Yunding Ranch

Chapter 73 Chinese Arts and Crafts

Holding a set of beautifully packaged gifts in her hand, Chloe got down from the passenger seat. Looking at the hot scene in front of her, she couldn't help but pause slightly.

Cole and Brandon are building a bonfire, but it is not a torch-shaped one, but a well-shaped one. The strange thing is that they didn't build it on flat ground, and a hole was dug underneath; Jessica is cleaning up and pruning Wool tool, with rubber gloves in his hand, it looks like he just cleaned the wool; a long table was assembled at the door, Lu Li was holding a rolling pin in his hand, and there was a large puddle of flour in front of him, next to Lily and Ronald Waiting for people to talk and laugh, their hands seem to be busy with something...

But in just one month, Yundian Ranch seemed to come alive.It’s not that the scenery has changed drastically, the vineyard is still empty; the lavender fields in the distance are still silent, and there is still a long time before the blooming season; I can't see it, even the garden in front of the main house hasn't been carefully taken care of... But the whole ranch is filled with a brisk and lively atmosphere, and the vitality is growing wantonly under the sun, making the footsteps of passers-by unstoppable. Lighten up.

Chloe couldn't remember the last time she saw the ranch so lively, two years ago?Or three years ago?It should be before Jack's death. On Christmas of that year, the pastures decorated with lights had a strong festive atmosphere.But now, the life of the ranch is sprouting again.

"Hey, Chloe." There was a voice calling from behind, Chloe turned her head, and then saw Randy holding a fishing net in his hand, and there were a few fresh fish in the net pocket, jumping around alive and splashing, looking It looks like it has just been grabbed from the lake.

"You just came back from hunting?" Chloe laughed heartily and teased.

Unexpectedly, Randy nodded in affirmation, "Yes, I caught it from the lake." Randy blinked, showing a showy expression, "You will never believe that I am a good fisherman, This is where I am the best!"

Chloe immediately showed a questioning look, which immediately made Randy anxious, "I mean it." Randy also raised the fishing net in his hand, trying to prove his innocence.

"Chloe." Before Randy could continue, Robert Thomas, who had parked his car, strode over. This was Chloe's father, the owner of the Marshall Valley Ranch, "why are you still standing?" At the door?" Robert also saw Randy, "Man, did you just go fishing? The equipment is still very complete."

"Yeah, we've started fishing in the lake now. Fourteen put fifteen hundred fry in it not long ago." Randy said excitedly.

Robert showed a surprised expression, "Why didn't he say hello to me? In this case, I can also pay half of the cost." The lake is shared by Yunding Ranch and Marshall Valley Ranch, although according to the dividing line, Yundian Ranch occupies a larger area, almost two-thirds, but the lake water is always flowing, so naturally it does not distinguish between each other.

"Hehe, Shisi knows that Texas is not used to eating fish, and you don't have the habit of fishing either. So, he took the initiative to bear all the expenses." Randy explained, "How about it, do you want to go fishing together when you have time? "

While speaking, Chloe had already walked towards the long table in front of the main house, and raised her voice to say hello, "Hey, Fourteen."

"Chloe, you're here." Lu Li raised his head and saw the person coming, and showed a big smile, "I'm sorry that dinner is not ready yet, I think you should continue to be hungry for a while." Generally speaking, dinner They all start at 07 o'clock, and now at 30:08, Chloe's arrival time is just right, but obviously Lu Li's progress today is a bit slow, and it is estimated that he will not be able to start dinner until 30:[-].

"It seems that good things always have to wait and wait." Chloe was not polite, and started to tease directly.

"It's okay, Chloe, if you're hungry, I can go and steam some steamed buns to fill your stomach first." Jessica, who walked to the door of the main house, raised her voice.

Ronald was the first to cater, "Okay, okay!" He looked very excited.

Lu Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Jessica, there should be some snacks in the cupboard, can you take them out? Forget about the steamed stuffed buns. You guys are eating steamed stuffed buns now, and you won't be able to eat them for dinner later. I prepared a lot of them today. stuff." Steamed buns before dinner?This is literally the rhythm of not having dinner.

"Fourteen, are you worried that we'll finish all your buns?" Chloe teased with a smile.

Before that, Lu Li made a lot of steamed stuffed buns and gave them to several friends. Not only did Lily, Chloe and the others have them, but he also gave some to Liu Xiaoyan and Li Huainan to let them try their handicrafts.

Lu Li raised his flour-stained hands in a gesture of surrender, "Please! Please open your stomach and enjoy!" That exaggerated expression made everyone laugh.

Chloe wrinkled her nose, and then brought the gift in her arms forward, "Congratulations on your official move, and welcome to New Braunfels!"

