Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

"Today was a really fulfilling day. Not only did we enjoy the beautiful scenery of Baotu Spring and Daming Lake, but we also tasted delicious food, watched folk performances, and bought local specialties," Li Xiao said with satisfaction.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said: "Yes, this is only part of our trip to Shandong. There are more exciting things waiting for us later."

Lin Yifei looked at the specialty in his hand and said expectantly: "I am really looking forward to tomorrow's journey. I wonder what kind of surprises will be waiting for us."

With anticipation for tomorrow, they returned to the hotel and ended this pleasant day's journey.

The taste of Jinan: a feast for your tongue

After visiting Baotu Spring and Daming Lake, the three people's stomachs were already growling. Li Xiao rubbed his stomach and said with a smile: "I'm so hungry after walking around for so long today. Let's go find something delicious."

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "I've heard that Jinan has a lot of delicious food. I must try it today."

Lin Yifei also said with anticipation: "Yes, I can't wait to taste the authentic taste of Jinan."

They strolled along the street and soon came to a busy food street. The streets were lined with various food stalls and restaurants, and the aroma was so delicious that it made people salivate. Li Xiao was attracted by a restaurant with a sign that said "authentic braised pork". He pointed at the restaurant and said, "Why don't we go there and try the most representative food in Jinan."

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei both agreed, so the three of them walked into the restaurant. The restaurant was bustling with people, full of the atmosphere of fireworks. They found an empty seat and sat down. The waiter soon came over and enthusiastically introduced the restaurant's special dishes.

Li Xiao ordered a plate of braised pork without hesitation, with rice and some side dishes. Zhang Yuedong ordered a plate of fried dough sticks and sweet rice, while Lin Yifei ordered a plate of straw buns and a salad. Soon, the dishes were served one after another.

The first dish served was the pork belly, a large piece of pork belly with fat and lean parts tied tightly with hemp rope, bright red in color and fragrant. Li Xiao couldn't wait to pick up a piece of pork belly, put it in his mouth, and took a bite. Suddenly, the meat fragrance was overflowing, fat but not greasy, lean but not dry, and the mellow taste spread on the tip of the tongue, leaving people with endless aftertaste.

"This piece of meat is so delicious! The fatty meat is not greasy at all and melts in your mouth. It's simply a delicacy!" Li Xiao praised while eating and gave a thumbs up.

Zhang Yuedong also tasted a bite of the pork, nodded and said, "It's really good. The meat is well stewed and tied with hemp rope, which gives it a unique flavor. Paired with the fragrant rice, it's absolutely amazing!"

Lin Yifei smiled and said, "It seems that this Jinan Baozi Rou is really worthy of its reputation. Today I can finally eat the authentic one."

Then, Zhang Yuedong picked up a fried dough twist and examined it carefully. The fried dough twist was spiral-shaped, with a smooth and golden luster and a fragrant onion. He took a bite and found that the skin was crispy and the inside was tender, with a rich taste.

"This fried dough twist is so delicious, with a strong onion flavor. It tastes crispy and soft, and it's so satisfying." Zhang Yuedong said while eating.

Li Xiao also took a fried dough twist and tasted it, and agreed: "Indeed, the taste of this fried dough twist is very unique. I have never eaten such delicious noodles before. Paired with this sweet foam, it is salty and delicious. The taste is just right."

Lin Yifei watched them eat with gusto, and also tasted a bite of the oil twist and sweet foam, and said with a smile: "Well, this combination is quite good. The taste of sweet foam is very mellow, and it has a unique flavor when eaten with the oil twist."

At this time, the waiter brought the straw buns that Lin Yifei ordered. The outer skin of the straw buns was white and tender, as thin as a cicada's wing, and the pink meat filling inside could be vaguely seen. Lin Yifei gently picked up a bun and took a bite. The soup immediately flowed out. He quickly caught it with his mouth, fearing that the delicious soup would be wasted.

"Wow, this straw bun is really as good as its reputation. The skin is thin, the filling is large, the soup is rich, and the taste is delicious!" Lin Yifei praised it while eating.

Li Xiao and Zhang Yuedong were also attracted by Lin Yifei's reaction and tried the straw buns. After eating a bun, Li Xiao said, "The meat filling of this bun is really well seasoned, tender and juicy, plus the thin skin, the taste is simply unbeatable."

