paddock

After the morning exercise, Yuan Ning took a shower, followed Zhang Xiuyan's instructions, and took out all the "textbooks" he was going to bring, and waited for Meng Zhao to come over to arrange the daily study scope.

When Yuan Ning went downstairs, the sweet but not greasy scent of biscuits wafted in the air.Zhang Xiuling and Zhang Xiuwen had already run to the door of the kitchen, and Yuan Ning also ran over and said curiously, "What kind of biscuits is Mom making? They smell delicious!"

Ms. Xue met three pairs of dark eyes, her heart seemed to be suddenly filled with something.She said with a smile: "Everyone goes out, and whoever doesn't go out, I will put flour on his face and make him a disfigured cat."

Zhang Xiuwen stepped forward, raised his face and made a heroic gesture: "Go for it!"

Ms. Xue glared at him.

Zhang Xiuling quietly ran to Ms. Xue, dipped some flour on her two index fingers, turned around and wiped it on Zhang Xiuwen's face vigorously, making Zhang Xiuwen grow two white beards.

Zhang Xiuling was very proud: "Ningning, look at your third brother has a white beard!"

Zhang Xiuwen immediately complained: "Mom, sister bullied me again!"

Ms. Xue was annoyed and funny, she waved her hand and said, "Get out, get out, it's making my head hurt."

Zhang Xiuwen also ran over to dab some flour on Zhang Xiuling's face.

Zhang Xiuling seemed to run away.

Yuan Ning stood aside and watched them play.Zhang Xiuwen quickly caught up with Zhang Xiuling, and rushed forward, holding her face and trying to wipe her "beard".Zhang Xiuling was deceitful, begging for mercy softly: "My good brother, I was wrong, forgive me once, okay?"

Zhang Xiuwen said, "Not good."

Zhang Xiuling covered her face and complained, "Cruel and heartless!"

The relationship between the second sister and the third brother is really good.Yuan Ning felt that the depression that had shrouded the house for the past two days had finally dissipated.He ran to Ms. Xue and watched Ms. Xue making biscuits.

Ms. Xue asked: "Do you also want to get some flour to play with?"

Yuan Ning shook his head.He looked at Ms. Xue's dexterous hands: "Can I learn to make biscuits?"

Ms. Xue was taken aback, and said: "Of course, it's very simple. Just watch from the side, ask if you don't understand, and occasionally help me pass something."

Yuan Ning's eyes lit up when he heard that he could help, "Okay!"

With the joint efforts of mother and son, they quickly put the second batch of biscuits into the oven.Zhang Xiuwen and Zhang Xiuling had already washed their faces and hands. Seeing Yuan Ning wandering around with Ms. Xue, they couldn't help being convinced: "Why is Ning Ning inside!"

Yuan Ning was afraid that they would also wipe the flour on his face, so he hurriedly hid behind Ms. Xue.

Ms. Xue immediately protected Yuan Ning: "Ning Ning is helping."

Zhang Xiuling and Zhang Xiuwen rolled up their sleeves together: "We want to help too!"

Ms. Xue said: "Okay then, take out the two trays of biscuits you just baked for your father and elder brother to eat."

Zhang Xiuling and Zhang Xiuwen: "..."

Zhang Xiuling and the two were scared away, but Yuan Ning actively participated: "I'll do it." He stretched out his small arm to hold a biscuit, and ran to the dining room.

Zhang Xiuyan drank milk there, and Mr. Zhang read the newspaper there.Yuan Ning hesitated for a moment, then ran to Mr. Zhang and mustered up the courage to shout: "Father, father!"

Mr. Zhang looked away from the newspaper and looked at Yuan Ning.

Yuan Ning said: "Mom, Mom baked biscuits, do you want to eat?"

Mr. Zhang knocked on the table with one hand and said, "Put it here."

Yuan Ning put it down obediently, and stood by the side looking at Mr. Zhang eagerly, but encouraged him vigorously: "It's delicious, crispy and crispy! You must try it!"

Mr. Zhang could only put away the newspaper, picked up a biscuit and tasted a piece.He is naturally familiar with his wife's craftsmanship, but today's biscuits seem to be really crispy, not too sweet, so they won't feel greasy after eating, and they go well with the tea he drank in the morning.

Mr. Zhang said: "Not bad."

Zhang Xiuyan looked at Yuan Ning.

