Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

The scenery along the way really made me feel the wonders of nature and the profoundness of human civilization.”

Lin Yifei also put down the camera in his hand and said with emotion: "I think the biggest gain for me from this trip is that I used the camera to record so many beautiful moments. These photos are not only a memory of my trip, but also a kind of understanding and expression of my life. Behind each photo, there is an unforgettable story, and they will become the most precious wealth in my life."

Recalling the little details of the trip, they couldn't help but smile. The laughter in the scenic area, the satisfied expressions when tasting the food, the amazement and touching when watching the performances, all seemed to be still in front of them. They also encountered some small episodes, such as getting lost when looking for the way in Chengdu, and almost falling into the water when riding a bamboo raft in Guilin, but these small accidents made their trip more interesting and memorable.

Zhang Yuedong also ate with gusto, saying as he ate: "This taste is so authentic, it's completely different from what I've eaten elsewhere."

After eating the shacha noodles, they continued to stroll along Zhongshan Road. As they walked, they were attracted by a stall selling oyster omelettes. Oyster omelette is another specialty of Xiamen. It uses fresh oysters, dips them in a special batter, and then pan-fries them until golden and crispy. It is tender and juicy, with the unique fragrance of oysters, which makes people linger. The stall was crowded with people, and they also joined the queue. After a while, they bought the oyster omelette. Under the golden and crispy skin, there are full of fresh oysters and vegetables. When they took a bite, the deliciousness of the oysters and the crispy batter intertwined, making them intoxicated.

In addition to shacha noodles and oyster omelette, they also tasted various Minnan snacks such as roast pork dumplings, peanut soup, and flatbreads. Each snack has a unique flavor, which made them feel the charm of Minnan cuisine. The glutinous rice in the roast pork dumplings absorbed the fragrance of pork belly and other ingredients, making it soft, sticky and sweet; the peanut soup has a delicate taste, sweet but not greasy, and is a good choice for cooling off and quenching thirst; the flatbreads are full of meat fillings, thin skin and smooth fillings, and paired with hot and sour soup, they are very appetizing.

After tasting the delicious food, they came to a Nanyin performance hall. Nanyin, also known as Nanqu, Nanyue, Nanguan, and Xianguan, is one of the oldest ancient music in China. It originated in the Tang Dynasty and formed in the Song Dynasty. It is mainly popular in southern Fujian, Taiwan, and the South Pacific Islands. There are two forms of Nanyin singing: sitting and standing. The main instruments are pipa, sanxian, dongxiao, erxian, clappers, etc. They walked into the performance hall, found a seat, and waited quietly for the performance to begin.

The performance began. The actors dressed in traditional costumes and holding musical instruments walked slowly onto the stage. Their performance skills were skillful and the music was melodious, as if bringing people into an ancient and mysterious world. Nanyin has beautiful tunes, slow rhythms, and poetic lyrics, which make people feel the charm of traditional culture. During the performance, the actors also interacted with the audience from time to time, introducing the history and cultural background of Nanyin, so that they had a deeper understanding of Nanyin.

"This Nanyin performance was so wonderful. It gave me a deeper understanding and love for traditional culture." Li Xiao said with emotion after listening to the performance.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, Nanyin is really a very unique music. It carries the history and culture of the southern Fujian region and is a treasure of our Chinese nation."

After enjoying the Nanyin performance, they continued to stroll along Zhongshan Road. There are many shops selling specialties here. They walked into a shop filled with various Xiamen specialties, such as lacquer thread sculptures, bead embroidery, fish skin peanuts, etc. Lacquer thread sculptures are the oldest handicrafts in Xiamen, Fujian. As early as hundreds of years ago, Xiamen lacquer thread sculptures were famous both at home and abroad and sold well in Southeast Asian countries.

Li Xiao suddenly remembered something and said with a smile: "Do you remember when we ate hot pot in Chengdu? My face turned red from the spiciness and I kept drinking water, and you were still laughing at me."

Zhang Yuedong laughed: "You were just trying to be stubborn and insisted on ordering the extra spicy soup base. But the taste of Chengdu hotpot is really unforgettable. The spicy and fresh feeling is so delicious that I am still drooling when I think about it now."

