Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

The sunlight shone through the gaps in the curtains onto Li Xiao's face, awakening his anticipation for today's trip. He got up early, washed up briefly, and then began to check his luggage to make sure nothing was left out.

At this moment, the phone rang suddenly. It was Zhang Yuedong calling. "Hey, Li Xiao, are you ready? I'm on my way to your place, and Lin Yifei will be here soon." Zhang Yuedong's voice was full of excitement.

Li Xiao smiled and replied: "I've been ready and waiting for you. I can't wait to start this trip!" After hanging up the phone, Li Xiao once again confirmed the items he brought: a camera, a power bank, a few sets of clothes, some common medicines... He hoped that everything would go well on this trip and that he would leave many good memories.

Not long after, the doorbell rang. Li Xiao opened the door and saw Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei standing at the door, both of them holding suitcases in their hands, with bright smiles on their faces.

"Finally I've been waiting for you!" Li Xiao warmly invited them into the house, "We have to have a good time this time!"

Zhang Yuedong put down his luggage and looked around the house while saying, "Of course! We have been planning this for so long, we must visit all the fun places in Jiangsu and try all the delicious food!"

Lin Yifei also nodded and agreed: "Yes, I haven't been out and about so relaxed for a long time, I must enjoy it to the fullest this time!"

After a brief chat, the three of them dragged their luggage out the door. They arrived at the agreed car rental point and picked up the car they had booked in advance. Li Xiao opened the door skillfully, sat in the driver's seat, adjusted the seat and rearview mirror, and prepared to set off. Zhang Yuedong sat in the co-pilot seat, and Lin Yifei sat in the back seat.

"Okay, everyone, our journey officially begins!" Li Xiao started the car and slowly drove out of the parking lot.

Along the way, the sun was shining brightly, and the breeze blew in from the car window, bringing a hint of coolness. The trees on both sides of the road were lush and green, as if cheering for their journey. Zhang Yuedong turned on the car music, and the cheerful melody instantly filled the entire car.

"Our first stop this time is Suzhou. What fun places do you think there are in Suzhou?" Li Xiao asked while driving.

Zhang Yuedong immediately became interested and said excitedly, "There are so many fun things to do there! You must visit Suzhou gardens, such as the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden. They are all treasures of garden art, with a different scene at every step. There is also Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, known as the 'No. 1 Water Village in China'. You can experience the most authentic Jiangnan water village style there. It is so pleasant to ride a boat through the water lanes."

Lin Yifei also added: "Yes, there is also Tiger Hill, where there is the famous Tiger Hill Pagoda, which has a long history and is said to have many mysterious legends. There are also many delicious foods in Suzhou, such as squirrel mandarin fish and Suzhou-style cakes. Just thinking about it makes people salivate."

Listening to their descriptions, Li Xiao's heart was filled with anticipation: "Wow, it feels so good. I can't wait to get to Suzhou."

The car sped along the highway, they admired the scenery along the way, imagined the journey that was about to begin, and the laughter echoed in the car. Unknowingly, they had arrived at the border of Suzhou, a city full of ancient charm appeared before their eyes, and their journey officially kicked off.

After arriving in Suzhou, the three of them went straight to the Humble Administrator's Garden. As soon as they stepped into the gate of the garden, a simple and elegant atmosphere hit them. The garden was shaded by green trees, flourishing flowers and plants, and pavilions and towers were scattered in every corner, like a natural ink painting.

"Wow, this is the Humble Administrator's Garden, it really lives up to its reputation!" Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. As he spoke, he took out his camera and kept taking pictures of the beautiful scenery in front of him.

Li Xiao was also deeply attracted by the scenery. He looked around and said with emotion: "The layout of this garden is so exquisite, and every place is full of poetry."

Lin Yifei nodded in agreement: "Yes, and these buildings and natural landscapes blend into each other without any sense of disobedience, making people feel as if they are in a fairyland."

They strolled along the path in the park, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way. Beside the path, rockeries and ponds were scattered everywhere. The rockeries were rugged and had various shapes. Some looked like eagles spreading their wings, some looked like cute elephants, and some looked like graceful fairies. People could not help but sigh at the ingenuity of nature. In the pond, there were lotus leaves and lotus flowers in the sun. The pink petals swayed gently in the breeze, emitting bursts of fragrance. Occasionally, a few small fish swam in the water, creating ripples, adding a bit of vitality to this peaceful scene.

"Look, what's the name of that pavilion?" Li Xiao asked, pointing to an octagonal pavilion not far away.

