Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1716

"This Humble Administrator's Garden is truly a scene with a new look at every step, and every place is intoxicating," Zhang Yuedong exclaimed.

Lin Yifei also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the garden art here is really profound and extensive. People can't help but admire the wisdom and creativity of the ancients."

Li Xiao said: "The Humble Administrator's Garden is not only a beautiful garden, but also an important carrier of Chinese traditional culture. It contains rich philosophical thoughts and aesthetic concepts, which are worth our careful appreciation."

Before they knew it, it was already evening. Their stomachs started to growl, so they decided to try Suzhou's specialties. They came to a famous local restaurant and ordered several Suzhou specialties, including squirrel mandarin fish, pan-fried buns, and fried eel paste.

Soon, the dishes were served. The first dish was the squirrel mandarin fish, which was fried golden and crispy, topped with a sweet and sour sauce, and served with green vegetables and bright red cherries. The bright colors made people salivate. "This squirrel mandarin fish is so beautiful, it's like a work of art," Zhang Yuedong exclaimed.

Li Xiao smiled and said, "This dish is not only beautiful, but also tastes very delicious. Look, the fish is fried crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the sauce is sweet and sour, the combination is just right." As he said that, he picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth, savoring it carefully.

Zhang Yuedong also quickly tasted it and nodded repeatedly: "It's delicious, the fish meat is tender and smooth, and the sweet and sour taste spreads in the mouth, which is really unforgettable."

Then, they tasted the pan-fried buns. The skin of the pan-fried buns was crispy, the bottom was golden, and the soup overflowed with a bite. The meat filling was tender and juicy, and the taste was very delicious. "This pan-fried bun is also good, with a lot of soup and tastes great." Lin Yifei said while eating.

Li Xiao said: "Suzhou's Shengjianbao is a little different from Shanghai's. Suzhou's Shengjianbao focuses more on the deliciousness of the soup, while Shanghai's Shengjianbao focuses more on the crispy skin."

They also tasted the fried eel paste, which was cut into thin strips, smooth, tender and fragrant, and drizzled with hot oil, making a sizzling sound and fragrant. "This fried eel paste is also very special, the eel is very tender and has a rich flavor," Zhang Yuedong praised.

Lin Yifei smiled and said, "Yes, the food in Suzhou is really amazing. Every dish has its own unique flavor."

After tasting the delicious food, they came to a Pingtan Hall to enjoy a Suzhou Pingtan performance. Suzhou Pingtan is a traditional folk art form in Suzhou, famous for its unique singing style and elegant and delicate performance style. When they walked into the Pingtan Hall, it was already full of audiences, and everyone was looking forward to the performance.

As the melodious sound of the pipa sounded, two actors walked onto the stage. One actor held a sanxian, and the other held a pipa, and they began to sing in Suzhou dialect. The actors' singing was gentle and soft, with clear and loud voices, sometimes high-pitched and passionate, and sometimes gentle and tender, expressing the emotions in the story vividly.

"The singing style of this Pingtan is so beautiful, just like singing, it makes people intoxicated." Zhang Yuedong whispered to Li Xiao.

Li Xiao nodded and said, "Suzhou Pingtan not only has beautiful singing, but also very delicate performances. The actors express the characters' emotions and mental states through precise gestures, facial expressions and body movements, making people feel as if they are in the scene themselves."

Lin Yifei was also attracted by the charm of Pingtan. He watched the performance on the stage attentively and used his camera to record the wonderful moments from time to time. "This Pingtan is really a unique art form, full of the charm of Jiangnan." He said with emotion.

During the performance, they heard some classic Pingtan pieces, such as "Pearl Tower" and "The Legend of White Snake". The wonderful performances of the actors made them feel the unique charm of Suzhou Pingtan. In "Pearl Tower", the love story between Fang Qing and Chen Cui'e was tortuous and touching. The actors showed the emotional changes of the two through delicate performances; in "The Legend of White Snake", the love story of Xu Xian and Bai Niangzi was poignant and beautiful. The actors' singing and performances made people seem to see that romantic and tragic love legend.

After the performance, the audience gave warm applause. They also stood up and applauded the actors for their wonderful performance. "This Pingtan performance is really great. It gave me a deeper understanding of Suzhou Pingtan." Zhang Yuedong said excitedly.

Lin Yifei also said with emotion: "Yes, Suzhou Pingtan is indeed the most beautiful voice in China. This unique artistic charm really makes people intoxicated."

Li Xiao smiled and said: "If we have the chance in the future, we will listen to more Pingtan performances to feel the charm of this art."

