Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

The three of them sat around a table piled with travel magazines and maps. The map of China on the wall was dotted with marks of various colors. Li Xiao was the first to break the silence, his eyes shining, and his fingers swiped across the map: "I want to go to Guilin to see if the beautiful scenery of 'the best mountains and rivers in the world' is really as dreamy as in poems and paintings. I heard that the water of the Li River is as green as jade, and there are mysterious caves. It must be super shocking!" Zhang Yuedong pushed his glasses, slowly opened the notebook in his hand, and nodded in response: "Guilin is really good, with pleasant climate all year round, and from transportation, accommodation to scenic spot tickets, I can plan a route with super cost-effectiveness." Lin Yifei jumped up excitedly when he heard it, and gestured with his hands in the air: "Then there must be delicious food! I have been drooling over Guilin rice noodles for a long time. The smooth rice noodles are poured with fragrant brine, and then paired with crispy meat and sour beans. Wow, I drool just thinking about it."

Let's go, the three of them quickly packed their bags and started this grand journey. The sun shone on the platform, and the train slowly pulled in, like a silver dragon, taking them to the distant place of their dreams. Outside the window, the hustle and bustle of the city was gradually left behind, and the fields and mountains flashed like slides. Li Xiao looked into the distance, his heart full of longing for the unknown: "On this journey, I must put all the beautiful things into my memory bag." Zhang Yuedong carefully checked the itinerary and shared interesting local customs and knowledge with everyone from time to time. Lin Yifei wore headphones, hummed a little song, and occasionally made jokes, making everyone laugh. The carriage was filled with their enthusiasm and expectations for the journey.

When they first arrived in Hangzhou, a soft drizzle greeted the three of them. Fine rain covered the city with a veil, and the mountains in the distance were looming in the mist, just like an ink painting. Li Xiao opened his arms excitedly and let the raindrops touch his skin: "It is said that 'If you want to compare West Lake to Xi Shi, light makeup or heavy makeup is always suitable'. Now I can be said to be there in person. Hangzhou in the rain is simply out of poetry and painting!" Zhang Yuedong held up an umbrella with a smile on his face: "Don't worry, there are many beautiful scenery in West Lake, Su Causeway, Bai Causeway, Broken Bridge and Remaining Snow, let's enjoy them slowly." Lin Yifei took a deep breath of the moist air, and his stomach growled: "Let's find a place to worship my five stomach temple first. I heard that Hangzhou cuisine is so delicious that it can make your eyebrows drop."

Entering the West Lake Scenic Area, the view is suddenly clear. The lake is like a huge jade plate, with lotus leaves and lotus flowers crowded together, like fairies in green skirts dancing, and dewdrops rolling on the lotus leaves, crystal clear. The three of them strolled along the Su Causeway, with weeping willows swaying on their cheeks, as if whispering. Zhang Yuedong introduced: "This Su Causeway was built when Su Shi was the governor of Hangzhou. It was built to prevent the lake from flooding and facilitate transportation, and later became a beautiful scenery of the West Lake." Li Xiao stroked the rough bark and sighed: "The wisdom and feelings of the ancients created this thousand-year-old beauty for future generations to enjoy." Walking to the Flower Harbor to watch the fish, red carp shuttled around, Lin Yifei teased the fish for fun, the fish scrambled for food, splashing water, he smiled and said: "These fish are so happy, they are free in the painting all day long."

After half a day of sightseeing, they were hungry, so they found a time-honored restaurant. Lin Yifei ordered: "West Lake vinegar fish, Dongpo pork, Longjing shrimp, all are signature dishes, none of them can be missing." When the dishes were served, the West Lake vinegar fish was bright red, the fish body was intact, the sauce was thick, and it exuded a sweet and sour aroma. Li Xiao took a chopstick of fish meat, and it tasted sour and sweet at first, and then the fish meat was tender. He praised: "This taste is wonderful! The fish meat is tender and smooth, the vinegar flavor enhances the freshness, and the sweet and sour balance is worthy of being a famous dish of Hangzhou." Zhang Yuedong nodded: "The authentic West Lake vinegar fish uses grass carp, which is starved for several days to remove the fishy smell. The chef is very skilled in controlling the heat and mixing the sauce, so it has this taste." Lin Yifei's mouth was full of oil, and he said vaguely: "It's delicious, don't worry about it. This Dongpo pork is also amazing, it melts in your mouth."

