Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1663

On the morning of the departure day, the sun shone through the thin clouds and fell on the glass curtain wall of the airport hall, reflecting colorful light. Li Xiao rushed in with a suitcase printed with cartoon patterns. The corners of her denim jacket fluttered with her movements. When she saw the two people waiting, she opened her arms excitedly: "I'm here, our happy journey is about to officially set sail!"

Zhang Yuedong smiled and pushed his glasses. Next to him was a neat black suitcase, which must be filled with various historical books and materials. He joked, "You are so impatient, don't leave anything behind."

Lin Yifei was leaning against a pillar nearby, fiddling with his camera. He was wearing a photography vest full of pockets. He looked up when he heard the voice, and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes: "I've been waiting for you. I can't wait to take pictures of the beautiful scenery along the way."

After completing the check-in formalities, the three of them walked towards the security checkpoint side by side, their hearts full of anticipation for the unknown journey ahead.

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Their first stop is Xi'an, a city with ancient charm and beautiful natural scenery. The ancient capital with thousands of years of history is quietly waiting for them to unveil its mysterious veil and start this unforgettable journey.

After several hours of flight, the plane slowly landed at Beijing Capital International Airport. The three dragged their suitcases and walked out of the airport with excitement. Li Xiao took a deep breath of Beijing air and said excitedly: "We are finally here, Beijing, we are here to fulfill this thousand-year appointment!" Zhang Yuedong smiled and nodded, his eyes full of yearning for this historic city:

"Yes, every inch of land here carries a heavy history. We must feel it well." Lin Yifei had already taken the camera in his hand and kept pressing the shutter to capture the signs and buildings with Beijing characteristics in the airport, muttering: "Take a few photos first. The atmosphere of this Beijing city starts from the airport."

They took the subway to the hotel they had booked, and after putting down their luggage and taking a short rest, they headed straight to the first destination of their trip - the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City, this ancient royal palace complex, stands quietly in the center of the capital like a giant that has experienced many vicissitudes of life, exuding a solemn and majestic atmosphere. The vermilion palace walls are tall and majestic, stretching for miles, deeply enveloping countless palaces, pavilions, and courtyards.

The mottled traces of time on the walls seem to be telling stories of the past, making people think back to the past when this was where emperors and generals lived and handled state affairs, witnessing countless changes and historical ups and downs.

Walking into the gate of the Forbidden City, the Hall of Supreme Harmony came into view. The golden glazed tiles sparkled in the sunlight, and the ridge beasts on the top of the hall were lifelike, as if they would take off at any time. Zhang Yuedong stopped and looked up at the Hall of Supreme Harmony with amazement in his eyes, and introduced it to his companions:
"The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the first of the three main halls in the Forbidden City. It is the place where ancient emperors held important ceremonies, such as the emperor's enthronement and wedding. Look at the decoration inside this hall, with golden dragons coiling around the pillars, magnificent and magnificent, showing the majesty of the royal family.

As Li Xiao listened, he quickly took notes in his notebook, muttering to himself, "This momentum is so shocking. I must write a good article when I get back to convey this shocking feeling to the readers."

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Lin Yifei kept changing the angles to shoot, trying to perfectly present the majesty of the Hall of Supreme Harmony with his camera, and he kept exclaiming: "The light and shadow, the lines, are absolutely amazing. It is worthy of being a treasure left by our ancestors."

Walking along the central axis, they visited the Zhonghe Hall, Baohe Hall and other palaces in turn. Each palace has a unique architectural style and historical significance, some are solemn and majestic, and some are exquisite and elegant.

During the visit, they met a senior tour guide who was giving a tour to a group of tourists, so the three of them followed him quietly and listened to the tour guide's vivid historical stories and anecdotes behind the palace, which made them listen with great interest.

When we passed by the Imperial Garden, the flowers were in full bloom. The garden was full of towering ancient trees, shady trees, and colorful flowers blooming, emitting bursts of delicate fragrance.

The rugged rockeries are scattered in an orderly manner, and the gurgling streams meander through them, adding a touch of vitality to this ancient palace. Li Xiao strolled in the garden, gently stroking a beautiful flower, and said with emotion: "In this deep palace, there is such a fairyland-like garden. I believe that the concubines of the past could also find a moment of peace and joy here."