The next day, they came to Guanqian Street in Suzhou to buy some Suzhou specialties. Guanqian Street is one of the most prosperous commercial streets in Suzhou, with many shops and a wide variety of goods, including all kinds of Suzhou specialties.

They first came to a Suzhou embroidery shop. Suzhou embroidery is a traditional handicraft of Suzhou, famous for its exquisite craftsmanship and exquisite patterns. The shop was filled with various Suzhou embroidery works, including embroidered handkerchiefs, embroidered silk scarves, embroidered screens, etc. Each piece was finely embroidered, colorful and lifelike.

"This Suzhou embroidery is so beautiful. Every stitch and every thread is so delicate. It is really admirable." Zhang Yuedong picked up an embroidered handkerchief and carefully admired the pattern on it.

Lin Yifei also developed a keen interest in Suzhou embroidery. He picked up an embroidered screen and said, "The craftsmanship of Suzhou embroidery is so complicated that it takes a lot of time and effort to complete a piece of work."

Li Xiao asked the clerk about some knowledge about Suzhou embroidery. He said: "Suzhou embroidery is a traditional artwork with strong handwork. Its value lies not only in its beauty, but also in the cultural connotation it contains. A good Suzhou embroidery work must not only have fine embroidery, but also have a unique design and profound artistic conception."

After the introduction by the store clerk, they learned that the production process of Suzhou embroidery is very complicated, which requires multiple links such as design, tracing, thread matching, embroidery, etc. Moreover, the needlework of Suzhou embroidery is also very rich, including dozens of needlework methods such as flat needle, random needle, seed needle, etc., each of which has its unique use and effect.

"It turns out that the production process of Suzhou embroidery is so complicated. It's really not easy." Zhang Yuedong sighed.

Lin Yifei also said: "Yes, this Suzhou embroidery really embodies the hard work and wisdom of the embroiderers. Every piece of work is worth cherishing."

Finally, they selected some Suzhou embroidered handkerchiefs and scarves to give as gifts to their family and friends. "These Suzhou embroidered handkerchiefs and scarves are very beautiful. I believe my family and friends will like them." Li Xiao said with a smile. In addition to Suzhou embroidery, they also bought some other specialties, such as silk, Biluochun tea, Suzhou-style cakes, etc. These specialties not only have Suzhou characteristics, but also have excellent quality, making them great gifts for relatives and friends.

After leaving Suzhou, they took the high-speed rail to Hangzhou. Hangzhou, a city known as "paradise on earth", is famous for its beautiful West Lake and rich cultural heritage. They were full of expectations for Hangzhou, eager to appreciate the beauty of West Lake and the unique charm of Hangzhou.

As soon as they arrived in Hangzhou, they could not wait to go to the West Lake. The West Lake, like a bright pearl, is inlaid in the beautiful land of Hangzhou. When they arrived at the West Lake, they were amazed by the beautiful scenery in front of them. The West Lake is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the city on one side. The lake water is green and sparkling. The mountains in the distance are rolling and shrouded in clouds and mist, like an ink painting. The weeping willows by the lake sway in the wind, as if telling people the story of the West Lake.

"Wow, this is the West Lake, it's so beautiful! It's like a paradise on earth." Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but exclaim.

Lin Yifei was also attracted by the beautiful scenery. He kept pressing the shutter of his camera, wanting to capture all the beautiful scenery. "The scenery here is so beautiful. I must take the most beautiful photos of West Lake." He said excitedly.

Li Xiao looked at the West Lake and recited Su Shi's poem: "The water is bright and beautiful when it is sunny, and the mountains are misty and beautiful when it rains. If I were to compare the West Lake to Xi Shi, she would look beautiful with light or heavy makeup." He said: "Su Shi's poem really describes the charm of the West Lake vividly. Whether it is sunny or rainy, the West Lake has a unique beauty."

They strolled along the West Lake, enjoying the beautiful scenery. First they came to Su Causeway. Su Causeway is one of the ten scenic spots of West Lake. It divides West Lake into two halves. The causeway is planted with peach trees and willow trees. In spring, peach blossoms are in full bloom and willows are sprouting. The causeway is full of peach blossoms and green willows, which is beautiful beyond words. "This Su Causeway is so beautiful. Walking on it feels like being in a painting," said Zhang Yuedong.

Lin Yifei also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the scenery of Su Causeway varies in each season, and each season has its own unique charm. The Su Causeway in spring is full of vitality and vigor, making people feel the beauty of nature."

They strolled along the Su Causeway, enjoying the beautiful scenery around them. Cruise ships came and went on the lake, and tourists enjoyed the beautiful scenery of West Lake on the boats, laughing and talking. On the grass by the lake, people sat or lay, enjoying the sunshine and breeze. The Leifeng Pagoda in the distance stood by the lake, and against the backdrop of green trees, it looked even more majestic.

