A trace of doubt and confusion flashed in Lu Li's eyes, obviously he didn't expect such an answer. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

The cowgirl seemed to be very satisfied with Lu Li's reaction, and then laughed, which made Lu Li more and more confused, "Are you that Chinese, right? Liz's friend, came to take over the beech ranch?" The cowgirl guessed Lu Li's identity at once, in such a town, everyone knows each other, and any little wind and grass can't escape everyone's ears.

Lu Li became vigilant instead, he had been in New York for a long time, and vigilance was the basic consciousness of self-protection - he had just arrived here, and the other party already knew his identity, this feeling was really bad, almost reflexively, Lu Li turned on the protection mode.

The cowgirl noticed Lu Li's inadvertent alienation, but she didn't mind, and explained with a smile, "The beech ranch is next door, and it's about a kilometer down this road. This is the Marshall Valley Ranch. ”

Lu Li realized that he had made a fuss and was in the wrong place!" I thought it was ......" Lu Li pointed to the beech forest in the distance, and the cowgirl looked back along Lu Li's finger, "That oak forest? The main part is here, and only a small part is in Liz's ranch......" Turning around, the cowgirl saw Lu Li's annoyed expression, and then suddenly realized, "You think it's a beech tree?" The cowgirl smiled and shook her head, "It seems that you are a city boy." "Even zelkova and oak trees can't tell the difference.

"No one dictates that a rural boy must know everything. Lu Li fired back, "Austin isn't all cowboys, is it?"

The cowgirl thought about it seriously and nodded in agreement, "It's true that not everyone who wears a cowboy hat can be called a cowboy, just like Justin Bieber, he's not even a man." ”

Lu Li was stunned, and his smile bloomed directly, "I mean there are still workers and students, but ...... You're right. The cowgirl tasted the ridicule in Lu Li's words, and her cheeks couldn't help but heat slightly, "What's more, you also said just now that there are not many outstanding cowboys like you, aren't they?"

The cowgirl raised her head and looked at Lu Li, her dark and translucent eyes flashed with a shallow light, like a crystal clear lake, "You mean the horseback riding just now? In addition to my daily life, I am also a professional cowgirl, and I was practicing for the rodeo just now." ”

"Rodeo's Tournament?" Lu Li had only heard of it, but he had never arrived to watch it in person. To be more precise, in the past three years of university life, his extracurricular recreational activities have really been pitiful, not that he does not want to participate, in fact, he is a person who is very keen to participate in different challenges, but unfortunately because of the relationship between tuition fees and living expenses, he has to make a trade-off. "It sounds exciting. ”

"Of course!" the cowgirl's succinct words revealed a sense of pride, "the spring rodeo is at the end of May, and you are welcome to watch the game at that time, this is the biggest event of the spring, and believe me, the lively scene is definitely something you have never seen before." ”

"I definitely don't question that, for a man who doesn't even know how to ride a horse. Lu Li's self-teasing made the cowgirl laugh, but Lu Li didn't immediately nod his head because he didn't know if he would stay, or more precisely, he had already decided to auction off the beech ranch before the trip started.

Although Lu Li is very grateful for Liz's generous gift, he is not a blind and impulsive person, he knows his situation better than anyone else, he has no financial ability and no management ability to take charge of the entire ranch, rather than let the ranch be destroyed in his own hands, it is better to hand it over to professionals and continue Liz's family ranch. Coming to Beech Ranch in person is more of a farewell to Liz and a way to express my gratitude.

"I should have gone to the beech ranch. Lu Li pointed straight ahead, "I hope I won't find the wrong way this time." ”

The cowgirl laughed heartily, her moving eyes bent into two crescents, "You're a funny guy, no wonder you can be friends with Liz." The cowgirl lifted her chin slightly, "Welcome to Texas, I'm Chloe, and we'll be neighbors from now on." ”

"Neighbors. The word rolled lightly on the tip of Lu Li's tongue before it dissipated, and he said with a smile, "I'm Fourteen, thank you for your kind 'direction'." This was obviously a protest against Chloe's little prank, and Chloe burst out laughing, the corners of her mouth filled with pride, "Fourteen? Your name is Fourteen, which is so weird!"

Lu Li couldn't help but explain the mess he had made at the beginning, which made Chloe laugh. She didn't expect such a little story behind the name at all, and more importantly, this Chinese/Chinese person was really interesting and subverted her previous stereotypes, which was a bonus.