Zhang Yuedong pointed to a pavilion in the distance and said, "That pavilion is called Wanchun Pavilion. It has a unique shape and is one of the landmark buildings of the Imperial Garden. Standing on it, you can overlook the beauty of the entire garden." Lin Yifei had already run to the pavilion and took pictures of the garden from various angles. He also called out to his companions, "Come here quickly. The pictures taken from this angle are super beautiful!"

It was almost dusk when they came out of the Forbidden City. The afterglow of the setting sun fell on them, covering them with a golden coat. The three of them began to growl in their stomachs, and Zhang Yuedong suggested:
"Let's go try Old BJ's noodles with soybean paste, which is a specialty of Beijing." Li Xiao and Lin Yifei nodded in agreement. They came to a time-honored noodles restaurant with simple and elegant decoration and a strong aroma of soybean paste.

Soon, three bowls of steaming noodles were served. The noodles were evenly thick and distinct, and covered with a thick layer of meat sauce. The meat sauce was bright red and exuded an attractive luster. The side dishes included green cucumber shreds, crisp bean sprouts, juicy radish shreds, etc. The color combination was very tempting.

Li Xiao couldn't wait to stir it evenly, picked up a piece of noodles with chopsticks, and put it in her mouth. The noodles were chewy and the meat sauce was salty and fragrant, spreading in her mouth instantly. She couldn't help but give a thumbs up:
"This noodle soup is so authentic, it really lives up to its reputation!" Zhang Yuedong said with a smile, "The sauce is very particular, the diced meat should be fat and lean, the heat should be just right when frying, and the sauce is a secret recipe of each family, how can it not be delicious?"

Lin Yifei didn't have time to talk, he just buried his head in eating noodles. After a while, the bowl of noodles was finished. He wiped his mouth and said with satisfaction: "After eating this bowl, I feel so happy. It feels like all the fatigue of the day is gone."

After eating noodles with soybean paste, they decided to go to the nearby alleys to feel the atmosphere of the old BJ. In the alleys, gray courtyards were arranged in an orderly manner. Some of the gates of the courtyards were closed, and some were half-open. Occasionally, lush green plants could be seen in the courtyards.

The narrow alleys are winding, and the bluestone roads have become smooth and flat after years of wear and tear. Li Xiao looked around curiously and said, "These courtyards look so charming. Every door and every wall seems to have a story hidden in them."

Zhang Yuedong nodded and agreed: "Yes, the Siheyuan is a typical residential area in old Beijing. It carries the life memories of several generations. The strong human touch between neighbors is not found in today's high-rise buildings." As they walked, they heard a melodious sound of Beijing fiddle and crisp allegro. Following the sound, they found that a group of old neighbors were sitting together at the entrance of the alley, performing traditional Beijing folk performances.

An old man was sitting on a small stool, playing the jinghu, his face filled with an intoxicated expression; next to him, an old woman was holding a clapper, playing it with a crackling sound, and saying a series of humorous jingles. The audience around laughed and applauded from time to time. Lin Yifei quickly took out his camera to record this scene full of fireworks. He said excitedly: "This is the real life of old BJ, it feels so good!"

Li Xiao was also infected by the lively atmosphere. He swayed his body gently to the rhythm and said, "This trip to Beijing is not only full of history, but also full of the hustle and bustle of life. I really came to the right place."

Walking in the alleys, they also saw many traditional handicraft shops. When they walked into a shop, they found it was filled with exquisite cloisonné handicrafts with colorful and exquisite shapes.

The shop owner enthusiastically introduced: "This cloisonné is our old BJ's 'national treasure', also known as 'copper-based cloisonné enamel'. The production process is very complicated, and it has to go through many processes such as body making, cloisonné, blue-dotting, blue-burning, polishing, and gold-plating. Each piece is ingeniously crafted."

Zhang Yuedong picked up one and looked at it carefully, praising it: "The craftsmanship is so exquisite, the pattern is delicate, the colors are bright and long-lasting, and it is indeed a rare work of art." Li Xiao was also very excited and chose a small cloisonné bookmark to take back as a souvenir:

"This bookmark has both practical and artistic value. Seeing it reminds me of this wonderful trip to Beijing." Lin Yifei bought a camera chain decorated with cloisonné and hung it on his camera, which instantly added a bit of ancient charm to the camera.

