1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 260 The harder you work, the luckier you will be!

The last time Ronan used the system upgrade was in mid-October, when he spent 10 happiness points to upgrade [Hunting] to level 600.

After that use, there are 1500 points of [Happiness] remaining.

After nearly two months of happy life, the values in the system have reached a new height and are about to break through 5000 points!

[Level 3 Construction: 0\2000]

[Level 4 Planting: 0\5000]

[Level 3 Collection: 0\2000]

[Level 4 Cooking: 0\5000]

[Level 3 weaving: 0\2000]

[Level 3 Hunting: 0\2000]

[Level 3 Pottery: 0\2000]

[Level 1 Fishing: 0\100]

[Level 1 Brewing: 0\100]

[Level 1 Glass Burning: 0\100]

[Usable experience: 4797]

The higher the [Happiness], the more upgrade options you have.

For example, Ronan can upgrade [Construction] to the next level to speed up the renovation next year.

You can also upgrade [Weaving], and maybe you can create more amazing hand-woven patterns, helping this craft to become popular in Provence faster.

But it was not easy to save up 5000 points, so Ronan thought of acquiring two level 4 skills, [Planting] and [Cooking].

I wonder if upgrading skills that cost 5000 points of happiness will lead to a qualitative leap?

If he has to choose one of these two skills, Ronan would choose to upgrade [Cooking] this time.

The restaurant will be the most stable way to make money in the future. Both Luo Tianhai and Leah have outstanding abilities and are worth adding to the 'chips'.

Ronan also thought of what Mr. Jacques once told him - his Michelin 2-star restaurant became famous by participating in cooking competitions in the Provence region.

"Then can I also upgrade my skills and participate in the competition?" Ronan suddenly had this idea.

If you want to participate in a cooking competition in Provence, there is one person you cannot avoid, and that is Mr. Llorente.

A few days ago, staff from the Vaucluse Gastronomy Union helped Ronan complete the membership procedures.

It can be seen that this is a big alliance, and a lot of materials need to be provided to join.

When Ronan joined the Vaucluse Rosé Wine Lovers Association, he took only one person with him.

To join such a large alliance, of course I have to thank the person who invited me.

After returning from Bonnieux, Ronan called Mr. Llorente to express his gratitude to him.

Llorente responded to Ronan enthusiastically and said considerately that if there was anything he needed help with, he should let him know and he would definitely help.

Ronan didn't realize that it was just a polite remark, and asked directly:

"You know, my restaurant has just opened and I need to make it more well-known. I wonder if there are any food-related events in Vaucluse or Provence that I can participate in recently?"

Mr. Llorente thought for a moment:
"All the food events in Vaucluse and Provence are held during the tourist season from March to September. There are none in winter."

Ronan nodded in understanding.

No wonder Arthur said that no one contacted them after they joined the Vaucluse Gourmet Alliance. It turned out that the month was wrong.

But this is understandable.

All commercial activities in Provence revolve around tourists, and winter is indeed not a good time to hold events.

"Well, if there are any events in the future I will definitely attend them," Ronan responded politely.

Lun Liete changed the subject and pointed out another way for Ronan:

"But Ronan, I remember Pascal said you were an excellent truffle hunter, right?"

Ronan said modestly:

“I can’t say I’m an excellent truffle hunter, but I’m definitely a truffle hunter.”

Llorente asked enthusiastically:
"There are no food events, but there are truffle-related events. Next Wednesday, the most important annual truffle fair will be held in Carpentras. The best truffle hunters and truffle brokers in Provence will go there. I happen to be attending this event. Do you want me to reserve a booth for you?"

Ronan said excitedly:

"Yes, yes, thank you so much, Mr. Llorente."

I still have to hang out with the big guys more. A phone call actually led to a special market?
The speciality market will be attended by guests from all over Provence.

He could get out of the Luberon again!

Ronan had no experience attending truffle specialty markets.

Especially when Llorente said that all the best truffle hunters in Provence would participate, he felt a little unsure.

What if other people’s stalls are covered with mountains of truffles, but his stall only has half of others or even less?
Ronan took Hei to Lucas's house that night, hoping to invite the truffle hunter to join him.

We are all friends and it is only right that we help each other.

Lucas opened the door and saw Ronan with the dog and immediately smiled:
“Walking the dog around here again?”

This time Ronan didn't make a 'Provence-style' joke:
"No, I came here specially to see you."

Lucas made way for Ronan to enter:

"Talking about things with a dog?"

Can you please not make your purpose too obvious?
Ronan pointed at Margaret who was being close to Xiao Hei and said confidently:

"Hei also needs socialization. He hasn't seen his friends for a long time."

Lucas walked to the huge wine cabinet behind the bar:
"Pink wine?"

Ronan sat down at the bar and said with a smile:
"I thought I had finished all the pink wine in your house."

The last time Ronan came to Lucas's house for dinner, he drank the last bottle of rosé wine in his house. Lucas searched for a long time that day but couldn't find the second bottle.

Lucas picked up two glasses and poured wine for each of them:

"I thought you might come again, so I bought a few more bottles." Although Ronan and Lucas had not met many times, they were friends who 'sympathized with each other'. He directly stated the purpose of this trip:

"I'm going to the truffle market in Carpentras next week. Why don't you come with me? We can share a stall."

