Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1645

In the early morning light, on the high-speed railway platform, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei were carrying their bags, their faces full of excitement. A spontaneous trip around China had begun.

The first stop was Hangzhou. As soon as they left the station, the warm air was like a gentle kiss. "It is said that 'there is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below', and it is true. The air here is full of spiritual energy." Zhang Yuedong took a deep breath and smiled. Li Xiao nodded and agreed: "Let's go to West Lake first, it is the soul of Hangzhou."

Arriving at the West Lake, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the lake surface seemed to be covered with a layer of gauze. The mountains in the distance were looming in the mist, like an ink painting. The Three Pools Mirroring the Moon stood quietly in the lake, like three pearls, which made Lin Yifei exclaim: "I heard that this scene was printed on the back of the one-yuan RMB when I was a child. Seeing it with my own eyes, it was so shocking." They strolled along the Su Causeway. The weeping willows on the embankment were swaying in the wind. Zhang Yuedong reached out and stroked the willow branches, saying: "Master Dongpo has benefited future generations. This journey is so pleasant."

After walking around for a long time, my stomach protested. I walked into a Hangzhou restaurant and ordered Dongpo pork, Longjing shrimp, and West Lake vinegar fish. The soft, sweet and fragrant Dongpo pork was served on the table, with a bright red color. Li Xiao couldn't wait to pick up a piece, which melted in his mouth and exclaimed: "It's fat but not greasy, and the sweetness and saltiness are just right, it's amazing!" Lin Yifei also praised the Longjing shrimp, which was fresh and tender with a faint tea fragrance.

At night, the folk performance by the West Lake began. Yue Opera was melodious, and the actors on the stage waved their sleeves lightly, with graceful postures, singing about joys and sorrows in the soft Wu dialect. Zhang Yuedong was fascinated by the performance and whispered to his companions: "This tune is as soft as the water of West Lake, which touches people's hearts." After watching the performance, the three of them did not forget to buy some West Lake Longjing tea, thinking that they could also savor this Jiangnan charm at home in the future.

The next stop was the passionate Chongqing. As soon as we stepped into the mountain city, the spicy and fresh aroma hit us. "Wow, the air is full of the smell of hot pot!" Lin Yifei rubbed his hands excitedly. They went straight to Hongya Cave, which was brightly lit under the night sky. The layers of stilt houses stood along the river, like a real version of the Spirited Away world. Li Xiao looked up and exclaimed: "The architectural wisdom of the ancients is amazing. They can be so exquisite even if they follow the terrain."

We found an old hotpot restaurant on the street. The red oil was bubbling in the pot, and tripe, duck intestines, and yellow throat were placed on the table. Zhang Yuedong picked up a piece of tripe with chopsticks and dipped it in the pot. It was crisp and refreshing. "This is the authentic Chongqing flavor, spicy and strong!" Everyone's mouth was red from the spiciness, but they couldn't stop eating.

After eating and drinking, they went to watch a Sichuan Opera face-changing show. On the stage, the actors changed their faces like turning pages of a book, switching between red, black, and painted faces in an instant, and breathing fire from time to time, which was thrilling and exciting. The audience cheered one after another, and Lin Yifei shouted at the top of his voice: "It's amazing, how did you train your hands so fast!" In the end, they carried a few packets of hot pot base, thinking about bringing this hotness back to their relatives and friends.

Then, the three of them came to Xi'an, the ancient capital of a thousand years. Stepping into the ancient city wall, a heavy sense of history hit them. The mottled bricks and stones of the city wall seemed to be a faithful recorder of the years. Li Xiao stroked the city wall and said, "This city wall has stood for a thousand years and has witnessed many changes." They rented bicycles and rode on the city wall. The breeze blew past, as if they could hear the wars of ancient times.

After walking around the city wall, we went to Huimin Street to find food. The mutton soup steamed bun, roujiamo, and zonggao were dazzling. Zhang Yuedong ordered a bowl of steamed bun, patiently broke the bun, and joked with the boss: "It is said that the smaller the bun is broken, the more flavorful it is. I have to break it more carefully." A mouthful of steamed bun warmed up his body and mind. Lin Yifei ate the sweet and soft zonggao, and his mouth was full: "This glutinous texture, plus the candied dates, is a perfect match."

In the evening, the shadow play was performed by artists who manipulated the puppets with their fingers, interpreting legendary stories behind the curtain. The colorful shadow puppets were vivid and Li Xiao watched them with great interest: "The things left by our ancestors are full of charm." When they left, they took a few exquisite shadow puppet crafts with them as precious souvenirs of this journey.

Wherever they went, the three of them were intoxicated by the local scenery, food and customs. In this journey across mountains and rivers, they gained not only local specialties and photos, but also vivid and hot memories. The unknown next stop is still full of endless expectations, waiting for them to explore and indulge.

