraid not tomorrow."

"Are you going out tomorrow?" The voice came from behind Ronan. Zoe finished her work and came out to eat dessert.

Ronan raised his eyebrows at her:
"Remember what I told you about my 'awesome friends'?"

Zoe took a bite of the 'tofu' dessert with Ronan's spoon:
"Remember, the Association of Lovers of Vaucluse Rosé."

Ronan said with a wicked smile:
"There's a party tomorrow, and I'm going to go promote my restaurant to my friends."

Friends in the village were mobilized.

Friends outside the village should also follow suit!

More friends mean more paths. It’s time to make use of the circle of friends that you have accumulated over the months.

The meeting place this time was in Bonnieux, not far from Lourmarin.

Gabriel had only been to the store in Lourmarin when he got the keys and on the two days of opening. Taking advantage of the opportunity of the Vaucluse Rosé Wine Lovers Association, he came to Lourmarin in advance to check on his store, which was in a worrying state of business.

The candy king's business is sold all over Europe, and he doesn't really care if one or two stores occasionally make losses. Another purpose of coming to Lourmarin is to meet Ronan in advance.

He wanted to ask Ronan for help with something.

But every time Gabriel came to Lourmarin, he would be pestered by Thomas and Cotillard who wanted to "make friends" with him.

After searching for an opportunity for a long time without success, he had no choice but to speak to Ronan in front of the two outsiders:

"Can you do me a favor this afternoon?"

Ronan hid in the shade of the tree, squinted his eyes and asked:
"What's the deal?"

Gabriel said awkwardly:
"I have a friend who also wants to join the association, but he didn't pass the 'approval'. This afternoon, I will talk to Ines about this matter in person. Can you help me work on it?"

Ronan thought for a moment:
"But I don't think Ines is the type of person who can be persuaded."

Ines is a very "strict" person, otherwise the Vaucluse Pink Wine Lovers Association would not have been so "sparsely populated".

Gabriel sighed:
"But he's really a very good friend of mine, you don't know"

He glanced at Thomas and Cotillard, who looked puzzled.
"It would be a great help for him if he joined our association."

Ronan frowned and asked:
"Isn't he here to 'hunt for beauties'?"

This is the direct motivation and reason for most people to apply.

Gabriel shook his head repeatedly:
"No, no, no, that's definitely not the case, I swear!"

Seeing Ronan's embarrassment, Gabriel smiled and put his arm around Ronan's neck, saying like a 'good brother':

"Please help me, Ronan. I have the best relationship with you in the association."

Gabriel had money, but so did everyone else in the association.

He has always been a relatively "marginal" figure in the association, and other members' evaluation of Gabriel is that he has nothing but money.

But Ronan is highly valued by the president and the members. After all, his passion for pink wine is unmatched, except Astrid.

Ronan was in a dilemma, because he also went there with a purpose this afternoon. If he spoke too much for Gabriel, he would appear to be too 'active':
"I can only try my best, but I advise you to find another helper."

Gabriel sighed bitterly.

Members have their own stances and tempers, and they also have to consider the "weight" of their words.

If Ronan couldn't help him, who could he count on?

You can't possibly seduce Astrid, who even Ines doesn't dare to mess with, right?

But he tried, and Astrid had no interest in him.

(End of this chapter)