As night fell and the lights came on, they went to Songcheng to watch the live-action drama "The Legend of the White Snake". The theater was packed, and when the performance began, holographic projection combined with live performances to create a fantasy world. When the White Snake and Xu Xian met on the Broken Bridge and the water flooded Jinshan Mountain, the special effects flooded, and the audience was immersed in the scene. Li Xiao was immersed in the plot, with tears in his eyes: "This love story is so touching. The White Snake was desperate for Xu Xian, knowing that humans and demons are different..." Lin Yifei handed over a tissue: "Don't just be moved, look at the special effects, it's like a blockbuster movie." At the end of the performance, the three applauded and savored it for a long time.

On the way back, with the moonlight shining on them, Li Xiao concluded: "Hangzhou has beautiful scenery, delicious food, and moving legends. It is worthy of being called a paradise on earth. This is only the first stop, and it is so wonderful." Zhang Yuedong flipped through the travel guide: "The next stop is Guilin, where a landscape painting is waiting for us. It will surely be more shocking." Lin Yifei was looking forward to it: "I hope the food in Guilin will be amazing too. I can't wait." The wheels rolled, carrying them to the next dream.

The train slowly pulled into Chengdu East Station. Before leaving the station, a hot and fragrant smell penetrated into the nose through the air. Li Xiao jumped up excitedly, dragging his suitcase through the crowd: "I can smell the hot pot, Chengdu, here we come!" Zhang Yuedong followed with a smile, flipping the map in his hand: "Jinli Ancient Street is not far from here, let's go there first to feel the ancient Shu flavor." Lin Yifei was calling to book a hotel, muttering: "I must choose a place close to the food street."

Jinli Ancient Street is like a corridor through time. The bluestone road stretches under your feet, with vermilion carved doors and windows on both sides, quaint wooden pavilions, and red lanterns hanging high, swaying in the wind, casting warm light. Li Xiao held up his camera and kept pressing the shutter: "This is simply a vivid ancient painting, and every corner is full of the flavor of history." Street craftsmen are concentrating on making sugar paintings. They scoop up the sugar liquid with a copper spoon and shake their wrists lightly. Dragons, phoenixes, flowers and birds appear on the board, crystal clear, attracting the onlookers to watch and admire. Zhang Yuedong came forward and chatted with the craftsman: "Uncle, how many generations has this craft been passed down?" The uncle smiled heartily: "It's been almost a hundred years since my grandfather's generation. We have to keep the things of our ancestors."

As we walked deeper, the aroma of delicious food filled the air. A hot pot restaurant was bustling with people, the red oil in the pot was bubbling, and the chili peppers and peppercorns were tumbling up and down, bright red and tempting. The three of them couldn't wait to take their seats, and Lin Yifei ordered dishes like a machine gun: "Tripe, duck intestines, tender beef, brain flower, and a portion of ice jelly to relieve the spiciness!" When the dishes were served, the thorns on the tripe stood upright, and the duck intestines were pink and translucent. Li Xiao picked up the tripe and followed the "seven ups and eight downs" formula, swirling it in the pot a few times. The tripe was covered with soup, crispy in the mouth, and the spicy taste exploded on the tip of the tongue in an instant: "This is crispy and tender, amazing! Chengdu hot pot is indeed well-deserved." Zhang Yuedong nodded, and after tasting it carefully, he said: "The bottom of the pot is rich in butter, the spices are exquisitely matched, and the sense of layering is full. The more you eat, the more addictive it is." Lin Yifei exhaled because of the spiciness, and took a big mouthful of ice jelly, mumbling: "It's too addictive, it's spicy!"

After a good meal and a good drink, we strolled along the ancient street and passed by a small Shu embroidery shop. The shop was full of Shu embroidery, with lifelike flowers, birds, fish and insects, and delicate needlework. Li Xiao gently stroked a panda Shu embroidery, the silk thread was shiny and the panda was cute: "This embroidery is amazing, I will buy it as a souvenir." Zhang Yuedong picked a Shu embroidery handkerchief, the elegant pattern was delicate and elegant: "It has both practical value and carries culture, it is worthy of being a unique Chengdu."