After bidding farewell to Xi'an, the three of us traveled to Lijiang in the south of the colorful clouds. As soon as we stepped into the ancient city of Lijiang, the stone pavement under our feet seemed to be telling the past. The gurgling water flowed along the ditches on the street, making a clear and pleasant sound, which echoed with the wooden structure of the traditional Naxi buildings on the street, creating a simple and lively atmosphere.

"This ancient city is so special, it's different from the places I've been to before." Lin Yifei looked around excitedly, his eyes attracted by the doors and windows with carved beams and painted buildings. Li Xiao nodded and said, "Yes, look at these architectural details, full of ethnic customs, it feels like time has slowed down." Zhang Yuedong couldn't wait to raise his camera to capture the corners of the ancient city under the light and shadow.

Walking along the stone road, they arrived at the Mu Mansion. The vermilion gate was solemn and majestic, and the flying eaves and corners showed its imposing manner. Walking into the mansion, pavilions, towers, gardens and waterside pavilions were all available, and the exquisiteness was astonishing. "This Mu Mansion is called the 'Forbidden City of Lijiang', and it's not an exaggeration. The regulations and layout are so exquisite." Li Xiao sighed while visiting. Lin Yifei came over and asked curiously: "How majestic must the Mu family be here back then."

After visiting the Mu Mansion, their stomachs started to growl, so they looked for a Naxi restaurant. They ordered cured pork ribs hot pot, Naxi grilled fish, and chicken bean jelly. When the steaming cured pork ribs hot pot was served, the rich aroma of bones filled the air. Zhang Yuedong first filled a bowl of soup, took a sip, and squinted his eyes in satisfaction: "This soup is so fresh. It's so comfortable to have such a pot in the cold winter." The Naxi grilled fish has a charred skin, and the fish meat is tender and juicy. It is paired with a unique sauce, which has a unique flavor. As night fell, Sifang Street was bustling, and the Naxi bonfire dance began. The locals were dressed in bright ethnic costumes, and men, women, old and young held hands and danced happily around the bonfire. Li Xiao and his friends were pulled into the team by the enthusiastic locals, and they danced clumsily to the rhythm, causing laughter all around. Lin Yifei couldn't stop smiling: "This atmosphere is so joyful. I feel warm all over after dancing!" Before leaving Lijiang, they picked out some hand-tied fabrics. The colorful patterns were full of ethnic art.

Afterwards, the three of them set off on a journey to Xiamen. As soon as they left Xiamen Station, the salty and humid sea breeze blew in their faces, carrying the unique smell of the sea. They rushed to Gulangyu Island as soon as possible. While riding the ferry, they watched the waves surging, and Gulangyu Island in the distance looked like a dream under the sunshine. On the island, buildings of different styles from different countries were scattered in an orderly manner, with Gothic spires and Baroque carvings, as if they were in an architectural art museum.

"Gulangyu is so magical. It's such a small island, but it has so many styles." Zhang Yuedong was amazed. They walked through the alleys and stopped at the doors of literary shops from time to time. When they were tired of shopping, they found a seafood stall and ordered fried oysters, shacha noodles, and boiled shrimps. The fried oysters were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The fresh oysters burst on the tip of the tongue, mixed with the fragrance of eggs and vegetables. Li Xiao said while eating, "It's different to eat seafood in a seaside city. It's so fresh and sweet."

At night, the Nanyin performance on the street began. The simple and elegant singing, accompanied by the performance of pipa and dongxiao, was melodious. Lin Yifei listened quietly and said softly: "Listening to this Nanyin, my heart is inexplicably calmed down. It is really charming." When they left Xiamen, they took a few boxes of special Gulangyu pies to share with their friends.

The journey continues. Each city is like a wonderful book. They flip through the pages, immersed in different scenery, food and folk culture, and outline their unique memories in this vast Chinese land. The unknown excitement of the next stop is beckoning. After bidding farewell to Xiamen, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei rushed to Chengdu without stopping. As soon as the plane landed, the warm and spicy air instantly enveloped them. "It is said that Chengdu is very comfortable. I have already felt this leisurely energy." Lin Yifei said while stretching lazily.

We took a taxi to Kuanzhai Alley. As soon as we entered the quaint neighborhood, the courtyards in the style of Sichuan folk houses came into view. Kuanxiang Alley is open and spacious. Several old teahouses are filled with locals drinking tea and chatting. The aroma of tea wafts in the air, and the sound of mahjong clatters, playing a melody of Chengdu's slow life. Li Xiao found an empty seat and sat down. He ordered a bowl of covered tea. He imitated the locals, gently blew open the tea leaves, took a sip, and said comfortably: "This is what life is like. It's hard to find such a leisurely life elsewhere."