"This is a gift from the Thomas family." Robert also walked up, his voice sounded like thunder, buzzing.

Robert is a typical Texan, with a burly figure and a well-trimmed mustache. It can be seen that he should have spent a lot of thought on the beard. The plaid shirt and jeans look the same. But it's always a big hit among denim.

Lu Li's hands were covered in flour. He stretched out his hands, but he thought it was not polite, so Chloe laughed, "I put it on the table in your living room. This is a set of handmade soap, I miss you Should be useful."

The lavender packaging is matched with a mint green bow, and there is a card on it. Even if you don't take it, the faint scent of soap in the air immediately catches the attention of the sense of smell. "Thank you." Lu Li sincerely expressed his gratitude, "I was still thinking yesterday, it's time to buy some soap. You have solved my big problem."

Chloe also burst into a smile, "What are you doing now? Is the staple food tonight is pizza?" She is no stranger to rolling pins, they both use them when making pizza and pies.

"Oh, no no." Lily shook her head, raised her right hand with a mysterious face, and there was a small guy in the palm of her hand, which was fat and petite in shape.Chloe looked at it carefully, but her thoughts didn't come to her for a while, but Robert recognized it first, "Isn't this a dumpling?"

Dumplings are well-known in the United States, not because of Chinese restaurants - Mushu pork, Kung Pao chicken, fish-flavored shredded pork are the main dishes of restaurants, but because as part of Chinese culture, many people I have heard of it in the media, but not many people have actually eaten it.Not to mention the central region like Texas, there are not many big cities on the east and west coasts, and you have to go to Chinatown to find it.

"Yes, yes, these are dumplings!" Chloe showed a surprised expression, and she was a little excited, "So, shall we eat dumplings tonight? Am I finally going to taste dumplings? Wait, this is the same as steamed stuffed buns." What's the difference?"

Lu Li shrugged, "You'll know it after you taste it." These are two completely different things.Chinese/Chinese cuisine is not only cumbersome to explain, but the point is that they can't understand anything, it is better to taste it directly and effectively.

"I still find it amazing." Lily exclaimed, "I can't believe that they still use flour like this. It's really far from pizza."

"Can I learn it?" Chloe's eyes sparkled brightly, and she looked at Lu Li excitedly. "I've always heard that this skill is very mysterious, and you must find a professional teacher to learn it."

It is already the 21st century, and it is the Internet age, but the Western world still has a very limited understanding of China.Lu Li thought it was unbelievable before, how could someone be so stupid as to think that all Chinese ride bicycles and most Chinese have never used toothpaste?But after coming abroad, Lu Li's personal experience told him that all of this is true.

In fact, in the final analysis, it is the lack and bias of media reports, as well as China's lack of self-promotion.As a journalism student, Lu Li couldn't understand it better.

"For you, isn't everything in China a mystery?" Lu Li's complaint made everyone laugh.

Lily held the dumpling in her hand, "But you have to admit that Chinese cuisine is really full of magic, but it is hard to put it down. Now I finally understand why Chinese cuisine can be compared with French cuisine. However, in my opinion Come on, Chinese food is much more delicious, and the portion is enough.”

The last rant made laughter burst out again.

Lu Li easily rolled out a piece of dough and put it in the palm of his hand, "Chloe, it's actually not difficult, you see, put the stuffing on it, not too much, otherwise it will burst, and then put Just knead the skin. If you can't knead it, just stick a little flour on your hands and knead it again." In Lu Li's view, the most difficult part of the dumpling is rolling the dough, other than that, other steps are not difficult.

"Wait, wait." But Chloe obviously didn't think so, "Demonstrate it again."

"That's right, Fourteen, explain it again." Lily also said, "I asked Ronald to record it, and I won't forget it when I go back."

Lu Li felt a little stuffy, but what can he do?This is a group of Americans who buy something for nine and five dollars and give him ten and five dollars, and he doesn't know how to give change.

"How about this, you guys make it, I said, step by step, true knowledge will come out through practice, right?" Lu Li felt that if he didn't speed up, tonight's dinner would probably be postponed until nine o'clock, so he rolled out the dough, Let them make dumplings at the same time.

"Lu Li?" At this moment, a doubtful voice rose from behind, with a hint of uncertainty in his tone, but the familiar Chinese, the well-spoken Chinese, couldn't be more clear, Lu Li exclaimed , the savior came, "Uncle Li, Aunt Liu!"

In a group of English speakers, Chinese language suddenly appeared. Lu Li felt very friendly. He couldn't help showing a big smile on his face. He waved his rolling pin and said hello.

(End of this chapter)