Yunding Ranch

Chapter 424 Christmas Presents
"Didn't it mean that the gift can't be opened until the next morning?"

Lu Li carefully checked each gift, sizing up the size, wrapping paper, and weighing it with both hands, but none of them were opened. He picked it up carefully, and put it down carefully. He raised his voice and asked in a patiently expectant mood. arrive.

Cole didn't go directly to the hall, but came to the kitchen first.This is really not normal, usually the positions of Cole and Lu Li should be reversed, but today is special, because Cole only made a special trip to make eggnog, he is an expert in this area, and Lu Li is willing to bow down.

Cole turned on the stove and lit the flames. Although eggnog has been developed and both room temperature and chilled versions have come out, traditional eggnog still needs to be hot to match the Christmas atmosphere.Before setting off in the afternoon, they made two large pitchers of eggnog. In the evening, they heated up a glass of milk and poured it in, ready to drink directly.

Hearing Lu Li's question, Cole raised his chin and said loudly, "That's true of tradition."

Then he paused for a moment, then changed the subject and said lightly, "But you know, it's to tell the children that these presents are from Santa Claus. So, when you wake up in the morning, open the socks or unwrap the presents, it's a good idea." It's very emotional. If you can't wait, you can take it apart now, technically, it's past midnight and Christmas is here."

Lu Li joked, his voice full of disappointment, "Oh, you mean, Santa Claus doesn't exist?"

With that vivid tone, as if he was really disappointed, Cole glanced at Lu Li speechlessly, but did not intend to respond, but changed the subject, "I know this is not your first Christmas, but you still look forward to it so much?" ? From what I’ve heard, Christmas in New York is one of the busiest festivals in the world.”

"But that's someone else's Christmas, not mine." Lu Li shrugged and didn't continue joking.

Festivals in big cities do not have a festive atmosphere, they are just an excuse to enjoy the party, of course, there are also the best moments for business promotions; real festivals can only be enjoyed if you understand the meaning of them.It was true for Halloween before, and it is true for Christmas now.

Lowering his head, Lu Li picked up each gift box and shook it gently next to his ear, like those children in movies who can't wait to open the presents.Even if it was his birthday, he had never seen so many wrapped presents. This sense of anticipation was really hard to give up.

This year is the first Christmas at Yunding Ranch, and it is also the first New Year, after all, there are still some differences.

Therefore, Lu Li proposed a simple but interesting game. Everyone draws lots to choose a name as the object of the secret gift. In this way, everyone will receive a mysterious gift while maintaining surprises; besides, Lu Li I also bought a lot of presents, all kinds of presents, and piled them under the Christmas tree, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to open the presents, at least twice.

Of course, these are just gimmicks.The real gift was the year-end bonus. Lu Li prepared a year-end bonus for every member of the ranch, and it was directly credited to everyone's account to thank them for their hard work and dedication in the past year.

"This gift is mine." Lu Li found the name on it, looked at the crooked handwriting, and couldn't help laughing, "Haha, who the hell is this, who deliberately wrote with his left hand to prevent me from recognizing the handwriting? No matter what I think, it looks like Tony's handwriting."

While talking, Cole came over with hot eggnog and handed a glass to Lu Li, "Just take it apart and have a look, don't you know?"

Then Cole took a cup himself, carefully sat down next to Lu Li, began to search for the gift in front of him, then found his own, put it next to Lu Li's gift, and compared it, "Why does the size of my gift look So small? I have a sense of foreboding."

"The size of the gift is not the most important thing, but the contents." Lu Li took a sip of the eggnog and nodded in satisfaction, "If this is what Tony gave me, it might be a big clump of weeds? You know?" Yes, Tony will always make some unexpected choices, if it is really Tony, I am a little worried, what kind of surprise is it, more surprises, or more joy."

"If you want, you can take it apart now. If you don't like it, then you can replace it with a gift and play tricks on Tony." Cole also took a sip of eggnog, and couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh. "Wow, it finally feels like home now, and, finally, it feels like Christmas."

Lu Li thought about it, but finally shook his head, "Let's wait until morning."

This is his first Christmas present.Of course, what is special is not the gift itself, but the atmosphere of the ranch, which makes him really feel the festive atmosphere of Christmas, which makes the gift special.Since he has been waiting for so long, he doesn't mind waiting for a while longer.

Anyway, it's only a few hours before dawn.

