Little Life on An American Ranch

The saddlery shop is easy to find, you don't need to ask anyone, the old Lynch who has lived in this area all his life directly drove to the door with Jian Heng and four people.

The so-called saddle shop does not specialize in saddles. In such a small western town, most saddle shops will sell some small groceries, such as ropes, cowboy hats and the like, a bit like The ranch grocery store just doesn't sell food.

Many not only sell but also provide maintenance services.

The front of the store is not big, and the door is not beautiful. To put it bluntly, it is a small bungalow built by the roadside. It looks like an illegal building in China, and it doesn't pay attention to its image at all. It's not that there is no space, there is a section of space on both sides, just like this, the whole store is still leaning against the side of the road, which is very ridiculous.

The area of ​​the house looks like eighty or ninety square meters. There is a white signboard hanging on the door that says Grizzly and its sons. On the left side of the signboard is a bear head pattern.

The name should be interpreted literally like this, but Jian Heng doesn't know the specific meaning, and Jian Heng doesn't want to know, it's nothing more than a name.

"Will! Old Will!" As soon as Old Lynch entered the store, he immediately shouted at the old man whose back was facing the door.

Even after shouting a few times, the old man didn't turn his head. In the end, old Lynch had no choice but to walk directly into the counter and patted the old man on the shoulder.

At the same time, he shouted loudly: "Will!"

It was only then that the old man came to his senses, turned his head to look at old Lynch, and opened his hearing aid while talking.

"Lynch, are you done with your work? How is the business? I guess no one likes to hire you, an old guy. How about we go out for a drink tonight?" the old man said to Old Lynch with a smile.

Old Lynch smiled: "Don't worry, my business is very good, but I don't think your business is very good, so I brought you a few customers!"

As he spoke, he stretched out his finger and pointed at Jian Heng and the others who were looking around, especially Zhang Jialiang, who was like a curious baby, whose eyes were not enough.

It was only then that Old Will realized that there were customers in his store, and immediately gave up talking to Old Lynch, and greeted Jian Heng and the others with a smile.

While walking, he said apologetic words: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, my ears are a little hard to get old, and I don't have hearing aids, so I didn't notice you coming in. What do you want?"

The law and order in American cities is bad,

But the countryside is very good, and the old man is not afraid of others coming in to get things while he is not paying attention. Of course, the old man also has surveillance here.

"We want several sets of saddles, the whole set," Jian Heng said.

"Mechanism or manual? If you just ride horses, I recommend machine-made saddles. The price is right and the maintenance is easy," Old Lynch said.

After hearing what the old man said, Jian Heng understood that he thought he was visiting the ranch and wanted to buy a saddle for his own use.

From the old man's words, Jian Heng can see a little bit of the old man's character, at least he is sincere, trustworthy and willing to consider customers, such shopkeepers are very common in the countryside. The simplicity of the small town people is reflected in this place.

As a cowboy, Jian Heng naturally knows what the so-called mechanism saddle is.

The so-called machine-made saddles, as the name suggests, are machine-made saddles, which are characterized by mass-produced things, and the price is generally cheaper.

Compared with the machine-made saddle, it is a hand-made saddle, and the price of a hand-made saddle is much higher.

A saddlery shop like Old Will that can survive in a small western town has first-class hand-made saddles, and some even have been engaged in the manufacture of saddles for generations. Many people not only Not only a craftsman, but also a saddle artist, the work in his hands is amazing.

Cowboys are very picky about their saddles. Generally speaking, as long as conditions permit, they will choose to buy or even order a pair of handmade saddles.

As a result, they are naturally very picky about the saddlemaker's craftsmanship. If the work is not good, the saddle shop will not be able to survive.

For example, the saddle that Jian Heng uses for himself now is a custom-made saddle given by old Anders on his birthday one year.

The saddle was made by an old friend of Evergreen's. Although it looks like a very ordinary saddle, it seems to be no different from others, but it costs thousands of dollars. This thing is not used, or it is not of a certain level. Can't even feel the difference.

"Choose a set of handmade saddles for this one!" Jian Heng stretched out his finger to Zhang Jialiang.

Jian Heng's original saddle is a handmade saddle, so there is no need to choose a good one. Barley and wheat are not taken into account by Jian Heng for the time being. For Zhang Jialiang who wants to become a professional cowboy in the future, a suitable pair of handmade saddles is naturally indispensable. few.

The old man signaled Zhang Jialiang to come and look at his crotch, and then asked, "What is it mainly used for?"

"Ranch work, work saddle!" Jian Heng said.

Those who don’t know it may think that the western saddles are similar. In fact, there are still some articles in it. According to the characteristics, western saddles can be divided into nine categories: barrel saddles, cow saddles, driving saddles, cattle cutting saddles and pasture saddles.

Among them, the ranch saddle is the working saddle mentioned by Jian Heng. It is suitable for working on the ranch. The seat is smooth and flat, and the angle of the rear saddle bridge is also low, which provides more flexible moving space for the cowboy on the seat. The biggest feature of the ranch saddle It is a thick pile head, and now some ranch saddles have changed the pile head to an arched bridge structure.

Zhang Jialiang stood there in a daze, feeling a little hairy when the old man looked at him, and didn't know what he was supposed to do for a while.

Old Will glanced at it, then turned around and walked a few steps, came to a saddle rack, took a piece of saddle, and put it on the rack at the door.

"Do you have any horses?"

Jian Heng said: "A three-year-old Quarter gelding, with a shoulder height of five feet four inches, and a normal girth...!"

After a general understanding, Old Will adjusted the shelf, and then signaled Zhang Jialiang to sit on it. When Zhang Jialiang sat on the saddle, the old man gestured before and after the saddle, and then adjusted it again.

