Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1726

The three of them clinked their glasses and drank the wine in one gulp, their laughter echoing in the bar. On this wonderful night, they fully enjoyed the ancient charm and romance of Ningbo, leaving behind an unforgettable memory.

After strolling around the Old Bund, it was already late at night and the three people's stomachs were growling. They strolled along the street, looking for food that could satisfy their taste buds. Suddenly, a sweet smell wafted over and attracted their attention.

Following the direction of the smell, they found an old snack bar called "Gan Ya Gou". The sign at the door of the store was painted with a water tank, a mallard and a yellow dog, which was very unique.

"This store looks very unique. I heard that Ningbo glutinous rice balls are very famous. Let's go in and try them." Li Xiao suggested.

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei nodded in agreement, and the three of them walked into the store. The decoration inside the store is full of the charm of old Ningbo, with wooden tables and chairs and quaint murals, making people feel like they have returned to the past. The waiter warmly greeted them and recommended the store's signature dish - Ningbo glutinous rice balls.

"Our Ningbo glutinous rice balls are famous far and wide. They are made with water-ground glutinous rice flour as the skin and filled with black sesame and lard stuffing. They are sweet and delicious, soft and not greasy. You must try them." The waiter introduced with a smile.

The three of them ordered three bowls of glutinous rice balls, and soon, the steaming glutinous rice balls were served on the table. The glutinous rice balls were round and plump, white as jade, and gently swayed in the soup, as if waving to them. The skin of the glutinous rice balls was smooth and delicate, and the black filling inside could be vaguely seen, making people salivate.

"These dumplings look so tempting. I can't wait to try them." Lin Yifei said as he picked up a spoon, gently scooped up a dumpling and put it into his mouth.

"Wow, this taste is absolutely amazing!" Lin Yifei couldn't help but exclaimed, "The glutinous rice skin is soft and chewy. With a light bite, the sweet black sesame filling flows out. The mellow aroma of lard and the rich aroma of black sesame are perfectly blended. It is sweet but not greasy, and there is a faint sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance. It is really delicious!"

Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong also quickly took a bite and were also impressed by the deliciousness of the glutinous rice balls.

"This is really the most delicious glutinous rice dumpling I have ever eaten. The glutinous rice dumplings I had before cannot compare to this." Li Xiao said while eating.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, the filling of this glutinous rice dumpling is very delicate and rich in flavor, and the skin is also very thin, so it is not greasy at all. No wonder this store is so famous, it really lives up to its reputation."

The three of them shared their feelings while tasting the glutinous rice balls. They found that the uniqueness of Ningbo glutinous rice balls lies not only in their deliciousness, but also in the cultural connotations they contain.

It is not only a kind of delicacy, but also the love of Ningbo people for life and the inheritance of traditional culture.

"I heard that Ningbo glutinous rice balls have a long history and originated in the Song Dynasty. At that time, they were called 'Fuyuanzi'." Li Xiao said.

Zhang Yuedong continued, "Yes, and Ningbo people have the traditional custom of sitting together with their families and eating glutinous rice balls on the morning of the Spring Festival, which symbolizes reunion."

Lin Yifei said with emotion: "It is really amazing that such a small dumpling carries so much history and culture."

After eating the glutinous rice balls, the three of them were still not satisfied. They decided to pack some more glutinous rice balls and bring them back for their family and friends to try, so that they could also experience the unique charm of Ningbo glutinous rice balls.

After leaving "Ganyagou", they continued to stroll in the night of Ningbo with full of sweetness and good impression of Ningbo cuisine, looking forward to tomorrow's journey.

On the second night in Ningbo, Li Xiao accidentally learned that there was a folk performance in a square in the city, which included Ningbo's unique dragon and lion dances. The three of them decided to go without hesitation, wanting to experience the folk culture atmosphere of Ningbo.

When they arrived at the square, it was already crowded with people and very lively. A wide stage was built in the center of the square, surrounded by red lanterns, filled with a strong festive atmosphere.

"I didn't expect there are so many people here. It seems everyone is very interested in the folk performances." Li Xiao said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong nodded and said, "Yes, this kind of traditional folk performance is very attractive and can help us better understand Ningbo's culture."

Lin Yifei said excitedly: "I can't wait to watch the dragon and lion dances. I heard that Ningbo's dragon and lion dances are very unique."

