1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 203 That man is back again! [January 1 monthly tickets supplement]

Gabriel did not give up easily because Ronan was really his best candidate for "helper".

Even if Ronan doesn't help today, he will definitely be able to help in the future.

After all, they had gotten along quite well during their first few meetings, especially when they got the keys, they were so close that they seemed like conjoined brothers.

But Gabriel's dream was soon shattered.

Ronan seems to have too many 'brothers'.

Ronan chatted with everyone for a while and then left on his own initiative:

"I have to go back to work. You guys continue chatting. If you have anything, come find me in the restaurant."

"What can I do for you?" Gabriel shouted at Ronan's back.

Don’t go, stay a little longer!
It was Cotillard who answered him:

"Ronan has to make two lamps today. The time is too tight and there is no time to rest."

"To make lamps?" Gabriel suddenly could not understand French.

Is this punk-looking woman saying that Ronan wants to make a lamp?

Is this what I understand?

But these are not important. What is important is that Gabriel wants Ronan to remember their "brotherhood" as soon as possible.

"Let him be busy, and we'll have lunch together at noon." Gabriel muttered softly.

Thomas made an ambiguous nasal sound:

"Ronan is going to his girlfriend's house for lunch today."

Gabriel looked at Thomas in confusion.

Do you know again?
Thomas shrugged and explained:

"He said that last night at Ronan's house during dinner."

"Did you go to Ronan's house for dinner last night?" Gabriel asked with a frown.

Are these two people so close to Ronan?
"Yeah, we all went." Thomas pointed at himself and Cotillard.

Cotillard's aftertaste:

"Ronan's father cooks really good food, and the desserts made by his girlfriend's mother are also very memorable."

Gabriel's eyes widened.

Even Ronan’s girlfriend’s mother’s dessert?
Do these people have a better relationship than Ronan and I do?

Gabriel kept comforting himself:
Cotillard, Thomas and Ronan see each other every day, so it's normal for them to be familiar with each other.

But Ronan must have the best relationship with you in the association!

Until he drove Ronan to Bonnieux and met Astrid in a convertible red sports car on the road.

The more dangerous, the more charming. Especially when the other party is a mysterious noble lady.

When the candy master first met Astrid, he approached her enthusiastically, just like the farmers in Lourmarin.

But the noble lady's bland remark, "I'm not interested in men with mustaches," extinguished all Gabriel's enthusiasm.

The two never had any contact again after that.

But today, Astrid actually took the initiative to talk to Gabriel on the road.

She parked her car next to Gabriel's, leaned her elbow against the window, and asked with a half-smile:
"The color of the clothes you are wearing today reminds me of your funny dog. Does it still like red so much?"

Gabriel smiled what he thought was his most charming smile, but again he couldn't understand French.

Is there a dog in my family who likes red?

Wait, why do dogs like the color red?

Ronan beside him spoke:

"My mom also said that Masai and I wore parent-child outfits today. Hmm, he still likes red."

Astrid smiled coquettishly twice, stepped on the accelerator, and the red convertible sports car sped away.

The red sports car drove away, but Gabriel's white sports car remained motionless.

Gabriel pulled his beard and thought:
Doesn't Ronan have only one black Doberman? Where is the gray dog?
Ronan took the initiative to explain:

"I bought another dog afterwards, which you haven't seen."

Gabriel nodded and slowly started the car.

Astrid went to Ronan's house again?
What did they do?

No no, that's not important.

The important thing is that Ronan and I are not very close.

With such a 'distant' relationship, it would be strange if he could help!

This time the Vaucluse Rosé Wine Lovers Association's meetings were held at longer intervals.

There are many things to talk about when we meet again, and the content is quite diverse, so we did not adopt the form of collective group chat. We gathered in groups of three or five and talked about topics that interested us.

Ronan has not officially announced the news of opening a restaurant, but it is not a secret.

He had consulted Mr. Jacques and President Ines about the decoration issues. Gabriel was also a neighbor, so everyone would know the news even if they had only a little interaction in private.

Ronan didn't even need to say anything, everyone who talked to him would ask about it.

Mr. Jacques kept reminding Ronan of the regulations and procedures that must be followed before opening the business:

"Remember to tell me before you open the business, and I'll check it for you again."

The laws and regulations in France are very strict.

The fine was light, but the license would most likely be revoked. With Jacques' guidance, Ronan saved a lot of energy to do his own research.

Corentin, who works at the Vaucluse Federation of Industry and Commerce, smiled and comforted Ronan: "If there is any problem, you can call me."

Ronan's face lit up with joy.

Isn’t this exactly right?
"Mr. Jacques, Mr. Corentin, I will definitely treat you well when my restaurant opens." Ronan took the initiative to make the invitation.

Mr. Jacques smiled and pushed up his glasses:
"Let's communicate more in the future."