As the night fell and the lights were bright, they walked into the Sichuan Opera Teahouse. On the stage, the Sichuan Opera face-changing performance was on stage. The actors were agile, turning around and waving their sleeves, and the facial makeup changed rapidly. The red face, white face, and painted face were dazzling, and the audience applauded. Li Xiao was fascinated and exclaimed: "This face-changing is so magical, like a magic trick, changing the face in an instant, how did you do it?" Lin Yifei shouted at the top of his voice: "Don't worry about how it changes, as long as it looks good, this trip to Chengdu is really worth it!" After the performance, the three were still immersed in shock and slowly walked back to the hotel. The moonlight sprinkled on their bodies, adding a dreamy golden edge to this first experience in Chengdu. Li Xiao looked forward to it: "Tomorrow I will go to see the giant pandas, they must be super cute, Chengdu is full of surprises."

The train roared along, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from the beautiful Jiangnan landscape to the vast Loess Plateau. Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei were full of reverie about Xi'an, the ancient capital of history. "Xi'an, the ancient capital of 13 dynasties! Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties, so many changes took place here. I feel that as soon as I set foot on that land, I can hear the echo of history." Li Xiao looked out the window with a fiery look in his eyes. Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement and flipped through the information in his hand: "Yes, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang, the ancient city wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, countless ancient monuments, this time we must appreciate them well." Lin Yifei smacked his lips: "I heard that Xi'an has a lot of delicious food, mutton soup steamed bun, roujiamo, cold noodles, just thinking about it makes me drool, we must try them all." Just after leaving Xi'an Station, a majestic and simple city wall came into view, like a giant dragon lying, the wall was mottled, and the traces of time on the bricks and stones were clearly visible. Li Xiao ran over excitedly and reached out to touch the bricks: "This wall must carry so many stories, every brick seems to be telling a story." Zhang Yuedong introduced: "This is the most complete and largest ancient city wall in existence. It was built in the Ming Dynasty. You can ride around the wall for more than ten kilometers and take in the whole ancient city." Lin Yifei patted his stomach: "Let's find something to eat first. After eating, we will have enough energy to go shopping."

The three of them came to Huimin Street and were instantly surrounded by the lively atmosphere. The streets were lined with antique buildings, with signs fluttering, and the air was filled with the aroma of spices and food. At the door of a time-honored mutton soup bun restaurant, diners were constantly coming in an endless stream. The three of them entered the store and ordered three servings of mutton soup bun. After a while, the steaming hot soup buns were served on the table. Lin Yifei looked at the bowl. The mutton was tender, the buns were chewy, the vermicelli was smooth, and the green onions and garlic sprouts were embellished, which looked very good. He couldn't wait to scoop a spoonful of soup into his mouth. It was fresh and fragrant, and the mutton smell was handled just right. It instantly warmed his whole body and he couldn't help but give a thumbs up: "This soup is amazing! Fresh and mellow, it feels warm from the tip of the tongue to the stomach, so comfortable." Li Xiao imitated the locals, broke off a piece of steamed bun, dipped it in the soup, and chewed it slowly: "The steamed bun is full of mutton soup, it is chewy and tasty, no wonder it is a signature delicacy in Xi'an." Zhang Yuedong smiled and said: "This steamed bun has a lot of requirements. The mutton must be selected from the best quality, the soup must be boiled for several hours, and the steamed bun must be broken by hand to taste good."

After eating and drinking, they went to the Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. As they entered the scenic area, a sense of solemnity came over them. In Pit No. 1, thousands of terracotta warriors are neatly arranged, magnificent, as if one can see the majesty of the Qin army sweeping across the six kingdoms. Li Xiao got closer to take a closer look. The faces of the terracotta warriors were different, and their expressions were lifelike. Some had firm eyes, some had solemn expressions, and the texture of their clothes was delicate and clear: "The craftsmanship is so exquisite. The wisdom of the ancients was amazing to be able to make such lifelike terracotta warriors more than two thousand years ago." Zhang Yuedong sighed: "In order to have thousands of troops to accompany him after his death, Qin Shihuang spent huge manpower and material resources, but he also left this amazing treasure for future generations." Lin Yifei's eyes were as big as copper bells: "How long will it take to make so many terracotta warriors? The ancients were really patient."

