Jeffen may the secret of the wood-fired oven episode 2, the secret of the wood-fired oven. It was the second morning since Jeff had arrived in Ross village. The sky still held the deep blue of night beneath the old Ross bridge, white mist gathered slowly on the surface of the river.

発話者1 (00:23)

The village was quiet and only the gentle sound of water could be heard below the bridge, but Ross village bakery was already awake. A warm light shown from the windows in the back of the shop. The embers left inside the wood-fired oven glowed softly.

The coals were small and red breathing faintly in the darkness. Now and then a piece of wood gave a tiny crackle as if the oven were speaking in its sleep, Jeff opened the bakery door and stepped inside. Good morning, may good morning, Jeff.

発話者1 (00:54)

What should I do today? May looked toward the oven and smiled today. We are going to tend the fire in the wood-fired oven.

発話者1 (01:03)

Jeff blinked tend the fire. Yes, before we make bread. We must prepare the heart of the bakery.

発話者1 (01:11)

Jeff followed me to the oven, he leaned forward and looked inside between the red embers, a small flame trembled, a little air, moved through the oven, and the flame became thin almost disappearing. Then, it gathered itself and rose again, Jeff watched without speaking, may picked up a slender piece of wood. She placed it gently at the back of the oven, leaving a little space around it, then she chose a slightly thicker piece and laid it across the first one for a moment.

発話者1 (01:41)

Nothing happened then a tiny spark, snapped, it leapt through the dark oven, like a little star and vanished among the embers, Jeff's eyes grew wide, the fire, made a sound It did may said you have to listen carefully. She added another small piece of wood and waited. A wood-fired oven is not made hot all at once.

発話者1 (02:03)

She explained the order in which we add the wood matters the way we place each piece matters too. We also have to think about how the air moves through the oven. Jeff looked at the flames, so we cannot simply add a lot of wood and make the fire big.

発話者1 (02:18)

If we rush the fire may burn too fiercely the outside of the oven may become hot before the bricks have had time to warm through, we must watch the colour of the fire and listen to its sound little-by-little. We guide the oven toward the right temperature. Jeff tilted his head so before we make bread, we have to talk with the fire.

発話者1 (02:38)

May laugh softly that is one way to think of it. An old oven has a slightly different expression every day. Some mornings it is lively some mornings it is quiet.

発話者1 (02:50)

We have to notice what it is telling us, Jeff sat quietly in front of the oven. There was a red flame near the embers, a yellow flame above it, and a very small flame with a hint of blue at its tip. Each flame made a different sound as it moved one whispered.

発話者1 (03:06)

Another flickered, a third gave a tiny pop Jeff, tried to remember every sound. The fire would shift shifted in a few sparks rose outside the mist continued to drift beneath the bridge inside the bakery slowly filled with a soft, warm, may Jeff said after a while this oven really feels as if it is breathing you noticed well may replied, does it breathe like we do in a way once a wood-fired oven is warm. It stores the strength of the fire inside its bricks.

発話者1 (03:42)

発話者1 (04:09)

She said she spread wheatflower across the table. The flower made a pale smooth island beneath the warm bakery light. Jeff carefully poured in a little water, not too much, may reminded him slowly Jeff poured a little more.

発話者1 (04:25)

The dry flower began to gather into small lumps. He moved his pause through it, trying to bring everything together at first. The mixture looked light and loose, then it became heavy and sticky Jeff pressed harder, hoping to make it smooth quickly.

発話者1 (04:41)

Oh, no, he said it is sticking again. The do clung to his pause and stretched in long uneven threads. Jeff tried to pull it free, but that only made it stick more.

発話者1 (04:53)

I'm sorry he said I think I made it worse. May did not scold him. She simply watched the dough for a moment.

発話者1 (05:01)

Perhaps the dough was a little tired. Jeff looked up dough can get tired. Of course may said if you need it too quickly, and with too much force, the dough becomes uncomfortable.

発話者1 (05:13)

It needs time to settle Jeff looked at the sticky mixture. I thought a baker had to work hard all the time. A baker works carefully that is not always the same as working quickly may gathered the dough into a round shape and placed it in the bowl.

発話者1 (05:28)

Then she covered it with a clean white cloth there. Let us give it a little rest. Beneath the clac, the dough began to rest in silence.

発話者1 (05:38)

Jeff sat beside the bowl bread, making is mysterious. He said even the time when we do nothing is important. That is right, may answered.

発話者1 (05:47)

Waiting is part of a baker's work. Jeff looked from the covered dough to the glowing oven. The fire needs time, and the dough needs time, and the baker needs time to learn how to see both of them.

発話者1 (05:59)

Just then the shop door opened a small bell rang. Through the bakery, the village post carrier stepped inside with a brown envelope in his hands. Good morning, may he called and you must be the new apprentice.

