Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1682

Sunlight shines through the window onto Li Xiao's messy desk. Li Xiao sits in a room filled with books and travel magazines, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He holds a map of China tightly in his hand, on which he has marked many places he wants to go with a red pen.

At this moment, the doorbell rang suddenly. Li Xiao put down the map, walked quickly to the door and opened it, only to see Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei standing at the door with bright smiles on their faces.

"Hey, Li Xiao! How are you preparing?" Zhang Yuedong shouted, his voice full of energy, as if it had its own megaphone. Zhang Yuedong is a cheerful and enthusiastic person, always full of energy, curious about everything, and the happy fruit of the team.

"I've been waiting for you! Come in." Li Xiao welcomed the two into the house with a smile.

Lin Yifei walked into the room, looked around, gently pushed his glasses on the bridge of his nose, and said: "It seems that you can't wait. The marks on this map are almost filling up the map." Lin Yifei is a thoughtful and knowledgeable person. He usually doesn't talk much, but when he speaks, he can always say some thought-provoking insights. During the travel, he is always responsible for making strategies and collecting various information.

Li Xiao scratched his head and said a little embarrassedly: "I am really looking forward to this trip! China is so big, there are so many beautiful places and rich cultures, I have long wanted to experience them one by one."

Zhang Yuedong sat down on the sofa, picked up a travel magazine and flipped through it, saying, "Me too, we must have a great time this time! Going to see those magnificent mountains and rivers, and tasting delicacies from all over the world, it's exciting just thinking about it."

"That's right, and this trip will also allow us to gain a deeper understanding of China's history and culture," Lin Yifei added, his eyes sparkling with a desire for knowledge.

The three of them sat together and began to discuss their travel plans. Li Xiao pointed to Xi'an on the map and said, "I think our first stop should be Xi'an. It is the ancient capital of 13 dynasties, with a long history and rich cultural heritage. The Terracotta Warriors and the ancient city wall are must-see attractions."

"Great. I heard that Xi'an has a lot of delicious food, such as roujiamo and mutton soup with steamed bun. I'm drooling just thinking about it." Zhang Yuedong licked his lips with anticipation.

Lin Yifei pushed his glasses and said, "In addition to scenic spots and delicious food, we can also go to Xi'an to watch folk performances, such as Qinqiang, and experience the local traditional culture."

"That's right, Lin Yifei, you are so thoughtful." Li Xiao nodded in agreement.

Then, they discussed the subsequent itinerary and planned to start from Xi'an and head eastward to Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and other cities to experience the customs and cultures of different regions.

After discussing the itinerary, they began to pack their luggage. Li Xiao stuffed some necessary clothes, cameras, notebooks and other items into his backpack, and also brought a few books on the history and culture of various places, ready to read at any time during the trip.

While packing, Zhang Yuedong kept muttering, "I have to take my basketball with me. Maybe I can find a place to play basketball during the trip." He could not change his active nature and never forgot to bring his sports equipment even when traveling.

Lin Yifei carefully checked various documents and materials to ensure that nothing was missed. He also brought a small laptop to facilitate the search for information and organize the travel experience at any time.

After everything was ready, the three of them walked out of the house with backpacks on their backs and suitcases in their hands. The sun shone on them, reflecting their expectant faces.

"Let's go!" Li Xiao shouted, and the three of them walked briskly towards an unknown journey. Their hearts were full of anticipation for this trip, wondering what kind of beautiful scenery, delicious food and interesting stories they would encounter in various cities in the coming days, and what kind of growth and insights they would gain during the journey.

After several hours of flight, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei finally arrived at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. As soon as they got off the plane, they felt the unique atmosphere of Chengdu. The air was filled with a faint spicy aroma, as if telling them the charm of the city's food.

“Wow, we’re finally in Chengdu! I can’t wait to try the local food.” Zhang Yuedong said excitedly. As he spoke, he sniffed the aroma in the air and his stomach growled at the same time.

Li Xiao smiled and patted his shoulder, saying, "Don't worry, let's go to the hotel to drop off our luggage first, and then we can explore the city."

