Chapter 22: The Infinite Potential of the Truffle Business

Dining in Provence is a drawn-out affair, but after being on his feet all day, Ronan only wanted to find somewhere soft and warm to collapse. Seeing the conversation turn toward football and sports, he seized the excuse of "aching legs and a sore back" to rightfully claim a spot on the sofa.

"How comfortable..."

The sheer bliss of lying down after a full meal is something only those who have experienced it can truly appreciate. He stretched out, only to be startled by the sudden appearance of Zoe in the living room. Ronan scrambled to sit up, busily smoothing out his clothes and covering his bared midriff, which had been exposed by his overly indulgent stretch.

Zoe pretended not to notice. "When I first went into the mountains with my father, my feet ached for a week. I spent three days straight trying every excuse to avoid school, so I understand exactly how important that sofa is to you right now."

The implication was clear: stay lying down; I understand.

Ronan didn't dare lie back down, but he shifted into a more comfortable, semi-reclined position. "Why are you here, too?"

Zoe settled into the plush cushions as well. "Before, no one ever left early. Now that you’ve broken the mold, I naturally want to enjoy the same treatment."

Ronan quickly grasped the subtext of her tone. The party was part of Louis’s social circle, not hers, so she always attended as an outsider with little interest in the proceedings. Over time, it was inevitable that she would grow bored. Her lack of contribution to the conversations at the party was proof enough of that. France is a country that places immense value on family ties, and most children do not leave their parents until they start families of their own—a situation even more prevalent in the Provence region.

"Whenever there’s a party at home from now on, you should go find your friends," Ronan suggested.

Zoe sighed softly. "I went to university in Nice; my friends are all there."

Ronan flashed a wide grin. "Don't I count as your friend?"

Zoe laughed, gesturing toward the dining room behind them, where the chatter was still lively. "You belong in there."

She didn't deny his words; in fact, Ronan was the peer she felt most comfortable with in the village. As they planned to head to other villages to set up stalls together in the future, their relationship would only grow closer.

Ronan raised an eyebrow noncommittally. "More than that."

Provence is a place saturated with various circles: the merchant circle of Louis, Alain, and Freddy; the farmer circle centered around Pierre; the affluent circle represented by Lucas... To thrive here, Ronan knew he had to cultivate his own circle, especially since his ambitions extended far beyond the village of Lourmarin.

Zoe nodded silently. That was good; a young man should have ambition.

"I’m honored to be in your ‘social circle’," Zoe said with a sweet smile, her shoulders swaying slightly.

"You’re the first one," Ronan replied, laughing along.

"Does anyone need an after-dinner drink?"

Lia’s voice suddenly rang out behind them, startling Ronan so much he let out an exclamation in his native tongue. "Good grief!"

Zoe clutched her chest, turning around, still shaken. "Mom, how long have you been standing there?"

...

At nine-thirty in the evening, the party finally concluded. Theo’s family lived in the same direction as Ronan’s, and they were accompanied by Lucas, who claimed he just "wanted a casual stroll."

Lucas was as friendly and enthusiastic toward Ronan as ever. "Are you planning to sell all the truffles you dig up at the market?"

"Yes," Ronan replied, neither servile nor overbearing.

"How much are you selling them for?" Lucas continued.

"Two thousand francs per kilogram." Ronan had checked the prices; it was a reasonable rate.

Lucas walked with his hands behind his back, looking off toward the distance. "These truffles dug out of the Luberon pass through small vendors and middlemen, their prices inflated at every turn. By the time they reach a restaurant kitchen, their value has likely doubled. In three-star restaurants or some extremely expensive delicatessens in Paris, a kilogram of truffles can fetch at least six thousand francs."

"The price gap is that large?" Ronan was genuinely surprised.

"It’s far more than that..." Lucas sneered. "Everyone acknowledges that truffles from Périgord have the best flavor and command the highest prices. But more than fifty percent of the truffles labeled as 'Périgord' actually come from other provinces."

Ronan looked at him, puzzled, wondering what Lucas was driving at.

Lucas grew animated, his tone becoming almost like a speech, feverish as he addressed Ronan. "There are too many traps in the truffle trade. We wild foragers only get a tiny slice of the profit. To earn more money upstream, we must scale up... I have the best dog, and you have incredible technique. Why don't we partner up?"

Lucas saw the infinite possibilities in the truffle business, but as a lone wild forager, he felt powerless—like watching a beautiful, naked woman posing in front of you, yet being unable to do anything but watch. But Ronan’s arrival had ignited his hope. His own ability wasn't enough, but what if he added the equally talented Ronan to the mix? Why shouldn't they join forces and make more money?

Theo was stirred by his brother’s passion. More money? Lucas was already quite wealthy! What kind of number would "more" turn out to be? He looked at Ronan with equal anticipation. If they were to expand, they would certainly need hands on deck. As Lucas’s younger brother and Ronan’s good friend, he was surely the first choice. Otherwise, his brother wouldn't have brought this up in front of him!

Ronan’s calm was a stark contrast to the brothers' fervor. "I'll think about it."

"What is there to think about? Even if you’re rich, you shouldn't turn your nose up at making more money, right?" Lucas began walking backward, facing Ronan, gesturing wildly with his hands.

Ronan laughed and patted his shoulder, urging him to calm down. "I just said I’d consider it, not that I was refusing."

Lucas was right; the truffle market had infinite possibilities. But Lucas was also wrong—dogs could be replaced, but Ronan’s technique was irreplaceable. Ronan had many paths to choose from; he didn't necessarily need to partner with him. Besides, the truffle season was coming to an end, and he intended to find other ways to make money in the future—he didn't plan on hanging all his hopes on one tree. Furthermore, becoming his "partner" wasn't going to be that easy.

Lucas kept talking for a while longer. Ronan listened silently, saying little, seemingly lost in thought. When they reached the fork in the road, he waved at the two brothers. "I will definitely give it careful consideration."

...

Lucas stood still, watching Ronan’s retreating figure with a complex expression. Afraid that his proud brother might be dissatisfied with Ronan’s performance tonight, Theo stepped in to defend his friend. "Ronan is a very direct guy, but he’s not a bad person. He’s someone you can trust."

A few seconds later, Lucas pulled his gaze back and said to Theo with solemnity, "Do you think I’d be angry because of how he acted tonight? Theo, remember this: in the face of money, pride and self-esteem are worthless."

"Then what should we do next?" Theo asked naively. Ronan’s attitude was so hesitant; were they just supposed to keep waiting?

Lucas revealed a confident smile. "Mother Earth teaches us that there is no harvest without cultivation. Once you finish the steps of sowing, fertilizing, and weeding, you will surely reap the rewards."