Chapter 15 Chapter fifteen

Ennis parked his venerable shiny old Arms outside Loulanmen's apartment.Today, they will drive away and immigrate to a new life. He went into the apartment and saw Simon kneeling on an inflated suitcase, trying to lock it, cursing.Sorry, um.I've never been good at packing.How much space is there in the car? Ennis joined him, kneeling on the trunk.It might be a bit tight, but it should still be manageable.Is this the only one left and the other two suitcases?At last he closes the lock, finally closes it, and off we go. They carried their luggage and walked to the car.Ennis opened the trunk so we could stuff our big suitcases here and the rest stacked on top of Mrs Gibbon's basket.

Simon hadn't forgotten Mrs. Gibbon at all.where is it going to sit It has a troublesome habit of only sitting in the front seat.If you put it in the back seat, it will go berserk and chew through the seat covers. where do i sit You can sit elegantly in the back seat like a British gentleman. Simon looked out the front window and saw two pink eyes looking back at him, and Mrs Gibbon sat up and yawned, like all Bourtlias, with jaws that looked big enough to The stone was crushed.It looked up at Simon.A white ear pricked up, and then he heard a low growl. Ennis came over and opened the car door.We don't want to hear such nasty voices again.Now you come out and say hello to Mr. Xiao.He turned to Simon and said: Darling, hold out your hand and let it smell it.

Simon held out his hand tentatively, and the dog examined it cautiously, then hopped back into the car, curled up in the seat, one eye warily open, the other closed. Well, that's not a dog, it's more like a Japanese sumo wrestler. Looks aren't everything, honey.It's sweet, I mean most of the time.Ennis opened the back door, told Simon to sit next to the dog's basket, and off to France! They spent the night at Fontainebleau in the south of France and set off early the next morning, the old car making steady progress at sixty-five miles, and the sky brightened as they entered the south of France.Ennis said: We should be in Basiya by early evening, and I happen to know that Nicole has a mixed casserole ready for us.

Simon leaned forward, resting his elbows on the back of the front seat.Mrs Gibbon gave a warning look, and I'm glad you and Nicole are on good terms. I can't help telling you, my dear, how relieved she was after our last short stay.By the way, did you tell Caroline that you were leaving? Simon decided not to tell Caroline anything until he arrived safely in France.If she knew that he was about to leave the jurisdiction of the British courts, the lawyers would definitely chase him like flies.I figured I'd send her a message telling her not to worry about alimony, she has nothing to complain about.

Ennis snorted.That wouldn't stop her from being annoying, either.In my opinion, she is simply a spoiled woman.He sped past a truck full of sheep.If she knew about it, she must be very curious.That nosy woman will definitely come after her to find out. I believe.Simon looked at the grey-green landscape of towering rocks and suddenly felt a little tired.The past few weeks have not been easy at all.Now that it was all over, he just wanted to indulge with Nicole.He began to picture her at home.Can you make this classic car go faster? They arrived in Basiya after six o'clock and Nicole came out to meet them, holding her body in her arms because of the cold.She was wearing a black wool sweater, leggings, and an impractical apron.Simon came up to her and put his nose close to her neck.Her skin was warm from being in the kitchen.You're likely to be arrested for dressing like this, how are you?

Lovers, welcome home!She leaned into his arms, studied his face, and when she looked over his shoulder and saw something, her eyes widened in surprise.God, what is this? As soon as Mrs. Gibbon arrived here, she began to study the local smell. Its feet were bent outwards, and its tail looked stiff and weird. It smelled from the telephone pole to the trash can all the way.Nicole watched in disbelief as it picked the right spot and freed itself, sucking in the night air with its big nose up. Simon said: That's Mrs. Gibbon, it's very special! Nicole shook her head with a smile, she thought, what an ugly dog, God really made a big joke.She kissed Simon's nose.Grab a drink so you don't spoil the fun.

They unloaded the car and sat around the fire, drinking red wine while listening to Nicole tell the latest situation.News of the inn had spread throughout the village, by gossip in cafes and gossip in shops.Now, almost every day, she says, she is approached with advice: job seekers, meat discounts, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy antiques, swimming pool maintenance, and well-grown olives at a reasonable price Tree.Everything seems to be for sale, but none more so than Jean-Louis, the thieves' nemesis who specializes in security systems. At least once a day, he would call or come in person to report the latest on the criminal activities in Vaucluse.According to him, theft was rampant and nothing was ever completely safe.A car can disappear in seconds, a house is broken into, furniture and statues in the garden can disappear, not even a knife and fork in a hotel can be spared.He told Nicole that it was a personal honor for him to be in charge of overseeing the security system of the Bank of France to safeguard the safety of the bank.Not even field mice can slip into this impenetrable safety net.