Ronan opened a Chinese restaurant, and they are in two different villages, so there is no competition between them at all.

Some are just mutual respect among colleagues.

Ronan entered the catering industry, and Jacques, who was used to being alone, finally had a companion, which was a good thing.

Corentin gave a formulaic smile:

"Okay, I'll go when I have time."

This was not the first time Ronan had heard a similar response today.

Everyone seemed enthusiastic, but Ronan knew in his heart that only a few people would actually come to support him.

But these big shots are too important to Ronan.

They are in high positions and have strong backgrounds. Every time someone goes there, Ronan's restaurant gets a huge advertising slogan.

But Ronan is not President Ines, nor is he Astrid, whose party times have to follow her schedule, nor is he a senior government official with real power.

He needs to find a way to mobilize everyone's enthusiasm.

While Ronan was chatting with Jacques and Corentin, he also paid some attention to observing the situations of other "groups".

Soon, he discovered that there were always many people around the lazy Astrid.

It wasn't obvious when everyone was chatting together before, but it was very obvious once they dispersed. Even President Ines never left her side.

Ronan guessed that besides labels such as nobility, perfume and Marquis de Sade, there must be something else about Astrid that he didn't know, but Ronan was not curious about what it was.

It was enough for him to know that these big shots were 'pursuing' Astrid.

So Astrid is the "key" that Ronan uses to motivate everyone.

But before that, we must first motivate Astrid.

What is Astrid interested in?

The answer is self-evident - pink wine.

This guy is just an emotionless pink wine drinking machine.

But how do you connect rosé to a restaurant?
Just as Ronan was thinking of a solution, Gabriel, who could no longer hold back, took action.

"Ines, I want to talk to you about something."

Ines stopped talking to the people around him and asked Gabriel:
"what's up?"

Gabriel said with a big smile on his face:
"I heard that you rejected Marini's application for membership?"

Ines crossed her legs, and there was no sign of compromise on her stern face:

"After talking to Marini in depth, I don't think he loves rosé. You know Gabriel, the only criterion for joining the club is a love of rosé, but he doesn't have that."

Gabriel tried to defend his friend:

"Marini is just not good at talking. His job doesn't require him to talk, and he doesn't like to talk, but I swear he really loves rosé. I can see his passion for rosé every time we meet."

Ines made a regretful expression:

"I'm sorry Gabriel, he didn't pass the initiation test, but I'm glad you keep introducing new members to us."

Gabriel tried to argue:

"We don't have a single artist in our association. I mean, if Marigny could join, the Vaucluse Rosé Wine Lovers' Association would be more comprehensive and complete."

Ines turned around, intending to continue the conversation with the others and forcefully end the conversation between her and Gabriel:

"I have also rejected artists who are more famous than Marigny. The Vaucluse Pink Wine Lovers Association never pays attention to identity and occupation. We only look at the candidate's attitude towards pink wine."

"But—" Gabriel was about to say something, but was drowned out by a loud voice.

"But artists are the key group that can help pink wine break free from the shackles that have been hanging on its head for hundreds of years." Ronan sat next to Gabriel with a glass of wine in his hand. "I think we can indeed consider accepting this friend that Gabriel mentioned."

The Vaucluse Pink Wine Lovers Association only looks at the candidates' attitude towards pink wine. From this perspective, Ronan is Ines' most satisfied member.

She became much kinder to Ronan, and said in a 'reproachful' way as if she were treating her own naughty son:
"We are just an association of enthusiasts, Ronan, and changing the status quo of rosé is not what we are here to do."

Ronan drank the pink wine in the glass and shrugged.
"Okay, but that's what I've always wanted to do."

Ines was amused by Ronan:
"What do you want to do?"

Ines and Ronan's conversation was so loud that it had gone beyond the scope of the group discussion, and everyone looked at them.

Ronan's glass was empty. He picked up a bottle from the ground and said loudly:
“My goal has never changed, which is to make rosé wine as important as red and white wines and be taken seriously by the people of Provence!”

Astrid chuckled and picked up the bottle of wine at her feet:

“Wanting to make pink wine be taken seriously, but opening a restaurant instead?”

Ronan stood up briskly, and clinked his wine bottle against Astrid's, then revealed a crazy smile:

"Of course ma'am, the restaurant is also for pink wine."

Ronan's movements and expressions now were exactly the same as when the gang first saw him in the magazine.

The young man who was crazy about rosé wine is back!
Astrid put away her contemptuous smile, squinted her eyes and stared at Ronan for a while, then said in a completely different state:

"Tell me."

Ronan raised the bottle and took several sips of pink wine.

The pink wine flowed down his mouth, into his throat, and into his stomach, stirring up pink bubbles.

My bet was right, Astrid is really interested in this matter!

(End of this chapter)