1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 222: Warm Like April

How many customers did Ronan’s restaurant attract when it opened?

Cold numbers cannot describe the grand occasion of this day. Sylvie, who shot the video footage, wrote in the report:
Early October in Lourmarin gives people the feeling of early April. A large number of strangers appear in the village, and shop owners are frightened by the sudden intrusion of customers. Occasionally, you can hear villagers complaining about being disturbed in their leisure time. Could it be that "spring" has quietly arrived without anyone noticing?
After shooting enough footage in the commercial street and Ronan's restaurant, Sylvie excitedly returned to the government office building:
"Blanco has made the right bet again. Letting Ronan participate in the commercial street project is a wise decision that couldn't be wiser. He has revitalized the entire commercial street, no, the entire village's business! I must tell Blanco this great news!!"

Ronan didn't have the energy to care about what was happening anywhere else outside the restaurant. Just dealing with a few waves of friends was enough to keep him busy for a while.

After settling Gabriel, Marnie, Ines, Jacques and Jerome, Ronan sat down opposite Lucas:
"I'm so exhausted."

For a moment, Lucas didn't know how to talk to Ronan.

Big Brother?
But. Does he deserve it?
Look at Ronan’s friends at the tables next to him.

He thought about it again and again, and finally gave the gift away:

"Wish you all the best."

Ronan's eyes lit up, and he lowered his voice and said carefully to Lucas:

"You still understand me best."

As a good farmer, my favorite thing is of course wine!

Lucas smiled and waved at Ronan:
"Okay, get busy. There will definitely be a lot of things to do on the first day. Don't waste your time here with me."

Ronan seemed to recall some horrific scene:

"You have no idea how busy the kitchen is right now. It really is like a war."

But fearing that Lucas might be bored alone, Ronan still suggested:

"I'll go get Theo to come and keep you company."

Lucas' wife and son haven't returned to Marseille yet, and it's too boring to eat alone.

Lucas waved his hand and refused:
"Theo said he's coming to your place to help today, don't bother him."

Ronan said in a clearly joking tone:

"Theo is making things worse for us. He can't stop talking. Henry almost got into a fight with him several times. Fabian has to keep an eye on them to prevent them from quarreling. This guy keeps yelling that he doesn't want to eat the 'staff meal'. I'll call him over to have a couple of drinks with you."

Ronan's words reminded Lucas of what happened many years ago.

At that time, he had not bought Margaret yet. He was a farmer like Theo, and he played and fought with everyone every day.

Later, he became the best truffle hunter in Lourmarin. More and more people tried to please him, but he had fewer and fewer "friends". Lucas was immersed in this state of being "the moon surrounded by stars" and couldn't extricate himself.

Although he is the 'Big Brother' and is respected and praised wherever he goes, he has never had as many brothers around him as Ronan.

Over the years, Theo was the only brother who helped him.

Before Ronan came, when Lucas was sitting here alone, besides being shocked at Ronan's growth rate in the past six months, he was also thinking:
If I opened a restaurant in Lourmarin, would I have so many acquaintances to help me?
Will Special Olympics be just as positive?
The answer is self-evident. So where lies the problem?
Ronan was about to turn around and leave to call Theo when Louis ran in in a panic:
"There are a few more people outside, and they also say they are your friends."

"My friend too?" Ronan frowned.

Cotillard and Thomas went to open the store, and all his friends were there.

Who else could it be?

"You go out and take a look. If he is really a friend, I will bring him in." Louis Jian urged anxiously.

Ronan let out a long sigh.

The seats in the friend zone are reserved in advance so where is the room for other friends?
As I was hesitating, a pair of large hands covered my shoulders:
"I haven't ordered yet, give them the seat."

Ronan shook his head and said to Lucas:

"No, no, no, you sit down, I'll go out and take a look first."

Lucas said in a 'Big Brother' tone:
"We are family, why are you being so polite to me? It is more important to entertain 'outsiders'."

Ronan looked around:

"Wait for me, I'll find you a place to eat."

It's easier to find a place alone.

Lucas smiled and rolled up his sleeves:

"No, I'm going to try your 'staff meal' today. Where are Theo and Fabian?"

"Ah?!" Ronan and Louis widened their eyes at the same time.

Ronan arrived at the door of the restaurant and found that the friend Louis was talking about was actually Arthur.

This colleague who opened a restaurant in Apt was accompanied by several restaurant owners who were familiar to Ronan, all of whom he had met at gatherings in the circle.

"It's too hot here." Arthur had a similar expression to Lucas.

This is not Aix, nor Apt, nor Marseille.

Why are there so many customers in Lourmarin during the off-season?

"Arthur, why are you here?" Ronan asked in surprise.

Arthur calmed down and pointed to a few friends around him and said:

"We saw the flyers you distributed and thought about coming to you on the first day of your opening to increase your popularity. But now it seems that it is not necessary."

Another restaurant owner looked at the dozens of waiting customers behind him and said sourly:

"It's okay, we'll come again next time, you can entertain the guests first."

"No, no, no, please come in!" Ronan said apologetically as he led Arthur and the others into the restaurant, "I've been too busy lately and didn't inform you. I'll treat you to this meal as an apology!"

After arranging several colleagues to the seat where Lucas had just sat, Ronan said enthusiastically:
"Would you like to order yourselves, or should I arrange a few special dishes for you to try?"

Arthur exchanged glances with his companion and said with a smile:
"I'm deeply impressed by your sweet and sour pork. We want to try some Chinese food that's as special as the sweet and sour pork. It's up to you."

