Yunding Ranch

Chapter 21
"Hahahaha!" Cheerful laughter was like fireworks, and it sounded around the bonfire. The young men and women diagonally opposite held flaming sticks imitating the lightsabers in "Star Wars" and were fighting fiercely. People were running around in fright, and the scene looked like a running of the bulls festival.

"Are you sure you're not hungry?" A teasing voice interrupted Lu Li's observation, and when he turned around, he saw Edward sitting down diagonally opposite Lu Li, with a sunny smile on his face, "I'm looking You have been staring at the sheep skeleton, I can only assume that you are so hungry that you will not let go of the bones."

At this time, Lu Li was sitting not far from the bonfire, surrounded by more than a dozen people. Everyone didn't mind Lu Li, a stranger, sitting in a crowded group, chatting, and it was very lively.

Hearing Edward's teasing, Lu Li lifted the plate in his hand, and there were three or four uneaten pieces of lamb meat on it - Lily sent it to him just now, and the hilly pile of meat pieces can be solved to this extent , Lu Li had already tried his best, "I was just thinking, if I throw the whole skeleton into a big pot, boil it for a day and a night, and then use this soup to make broth and thicken it, it will be extremely delicious."

Southern China likes to drink soup, and what Lu Li really thinks in his mind is mutton soup; but he also knows that in the United States, soup is rarely eaten here, even thick soup is not much, but if it is like French cuisine, boiled This is not surprising when making broth.Lu Li really thought this way just now. The bone marrow of such a fresh lamb must be very rich and mellow. After boiling the soup, it will be more effective with any dish.

"Wow, it seems that this city visitor is actually a gourmet master?" Edward showed a surprised expression.

Lu Li spread his hands calmly, "I think you forgot that I am Chinese." No one can deny the deliciousness of Chinese cuisine. As one of the three major cuisines in the world, there are countless people in the United States who are passionate about Chinese cuisine. cooking.In the past few years, when Lu Li met new friends, they were most curious about two questions: one was "do you know Kung Fu", and the other was "do you know Chinese/Chinese cuisine".

The little girl sitting next to Lu Li whistled immediately, "It seems that we can already start looking forward to the next party at the Beech Ranch." This little girl named Annie is still in high school this year. , she just met Lu Li, and she put forward [-] whys, and she has countless curiosity about China.

"You mean, I'm in charge of everyone's dinner?" Lu Li widened his eyes, showing a frightened expression, "God, I'm a Chinese, but I'm not a Chinese giant."

"Like Yao/Ming?" Annie's rhetorical question made Lu Li stunned - he really didn't know how to respond to this cold humor.Seeing Lu Li's dazed expression, the others all laughed.

"Crack." Lu Li regained his composure, raised his right hand and slapped his arm, but it was in vain. He raised his head and looked around, but he didn't see any other mosquitoes. "Could it be my illusion?" ? I just saw mosquitoes!" It's only March, far from the time when mosquitoes are active.

"That's a small mosquito in our place." Annie explained, and then she looked at the other female partners around her, and everyone said in unison, "A fighter among mosquitoes." Then everyone burst into laughter.

Lu Li couldn't help laughing, "I thought it wasn't the season for mosquitoes to be active yet."

"The food is here, so they won't miss the party." Annie blinked at Lu Li with a playful look in her eyes, "Not only mosquitoes, but also snakes, lizards, and bears...hibernation has arrived It's time to wake up." Originally, Annie wanted to scare Lu Li - men from the city are more or less afraid of things in the wild.

Unexpectedly, Lu Li's eyes widened, and he asked curiously, "So, do you want an extra meal tonight?"

A rhetorical question made Annie choke, and several people around her laughed in low voices, causing Annie to grind her teeth viciously.However, before Annie attacked again, the sound of the guitar in the wind made everyone divert their attention, and then saw Edward sitting diagonally across from him holding the guitar and gently plucking the strings.

Lu Li looked at Edward and joked, "So, bonfire and guitar, is this a fixed match? That's how you hooked up girls in high school, right?" Others laughed, and Annie and her friends whispered, I didn't know what I was talking about, but I laughed a lot.

Edward smiled at Lu Li, but the confrontation between his fingertips and the strings did not stop. His body swayed gently following the melody, and hummed in a low voice. The familiar musical notes temporarily isolated the surrounding noise, The unfamiliar faces softened under the bonfire, and the thoughtful look between their brows made the raging night wind in the air much gentler.Maybe they didn't know each other well, but that didn't stop them from sitting together and enjoying the night.