With the sound of exciting gongs and drums, the performance officially began. The first performance was the dragon dance, where a huge golden dragon danced on the stage. The dragon was danced by more than a dozen people. The dragon head was huge, the body was tens of meters long, and the scales on its body shone with golden light under the light, making it look lifelike.

The dragon dancers have vigorous steps and uniform movements. The dragons in their hands tumble up and down and circle left and right to the rhythm of the gongs and drums. Sometimes they are like a dragon out of the sea, and sometimes they are like a flying dragon in the sky, which is a feast for the eyes. The dragon head performer has superb skills. The dragon ball in his hand rotates flexibly, guiding the dragon's movements. The dragon head closely follows the dragon ball, as if it wants to swallow it in one gulp.

"Wow, this dragon dance is so wonderful!" Li Xiao couldn't help but exclaimed loudly, "The cooperation of those dragon dancers is so tacit, the movements are so smooth, it really looks like a live dragon dancing."

Zhang Yuedong also said excitedly: "Yes, this golden dragon looks majestic and magnificent, it's really shocking!"

Lin Yifei stared at the stage intently, saying over and over again: "It's amazing, it's amazing, this is the most wonderful dragon dance performance I have ever seen."

At the climax of the dragon dance, the dancers held the dragon high above their heads and ran quickly, with the dragon flying in the air, forming beautiful arcs. At this time, the sound of gongs and drums became more rapid, and the cheers and applause of the audience rose one after another, and the whole square was immersed in a sea of ​​joy.

After the dragon dance, the lion dance performance followed. Two majestic lions walked onto the stage, their hair golden, eyes sparkling, and their bodies were decorated very beautifully. On the forehead of one lion was written the word "Fu" and on the other was written the word "Shou", implying good luck, happiness, longevity, and health.

The lion dancers cooperated well and showed the lion's various forms and movements vividly. Sometimes they jumped, sometimes rolled, sometimes stood up, and sometimes lay prone, just like a real lion playing. The lion's eyes, mouth and ears can move flexibly, and the expression is vivid and very cute.

One of the lions also performed a difficult move, jumping freely on the plum blossom pole, and each jump caused the audience to exclaim. The lion dancers, with their superb skills, showed the bravery and flexibility of the lion just right, which made people applaud and cheer.

"This lion dance is so interesting. The moves are really difficult. The lion dancers are so amazing." Li Xiao said with a smile.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, lion dance requires not only strength, but also skills and tacit understanding. Their performance is really wonderful."

Lin Yifei also said: "I think the meaning of this lion dance is also very good. It symbolizes auspiciousness and peace, and it makes people feel happy." During the performance, the audience was invited to the stage to interact with the dragon and lion dance actors. Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei also actively participated in it. They put on the props of the dragon and lion dance and experienced the fun of the dragon and lion dance under the guidance of the actors.

"Haha, this dragon dance is really not easy. If you want to dance well, you have to practice hard." Li Xiao said with a smile while dancing the dragon.

Zhang Yuedong also said: "Yes, but it is really interesting. I feel like I have become part of this lively atmosphere."

Lin Yifei said excitedly: "This is my first time to dance the dragon and lion. It's so much fun. I will try it again if I have the chance."

The folk performance ended successfully with the cheerful sound of gongs and drums and the laughter of the audience. Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei left the square with full of joy and deep impression of Ningbo folk culture.

They felt that this performance not only allowed them to appreciate the wonderful art, but also allowed them to have a deeper understanding of the cultural heritage of the city of Ningbo. It was a very unforgettable experience.

In the last half day in Ningbo, the three decided to buy some specialties to bring the taste and memory of this city back home. They came to Nantang Old Street, which not only has quaint buildings, but also many shops selling Ningbo specialties.

Walking into a large specialty store, you will find a variety of Ningbo specialty products filled with dazzling array.

"Wow, there are so many local specialties here. I don't know which ones to choose." Li Xiao looked at the store full of merchandise, feeling excited and conflicted.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Let's take a look at them one by one and take the most representative ones back."

Lin Yifei walked to a shelf, picked up a bag of bean curd candy, and said curiously: "This bean curd candy looks interesting. I haven't seen it before."

At this time, the shop owner came over enthusiastically and introduced: "This is our Ningbo's traditional famous Sanbei Bean Crisp Candy. It is fragrant, sweet and crispy, tastes particularly good, and is rich in nutrition. It contains protein, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene and other nutrients. Many tourists like to buy it as a souvenir."