The narrow alleys are even more deep and compact, with a dazzling array of food stalls on both sides that make it hard to move. Zhang Yuedong's eyes lit up as he rushed to a small shop selling long wontons and shouted, "Boss, give me three bowls of red soup wontons, spicy!" Soon, the steaming wontons were served on the table. The paper-thin dough wrapped the tender and juicy meat filling, and then dipped in the spicy red oil soup. One bite and the taste buds were instantly ignited. "Hiss - so spicy, this red oil is so authentic." Lin Yifei praised while exhaling.

After strolling through Kuanzhai Alley, they headed to Wuhou Temple. With red walls and green tiles, towering ancient cypresses, and a solemn atmosphere, Li Xiao stood in the Liu Bei Hall, looking up at the simple statue, and said with emotion: "The Three Kingdoms are all here. It's so shocking to think that heroes and heroes gathered here to plan for the world and decide the fate of the world." Zhang Yuedong also nodded, strolling in each exhibition hall, savoring that magnificent history.

As night fell, it was time to experience Chengdu's nightlife. They came to Jinli Ancient Street, which was brightly lit and bustling. Sichuan opera stunts such as face changing, fire breathing, and ceiling lights were performed in turn on the street, causing the audience to exclaim. During the intervals between performances, the three of them went into a hot pot restaurant and ordered a full table of dishes. Tripe, duck intestines, and tender beef rose and fell in the boiling beef oil pot. Zhang Yuedong picked up a piece of tripe, shook his head and muttered: "Switch the tripe up and down, don't forget the formula." When the tripe was covered with dipping sauce and eaten, it was crispy and chewy, and everyone ate heartily. When leaving, they did not forget to take a few packets of spicy rabbit heads, which is a specialty of Chengdu.

Then, the three of them boarded the train to Qingdao. As soon as they left the station, the refreshing sea breeze, carrying the smell of the sea, blew away the fatigue of the journey. The pier lies across the sea, like a road leading to the depths of the sea. Lin Yifei ran up happily and shouted, "Look, seagulls!" Flocks of seagulls circled in the air, swooping down from time to time, competing for the bread crumbs fed by tourists. Li Xiao quickly bought a few bags of bread, joined the feeding army, and said with a smile: "This scene is so healing, it feels like my heart is flying with the seagulls."

Walking along the coastline, we arrived at the Badaguan Scenic Area. Villas of various styles are hidden among the lush trees. The German style, the British style, and the French style are perfectly integrated here. Zhang Yuedong held up the camera and kept pressing the shutter: "This is simply a natural photo studio. Any shot will be a good one."

After walking around and getting hungry, we found a seafood restaurant and ordered Spanish mackerel dumplings, spicy fried clams, and braised prawns. The fresh and plump prawns were wrapped in a rich sauce, and the shrimp meat was firm and chewy. Zhang Yuedong ate until his mouth was full of oil and gave a thumbs up: "Eating shrimps at the seaside is different, each one is so fresh!"

In the evening, the beer houses on the street became lively, and the aroma of Tsingtao beer filled the air. The three of them walked into one, ordered a few bottles of fresh beer, and ate peanuts while listening to the boss telling old stories about Qingdao. When they left Qingdao, they carried a few boxes of authentic Tsingtao beer, thinking about going back to drink with old friends and sharing the joy of this journey. This journey through China is still slowly continuing to write wonderful stories, and the customs and customs of the next stop are waiting for them to unlock. Continuing from Qingdao, the train sped all the way, and Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei arrived in Guilin. Just after getting off the train, the warm air was wrapped with a faint scent of grass and wood, and the mountains in the distance were undulating, like a screen stained with ink, which had already faintly outlined the outline of "the best in the world".

"It is said that the landscape of Guilin is the best in the world, and seeing is believing. We haven't even reached the scenic area yet, and the scenery along the way has stunned me." Li Xiao said excitedly, his eyes glued to the car window. The three of them took a taxi and headed straight to the Li River, boarded the cruise ship, and as the ship slowly started, a beautiful landscape painting slowly unfolded. The water of the Li River is clear and green, reflecting the mountains on both sides of the river, some like camels drinking water, and some like fairies dressing up, with different shapes and lifelike. Zhang Yuedong leaned on the railing and sighed: "This landscape is simply the most proud masterpiece of nature. Look at that mountain. Does it look like the nine horses in the textbook?" Lin Yifei hurriedly counted: "Why can I only see five horses? It seems that my eyesight is not good enough." Everyone laughed, and the laughter echoed among the mountains and rivers.

The cruise ship docked, their stomachs started to growl, so they walked into a small restaurant on the shore and ordered Yangshuo beer fish, Lipu taro braised pork, and Guilin rice noodles. When the Yangshuo beer fish was served, the fish pieces were fried golden on both sides, and the rich aroma of beer mixed with the delicious fish flavor went straight into the nose.