Lin Yifei pushed up his glasses, looked at the bustling crowd outside the airport, and said: "Chengdu, a city with a long history and rich culture, must have many places worth discovering."

After a short rest in the hotel, the three of them set out on an exploration trip to Chengdu. Their first stop was the Wuhou Temple, which commemorates Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period. It is also the only temple in China that worships both the emperor and his ministers, and carries a profound historical and cultural heritage.

Walking into the Wuhou Temple, the antique architectural style immediately attracted their attention. The red walls, green tiles, carved beams and painted buildings, every detail revealed the traces of time. The temple was full of towering ancient cypresses and shady green trees. The sunlight shone through the gaps between the branches and leaves onto the ground, forming patches of mottled light and shadow, as if bringing them back to the Three Kingdoms era when heroes emerged in large numbers.

"Wow, the buildings here are so charming." Zhang Yuedong exclaimed as he walked, his eyes sparkling with excitement, and he kept using the camera in his hand to record these beautiful moments.

Li Xiao looked up at the plaque in the ancestral hall and said with emotion: "Zhuge Liang, the embodiment of wisdom and loyalty, his story and spirit have influenced generations of people. It is a great honor to be able to come to the place where he once lived and worked."

Lin Yifei added: "Wuhou Temple is not only a place to commemorate Zhuge Liang, but also an important carrier of the Three Kingdoms culture. Every cultural relic and every stele here contains rich historical information and is worth our careful appreciation."

They walked slowly along the stone road and visited the Liu Bei Hall, Zhuge Liang Hall, Sanyi Temple and other buildings in turn. In the Liu Bei Hall, they saw the statues of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and other heroes of Shu Han. These statues were lifelike, as if reproducing the scene of their sworn brotherhood in Taoyuan and working together for great cause.

"Liu Bei is based on benevolence, Guan Yu is loyal and righteous, and Zhang Fei is brave and generous. The brotherhood and lofty ambitions of these three people are truly admirable." Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the statue.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, they are not afraid of difficulties and obstacles in order to realize their dreams. This spirit is worth learning from."

In the Zhuge Liang Hall, they saw a statue of Zhuge Liang, holding a feather fan, looking calm, as if he was planning a strategy. Above the statue hung a plaque with the words "Famous in the Universe", and the couplets on both sides, "Three visits to consult the emperor, two dynasties to help the old ministers," highly summarized Zhuge Liang's life.

"Zhuge Liang is really smart. His wisdom and strategy are simply unmatched." Zhang Yuedong exclaimed sincerely.

Lin Yifei pushed his glasses and said, "Zhuge Liang is not only extremely intelligent, but also very loyal and dedicated. He devoted himself to the cause of Shu Han until his death. This spirit has become a model for future generations." The three of them lingered in the Wuhou Temple and immersed themselves in the charm of the Three Kingdoms culture. While visiting, they exchanged their views on the history and characters of the Three Kingdoms, as if they had traveled through time and space and had a conversation with those heroes.

After leaving Wuhou Temple, they came to the nearby Jinli Ancient Street, one of the most representative ancient streets in Chengdu, where many traditional western Sichuan architecture and cultural elements are preserved and full of rich folk customs.

As soon as they entered Jinli Ancient Street, they were attracted by the lively scene in front of them. The shops on both sides of the street were full of various special products and delicacies. The red lanterns hung high, swaying in the wind, added a romantic atmosphere to the ancient street.

"Wow, this is simply a paradise for food!" Zhang Yuedong shouted excitedly. His eyes were attracted by each snack shop and his pace quickened involuntarily.

Li Xiao smiled and said, "Don't worry, let's take our time and try all the delicious food here."

They first came to a small shop selling Dandan noodles. Dandan noodles are one of the traditional snacks in Chengdu. The noodles are thin and thin, the marinade is crispy and fragrant, salty, fresh and slightly spicy, and the aroma is fragrant. Zhang Yuedong couldn't wait to taste it, and a satisfied expression immediately appeared on his face.

"It's so delicious! The texture of the noodles is simply amazing, and the flavor of the marinade is just right." Zhang Yuedong praised it while eating.