"Look, that's Leifeng Pagoda!" Zhang Yuedong said, pointing to Leifeng Pagoda in the distance.

Li Xiao nodded and said, "Leifeng Pagoda is one of the landmark buildings of West Lake. It has a long history and rich cultural connotations. According to legend, the White Snake was suppressed by Fahai under the Leifeng Pagoda."

Lin Yifei also showed great interest in Leifeng Pagoda. He said: "Leifeng Pagoda has a unique architectural style. It is not only a Buddhist building, but also a cultural heritage. Let's go to Leifeng Pagoda and take a look."

Then, they came to the Broken Bridge. The Broken Bridge is another famous scenic spot in West Lake. It is famous for its beautiful legend and unique scenery. According to the legend, Xu Xian and White Snake met on the Broken Bridge, and a romantic love story began from then on. "This Broken Bridge is the place where Xu Xian and White Snake met. It is so romantic." Zhang Yuedong said.

Li Xiao smiled and said: "Although this is just a legend, it adds a touch of mystery and romance to the Broken Bridge. Every winter, when the snow covers the Broken Bridge, the beautiful scenery of 'Broken Bridge with Snow' appears, which is very spectacular."

They stood on the Broken Bridge and looked down at the beautiful scenery of West Lake. The lake was sparkling, and the mountains and green trees in the distance were reflected in the water, forming a beautiful picture. "The scenery here is so beautiful that it makes people intoxicated." Lin Yifei exclaimed.

During the tour of West Lake, they also visited attractions such as Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Flower Harbor Fish Viewing, and Winding Courtyard Lotus. Each attraction has its own unique charm, which makes them linger. Three Pools Mirroring the Moon is one of the iconic attractions of West Lake. There are three stone towers in the lake, standing tall and graceful. On the night of the full moon, candles are lit in the towers and reflected in the water, and the beautiful scenery of "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon" will appear, which is like a dream; Flower Harbor Fish Viewing is a park with the theme of ornamental fish. There are all kinds of goldfish, which are colorful, lively and cute. Visitors can feed goldfish here and feel close contact with nature; Winding Courtyard Lotus is themed on lotus. In summer, lotus flowers are in full bloom, and the fragrance is overflowing, which makes people feel relaxed and happy.

"The West Lake is so beautiful, and every scenic spot is intoxicating," Zhang Yuedong exclaimed.

Lin Yifei also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the beauty of West Lake is really something you never get tired of seeing. It not only has beautiful natural scenery, but also rich historical and cultural connotations. It is really a good place worth visiting."

Li Xiao said: "West Lake is the soul of Hangzhou. It carries the history and culture of Hangzhou and also shows the unique charm of Hangzhou. We should appreciate this beautiful scenery and feel its charm."

Before they knew it, it was already noon. Their stomachs started to growl, so they decided to try some Hangzhou specialties. They came to a famous local restaurant and ordered several Hangzhou specialties, including West Lake vinegar fish, Dongpo pork, and Longjing shrimp.

Soon, the dishes were served. The first dish was West Lake Vinegar Fish, which was bright red and covered with a layer of sweet and sour vinegar, giving off an alluring aroma. "This West Lake Vinegar Fish looks very appetizing, I wonder how it tastes," Zhang Yuedong said, picking up a piece of fish and putting it in his mouth.

Li Xiao smiled and said, "This West Lake vinegar fish is a traditional Hangzhou delicacy. Its characteristics are that the fish is fresh and tender, and the vinegar sauce is moderately sweet and sour, and the taste is delicious. You should try it."

Zhang Yuedong took a bite and nodded repeatedly: "It's delicious. The fish is tender and smooth, and the taste of the vinegar is just right. It's really delicious."

Then, they tasted Dongpo pork. Dongpo pork is a dish made with pork. Its characteristics are bright red color, soft and glutinous texture, fat but not greasy. "This Dongpo pork is not bad, it looks very tempting." Lin Yifei said, picking up a piece of Dongpo pork and putting it in his mouth.

Li Xiao said: "Dongpo pork is a dish invented by Su Shi. It is not only delicious, but also has profound cultural connotations. Su Shi is a famous writer and gourmet. During his tenure in Hangzhou, he did a lot of good things for the people. This Dongpo pork was invented by him to thank the people."

They also tasted the Longjing shrimp, which was fresh and tender, and paired with the fragrant Longjing tea, the taste was very unique. "This Longjing shrimp is also very special, the combination of shrimp and Longjing is really perfect." Zhang Yuedong praised it.

Lin Yifei also smiled and said: "Yes, the food in Hangzhou is really amazing. Every dish has its own unique flavor."