The sky gradually darkened, the lights came on, and the night in Beijing had a special flavor. The three returned to the hotel with a lot of gains and attachment to this city. Lying on the bed, Li Xiao looked through the photos and notes taken today, and his heart was full of emotion:

"This first day is so exciting, the rest of the journey is definitely more exciting." Zhang Yuedong also agreed: "Yes, the more you understand BJ, the more you will understand it.

After saying goodbye to BJ, the three of them took the high-speed train eastward to Qingdao, a city full of European style and seaside charm. Outside the train window, the scenery flashed by like a slideshow. Li Xiao stared out the window, unable to hide his excitement: "I heard that Qingdao has super beautiful beaches and authentic Tsingtao beer. I must enjoy it this time."

Zhang Yuedong put down the book in his hand and responded with a smile: "Yes, Qingdao's historical heritage should not be underestimated, especially the history of being leased by foreign powers in modern times, which left a deep mark on the city's architecture and culture. We can pay more attention to it along the way."

Lin Yifei fiddled with his camera, pressing the shutter from time to time to take pictures of the fields and mountains passing by outside the window, muttering, "I hope the light in Qingdao will be better so that I can take beautiful pictures."

Arriving in Qingdao, as soon as we stepped out of the station, the moist air with a slight smell of the sea hit us in the face, making us feel relaxed and happy.

They took a taxi to the hotel on the seaside, completed the check-in procedures, put away their luggage, and rushed to the pier without stopping.

The trestle bridge is like a giant dragon, winding from the land to the sea. The bridge is supported by solid stone pillars, the bridge deck is wide and flat, and there are exquisite iron chain guardrails on both sides. The carvings on the iron chain are slightly mottled due to the erosion of time, but it adds to the ancient charm.

Li Xiao walked on the pier, the wooden planks under her feet made a slight "creaking" sound. She opened her arms, felt the embrace of the sea breeze, and shouted excitedly: "This sea breeze is so comfortable, it feels like all the troubles have been blown away."

Zhang Yuedong pointed to Huilan Pavilion in the distance and introduced it to his companions: "Look, that's Huilan Pavilion, a typical Chinese-style building with flying eaves and brackets, and glazed tiles shining in the sun. It is the landmark building of the pier. It was used to guide passing ships in the past, and now it has become a must-see attraction for tourists."

Lin Yifei had already found a good angle. He squatted on the ground and used his camera to capture the beautiful scene of Huilan Pavilion blending into the sea and blue sky. He kept saying, "The light couldn't be brighter. It's perfect. This composition is amazing."

At this time, it was high tide, and the waves hit the piers of the pier one after another, splashing layers of white waves.

Seagulls circled in the sky, sometimes swooped down to the sea, and sometimes rested on the railings of the pier, making crisp calls, as if interacting with tourists. Li Xiao took out some bread crumbs from her bag and gently threw them into the air. The seagulls immediately noticed it keenly, flew over one after another, and accurately caught the food, which made her laugh happily:
"These seagulls are so smart, they seem to understand my instructions." Zhang Yuedong looked at this scene and said with a smile: "Seagulls are frequent visitors to the pier. They have long been accustomed to getting close to people. Maybe they even regard us as old friends."

Walk along the trestle to the end and enter Huilan Pavilion, where some historical photos and cultural relics of Qingdao are displayed, telling the past of this city.

The three of them visited the exhibition attentively. Zhang Yuedong stopped from time to time to explain the stories behind the photos to Li Xiao and Lin Yifei, allowing them to have a deeper understanding of Qingdao's history.

After leaving the pier, they came to a nearby beer house. Before they even entered the door, the rich aroma of malt hit their noses. The store was bustling with people, and huge beer barrels were neatly arranged. The bartender skillfully poured cups of Tsingtao beer with white foam from the barrels. The three of them found an empty seat and sat down, ordering a few beers and some local specialty seafood snacks.

Soon, the food and drinks were served. Li Xiao picked up a glass of beer and looked at the golden and translucent liquid with delicate white foam floating on it. She couldn't wait to take a sip. The bitterness of the beer and the aroma of malt blended perfectly in her mouth. She closed her eyes in satisfaction: "This is the authentic Tsingtao beer, with a mellow taste and overflowing malt aroma. It is completely different from what I drank in BJ."