1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 204 Composition: My Dream

If someone else said such "crazy words", everyone would laugh and shake their heads, thinking that he must be a guy with average alcohol tolerance.

But when Ronan said, "I want pink wine to be taken seriously," it was much more convincing.

He is the member of the association who is most obsessed with rosé wine, except for Astrid.

Even President Ines is not as 'pious' as him.

With curiosity about Ronan's so-called 'purpose' and respect for Astrid, each group stopped discussing and focused all their attention on these two people.

Ronan put down the bottle, looked at Astrid and said:

"You should know that I've been selling pink bars at the market?"

Astrid said without any emotion:
“I saw it in a magazine.”

The members of the association knew Ronan almost entirely from magazines with large photos of him. It was through the magazines that everyone learned that there was a market stall owner in Lourmarin who was crazy about rosé wine.

Ronan said briskly:

"I fell in love with rosé wine the first time I drank it, but when I moved to Provence, the birthplace of rosé wine, I found that the locals had this attitude towards it, which was very confusing to me. But I was powerless and could only use my meager ability to recommend this wine, which I thought was the specialty of Provence, to as many people as possible, so I chose to sell it at the market."

Jacques recalled Ronan's "argument" with Arthur and others at the market:

"That's not a meager ability. If he encounters a customer who is disrespectful to pink wine, Ronan will fight back forcefully."

The members' expressions changed slightly.

Is this young man really trying to overturn the shackles on rosé?

Ronan looked at Mr. Jacques gratefully and continued:

“But I found that selling rosé wine at the market could not change anything. Tourists from all over the world drank it and left. They could not influence the attitudes and concepts of the locals. I thought I had to do something to change the attitude of the locals in Provence towards rosé wine. That’s how the idea of opening a restaurant came to my mind.”

Astrid leaned back on the sofa, her face gloomy:

"But you opened a Chinese restaurant. What does that have to do with rosé? And if I remember correctly, everyone gave you advice on how to promote Chinese food in Provence, not rosé."

Do you really think I drank too much that day?
I just don't want to get involved in your conversation, but I remember everything you said.

Ronan spread his hands:

"Ma'am, what do you think will happen if I focus on making rosé in Provence?"

Everyone looked at Jerome, the owner of the Stesgaard mid-level winery.

What will happen?
A very miserable end!
Ronan smiled bitterly and said:
"I have to make a living while fulfilling my dream. Can I fulfill my lifelong dream with just the little money I earn from selling wine at the market every week?"

As soon as the words 'lifelong dream' appeared, the atmosphere at the scene became even quieter.

No wonder people are so enthusiastic about rosé wine, has it reached the level of a ‘lifelong dream’?
A rare glimmer of maternal love appeared on Astrid's face. She said to Ronan in a tone that seemed both educating and blaming:

"You're relying on those artists to fulfill your 'lifelong dream'? They can't even fill their own stomachs, what can you expect from them? Help you promote pink wine? You're too naive."

This time it was Ronan's turn to have a changed expression.

It turns out that Astrid has also discovered that pink wine is a 'fashion trend' among artists.

That’s great, it saves him from having to prove anything!

Ronan's tone was full of beautiful visions for the future:
"Artists are not promoters but carriers, carriers of pink wine culture! There is an old Chinese saying that goes 'many hands make light work'. If one artist is not enough, then 1 artists will do. If 10 artists are not enough, then 10 artists will do. In the future, my restaurant will be a 'gathering place' for artists, where pink wine will be placed on every table, people will drink pink wine on every table, and people will talk about pink wine in every corner. Whether they are guests from Provence or from all over the world, they will complete a 'journey' with pink wine as the theme while eating there."

Ronan looked at Astrid with burning eyes and said sincerely:

"Ma'am, that's what my dream Chinese restaurant looks like! Although it may not be achieved in a short period of time, I believe that day will come!"

The young boy is like the sun just rising above the horizon, sincere, warm and full of energy.

This little sun also set fire to other people's hearts and bodies, and everyone imagined that scene in the highly infectious voice.

If Ronan's dream restaurant comes true, won't there be meetings of the 'Vaucluse Pink Wine Lovers Association' every day?
"Bang!" The sound of a wine bottle opening interrupted everyone's sweet dream.

Astrid raised her head and drank nearly a quarter of the bottle. After wiping off a few drops of pink wine from the corners of her mouth and chin, she asked Ronan in a whispering voice:
"When will it open? I'll go take a look when I have time."

Astrid's statement had an immediate effect.

