1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 272: Friends Away from Home

"Planning Christmas activities?" Vieri was excited at first, then worried, "Like Halloween activities? But I can't think of anything that fun. We just have a family dinner together during Christmas, and there are no other activities."

When living in Paris, Christmas lasts from early December to the beginning of the next year, which is more than a month.

Every store on the street was trying its best to "cheat" money from the pockets of residents. Everyone was concentrating on creating an atmosphere for spending money. The whole city celebrated the festival happily, eating and drinking to their heart's content, but it ended up in bankruptcy.

People living in Luberon celebrate a normal Christmas. The festive atmosphere only lasts for three or five days, and then returns to a peaceful life.

That's why Ronan kept postponing his Christmas plans. If it weren't for the postman who came to ask for a tip, he wouldn't have realized that Christmas was approaching.

Ronan comforts Vieri:
"It doesn't affect your Christmas planning, and it doesn't conflict with your desire to attract more customers."

He pointed to the kitchen, then to the waiter:

"My father and Leah attract customers through dishes and desserts, the waiters attract customers by decorating the restaurant beautifully, and we attract customers by designing fun activities. The purpose is the same."

"For example, launching a Christmas-themed special package at a lower price than the original price?" Vieri asked cautiously.

Ronan nodded:

"Yes."

"How about cooperating with other stores on the commercial street and giving away small gifts when customers dine at our restaurant?" Vieri continued to ask.

Ronan spread his hands:

"Look, you can come up with several ideas just by thinking about it. How can you say you don't know? We can even cooperate with the government. Sylvie is also going to design a Christmas-themed event for Lourmarin. Come with me tomorrow to talk to her. Maybe we can use these resources."

Ronan planned to take a day off tomorrow and not go into the mountains to pick truffles. Instead, he would take care of some important things at hand.

Vieri couldn't wait to say:
"Okay, I'll go with you."

It was so cool to 'work' with Ronan, and to work with the government!
Dad has never cooperated with the government! !

Vieri is here to 'cover the shift'.

As soon as Feng Zhen came back from the kitchen, he left the cashier counter, found an empty seat and sat down, studying the "homework" that Ronan had left for him.

Isabel passed by him and said sarcastically:
"You are so old, but you still bite the pen. You are really a child."

Vieri changed his posture and continued to chew his pen, not in the mood to argue with Isabel.

Planning Christmas events is a very important task and Vieri does not want to let Ronan down.

He must hand in a satisfactory answer.

A few minutes later, Isabel passed by the table again and saw the white paper in front of Viernie filled with mathematical equations. She stopped and looked at it curiously, then said sarcastically:
"Is it useful for you to write these? Can doing these questions attract more customers?"

Vieri finally looked up and retorted:

"This is my logical deduction process, what is the problem?"

Isabel curled her lips:

"Does it make a difference? Can this be useful?"

Vieri said angrily:
"You can plan Christmas activities? If you can design, Ronan wouldn't ask me for help. I admit that you are better than me at attracting customers, but you are not qualified to teach me in this area, right?"

Isabelle was the receptionist 'hand-picked' by Ronan and Luo Tianhai. The little girl was smart and quick-witted, especially her talkative little mouth.

But Vieri used to work as a 'customer solicitor' at the market, but was later replaced by Isabel.

Both of them were in their teens and neither of them was willing to give in to the other, so he and Isabel started competing to see who could "hold" more.

As of today's record, Vieri has won fewer games and lost more.

Vieri is smart, but he has no social experience and is thin-skinned.

Isabelle doesn't have Vieri's smart mind, but she is eloquent and has been working for several years and is very experienced.

Isabel shook her head and said:
"I really don't understand planning, but I know you got it wrong from the very first step."

She pointed to a sentence on the white paper and said:

"Christmas is a family reunion holiday. It is not appropriate to borrow the 'novelty' of Halloween. If it were me, I would hope to spend the day quietly and comfortably."

Vieri lowered his head and thought for a while, then crossed out that line of words and muttered softly:

"Okay, okay, you're awesome."

Seeing Vieri give in, Isabel left happily:

"You are still a long way from being able to take my place."

Vieri hesitated for a moment, then stood up and chased after Isabel, asking:

"So do you think the feelings of children are more important, or the feelings of adults? What kind of atmosphere do they like? If the thirteen dim sum dishes are replaced with Chinese desserts, will they feel it is abrupt?"

"Oh, you have too many questions. Go by yourself and don't disturb my work!"

the next day.

Ronan took Vieri to the Lourmarin government to find Sylvie to learn about the government's Christmas plans, and at the same time went to the government to deliver the materials needed for the "building permit".

The development tax Blanco helped him save, but the "building permit" could not be ignored and had to be obtained because it was a unified policy across the country.

Government officials in Lourmarin told Ronan that they would expedite the process and construction should be able to begin after New Year's Day.

