Yunding Ranch

Chapter 369
The rancher house has a fireplace, literally every house on the ranch, and it’s a must-have for Texas winters.

Although the temperature in New Braunfels is not as cold as it is in the north, it is not as icy and snowy, but it should not be underestimated. The plots in the movie that sit around the fire drinking to keep warm are not fabricated.It’s just that now in big cities like Dallas and Austin, apartment buildings are equipped with heating. Facilities like fireplaces, which are expensive to consume and troublesome to use and clean up, can only be seen in high society and retro mansions.

After Lu Li came to Dezhou, he had no chance to use the fireplace.Out of curiosity, Cole gave him a demonstration before, but he didn't actually light the firewood.Unexpectedly, the first attempt came so quickly.

It was already late autumn at this time, and Brandon prepared a large amount of firewood and placed it next to the fireplace, all of which were dry and chopped firewood.Meticulously stacked and neatly stacked, they look like Christmas presents.

Lu Li felt that he was opening Christmas presents right now.

This kind of fireplace can't be seen in the Eastern world. To Lu Li, it is not only interesting, but also very magical. How does such a fireplace keep the whole house warm?Ever since I came to the ranch, I've been wanting to try it - but the timing has never been right.

To this day, so, this is his Christmas present.

Standing in front of the fireplace, Lu Li didn't rush to start lighting the fire immediately.

This job seems simple, but it actually requires skill, just like building a bonfire. If you don’t master the technology and try it casually, you can’t ignite it. That's the real deal.

Therefore, Lu Li was carefully recalling the steps that Cole had mentioned.

"Hula la, hula la", the strong wind raged outside the window, pulling the branches of the oak tree in the garden fiercely, and the branches covered with green leaves knocked on the window, mixed with some creaking and scratching sounds, outlining the The tracks of those invisible storms can be seen, and the uncanny work of nature can be glimpsed.

The beating sound of the violent wind and rain, with glass, door and wall, hollow and solid, is like an impassioned African drum. Even if you stay indoors, you can't help but shiver.This interrupted Lu Li's train of thought, and he finally came to his senses - he was still drenched, and they were not in the deep mountains and old forests, at least, he could let the guests go to take a shower first.

Stand up straight, turn around, and then see Richard is beating his thighs, as if he is attending a music festival, swaying to the rhythm, not just escaped from the storm, the immersed posture , making people really laugh; while the other three people standing beside them, although trying their best to keep calm and maintain their demeanor, their gradually dimmed faces still revealed the real reaction of their bodies.

"I think I may still need some time. Otherwise, you should go take a shower first, change into dry clothes, and then see if I set the house on fire." Lu Li said half-jokingly, and the teasing tone was successfully resolved. The momentary embarrassment made everyone chuckle.

"You'd better be careful, we still need this place for dinner." Richard has long been familiar with Lu Li's style, and he took up the conversation freely, continuing the relaxed atmosphere.

Led by Lu Li, the group came to the villa area.After the completion, the villa has never been put into use, but the cowboys have always kept the space clean, and the basic bath products in the bathroom are also complete and brand new.From the corner of their eyes, they noticed the expressions of Robinson and others, and it was obvious that the frowning brows were slightly relaxed.

Leaving the matter of room allocation to the four of them to resolve internally, Lu Li returned to the first floor.

The only fly in the ointment in the whole villa is that the fireplace here has been cleaned, but no firewood and ignition devices have been brought in, and the hall on the first floor is still completely empty. It seemed deserted, and the ubiquitous cold air slowly seeped in.

It seems that, as the master, he still has a lot of work to do today.

Back in the main house, Lu Li stood in front of the fireplace again.

After sorting out his thoughts, Lu Li didn't hesitate any longer, standing where he was, the fire wouldn't automatically ignite.But a minute ago, he also confirmed that he has no superpowers for the time being.

I rolled up my wet sleeves, wiped my hands clean, opened the damper first, and then began to check the smoothness of the pipes. I lit a match and placed it under the chimney. I found that the airflow was from top to bottom, which was obvious. No, once the firewood is lit, it is estimated that the whole house will start to billow with black smoke.

What should I do?
Question marks in my mind began to emerge, thermal expansion and cold contraction, as long as the temperature of the air in the room exceeds the outdoor temperature, the airflow will naturally push the cold air out, then the airflow can change direction and become from bottom to top.

