1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 43 Discovering the Law of Happiness [Update]

Away from the bustling market area, Mena Village is like a secluded paradise, exuding a simple and rustic natural beauty.

Zoe took Ronan for a walk towards the highest observation tower. It was the off-season now, so there were few people on the road and it was very quiet.

Ronan discovered that the houses in Mena Village were mostly made of stone, just like those in Lourmarin, but the residents here were accustomed to painting the walls yellow or lime:

"It's amazing that there are only these two colors."

The houses in Lourmarin come in all kinds of colors, but the windows are usually painted blue.

Zoe extended her right hand outward from her body, stroking the yellow or lime-colored walls along the way:
"There is a place called Roussillon in Provence. All the houses there are red, including the church and bell tower. From a distance, they look like an oil painting by a painter."

"Is it true?" Ronan found it hard to imagine what Roussillon looked like.

Zoe tilted her head playfully and asked jokingly:

“Are you questioning the authenticity of that place, or are you questioning the world through the eyes of an artist?”

"How dare I, great artist Zoe!" Ronan pointed in a direction with his chin, "Where is the best viewing platform you mentioned?"

Ronan had been thinking about that place for a week.

Zoe took Ronan around in the alley, and after turning a corner, the view in front of them suddenly opened up.

Seeing Ronan walking to the fence with great interest, Zoe stood beside him and said regretfully:

"It's bald down there now, and it doesn't look that good."

"Yeah," Ronan agreed with her point of view.

The view here is indeed better than the place he found by chance, but there is no beautiful scenery below. Perhaps it will be until the season when all things come back to life that one can appreciate the different beautiful scenery.

However, the system gave a different answer.

[Enjoy the beauty of nature with your heart and increase your happiness by 5 points]

5:?
It’s actually higher than the happiness level given by the place below.

The system is quite respectable
Recently, Ronan has increasingly felt that the system's standards for "happiness" are not uniform.

Several times I was given a few points more than usual for no apparent reason.

Of course, Ronan encouraged this kind of crazy behavior of the system, but it was also a headache to not be able to find the pattern.

There were a lot of crosswinds on the top of the mountain. The two people looked for a while and then left the viewing platform to find a place to have lunch.

In fact, it was already past lunch time, but on market days the restaurant was packed at noon, so they deliberately took a walk around before leaving.

The meal was served at the 'Truffle House' on the side of the Government Square.

There is a truffle-themed house in the village of Mena. This ancient house built in the 17th century was originally an orphanage and a boys' school. Later, with the help of the World Heritage Foundation, it was rebuilt into one of the most imposing buildings in the village of Mena.

The mansion has a shop that sells truffles and locally produced rosé wine.

Ronan went to take a look and saw that the truffles were priced at 2700 francs per kilogram.

He couldn't help but sigh that the value of these truffles has risen before they even reach Nice and Marseille.
Passing the shop, continue walking inside where you will find a cafe and a restaurant. Further back you can see a Roman-style cloister and a small Italian-style garden.

Ronan chose a table near the small garden and sat down. Seeing Zoe order the food neatly, he said in amazement:

“There seems to be a lot of Roman-style designs in Provence.”

French students generally have very poor historical knowledge, and Ronan knew nothing about the history of Provence.

Zoe started talking: "Provence was ruled by the Roman Empire for 700 years, and then became independent for 600 years. It was incorporated into France 500 years ago, and Vaucluse was the latest to be incorporated into France, 200 years ago. The Pope once moved the Holy See from the Vatican to Avignon. Yes, don't be surprised, it was the Avignon we visited last week. Until the French Revolution, Vaucluse was still under the jurisdiction of the Holy See."

"Do you know why the people of Luberon look down on Parisians?" Zoe looked at Ronan and said with a smile, "But it's not accurate to say that this place is influenced by Rome. We are not pure France, nor are we pure Europe. This place is just very 'Provence'."

Ronan was deeply impressed by the knowledge and charm displayed by Zoe on last week’s Bridge of Avignon and this week’s History of Provence.

He often felt that the woman in front of him was so calm and composed that she didn't seem like a Provencal woman. The temperament emanating from Zoe was like that of an educated lady from a big city, except that educated ladies would not show as much cuteness and humor as she did.

But at this moment, Ronan felt that Zoe looked particularly like a Provencal person.

She is neither unrestrained nor intellectual. She is just herself. She is Zoe, a beautiful, charming and intelligent woman.

"Cheers to Provence." Ronan collected his thoughts and raised the glass of water at hand.

The drinks they ordered had not yet arrived and the glasses were filled with water.

In Provence, where people drink wine as if it were water, no one would be so bored as to clink glasses of water together. Ronan did it unintentionally because he was affected by the inexplicable negative emotions that surged up in him.

After saying it, he realized that his behavior was a little 'weird'.

But Zoe also raised her glass in a 'pampering' manner and clinked it with his in a formal manner:
"To Provence."

She turned her smiling eyes towards her good 'brother' Ronan.

Ronan shyly looked away and drank water tactically. At the same time, a voice suddenly appeared in his ear.

[Having lunch with an attractive person of the opposite sex increases happiness by 8 points]

How many?

Wasn’t it 5 o’clock? Why did it go up again?
Ronan started coughing in shock and vomited water all over his pants.

Zoe quickly stood up to help him wipe his clothes and the table. Perhaps she couldn't help herself or her mind was thinking about other things, but she casually wiped Ronan's mouth with the paper she used to wipe the table.

[Happiness increases by 5 points when having physical contact with the opposite sex]

Not
System, you?!
"This is how I wiped Vieri's mouth when he choked on milk as a child. I couldn't control myself." Zoe made up an excuse at random without considering whether it was reasonable.

Ronan coughed even more violently.

After a whole meal of testing and experimenting, Ronan finally found the reason why the system occasionally malfunctioned.

The rules are roughly as follows:

Eating grilled steak at home can gain 1-2 happiness points.

Eating steak with Zoe will gain 2-3 happiness points.

But if Zoe gives him some food, it will give him about 3-4 points of happiness.

If it was Zoe who fed him Ronan shook his head vigorously.

How dare you think!

Ronan guessed that the weighted item was not only something that Zoe could activate. When Elena gave him food, his [Happiness] also increased.

Similarly, the activation scene is not just eating, other ways to gain happiness are also possible.

Although I cursed the system in my heart.

But when they finished their meal and Zoe asked whether they should go straight home or go shopping for a while, Ronan honestly suggested "go shopping for a while".

Who can resist doing 'happy' things?
(End of this chapter)