Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1734

"The family tradition and teachings of the Confucius family are really worth learning. The concepts they emphasized, such as 'passing down poetry and rituals from generation to generation' and 'cultivating oneself and managing the family', have important implications for our families and society today," said Li Xiao.

Zhang Yuedong also agreed: "Yes, and the food culture of the Confucius Mansion is also very unique. It is said that the dishes of the Confucius Mansion are exquisite in color, fragrance, taste and shape, and are an important part of Chinese food culture."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "It seems that this time when I came to the Confucius Mansion, I could not only feel the influence of Confucian culture, but also taste the delicious Confucius Mansion cuisine. It really killed two birds with one stone."

Finally, they came to the garden of the Confucius Mansion, which has beautiful scenery, shaded trees and fragrant flowers. It is the place where the owner of the Confucius Mansion relaxes and entertains. The pavilions, rockery ponds, and exotic flowers in the garden form a beautiful picture, making people feel as if they are in a fairyland.

"This garden is so beautiful. I didn't expect that there would be such a peaceful paradise in this bustling city." Li Xiao looked at the beautiful scenery in front of him and couldn't help but be intoxicated by it.

Zhang Yuedong also said with emotion: "Yes, here, I can feel the profoundness of Confucian culture and enjoy the beauty of nature. It really makes me feel relaxed."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "This is the charm of the Confucius Mansion, it perfectly integrates culture and nature."

The visit to the Confucius Mansion made them deeply feel the atmosphere of a scholarly family and gave them a deeper understanding of the inheritance of Confucian culture. They seemed to see the descendants of Confucius passing on Confucian culture from generation to generation on this land.

After a day of walking around, the three of them were hungry, so they decided to try the special food of Qufu. The food culture of Qufu is deeply influenced by Confucianism, focusing on the original flavor of ingredients and the delicacy of cooking. The taste is salty and fresh, and the soup is well prepared, with good color, aroma and taste.

They first came to a famous local mutton soup restaurant and ordered a few bowls of steaming mutton soup. Soon, the mutton soup was served on the table. The soup was rich and fragrant, making people salivate. They couldn't wait to drink a sip of the soup. The soup was delicious and mellow, and the mutton was tender and juicy, with an excellent taste, which made people have endless aftertaste.

"This mutton soup is so delicious. The soup is rich and the mutton is tender. It is simply a delicacy on earth." Li Xiao praised it while drinking the mutton soup.

Zhang Yuedong also ate with gusto: "Yes, the taste of this mutton soup is really authentic, and the portion is also large, which makes people feel very satisfied."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "In this cold weather, drinking a bowl of steaming mutton soup is really comfortable."

In addition to mutton soup, they also tasted another specialty of Qufu - Kongfu cake. Kongfu cake is a traditional dessert of Qufu. It is made of glutinous rice flour as the main raw material, with sesame, red bean paste, jujube paste and other fillings. It is finely made and tastes soft, glutinous and sweet. It is the best choice for tasting traditional desserts of Qufu.

They ordered several different flavors of Kongfu cakes, including peanut cakes, mung bean cakes, red bean cakes, etc. Each cake has an attractive color and different shapes, which makes people reluctant to eat it. They took a bite of the cakes gently. The cakes were soft, sweet, non-sticky, and delicate in taste, which made people intoxicated.

"This Kongfu pastry is so delicious. It has a soft, sweet texture and tastes really great." Li Xiao said while eating the pastry.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, this Confucius Mansion pastry is indeed a specialty of Qufu. It is really worth a try."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "I think this Confucius Mansion pastry is not only delicious, but also contains a strong cultural heritage. It is a perfect combination of Confucian culture and food culture."

In the process of tasting food, they also learned that Qufu's food culture is closely related to Confucian culture. Qufu's food not only focuses on taste and nutrition, but also pays attention to etiquette and cultural connotation, reflecting the "ritual" and "benevolence" in Confucianism.

