1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 229 'Artist' Mr. Ronan

After not seeing him for two months, Batty has gained a little weight and doesn't look as 'sickly' as he did in the summer, but he is still a lot thinner than others.

"Ronan, my friend, you look handsome again!" Batty excitedly opened his arms and hugged Ronan.

Ronan patted him on the back and asked:
"Come to Lourmarin on business? Or just passing through here?"

Valensole is very far from Lourmarin, and he didn't believe that Batty had wandered here out of boredom.

I also don't believe that he came here specially to support the restaurant. If that was the reason, he should have come during the opening days.

Batty let go of Ronan and stood on tiptoe to look into the restaurant:
"We'll come back to this question later. Is there an artist gathering today?"

Zoe formed her own small circle of artists in Lourmarin. Some artists who heard the news would come to Ronan's restaurant to try their luck without making an appointment in advance. But this doesn't happen often.

Ronan couldn't help laughing out loud, thinking that Batty really hadn't changed at all, he would appear wherever there was excitement.

He smiled and shook his head:

"You came at a bad time. There is no artist gathering today. But I, an 'artist', can have a couple of drinks with you. Do you want it?"

Batty laughed and hugged Ronan's shoulders:

"Yes, of course I do! You don't know how much I missed you after you left, Ronan. We must have a few drinks today!"

Ronan personally took the guest to his seat:

"There's a nice batch of rosé wine that arrived recently. I'll give it to you to try."

Batty suddenly stopped:

"Don't be in a hurry. Before we drink, please show me around your most distinctive restaurant in Provence!"

"How is it? I hope my 'apprentice' doesn't embarrass you?" Ronan took Batty around the restaurant.

Batty carefully looked at every kind of weaving-related ornament element and said in amazement:

"I heard that there are some restaurants in Italy that are both places to eat and small exhibition halls. I think you can definitely develop in that direction here."

Ronan's restaurant is full of weaving-related elements, which are not common in Provence or even in France. Even if you don't eat, you can come in and look at them for a long time.

"Well." Ronan raised his eyebrows. "I haven't really thought about this. These weaves are currently just for decoration."

Batty smiled and patted Ronan on the shoulder:

"I just say whatever comes to my mind. It's good like this now. Even the seats outside are almost full."

In late October, the daytime temperature in Provence has dropped below 10 degrees, and it will feel noticeably cold in places where there is no direct sunlight.

But there are still many customers in the outdoor area of Ronan's restaurant, which shows that customers would rather blow the cold wind and eat their food as soon as possible. This is the greatest affirmation of the restaurant's dishes.

"Let's go have a couple of drinks." Ronan smiled and took Batty to his seat.

He silently kept Batty's words in mind.

He will seriously adopt any suggestions that may be helpful to the restaurant.

'Artists' really need to communicate more. Just a few words gave him a new idea for development.

After sitting down, Batty returned to the familiar self of Ronan - talkative and enthusiastic.

He happily recounted what happened after Ronan left Valensole:

How many strange female neighbors moved in nearby, what female artists did I meet, who did I eat with, and what level of cooking skills have I reached now?
"The recipes you gave me are so useful. You know, I was always excluded from parties before. Now, because of the two dishes you taught me, they occasionally invite me!" Batty said happily.

Seeing Batty's increased interest in eating, Ronan also said happily

"I'll teach you two more dishes later, and you'll have four specialties in the future."

Batty picked up the cup and raised it to Ronan:
"Don't worry, don't worry. There will be plenty of time later."

Ronan also raised his glass:
"Will you come to Lourmarin later? By the way, why did you come to Lourmarin? You didn't answer me just now."

Batty and Ronan clinked their glasses:

"I'm going to move to Lourmarin for a while."

"Ah?" Ronan put down his glass and asked doubtfully, "Don't you love to be lively?"

Batty is a man who moves around a lot. In the summer he lives in Aix, which is crowded with tourists. In July he follows tourists to Valensole, the hometown of lavender.

You can say that he is a tourist detector, and he goes wherever the tourists go.

Batty spread his palms:

"No matter where you go in the winter, there is nothing lively to see. People in Provence are busy making babies at home. I used to go skiing in Mont Touvant in the winter, but it's no fun after so many years."

Ronan poured him a glass of wine and kindly reminded him:
"Then you shouldn't have come to Lourmarin. There's nothing here."

“No, no, no!” Batty pointed at the table with his index finger and said excitedly, “It’s spread among the artists in Provence that there’s a specialty restaurant in Lourmarin owned by an artist. There are often artist gatherings there, and it’s very lively.”

Ronan refers to himself:
“Artist boss?”

God, does this title really deserve him?
Batty tilted his head and asked:
"Isn't it? Weaving is also a kind of art."

Ronan smiled and shook his head, saying helplessly:
"Okay, but the party doesn't happen every day. It's not as lively as you think."

Ronan thought about it and realized that this was a good thing. He had successfully entered the "artist" circle, and he would have more opportunities and means to create a pink wine atmosphere in the future.

