1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 71 Here Comes a More Ruthless One
Easter is still three weeks away, but tourists are already arriving in Provence and events are starting to be organized across the Luberon.

These large and small activities will last from early April to the end of September.

The first Luberon-style activity that Ronan experienced was a bread competition held at the market in the village of Mena.

White tents were set up in the small square, and many outstanding bakers from the Luberon Mountains came to participate with their most proud works, making it very lively.

Even though Ronan's stall was dozens of meters away from the event area, he could still smell the aroma of wheat and butter in the air.

"Want to go and take a look?" Zoe asked with a smile when she saw Ronan looking over there from time to time.

"Of course, don't you want to go?" Ronan was a person who loved to join in the fun.

Zoe checked the remaining meat under Ronan's stall:

"It should be sold out early today. We'll go check it out after you sell it."

It didn't matter if her utensils were sold a day earlier or later, but if Ronan couldn't sell all of his ingredients, it would be wasted.

"Okay." Ronan agreed readily, and his hands moved faster.

"No. There's still wine." Zoe looked to the other side again.

Rosé wine is not valued in Provence, and Ronan is the only one selling it in the entire market.

Ronan sells rosé by the glass, and it is chilled. Many ladies who have a good acceptance of rosé wine will come here to buy a glass even if they don't buy food.

This becomes more apparent as the temperature rises and more food becomes available at the market.

When he set up his stall for the first time, Ronan only sold 5 bottles of rosé wine.

He was able to sell out 8 bottles last week, and this week Ronan brought a full 10 bottles, and now he still has more than half left.

Ronan said disapprovingly:

"Wine sells well. If we can't sell it, we take it away and drink it ourselves."

“It’s selling well?” Zoe couldn’t help laughing. “You’re the only one in Provence who thinks rosé is selling well.”

While Ronan was busy with the sweet and sour pork in his hand, he shouted to a lady passing by with a backpack:

"Ma'am, would you like a glass of Provence's specialty pink wine? I swear you can only taste the purest flavor here."

The lady looked at it with interest, smiled at Ronan, and didn't stop.

Ronan was not discouraged and continued to shout at another young girl in casual clothes:

"Miss, would you like a glass of Provence's specialty pink wine? I swear you can only taste the purest flavor here."

The young girl stopped, looked at the sweet and sour pork sold by Ronan, then looked at the pink wine, and asked in broken French:
“Are these all Provencal specialities?”

Ronan poured her some pink wine and forked her a small piece of sweet and sour pork:
"Pot fried in soy sauce is not, but rosé wine is. Provence welcomes tourists from outside the region."

Ronan has been running the stall for more than two months and has come into contact with many customers. He can tell at a glance which ones are locals from Provence and which ones are tourists.

The locals will definitely hold a basket or other containers for carrying things in their hands, and they will dress casually.

But it’s different for tourists. Some of them wear brand-name clothes, some wear beach shoes that are not suitable for this season. The easiest to recognize are those holding cameras.

The girl took a bite of meat, took a sip of wine, said a few words to her companion in a language Ronan couldn't understand, and stood in line at the back.

Ronan looked at Zoe proudly:
"The locals in Provence don't like rosé wine, so I sell it to outsiders."

After that, Ronan's shouting did not stop.

He used the selling point of "Provence characteristics" to attract foreign tourists one after another.

These outsiders found the stall very interesting.

A yellow-skinned man sells "specialties" that even the locals in Provence don't sell. And at his stall which is full of "Provence characteristics", you can also eat another kind of delicacy that does not belong to Provence.

Could anything be more complex and interesting than this?
Isn't the purpose of traveling to see "scenery" you have never seen before?

Now, they have found the 'scenery' they have never seen before!

The line in front of Ronan's stall grew longer and longer, spreading to both sides, and the discussion about 'Provence characteristics' also spread to more areas.

Just as Ronan was trying hard to sell the last few bottles of wine, a sudden voice appeared, drowning out Ronan's shouting. "Pink wine is a specialty of Provence? This is the biggest joke I have ever heard in my life."

Two men in expensive suits and ties stood in front of Ronan's booth.

One of them looked at what Ronan was selling with a very unfriendly look, and the other one frowned slightly.

"Why is it you?" Arthur never expected to meet Ronan in such a situation.

"Long time no see." There was no smile on Ronan's face.

No one will welcome someone who smashes their own sign.

Arthur explained to his companions:

"It may be a misunderstanding. This is my friend. He has been in Provence for a short time."

The man with gold-rimmed glasses looked up at Ronan's face and suddenly laughed:

“Is this the Chinese guy who cooks Chinese food you mentioned?”

Arthur nodded, admitted it, and continued to say to Ronan:
"You have only been in Provence for a few months. You may not understand many things. Red wine is the specialty of Provence. Pink wine has never been accepted by the people of Provence."

The man wearing gold-rimmed glasses is called Jules. He owns a red winery. He can't stand hearing people say that rosé wine is a specialty of Provence.

Artur had business dealings with him and of course had to defend his position, especially in such a public setting.

Ronan continued to blast things, not affected at all, and said calmly:
"Gentlemen, it's not something you and I can explain in a few words, but Provence is the largest rosé wine producing region in France, isn't that right?"

Arthur's face turned grim, and Ronan ignored the way out he gave him.

It turns out that Ronan is tougher than he thought.

He handed a glass of rosé to a female customer with a camera around her neck:
"Pink wine is perfect for hot weather, and served chilled, it goes really well with meat and seafood."

Ronan is still promoting? !
Jules couldn't bear it any longer:

"Artur and I are the judges of the 'Bread Contest'. Are you challenging our authority?"

The people in the queue and onlookers began to talk quietly.

"Judges of the bread competition? They must be professional gourmets."

"He looks familiar to me. Was he the one standing next to Mr. Elliot just now?"

"Who is Mr. Little?"

"He is the chairman of the organizing committee of this 'Bread Contest'."

"So is this young man at the stall really talking nonsense?"

Jules was very pleased with the reactions of those around him:

"You have only been in Provence for a few months? Can you represent Provence, foreigner?"

Jules put emphasis on the word 'stranger'.

"If he can't represent, then you can?" Another abrupt voice appeared.

A middle-aged man wearing black-framed glasses and with gray hair on his temples walked out.

He handed Ronan 10 francs in a gentlemanly manner:

"Give me a glass of Provence's specialty rosé wine, thank you."

A 'kind-hearted person' next to me reminded:
"Sir, you are a tourist too, right? These two judges of the 'bread contest' said that rosé wine is not a specialty of Provence."

The middle-aged man pushed his black-framed glasses and said expressionlessly:
"Bread contest? You mean the group of guys in the square who are having fun?"

Ronan almost couldn't hold back his laughter and shouted even louder:
"Misters, ladies, and young ladies! Would you like to try the specialty rosé wine from Provence?"

　Thanks to [Xiang Yuechujiu] and [Alex Bingfeng] for the rewards.

　　There are too many friends who have voted for monthly tickets and recommendation tickets recently, so I won’t thank them one by one here. Anyway, thank you all for your support~
　　Kneel down and thank you!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)