"I didn't expect Qufu's food culture to be so sophisticated. Every dish contains the essence of Confucian culture." Li Xiao said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong agreed: "Yes, this also makes us feel more deeply the breadth and depth of Confucian culture, which has penetrated into every aspect of people's lives."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "It seems that this time we come to Qufu, not only to appreciate the

After dinner, they came to a folk performance venue to watch the Confucius Ceremony. The Confucius Ceremony is a temple sacrifice that combines music, singing, dancing and etiquette. It focuses on Confucius's thoughts of "benevolence loves people" and "establishing people with etiquette", embodies the high unity of artistic form and political content, and has strong ideological affinity, spiritual cohesion and artistic appeal.

Before the performance began, the atmosphere was lively and the audience was looking forward to the performance. As the melodious ancient music sounded, the actors dressed in ancient costumes walked onto the stage with solemn steps. They held various ancient musical instruments in their hands, such as chimes, chimes, zithers, and harps, and played beautiful music, as if bringing people back to the ancient sacrificial scene.

Then, the actors began to perform the Eight-Legged Dance, which is the highest-level sacrificial dance in ancient China. The dancers were arranged neatly in rows and columns, and their movements were solemn and elegant. The overall atmosphere was quite ancient. They held the tail feathers of pheasants in their right hands and an ancient musical instrument, the flute, in their left hands, symbolizing the inner and outer cultivation and the gentleness of culture. Each movement represented a word, as the saying goes, "one word, one dance". Their performance was wonderful and dazzling.

"The performance at the Confucius Memorial Ceremony was so wonderful, and the actors' performances were so professional. It made me feel the profoundness of Confucian culture." Li Xiao clapped his hands excitedly.

Zhang Yuedong was also deeply attracted by the performance: "Yes, the music, dance, and etiquette all make people feel as if they have traveled through time and space and returned to the ancient times, feeling the ancient people's reverence for Confucius."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "Through this performance, I have a deeper understanding of Confucian culture. It is not only a thought, but also a way of life and spiritual pursuit."

During the performance, the actors also presented flower baskets, read sacrificial texts, and bowed to express their respect for Confucius. The whole performance was solemn and full of ritual, which made the audience immersed in it and respect Confucius and Confucian culture.

After the performance, the audience burst into warm applause, and the audience praised the actors for their wonderful performance. The three were also infected by the solemn atmosphere of the performance, and their understanding and knowledge of Confucian culture was deepened.

After watching the performance, they came to the specialty store to pick some specialties to take home. There are a wide variety of specialties in the store, including Confucius statues, Analects books, Confucius Mansion cakes, Qufu smoked tofu, etc. Each specialty has the characteristics of Qufu and carries the connotation of Confucian culture.

"When you come to Qufu, you must bring back some special products related to Confucius and Confucian culture." Li Xiao picked up a beautiful statue of Confucius and looked at it carefully. "This statue of Confucius is very beautifully made. If you take it home and put it there, it can be used as a decoration and remind you to learn Confucian culture at all times." Zhang Yuedong also picked up a few Analects books: "These Analects books are also very good. You can study them carefully when you go back and have a deeper understanding of Confucius' thoughts."

Lin Yifei was very interested in the Confucius Mansion cakes: "Let's buy some more Confucius Mansion cakes and bring them back for our family and friends to try, so that they can also experience the food culture of Qufu."

They also bought other specialties, such as Qufu smoked tofu, Qufu paper-cutting, etc. Each specialty carries the memory and culture of Qufu. They hope to bring the good memories of Qufu and Confucian culture home through these specialties and share them with relatives and friends.

With the enthusiastic introduction of the specialty store owner, they learned about the production process and cultural connotations of these specialties. While selecting, they exchanged their views on these specialties and gained a deeper understanding of Qufu.

He said: "Although these handicrafts are small, they are very delicate and have great commemorative significance. I will take them back and give them to my students so that they can also learn about the culture of Qinghai."

While buying specialties, they also chatted with the shop owner, a hospitable local who introduced them to the characteristics and production techniques of various specialties and shared some customs and travel tips about Qinghai.

From the shop owner, they learned that when buying Cordyceps sinensis, you must be careful to distinguish the authenticity, because there are many counterfeit and inferior products on the market. The real Cordyceps sinensis has a tight connection between the insect body and the grass body, with ring patterns on the surface of the insect body, a dark brown head, and a slender grass body with a darker color.