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, this tastes great. This is the first time I have eaten such delicious buns."

The three of them shared their feelings while tasting the food, and the laughter echoed in the restaurant. They also ordered some other Jinan special snacks, such as sugar crisp pancakes, Jinan sweet garlic, etc., and they praised each one.

While tasting the food, Li Xiao curiously asked the waiter: "Master, why do you tie this piece of meat with hemp rope?"

The waiter smiled and explained: "This is the traditional way of making Jinan's Bazi meat. Tying it with hemp rope not only allows the meat to maintain its shape during the stewing process, but also makes the meat more flavorful. Moreover, the hemp rope also adds a unique flavor to the Bazi meat."

Li Xiao suddenly realized: "So that's why, no wonder this piece of meat tastes so unique."

Zhang Yuedong also asked: "Then what is the special origin of this straw bun?"

The waiter patiently said: "This straw bun was first created in the 20s. The founder, Mr. Zhang Wenhan, was honest and simple, nicknamed 'straw bun', so this bun was called straw bun. His buns are delicate and thin, delicious and juicy, and have always been loved by Jinan people. It has been passed down for several generations now."

Lin Yifei said with emotion: "I didn't expect that there was such an interesting story behind this small bun. It really broadened my horizons."

After finishing their meal, the three of them walked out of the restaurant contentedly. Li Xiao patted his stomach and said with a smile: "Today's meal is so satisfying. Jinan's food is really as famous as it is said to be." Zhang Yuedong also smiled and said: "Yes, this is only part of Jinan's food. There are more delicious foods waiting for us to discover later."

Lin Yifei looked at the bustling streets and said expectantly, "I'm really looking forward to the next stop of the food tour. I wonder what kind of surprises will be waiting for us."

With anticipation for the delicious food at the next stop, the three continued their journey to Shandong.

Cultural heritage: watching folk performances

After dinner, the three learned that there was a folk performance in the nearby square. It was said that the famous Shanghe drum and yangko dance would be performed. They immediately became interested and decided to go and feast their eyes.

When they arrived at the square, it was already crowded and bustling. People were gathered in three layers around the performance venue, all looking forward to the performance. Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei took great pains to find a relatively good position in the crowd.

With the sound of passionate gongs and drums, the performance officially began. The first to appear was the Shanghe Drum Yangge, where a group of dancers dressed in brightly colored costumes and holding various props walked onto the stage in high spirits. Their costumes were very distinctive. The male dancers wore double-breasted tops embroidered with exquisite patterns and loose bloomers, with bright silk ribbons tied around their waists and headdresses with colorful feathers on their heads; the female dancers wore colorful large-breasted tops and pleated skirts, holding colorful silk and flower fans in their hands, with delicate makeup and radiant appearance.

The dancers' movements were vigorous and full of strength. The props in their hands, such as drums, sticks, umbrellas, and silk, sparkled in the sun, contrasting with their agile postures, forming a beautiful picture. The drummers held the drumsticks tightly with both hands and hit the drum surface vigorously, making a loud "dong dong dong" sound, which seemed to penetrate people's chests and make people's blood boil; the stick players waved wooden sticks with both hands, flying up and down, whirring and making the wind, with uniform movements and a full sense of rhythm; the umbrella players held silk umbrellas high and shuttled freely in the team. The silk umbrellas were like blooming flowers, adding agility and softness to the whole performance; the flower players held colorful silk and flower fans, twisted their waists lightly, and danced gracefully. Their smiles were as bright as flowers, as if bringing the breath of spring to the scene.

During the whole performance, the rhythm was sometimes fast and sometimes slow. When it was fast, the dancers' movements were swift and powerful, making people dazzled; when it was slow, the dancers' movements became gentle and graceful, as if telling an ancient story. Their formations were varied, sometimes forming a circle, sometimes a square, and sometimes forming various strange patterns, making people marvel at their tacit understanding and superb skills.

"This Shanghe drum and yangge dance is so shocking! The movements, the rhythm, and the momentum are simply amazing!" Li Xiao shouted excitedly, his eyes fixed on the stage, afraid to miss any wonderful moments.