In the evening, the afterglow sprinkled on the ancient city wall. The three rented bicycles and started a cycling tour on the city wall. The breeze blew on their faces, and the scenery on the city wall was picturesque. In the distance, the bell and drum towers shone brightly in the setting sun. Looking down at the city, ancient streets and alleys crisscrossed, and modern buildings and ancient monuments complemented each other. Li Xiao shouted while riding: "This feels great! It's like traveling back to ancient times and seeing the whole picture of the ancient city. It would be great if I could ride like this forever." Zhang Yuedong smiled and reminded: "Don't just be excited, pay attention to the road, the scenery on the city wall is unique, and every corner has historical deposits." Lin Yifei hummed a little song and enjoyed the fun of riding: "This trip to Xi'an is fun and delicious, it's so addictive."

As night fell and the lights came on, they walked into a shadow puppet theater. The interior of the theater was simple and elegant. In front of the red curtain, the artist manipulated the shadow puppets with his fingers, and performed "Mu Guiying Takes Command" with passionate singing and the sound of gongs and drums. The shadow puppets were colorful and lifelike under the lights, and the characters' movements were smooth and natural. Li Xiao watched intently and was deeply attracted by the wonderful performance: "This shadow puppet show is so magical. A few pieces of leather seem to come alive after being handled by the artists. The singing also has charm, and the traditional culture is infinitely charming." Lin Yifei applauded: "It's interesting, more interesting than watching a movie. This trip is worth it." Zhang Yuedong also nodded and praised: "Shadow puppet show is a treasure left by our ancestors. It has been passed down for thousands of years. It is worth the trip to Xi'an to watch an authentic shadow puppet show."

Back at the hotel, the three were still immersed in the excitement of the day. Li Xiao lay on the bed, recalling the delicious mutton soup steamed bun, the shock of the Terracotta Warriors, the comfort of riding the city wall and the novelty of the shadow play: "Xi'an is really a treasure city, with a perfect fusion of history and modernity, and food and culture complementing each other. Every place makes people nostalgic." Zhang Yuedong flipped through the travel notes: "There are still many places I haven't visited. Tomorrow I will go to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Tang Dynasty City that Never Sleeps to experience the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty." Lin Yifei hugged the pillow with anticipation: "I hope the food will be just as amazing tomorrow. I can't wait to start a new journey!" Outside the window, the ancient city of Xi'an was quiet and deep in the night, as if quietly telling the past thousands of years, waiting for the three to continue exploring tomorrow.

As the train slowly pulled into the terminal, the dream trip of Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei came to an end. They dragged their slightly heavy suitcases, but their steps were as light as walking on clouds. The suitcases were filled with local specialties, including silk handkerchiefs from Hangzhou, Shu embroidery ornaments from Chengdu, and replicas of the Terracotta Warriors from Xi'an, each of which was a testimony to their journey.

Li Xiao stroked the travel notes in his hand, which densely recorded the scenery, food and insights of each stop. He sighed: "After this trip, I feel like I have experienced the excitement of several lifetimes. Each city has given me different strengths. Hangzhou made me appreciate poetry, Chengdu ignited my passion, and Xi'an gave me heaviness." Zhang Yuedong pushed his glasses, his eyes full of satisfaction: "Yes, those days and nights of making strategies were not in vain. Seeing these beautiful scenery and tasting these delicacies with my own eyes, I can truly appreciate the charm of the mountains and rivers of the motherland. Moreover, we cooperated tacitly along the way, and the journey was so perfect." Lin Yifei smacked his lips, reminiscing about the delicious food along the way: "My taste buds have been broadened. The delicacies in different places have their own merits. I must brag to my friends when I go back and make them jealous."

The three of them walked out of the station. The setting sun stretched their figures out and reflected them on the ground, like a silhouette with a story. Looking back, the train stopped quietly, as if reminiscing about the journey they had taken together. They knew that although the journey was over, the mountains and rivers they had seen, the delicacies they had tasted, and the customs they had experienced had been integrated into their souls and turned into the most precious nutrients in their lives, nourishing every step in the future.

The breeze blew by, bringing with it the breath of a distant place. They smiled at each other, carrying with them memories and growth, and stepped into a new chapter of life. They knew in their hearts that no matter where the future took them, they would always have the courage and strength given by this journey to accompany them. They could always start a journey of retrospection in their hearts and savor the beauty and touching moments along the way. This was the most beautiful gift of travel. (End of this chapter)