Yuan Ning felt Zhang Xiuyan's gaze and immediately understood what Zhang Xiuyan meant.He stomped and ran towards the kitchen with his short legs, and said as he ran, "Mom, mom, my father said it was delicious, and my brother can't wait to eat it!"

Zhang Xiuyan: "..."

Mr. Zhang glanced at Zhang Xiuyan who was "can't wait to eat", and a rare smile appeared in his eyes: "Xiu Yan, it seems that you have met your nemesis."

Zhang Xiuyan remained expressionless, and did not accept Mr. Zhang's rare jokes at all.

After the whole family had breakfast happily, Meng Zhao came over.After Yuan Ning and Meng Zhao explained the situation, Meng Zhao quickly set out the learning content for him.

After everything was packed, Driver Li, who was invited by Zhang Xiuyan, came over. He was a middle-aged man in his thirties, and he was honest and honest. He already knew his work for the next few days, and he helped Yuan Ning with his luggage with a simple smile. box.

Yuan Ning felt very at ease when he smelled the smell of pine trees on the middle-aged man.He said curiously: "Uncle Li, are there many pine trees around your house?"

Driver Li said: "Yes, today I took the children to pick up pine nuts, which they have to hand in at school. How do you know?"

Yuan Ning said honestly, "I smelled it."

Driver Li said, "Then your nose is really good!"

Yuan Ning looked shy.

Driver Li drove to Mr. Xie's side. Zhang Xiuyan sent Zhang Xiuwen and Zhang Xiuling to school, and sent Yuan Ning to meet Mr. Xie at his hometown.

Thinking of not seeing Zhang Xiuyan in the next few days, Yuan Ning felt a little bit reluctant.He looked up at Zhang Xiuyan's stern profile, and reached out to grab the corner of Zhang Xiuyan's clothes.

Zhang Xiu looked at him strictly.

Yuan Ning also put on a serious and solemn expression like Zhang Xiuyan: "Brother, brother, I will miss you very much."

Zhang Xiuyan: "..."

The roots of his ears were slowly burning.Obviously this little stammer didn't touch him, but he felt that focused gaze seemed to materialize, climbing up his shoulders and wrapping around his neck, making him not know how to respond.

Yuan Ning noticed that Zhang Xiuyan's ears were red, and asked in surprise, "Brother, are you hot?"

Zhang Xiu said solemnly: "Not hot!"

Yuan Ning said, "Then you bend down..."

Zhang Xiuyan was no longer fooled: "I won't let you kiss me again."

Yuan Ning's face suddenly turned red: "No, I don't want to kiss you."

Zhang Xiuyan squatted in front of Yuan Ning suspiciously, and looked at Yuan Ning at the same level.

Yuan Ning reached out to touch Zhang Xiuyan's ear, and asked with reason and evidence: "Brother, if you are not hot, why are your ears so red?"

Zhang Xiuyan: "..."

Seeing that Zhang Xiuyan's ears were even redder, Yuan Ning couldn't help but be even more surprised: "My face is a little red!"

Zhang Xiuyan said, "It's red from being covered by your hand."

Yuan Ning hurriedly withdrew her hand: "Yes, I'm sorry."

Zhang Xiuyan felt like he was bullying a child.

Fortunately, Xie's hometown is coming soon.

Zhang Xiuyan took Yuan Ning's warm hand in, and after a few words with the accompanying nurse, he watched Yuan Ning get into the car.

The nurse sat in the passenger seat, Yuan Ning and Xie Lao sat in the back, and Zhao Fu sat between them, flicking his tail left and right, sometimes sweeping Xie Lao and sometimes Yuan Ning.

Yuan Ning was a little excited.Seeing Zhang Xiuyan standing outside the car window, he couldn't help but lower the window and lay down on the window to let Zhang Xiuyan come over.

Zhang Xiuyan bent over and said, "Remember to call regularly."

Yuan Ning responded very readily.

Then he aimed at Zhang Xiuyan's forehead, and kissed Zhang Xiuyan.

Zhang Xiuyan's ears turned red instantly, and he stared at Yuan Ning.

Yuan Ning shrank back and said in a low voice: "Mom said this is called a goodbye kiss, and I must kiss it." He was also very embarrassed!

Zhang Xiuyan said with a straight face: "If you don't obey, you will definitely be beaten."

Yuan Ning: "..."

Xie Lao laughed and escorted Yuan Ning: "Xiao Li, it's time to go."

Yuan Ning immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Xiuyan didn't know whether he should be angry or laugh.He was just trying to frighten this little stutterer, when did he make a move on him?

