Chapter 17: Life Is Looking Up!

In front of Alain’s bakery, Ronan and Zoe’s stall was surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. These people, like children watching a circus magician, were excited and envious as they gathered around. This was not the commercially prosperous Golden Triangle region; suddenly seeing sixty truffles appear at the Lulmaran village market amazed everyone—both stall owners and market-goers alike.

“Please, make way for customers who want to buy!” Ronan kept trying to maintain order, but the situation showed no sign of improvement. He felt as if he were back in the Parisian parade crowds, except now he was responsible for keeping the peace.

What was even more discouraging was that their stall was ineffective. Most people around were just there for the spectacle; hardly anyone genuinely wanted to buy truffles. Those who might have been interested probably left because of the overwhelming crowd.

If these truffles didn’t sell smoothly today, Ronan would have to activate a backup plan: one option was to stay until Friday and continue selling, but the truffles would inevitably lose weight and freshness from being away from the soil too long. The other option was to take them to other markets, but without help from locals, Ronan wasn’t sure how long the entire process would take—and it would also cut into his truffle-hunting time.

Either choice would have significant consequences.

Just as Ronan’s heart was bleeding with frustration, a commotion broke out at the edge of the crowd. Soon, a few familiar faces from the old tavern, reeking of alcohol and rugged-looking farmers, pushed through the onlookers and appeared before Ronan. These men, like dangerous ticking time bombs, were shunned by everyone.

Within two minutes, their rough enforcement restored calm, and no one dared to approach the stall anymore.

Pierre straightened his hat and headed toward the old tavern.

“Don’t be shy about asking for help—stop acting all timid like a woman!”

Long ago, the farmers in the valley had formed a cooperative system. When someone needed to replant their vines, everyone pitched in voluntarily—no one lost out in the end. This system evolved: whenever a farmer encountered trouble, the others were obliged to assist.

The saying “Those who work the land are brothers” was no mere platitude.

Ronan swallowed a flood of gratitude.

“I’ll come find you this afternoon.”

Focused on making money, Ronan hadn’t visited the tavern in a long time. After this incident, he realized that drinking was truly an important matter not to be neglected.

Pierre led his group away. Henry, who had worked hard earlier, approached Ronan with a flattering grin.

“My wife’s stall is nearby. If you need anything, just call me. We can’t afford to be kind to people who interfere with our earnings!”

Ronan gratefully replied, “Thank you.” Suddenly, Henry’s smile no longer seemed as frightening as it had at first.

Once the chaos ended, customers interested in selecting truffles and tools gradually increased, and everything settled into a rhythm.

Zoe wiped a glass and said to Ronan beside her, “It’s hard to believe that just over two weeks ago, the farmers who saw you as a thorn in their side are now protecting you like this.”

Ronan sighed and smiled, “Two weeks isn’t short. It can change a lot.”

Zoe was silent, seeming to ponder something quietly.

...

The past two weeks in Provence had brought so many changes to Ronan—too many to recount in a single night. But above all, he felt one undeniable truth: life was finally looking up.

Those sixty truffles sold for 13,500 francs!

The poor boy who once survived on bread alone was finally turning his fortunes around!

As usual, the truffles were in high demand and sold out before eleven o’clock.

Ronan didn’t rush to pack up and go home. Instead, he bought pots, pans, dishes, a dozen seasonings, flour, olive oil, and other kitchen supplies at the market. He even picked up a few toys for Little Black, along with a kilogram of jerky safe for both humans and dogs.

After borrowing a small cart from Theo to haul the mountain of goods home, he hurried back to the stall to find Zoe.

Claiming that “you have to eat well when you earn money in China,” Ronan treated Zoe to lunch, earning five happiness points.

After the meal, he went to the old tavern and bought drinks for everyone who had helped him that morning.

Sipping drinks at the tavern gained him ten more happiness points. With a cheerful, bulging wallet, Ronan returned home.

Little Black had long since reconciled with Ronan. Occasionally playing together at home even boosted happiness points.

But today, instead of grinding experience by playing with Little Black, Ronan fed him a few pieces of jerky, picked him up, and lay down on the bed.

The little one circled twice, found a comfortable spot in Ronan’s arms, and soon began breathing softly with faint snores.

Ronan rested his hand on Little Black’s small head, unable to suppress the smile curling at his lips.

At that moment, the system showed 132 happiness points. He could upgrade his next skill at any time. Everything was under his control. These numbers reflected Ronan’s current joy.

He had money, friends, and his career was beginning to flourish.

Everything was finally looking up!

...

“But this money doesn’t feel secure,” Ronan muttered.

Little Black was still young, with weak theft prevention. Having been robbed once, the dog harbored a psychological shadow.

Moreover, now that the whole village knew he was making money from truffles, he couldn’t rule out ill-intentioned people.

...

That afternoon, Ronan installed a telephone line in the village.

Previously, villagers from Viery had to deliver messages by foot to invite him to gatherings. Now, a phone call would suffice.

Besides, Ronan urgently needed to repair his relationship with his parents far away in Paris.

Only those who had experienced Provence’s beauty firsthand could truly understand it.

In a few months, after earning more money to renovate his house and buy some furniture, he was determined to find a way to bring his parents here to enjoy the good life.

Breathing the fresh air and basking in the bright sunshine here might even add years to their lives.

Otherwise, why would social elites and celebrities compete to buy homes in Provence?

He planned to start mending ties with his parents through Chinese cuisine.

Having purchased a full set of kitchen equipment, he could cook for himself in the future. Many dishes he only knew how to eat, not prepare, and his parents worked in the Chinese food industry in Paris.

By asking about recipes, he could subtly convey that his life here was going well, reassuring them that his choice was right and dispelling their doubts.

...

Installing the telephone cost some money, as did the morning’s major purchases and the lunch invitation. After all this, Ronan still had 12,800 francs left from selling truffles.

Adding the 2,100 francs earned last week and his previous savings, his total assets amounted to 20,500 francs.

With this money in hand, Ronan knocked on the Louis family’s door.

Zoe opened it and was somewhat surprised to see Ronan standing outside, then calmly said, “My father went to Bernio village with Freddy after lunch.”

Viery was in school at this hour, something Ronan couldn’t have been unaware of.

He certainly wasn’t here to see her or her mother, so Zoe concluded he had come looking for her father.

Ronan leaned against the doorframe, raising an eyebrow at Zoe.

“I’m here to see you.”