Zhang Yuedong looked at the guide map and replied, "That is the 'Lotus Wind Pavilion'. As the name suggests, here you can feel the lotus breeze blowing from all directions. Especially in the summer when the lotus flowers are in full bloom, sitting in the pavilion, smelling the lotus fragrance and listening to the wind, it feels so comfortable."

"It's a pity that it's not summer now, so we can't see the beautiful sight of lotus flowers blooming in the pond." Lin Yifei said with a little regret.

"It doesn't matter. The Humble Administrator's Garden has its own unique charm in every season." Li Xiao comforted, "In spring, you can enjoy the flowers in full bloom, in autumn, you can see the red leaves all over the garden, and in winter, you can see the snow-covered scenery. Each has its own beauty."

They came to Yuanxiang Hall, which is located in the center of the garden. It is ventilated on all sides and is particularly cool. In front of the hall is a wide expanse of water with large lotus flowers planted on the water. Although the lotus blooming season has passed, the remaining lotus leaves still stand tall in the water, which has a unique charm.

"This Yuanxiang Hall is a really great place, with a wide view and beautiful scenery." Zhang Yuedong exclaimed.

Lin Yifei walked to the railing in front of the hall, overlooking the water, and said: "Here, I can feel the tranquility and beauty of nature, and appreciate the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient garden architecture. It is really a pleasure."

Li Xiao also walked to the railing, took a deep breath, and said, "Yes, the Humble Administrator's Garden is worthy of being the representative of Jiangnan classical gardens. It is not only a garden, but also a heritage and embodiment of culture."

They continued to stroll in the garden, admiring more beautiful scenery, such as Xiao Feihong, Xiangzhou, Jianshan Tower, etc. At each place, the three would stop to admire and exchange their views and feelings about the garden. They marveled at the exquisite buildings in the garden, the flying eaves and brackets, the carved beams and painted buildings, and every detail showed the superb skills of ancient craftsmen; they were also intoxicated by the natural landscape in the garden, with mountains and rivers interdependent, and flowers and trees flourishing, as if they had walked into a paradise.

After leaving the Humble Administrator's Garden, the three of them took a short break and then headed to Zhouzhuang Ancient Town. The moment they stepped into the ancient town, it was as if they had traveled through time and space and returned to the ancient Jiangnan water town. The ancient town was built along the water, and the streets were lined with antique buildings with white walls, black tiles, and flying eaves. Under the sunlight, they looked particularly simple and elegant.

"Wow, this is Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, it's so beautiful!" Zhang Yuedong said excitedly, with excitement shining in his eyes.

Li Xiao was also shocked by the scenery. He exclaimed: "The architecture here is different from the Suzhou gardens. It is full of a strong sense of life and makes people feel particularly intimate."

Lin Yifei took a deep breath and said, "The air here is also very fresh, filled with a faint smell of water towns, which is really intoxicating."

They strolled along the stone road, enjoying the scenery along the way. The river crisscrossed, and the boats were slowly moving on the water. The boatwoman sat on the bow, rowing and humming the Wu song, the melodious song echoing throughout the ancient town.

"Let's go take a boat ride and experience the charm of the water town." Zhang Yuedong suggested. "Okay, that's exactly what I mean." Li Xiao and Lin Yifei agreed.

The three of them came to the dock, rented a small boat, and got on it. The boatwoman rowed skillfully, and the boat moved slowly forward, with ripples on the water. They walked along the river, admiring the beautiful scenery on both sides. The weeping willows by the river were swaying, and the slender willow branches hung on the water, swaying gently with the breeze, as if waving to them. The houses along the shore were scattered, and some houses had red lanterns hanging at the door, adding a festive atmosphere to this quaint town. Occasionally, a few locals sat at the door, chatting leisurely, with happy smiles on their faces.

"It feels so great, it really feels like I'm swimming in a painting," Lin Yifei said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, this kind of quiet and peaceful life is really something people yearn for."

Li Xiao closed his eyes, felt the breeze, listened to the sound of the oars and the boat girl's singing, and felt very happy: "At this moment, all the worries are thrown away. I just want to enjoy this wonderful time."

The boat passed an ancient bridge called Shuangqiao, which is composed of a stone arch bridge and a stone beam bridge. The two bridges are connected and shaped like a key, so it is also called the "Key Bridge". Shuangqiao is one of the landmark buildings in Zhouzhuang Ancient Town and a popular spot for many tourists to take photos.

"Look, this is the Shuangqiao Bridge. It's so beautiful!" Zhang Yuedong said, pointing at the Shuangqiao Bridge.