"What about you?" Lu Li turned to look at Cole, only to find that Cole had also put down the gift.

Cole shrugged, "I'm used to it. The first thing I do in the morning is to unwrap presents. If it wasn't like this, I'd feel like something was missing." Cole's words made Lu Li smile big, and his twinkling eyes carried Cole couldn't help laughing at the tacit understanding, "Then let's open the presents together in the morning. Have an authentic American Christmas."

"That's what I planned." Lu Li nodded with a smile. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the flashing red light on the answering machine. "Is there a message? Who will call on Christmas Day?"

Yunding Ranch is equipped with a landline telephone, which is left over from the old Liz.However, now is the age when everyone is equipped with a mobile phone, and the frequency of use of landline phones has dropped sharply. The same is true for the landline phones of the ranch. They are more often used as work phones, such as the official cooperation of HEB Supermarket and the like.

It's really not uncommon for people to leave messages on landlines on Christmas Day.

Cole glanced back, and couldn't help being stunned, "I don't know either." While talking, he moved over and pressed the play button.

"You have a total of eight messages, beep." After the electronic tone of the machine, a cheerful and popping voice sounded, "Is it twelve o'clock? Is it twelve o'clock? Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas, guys! I'm ten The first one at two o'clock! It's been busy just now, I don't know who it is, I'm sure, I'm the first one after twelve o'clock!"

The bluffing shout was not Randy, his voice was almost distorted, sharp and excited.Lu Li and Cole exchanged glances, and then both laughed.

"Man, I mean, I really appreciate your support in the past year, and I hope the next year will continue to develop smoothly. Then, tomorrow I... er, no, today, I will fly to Los Angeles today , haha! Wish me luck!"

After Randy's message ended, Jessica's exasperated voice followed, "It must be Randy, the phone has been busy, it must be Randy! Who am I now? Never mind, I just want to say, Merry Christmas! Fourteen, and Cole, thank you for staying at the ranch, don’t worry, I’ll be back the day after tomorrow. Remember, don’t steal my presents! I’m still looking forward to surprises!”

Then Tony, then Adam.Unexpectedly, Adam's voice was full of joy and joy, and he couldn't wait to join the frenzy of messages at midnight.Then came Scarlett, then Justin, and finally Brandon.

Everyone scrambled to call and wish Merry Christmas the first time.It is not entirely correct to say that, Justin and Brandon are not in a hurry.

"Fourteen, Merry Christmas." Brandon's message was always slow, a quarter of an hour later than the others, "Cole, Merry Christmas. By the way, Jasmine has something to say."

Then Jasmine's voice came over, "Merry Christmas, guys, Victoria is fine today, everything is fine, and she greets you too, happy holidays. Fourteen, to be honest, I think Brandon is back from vacation. Wrong choice, he was out of his mind all day today, and when he hugged Victoria, he almost fed milk powder into his mouth, haha. I think he should miss those old guys."

Jasmine then handed the phone to Brandon again, but he didn't argue, "Thank you for taking care of those naughty guys. Finally, enjoy the eggnog." The recording stopped here, as always in Brandon's style , Concise and clear, straight from the heart.

Just when Lu Li thought the recording was over, another recording rang. It was Fred, the Fred who had disappeared for several months.He is now in Alaska, bathing in the aurora, walking on the snow, drinking whiskey, and recording his footprints with his camera.

This is the biggest surprise of Christmas and the best gift of Christmas.

Everyone called, on tape, to celebrate Christmas with them.Perhaps, they are not in Yunding Ranch at the moment, but each of them is a part of this family.Lu Li finally knew what was missing from that piece of the puzzle. It was Bucky, but it wasn't just Bucky. It was only now that the puzzle was pieced together.

Raising his head, Lu Li's eyes fell on Cole, and he couldn't help but think of his appearance on the first day he arrived at Yunding Ranch. Time flies, and when he spent his first New Year here, everything was still exactly the same.Lu Li couldn't help showing a big smile, and said loudly, "Merry Christmas."

Cole lowered his head and touched Teddy's head vigorously, concealing his slight touch.Such a ranch reminded him of when Liz was still there, it was warm, cozy, caring, kind and beautiful.From Beech Ranch to Yunding Ranch, life here seems to have changed, but nothing seems to have changed.

Then nodded, and said in a deep voice, "Merry Christmas."

(End of this chapter)