After thinking for a while, Lu Li first opened the air intake valve below to ensure that after the flame was lit, there would be enough oxygen to ensure the flame would burn. over charcoal.

The fireplace has been cleaned long ago, and there is no residue left, but the inner wall is brown-black like tar, and it can be seen that this is the trace left by years of use.

The newspaper was quickly burned to ashes, but Lu Li was not in a hurry, and lit another newspaper casually.That's not the point, it's just a means of preheating the air.

Then Lu Li started looking for suitable firewood.These firewood were all chopped by Brandon. They are not big, with thick arms, and there are even smaller pieces, which are used to light fire; in addition, there are some slightly larger ones, which are It is used for long-lasting combustion.

Five pieces of firewood were selected and built staggeredly on the ground according to the method taught by Cole to form a pyramid shape. A box was brought out from the fireplace, containing solid pieces of spirit, which were the means of starting the fire.

After completing these tasks, he took a closer look, but Lu Li didn't have a reference object, and he didn't know if he had placed it correctly. It seemed a little strange, and it seemed a little too loose. Did he set it too wide? , The flame went out before it could spread?Or would the air flow blow away the flames, and the ignited substance would burn out before the log was ignited?

Taking two steps forward, Lu Li wanted to fiddle with the firewood tower again, but he hesitated for a moment and finally gave up.

This was his first time, and it could be wrong anyway, but it could also be right.Therefore, it is better to try it once and then adjust it, which is more reliable.At least, he checked the airflow, the air inlet, and the igniter...

Standing in place, I thought about it carefully. After confirming that there were no omissions in the skills taught by Cole, I felt relieved.

He rubbed two pieces of newspaper again, lit them, and placed them under the pyramid.But then Lu Li realized that he was still inexperienced, the space left at the bottom was too small, there was no way to stuff the newspaper in directly, so he could only throw the newspaper in the corner next to it, and then took out another newspaper, First stuff it down, then light it up with a match.

The newspaper quickly ignited the solid alcohol blocks, and the blue flame rose up, licking the dry and loose pieces of wood, and the flame gradually began to grow, and black smoke came out.

Black smoke?This is not right.At least that's what Cole said, although Lu Li didn't know why there was something wrong with the black smoke.

He pulled out a piece of firewood from the side, inserted it into the bottom of the pyramid, and picked it up a little. According to his guess, it should be that there was not enough space left, resulting in insufficient oxygen, which produced black smoke.

No matter whether Lu Li's guess just now was correct or not, gradually, the color of the smoke began to fade, and finally returned to normal.The flame is completely burning, the tongue of fire burns the firewood ferociously, the bright yellow halo illuminates the entire fireplace, and the faint warmth slowly drains down like a waterfall, and the skin surface of the hands can feel the warmth like silk, Gently slide over.

Lu Li just squatted beside him, watching the bright flames swaying gently, the sounds in his ears were still tinkling, and he could even hear the howling of the string of wind chimes stirring in the whistling wind, that kind of violent earthquake The mountain shook, causing the whole world to turmoil, but the small flame in front of him remained motionless, like a backbone, firmly and resolutely dispelling the surrounding darkness and cold, and the world slowly settled down.

No wonder people in the Stone Age were willing to worship fire as a god.Before the emergence of electricity, the warmth and stability brought by flames were the most important weapons for human beings against nature.Even now, fire is one of the most amazing products of nature.

"What are you doing there?"

A cold voice came from behind him, without turning his head, Lu Li knew that it was Cole who had returned.

It was only then that Lu Li realized that he had been squatting in front of the fireplace and remained motionless for more than ten minutes without shaking.He looked at the dancing flames in such a foolish way, like a child who has not grown up, and once again experienced the carefree childhood.

In the past, they could squat down like this and watch the ants on the ground for a whole afternoon without feeling bored; later, they had more and more entertainment activities, but they got less and less happiness.

“You should make a cup of coffee, play some music, put on dry clothes, lie on the sofa, and enjoy the afternoon. You know, sitting in a room with a fireplace on a stormy afternoon is the essence of middle-class petty bourgeois life.” Template." Cole joked in a steady voice.

The corner of Lu Li's mouth slightly raised, "That's what I planned."

(End of this chapter)