Lin Yifei also smiled and said: "When we were riding a bamboo raft on the Li River in Guilin, the scenery was so beautiful that I kept taking pictures and almost forgot to appreciate the beauty in front of me."

They reminisced and shared their feelings and experiences during the trip. This trip allowed them to understand each other better and deepened their friendship. During the trip, they took care of each other, helped each other, faced difficulties and challenges together, and enjoyed happiness and beauty together.

Li Xiao said with emotion: "This trip is all thanks to you. If I were alone, it would definitely not be so happy and smooth. We have experienced so much together, and we must travel more in the future."

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "That's right. Traveling not only allows us to see different scenery, but also makes us cherish each other's friendship more. If we have the opportunity in the future, we will go to more places together."

Lin Yifei also said with anticipation: "On our next trip, we must go to more interesting places, taste more delicious food, watch more folk performances, and buy more specialties. Let our trip be more colorful!"

The train moved slowly forward, getting closer and closer to their hometown. They knew that this trip was about to end, but their love for traveling and their expectations for the future would never end. This trip made them feel the greatness and beauty of their motherland, and also made them more determined to love life and pursue their dreams.

When the train finally arrived at the station in their hometown, the three of them dragged their suitcases and walked out of the station with full memories and gains. They looked up at the familiar city, their hearts full of emotion. This trip was a precious experience in their lives, and it will always remain in their hearts and become the best memory in their lives.

"Although the trip is over, our lives continue. I hope we can all face the future life bravely with the gains and insights from this trip." Li Xiao looked into the distance and said firmly.

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei smiled at each other and said in unison: "That's right, let's look forward to the next trip together!"

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the figures of the three people gradually fade away, their story continues, and their love for traveling and praise for the beautiful rivers and mountains of the motherland will be forever engraved in their hearts, inspiring them to keep moving forward and explore more unknown beauty.

Li Xiao also tasted it and said, "This spicy fried clams tastes really good. The aroma of the chili and the freshness of the clams blend perfectly."

Lin Yifei tasted the Tsingtao beer carefully and said, "This Tsingtao beer is really as good as its reputation, with a mellow taste and fine foam."

They were enjoying the food while appreciating the surrounding scenery. The lights on Beer Street gradually lit up, and the whole street became more lively. Street artists were performing various shows, attracting many tourists to stop and watch.

"Life here is so comfortable that people don't want to leave," Zhang Yuedong said with emotion.

Li Xiao smiled and said: "Yes, Qingdao is a charming city with beautiful natural scenery, rich history, culture and delicious food."

After finishing their meal, they continued to stroll along the beer street. Suddenly, they saw a group of folk artists performing dough figurines. The dough in the artists' hands flexibly changed its shape between their fingers, and soon, a lifelike little animal appeared in front of them. "The dough figurine making skills are amazing!" Zhang Yuedong exclaimed.

They walked forward to watch the artist's performance. Seeing their interest, the artist enthusiastically introduced to them the techniques and history of dough figurines. Dough figurines, commonly known as dough figurines, are China's intangible cultural heritage. Edible flour is the main raw material. The general shape is shaped by pinching, rubbing, and kneading, and then the details are perfected by dotting, cutting, and carving.

“It turns out there are so many details to making dough figurines.” Li Xiao said.

Zhang Yuedong also developed a keen interest in making dough figurines. Under the guidance of an artist, he tried to make a small dough figurine. Although the dough figurine he made was a little crooked, he enjoyed it.

"Haha, I can also make dough figurines!" Zhang Yuedong said happily.

After leaving the dough figurine stall, they came to a specialty store filled with various Qingdao specialties, such as Qingdao shell carvings, Laoshan green tea, and Liuting pig's trotters.

"These Qingdao shell carvings are so beautiful, and the patterns on them are lifelike." Li Xiao picked up a shell carving and admired it carefully.

