Chapter 23
"What are you talking about, sir?" Robinson began to play dumb. "I'll pay your bills, but what's the matter with you taking my healthy goose?"
"Oh?" Lin Weilun raised an eyebrow. "If you can pay the bill, that would be great. Two months' arrears are 2 pounds 10 shillings, this outpatient consultation is 8 shillings, and the additional medicine you need to buy later is 3 shillings and 6 pence. For the sake of the fruit peel soup, 6 pence will be written off. The total is 3 pounds 1 shilling. What an auspicious number, isn't it?"
"Oh, please," Robinson rubbed his hands together, looking as if he were about to be crushed by the pounds. "Please, Master Lingate, we have been doing business with the Ferry Clinic for many years! There is no precedent for paying the bill this month."
"So this time, I'll just give you last month's payment, okay? We'll put last month's payment and this month's payment together next month."
After saying that, Robinson opened his wallet, took out a coin and handed it over.
"One pound, and God bless you, Mr. Ringert."
This was actually the most generous payment Robinson had ever made, and he even felt a little smug. After all, there were very few farmers who loved veterinarians as much as he did.
If Lingate hadn't really helped him solve the big problem this time, Robinson would have continued to make trouble until Christmas.
Anyway, there won’t be any problems with his geese in the future.
"Wife!" the farmer cried, thinking of this, "quickly take those two geese home and lock them up! Now, please take the money quickly, sir. As you can see, I have a lot of things to do at home!"
Lin Weilun stared at the coin and slowly raised his eyes. "When did I say that the two geese were healthy?"
Robinson's expression cracked. "W-what?"
The young veterinarian slowly took off his gloves. "I told you, there's no effective anti-goose paramyxovirus drug at the moment, but geese with mild symptoms still have a chance of being cured—as long as the veterinarian can find the right medicine."
Robinson's heart began to beat like a drum.
Oops, he thought, he seemed to have done something wrong.
"Look at these two geese of yours," Lin Weilun said, mockery flashing in his blue eyes. "Do you see their slightly trembling legs? In less than two days, they'll be lying on the ground like seriously ill geese. I wanted to take them back because I was worried they might infect your other healthy geese, and because I'm the only one who can give them a chance of survival."
"By the way, did I say 'bill'? Taking care of them costs money. Do you think I would help you for free? But since you don't want to, then even -"
"Oh no, sir!" Robinson hurriedly grabbed Lin Weilun, wanting to stuff the geese into his arms immediately. "Don't be like this! Please believe that I didn't mean that! You are so kind! Thank you for your help! Just keep the money in the account, I will definitely pay you back! As long as you are willing to take care of them!"
As luck would have it, those two were goslings, their down had just fallen off, and they would start laying eggs soon.
Eggs, goose feathers, goose meat, all of them are money!
Robinson was sweating profusely, blaming himself for having misjudged the veterinarian's kindness.
Such a good person, he is basically an angel! Ferdinand is simply slandering him!
Lin Weilun looked at him helplessly, and finally pointed at the car reluctantly, "If you insist so much, then please tie them up and put them on."
Robinson immediately thanked him with gratitude, then deftly stuffed the goose into the back seat.
The not-so-long morning was finally coming to an end. The Rover was driving on the narrow and uneven road. The short farmer slowly disappeared in the rearview mirror, and the rays of sunlight were divided into less dazzling fragments by the dark clouds.
A gosling rested its head on the armrest of the front seat, its long neck swaying with the shaking of the vehicle, occasionally touching Lin Weilun's arm.
"Okay, good boy, it won't be long before we reach our new home." He casually pulled out a hand and stroked the thin long neck, then the plump chest, the fluffy feathered wings, and the fleshy lower abdomen that felt very fleshy when pinched.
A line of text floated in the air wherever he touched.
A goose with soft feet syndrome
"But before that, you two will need some eggshells and calcium powder."
The young veterinarian's eyes were like the sea at dawn, and the beating desires merged into a dazzling sea level.
He is hungry.
Very.
It started to rain halfway back, and the fine and dense raindrops formed a continuous sheet, soon soaking the entire town.
Everyone queuing at the clinic couldn't take it anymore and went home, so old Ferry easily took care of the rest.
When Lin Weilun came back, the only smell left in the house was the lingering smell of coffee.
"The Earl just called," Alma said lightly. "The manor is packed today, and the weather is bad. The lovely veterinarian can take two days off until the banquet begins."
Old Ferry blew his beard and asked, "Have the noble gentlemen arrived?"
"There are quite a few ladies too," the housekeeper said, her tone tingling with longing as she sorted through a thick stack of receipts. "I heard this banquet is so grand that even young ladies from Munich are coming. Someone saw the patterns on those ladies' skirts, and they haven't even been published in the newspapers!"
Ferry really didn't understand what was so desirable about a few skirts, so he put on his raincoat and went outside to look at his beloved Rover.
Then there was a loud scream in the yard, "What... pooped in my car?! Lingert! Damn, what kind of animal did you stuff into my Rover?! Do you know how much it costs to clean the car seat?"
Lin Weilun found a moving wooden box and stuffed the two geese into it. "I'll make lunch."