"If you feel uncomfortable, bring your horse and I'll adjust it for you, or you can change a saddle!" Old Will said.

"Okay!" Jian Heng nodded.

A small shop like this in a town is much more trustworthy than a shop in New York. As long as it doesn't fit and the saddle is not damaged, it can be replaced, and the shopkeeper can keep changing and adjusting it until it fits.

But having said that, with Zhang Jialiang's current level, his ass can't feel the subtlety of which saddle is good and which saddle is bad. How can there be such a thing if he doesn't stay on a horse for a year or two? Feel!

"Boss, can you change it to a prettier one? I'll pay for the extra money. Isn't this saddle too plain?" Zhang Jialiang became very picky about the color of the saddle.

Jian Heng glanced at him, and followed his gaze to see a very beautiful saddle. The saddle wings, saddle skirt, and leather are all engraved with patterns, a large part of which is hollowed out, and the saddle is also It's not the usual leather color, but gold, which looks like a championship trophy, which is dazzling.

"That's a display saddle! No one uses it to work on the ranch!" Mai explained to Zhang Jialiang with a smile.

Damai Interface also persuaded Zhang Jialiang: "Your current saddle is quite suitable. After you have worked on the ranch for a long time, you will know that this kind of saddle is beautiful but not suitable. Another point, I advise you, if you want to be used by others If the cowboys laugh at it, then you usually use this saddle!"

Zhang Jialiang understood, but he was not convinced, and said: "I will buy one myself when I get paid, no! Order one!"

Only then did Jian Heng remember to ask the sisters: "What kind of saddle do you want?"

"Let's pick our own"

Barley and Wheat were not too polite, and they opened their mouths to ask about Old Will's handmade saddle, not only about the saddle but also about the material of the saddle bone.

The so-called saddle bone is the core part of the saddle. The old craftsmanship is made of wood, but now new materials are not emerging. Lighter and stronger materials replace wood to make the saddle bone, and the price is higher when it is capitalized. .

There are only wooden and synthetic materials here at Old Will, but the wooden ones here are more expensive, because the energy and effort spent in selecting materials and hand-making directly offset the price of synthetic materials.

Jian Heng saw that the two sisters turned their attention to him in an instant, so he opened his mouth and said, "Look at what I am doing? Could it be that I am such a big boss and can't afford two pairs of saddles?"

"Ha ha!"

The two sisters looked at each other and smiled, then turned to Old Will and said, "Two pairs of handmade wooden saddles".

While the two sisters were picking out saddles, Jian Heng and Old Lynch each picked out a pair of machine-made working saddles. The size didn’t need to fit too much and it was enough to use it. Anyway, it was only used once today. As for the next time, who knows? Is it a big ass or a small ass to sit on this saddle.

The four of them each picked out a pair of saddles, and the next thing was much simpler, and there was no mention of the size. For example, sweat pads, horse stirrups, long and short leather straps and so on.

Jian Heng thought that buying early and buying late was the same word, so he ordered it directly from Old Will, and divided it into several sizes. Anyway, there are more medium sizes, and one or two pieces of large and small ones. A full set of thirteen sets, a full set of saddlery.

Old Will was overjoyed when the business came to fruition.

"This is a giveaway!"

Old Will gave a pair of spurs and a buckle to each of the few people present, but of course Old Lynch didn't have it.

Many people may not know the buckle, but it is easier to understand the belt buckle. The buckle is a denim belt buckle. This thing is bigger than a normal belt buckle. It is about the size of half an adult’s palm, and its shape is changeable. , Some buckles also carry the honor of the owner, such as winning a championship in a competition, which is a very meaningful thing for a cowboy.

"Why didn't I?" Old Lynch said jokingly.

Old Will said, "I'll buy you a drink this week, Shepherd's Tavern!"

"Shit, I like to talk about the steak at Deckert's restaurant, why don't you invite me to eat there?" Old Will's beard was picked up, it seems that this shepherd's tavern is not very good, at least not high enough.

Old Will said, "It costs fifty dollars for a steak, why don't they grab it!"

In a place where beef is originally produced here, a steak is about fifteen dollars, and the kind that is still full is only seventeen or eight dollars more expensive, twenty dollars, this steak costs fifty dollars, indeed It is outrageously expensive.

Not only Old Will, but Jian Heng didn't understand the fifty-dollar steak.

"Fifty dollars for a steak?" Jian Heng couldn't help asking.

This price is really nothing in New York. The more expensive ones are like wagyu beef. There is also Japanese wagyu beef for 160 US dollars and six ounces, but this is a rural town in Montana. Such an expensive steak, Jane Hengdu doubts how long this store will last! Is anyone really going to eat it?

Old Lynch said: "The 100% grass-fed cattle come from the most famous G.R. Stone Ranch in the entire state. Do you think it is worth fifty dollars?"

Hearing what old Lynch said, Jian Heng could only shrug his shoulders. Jian Heng didn't know what kind of pasture, but pure grass-fed beef was twice as expensive as ordinary beef. The simplest calculation is that pure grass-fed beef Cows take about half as long as fattening, because grass grows meat slowly, and it is not as fast and fat as feeding grain.

Slow-fed meat is naturally more expensive.

All the things were put in the back seat of the pickup truck. Old Will sent Jian Heng out the door and watched the pickup truck leave before returning to his leather goods store.

Jian Heng's ticket is directly equivalent to half a month's sales of Old Will. When the old man turned his head, he was humming a song while twisting his waist, dancing an inexplicable dance.

(ps: I will continue to update three times today, and ask for tickets, collections, and recommendations at the same time. In short, I ask for a handful of stones that can be asked! I hope you will support me a lot!)