Moreover, the price of Cordyceps sinensis varies according to its quality, with higher quality ones costing more. After hearing this, Li Xiao developed a strong interest in Cordyceps sinensis and decided to buy some high-quality Cordyceps sinensis and bring it back to his parents to replenish their bodies. With the help of the store owner, he selected some high-quality Cordyceps sinensis and carefully asked about the preservation method.

After some selection and purchase, each of them gained a lot. When they walked out of the specialty store, the sunset had completely fallen, the night enveloped the city, and the lights on the street gradually lit up, which seemed particularly warm. Li Xiao smiled and said: "Today, I not only tasted delicious food, but also bought so many unique specialties. I am so satisfied."

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, these specialties are the beautiful memories of our trip to Qinghai. We must treasure them well when we return." Lin Yifei said with emotion: "This trip has given me a deeper understanding and love for Qinghai. These specialties also made me feel the wisdom and creativity of the people of Qinghai."

With a lot of harvest and good memories, they returned to the hotel. In the hotel room, they displayed the specialties they bought one by one and took photos. These specialties are not only souvenirs of their trip, but also the testimony of their deep attachment to the land of Qinghai. In the next journey, they will continue to explore the beauty and culture of Qinghai and leave more good memories.

Before they knew it, their trip to Qinghai was coming to an end. On the last day, the three of them got up early and strolled through the streets of Xining, wanting to feel the atmosphere of this city again. The sun shone softly on them, and the shops on the street opened one after another, with bursts of lively sounds coming from them.

"Time flies. It feels like I just arrived in Qinghai, and now I have to leave." Li Xiao said with emotion, his eyes full of reluctance.

Zhang Yuedong was also a little melancholy: "Yes, the beautiful scenery, delicious food, and interesting people and things I met along the way are all so unforgettable."

Lin Yifei took a deep breath and said with a smile: "But the memories of this trip will remain in our hearts forever. Besides, we will have the opportunity to come again in the future."

They came to the central square of Xining, where many citizens were doing morning exercises, some doing Tai Chi, with smooth movements, and some doing square dance, full of energy. The three of them found a bench to sit down, quietly watching the scene in front of them, and feeling the pace of life in this city.

"I took a lot of satisfying photos on this trip, and each one recorded our beautiful moments." Li Xiao turned on the camera, looked through the photos, and a happy smile appeared on his face.

Zhang Yuedong also leaned over to take a look: "These photos are really great. I will organize them carefully when I get back and make a special edition of my travel to Qinghai together with the video of me sharing delicious food."

Lin Yifei nodded in agreement: "This is a good idea. It will allow more people to understand the charm of Qinghai. I also plan to incorporate the experience and feelings of this trip into my teaching so that students can also experience the culture of different places."

Afterwards, they came to a souvenir shop to pick out some small gifts. The shop was filled with all kinds of souvenirs, including exquisite Tibetan ornaments, distinctive postcards, and small miniature landscapes of Qinghai Lake... They carefully selected them, hoping to take these small items carrying memories of Qinghai home.

"This Tibetan sachet is so exquisite. I want to give it to my sister. She will definitely like it." Zhang Yuedong picked up a sachet embroidered with exquisite patterns and looked at it carefully.

Li Xiao selected a few postcards with beautiful scenery of Qinghai printed on them: "I will send these postcards to my friends to share my travel joy with them."

Lin Yifei picked out a small prayer wheel: "This prayer wheel is very meaningful. I want to put it at home. Seeing it will remind me of my time in Qinghai."

After buying souvenirs, they returned to the hotel, packed their luggage, and prepared to embark on the return journey. Standing at the door of the hotel, the three of them looked at the city again, their hearts full of nostalgia.

"Qinghai, we will come again!" Li Xiao shouted loudly, his voice full of expectations for the future.

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei also shouted: "We will definitely come again!"

They took a taxi to the airport. Along the way, watching the familiar scenery gradually disappear outside the window, the three of them fell into silence, their hearts filled with reluctance to leave this journey.

After arriving at the airport and completing the check-in procedures, they sat in the waiting hall, waiting to board the plane.

"This trip is really more wonderful thanks to you two." Li Xiao looked at Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei and said sincerely.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said: "Yes, we share happiness together and face difficulties together. This is the meaning of travel."

Lin Yifei also nodded in agreement: "In the future, we will go to more places together and see more scenery."