Lu Li took a small half step back, ready to get back into the car, it was not long before sunset, his residence tonight had not yet been settled, and he didn't know what the situation was at the beech ranch, or he needed to rush over as soon as possible, "Be careful of vampires at night, neighbor!" The same word evolved into a different flavor in Lu Li's mouth.

"Mr. Vampire, this is Texas, you better be careful. Chloe shouted playfully, but Lu Li didn't turn around, just shrugged her shoulders lightly in response.

Seeing Lu Li's figure, the smile on the corner of Chloe's mouth still did not dissipate, a trace of throbbing flashed in her eyes, and she hesitated for a moment, "Fourteen." This time Lu Li's footsteps stopped, and he stood by the car door and turned around, "There's a party at the Blackmane Ranch tonight, do you want to come along?" Without waiting for Lu Li's response, she added and explained, "Today is the 40th wedding anniversary of the McCartneys, and they are throwing a big party with all the neighbors in the neighborhood, and I think they will welcome you very much." You know, Texas is a land of hospitality!"

Such parties are not uncommon in the United States, and the hosts are very hospitable, and Lu Li has also attended parties held at the homes of classmates and friends before. After thinking about it, he was fine tonight anyway, and there were no plans for dinner, not to mention, it was already during spring break, so he nodded, "No problem." ”

"The Blackmaned Horse Ranch is on the other side of town, and if you ask anyone, they'll show you the way. Chloe added that Lu Li made an "OK" gesture, and Chloe couldn't help but smile again, "Then, see you in the evening." ”

Lu Li nodded, "See you in the evening." Then he got in the driver's seat, started the engine again, and walked away.

Leaving the Marshall Valley Ranch, the vast grasslands stretch towards the horizon, the gentle hills are undulating, but they can't block the view, until you can see the vast sea of trees and mountains at the end, the golden sunlight is full of spring/color, and the young emerald green melts into the warm light tones, as if you can smell the slow-paced life in the air, as well as the leisure and happiness hidden in it.

In the blink of an eye, you can see a wooden house, this is a typical ranch house, you can see a similar appearance in many movies, a house made of wood, on the left hand side near the avenue is a warehouse, the door is full of dry straw piles, and a huge wheel tractor about one story high is parked, next to it is a residential house, it is a two-story building, sitting north and south, with the iconic pointed eaves, a small balcony on the second floor facing east, staggered from the porch in front of the first floor, a wooden rocking chair on the porch, and a hanging basket mesh chair, and a small garden in front of the houseThe green greenery was clearly well tended, with a few shovels and plows placed at random next to it, and a little further east of the garden was a vegetable patch, with low green seedlings that looked like they had just been planted, and two red buckets were casually thrown aside.

Every corner is filled with a strong sense of life, as if only ten minutes ago, there were still people living here.

Lu Li stood outside the car door, his footsteps nailed in place, motionless. This is where Liz lives, maybe even where she was born, she grows, she grows, she dies, a place that has witnessed the bumps in her life, and the casual and ordinary details show the most authentic face of life.

In his mind, Liz's face was still slightly blurred, and he and her were just a meeting in Pingshui. But at this moment, looking at the scene in front of her, the image of Liz began to become vivid and concrete, she squatted on the ground and carefully tended the marigolds in the garden at the door, she carried the red bucket to water the vegetable patch, she sat in the rocking chair and admired the starry sky...... It seems that traces of her life can be seen in every corner.

The lady who lay on the hospital bed and talked with him about the influence of "Harry Potter" and "The Catcher in the Rye" on different eras, the old man who sat in a wheelchair and looked at the blue sky with him and listened to rock music with earplugs, the woman who strolled along the hospital boulevard and lamented that autumn in New York was so pleasant...... At this moment, it overlaps with the pasture in front of you.

Raising his head, Lu Li effortlessly saw the beech forest that had just sprouted buds in front of him, different from the rough and lush oak trees, this zelkova tree showed a completely different style, flexible but strong stretched upward, the straight and interlaced branches weaved a whole thin net layer upon layer, netting the clear blue and translucent gold on the edge of the sky, and the vigorous and flamboyant young leaves danced with the breeze, rustling and interpreting lullaby, as if opening a warm embrace of the hometown, welcoming the wanderer home.

Lu Li knew that this was the beech pasture.