Lucas' heart skipped a beat.

Carpentras is the largest truffle distribution center in Provence.

The truffle market held there every December attracts the attention of buyers and sellers interested in truffles from all over Provence.

They only opened 300 stalls, but there were thousands of applicants, and it would be impossible to get one without connections.

Ronan actually got a stall?
"Do you know the organizer of the market?" Although he was extremely shocked in his heart, Lucas appeared calm on the surface.

Ronan shook his head:

"I don't know him. A friend invited me."

Lucas pushed the glass of pink wine in front of Ronan and said in a complicated tone:
"You have a lot of friends."

Friends again?

Where did Ronan get so many powerful friends?

Ronan sent another invitation:
"Come with me. We will definitely be able to outnumber each other. Maybe we can attract more customers?"

Truffles have a very short shelf life, and the amount of truffles that could be taken away from the special market that day was limited.

Ronan guessed that the quantity on each stall wouldn't be too many. Maybe if he and Lucas worked together, they could stand out in terms of quantity.

Lucas took a sip of red wine:
"You underestimate the truffle hunters in Provence. I've been to that special truffle market. The vendors all use carts to pull truffles to sell. How much can the two of us collect together?"

"A wheelbarrow? Can they dig so much?" Ronan asked in disbelief.

Lucas taught in a 'you're still too young' tone:

"I have personally seen a truffle hunter from Montex go into the mountains and bring back a large sack of truffles in one day. It was at least 8 kilograms, maybe 10 kilograms."

He drank the entire glass and poured a second one:
"The Carpentras Truffle Market is full of these 'monsters'. How many do you think you can bring to defeat them?"

Ronan took a sip of pink wine to calm himself down.

As the saying goes, there are always people better than you.

It is indeed difficult to become a top truffle hunter just by relying on level 3 [Collection].

He was only considered outstanding in Lourmarin and the small Luberon area centered on the village of Mena.

Thanks to Lucas for helping him find his clear position.

"Then just participate with the purpose of learning, just to broaden your horizons." Ronan quickly accepted this reality and changed his mindset.

Lucas downed his second glass of wine:

"You go ahead, I won't go."

"Why?" Ronan asked in surprise, "Have you found a seller for all those truffles?"

The last time they met, Lucas said that his channels couldn't handle all his goods and he was still worried about it.

Ronan didn't understand why Lucas would turn down such a good opportunity.

There will definitely be many channel partners showing up that day. Isn’t this exactly the resource they need?
Lucas continued to pour himself a drink:

"I have found the seller for all of them. I used to go there all the time. Margaret has been a little tired recently, so I plan to spend more time with her at home next week."

Ronan knew Lucas' character. No matter how much he tried to persuade him, it was useless. Just like he had to cultivate truffles artificially.

There is no use in talking more.

After drinking two more glasses of wine, Ronan took Xiao Hei away.

This time Margaret had ignored the calls of 'Dad' Lucas and wanted to go with them.

Lucas squatted on the lawn in front of his house and controlled Margaret:

"Could you please come by yourself next time, without the dog?"

Ronan said somewhat frustratedly:

"Ok."

After turning around and walking a few steps, he lowered his head and whispered to Xiao Hei:

"Your dream of marrying into a wealthy family is shattered. There will be no next date."

Xiao Hei: Is that my dream? ?

Ronan and Xiao Hei gradually disappeared into the night, but Lucas still maintained the posture of holding Margaret, staring blankly in the direction where Ronan left.

Lucas certainly knew that the Carpentras Truffle Fair was a great opportunity.

But he really couldn't lower his proud head and accept Ronan's help.

A year ago, Lucas had someone set up the stalls in Mena Village for Ronan. Less than a year later, Ronan can already go to the Carpentras market on his own?
"This kid is growing up too fast."

Although he knew that he could not attract customers' attention by sheer numbers, Ronan still did not give up.

What if he found the truffle's nest?

On Sunday, Ronan left home at 6 a.m. and returned at 5 p.m., bringing back 4.2 kilograms of truffles, more than 1 kilogram more than usual.

On Monday, Ronan left an hour earlier again, driving away before dawn and returning after 6pm. This time he caught even more, a full 5 kilograms, almost twice as much as usual.

But his clothes were so dirty that they looked like they had been rolled on the ground. Feng Zhen didn't dare let him into the restaurant, fearing that the guests would mistake him for a beggar and chase him away.

"Go home and take a shower and rest. I'll bring you some food." Feng Zhen brushed the dirt off Ronan's body and said distressedly, "Son, can we not work so hard tomorrow? Even if we dig up 10 kilograms tomorrow, won't it be as good as those people?"

She listened to Ronan describe the example Lucas had told her.

The best truffle hunters can dig up 10 kilograms a day.

What else are you fighting for?

Although Ronan's face was covered with dirty mud, it couldn't block the star-like light reflected in his eyes:

"Mom, haven't you heard that saying - the harder you work, the luckier you are! Maybe there's a big surprise waiting for me?"

(End of this chapter)