Zhang Xiuyan stared at the flushed face, thought for a while, and felt that he was a bit at a loss for being kissed twice by this little stutter.He called his name in a deep voice: "Yuan Ning."

Yuan Ning was trembling, and decided to admit his mistake obediently: "I, I was wrong!"

Zhang Xiuyan said, "Raise your head."

Yuan Ning was taken aback, and looked at Zhang Xiuyan.

Zhang Xiuyan leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.

Yuan Ning's face turned red instantly.

Big, big brother kissed him!

Zhang Xiuyan instructed: "Have fun, don't mess around, I will pick you up then."

Yuan Ning stammered, "Okay, okay!"

Zhang Xiuyan was very satisfied with Yuan Ning's terrified appearance.This little stutterer's performance was no better than his, and his ears were even redder than his.

The car starts.

Yuan Ning lay on the rear window, watching Zhang Xiuyan's figure gradually shrink until it disappeared.

Driver Li said: "Ning Ning and Mr. Xiaozhang are so close." He sighed, "I have driven your family from time to time in the past five years, and I have never seen Mr. Xiaozhang blushing."

Yuan Ning didn't quite understand: "Blushing?"

Driver Li was taken aback, and saw Yuan Ning's face was flushed from the rearview mirror, and said with a smile, "Your face is flushed now, if you don't believe me, look in the mirror."

Zhao Fu also said: "It's really popular."

Yuan Ning stood up, looked at the mirror on the car, and found that his face seemed to be really red.He said, "But I don't feel hot!"

Driver Li said, "It's not hot, you're shy."

Yuan Ning was stunned, very puzzled: "Uncle Li, how do you know that I'm shy?"

Driver Li: "..."

Mr. Xie explained with a smile: "When a person is shy or nervous, the small blood vessels under the skin will open, and the blood will run to the face, and the face will naturally turn red."

This is the first time Yuan Ning has heard of it.He suddenly realized: "No wonder big brother blushed so much but said he wasn't hot, so big brother is shy." He felt very strange, "Big brother is actually shy!"

Driver Li: "..."

Although I always feel that the word shy has nothing to do with Mr. Xiaozhang, but I can't tell what is wrong with Yuan Ning's conclusion.Could it be that Mr. Zhang is really shy?

Xie Lao said with a smile: "You can't say that in front of your elder brother."

"I know." Yuan Ning was very considerate, "I'll be even more shy if I say big brother, so I can't say it!"

"That's right," Mr. Xie felt that his mood was getting better and better, and echoed Yuan Ning's words without hesitation, "That's it."

Yuan Ning now feels that Zhang Xiuyan is not scary at all.

He happily looked out the window with Zhao Fu, sharing the beautiful scenery he saw with Mr. Xie from time to time.

After driving for more than two hours, nearly three hours, I saw the main entrance of the ranch.The fence of the pasture is a circle of dense thorn trees, which looks like a green ribbon from a distance. The greenery is deep and shallow, embracing the pasture.

The man who guards the ranch is named Cheng Zhong. He is about 50 or [-] years old. He has a limp on his right foot. It is said that he was shot in the front line before and has not recovered.

Cheng Zhong had known the news that Mr. Xie was coming, and had been waiting at the gate.He is not married, but he is in good spirits and in good health, and he likes to serve animals.Because of this ability, he made contributions at the front line before, but after the war stopped, he and his animals had nowhere to go, so Qiqi went to Lao Xie's ranch.

That was when Grandma Xie was still alive. Most of the ranch took in old farm cattle, mules and horses, and later retired police dogs and search-and-rescue dogs. Most of them were injured and were not suitable for "working".

Cheng Zhong's skin is bronze, and the wrinkles on his face are deep, as if chiseled out.Yuan Ning followed Mr. Xie and looked at the man who had guarded the ranch for many years, not knowing what to shout.

Mr. Xie said: "Ningning, this is Uncle Zhong. He has been in charge of the ranch these years. He is a good hand at domesticating animals. If you want to learn some skills in this area, you should say hello to Uncle Zhong."

Cheng Zhong was a little surprised.Mr. Xie has no children, how could he bring such a child here?Could it be a child from the Xie family?It seems to be a well-behaved one.

Yuan Ning obediently shouted: "Hi Uncle Zhong!"

Cheng Zhong is not very good at getting along with children, so he nodded, not knowing what to say.