Li Xiao and Lin Yifei also tasted it and nodded in agreement. "It's really delicious. This is the authentic Chengdu taste." Li Xiao said.

Then, they tasted Chengdu special snacks such as Long Chao Shou, Zhong Dumplings, Bobo Chicken, etc. Each snack has a unique flavor, which gave their taste buds a feast.

"Chengdu's food is really well-deserved, every bite is intoxicating." Lin Yifei said with emotion.

After tasting the delicious food, they began to stroll in the ancient street. They admired the architecture of the ancient street and felt the historical atmosphere here. The shops on both sides of the street were filled with various handicrafts, such as Shu embroidery, bamboo weaving, paper cutting, etc. These handicrafts were finely crafted and full of artistic atmosphere.

"These Shu embroideries are so beautiful. Every stitch and every thread contains the hard work of the craftsmen." Li Xiao picked up a Shu embroidery work and admired it carefully.

Zhang Yuedong was also very interested in these handicrafts. He picked a bamboo panda and prepared to take it back as a souvenir. "This panda is so cute. I will give it to my sister." Zhang Yuedong said with a smile.

As they walked, they came to an ancient stage. At this time, Sichuan Opera face-changing was being performed on the stage. They were stunned by the actors' superb skills. They saw the actors changing their facial makeup so quickly that it was dazzling.

"Wow, this face changing is so amazing! How do they do it?" Zhang Yuedong asked in surprise.

Li Xiao smiled and said: "This is a unique skill of Sichuan Opera. The actors have to go through a long period of training to master this superb skill."

The three were deeply attracted by the Sichuan Opera face-changing performance. They stood in the audience, watching attentively, bursting into applause and cheers from time to time.

After the performance, they were still not satisfied. Lin Yifei said: "Sichuan Opera face-changing is really wonderful. It is not only an artistic performance, but also a manifestation of Sichuan culture."

After strolling around Jinli Ancient Street, they came to a specialty store. The store was filled with various Chengdu specialty products, such as hot pot soup base, tea, bacon, etc. They picked some hot pot soup base and panda dolls to take back and give to relatives and friends.

"These hot pot bases smell very delicious. Let's take them back and let everyone taste the flavor of Chengdu," said Li Xiao.

Zhang Yuedong held a few panda dolls and said happily: "These panda dolls are so cute. I want to buy a few more and give them to my friends."

When we left Jinli Ancient Street, it was getting dark. The red lanterns in the ancient street were lit up one after another, making the whole ancient street more beautiful and charming. The three of us returned to the hotel with a full harvest and a happy mood.

"I'm so happy today. The city of Chengdu has left a deep impression on me." Zhang Yuedong lay on the bed with a happy smile on his face.

Li Xiao also said with emotion: "Yes, Chengdu not only has beautiful scenery and delicious food, but also rich history and culture. This is just the first stop of our trip, and there are more wonderful places waiting for us to explore later."

Lin Yifei nodded in agreement: "That's right, we need to rest well and recharge our batteries for tomorrow's journey."

In anticipation, the three gradually fell asleep. Their dreams were filled with Chengdu’s delicious food, beautiful scenery and good memories, and their travel story had just begun.

After a pleasant journey in Chengdu, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei boarded the train to Guilin with full memories and expectations for the next stop. Along the way, they admired the ever-changing scenery along the way through the train window, and their yearning for Guilin's landscape became stronger and stronger.

"I really hope to get to Guilin soon. I can't wait to see the 'best in the world' landscape with my own eyes." Zhang Yuedong said excitedly, his eyes fixed on the window, as if this would help him reach his destination faster.

Li Xiao smiled and said, "Yes, the beautiful scenery of Guilin has long been famous. We must experience it this time."

Lin Yifei pushed up his glasses and said, "Guilin not only has beautiful landscapes, but also unique Zhuang culture and rich food. We can explore it."

After several hours of driving, they finally arrived in Guilin. As soon as they got out of the station, the fresh air hit them in the face, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of soil and grass, which made people feel relaxed and happy.

"Wow, the air here is so fresh! It's completely different from big cities." Zhang Yuedong took a deep breath and exclaimed.