Li Xiao took the bean curd candy and looked at it carefully. He saw that the bean curd candy was packed with clear edges and corners, even thickness, and no glue was used to seal the bottom.

He opened a package, took out a piece and put it in his mouth. He took a light bite and the bean candy instantly melted in his mouth. It was crispy and easy to dissolve, without any sugar residue and not sticky to teeth. The aroma of soybeans and sesame filled the air.

"Well, it's really delicious. The taste is so unique." Li Xiao praised while eating.

Zhang Yuedong also tasted a piece and nodded in agreement: "It's really good. The texture of this bean curd candy is very delicate and the sweetness is just right. It's not greasy at all. And I heard that its production process is very particular and the selection of ingredients is also very strict."

The shop owner smiled and said, "You two have a good eye. This Sanbei Bean Crisp Candy was first created in the Qing Dynasty and has a history of more than 100 years.

When making it, the soybeans must be fresh and not rotten or infested and harvested in August or September of the same year, the black sesame seeds must be from Yanzhou, and the maltose must be made from pure white and crystal glutinous rice from the previous year. Every step is the result of the craftsmen’s hard work.”

After hearing this, the three of them became even more fond of the bean crispy candy. They decided to buy a few more bags of bean crispy candy and take them back for their family and friends to try.

Then, they picked some other specialties in the store, such as Ningbo Youzanzi, seaweed cakes, and water-ground rice cakes.

Youzanzi looks like a fried dough twist and is available in a variety of flavors, including seaweed, sweet and salty. It is golden or dark green in color and sprinkled with sesame seeds, exuding an attractive aroma and tastes crispy and crunchy.
The seaweed pancake has a crispy outer crust and a soft and glutinous filling. The salty fragrance of the seaweed and the sweetness of the pancake blend perfectly, leaving people with an endless aftertaste. Water-ground rice cake is a frequent guest on Ningbo people's tables. It has a delicate texture and a soft and glutinous taste. It can be boiled, fried, or pan-fried, and is very versatile.

"These specialties are so typical of Ningbo. I'm sure everyone will like them when I bring them back." Lin Yifei looked at the specialties in his hand with a smile on his face.

Li Xiao nodded and said, "Yes, this time in Ningbo, I not only enjoyed the beautiful scenery and tasted the delicious food, but also learned about so many interesting cultures and specialties. It was really a great experience."

Zhang Yuedong also said with emotion: "Ningbo is a really charming city. It has both a profound historical heritage and a unique regional culture. I really don't want to leave."

The three of them left the specialty store with a lot of specialties and reluctance to leave Ningbo.

They know that this trip to Ningbo will become a beautiful memory in their lives, and these specialties will become a bond between them and this city, allowing them to often reminisce about every moment in Ningbo in the days to come.

On the way to the next city, they are full of anticipation, looking forward to what kind of surprises and beauty they will encounter in the next journey.

After bidding farewell to Ningbo, the three of them set off for Wenzhou. The Hangzhou-Wenzhou high-speed train sped by, and the scenery outside the window flashed by like a slideshow. Li Xiao leaned against the window and said excitedly, "We are finally going to Wenzhou. I heard that the scenery of Yandang Mountain is particularly spectacular. I can't wait."

Zhang Yuedong smiled and responded: "Yes, Yandang Mountain is known as 'the famous mountain on the sea, the most beautiful mountain in the world', and it will definitely not disappoint us."

Lin Yifei was also full of anticipation: "There are also various special foods waiting for us. We are going to have a feast this time."

In less than an hour, they arrived in Wenzhou. As soon as they exited the high-speed railway station, the three of them felt the vitality and enthusiasm of the city. The sun shone on their bodies, bringing a hint of warmth. The air was filled with the scent of the sea, mixed with the aroma of street snacks, making people feel very comfortable.

After a short rest, they took a car to Yandang Mountain. Along the way, the mountains were undulating, the trees were shady, and the scenery was picturesque. As the car gradually approached Yandang Mountain, the peaks in the distance became clearer and clearer, and the peculiar shape and majestic momentum made people feel awe.

When they stepped into the Yandang Mountain Scenic Area, it was as if they had entered a fantasy world. The peaks here are of various shapes, some like sharp swords piercing the sky, some like fairies standing gracefully, and some like beasts baring their fangs and claws. These peaks appear even more majestic against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds.

"Wow, these mountains are so unique, they are simply the magic of nature." Li Xiao exclaimed, his eyes wide open, full of curiosity and excitement.