1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 72 Pink Blood

Jules and Arthur immediately recognized Jacques, a big name in the Provencal gastronomy world.

Arthur didn't react much, he was just wondering why Jacques suddenly spoke for Ronan.

Jules had been trying to sell his red wine to Jacques' restaurant. When he saw this excellent potential customer, his expression immediately changed:
"Mr. Jacques, Mr. Elliott said you would also go to the 'Bread Contest', why didn't I see you?"

Jacques only had eyes for Ronan and his stall, and was oblivious to everything around him:
"Business is good?"

Ronan handed him the pink wine:
“Not bad, thanks to the ‘Provence’ specialty rosé.”

Jacques took a sip and asked unexpectedly:

"From Stesga?"

The aperitif used in Jacques's restaurant also comes from the Stesgaard Winery. He is very familiar with the pink wine produced by this winery, which has a special raspberry flavor.

"There are more and more tourists. As the 'postcard' of Provence, I want to choose the most trustworthy products to share with them." Ronan said seriously.

Zoe shook her head imperceptibly in the booth next to her.

The wine Ronan sells is different every week and there is no fixed brand at all.

This week, only the cheapest rosé wine, this one from Strassgaard, was on sale at a discount, so he bought it.

This guy is not as honest as he looks.

This kind of whirlwind flattery is so natural
Jacques on the other side was extremely relieved.

He had the habit of visiting markets regularly, and had just seen many people holding rosé wine in other places, and heard them talking about it being the 'specialty of Provence'. Curious about who was promoting it, he searched all the way and found that it was Ronan who was doing it.

Just when I was about to come over to encourage and thank Ronan for his contribution to 'Provence Postcards', I saw the two guys who were trying to sabotage me appear.

Faced with the "strong man's" difficulties, Ronan remained neither humble nor arrogant, and did not change his attitude. This was just too much for his temper!

Ronan had previously said that he wanted to do something at the market that could be combined with rosé wine, and not only did he do it, he also took 'quality control' into consideration.

How could Jacques just watch him being bullied? !
The two chatted happily, and Jacques always ignored Jules.

Ronan couldn't bear to watch it anymore and reminded:
"Mr. Jacques, he is greeting you."

Oh my God, Jacques is the person with the strongest psychological endurance he has ever seen, no doubt about it!

Jules's face froze with laughter.
I don't know if Jacques did it on purpose or if the prescription of his glasses was too strong. He asked stupidly:
"Where is there anyone?"

The discussions around were getting louder and louder.

"Who is this person and why is he so rude?"

"How arrogant! He's a judge for a bread contest!"

"He also said that the bread contest was just a group of people entertaining themselves. What right does he have to speak in such a tone?"

Within five minutes, a third abrupt voice appeared in front of Ronan's stall.

"Jacques, you are just relaxing here."

A skinny old man with gray hair appeared surrounded by a group of people. He stood next to Jacques and said in a tone that sounded both reproachful and coquettish:
"Since you're here, why don't you go to the 'Bread Contest' and take a look? Do you really need me to invite you personally?"

Someone immediately recognized the old man's identity.

"It's Mr. Elliot! He just gave a speech at the 'Bread Contest'."

"Mr. Elliott is also a member of the Provence Gourmet Association. He is followed by other judges of the 'Bread Contest'. Oh my God, why are they all here?"

"With so many professional gourmets here, I wonder how the guy with black-framed glasses can still act so arrogantly!"

Jacques finally saw someone. He ordered another glass of pink wine and said calmly:
"Elliot, if you can only invite amateurs to judge your competition, there is no value in holding it anymore."

Jules and Arthur's faces turned green at the same time, and they looked at Elliot for help.

Sir, please save us!

Elliot laughed a few times, took out a handful of coins from his pocket and put them on Ronan's stall:

"Young man, give me and my companions a few glasses of rosé, which is most suitable for this season."

How could it be such a coincidence that Elliot just happened to run into Jacques while strolling around?

He is sending people to look for Jacques everywhere!

Not long ago, his men said they had found Mr. Jacques and relayed what happened here to Elliott. Upon hearing this, Elliott immediately brought all his men over.

The two are old friends.

Elliot knew that Jacques was a humble gentleman, but he had a few weak spots, one of which was rosé wine.

Jacques was a very important partner of Elliott and of course he had to defend his position, especially in such a public occasion.

What? You ask what about Jules and Arthur's face?
Who are Jules and Arthur?
There was an uproar all around.

Mr. Elliott, a member of the Provence Gourmet Society, bought the rosé wine!
The ones who are confusing right and wrong are those two guys in suits?!
Elliot took a sip of pink wine with a look of enjoyment, then turned around and said to the foreign tourists:
"Pink wine is the oldest type of wine. As early as the 6th century BC, the Phoenicians who traveled north on the waves began to produce this fine wine in Provence."

"God loves Provence. This magical land is the earliest, largest and best pink wine producing area in the world! Pink blood pulsates in the veins of the land of Provence, and pink memories flow through it!"

"Wow, give me a glass!"

"I want one too, no, I want two!"

"Can I buy a whole bottle? I want to savor the specialties of Provence."

More and more people were lining up in front of Ronan's stall, and it took both him and Zoe to barely keep up.

Eliot smiled gently at Jacques, as if to say:

Are you satisfied now?

Seeing that Jacques still had that expressionless look, Elliot hooked his arm and pulled him away with a grin:
"I have something very important to discuss with you. As the owner of a two-Michelin-star restaurant, you must give me some advice."

The crowd that had quieted down all around started to boil again.

That arrogant guy is the owner of a Michelin restaurant?

Or two stars?
They all looked at Ronan who was extremely busy.

A friend of the owner of the two-star Qi Lin restaurant. His cooking skills should not be too bad, right?

Especially since that person seemed so critical and mean.

"Boss, give me another serving of sweet and sour pork!" The voices of people placing orders came one after another.

"Okay, okay, wait a moment!" Ronan temporarily left the waiting customers, holding a portion of freshly-cooked sweet and sour pork, and caught up with Jacques and Elliot who were leaving.

Everything happened so fast that Jacques left before he even had time to wait for the pot of sweet and sour pork to come out of the oven.

But how can you miss the opportunity to be tasted by the owner of a Michelin restaurant?

"Gentlemen, have a try." Ronan handed over the sweet and sour pork with anticipation. "It's free."

Jacques politely continued:

"I ate before."

"When?" Ronan asked in surprise.

"My wife bought one when she was at the market half a month ago, but I guess it tastes better when it's hot." Jacques forked a piece and put it in his mouth, looking at Elliot.

"Let me try it—" Elliot took a piece sensibly, "Hmm? It's very special!"

Ronan regretted it deeply.

He should borrow a camera from tourists, take a picture of this scene, and hang it on the stall permanently!
Ronan even wanted to contribute an article to the "Provence Daily" with the title "Taking you into the exotic flavors that would make the owners of two-star Michelin restaurants and members of the Provence Gourmet Association praise them all."

Mission accomplished, Ronan rushed back to the stall without stopping.

After the trouble caused by those two unreasonable guys, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as there was a long queue in front of the stall.

Jules glanced at Ronan with a grim expression:
"Let's go too, Arthur."

Unexpectedly, Arthur did not move and took off his suit jacket:

"Go on your own Jules."

He rolled up his shirt sleeves again and asked Ronan with a smile:
"Don't keep the customers waiting too long. How about I help you in the kitchen?"

Jules' body was instantly ignited by anger:
*You are my son's son, why did you turn against me?!

(End of this chapter)