After returning from the government, Ronan actually saw a friend he hadn't seen for a long time in the restaurant - Bruno from the National Forest Administration.

Seeing that Bruno was alone, Ronan sat opposite him:

"How's it going, man?"

They hadn't seen each other for a long time. It was said that the official had come to the restaurant several times, but Ronan had missed them all because he was in the mountains picking truffles.

Bruno shook his head in annoyance:

"No, it's very bad. I really can't go back to Paris for Christmas. I have to spend it in Provence."

Although their wallets will suffer, Parisians are accustomed to the lively Christmas atmosphere, and celebrating Christmas in a foreign place is similar to the situation of Chinese people being unable to return home for the Spring Festival.

"No holidays?" Ronan heard from the farmers that the brush clearing plan was going smoothly and would be completed by mid-January next year.

It shouldn't be a problem if it ends a few days later, right?

Bruno took off his hat, patted his bald head and said:
"The people you introduced to me are very reliable and have greatly improved efficiency, but not every area is as smooth as here in Petite Luberon. The higher-ups have assigned the forest near Roussillon to me, and they've given me a deadline. The time is too tight, and I'm afraid I won't be able to return to Paris until March next year."

Ronan comforted:
"This shows that the higher-ups think highly of you, doesn't it? Maybe you'll get a promotion when you return."

Bruno tapped the table and said:
"But I want to go back to Paris. I want to go home! My wife and children are waiting for me!"

Ronan gave him a solution:
"Can your wife and children come to Provence to spend the holidays with you?"

It is indeed not good news that you cannot be with your family during the holidays.

Bruno rubbed his face vigorously twice, and his mood became even more depressed:
"My wife is a salesperson at Galeries Lafayette. You know, Christmas is their annual battle. If she takes leave during that time, she might lose her job."

Ronan sighed:

“Evil capitalists.”

Bruno sighed:
"Damn arsonist!"

Ronan had two drinks with Bruno and took the initiative to invite him to spend Christmas here, thinking that having more people around would help alleviate some of his homesickness.

After a while, Zoe appeared in the restaurant with her blonde hair shawl and wearing a fashionable coat.

As the New Year approached, Zoe came to the restaurant less frequently.

She focused on preparing works for the 'Land Art' event and temporarily gave up social activities.

The artists finally met Zoe after many days, and sent her invitations, asking her to help take a look at their latest artistic achievements.

But Zoe apologized and said to everyone:

"Sorry, I'm here to see Ronan today. We need to go out now."

Ronan saw Zoe coming, went to Vieri and knocked on his desk:
"Are you really not going to Bonnieux with us to eat the King's Cake? That's a Michelin restaurant."

Another thing Ronan was going to do today was to have dinner at Mr. Jacques' restaurant, which he had invited Ronan to several times.

Vieri shook his head firmly:

"No, I've just sorted out what I talked about with Sylvie. I'll think about how we can make use of it this afternoon."

After saying this, he raised his head and looked around:
"Is Isabel at the door?"

Ronan nodded:

"Yes, she is at the door."

Vieri and Ronan walked towards the gate together. Zoe thought Vieri was going to Bonnieux with them, but unexpectedly Vieri pushed the door open and went out.

"Why did he go out?" Zoe asked Ronan.

Ronan took Zoe's hand and said with a smile:
“Maybe I made some new friends.”

Ronan has been to Mr. Jacques' restaurant four or five times and knows a relatively gentle route to climb, without having to take the steep "hundred-step ladder".

On this relatively easy climb, they met two groups of people traveling together. From their conversation, they learned that their destination was the same.

"They are all going to eat." Ronan whispered to Zoe.

It’s a cold December, and yet so many people are willing to climb the mountain to eat?
Zoe also lowered her voice:

"The Provencals are strong in the face of food."

Ronan smiled and asked her:

"Including you?"

Zoe said unhappily:
"I'm just curious about that special king cake."

According to Jacques, the limited edition king cake that was only sold in his restaurant for more than a month was very unique, which made Zoe a little curious.

In fact, Ronan also came for the King's Cake. He doesn't like desserts, but this is the food he has loved since he was a child.

The two of them didn't walk fast and didn't arrive at the door of the familiar restaurant until 12:.

But seeing the situation here, Ronan and Zoe were shocked.

It was past the peak lunch time for Provencal people, but there were five or six people waiting for a table outside the restaurant.

You know, there has been no waiting time at Ronan's restaurant since November.

"Business is so good." Ronan muttered softly.

"No." Zoe turned her head and asked Ronan, "I remember that there was no one waiting for a seat when I came here last time?"

Ronan has been here many times, but Zoe has only been here once, in March of this year.

There was no one queuing in the relatively warm month of March, but there was a queue in December?

Ronan pulled Zoe and quickened his pace:
"Maybe they all come here to eat the King's Cake. This really makes me curious, what kind of King's Cake is it that can attract so many people?"

(End of this chapter)