発話者1 (06:12)

Jeff stood up straight. Yes, I'm Jeff. It is nice to meet you.

発話者1 (06:16)

The post carrier smiled. I heard you were a baker who came from across the sea. You must be working very hard.

発話者1 (06:23)

I am trying Jeff replied. The post carrier, held out the envelope. This letters for you, Jeff stared at it.

発話者1 (06:31)

The writing on the front was familiar. The address came from Japan for a moment he did not reach for it. He only looked at the letters remembering the people who had written them then he carefully took the envelope and opened.

発話者1 (06:45)

It is from my father and mother. The bakery became quiet again even the little bell on the door seemed to stop moving the letter contained only a few short words. Even though you are far away, we are cheering for your dream some day.

発話者1 (07:01)

We hope to taste the bread you bake Jeff, read the words twice outside the window. The morning breeze moved the flowers, a thin ray of sunlight touched the edge of the table. Jeff held the letter with both paws.

発話者1 (07:16)

Do you think I can really become a baker? He asked may turn toward him, why do you ask? I still do not know how to carry the firewood properly.

発話者1 (07:25)

I do not know how to make the oven warm at the right pace and I am not very good at needing the dough. Jeff looked down at his pause, sometimes I think my family is waiting for me to become someone I can not yet be maist stood beside him and spoke gently you can become a baker Jeff, but you will do it little-by-little every day, even if I keep making mistakes, especially then becoming skill does not mean that you never make mistakes. It means learning to discover what was missing after a mistake has happened.

発話者1 (07:59)

Jeff looked at the letter again. So a mistake can teach me something. Yes, if you listen to it, Jeff pressed the letter against his chest, then he looked at the dough beneath the white cloth.

発話者1 (08:12)

Do you think it is ready? Let us see may lifted the cloth? The do had changed after its rest.

発話者1 (08:19)

It was softer, smoother and Fuller than before jeffleaned close, it looks happier. Perhaps it is feeling better may said Trying it once more this time, do not fight the dough. Feel its weight.

発話者1 (08:36)

Alright, Jeff placed his pause on the dough. He pressed gently and pulled it toward himself. Then he turned it and pressed again.

発話者1 (08:44)

He repeated the movement slowly listening to the quiet sound of dough against the wooden table, press pull and turn press pull and turn again the dough resisted at first, then it began to follow his movements. Its surface became smoother, its round shape, grew more even Jeff smiled, it is moving with me. That is what happened when you stop trying to force.

発話者1 (09:11)

It may said by then, the flames and the wood-fired oven had grown strong enough. The colour had changed and the brick walls were warm all the way through, may open the oven door and felt the heat with her hand she listened for a moment just as she had taught jaff. The oven is ready.

発話者1 (09:29)

She said Jeff looked up from the dough already. It is ready because we waited. May used a wooden tool to move the glowing embers to one side.

発話者1 (09:40)

She worked slowly and carefully the fire brightened and a soft wave of heat across the room. Now we can put in the bread, Jeff, divided the dough and arranged the round pieces on a wooden board. They were not exactly the same size, but he tried to make each one neat, may picked up a small knife and made a careful cut in the top of each piece.

発話者1 (10:02)

Jeff watched closely. Why do you cut the bread so the bread can breathe while it bake? This may explained without a place for the pressure to escape the bread may split in an unexpected way.

発話者1 (10:16)

Does the cut change the taste? It can change the way the bread rises. It also changes the expression of the finished loaf.

発話者1 (10:24)

Jeff examined the small lines on the dough. Then, each loaf gets its own face that is a lovely way to say it. They carried the bread into the oven.

発話者1 (10:33)

Maise led the loves wooden board onto the hot surface. Jeff stood beside her, trying not to move the oven door closed, the bakery became quiet, except the fire. Jeff stared at the closed door do you think it is all right?

発話者1 (10:48)

It is beginning its work. What if it does not rise? We will learn why what if it burns?

発話者1 (10:55)

We will learn why what if it is too small? Then we will make another one tomorrow. Jeff considered this.

発話者1 (11:02)

Do you think watching the bread will make it bake faster? Yes, Jeff answered at least a little, may smiled in that case. Let us sweep the front of the shop while we wait.

発話者1 (11:14)

Jeff took a broom in his mouth and carried it outside morning light. Now spread across rossbridge, the mist had Begun to lift, and the river reflected the pale sky Jeff swept the entrance carefully. He moved a little flower from the doorstep and gathered a few dry leaves that had blown in overnight.

発話者1 (11:32)

The bakery windows shown behind him. Their light was reflected faintly in the water below the bridge, a villager walking past slowed down good morning. She said, are you the new apprentice?

発話者1 (11:44)

Jeff nodded proudly. Yes, we are baking bread in the wood-fired oven today. That sounds wonderful. Soon. Another villager stopped then another