Li Xiao took out his camera and took a few photos of the double bridges. He said: "The double bridges are indeed very distinctive. They are not only a bridge, but also a symbol of culture, witnessing the historical changes of Zhouzhuang Ancient Town."

Lin Yifei also took out his mobile phone and took a few photos. He said, "I will post these photos on WeChat Moments so that my friends can also feel the charm of Zhouzhuang Ancient Town."

They continued to play in the ancient town and visited attractions such as Shen Ting and Zhang Ting. Shen Ting was built by the descendants of Shen Wansan, the richest man in Jiangnan. It has a magnificent architecture and a rigorous layout, showing the glory and style of the Shen family at that time; Zhang Ting was built by the descendants of Xu Mengqing, the younger brother of Xu Da, the King of Zhongshan in the Ming Dynasty. It is small and exquisite, delicate and elegant, full of the charm of Jiangnan water town.

After a day of shopping, the three of them were a little hungry, so they decided to find a restaurant to taste the local food. They walked into an antique restaurant and ordered several Suzhou specialties, including squirrel mandarin fish, Aozao noodles, and Suzhou-style cakes.

Soon, the dishes were served one after another. The first dish served was the squirrel mandarin fish, which was beautifully shaped. The mandarin fish was fried with a golden and crispy skin and tender and white fish meat. It was topped with sweet and sour tomato sauce and garnished with some green vegetables, just like a lifelike squirrel, making people salivate at the sight.

"Wow, this squirrel fish is so beautiful, it's simply a work of art!" Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but exclaimed.

Li Xiao picked up a piece of fish, put it in his mouth, and tasted it carefully: "Well, this fish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sweet and sour, and tastes great!"

Lin Yifei also tasted it and nodded in agreement: "It is indeed delicious. This dish is worthy of being one of Suzhou's signature dishes."

Then, the waiter served the Aozao noodles, which had thin and chewy noodles, a rich and delicious soup base, and a thick layer of toppings on top, including fried fish, braised duck, braised meat, etc., which made people's appetite increase greatly.

"This Aozao noodles looks very appetizing. Let me try it first." Zhang Yuedong said, then picked up the chopsticks and started eating.

"Well, this noodle tastes really good, the soup base is fresh, and the noodles are chewy." Zhang Yuedong praised it while eating.

Li Xiao and Lin Yifei also started to taste Aozao noodles, and they were both impressed by the delicious noodles.

"This Aozao noodles really lives up to its reputation, it's so delicious!" said Lin Yifei.

In addition to squirrel mandarin fish and Aozao noodles, they also tasted Suzhou-style pastries, including plum blossom cakes, crabapple cakes, Dingsheng cakes, etc. These pastries are exquisitely shaped, soft and glutinous, sweet but not greasy, and full of rich Jiangnan flavor.

"These Suzhou-style pastries are so delicious, each one has its own unique flavor," said Zhang Yuedong.

Li Xiao picked up a piece of plum blossom cake, took a bite, and said, "This plum blossom cake tastes soft and sweet, and there is red bean paste stuffing inside. It tastes great."

Lin Yifei also tasted a piece of Begonia cake and said: "This Begonia cake is also good, with a very delicate taste and a sweet fragrance."

The three of them tasted the food and shared their feelings about it, and laughter echoed throughout the restaurant.

After dinner, the three learned that there was a Kunqu opera performance in the ancient town, so they decided to go and enjoy it. They came to the performance venue and found a seat. After a while, the performance began.

On the stage, actors dressed in gorgeous costumes and exquisite headdresses appeared. Their singing was melodious and flowing, and their movements were graceful and delicate, with every move full of charm.

"This Kunqu Opera is so wonderful, and the actors' performances are so professional!" Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but exclaim.

Li Xiao was also deeply attracted by the actors' performances. He stared at the stage intently and said, "Yes, Kunqu Opera is indeed a treasure of China's traditional culture. The singing and movements are simply intoxicating."

Lin Yifei nodded in agreement: "And the costumes and makeup of this Kunqu opera are also very beautiful. Every detail shows the charm of ancient culture."

They were appreciating an excerpt from the classic Kunqu opera "The Peony Pavilion", which tells the love story between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei. The actors showed the deep friendship between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei vividly through their wonderful performances, making the audience feel as if they were in that romantic love story.

"This section of The Peony Pavilion is so touching. The love story between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei is so sad and beautiful." Zhang Yuedong said with emotion. (End of this chapter)