Not only to deal with Astrid, Ronan really wants to do business related to pink wine in the future.

Moreover, this can also help the restaurant attract more customers - every artist who comes will spend money in the restaurant. Zoe is a real artist, she should focus on the art itself and should not worry too much about Ronan's business.

Batty suddenly lowered his body mysteriously, covered his mouth and continued:
"And I also heard a rumor that there are always beautiful ladies hanging out in your restaurant. You know, I'm very well-informed about this."

Ronan was stunned.

He didn't notice that there were many beautiful women in the restaurant.

But this is indeed a tactic he uses when promoting his restaurant - saying that taking photos in his restaurant will be very nice.

Barty sat up straight and said in an admiring tone:

"I'm a professional in this area. Lourmarin in the winter will be a lively place to watch. I swear! I will come to your place every day for a couple of drinks from now on."

"Thank you for your good wishes." Ronan smiled and drank the pink wine in the glass.

Ronan introduced Batty to Louis.

With the help of the best real estate agency in Lourmarin, Batty rented an old vacant house in the center of Lourmarin.

The landlord is a German who will not be returning to Lourmarin until next summer.

Ronan thought that renting a house in winter would not be very expensive. After all, it is the off-season in all aspects. Unexpectedly, Batti told him that the price of renting a house in Lourmarin is more expensive than in Valensole.

"Lourmarin is so close to the Golden Triangle, and the housing prices here have always been more expensive than in Valensole." Batty comforted himself with an optimistic spirit.

Ronan didn't take this matter to heart. After all, there are many factors that affect housing prices.

But he soon realized that it was necessary to find out the latest house prices in Lourmarin because he introduced a second client to Louis within a week.

After returning from Aix to recharge, Marini decided to buy a house in Lourmarin, but the house prices in Lourmarin surprised Ronan.

“你是说，这间距离村中心2公里、占地面积约150平米的石屋需要25万法郎，而另一间有7.5亩橄榄园、占地250平米的农舍要卖到60万法郎了？”马里尼没有说什么，罗南属实吓到了。

Before signing the commercial street contract in June, he had been asking Louis about house prices in Lourmarin and the surrounding area because he was preparing to get married.

At that time, houses in similar situations were not so expensive.

The same old stone house should cost around 20 francs.

Ronan knew that house prices in Lourmarin would definitely rise, but would they rise so quickly?

Louis said seriously:

"In the past two months, many people have come to Lourmarin to look at houses, and the transaction volume has also increased significantly. In particular, some special factors that have emerged recently have also affected house prices."

"What special factors?" Ronan asked.

Louis looked at Ronan with a half-smile and said:
"The grape harvest in Lourmarin is very good this year. It is the highest quality among several nearby villages. The value of farmland has increased. If a house has its own vineyard, the house will be more expensive. If it is planted with AOC quality such as Grenache and Syrah, it will be even more expensive."

Ronan almost laughed out loud.

Aren't you talking about my home?!
He pretended to be calm and asked Louis:
"What is the current market value of my house?"

When Ronan last inquired in June, the farmhouse was priced at around 6 to 45 francs.

Louis was so happy that he seemed to be talking about the price of his own house:

"If I were to receive this commission, I would suggest you list it at 60."

Ronan’s vineyard is more valuable than the olive grove, but the house is small, covering only about 180 square meters, so it is also priced at around 60 francs.

But this price was enough to make Ronan ecstatic.

He only spent 20 francs when he bought the house at the end of last year!

Louis suppressed his laughter and continued:

"There is another special factor. Lourmarin has a pedestrian street with a lot of traffic, and the prices of houses nearby have increased accordingly."

Ronan was about to cheer, but immediately became depressed.

The house on Commercial Street is not his yet!

Hurry up and deposit money to activate the purchase terms! !
Louis turned his attention to today's protagonist, Marini:

"The housing prices in Lourmarin have indeed risen a lot recently. If you mind, I can recommend you houses in several surrounding villages, which are 10%-15% lower than those in Lourmarin. Or I can take you to have a look first?"

Marini said calmly:
"I think the housing prices here are definitely worthy of the value here. This is Zoe's hometown, so it's worth it no matter how expensive it is!"

After returning from Aix, Marini became Zoe's number one fan and attended every artist gathering where Zoe was present.

"I decided to buy the house with the olive grove, you two, and we will be neighbors from now on." Marini showed his wealth in a casual manner.

Louis couldn't stop grinning because he could get at least 5% commission.

Ronan also couldn't stop smiling, because the "pink wine atmosphere" of the restaurant became even stronger.

This richness reached its peak at the end of October.

The art magazine that interviewed Zoe and Ronan has released its latest issue.

In an instant, countless Provençal artists flocked to Lourmarin and its unique restaurants with so many stories to tell.

The 'pink wine atmosphere' that Ronan wanted to see is beginning to take shape!

(End of this chapter)