Simon said: He sounded like a liar to me.What do we want those for?There are always people in the restaurant.Besides, we can train Mrs. Gibson to bite. Nicole shrugged. I thought he was looking for a job as a security officer in a restaurant. He was charming, but suspicious.You've seen him at parties. What happened to the chef? There are currently two possible candidates.There was a young man who was working as a sous chef at a seaside hotel and wanted to run his own kitchen.They say he's great, he's ambitious, he's made a name for himself.The other Nicole lit a cigarette and smiled through the smoke. It was Mrs. Pan.She's a local, and a good cook, but a little eccentric.Her last job was in Yaweiyi, but she got into a big fight with a client because they said her duck was burnt.How dramatic it was for her to burst out of the kitchen!

Well, what do you think of the dramatic cook? It's not easy being an artist, my dear.This is something we all know. Nicole says: I went for her baked truffle soufflé with spiced chicken one night and it was amazing!She checks her watch, stands up, and now all I have to contribute is my not-so-smart chai casserole. This unsophisticated casserole of sausage, mutton, goose, beans and bread flour is served in a clay pot on a table next to Cotes de Duras (Note: Cotes de Duras, In the southwestern part of France.) The wine produced, they taste the wine first, so that they can be selected into the wine cellar of the hotel in the future.The long and fat bread is cut into thick slices, and you can still feel its softness and elasticity when you pick it up.The salad was tossed, the wine was poured, and when Nicole broke the crust on the soup, a smell of spices wafted from the pot.Simon smiled at Nicole as he tucked his napkin into his collar.I'm protecting your shirt.

Great, now let's eat while it's hot! They all agreed that the matter of hiring a cook must be settled as soon as possible, and before the kitchen and equipment were in place.A good chef can make a restaurant famous in one season and attract local guests to visit all year round.But finding the right chef is really a big problem.Have you ever tried a restaurant recommended by a Michelin food critic?If you have such experience, can you be sure that these dishes are really made by the chef and not his staff? Ennis licked the corner of his mouth with his napkin, then took a sip of the wine, chewing it well before swallowing it.Well, very good.Shall we also try Calonne?The wine tastes close, which is nice.He stood up, took a clean glass, and poured the wine.Now, do you have an answer to this conundrum?