There was silence in the yard for a long moment. "...Can we have beef? Maggie from the bakery sent some fresh veal this morning as a thank you for helping her Sayuri successfully deliver her baby."
Sayuri is a nearly three-year-old shepherd dog who suffered a difficult birth due to a narrow pelvis.
Maggie cried anxiously at that time. Lin Weilun worked hard for half the night before he successfully took out the six puppies. By the way, he also helped Sayuri clean up her dirty pelvis.
As for the veal, Lin Weilun had heard Maggie say that it came from her son-in-law's farm, a remote, struggling small farm.
Lin Weilun had met his son-in-law once before. He was a typical British farmer, fond of wearing colorful scarves and overalls that looked welded to his body. He had no talent for business and only knew how to mix feed based on his father's experience.
But the cattle are indeed well-raised, but there are not many people who come to patronize the business and there are no fixed partners.
Usually, they can only sell it to small vendors in the surrounding area, or sell some milk to cover family expenses.
"No problem, wait a moment."
After settling the two geese and giving them new nutritious meals, and confirming that they were not infected with paramyxovirus, Lin Weilun washed his hands and picked a few handfuls of spinach from the vegetable garden where drizzling rain was falling.
He didn't intend to make it too complicated, but the rainy weather really needed something warm.
For example, a plate of spinach, buffalo cheesy and potato gnocchi soup that will make you twitch your fingers.
In the cupboard was the Gloucester cheese the housekeeper had just bought. It was a mild orange-yellow color. After melting it in a double boiler, she mixed it with the minced veal, mashed potatoes, and chopped spinach until it became a fine paste. For seasoning, she chose a stronger choice of coarse salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and some thyme.
"It's a shame there's no aged Huadiao." Lin Weilun rummaged through Old Ferry's wine cabinet and ultimately chose the expensive gold rum to remove the fishy smell from the veal. Finally, he kneaded the mixed filling into plump, round little balls with his bare hands.
"I think I can smell the aroma already?" Alma leaned against the door, her eyes sparkling. "I hope there won't be any customers this afternoon so we can slowly enjoy our lunch."
Lin Weilun smiled, took out three beer mugs and handed them over. "Perhaps you could boil them for me?"
Alma stared at his hands. "But we're still working..."
"It's raining heavily and the temperature is low," Lin Weilun waved his hand nonchalantly. "No one would knock on the door of a veterinary clinic at a time like this."
The housekeeper took a deep breath and happily took down the wine glass.
On the other side, a small frying pan was already heated. Lin Weilun melted the butter in it, then poured in the olive oil. Once it was fragrant, he placed the small dumplings in and fried them until they were a bright golden yellow. He then placed the dumplings on the side of the pan and roasted them slowly at low temperature. On the other side, he poured in the minced garlic and bacon, then poured in the milk and brought it to a boil.
This is not the end. He did not forget to add chopped lemon peel and Italian herbs. After the small balls absorbed the soup and turned into round milky white color, he sprinkled a thick layer of Wensleydale cheese and chopped basil on them.
When the dishes were being served, the housekeeper happened to bring in a glass of piping hot wine. When she saw the plate full of cheese buffalo dumplings, she immediately raised her hands to cover her eyes.
"If the devil from hell had used this to deceive the world, I don't think anyone would have been able to keep their love and respect for God! I'm accusing you, Lingate! You're simply a devil!"
"I don't know how many people have praised me like this." Lin Weilun poured rum into the wine glass and added salty cheese.
The lingering heat quickly turned the cheese into a flowing liquid. He poured a thin layer of rich syrup and lime juice on it, and finally inserted half a cinnamon stick as decoration.
The transparent glass seems to be the sunset flowing into the oak forest, and the orange-red color wraps the fragrance of pine soaked in the sunset.
Old Ferry hadn't turned the newspaper in his hand for several minutes, and his eyes behind his reading glasses were staring at the restaurant.
Lin Weilun glanced at him, then used the remaining vanilla and cinnamon, added a little light cream and flour, and fried a plate of aromatic apple fries.
The sound of raindrops dripped, and the humid air was soft and cool.
The three of them sat around the peach-grained wood dining table, with the overhead lights casting a bright yellow light.
They spread napkins on their laps as they talked about the various critters at the clinic this morning.
"For my Rover's sake," said old Ferry, eagerly picking up his fork, "the first bite let me..."
“Boom boom boom!”
Before he could enjoy his meal, there was a knock on the door.
The three of them looked at each other. Alma shook her head. "All the guests who had reservations have cancelled. It must be something urgent."
"I'll go open the door, you guys eat first." Lin Weilun pulled out a chair and stood up. After turning the door handle, he saw a familiar face.
"I'm so sorry," Philip stood under the black umbrella, his superior face pale from being wet by the rain.
He wiped the rain off his emerald ring with a handkerchief and said apologetically, "This damn weather caused several of my friends' cars to break down nearby. You're the only ones I know around here, so I had no choice but to come here for help... Oh wait?"
The Earl sniffed like a dog, his expression changing subtly. "What's that smell?"
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The author has something to say: Sorry, I'm late
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