Yunding Ranch

Chapter 52 Volunteering
The morning in the pasture is a bit cold, the chilly air is floating through the golden sunlight, and the misty mist rolls continuously in the beech forest, just like a fairyland; The tranquility comes; the birds flutter their wings and walk through the faint clouds, and the disturbed clouds roll slowly, quiet and mysterious.

Ronald skillfully parked the car in the parking lot of Yundian Ranch, looked at the beautiful scenery outside the window, and couldn't help sighing softly, "No wonder people always say that Jack's ranch is the most beautiful place in Texas!" If not The typical Texas wooden structure building behind it almost gives people the illusion of coming to the English countryside, just like a style painting by Jane Austen.

"Did we come too early?" Lily got down from the passenger seat and looked at the quiet pasture, as if still in the mist of dawn, "I'll tell you, don't be so anxious, Fourteen is a man from New York. He's not used to the life on the ranch, he can't get up before ten o'clock. We rushed here in such a hurry, just to catch up with breakfast... My cheeks are already on fire."

Seeing his wife's shy and reserved appearance, Ronald raised his head and laughed heartily, "It's okay, if Fourteen hasn't gotten up yet, we'll start working first, and Cole must have already woken up." Ronald glanced at Glancing at the lunch box on the passenger seat, "We always have peanut butter sandwiches as emergency food, don't we?"

Lily rolled her eyes helplessly, ignored her husband, and walked quickly to the main house. Before she could open the door, there was a burst of peanut oil aroma in the fresh air, which was different from olive oil. The rich aroma rolled in the air , seduced all the gluttons in his stomach, and before he realized it, he couldn't help swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

Opening the back door, Lily saw Cole who was meeting in the hall at a glance.

I saw Cole clumsily pressing the dough with the palm of his hand, and the high-rolled sleeves still did not avoid sticking to the flour, even the neckline was there, and I don’t know how to get it; Pieces of neat small squares of dough, thin and small rectangles, looked like unleavened bread.

"... Cole?" Lily's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't know what to say, she just called out, and the rest of her words were cut off.Ronald who followed was also completely stunned, obviously not expecting such a situation.

"Good morning, Lily, Ronald." Cole raised his head and showed a big smile, "You guys came early, Jessica didn't even come over." Last night, Jessica went back to her home , because she hasn't had time to pack her luggage, and the room here is not ready yet.

"Are you...?" Ronald couldn't bear his curiosity, and he opened his mouth to ask, "Bread?" The drooling appearance made Lily push Ronald's stomach with her elbow, expressing her dissatisfaction , but still failed to stop Ronald.

"No no, this is the breakfast prepared by Fourteen. It's called...uh..." Cole got stuck again, and simply shouted, "Fourteen, what's this called?"

"Fried dough sticks!" Lu Li's voice came from the kitchen, and then he walked out quickly, and immediately saw Lily and Ronald standing by the back door, "Hey, you guys are here early, breakfast isn't ready yet."

"Lily was worried that you didn't get up just now." Ronald gave Lu Li a firm hug to say hello, and Lily even gave Lu Li a kiss.

"Haha, I'm getting used to the pace of life here." Lu Li laughed loudly. Before seven o'clock, he had already trot around the pasture on a chestnut, a thin layer of sweat broke out on his back, and he simply took a shower , greeted the arrival of a new day refreshed, and then went to the kitchen to start preparing breakfast, "Breakfast still needs a little time, give it to me..." Lu Li looked at the clock and calculated the time when the steamed buns would start steaming. "10 minutes."

Turning his head, Lu Li stopped Cole from continuously kneading dough, "Today, this much is enough. Youtiao is special, I'm not sure you guys will like it, so just make a little." Fried dough sticks are different from steamed stuffed buns, steamed stuffed buns You can make it ahead of time, and then throw it in the freezer, take it out and steam it every time you eat it, but the fried dough sticks are best eaten fresh, even if they are cold and soft, they will not be so delicious.

"Are you sure?" Cole questioned, "We finished the sweep last night."

"That's right, let's just do more." Ronald was already gearing up, "If we can't finish eating, we can take it home... Oh!" Lily stomped on Ronald's foot hard, making him scream in pain Standing up, I had to add, "Only if you don't mind."

"Of course I don't mind." Lu Li waved his hand heartily, "However, I'm sure, the taste of fried dough sticks is very special, you can try it first, if you like it, you can make it later." Then Lu Li gave Cole a Signal to make him stop what he's doing.

Cole looked at the results on the table, and reluctantly stopped, with regret written all over his face, "I suddenly had a hunch that I might not be full for breakfast today." People can't help laughing.