Well, this is another question worth pondering. That's right, dear.I suggest that we invite every chef to come to Basiya and cook for us.Kind of a test lunch.Why not? Nicole and Simon looked at each other, why not? But they didn't think about the self-esteem of these culinary masters.They usually have a self-important self, thinking that they are brilliant enough to be on par with masters such as Paul Bocuse and Alain Senderens (Note: They are all famous French chefs.).The two masters were treated with great courtesy and hospitality, and were treated as national treasures by the president, and even movie stars competed to curry favor.When Nicole called the young man who worked in the seaside hotel, he declined the invitation to cook in the private kitchen unless a car was sent to Nice to pick him up, but he had to pay five thousand francs for his travel expenses, and he also No display of cooking skills. Nicole put down the phone and put on a strange expression, this man is so ambitious (in French)! Ennis pressed: What did you say? Simon laughed and said, Well, they don't teach that in Belize.Meaning, he over-inflates himself farts higher than his ass! You describe him as someone who talks through his anus.How unrefined! After a lot of effort, Nicole managed to contact the second candidate, Mrs. Pan, and made the same proposal to her.She agrees to come and see Simon's hotel and Nicole's kitchen.If she feels good, she will show her skills.If it was not to their liking, they had to take her to lunch at the Masto de Hoon restaurant (which she had heard was pretty good) near Gauld, as her payment for the day.But she's an optimist, she said.She asked Nicole to meet her at the central market in Aviyi at six o'clock the next morning to buy supplies for lunch. The three of them arrived at the central market before six o'clock.In the gloom before dawn, the only indication that everyone is up is the fact that every parking space is full and the market entrance is dimly lit.The temperature dropped below freezing, and the wind sent empty cigarette packs flying in the gutter, cutting on the skin like a knife.Simon rubbed his unshaven face like frozen sandpaper. How do we recognize her? She said she would have breakfast at Kiki's Bar. When they entered, the darkness and silence had long been replaced by noise and dazzling light.The aisles are fairly crowded, with hawkers writing orders and yelling to encourage hesitant shoppers.Ennis was speechless in astonishment as he looked at the stalls piled high with vegetables, meat, cheese, olives, fruit, and fish. I think we're probably going to have a few hours of fun here.Look at how pretty those eggplants look, they'd put a ballet dancer to shame. They pushed their way through the crowd towards the bar.Men in old overalls stood shoulder to shoulder, next to small bottles of red wine and sausage sandwiches.In the corner is a lone woman writing something on the back of an envelope with a half glass of champagne left in front of her eyes. Mrs. Pan had passed the mature stage long ago, she was only in middle age, and her figure was quite plump.She has curly dark red hair, a plump, beautiful face, and a white lace blouse.Her make-up was as exaggerated as her breasts, which rested on the bar like two sleeping puppies.A green cloak was draped over her shoulders, and her unusually graceful feet were balanced on a pair of elegant high heels. Nicole introduced the two parties, and Mrs. Pan watched them with her bright brown eyes as she drank the champagne.Simon put a hundred-franc note on the bar.He said: Please allow me to pay the bill.Mrs. Pan nodded gracefully, picked up her envelope, and flicked it with her fat fingers. She said: I have prepared a menu for lunch, just some home-cooked dishes, nothing complicated, come with me. She walked between the stalls with authority, sometimes prodding, sometimes smelling, sometimes dismissing.Most of the street vendors recognized her, shouted how good their products were, and showed her lettuce and cheese as if they were works of art.She seldom spoke, and either made a disapproving sound with her tongue, shook her head, or nodded, letting Simon and Ennis buy what she chose.Nearly two hours later, they were all carrying heavy plastic bags, and Mrs. Pan was content.She followed Nicole, leaving the two men behind. Well, what do you think of her? Ennis didn't speak, a dog was scratching in the middle of the road, and Ennis took a detour to avoid it.If her workmanship is as good as her purchases, do you see the look she gave that murloc?Simply discouraging.I must say, I convinced her.Even Rubens (Note: Peter Paul Rubens, Belgian painter.) Adored her three points. There are so many places to worship!Did you see her dip her finger in champagne? Oh, I don't believe there is a cook who doesn't like wine.You know, it shows in the cooking. They came out of the middle of Avi, and Ennis slowed down when they saw a girl in riding boots and a miniskirt bent over the hood of the BMW, her hips pointed directly at the passing traffic.Do you think we should reach out? Simon smiled and said: Well, she's a working lady, a whore.She's there every day, Nicole told me. The sun was out, and the fields and orchards shone with frost.This is really like the weather seen on postcards. The sky is clear and blue. In this kind of weather, there will be good luck. They gathered in the vaulted high room that would become the hotel's kitchen and dining room, where Fang Qi and his workers rested temporarily, and they were knocking down the thick stone walls to install the soaring arched windows.A cloud of dust hung in the air, and workers with jackhammers were humming.Mrs. Penn clutched her cloak and tiptoed over the rubble. Standing in the center of the space, she turned slowly, mentally arranging the boiler, work table, refrigerator, dishwasher, and pot rack.She measured her steps, estimated the height of the ceiling, and studied the route into the dining room.Everyone holds their breath as she moves back and forth in serious slow motion.Finally, she looked at them and nodded. She said: It works, it's a little small, but