6 #3
Nolwenn: "You know we’re almost out of diapers? Do you have plans to go get more?"
Louane: "Yes, that’s my goal for today. I’m having lunch at Soazig’s nursing home, so I’ll restock while I’m there."
Later that morning, Louane sets off for "Les Iris," the nursing home managed by her friend Soazig.
This is the third time she’s come to buy up her friend’s surplus diapers.
When she arrives, her friend welcomes her warmly.
They head up to the office first; they’ll have lunch once the residents have been served.
Soazig: "How have you been since the last time?"
Louane: "Very well, and you?"
Soazig: "Very well too. Every time I see you, you buy a few more diapers from me. It’s becoming a real source of extra income. You haven’t started an underground nursing home, I hope?" Seeing that Louane looked a bit taken aback, Soazig continues.
Soazig: "I figured as much—don't worry—but either all your clients are wearing diapers all day long, or you’ve branched out into a different line of work. Rest assured, it doesn't really matter to me;
I’m actually glad we can showcase the work of a Breton forester and give a little support to a local organic diaper factory. I do have a bit of a problem, though: you’ve taken no fewer than 140 cartons of diapers from me in two months,
and that’s wiped out my stock—which can’t be replenished that quickly. Do you plan to keep increasing your diaper orders at this rate over the coming months?"
Louane, initially a bit flustered, feels relieved by Soazig’s explanation.
Louane: "The pace will slow down a bit—or rather, the rate of growth in demand will drop—though my overall needs will keep rising in the future regardless."
Soazig: "That’s exactly what I thought. It’s a good thing I convinced my colleague at the Clos nursing home to switch to organic diapers, too."
Louane: "I thought your management was against it, since they cost more than standard disposable diapers?"
Soazig: "That’s true, but they squeezed the manufacturers so hard on the price of disposables that—to stay afloat and keep making a profit—the manufacturers created 'special' diapers just for nursing homes. When I say 'special,
' the only thing special about them is that they’re bottom-of-the-barrel quality and completely ineffective. The adhesive tabs don’t stick, the absorbency is poor—it’s a real nightmare for our staff. Anyway, my colleague’s staff went on strike last month,
so she was finally granted the budget for the eco-friendly Breton diapers based on my recommendation. I’m going to take the surplus stock she’s already started building up so I can keep supplying you."
"Since her facility is larger than mine, I’m going to stock up a bit more; in any case, I’ll keep you posted on my inventory regularly."
Louane: "That’s perfect, thanks."
Soazig: "Don’t thank me—it provides a significant source of extra income that really comes in handy. How many boxes do you need? I have 40 left, but I’ll be getting a shipment from Les Clos next week."
Louane: "I’ll take them all, and you can count on me needing more soon. Right now, I’m going through 25 boxes a week."
Louane places 400 euros in cash on Soazig’s desk.
Soazig is already doing the math in her head: 25 boxes a week—minimum—means 100 boxes a month, which works out to no less than 1,000 euros in cash.
Of course, a portion will go to her colleague at Les Clos, but that still leaves her with a very tidy sum.
With the deal settled, the two women head off to lunch.
Thursday, October 11th. This evening, Erel and Judica?l are expected at the farm for their confirmation visit.
As always, Nolwenn gives Gwendal and Louane a thorough briefing so they don’t make any blunders and are familiar with the couple they’ll be hosting.
The process is becoming well-oiled—much like the checklist for the barn that Nolwenn drew up.
Erel is German by birth; she arrived in Brittany at the age of three, having moved there with her parents.
Her father is an engineer who worked at the port of Brest for a marine maintenance company.
Her parents have since returned to Germany, but Erel chose to come back to Rennes for her studies, and that is where she met her future husband, Judica?l.
Both of them are mathematics teachers. They chose Hilda not only because of her strong physical resemblance but also because she is a German breed of cow.
Erel is the new Breton name adopted by the young woman, whose birth name is Ingrid.
Nolwenn: "Despite Erel’s German roots, when you take a Breton first name like that and marry a native Breton, you’re Breton yourself. So, I offered them the 'native Breton' rate."
Gwendal and Louane naturally agree.
Nolwenn: "I warned them that Hilda has a strong personality—without specifying a *bad* temper—but that doesn’t bother them; quite the opposite. Erel has one too, so everything’s fine on that front."
Gwendal: "It would be good if Hilda—who has a natural leadership streak—gets bred and pregnant quickly; that’ll bring her into line. And if she can’t fight it, the other cows will be more likely to resign themselves to their fate."
Louane agrees with Gwendal.