"Mom, take off my badge, because I don't need it anymore." Edward began to sing. Unlike the boyish face, his voice has experienced many vicissitudes, as if he has experienced thousands of years in the vast desert The wind and rain, the endless bitterness and sadness are exhausted.

Lu Li couldn't help showing a look of surprise. He originally thought it was just a small entertainment for the bonfire party, but Edward's simple singing without any fancy skills was really amazing. A song from Bob Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven" (Knocking-on-heaven's-door)", beautiful and moving.

"I am gradually falling into the darkness, too dark to be seen." Edward retracted his hippie smile just now, and focused on playing and singing. A smile in the firelight outlined the bard's chic and unrestrained, "I feel myself knocking on heaven's door."

Then Lu Li saw that other people around him were beating rhythms in their own way. Some were nodding their heads, some were hitting their knees, and some were stepping on gravel with their riding boots. The clear and bright guitar Accompanied by the crackling sound of the bonfire, the string sound has its own wind/flow.

"Knock, knock, knock on the gate of heaven." Everyone joined Edward and sang together, even Anne and others who were in the rebellious period were no exception. Everyone's singing was not coordinated, and some even It was out of tune, but no one cared. Everyone raised their beer glasses and began to swing their hands along with the melody, completely relaxing and enjoying the joy and happiness brought by the music.

Such a scene was too unfamiliar to Lu Li. He was at a loss. He looked around and saw similar smiles on everyone's faces. This made the corners of Lu Li's mouth involuntarily raised, and he raised his hands cautiously. , waving along with everyone, "Knock knock, knock knock, knock on the gate of heaven..." Before he realized it, Lu Li softly joined everyone in singing.

The butterfly wings in the chest are lightly flying in the wind, and the pure and simple joy is jumping, dancing and fluttering playfully.

There was a melodious sound of a harmonica in his ears. Lu Li's pupils couldn't help dilating. He turned his head and saw Justin sitting in the corner. He was holding a harmonica in his hand and playing it intently. A wandering wind is fluttering gently, and I can't help but describe the scene of green mountains and green waters, scorching sun like fire, and gentle breeze in my mind, as if under the sky and the earth, I am alone, carrying my luggage in the lonely desert. Walking wandering in the smoke, the lonely figure is so small but so magnificent, caught off guard, the eye sockets are moist.

Lu Li himself didn't expect it, all the emotions came too suddenly and too turbulent, and he didn't have time to distinguish what was going on, so he was a little embarrassed, and quickly raised his head to look at the sky above his head.

There are too many stars in the sky to count, the bright night sky seems to be within reach, you just need to stretch out your hand to pick off the stars one by one, the cold to the bone hot temperature makes people desire and make people timid; Edward's voice is heard in his ear. The crooning voice, "Woo..." is just a simple onomatopoeia, swaying with the rise and fall of the melody, poetic accents flying up and down between tense hearts, and everyone else singing along It is harmonious and melodious.In an instant, Lu Li had the illusion that the stars in the entire sky would be pouring down like a waterfall in an instant, and the magnificence so close at hand made his heart stop beating in an instant.

He raised the beer in his hand and took a sip. The cold alcohol slid down his hot throat and boiled in his chest, "Oh, mom, put my gun on the ground..." Edward's voice was chasing cold Traveling through the wind, it rose slightly, and then slowly ended. The lingering sound lingered, and everyone immediately applauded.

Lu Li also lowered his face again, passing through the layers of firelight, looking at the strange faces around him, but there was an indescribable warmth in his heart.He also whistled, followed by applause, and joined the ranks of booing, "Wonderful! Wonderful!"

Lu Li raised his voice and asked, "Hey, Edward, I didn't expect you to be such an outstanding singer. I thought only those sissies had such a singing voice." This joking taunt made everyone laugh, and it was only for one afternoon. , Lu Li began to get used to the unique humor of the cowboys.

Edward raised two middle fingers in response, which made everyone laugh even more.

"Edward once dreamed of becoming a singer, and he even participated in 'American Idol'." Annie sat next to her and began to break the news restlessly. Others followed suit, but Edward was anxious and shouted loudly, "Annie!" Annie spread her hands, "Don't worry, we know you still like women."

Seeing Edward's helpless expression, everyone was overjoyed and gloated.

(End of this chapter)