it works.With relieved smiles, they accompanied Mrs. Pan through the dining room and up the stairs. She didn't realize that a small plasterer gave her an admiring look.He waited until they could not hear him speak before turning his head to Fang Qi. She's beautiful, isn't she?He waved his hands vigorously, delicate and plump. Fang Qi grinned, Qiao Zi, you always like tall women.With them, you are nothing at all. The dapper plasterer sighed.As long as the bank thing worked out, he'd have the money to buy suits, take a woman like that out, and give her a bunch of money.That day is almost here.He continued to tap on the wall, imagining the vastness of the milky white flesh. Mrs. Pan took off her cloak, inspected Nicole's kitchen, tried the blade on her thumb, and felt the weight of the copper pot, while Ennis unloaded the things bought from the vegetable market one by one.She asked for an apron, a glass of white wine, picked Ennis as her assistant, and told Nicole and Simon to be back by noon.When they were about to go out, they heard her first order and Ennis said a brisk yes, dear! Simon laughed and said: How does it feel to be thrown out of your own house?She's a tough woman, isn't she? All good cooks are dictators.Nicole looked at her watch.That's good too, because I want to show you something, a surprise for Ennis, and we still have time. I think he has a surprise at this moment. They drove along the N100 road, and then entered the mountains.Nicole parked the car by a tall fence, and they passed through a crooked, low door.The three or four hectares stretched before their eyes, although the sun was shining, the frost was faint, and it looked dead and terrible.It all looks like a village destroyed by a violent and lazy giant, who threw all the remains behind a pile of old beams, piles of cut stones as big as carts, and many pillars , fireplaces, roof tiles, millstones, giant decorative tubs, unbroken steps leaning against the barn, and man-high pottery slabs among the weeds and brambles, everything is broken and old with age.Nicole led Simon past a battered statue of a young girl, her nose gone, lying on her back with her arms gently wrapped around her moss-covered chest. Simon asked: What is this place? Garbage center.Don't you think it's great?With these items, you can furnish a new house as if it were two hundred years old.Nicole stopped and looked around, damn it, I'm lost, where is this? what are we looking for Ah, here it is.Go through the pile of old beams. It was a colossal replica of the Manneken Pis in Brussels, weathered through the ages.It was a chubby angel, peeing thoughtfully into a round stone basin, eyes closed, with a look of contentment, a fat stone hand clutching a small penis made of ancient copper pipes. Nicole patted the brass pipe.I think this one might be too obvious.However, Fang Qi should be able to adjust.She took a step back and looked at Simon with a smiling question mark on her face, how about it? Simon laughed as he walked around the statue, patting its bottom.I love it.Ennis must be quite excited.I know where he's going to throw the spotlight.His arms wrapped around her shoulders.You are such a smart girl.I can't wait to see Ennis' expression. It took them half an hour to browse the rest of the private junk center, picking out some sinks and kettles that would be used on the patio of the hotel, and they found the owner's temporary office in a corner of the barn.Simon watched Nicole bargain with great interest, and asked about many things that she had no intention of buying. When she heard the price, she immediately shrank and shook her head desperately. She told the owner: Only the rich can afford it.How to sell that old fountain? Ah, that!His expression is emotional under the knitted beanie that was my grandmother's fountain with which I grew up.I have strong feelings for that fountain. I understand, sir.Some things are priceless.She shrugged, then, it's a pity! Madame, eight thousand francs for you. What about cash? six thousand. They came home before noon to find Ennis putting the finishing touches on the table while Mrs. Penn, glass in hand, watched. Remember, Ennis, flowers are for looking at, not smelling.If the aroma is too strong, it may conflict with the taste of the food. Dear, you are absolutely right, especially the iridaceae flowers.Ennis took a step back, frowning at the table, still not satisfied, so he went to the refrigerator to get a bottle of white wine.He said: Today's menu is stewed eggplant casserole with fresh pepper sauce, baked halibut with creamy spices, refined cheese, crepes.He poured wine for Nicole and Simon, then poured himself a glass, and toasted Mrs. Penn, who was a gem.She looked dazed, it's not just a piece of jewelry!She smiled brightly. They arrived at the table at half past twelve, and three hours later they were still not up, sipping their last cup of coffee.Even though she was in a kitchen she was not familiar with, Mrs. Pan still seemed quite excited.The flood of compliments and wine warmed her heart, and she began to become generous and unrestrained. When Ennis exaggerated flattery, she collided with Ennis from time to time, accompanied by waves of turbulent laughter. The wave of laughter continued from her chin to the apron she was wearing.Simon knew he wanted to hire her when she refused to discuss business at the dinner table. She said: Eating is too important, how can I let the business be ruined?There's joy at the table, Ennis, I can have a little more cider, and then I must go.Her thumb and little finger made a phone call gesture, and they were attached to her ears.This gesture in Provence represents a promise to call.We'll talk about it tomorrow. They went downstairs with Mrs. Pan and saw her off.On returning, Ennis stopped by the car to let Mrs. Gibbon out.It stretched and looked at him reproachfully. Well, doesn't she like dogs? Just the opposite, my dear.While she was cooking, she threw things at Mrs Gibbon from time to time, which wasn't very good for her.Let it blow. When they went into the house to wash the dishes, there was a consensus that the hotel cook was gone.