Qingdao's shell carving craft emerged in the 60s. It uses natural shells, absorbs the strengths of ivory carving, jade carving, wood carving, and traditional Chinese painting, and combines it with mother-of-pearl inlay technology. It uses mixing, pasting, splicing, connecting, gluing, and painting to make various handicrafts. It combines marine culture with handicraft culture and is a handicraft with Qingdao characteristics.

Zhang Yuedong also picked some shell carvings and Laoshan green tea, saying: "I will take these specialties back and give them to my friends so that they can also experience the culture of Qingdao."

Lin Yifei bought some Liuting pig's trotters and said, "This Liuting pig's trotter has a history of hundreds of years. It is one of Qingdao's specialties. It is soft and glutinous, and full of meaty aroma. I will take it back for my family to taste."

After selecting specialties in the specialty store, they left the beer street with a full harvest. At this time, the night was deep, and the streets of Qingdao were brightly lit. They returned to the hotel with a good impression of the city.

"I'm so happy today. Qingdao 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, this is only our first day in Qingdao. There are more exciting places waiting for us to explore."

Lin Yifei nodded in agreement: "I hope that we can have more surprises and gains in the next journey."

In anticipation, the three gradually fell asleep, and their dreams were filled with Qingdao's beautiful scenery, delicious food and good memories.

As time went by, the trip of Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei gradually came to an end. With full luggage and more fulfilled hearts, they embarked on the journey home. On the train back home, the three of them fell into silence, each immersed in the memories of this trip.

After a long time, Zhang Yuedong broke the silence first: "This trip is really unforgettable. I feel like I have experienced a wonderful adventure, seen so many beautiful scenery, and tasted so many delicious foods." His face was filled with a satisfied smile and his eyes were shining with excitement.

Li Xiao nodded and said with emotion: "Yes, this is not only a trip, but also an in-depth exploration of Chinese culture and customs. Every city has its own unique charm, and every landscape makes me feel the wonders of nature and the wisdom of mankind."

Lin Yifei pushed up his glasses and said, "This trip has given me a deeper understanding of Chinese history and culture. From ancient Xi'an to beautiful Guilin, to romantic Qingdao, every place carries rich historical and cultural connotations. These experiences will become precious wealth in my life."

Zhang Yuedong went on to say: "What I like most are the delicacies. Each one has a unique taste that makes me linger on the aftertaste. Chengdu's hot pot, Guilin's rice noodles, Qingdao's seafood, I'm still drooling just thinking about them now." As he spoke, he licked his lips exaggeratedly, causing Li Xiao and Lin Yifei to laugh.

Li Xiao smiled and said: "In addition to the food, the folk performances also left a deep impression on me. The magic of Sichuan Opera face-changing, the wonderful osprey fishing, and the exquisite skills of dough figurines all made me feel the charm of folk art."

Lin Yifei agreed: "Yes, these folk performances are not only an art form, but also the inheritance and embodiment of local culture. They allow us to see the lifestyle and spiritual world of people in different regions."

Recalling every detail of the trip, the three of them were filled with emotion. They shared their gains and insights from the trip, from understanding the local customs and practices of various places to thinking and understanding of life. This trip not only allowed them to appreciate the beautiful mountains and rivers of the motherland and taste the delicacies of various places, but also allowed them to have a deeper understanding of China's history, culture and folk customs.

Zhang Yuedong suddenly said: "This trip made me realize that there are still many wonderful things in life waiting for us to discover. We can't always be confined to our own little world, we must bravely go out and explore the unknown world."

Li Xiao nodded in agreement: "Moreover, traveling has also taught me to cherish the people around me. During the journey, we faced difficulties together and shared happiness together. This experience has deepened our friendship."

Lin Yifei also said: "This trip is a process of self-growth for me. It has taught me how to adapt to different environments, how to communicate with different people, and has also made me more determined in my pursuit of knowledge."

The train sped along the rails, and the scenery outside the window flashed by like a slide show. The words of the three people echoed in the carriage, and their hearts were filled with gratitude for this trip and expectations for the future. Although this trip was over, they knew that this wonderful memory would always remain in their hearts and become the most precious wealth in their lives. And they also looked forward to the next trip to explore more unknown places and gain more growth and insights. (End of this chapter)