"No problem." Ronan handed them the menu skillfully. "Take a look at the drinks and desserts. Go easy on them. I'll treat you all today. I'll come to you when I finish what I'm doing." A minute later, Ronan appeared beside Luo Tianhai:

"Make some good 'copy' dishes for table 23. Our billboard is here."

Luo Tianhai smiled and nodded the spoon:

"It's finally here."

There were many unexpected 'friends' who showed up on the opening day, not just Arthur.

There were villagers from other villages who bought lunch boxes in Lourmarin for three consecutive weeks but suddenly disappeared.

Luo Tianhai thought that since he didn't buy a lunch box, he would definitely not come to the restaurant to eat. Unexpectedly, the man just wanted to eat freshly cooked food, so he didn't buy another lunch box.

There are stall owners at the Mena Village market. They said that their business is getting bigger and bigger and they must come to support it.

There was Cafu and a few of his strong buddies. They said that after eating "experimental food" in the restaurant for a month, they finally had the chance to have a successful Chinese meal.

With that nightmare doctor, Ronan finally saw the serious girl smile. She said she would come again when she has time.

There are parents of Vieri's classmates who said that Vieri had been promoting the restaurant at school.

There was a customer from Gold whom Ronan met at the "Vow Fulfillment Celebration". He smiled and said to Ronan, "I said I would come, and I will definitely come."

And Sylvie, who provided Ronan with great help during the promotion stage, made a special speech of thanks. She said that Ronan's restaurant made Lourmarin different.

There are many more people
Ronan could never have imagined that he already had so many friends in Provence in less than a year.

It is because of these friends that Ronan is convinced that he can spend his second, third and fourth years in Provence.
In the evening, Cotillard and Thomas took time out to have dinner at Ronan's restaurant.

They asked curiously:

"Ronan, how did you do it? How come so many customers came? We also handed out flyers."

Ronan looked at the sunset in the distance and said happily:

"I am a lucky person because I have many friends who are willing to help and support me."

"I have too many friends again!" Cotillard protested, "You always tease me with this excuse, but I have a lot of friends too!"

Thomas smiled and comforted Cotillard:
"Maybe that wasn't a tease?"

Cotillard grumbled:

"I admit that Ronan is righteous, trustworthy, responsible, sincere, contagious, appealing, helpful, emotionally intelligent, considerate, kind, willing to share, and good-looking. But does that mean he has so many friends to help him?!"

Thomas shrugged.

"Isn't that enough? Ask yourself, are you willing to help Ronan?"

Cotillard said eloquently:
"Of course, Ronan is my best friend! He straightened up my shaky career!"

Thomas crossed himself:
"Me too. Look, Ronan now has two more good friends who are truly sincere to him."

Having many friends certainly brings many benefits, but disadvantages may occasionally appear.

The people of Provence love physical contact very much. It is very common for men to pat each other on the arm or pinch each other's shoulders. If two men and women are very good friends, a kiss on the cheek is a must, regardless of gender.

But in this magical land, the rules of cheek kissing are completely different from those in other places.

Some people kiss once, some kiss three times, it seems to depend entirely on their mood.

Ronan couldn't remember how many people's faces he had kissed today.

I only remember that I acted like a fool again and again, tilting my head back after each kiss to observe how many times the other person wanted to kiss me.

Keeping your head in a 'mobile' position all the time is very tiring for your neck.

As it was getting dark, Ronan felt that his neck was more tired than his ankles after standing all day.

"How many times do you Provencal people kiss? Once?" Ronan felt that he had to ask this question clearly, so he asked Pierre beside him.

Pierre shook his head repeatedly:
"Only hypocrites would kiss."

"Okay, then I'll kiss you three times next time." Ronan made some kind of determination.

"My mom says three kisses is rude," Cornell expressed his opinion.

"Forget it, it's a waste of time to ask you. I'll go ask Zoe!" Ronan planned to leave these farmers.

"How about shaking hands after a few kisses?" A kind voice appeared beside them.

Another unexpected 'friend' is here!
Ronan greeted him enthusiastically and extended a hand:

"I also asked Sylvie if you would come today, and she said you were busy today."

Blanco held Ronan's hand with one hand and pointed to the restaurant with the other:
"I've been really busy lately, so I just got some free time at this hour. But it still seems a bit 'early'. It's already past 7 o'clock and there are still people waiting for a table?"

Ronan covered his mouth with his hands:
"I will never let you go hungry."

Blanco is not just an ordinary friend, he is Ronan's great benefactor.

How can I make him wait?
Ronan temporarily moved a table in the outdoor area to accommodate Blanco.

"It's a bit cold outside after dark. I'll move you in when there's a seat indoors." Ronan said considerately as he handed the menu to Blanco.

In October, the temperature in Luberon drops rapidly as the sun sets, and he is worried that Blanco's body will not be able to cope with it.

Blanco did not take the menu. He looked at the full yard of guests and the beautiful mountain scenery of Luberon in fascination, and said with excitement:
"Sylvie wrote in my report that Lourmarin was as warm as April today, and I thought she was exaggerating. It turns out it's really warm today. My body has never been so hot before."

Today is more than just the day for Ronan to unveil his months of hard work.

Today is also a big day for the Lourmarin government to unveil the results of several months of hard work.

Ronan really changed Lourmarin. Everyone's efforts were not in vain.

(End of this chapter)