Mr. Xie asked Driver Li and Cheng Zhong to get to know each other before leading Yuan Ning inside.

Yuan Ning sniffed, feeling that the air was fresh and moist, with an unknown scent of flowers and grass.

Yuan Ning was overjoyed: "Grandpa Xie, there are really wild flowers, I saw them! There are wild flowers one by one!"

Cheng Zhong glanced at Yuan Ning in surprise.

Since Mr. Xie lost his sight, many people would not avoid mentioning the word "look" in front of him, for fear of irritating Mr. Xie.But the child spoke happily, and Mr. Xie seemed to be very interested in hearing it, and even asked, "What color is it?"

"For nothing!" Yuan Ning replied without hesitation, "But there are also a lot of pink, red and yellow ones! Thank you, Grandpa, and bees! A lot of bees! I didn't see butterflies. Did the butterflies get scared away by the bees? ?”

Mr. Xie decided to bring misfortune to the east: "You have to ask Uncle Zhong to find out."

Cheng Zhong: "..."

Yuan Ning was still a little shy, but seeing the smell of mud on Cheng Zhong's hands, he tried hard to overcome the cowardice in his heart, and asked Cheng Zhong in a low voice: "Uncle Zhong, why are there so many bees?"

Seeing Yuan Ning's cautious eyes, Cheng Zhong was too embarrassed to keep silent, so he could only explain: "Because I raised them."

"Bees can still be raised!" Yuan Ning opened his eyes wide, "How to raise them?"

"Build the hive and let them settle down in the hive." Cheng Zhong explained succinctly, "After raising them for enough time, they can collect honey."

"Uncle Zhong is so powerful." Yuan Ning praised sincerely, "I didn't dare to raise them, I was afraid they would prick me with needles. My cousin was pricked by them before, and there are sharp needles hidden behind their buttocks, it's scary! "

"The animals are actually very friendly," Cheng Zhong blushed at the sight of Yuan Ning's admiration. Fortunately, his skin was not white and he couldn't tell, "As long as you don't show any intention of hurting them, they will They won’t take the initiative to attack you. For example, bees often sting people because they feel danger, because once they sting people, they will die themselves.”

Yuan Ning was surprised: "Is it like this?"

Cheng Zhong nodded firmly.

Yuan Ning said: "Then I must get along well with them!" He didn't want to kill the little bees.

The two asked one by one and said to the other, and soon walked near the house on the ranch.Yuan Ning saw the fence that Mr. Xie mentioned, and it was indeed covered with morning glories. The deep red and deep purple flowers stood upright with the wind, like beautiful little trumpets.But their voices were very low. Seeing Yuan Ning looking over, they turned their heads shyly and whispered to the flowers around them.

Yuan Ning knew that it was wrong to eavesdrop on other people's whispers, so he didn't listen carefully, but happily said to Mr. Xie: "Grandpa Xie, I saw it! The fence is indeed covered with morning glories, and the flowers they bloom It looks like a blossoming trumpet, so beautiful! I found that the inside of the purple trumpet is not all purple, the core is a little white!"

Mr. Xie said, "Grandma Xie is your favorite."

Cheng Zhong was surprised again.

After Xie's wife passed away, very few people mentioned his wife in front of him. They were afraid that he would be too sad, but he did not expect him to take the initiative to mention it.

Whose family is this child?

Not Xie, but Yuan, not Xie's family, nor Xie's wife.

It's really confusing.

Mr. Xie sat under the grape trellis, enjoying the cool breeze from the pasture, and said to Yuan Ning, "You and Uncle Zhong take Zhaofu for a stroll, see what the pasture looks like now, and come back and tell me."

Yuan Ning readily agreed.

Cheng Zhong took Yuan Ning up the small bridge and across the river.

On the opposite side of the river is the small lake of the ranch, which is also very big for Yuan Ning, and the edge cannot be seen at a glance.Its color is light green and light green, like a beautiful emerald, with some water lilies floating on it, and they are blooming white flowers carefully.Under the lotus leaves, there are many fish swimming in it. They seem unable to speak, their mouths open and close without making any sound.

Yuan Ning saw a red mountain crab in a small cave, and the mountain crab was greeting him with its pincers, not knowing whether it was saying hello to him or showing off its bravery to him.

Yuan Ning opened his eyes wide, feeling that everything here is very novel.

He ran forward with Zhao Fu, ran past the small lake, ran across the vast grassland, and saw a small road winding up and extending to a small hillside in the distance.