Several big shots on the spot made it clear that they wanted to go to Ronan's restaurant to reserve a seat first, in case it became a gathering place for rosé wine lovers in the future and they would have no place to stay.

Several big shots also said they would go to support Ronan on the opening day.

Gabriel was listening with surprise and delight.

The opening of his store didn't have such a big fanfare. Ronan has such a big reputation!

Ronan's "crazy" speech and Astrid's statement made Ronan's position in the association more "important".

He gradually entered the core area. No matter what everyone talked about, they all liked to bring Ronan along.

This made Gabriel even more certain that Ronan was his best 'helper'.

With Ines's favor and Astrid's "attention", Ronan is simply the darling of the association.

When the party was over and everyone was leaving, Gabriel took Ronan to a quiet place:

“Are you looking for a vintage gun?”

Ronan asked Mr. Jacques to help him find out about the retro gun.

At the party, Mr. Jacques took the initiative to talk about this topic and said that there was news about a few guns, but Ronan was short of money and did not have a deeper understanding. He made the excuse that there were too many things to do before the opening and he would take a closer look at the specific situation of the guns after the restaurant opened.

"Yes." Ronan said embarrassedly, "But I just got my license this year, and my skills are average, so I can use an ordinary gun first." Gabriel showed his 'good brother' smile again, put his arm around Ronan's neck and said:

"Hunting is all about mood. Skills are not important. What do you like? Rifle, rifle, revolver or small caliber?"

Ronan rubbed his nose:
"Actually, I don't know much about guns. I'll study them more after I open my restaurant."

Gabriel smiled and patted Ronan on the shoulder:

"Okay, I'll get you one."

"Ah?" Ronan shook his head repeatedly, "No, no, Mr. Jacques is already asking for me."

Gabriel smacked his lips:

"Why are you being so polite to me? The opening of your restaurant is such a big event, I have to give you a gift, right?"

"It's enough that you're here. No need for gifts." Ronan patted Gabriel's arm to show his gratitude.

"You spoke up for me today."

"That's for the good of the rosé."

"So I have to contribute to the rosé wine business in Provence. You must accept this opening gift."

"No, no, no."

"I must."

"It really doesn't work."

“It’s really possible.”

"Have you two men been disgusting enough?" The sudden voice scared Ronan and Gabriel so much that they quickly left each other's bodies.

Astrid frowned and pointed in a direction with her chin:
"Come find me there when you're done feeling sick. I'll tell you something."

Gabriel raised his hands and touched his mustache:

"She told you that, didn't she?"

Next to Astrid's convertible.

"Is it really your lifelong dream to make pink wine be taken seriously?" A cold question came from the darkness.

Ronan stood in the light and said firmly:
“Yeah, I think it’s underrated.”

What Ronan told at the party wasn't a lie.

That was really the scene he had imagined countless times - in the future there must be a lot of pink wine in his restaurant.

There was silence in the darkness for a long time, so long that Ronan began to wonder if Astrid was still there.

"You can't accomplish this alone." Astrid's tone was not as frivolous as usual.

Ronan smiled and said:
“And you guys.”

A cold snort came from the darkness:
"Who? Ines, Corentin or Gabriel?"

Ronan raised his eyebrows:
"Of course it's you, Lady Astrid."

Astrid gave a low, muffled laugh:

"Do you know what business I am in?"

Ronan shrugged.

"know."

Perfume, another 'postcard' of Provence, is also a major feature of France.

"Take some time to learn about the agricultural development history and industrial and commercial background of Provence," Astrid said with her signature contemptuous tone, "and then you'll know there's nothing I can do for rosé."

Ronan pouted.

These were the two topics he least wanted to hear at a party.

It's all a game between high-level people.

"Then I will find other people who can fulfill my dream with me. There will definitely be one." Ronan did not waver at all.

The burning passion seemed to light up the darkness.

Astrid walked out of the darkness, her red dress burning like the sun:

"Remember the advice I gave you last time?"

Ronan recalled:
"Leverage and leverage?"

Astrid got into her luxury car, but did not start it in a hurry. She said in a very obvious teaching tone:

"It's useless to work alone. Look at your environment and the resources you have available to you."

"What do you mean--" Ronan asked, not quite understanding.

The red sports car left a trail of shadow in the darkness, leaving only a few vague words:

"The Lourmarin government's request for a budget from the Vaucluse Department of Tourism has been rejected again. Let your stubborn government first find out what the Tourism Bureau needs."

(End of this chapter)