"So, is there anything we can do to help?" Lily stepped forward and rubbed her hands together, "Although enjoying the free breakfast is a very happy thing."

"There is nothing to prepare." The last step of frying fried dough sticks is still up to him, although this is the first time he has tried frying fried dough sticks at home, I don't know how the result will be, "I originally planned to go to I bought some soy milk at the supermarket, but I forgot last night.” Soy milk is actually the best, but now I don’t have tools at home, so I can’t grind it fresh.

"How about the milk?" Lily pointed to the direction of the cowshed behind her. "Didn't you just buy a batch of cows yesterday? Today is the time to use them."

Lu Li was stunned, "I thought it would take some time for them to start producing milk, and besides, there is no milking tool at home."

This sentence amused the three of them, and Lily said with a smile on her face, "The batch of cows you bought are of good quality, and Cole's selection is very accurate. They will produce milk every day, and it is very likely twice a day." to three times." Apparently, a layman like Lu Li knew nothing, "As for tools, don't you know that before tools were invented, our hands were the most important tools?"

Lu Li also realized his ignorance, and laughed dumbfoundedly, "If possible, I would like to try milking a cow myself, but I obviously can't leave now..." This is the truth, Lu Li is still struggling in his heart. For fried dough sticks, milking a cow seems to be much more interesting, but for today’s breakfast, he still had to stay, and he couldn’t hide his regret in his tone, “Then, I’ll trouble you to milk some cows! It’s better to be faster , because the fritters will be ready soon."

"Obey, sir!" Ronald gave a military salute to Lu Li, turned around and left.

Lily smiled and shook her head, expressing helplessness at her husband's behavior, "Don't worry, you will still have many opportunities to experience it slowly in the future." After speaking, she also followed her husband's pace and began to get busy for their breakfast .

Lu Li looked at Cole, "Since the cows give milk two to three times a day, then..." So what should we do today?They don't have enough hands to do the milking, let alone order milking tools.Looking back now, impulsiveness is indeed the devil. I didn’t think about these details clearly in the market yesterday, and the loopholes of laymen are really everywhere.

"Don't worry, I ordered the milking tools yesterday, and they should be delivered before lunch." Naturally, Cole would not make such a low-level mistake, "But the manpower is really not enough, and this is why Lily and Ronald came here today One reason. We need four cowboys to handle the day-to-day work of the ranch."

Now there are only Cole and Jessica, and he can't always bother Lily and Ronald. It seems that after breakfast today, his first task is to hire the cowboy.

"Okay, I see." Lu Li nodded, and was about to say something, but a burning smell came from his nose. He immediately rushed into the kitchen. The fried dough sticks that were thrown into the oil pan just now had started to turn black, " God!" It seems that these three fritters are not edible, Lu Li hastily fished them out with his homemade extended chopsticks, the oily luster exuded a seductive aroma, if it was half a minute earlier, only half a minute, It's a perfect golden yellow when you fish it out, what a pity.

"Fourteen, is this edible?" Cole couldn't help swallowing as he looked at the three burnt fried dough sticks.

Lu Li shook his head, "I can't." Fried food is not healthy in the first place, and carcinogens will be produced when it is burnt. The best solution is not to put it in your mouth.

Frying fried dough sticks was not an easy task for him, and he couldn't be distracted even more.So, I regained my energy, picked up small pieces of cut rectangular dough, and skillfully began to stretch, wind, and put it into the pot, waiting for the right heat to come out of the pot.

Originally, Lu Li only planned to fry a dozen fried dough sticks, but Cole was too enthusiastic and kneaded nearly [-] dough sticks in one go. Under the expectant eyes, Lu Li froze all the dough sticks.After all the work was done, Lu Li felt a little regretful when he saw the fried dough sticks piled up like a hill - it wouldn't taste good if it softened.

He came to the living room with the buns and fried dough sticks. Everyone looked at Lu Li, including Jessica who just arrived at the ranch 5 minutes ago. Everyone held their knives and forks, swallowing with radiant eyes. .

After putting down the steamed stuffed bun and fried dough sticks, everyone looked at Lu Li instead of rushing to make a move.Lu Li had a flash of inspiration, "Wait." Then, he went back to the kitchen, poured some soy sauce with a saucer, and quickly returned to the dining room.

Looking left and right, I found that no one did anything. Lu Li didn't know, so he said, "You can eat."

Jessica pointed to the soy sauce dish in front of Lu Li, "What is this for?"

"Where's the milk? How to match the milk?" Ronald asked immediately.

"Also, also, why did you put a can of sugar next to it?" Cole was also a curious baby.

Lily's eyes widened, "Why don't you show me?"

(End of this chapter)