"A lot of wild flowers!" Yuan Ning said to Zhao Fu.

"Wow, woof!" Zhao Fu replied.

Meaning rare is more strange, I have seen it many years ago.

Yuan Ning was very envious: "Have you seen it many years ago? I didn't know what a ranch was at that time!"

Zhao Fu felt that it seemed immoral to show off to Yuan Ning.

—The little fellow will really envy you.

Yuan Ning said: "Blessing, there are butterflies over there!"

Zhao Fu's spirit lifted: "Where?"

Yuan Ning pointed at the wild flowers.

Zhao Fu rushed over.

The butterfly flew up lightly, but Zhao Fu didn't catch it, but instead let Zhao Fu plunge into the wild flowers.

The wildflowers scolded angrily: "You are so rude!"

They sprinkled pollen on Zhaofu one after another.

Zhaofu ah ah ah ah sneezed.

Yuan Ning continued to run up the slope.

Zhao Fu also hurriedly followed.

The wind at the top of the slope was stronger than that at the bottom of the slope, blowing Yuan Ning's thin hair flying wildly.He looked up, and there was indeed a birch forest below. It was not yet autumn, and the birch forest was still green, only the trunks were snow-white, which looked quite beautiful.

The small river made a bend and hugged the birch forest from the other side, sparkling in the sun.The grass is green, the water is green, the sky is blue, and the blue sky, white clouds and birch forest are all reflected in the water, just like a beautiful oil painting.

Yuan Ning said, "It's so beautiful."

Cheng Zhong also came up, seeing Yuan Ning's face full of amazement, he suddenly understood why Mr. Xie liked this child so much.With this child, everything that usually seemed ordinary began to sparkle.

Zhaofu noticed a few people arguing by the birch forest, so he turned his head and told Yuan Ning what he had found.

Yuan Ning immediately said to Cheng Zhong: "Uncle Zhong, there are people arguing over there!"

Cheng Zhong has good eyesight, and he also saw the movement over there.He frowned and said, "You guys wait here, I'll go over and have a look."

Yuan Ning and Zhao Fu obediently stood where they were, and both stretched their necks to look at the place of the dispute.

Cheng Zhong has long been accustomed to these things. The ranch often hires nearby villagers to do things. There is a row of bungalows on the other side of the birch forest for these hired workers to live temporarily.When Mr. Xie does not come, Cheng Zhong will also live there.

Cheng Zhong was a little lame, but he was not slow at all, and he quickly rushed to the river.There were three children and several adults by the river. The three children were all wet and seemed to have just come out of the water.Two of the children hid behind the adults and shivered, and the adults pointed at the other child and scolded: "You little disaster star, Lao Cheng gave you a bite of food, but you did such a thing!" This is still quite polite. Yes, the others scolded even more unsightly, they just missed poking the kid in the face and spraying him with saliva.

Cheng Zhong asked with a sullen face, "What's going on?"

Several adults finished talking in a hurry, and Cheng Zhong knew that the child had pushed their child into the river.

Cheng Zhong turned to the silent child: "Is that so?"

The child's skin is very dark, and he is very thin, like a bamboo pole.He stood silent, as if he was dumb, and as if he didn't care what they were saying.His eyes were darker than his skin, and he looked straight at the two children.

"If you really do this kind of thing, the ranch won't be able to tolerate you." Cheng Zhong's tone was a bit cruel.

The child's expression changed a little, but he still didn't speak.

Yuan Ning had been waiting on the slope, but the birch tree at the bottom suddenly said, "Save him, child, if he is driven away, he will have nowhere to go."

Yuan Ning was taken aback.

The birch trees told Yuan Ning what happened below.

It turned out that the two children went to play in the water with their parents on their backs, and one of them almost drowned. Thanks to the child who jumped down and saved them, they were all right.But in the panic, the shoes of the two children were washed away by the water. They were afraid that their parents would scold them, so they told the parents who came over after hearing the sound that the child pushed them into the water.

The two children felt that the child had no parents and could not speak anyway, so it was just right to push it on him.

Yuan Ning was very angry: "It's too much!"

Yuan Ning ignored Cheng Zhong's advice and ran down with Zhao Fu.

When he ran to the river, he happened to hear Cheng Zhong's words.

When everyone noticed their approaching one by one, and Qiqi looked at them, Yuan Ning took a deep breath and said seriously: "It's not him who pushed!"

The author has something to say:

Brother: I have a bad feeling

Space: I won't say anything