Zhang Yuedong was so excited that his face turned red and he kept clapping: "Yes, this is the first time I have seen such a wonderful yangko performance. These dancers are so amazing. Every move they make is full of power and passion, which makes people feel the unique charm of folk art."

Lin Yifei recorded this wonderful moment with his camera and said with emotion: "This is not just a performance, but also a cultural inheritance. These dancers use their enthusiasm and sweat to show the ancient art form of Shanghe Drum Yangge to the fullest, allowing more people to understand and love it."

During the performance, Li Xiao curiously asked a local elder next to him about the history of Shanghe Guzi Yangge. The elder enthusiastically introduced: "Shanghe Guzi Yangge has a history of more than 2,000 years. It is said to have originated from the labor life of ancient farmers. It is a way for people to entertain themselves and express their feelings after busy farming. Later, it gradually developed into a folk activity to celebrate the harvest, worship ancestors, and celebrate festivals. Its performance forms are rich and diverse, including labor, disaster prevention, sacrifice, military, martial arts, acrobatics and other elements, which are very particular!"

Li Xiao listened with great interest and nodded continuously: "So that's how it is. I didn't expect that this little Yangko dance has such a profound historical and cultural heritage behind it."

The old man went on to say, "Now, almost every village in Shanghe has its own yangko team. During festivals, everyone gets together to dance the yangko, which is very lively. This drum yangko has become an indispensable part of our lives and is the pride of us Shanghe people!"

After listening to the old man's introduction, the three had a deeper understanding of Shanghe Guzi Yangge and cherished the wonderful performance in front of them. After the performance, the audience burst into thunderous applause and cheers, and the dancers bowed many times before slowly leaving the stage.

"This folk performance really opened my eyes. Not only did I see the wonderful Shanghe drum and yangge, but I also learned about the history and culture behind it." Li Xiao said with satisfaction.

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said: "Yes, this is the meaning of traveling, which allows us to experience the culture and customs of different places."

Lin Yifei also said with emotion: "This trip to Shandong is really fruitful. Every place we go brings us different surprises."

With amazement and admiration for the folk culture, the three left the square and continued their journey to Shandong, looking forward to more excitement and discoveries at the next stop.

Return with a full load: Buy Jinan specialties
After watching the folk performance, it was still early, so the three decided to take advantage of the afterglow to visit Jinan's specialty street and bring some souvenirs home.

As soon as you step into the specialty street, you will be greeted by a bustling atmosphere. On both sides of the street, shops are lined up one after another, with signs everywhere, and the shops are filled with a wide variety of specialty products, which are dazzling. The air is filled with the aroma of various delicacies, and the sounds of hawking one after another, forming a picture full of the breath of life.

Li Xiao's eyes were immediately attracted by a shop full of rose products. He pointed at the shop excitedly and said, "Look, here are all kinds of Pingyin rose products! I've heard that Pingyin roses are the best in the world. Let's go in and take a look."

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei were also attracted and followed him into the store. The shelves in the store were filled with rose tea, rose jam, rose essential oil, rose skin care products, etc. Li Xiao picked up a pack of rose tea, looked at it carefully, and said, "This rose tea looks very good. I heard that drinking rose tea regularly can beautify and nourish the skin. I have to bring a few packs back for my mother."

Zhang Yuedong also picked up a bottle of rose essential oil, sniffed it, and praised: "This fragrance is so strong, and rose essential oil can also soothe the body and mind. I think it is a suitable gift for friends."

Lin Yifei smiled and said, "Then I'll bring a few bottles of rose jam. I can spread it on bread when I get back. It must be delicious."

The boss heard their conversation and came over enthusiastically to introduce: "You have a good eye. Our Pingyin rose products are all authentic and made from high-quality local roses. For example, this rose tea is made from fresh rose petals and carefully baked to retain the natural fragrance and nutrients of the rose. This rose jam is also made using traditional techniques. It is sweet and delicious without any preservatives. It is especially good for making snacks and desserts."

Li Xiao was even more excited after hearing this, and he picked up a few more packs of rose tea and bought a bottle of rose pure water for his own use. He smiled and said to the boss: "Boss, your introduction is so good that I would feel sorry for my ears if I don't buy some."

The boss laughed and said, "Don't worry, the quality of our products is absolutely guaranteed. If you have any problems, come back to me." (End of this chapter)